The Legend of Deathwalker (Drenai Tales, Book 7) [Mass Market Paperback]

David Gemmell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1999

Enter a powerful realm of legend, dark sorcery, and conquest, where the mighty Drenai warrior Druss faces his most deadly opponent . . .

Druss the Legend, the dark axman known as the Deathwalker, must join the warrior Talisman on a mission of blood and glory. Only the stolen Eyes of Alchazzar--mystic jewels of power--will save Druss's dying friend, then unite the Nadir tribes against the evil of the Gothir. Druss agrees to help look for the twin gems--hidden for centuries in the shrine of Oshikai, the Demon-bane, the Nadir's greatest hero.

It has been prophesied that with the recovery of the stones, there will come the Uniter, a magnificent fighter who will free the Nadir from brutal oppression. But Garen-Tsen, the sadistic power behind the Gothir throne, also seeks the gems. To control them, he will send five thousand men against a handful of savages, Talisman, and the one Drenai warrior.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Gemmell's great reading; the action never lets up; he's several rungs above the good--right into the fabulous!"
--ANNE MCCAFFREY

From the Inside Flap

Enter a powerful realm of legend, dark sorcery, and conquest, where the mighty Drenai warrior Druss faces his most deadly opponent . . .

Druss the Legend, the dark axman known as the Deathwalker, must join the warrior Talisman on a mission of blood and glory. Only the stolen Eyes of Alchazzar--mystic jewels of power--will save Druss's dying friend, then unite the Nadir tribes against the evil of the Gothir. Druss agrees to help look for the twin gems--hidden for centuries in the shrine of Oshikai, the Demon-bane, the Nadir's greatest hero.

It has been prophesied that with the recovery of the stones, there will come the Uniter, a magnificent fighter who will free the Nadir from brutal oppression. But Garen-Tsen, the sadistic power behind the Gothir throne, also seeks the gems. To control them, he will send five thousand men against a handful of savages, Talisman, and the one Drenai warrior.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey; later printing edition (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345408004
• ISBN-13: 978-0345408006
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #525,425 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Gemmell was born in London, England, in the summer of 1948. Expelled from school at sixteen, he became a bouncer, working nightclubs in Soho. Born with a silver tongue, Gemmell rarely needed to bounce customers, relying instead on his gift of gab to talk his way out of trouble. This talent eventually led him to jobs as a freelancer for the London Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror, and the Daily Express. His first novel, Legend, was published in 1984 and has remained in print ever since. He became a full-time writer in 1986. His books consistently top the London Times bestseller list.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Seamless Blend of Characterization and Drenai History, June 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Legend of Deathwalker (Drenai Tales, Book 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

Gemmell does an exquisite job in showing the reader just what makes his characters do what they do; be it through their personal experiences, beliefs or ambitions. Through the characters a reader is given the history of the rise and fall of several nations and people's of his Drenai saga. These histories, the Drenai, the Nadir, the Chiatze, and the Gothir, are woven through the experiences and exploits of the book's characters. Gemmell expertly does this while never losing focus on the making of the Legend: Druss the Deathwalker.

Gemmell uses snippets of other minor events, such as the Mad God-King and the rise of Garen Tsen, only as much as to give context to the story rather than taking up the spotlight of events. True to his style these things fall by the wayside... not meaning they were unimportant to Drenai history, just that they were not important to the current tale.

The reader is in for a treat in learning of the Nadir, the origin of their name and from which peoples they are descended from. Those who know history can draw the parallels to our own. Those who enjoy character development will find it in Druss, his companion Sieben, whom Gemmell fans will remember fell at Skeln, and the Nadir Talisman. Readers will want to pay particular attention to the Chiatze woman Talisman travels with as her knowledge and history shows what interest her people have in the rise of the Nadir.

All in all, I believe readers will enjoy the mix of Characterization and developed history of Gemmell's Novel. Those well-read in Gemmell's stories can also enjoy the continuity he has woven into the tale as they tie into future events of the Drenai and Nadir peoples.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Excellent Read!!!, August 14, 1999

By 

Joseph Farand (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Legend of Deathwalker (Drenai Tales, Book 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

Another great addition to the world of the Drenai and the adventures of Druss the Legend. This time Druss travels through the lands of the Gothir and the Nadir. The early history of the Nadir, the origin of the Uniter and the driving force behind these people that makes them into the deadly barbarian hordes of the earlier books is revealed. The excellent characters and fast-paced adventure that you expect from Gemmell are back. Highly recommended!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By the gods of stone and water, but he could fight..., August 26, 2005

By 

Eric S. Terrell (Keene, NH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Legend of Deathwalker (Drenai Tales, Book 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

The Legend of Deathwalker is the seventh book in David Gemmell's Drenai Saga and is another tale of Druss the Legend, whom we first met way back in the first book of the series, Legend. Rarely have I found a series that, seven books in, has not had a noticeable decrease in quality. Gemmell's Drenai Saga, however, is an exception to that rule. This book is able to maintain all of the qualities that make this series great: fast-paced action, great battle scenes, and amazing characters.

The one thing that makes Gemmell's work stand out from the rest is his ability to craft characters that seem real, characters that you really want to find out what happens to next. You find characters like Druss, Sieben the poet, and Talisman the Nadir warrior that just come to life through Gemmell's work. Each and every character means something to the book. There are no throw away characters here.

In terms of where this book fits in the series, you would want to be sure to have read Legend first, and probably The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend, although that one isn't really required to fully enjoy this book. The story contained in this novel is framed by the battle of Dros Delnoch (Legend), as Druss the aged warrior is recounting one of his many adventures to a young comrade fighting alongside him. The story Druss is telling took place some thirty years before the events of Legend, Gemmell's first (and best) Drenai novel. Through the events in this book, you learn to view some of the events in Legends in a whole new light, but saying more would be a spoiler.

Overall, I highly recommend this book, and Gemmell's entire Drenai series. At just 376 pages, this book is a prime example of how great fantasy can be written without becoming a doorstopper. If you're looking for a fast-paced read with great characters and plenty of battles, this book should be right up your alley. Make sure to check out Legend first!