Legend (Drenai Tales, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

David Gemmell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1994

Druss, Captain of the Axe, was the stuff of legends. But even as the stories grew in the telling, Druss himself grew older. He turned his back on his own legend and retreated to a mountain lair to await his old enemy, death. Meanwhile, barbarian hordes were on the march. Nothing could stand in their way. Druss reluctantly agreed to come out of retirement. But could even Druss live up to his own legends?

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Has pace, conviction and gritty resolute vitality...The result is a book that will be enjoyed by Tolkien fans' TIMES EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

David Gemmell is so committed to his work that he's offered to leap naked out of an airplane if it would appeal to readers. We haven't taken him up on the offer. However, David has also acknowledged that three of his major influences were Louis Lamour, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Stan Lee. Tolkien wrote back, Lamour passed away before David had any opportunity to contact him, and Stan Lee lived thousands of miles away from David's British home. One out of three wasn't bad, but it could be improved upon.

We were at the San Diego ComicCon, rustling up new readers, and David had just finished a two-hour continuous signing. A friend of mine spotted a familiar face, so I excused myself and darted away, returning a few moments later to say, "David Gemmell, I'd like you to meet Stan Lee." A tall, ruddy, and normally poised individual, David was struck speechless. Here was the man who, through his Marvel Comics stories, had reinvented the relationship between heroes and villains, forever blurring the barriers between good and evil. Before long the two fantasists were chatting away happily. Stan's wife, Joan, being British, was especially gracious to the London-born Gemmell. And Stan quickly demanded an autographed copy of LEGEND.

David's a dynamic storyteller. His lands live and breathe. His heroes are mighty swordsmen, ax-wielders, and post-apocalyptic adventurers. In their prime they were the best in the business, but in David's tales, they've often passed their prime, so all they really want is peace and quiet. But life (and the author) aren't that kind, and these heroes are forced out of retirement, forced to face bloody hordes of the undead, armies from Hell. Worse, his heroes are generally saddled with young, green heroes. (Nothing drives you crazy more than a cocky kid.) But they overcome, and the cocky kids become heroes, too. This is great reading.
                                                                        --Steve Saffel, Senior Editor

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 345 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (October 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345379063
• ISBN-13: 978-0345379061
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (129 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #284,205 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

55 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hearkens back to the days of yore..., January 1, 2001

By 

Nathan (Wilmington, DE United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Legend (Drenai Tales, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

...Legend is one of the most refreshing books I have read in a good long time (probably since the last time I read it). It is not great literature, and it doesn't try to be. What it is is a grand heroic adventure full of awesome, bloody, inspiring battle scenes, motivational speeches and pep talks to shame BraveHeart, brave warriors, beautiful women (most of whom also happen to be brave warriors), magic, sieges, true love, valor, and all that other good stuff. It is the story of a vast empire, soft due to complacency, that is being threatened by the barbarian hordes basically. All that stands in the way of the main barbarian armies is one fortress, vastly undermanned, and the soldiers there aren't really soldiers at all but farmers volunteering as soldiers. And at fifty to one odds against, their chances of holding the fort until their empire can raise a REAL army aren't looking good. Enter Druss, fat old man and legendary warrior, who has never lost a battle, who has never given up, who has never sacrificed his principles. The main point of this book is, can the defenders hold out long enough, can this living legend fighting with them give them enough hope to survive. The question isn't whether they will win, but rather how long until they lose. Don't look for deep characters or character development here, look for grand heroes and grander villains, who make their point with actions much more than words. But what action! This has quickly become one of my favorite books just to pick up an read. Try it, you'll love it!

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars R.I.P. David Gemmell, Age 57, LEGEND, August 5, 2006

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Legend (Drenai Tales, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I just heard the news that David Gemmell has died at the age of 57. He had recently undergone heart surgery, but was unable to make a full recovery.

I've read a lot of fantasy novels, but very few excited and inspired me like David Gemmell's. He wrote dozens of novels, and while the characters and situations changed, the essential message remained clear - that every person, however flawed or tormented, has inside them a seed of nobility and courage that can change the world around them.

You see this clearly in Legend. Druss is an old man who comes to a hopeless situation knowing it will mean his death. His wife is dead, his friends are dead. All he has left is to make a final stand. Will it make a difference against such a vast invading army? I'll let you find that out when you read Legend. Druss was clearly the main character in Legend, but the book was full of other characters - normal men and women - struggling to overcome their own weaknesses and do the right thing in the face of impossible odds.

This, I think, is the lesson I continue to learn from David Gemmell's work. You don't have to be a warrior with a magic axe. You don't have to lead a perfect life. You can be a normal, messed-up human being like everyone else. And when you find yourself faced with that tough decision, whatever it may be, you have it within you to make a stand...to do the right thing.

I'll miss that sense of anticipation I felt waiting for each new Gemmell release, but I'll continue to treasure the many novels he gave us, and look forward to the day when I can share them with my son.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is It, November 7, 2005

By 

Ron (Jersey) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Legend (Drenai Tales, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

After reading this book, I went out and bought everything that David Gemmell ever wrote, and I buy every new novel he writes. This is a classic tale, full of adventure, and tremendous battles. This is the story of Druss, a man so powerful, even his enemies respect him. Druss is not perfect however, he is a man who sees things only in black or white. You can either be right or wrong, no inbetween. If you like fast paced adventure and terrific writing, pick this one up along with all the Drenai tales.