Legends: Stories by the Masters of Fantasy, Volume 1 [Abridged, Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Robert Silverberg (Author), Frank Muller (Reader), Sam Tsoutsouvas (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 26, 1998 | Series: Legends: Stories by the Masters of Fantasy (Book 1)

The first volume in an exciting series of fantasy short novels, as the genre's favorite writers spin new tales in their most beloved series. In this first volume, Stephen King presents an untold story set during Roland the Gunslinger's epic, worlds-spanning quest for the mysterious Dark Tower called "The Dark Tower: The Little Sisters of Eluria". Robert Silverberg returns to the world of Majipoor and Lord Valentine's astonishing life in "Majipoor: The Seventh Shrine".

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This work is the first of four planned unabridged audiobook programs from the recently published fantasy anthology Legends: Stories by the Masters of Modern Fantasy, edited by Silverberg (Tor, 1998). The anthology contains 11 new and original works from famous writers of epic fantasy, each set in an established fictional universe. Some stories take place at an earlier moment in the history of their worlds (prequels), others fit into the already-established framework but as an aside from the main action. The current program contains Stephen King's "The Dark Tower: The Little Sisters of Eularia," read by Frank Muller, and Robert Silverberg's "Majipoor: The Seventh Shrine," read by Sam Tsoutsouvas. Both readers perform with consummate skill and imagination. The program should be popular among fans of epic fantasy and as a nice companion to the printed anthology. Recommended for all sf/fantasy collections.?Kristen L. Smith, Loras Coll. Lib., Dubuque, IA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Robert Silverberg has won five Nebula Awards, four Hugo Awards, and the prestigious Prix Apollo. He is the author of more than one hundred science fiction and fantasy novels -- including the best-selling Lord Valentine trilogy and the classics Dying Inside and A Time of Changes -- and more than sixty nonfiction works. Among the sixty-plus anthologies he has edited are Legends and Far Horizons, which contain original short stories set in the most popular universe of Robert Jordan, Stephen King, Ursula K. Le Guin, Gregory Benford, Greg Bear, Orson Scott Card, and virtually every other bestselling fantasy and SF writer today. Mr. Silverberg's Majipoor Cycle, set on perhaps the grandest and greatest world ever imagined, is considered one of the jewels in the crown of speculative fiction.

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Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: HarperAudio; Unabridged edition (August 26, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0694520772
• ISBN-13: 978-0694520770
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,113,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The first two enjoyable fantasy short stories in the Legends anthology, September 1, 2005

By 

Kelley Hartsell "Kelley" (Irving, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Legends: Stories by the Masters of Fantasy, Volume 1 (Audio Cassette)

Little Sisters of Eluria by Stephen King

This is a prequel to the stunning Dark Tower saga. Roland of Gilead is passing through a strange town where he is attacked by slow mutants. He is nursed back to health by sisters he presumes to be of the "Jesus-man Religion." Shortly after arriving, he begins to suspect they have ulterior motives for his person, but are waiting impatiently to reveal the deadly secret.

This story is classic Roland. He is on his long journey, runs into trouble and needs aid to escape. The young woman who aids him puts her own life at risk and he must escape the town with guns a-blazing. Short and enjoyable, Dark Tower fans will love this addition to the series.

Since I had just finished the entire saga back to back on CD last year, I was glad to get another chance to have a brief visit with one of my all time favorite characters from any book I have ever read.

Majipoor - Seventh Shrine by Robert Silverberg

This story was harder to follow and I had to listen to it more then once to get even a basic understanding of the story. Unfortunately I think I still missed the deeper meaning of the story.

This is about the discovery of an ancient shrine in the desert, with the archeologist who found it being subsequently murdered. There are many mysteries surrounding the shrine, endangering the lives of anyone who tries to open it.

Having not read any other books by this author, this story is extremely difficult to get into. I was confused throughout the whole thing trying to figure out what was happening. Those who have read other books in the Majipoor series are bound to enjoy this one though.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Useful introduction to fanstasy authors; uneven quality, September 8, 2003

By 

Paul E. Comeaux (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Legends: Stories by the Masters of Fantasy, Volume 1 (Audio Cassette)

Legends is a collection of short stories written by established authors of modern fantasy writing in their own "worlds." This book is an excellent introduction to the writing style and talent of each of these writers.

"The Little Sisters of Eluria" by Stephen King fleshes out who and what the "Little Sisters" from King's Dark Tower series are; if you are not a Dark Tower fan, neither this story nor its characters will mean much to you.

"Runner of Pern" by Anne McCaffrey is certainly the weakest link in this book--unless the reader is looking for a light (very light) romance in a fantasy setting. Characterization is weak and plot is nearly non-existent. Although die-hard fans of the Pern series may not care.

Also uninspired is Robert Jordan's entry "New Spring," which is a prequal to his Wheel of Time series. Like the Wheel books, the writing is tired and the plot plodding.

The strongest entry is The Hedge Knight by George R. R. Martin. It is a stand-alone story set in the world of Song of Ice and Fire. Following the death of his mentor, Dunk, 17 finds himself knighted (a "Hedge Knight"--a knight unattached to a lord who sleeps among the hedges) and alone. He travels to the city to join a contest for Hedge Knights and make a name for himself. He is joined by 9-year-old Egg, a boy who insists on squiring for him. Dunk soon finds himself involved over his head with royalty, and about to lose his life. The writing is sharp and witty and the characters are compelling.

A close second is "The Burning Man" by Tad Williams, the story of certain pivotal events in a young woman's life--her first love and her stepfather's obsessive quest for the answer to a question that haunts him and nearly drives him to madness.

Other entries are by Terry Pratchett, Terry Goodkind, Orson Scott Card, Robert Silverberg, Ursula LeGuin, Tad Williams, and Raymond E. Feist.

With few exceptions, the stories are will written and entertaining, representing the wide variety of voices, styles, and themes in modern fantasy.