Lilith: A Snake in the Grass: (#1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jack L. Chalker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 12, 1986

MM paperback.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Del Rey (November 12, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345344200
• ISBN-13: 978-0345344205
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,864,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique page-turner!, January 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Lilith: A Snake in the Grass: (#1) (Mass Market Paperback)

The underlying concept of this book is truly unique unto the world of SciFi. As such, it was a very refreshing read. Additionally, the author manages to grab you and suck you in right from the first few paragraphs. It is also a pleasure to not have to read several chapters to "get into" the story. I am very appreciative of an author's efforts in this area. I also enjoyed Chalker's level of character development. He has an excellent understanding of how much character detail and background needs to be given to satisfy the reader and move the story forward. In my mind, he strikes the perfect balance between giving you enough information to satisfy your curiousity without providing an overload of unnecessary and boring minutia. Finally, I would have to disagree with the previous reviewer's comment of the "author's stupid moralizing attitude." Although there is certainly a point made of portraying the moral thought processes going on within the central character, this book is by no means preachy or a morality tale. There are certainly some morality aspects of the future of "civilization" but they are an integral part of the storyline. The story would be far less cohesive and simply make less sense without them. The bottom-line is that the other reviewer gives the impression that readers will feel they are being preached to and that is absolutely not the feeling I got. I simply feel like I just finished reading a unique and well-written novel.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We too have a snake in the grass, October 5, 2003

By 

J. Storchan (Livonia, Michigan.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lilith: A Snake in the Grass (The Four Lords of the Diamond, Vol. 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Reading this book and stating that you are spellbound or hooked from one chapter to the next does not tell you about the essence of the tale. To say that this Science Fiction is superior in imagery and concept is still lacking in definition. There is something else that drew me back to read the series again. It was not the story, so much, but the reality that it represents. It is about this world whose scientific physical makeup is different than ours. We are made of cells and cells structure with DNA in control. In these worlds the Wardens are in control. The are involved in each and every molecular makeup of everything. Based upon persons background and his discipline and control will explain his possible position in these worlds.

It is much like earth in that way. It is a metaphor, yet a parallel to our own world. We still have a caste so to speak in existence on earth. Even in United States, even though there are no castles, knights or dukes, we still live according to our self-discipline, our self-awareness, education, skills, and our internal chemistry. A genius might still be a poor fellow living on the dole of others while a seemly simple person lives on the fruits of the world. It about what I stated above. This is what Chalker is telling us. It is a involved parody about our own world. You are able to watch Cal, the main character evolved as he begins to learn his own powers, his respect for his teachers, his peers, and his desire to rise. He is a survivor, he is spent the time to get his body and mind in order now he is getting his training and skills in order to conquer the planet. Don't analyze the content, but enjoy the story and stop and think about the parallel to our own world.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best fictional universes in the whole SF, October 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lilith: A Snake in the Grass: (#1) (Mass Market Paperback)

The book is the first in the Lords of the Diamond series. It takes you to a world very much different from ours. The world's dominated by a small organism that lives in everything - both living and dead matter. It makes the conditions on the planet very different from what we are used to and allows the use of a kind of pseudo-magic through controlling the mentioned organism. I'm telling it so thoroughly because I want you to realize that this is not just another magic universe book. The world created by Mr. Chalker is extremely original and amazing.

What's bad about the book is the author's stupid moralizing attitude. The characters are very clearly divided into good guys and bad guys and in case you don't understand who's who, Mr. Chalker explains it to you through most primitive and disgusting preachments. (Read my review to John Maddox Roberts's excellent book "SPQR" to see what I mean.)

Despite of this annoying flaw, the idea of the book is so brilliant that I'm forced to give it five stars. It's one of my favored books. I finally succeeded to get the other three volumes and I can't wait to read them all.