Customer Reviews

Lost King

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This book is kind of like a fable hidden in a great sci-fi/galactic fantasy book. The author shows the reader how pride and hunger for power make us completely different people, and have the potential to ruin your life. If you buy this, buy the other 3 books: King's Test (good) King's Sacrifice (very good) Ghost Legion (great)

WOW! What a story. With enough plot twists and detailed and developed characters, this story really envelops you into its many pages. Unlike other Science - Fiction that I have read, this book did not just have some main character trying to save the world while escaping from hundreds of aliens who are constantly fireing at you.

This novel, and this series is intrigueing. There is no real main character, but it focuses on mainly Dion Starfire. He grows up on a planet called Syrac Seven with his mentor Platus Morianna. One day, Dion is sent away to go with a mercenary and his hilarious computer to escape a Warlord. Before Dion leaves, he sees his mentor, Platus struck down by the Warlord. Dion manages to escape with the mercenary while the Warlord is after him. The Warlord has his own personal ambitions.

It's a great story, that will enprint a memory on you forever. The characters are memorable. It blends, serious situations, comdey, emotion at the highest level and a sense of thought.

One of the best series from Margaret Weis that I have ever read. Keep it up, we love your work!

I am also recommending: The Death Gate Cycle, by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. It is as good as this series!

The Lost King is the first book of Margaret Weis' "Star of the Guardians" trilogy. In this novel, Weis recounts mankind's continual struggle with the most appropriate form of government: republic or monarchy.

The galaxy has survived a short "reign of terror" where the monarchy is overthrown, the ruling class annihilated, and a president (and would-be dictator, named appropriately Peter Robes) installed.

In the previous regime, genetically enhanced humans called Guardians are trained to power to protect and preserve the galaxy and monarchy. One of their own betrays his king and country to remove the weak monarchy. Now, decades later, disenchanted with the new rule of law, he searches for the scion of the royal house to be used for his own puppet rule.

Weis has constructed a believable political web. All of her "evil" characters have rationales for their actions and believe that they are doing good. They are so convincing that I couldn't decide whether I wanted them to fail or not.

Look for some interesting technological/biological weapons such as the Guardians' "bloodsword" which has five needles in the hilt. When grasping the hilt, the needles break the skin and a specialized virus is injected into the wielder's bloodstream. If the swordbearer is not a Guardian, he/she dies soon after. Else, the Guardian receives enhanced abilities and shielding.

Although I haven't yet read books 2 & 3 (King's Test and King's Sacrifice), this was a very strong start to the story.

Only difficulty is finding the books as they have been out of print for several years. Most difficult to locate was book two.

I have read this series many times, and each time it is a different journey (much like Sagan listening to a fugue of Bach, I pick out different lines each time that I follow throughout, usually unintentionally). For me, the core of this book is not about the "sci-fi" elements (which there are few) or even the fantasy elements, but rather the emotional journeys and relationships between the books characters. It seems that Weis was more concerned with portraying how people deal with the ideas of fate and destiny; the emotions that they feel when confronted with life; the love and hatred felt between confused and blurred boundries; and how the choices a person makes shapes their destiny, whether they know it or not.

I am about 3/4 the way through "The Lost King" right now, and the book is affecting me in a different way than before. I have read the series 4 times previous to this, and each time I take away something new and different. For me, they are not just books, but sacred works of literature.

I really owe a debt of thanks to Margeret Weis for writing these books. Seven years ago I was like most teenagers in the world today, my interests pretty much consisted soley of TV. I would occasionally go to the library and take out books, usually hard science science-fiction books. One day in there I saw The Lost King and decided to take it out. That's the day that I'm able to point back and say that I began my journey in literature.

The book is great! The series is great! It starts out very Star Warsyish and then takes over and draws you in. I've read the series countless times since then. I've read a thousand other books since these. It all comes back to these books. I'd be a very different person if I hadn't found them.

If you haven't read them yet... please do. It's just a superb story.

I love this series. I bpught it some time in November and have just started on King's Sacrifice. King's Test is a nice start. The best part of all the books, as well as the first, is the internal conflicts of Derek and Maigrey. Most of what kept me reading this book until late at night was trying to figure out just who the bad guy was. i quickly learned that its not that simple. I see how in one moment a good friend becomes a great enemy, and vice versa, then back agian. The turmoil is nonstop. The only real problems are the references to ancient Earth mythology and literature. There is a complete lack of references to anything "modern", save that of the Revolution. There's also the whole similarity to Star Wars. Some of the roles can be easily matched between this series and the Trilogy. Tusk= Han Solo, Sagan=Vader, Abdiel=Palpatine, the list goes on. There are enough differences that one can tell the two apart, but still...

This is a very powerful series of books. The story is original, although it does seem to have it's roots in Star Wars. The characters are well developed, and Dion's struggle is amazing. The fourth novel, Ghost Legion, has probably the best ending the series could have. I liked every book, cover to cover.

This is simply the most fascinating sci-fi-story since Star Wars, and indeed even better (from a certain point of view... <g>) The characters are real great and seem alive - it hurts turning the last page and know it's over! Hallo, Hollywood - what about making a movie out of this story? Until now I only know the German version, but as for I watch my favourite movies only in original version, I believe the original books even are *better* than them. Can't wait to stick my nose in!

Don't be misled. This barely qualifies as sf: the tech and "science" are, for the main, horribly thought-out; the society portrayed is dominated by the echoes of Western civilization (Plato, etc.).

But the series (I've read this trilogy plus _Ghost Legion_), the above notwithstanding, is *fun*...once you stop expecting *real* science. Its true strength is in the relationships between characters: Derek Sagan, ambitious...and alone; Maigrey Morianna, tormented by a lost past and her sundered relationship with Sagan; Dion Starfire, the "lost king," who has a ways to go before achieving adulthood, let alone kinghood; the mercenary Tusk and his wisecracking computer XJ. It's a space opera with battles and romance and plots galore. Read, let go of science, and enjoy!

These books basicly flow from a similar template to "Star Wars". Sagan is Darth Vader. The guardians are the Jedi. Etc Etc... If you like that sort of story, you will really enjoy these novels. Don't be fooled by descriptions of this series as a "trilogy". I myself have FOUR novels. They consist of "King's Sacrifice" (book one), "King's Test" (book two), "The Lost King" (book three), and "Ghost Legion" (book four). I am unaware of any other Star of the Guardians novels.

Comparisons to other pulp science fiction asside, the best part of these novels is that Weis does a fantastic job of fleshing out the personalities of her characters. Sagan is often conflicted in his desire for power and his regret at his roll in the downfall of the monarchy. Dion Starfire is young, and often careless. Seeminly easily manipulated by the people around him, he has to grow into his roll as a ruler of the galaxy. A roll he doesn't really seem to want. The Lady Maigrey is a former lover of Sagan's and now his bitterest foe. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

It has been many years since I've read this series, but I still keep the books in my collection and fully intend to read them again some day. I recommend them to anyone who loves galaxy spanning adventure backed by political intrigue and deep believable characters.