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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book 4 in the series, but works as a standalone, November 4, 2002
I have to admit, I had an awfully hard time getting started with this book. I'm a big fan of Stephen R. Donaldson, and with his recent books I realise I have very high expectations and I'm always afraid that this is where he is going to lose his edge and start going downhill. It hasn't happened yet, though. This series of mysteries (The Man Who Killed His Brother, The Man Who Risked His Partner, The Man Who Tries to Get Away, and now The Man Who Fought Alone) is another great series, stylistically quite different from any of his other books. I find it a bit hard to describe: the previous books in the series have been almost-parodies of stock detective-book plots; stock plots that Donaldson has injected with his own unique (often dark) perspective, effectively combined with a frequently light attitude that can really be quite humorous. The Man Who Fought Alone is more straighforward and less humorous than previous books, although the overall feel of the book is a bit lighter as Axebrewder starts to bring his life under control. Donaldon has managed to work the martial arts theme quite well too, with a look inside the world or martial arts competition which is both interesting and manages to develop good characters. This is what always draws me to Stephen R. Donalson's books, the wonderfully textured and developed characters, each with their own strengths and foibles and, well, character that really stands out in a genre that is not know for such things. Now, the start of the book is a bit slow, and it's overall not quite as tight as previous entries in the series. The first few chapters will probably have a few long-time Donaldson fans rolling their eyes a bit as old Axebrewder goes on his lengthy "woe is me" bit. After this slightly rocky start, though, the book really does take off and it thoroghly engrossed me. It's not quite the best in the series, but the series is quite good and The Man Who Fought Alone is highly recommended. I'm glad that it looks like the whole series is being re-issued in hardback under Stephen R. Donaldson's real name (they were previously published under a pseudonym, Reed Stephens); they've been hard-to-get for some time and given his success, this is long overdue.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
an incrimental mystery, April 21, 2002
This review is from: The Man Who Fought Alone (Hardcover)
I read this novel because I enjoyed Donaldson's Thomas Covenant and Mordant's Need series. I was curious how he handled the mystery genre. Although I tend to think of mystery being written in short, backhanded sentences with a minimum of description except to evoke atmosphere, and largely supported by dialogue, Donaldson is remarkably effective with his typically long, analogy-studded sentences (ie sunshine like piledrivers) and his brilliantly, meticulously drawn characterizations. This is not an easily read novel. I'm reminded of this whenever I recommend Donaldson to someone else, and find they can't get past the first few chapters. Donaldson always builds momentum in his novels so that you love by the end exactly what you hated in the beginning; it's sort of a relationship where you get out what you are willing to put in. In this case, you have to invest in a misanthropic, unemployed alcoholic ("Brew") who seems likeable at first only because we the readers inevitably shine in comparison. But when the plot kicks in, Brew is a very real character worth following around. He's no Spenser, but his faults are refreshing in this light. The martial arts side of this novel is well-inserted, and fascinating. I've attended tournaments exactly like the one he describes, and he gets it perfect. I would have read the book for this alone. I recommend this novel if you know what you're getting into. If you're already a Donaldson fan, jump in. Otherwise, you might find you really like his style; it's certainly different from the majority of mystery I've happened to read.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Couldn't hold my interest!, November 11, 2001
This review is from: The Man Who Fought Alone (Hardcover)
I am always on the lookout for new crime authors, and had actually forgotten about the Mick Axbrewder novels until I picked this one up. Deciding to give this character one more try, I purchased it. There was some initial interest generated by the premise of Axbrewder, having hit bottom and now abandoned by his ex-partner, bringing himself back up to respectability. However, the book could not sustain even that interest after the first two chapters. I found the action in this book to be slow and too methodical to be compelling. One waits much too long for something of interest to happen. Virtually every line of Brew's dialogue is prefaced by some some twitch or contortion of his body, most of which do not seem appropriate. And enough with the heat references! Every other paragraph tells us about the weather. We get it, it's hot there! I didn't connect with the character, and found his reasons behind his quest for truth to be unconvincing. By the time I reached the last third of the book, I no longer cared what happened to anyone in it. Cannot recommend.
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