Morningstar [Import] [Paperback]

David Gemmell (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Legend paperbacks (December 31, 1999)
• ISBN-10: 009989260X
• ISBN-13: 978-0099892601
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)

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

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The greatest anti-hero of all..., August 3, 2006

By 

Mason Sorgdrager "Mace" (Albury, Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Morningstar (Mass Market Paperback)

I think it is time I wrote a review of the most underrated of all David Gemmell novels. I feel that his fans have rejected this book because it might require a little bit more of an effort on their parts to fully appreciate it. Here are some of the probable causes for fan's not enjoying the novel.

One - the book is written in first person. It is told from the viewpoint of the character of Owen Odell, an Angostin Bard who was travelling in the highlands when amazing events occurred.

Two - The "hero" of the story, namely Jarek Mace, is probably the most unsympathetic hero that David Gemmell has written about. There is next to nothing about him that the reader will be able to identify with. No noble heroism here I am afraid, just self-interest all the way.

Three - It is a relatively small book. My paperback edition is only 282 pages long. (But there is so much packed into it!)

Four - Description is kept to a minimum. It requires a leap of imagination to "fill in the blanks". I actually saw this as a strength, it added to the authentic first-person narrative feel.

All I can say is that I thoroughly enjoyed the book. True, it isn't "usual" Gemmell fare in camparison to the rich-tapestry he knits around say, a Rigante adventure. But, there are many great things about this book. The characters you meet, for example. They are so well-developed. Because you are forced to "fill in the gaps" you can picture Wulf or Megan. They seem so real. Like a person you would meet down the street. Admittedly, if you met the Morningstar down the street, it would probably be a dark alley and, well, you might end up dead!

Here, we have a classic adventure novel. Our (anti) hero must battle against invading armies, beasts of sorcery, undead hordes. Yes, some pretty scary Vampire stuff is par for the course. One thing I absolutely loved were Jarek Mace's comeback lines to threats directed at him. He always had something amusing to say. GIVE THIS BOOK ANOTHER TRY PEOPLE! PUT SOME EFFORT INTO IT! IT IS WORTH IT!

ps. I don't want to ruin it for anyone, but I always pictured Jarek Mace as a sort-of Errol Flynn like character. You know, dashing, handsome, brave, loving his beer, loving a fight, loving women. Yeah, I am afraid that I must reveal that Jarek Mace must be an Australian. That is why his heritage is so mysterious. So now you know...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, August 22, 2004

By 

P. Robinson "Relic113" (Calgary) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Morningstar (Mass Market Paperback)

Gemmell is a great writer, but he does one thing particularly well...he makes you actually care about the characters. This is the story of the legend of "Morningstar" told by an old bard/wizard to his imaginary friend over dinner one day. The story is to important to allow a real person to hear, so the protagonist passes the time with ghosts.

The Morningstar is in reality nothing more than a common bandit who through a set of circumstances is thrust into greatness...but unlike other books with this theme, the morningstar continues to be a rogue...That is until the war breaks out and an evil necromancer tries to resurect the vampire kings... then someone must act...Despite being dislikable, the morningstar attracts quite a follwing and he can be described as a robin hood/conan compilation...

A really enjoyable book with a great ending that doesnt leave room for a sequel, but at the same time we know that the morningstar will be back... anyone who reads this book (which i suggest you do) will understand what im talking about...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Fantasy Novel I've Read to Date (Maybe), November 2, 2000

By 

Stephan Haight (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Morningstar (Mass Market Paperback)

I've been reading fantasy since junior high. (Almost 20 years). I enjoyed the Hell out of this book. It completely transcends the typical, blah, two-dimensional fantasy novel and offers us the true irony behind the forming of a legend - about a "hero" who is several rungs below the decent. It is a rites of passage awakening for the main character (and reader?) as he sees his supposed idol caught between the desires of his selfish nature and the misguided perceptions of the world he lives in. Great character development. Dark Irony. No powder-puff BS. Classic!