Customer Reviews

THE OUTCAST (Dark Sun, Tribe of One Trilogy, Book No 1)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I read these books when I was younger, immediately after having consumed the Chronicles of Narnia and Prydain, although these books are aimed at an older audience. I credit these books and the Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander as the novels that really gave me a jump start in the fantasy genre and definitely recommend it for all fantasy readers, especially if you're just starting out, this is a great place. Now on to the story...

Sorak the Nomad, an elfling and the only one of his kind in the world, remains to be one of my favorite characters ever, ranking right up there with Raistlin Majere and Taran Assistant Pig-Keeper. He far surpasses Drizzt Do'Urden. Drizzt isn't anywhere near Sorak's league. Sorak could kick Drizzt's "butt", although he isn't as grotesquely overly powerful, but he lives in a far harsher world where brutality thrives and the weak and timid are left as carrion. This capriciously cruel world makes the Underdark look like a day care center.

Take everything you know about magic, dwarves, elves, and dragons, and set it aside in the world of Athas. Although I can't recommend it over Dragonlance, I definately recommend Dark Sun and these books in particular over Forgotten Realms. After you finish with the Tribe of One Trilogy, don't forget to continue with the Sorak Saga in The Broken Blade.

If you ever read this Simon Hawke, thank you for this epic adventure, it will be close to my heart forever.

I liked the different premise of multiple personalities doing different jobs in one individual. The book was fast paced and an enjoyable read and set up the following books of the trilogy very well.

I want to like the Tribe of One series, I really do. The concept of multiple personalities and how they interact with one another is terrific. You can also tell that Simon Hawke lives in the Arizona desert, he captivates the beauty of the desert so well in his writing. The plot was a good, solid premise. And that's where my liking of this series ends. The heroic characters are just UNGODLY POWERFUL! Never once do I feel they are in danger. Several times I wanted to throw my book in disgust because the author throws scary insurmountable foes at the main characters but then the two heroes (Sorak and Ryana) dispatch them with such ridiculous ease. After the second or third fight it becomes about as enjoyable as reading about a child stepping on ants.

The main character Sorak is just Superman with a sword and no one he faces has Krptonite, Ryana is a souped up Wonder Woman. Together they are unstoppable, separate Sorak is still unstoppable but Ryana might get a few bruises.

I truly believe that Simon Hawke read the Drizzt books by R.A. Salvatore and in a fit of sword fighter envy declared "I'm going to create a character that could kill 100 Drizzt Do'Urdens with one hand tied behind his back!". It's bad enough that the Drizzt books become boring and predictable simply because there is no fear of Drizzt losing but Simon Hawke's character, Sorak, becomes even MORE boring and predictable before the first book even ends! By the time you finish the second book you are wondering why you are reading this series and are likely thinking 'I don't need to read the third book, I already Sorak can't lose even if he faced TEN Dragons!

Sorry Simon Hawke, go back and rewrite this with more believable heroic characters and you will get 4-5 stars from me.

If you like it when you characters can mow down any and all opposition without breaking a sweat then I guess these books are for you.

Well first of all I have not read a book in years and had a few
mins to read so I picked up this book I bought but never read
. I couldnt put it down it was so Intresting. Now I have
reached the end of book one and I want more.. So I just
ordered book 2 and 3. It was a great book with some good
twists and I would recommend and will recommend this book to an
anyone.

This book has so many defects it's difficult to believe that an editor ever set eyes on it.

It features a well-worn plot, painfully flat dialogue of the "faux Tolkien" style (with a record-breaking number of "simply"s and "merely"s per spoken line), heavily contrived political intrigue that is spelled out to the Nth degree, and more fantasy cliches than you can shake a sword-pulled-from-a-stone at.

If you are looking for good book set in the Dark Sun world, the best by far is Lynn Abbey's "The Brazen Gambit". Troy Denning's Prism Pentad isn't bad, but it's more of interest for setting the mythology of the world than for pure reading enjoyment.

the elfling Sorak has a split personality, and each personality can control his body and has their own abilities. Shade is the merciles killer, the Guardian has psionic powers, and more are still in his head. A must read for any Dark Sun and fantasy reader. And also has references back to Troy Denning's books with Rikus and Sadira.

I recommend this to everyone who likes Dark Sun-books and adventure. It has a great main character and is interestingly attached to a greater plot which involves the Sage. Lots of action and character development.

This book and series has the potential to be good. It's interesting enough and the prose is good. But I haven't read a character more overpowered than Sorak in a long time. He's like Superman without the kriptonite. And what's more, it's not like he earns these powers, they are just handed to him. His magical sword (which is literally handed to him) that makes any other weapon shatter on contact with it makes no physical fight a danger. Even an arrow or thrown knife is no danger because he can just block it with his telekinetic powers that he has never had to learn to develope, it's just part of him.
Perhaps what is most irritating is that there are no drawbacks to his nature. He's half elf and half halfling and gains wonderful abilities from both sides without any negatives. It'd be like if you're playing D&D and a certain race gets a + to stamina, a + to hit points, nightvision, increased hearing and other senses, and the only downside is that it likes to eat meat. If such a race existed EVERYONE would be playing it (unless someone was actually interested in roleplaying). But even more annoying than that is the many helpful comrades-in-arms that exist within his head. People that actually have multiple personalities have serious issues they have to struggle with. This can lead to them being confused and volatile at times. But Sorak's personalities feel more like a Swiss army knife. They're there to help him out and provide all the skills he needs, again, without him ever having to earn these skills. And if the situation ever gets rough then the author breaks out the Kether personality who is apparently as powerful as a sorceror king but with none of the drawbacks. There's no arc to his character, he starts out at the top and stays there. He never makes any mistakes and is never in any danger no matter who or what he is fighting. And even when he loses a friend at the end of the book it's really more arbitrary than anything else as if the author is trying to create a loss for the character but can't honestly put one in.
Now, that all being said, it's enjoyable enough. It's like watching a Jackie Chan movie, nice enough but not something you'd list as having a whole lot of literary merit. I bought it and I've read it twice and will probably read it again once every 7 or 8 years when I need to take a break from more serious books. It's just too bad Simon Hawke doesn't do better.

Loved the idea of the Tribe of One. Enjoyed all three books and you can also read another book with the same main character Sorak in The Broken Blade.

Sorak is well suited to Athas!! As a warrior,A1-As a Quester A1,Contacts are solid, as are his internal conflicts. A Must Read for any Fant/Scifi fan.