Customer Reviews

Oath of Swords

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've been talking this book and its sequel (The War God's Own) up to everyone I can find including the owner of the Genreflecting website. I was so impressed that I actually wrote Weber a letter--and that's something I've done only once before. Bahzell Bahnakson is a delightful new hero (though some readers may be just a tad put off by his Irish speech pattern)--loyal, bullheaded, true to his own sense of ethics, and not without a *mind* withal. There's plenty of action and humor, a vividly imaged world, well-drawn characters, and lucid, logical explanations of how and why gods and magic work. Even Tomanak Scale-Balancer, Bahzell's divine patron, is sympathetic--nowhere near as remote as some fantasy god-figures. My only complaint was that there was hardly any magic at all in the first third of the book! A good read, fast-paced, solidly plotted, and well written. Highly recommended.

While I have not read any of David Webers sci-fi, and don't plan to, I have read both Oath Of Swords and War Gods Own, a few times each. In fact, I just finished rereading War Gods Own a few minutes ago, and was searching for the next. It's that good. While the characters, like Bahzell, Wencit, Kilthan and Vaijon tend to follow some well established patterns in the fantasy world, he turns the archetypes to good effect. He avoids the constant hero band feeling while achieving all the objectives of plot that have made the fearless band a standard since the era of Tolkien. A good read, both novels, and I highly recommend all you sci-fi people check them out, since Weber is definitely as much of a cross over succes as Marion Zimmer Bradley, Piers Anthony or any other consistent best-seller list authors.

I was reluctant to start these books [Oath of Swords and the Wwar God's Own]. I've read almost all of his other books, but was suspicious about turning to fantasy. I shouldn't have been. The books are very different from his others (although the experience in military things still shows) but they are a good read and definitely on my "to be re-read soon" list. I found one major negative point: I do wish he'd avoided the stereotyped elves, dwarves, halflings etc. (although to be fair the individual representatives of the races we meet /aren't/ much like the stereotypes, and he has a couple of original races as well). However, the humour more than makes up for that, especially when the protagonist is argueing with his god (and sometimes winning the arguments!). I'll be very interested to see how this series continues...

Those of us who got to know David Weber through his military SF (see, esp., the excellent though interminable Honor Harrington series) likely will be surprised to discover his new fantasy series (does he ever write stand-alones?). Unlike the Honor Harrington series, which can be awful serious in places, Oath of Swords is just plain fun. (There is an analogy some have noted with Heinlein's Glory Road. Like Heinlein, Weber is a hard SF writer who turned to fantasy and demonstrated a light touch.) As with others, my major complaint is that Weber does not have a very good ear for accents. I agree with those who said his scotch accents especially get old. Having said that, it is still very highly recommended.

I first read Oath of Swords when it was published in the 1990's - and I still have the book! I purchased this reprint for the promise of the new novella. Promise delivered and then some...

In his Forward, David Weber tells us that the story isn't set at a specific point in Bahzell's life, but that doesn't affect the reader's ability to enjoy the story. It also doesn't interfere with Weber's joyful universe bending.

You will laugh out loud and shudder during the story's 145 pages. You will also arrive at the end wishing the tale continued for several hundred pages more. Weber adds some wonderful new characters to Bahzell's universe and fortunately leaves us with a promise we'll see them again.

If you read Oath of Swords and liked it, please buy a copy of this reprint. Your collection of Bahzell's adventures won't be complete without it.

Bahzell Bahinakson was a Hradani Horse Stealer to be precise. His best intentions go astray and he finds himself running for his life with a friend who writes bad balads for Bahzell's listening enjoyment. Oh course there are also some demons, assasins and a dark God or two that also want him dead. Keep in mind this is nothing Bahzell can't handle he has the War God on his side.

Sure this is just an ordinary book, but its a very fun ordinary book, I would not expect anything less from David Weber. Thery are comming out with a sequal in March so if you read this book and like it be sure to check out "The War God's own" and "Windbreakers Oath".

I actually ended up accidentally reading this series in reverse order (which I don't really recommend). Book 2 (The War God's Own) is the better book in my view, but this one is still a darn good read. My great compliments to Weber for creating the hradini, a fantasy race that aren't elves, dwarves, orcs, or god forbid, halflings. The hradini as a race is a fascinating creation, and their troubles with their racial history even more so. They are a people who've had to do without gods because the gods have explicitly turned their back on them, and our hero's reasons (and his father's) for doing good have nothing to do with edicts from on high, but with sound reasoning, which is very refreshing. Not exactly high literature, but a very good read indeed.

What happens when the god of war and justice chooses as him champion a person who does not want to be a champion and who has little time for gods? For good measure, the champion is of a race despised by all the others. The result is a good story of good versus evil.

Bahzell, the hero, is not a bad person. In fact he is extremely good. He's stubborn too. He doesn't want to listen to the priests who try to bring him messages and neither does he want to listen to the god himself. He has enough trouble trying to keep himself out of trouble without sticking his nose into other nations' business. He is aided in his adventures by a best friend who is from the city of his hereditary enemies and who wants to be a bard. Unfortunately, he cannot sing. Fortunately, he is good with a sword.

This is a fun book in the fantasy realm but the fantastic is not too strong. Mostly, it is good versus evil.

I own the original paperback version of Oath of Swords - very well used and reread - one of my favorite books by David Weber. I bought this version because of the upgrade in size and especially because of the new novella which is part of the package. I was definitely not disappointed!

I have been a fan of Mr. Webers Honor Harrington novels from the start. I doubted that he could do fantasy as well as his science fiction, but I tried this book anyway. It was great. It reminded me of the best Conan the Barbarian stories I read when I was younger. The only dissapointing thing about this book and the second book in the series is that there isn't a third and fourth book in the series. I have to admit Honor Harrington is a little repetitive these days. I really hope Mr. Weber comes back to this series. To leave it at only two books would be a real shame.