Customer Reviews

Pendragon Before the War (Book One of the Travelers)

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

 

 

I give five stars to this book basically because the author accomplishes what she sets out to do. Working with three popular characters in the Pendragon saga, Carla Jablonski offers three short stories that show future Travelers as they encounter some of the major issues that will become contentious once the great story begins. We are of course dealing with "back stories", after all.

"Pendragon" is a series written and created by D. J. MacHale, and can be classified as youth literature and fantasy. The series centers on Bobby Pendragon, who is 14 years old when the action begins, and his friends from his hometown and new friends, fellow travelers, whom he meets after he leaves his Connecticut suburban home.

The three traveling friends that we meet in this volume are: Kasha, the enigmatic feline harvester of Eelong; the wise and prudent Vincent "Gunny" van Dyke of First Earth; the youthful aquaneer Vo Spader of the water-world known as Cloral. None of these heros suspect anything of Halla, but we understand they each of them is already fighting for justice and freedom for the people. Kasha must confront racism; Gunny defends the exploited against corruption and organized crime; Spader fights the bad guys, but finds his most important fight is against his own superficiality and quick temper.

Author Carla Jablonski gives us credible, happy ending stories of characters created by D. J. MacHale. These characters are in every way consistent with what we will know of them when they meet Bobby Pendragon sometime later. They will be up against graver trials once the Pendragon saga begins.

Pendragon is a great book series. This book is a prequel. If you haven't read any of them, stop reading this review and go get a copy. For those of you who have read the series, you should know that this book contains the stories of the other travelers who Booby meets over the course of his adventure. Specifically, Spader, Kasha and Gunny. These stories about them help provide a more in-depth look at what made these travelers who they are, and give the reader much appreciated insight into the minds of some of the more withdrawn characters, like Kasha. All the stories are well written, and tie in seamlessly to the main series. They don't answer any big questions, but for anyone who has learned to care about the characters in Halla like I have, it is a treat.
My opinion: Buy it. It,s not just a quickly written book made just to tie us over until book 10. It is enjoyable and it really helps to make the world of Halla seem even more real.
Hobey Ho

Read and gave to grandsons to read. It is appropriate for their ages of 10 and 12. Action and concept of responsibility. Better than Pendragon series.

For being introduced to 3 characters that come from a series called Pendragon by D.J.MacHale, I was totally impressed and entertained. This book, along with the next two are written by different authors and these characters are important parts of the Pendragon world of Halla that Mr. Machale has created. I thought this author, Carla Jablonski did a fantastic job of introducing the characters in a way that, even a new reader to this series, could dig in easily and enjoy. She definitely makes me want to start the series and see how these characters fit in later.

This book reveals all the mysteries and hints about the characters previous live's of all the amazing characters of the pendragon series. It is suspenful and matches the personality traits seen by the characters in the series. And so we go

I guess i was expecting stories and thrills like the original series. Disapointing. I have read one of the books of the Travelers and just have not picked up the interest to read the other 2 books yet. That I have already bought and are on my book self. Too bad. I do look forward to reading the last and final Pendragon 10 that has just been released.