Customer Reviews

Prisoner of the Horned Helmet (Death Dealer)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Going way back, this was the first fantasy book I ever read, whichboth opened doors for me as a fantasy fan and a fantasy writer. I was always, of course, a fan of Frazetta's work, with his shadow-faced wizards, his primordial barbarians, and his plump, voluptuous damsels in their hip-hugger bikinis. After reading the first Death Dealer I also became a huge fan of James Silke, though sadly, I've never found any more of his work aside from the three sequels to the Prisoner of the Horned Helmet.

Gath of Baal is a barbaric guardian of a realm called the Shades, which stands between a race of forest-dwellers and the nomadic encroachment of a vast desert empire. Gath's enemies, he soons discovers, are armed and armored with steel, a precious resource, though he soon discovers that not even steel will be enough. He forms a dark pact with the beautiful, ivory-skinned sorceress called Cobra, who in turn leads him to the demonic Horned Helmet. Wrought by the Master of Death, the Horned Helmet makes Gath almost invulnerable when he wears it, along with giving him access to other supernatural abilities. But there's a catch---the fact that he can't remove the helmet once he's put it on. Enter the nubile, innocent Robin Lakehair, who is virtuous enough to remove the helmet for him.

This book is one of the great ones. Just like a Frazetta painting. Lusty, naked women that glisten beneath a primordial sun. Ravening, bloody battles. Demons. Barbaric sorcery. The Death Dealer books are cut from the cloth of Conan, and I'm talking about Robert E. Howard's Conan. Also a great deal like Bloodstone and the rest of the Kane books by Karl Edward Wagner. As long as you appreciate naked girls, two-fisted honor and axe-heavy battles, you'll love the Prisoner of the Horned Helmet as well as the three others after it.

i first read this book only a couple of years after it came out. since then i have periodically re-read the entire series. silke pens amazing imagery with vivid colour and detail, setting an incredible backdrop for the main figure: the death dealer. if you want an idea of this character before reading the book, go look at frazetta's most famous work: the warrior on the horse with the axe. it is, afterall, who the book was written about, and the picture is on the back of all four books. and what a character he is, deserving to be in the company of the best known fantasy heroes, and yet he is, strangely, an unkown. (but he would prefer it that way). i'm not telling you anymore. read the book.

the writing of this book is in a somewhat unique style for this type of work: the 3rd person is somewhat laid back, matter of fact, and a little contemporary. It makes for marvelous tale-telling. a pleasant departure from the 19th century-ish tolkien writing (of which i am so terribly fond-i am a HUGE tolkien fan--mae govannen to all you others out there). very readable, highly addictive, never boring, re-reads like its the first time. a very rare thing to be said about a book i think.

a few other points of interest: this is adult reading. not ideal for a jr. high book report. explicitly violent, sensuous, and dark, but never overdone so as to obscure the plot or become unenjoyable. it is exactly what fantasy storytelling should be. also, these four (prisoner of the horned helmet, lords of destruction, tooth and claw, plague of knives, resp.) are the only books. what a crying shame. and they are out of print. so, get them, enjoy them, and take good care of them--you'll be reading them over and over for years to come. they will only get harder to find as more people write rave reviews--unless, of course, someone makes a major motion picture out of them and then tor might reconsider. wouldn't that be nice.

This is quite possibly the best series I have ever read. I just recently finished the 4th book and I was amazed how James Silk could keep such a good storyline throughout the entire series. I personally recommend these books to my friends and they have had nothing but rave reviews for them also. Very descriptive, makes you feel like you're there.

This is being written in the hope that both the writer and the artist can come together and reprint this series. The ratings on the series says it all. The books were a first for me. After the many disappointing projects that were efforts to flesh out the images of Frank Frazetta with prose and film this one hit the mark and did so squarely. For those who ignored this book, which acts as what is normally the dreaded "origin story", it was the very first time anyone attempted and in many opinions successfully breathed literary life into a gorgeous painting. Gath (what a great name) of Baal is a warrior, a man with simple hopes, desires and ideas. His biggest hope is to halt the invasion of his home, and against all odds. His passion is so great that it triggers a desperate bargain with a demon haunted war helm. As Gath gives himself to the enchantment of the helm and the axe he relizes that he's also giving over his control of his own body. It seems the helm has an agenda. Gath's sole hope is the innocense of a young woman, Robin Lakehair and his ability to love her. As the helm takes over his body, changing it and his own will he surrenders to the helm and engages the invaders.
The power of James Silke prose is the perfect match for Frazetta's imagery and his imagination.
These men could be the best pair of creator's alive and in the genre of sword and sorcery fiction. The balance of art and prose has never been this acute, this vital, with raw power and emotion seething throughout this story (as well as the others).
After seeing the recent comic adaptation's of Frazetta's Death Dealer it only makes me more fond of this effort. These stories are a world unto themselves and deserve to stay in print if only the two men involved could get it together and act like this matters.

I enjoyed reading this book because it's that 80s style heroic fantasy story. The hero is not too emotional or sensitive. He's big, burly, strong, and independent.

It's an action book and not a plot twisting George RR Martin or old style epic Tolkien type book. If you like Conan stories, you'll probably like this.

It's a fun, old school, bad guy smashing story about an unwilling hero leaving a wake of destruction in order to solve his problem. Plus there's the Frazetta art work on the cover. What else could you want?

Great book, story is very addictive, hard to put down. James Silke has a way with words....If you like all the old conan books you will love this book and the series.

"In an age before Atlantis rose, an age rife, with sorcery and violence, the earth trembled beneath the all conquering hooves of the Kitzaak Horde, and only one man, Gath of Baal, dares to confront the Kitzaak lances, to stand between the never defeated armies and the lush valley that will, long millennia in the future, be know as the Mediterranean Sea. To save the peacful People of the Forest, Gath must dice with the gods, and the price he must pay is to become death made flesh, the Prisoner of the Horned Helmet."

I read this series years ago and have tried to find the books to read again. It's very sad that they are so hard to come by. There is nothing truly original in these books they are just DAMN GOOD!!! If you find them, buy and read them. You won't be disapointed.

This book series, (The Death Dealer series) seems to be very rare. I am surprised at this! The books are great! Well... as a typical teenager, I am into books with a fantasy theme. The Death Dealer books are one of the book series I have read, and also my favorite book series. The author, James Silke, really knows what to write to inspire a good feeling in the reader! The hero, Gath of Baal, Is somewhat like a "Conan" character. Yet he does 'Un- Conan like things" in the book. Oh! By the way, these books are probably the MOST VIOLENT books you will ever read. for example: Gath, in one of the books, rips off someone's arm, and BEATS HIM TO DEATH WITH IT! then beats the assailants friends with it too. he carries around a huge axe, and the art on the covers is GREAT! this is the only book series I have ever read, that the cover was not only really cool, but the cover ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN THE BOOK!!! The second you see the art on the cover of "Prisoner of the Horned Helmet" you will want to read the book more that anything! trust me... order this book! it isn't expensive, and it is REALLY WORTH THE MONEY! Thanks for listening! Chris Gline HUT software

Book came in the condition described from seller and arrived in a reasonable time. Prisoner of the horned helm is a great example of old school fantasy with well defined hero's curvy women and lots of fighting without the politics, twists, and complications of many popular fantasy books out today (e.g. Game of thrones).