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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific sci-fi and Celtic blend -- Very highly recommended, January 25, 2002
Beautifully graceful ships arrive at the isolated island, concealing an evil force led by a terrible being of sinister purpose. These attackers are the household troops of Balor One-Eye, a being so deadly that a look destroys. For fifteen years Queen Taillta and her soldiers have guarded a child, watching and waiting for this day when they would fight again. The boy Lugh Lamfada escapes as the Queen's soldier's fight. His boat carries him to a fog enshrounded island of magic, protected by the sea-god Manannan MacLir. Manannan gives Lugh a quest designed to not only provide information, but also leads to self-discovery. Lugh must go to Eire to observe the the Tuatha de Darnann, enslaved by monstrous pirates called Fomor. The Fomor are twisted and distorted men, damaged by the technology of their forebearers and lead by the inhuman Balor One-Eye. Balor perceives Lugh as a threat to his power and perhaps even to the Formor's very existance. Ancient prophesy predicts the youth who seeks his destiny and brings surival to the people he comes to love. THE RIDERS OF THE SIDHE is Book One of The Gods of Eire trilogy. A gifted story teller, Kenneth C. Flint's prose sweeps the reader away on an epic journey to self discovery and the salvation of a people. A masterful blend of Celtic legend and science ficiton, this epic journey acheives an otherworldly, almost surreal flavor. Extraordinary heroism, the knowledge of druids, and the magic of bards provide an interesting and varied background. Originally printed by Bantum, this eBook version allow this marvelous tale to be shared once again at Awe-Struck E-Books.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Breathtaking Story of the Mythical Lugh of the Long Arm!, February 16, 2005
This review is from: Riders of the Sidhe (Sidhe, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
This is the tale of Lugh of the Long Arm, one of the greatest of all Celtic myths. This powerful legend comes to life in a new trilogy filled with all the fire and magic of the ancient bards!
Lugh is a champion from out of the sea sent to Eire by the seagod Manannan MacLir (Lir from the Gods of Ireland Novels) to observe and report on the condition of the de Dananns and their continuing struggle to drive the Fomor race from their land. The Fomors are a primarily grotesque warrior race that seeks to subdue the de Dananns into submission and slavery. Lugh's destiny will ultimately shape the de Danann's as he becomes their champion ordained by the Great Queen Danu herself.
One exciting quest/adventure after another keeps the pages turning quickly. The exploits of Lugh, Gilla, Aine, the Dagda, the Morrigan, Nuada, Balor of the Evil Eye, King Bres & the Fomor will keep you craving more and more. This is a trilogy of Lugh the Long Arm: 1) The Riders Of The Sidhe, 2) Champions Of The Sidhe, and 3) Master Of The Sidhe. Read these books! You will not be disappointed!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great introduction into Celtic mythos, August 6, 2005
This review is from: Riders of the Sidhe (Sidhe, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
Ken Flint is obviously a student of Celtic mythos, especially Irish myths, and here he delivers a solid tale of the beginnings of Lugh of the Long Arm. All of the Celtic gods show up here as regular characters, which the implication (completely unspoken) that through the years they were turned into gods by their descendants. A lot of mythology (Greek, Roman, Celtic, Norse, etc.) likely started that way.
Anyway, this first of three books follows the struggles of Lugh to become the champion of the de Dannan peoples and lead them to victory over the hated Fomor people, commanded by the evil and awesome Balor of the One Eye. The books are an interesting blend of fantasy and science fiction. While the de Dannon people fight with swords and spears and use magic while living a relatively simple life in stone and wood huts, the Fomor are quite the opposite. The "lower" Fomor are those afflicted with some knd of genetic hereditary affliction, turning them into monsters. At the beginning of the books, they live on the island Eire (an old name for Ireland, by the way) and are overlords of the subjugated de Dannan race. But we find out that there is another kind of Fomor, these live in a modern tower made of glass, complete with working elevators, and routinely use engine-powered ships, tanks, and other forms of transportations. This is where Balor lives.
Lugh leads the de Dannons against these awesome foes, in a way fighting two battles at once. One is the open rebellion against the lower Fomor and their king Bres on the island Eire. The other is a more covert war against the puppeteers, the "high" Fomor in the Tower. The story is well-written and peopled with interesting characters not common to fantasy literature. Flint does a good job of catching our interst and bringing the old Celtic myths to life in a lively story that at the same time is derived from the Irish myths, yet not slavishly devoted to them. Well worth the effort to find this book, and I highly recommend it.
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