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28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Prophecy is in the Scrye of the Beholder, June 12, 2000
This review is from: Silver Wolf, Black Falcon (Hardcover)
_Silver Wolf, Black Falcon_ by Dennis L. McKiernan. Roc, 2000, hardback, 474 pp. The meaning of a prophecy is in the scrye of the beholder. The actual meaning of a prophesy might be quite different from the first perception. _Silver Wolf, Black Falcon_ is the fourteenth Mithgar book. It draws upon four visions of the future gathered from the previous books. These prophecies may or may not be true, and may or may not be related. The fact that the final prophesy did not end as I had expected was a delightful surprise. This book starts where the _Eye of the Hunter_ ends. There is about a three chapter overlap to set the stage for this epic and bring new readers up to speed. The Elves of Arden decide all these visions might refer to the newborn Bair, a shapeshifter with a wolf alter-ego. They raise Bair for his role, to open the pathways between dimensions and lead the fight in a world-spanning war. Aravan, Bair's mentor and a principle character from _Voyage of the Fox Rider_, is back, seeking revenge for the murder of Galarun and trying to master a crystal containing a black falcon figure. Bair and Aravan do an admirable job of living their destiny-ridden lives, without being paralyzed by indecision or being grief-stricken over the outcome of their deeds. The best aspect of _Silver Wolf, Black Falcon_ is the smooth manner in which it gathers, interweaves and resolves many of the loose ends from the previous books: what happened to the Mages of Rwn, who killed Galarun, how did the Dragonstone escape the destruction of Rwn, and where do little Rucks come from? If you are a new traveler to Mithgar, do not be overwhelmed by the vast amount of history creeping through the first few chapters. As young Bair grows up, his kinfolk and teachers explain the history and customs of the Elves, Dwarves, Dragons and Humans that populate Mithgar. As Bair gains awareness of his world, you too will come to know Mithgar. As a veteran traveler to Mithgar, I am greatly amused by the references to the past books. As Bair speculates on the history of an old ruined mill (pp. 97-98), I remembered that mill was in the first few chapters and on the cover of _Into the Forge_. I could see what was coming and I was tempted to use a score card to tally the number of references. It was delightful to visit with all my old friends from the previous books. Lord Gildor Goldbranch, from "The Dark Tower Trilogy", makes a cameo appearance (p. 357). Lady Arin Flameseer, the principle character from _The Dragonstone_, arranges for a hunting party to be in the right place, at exactly the right time, to provide food and horses to the wolf and the falcon (p. 360). You might say her planning showed a great "foresight". I assume the "Red Slipper" Inn (p. 451) is an inside joke, based on the author's forward from _The Dragonstone_. Many red slippers clutter the landscape of Mithgar, each with a tale to tell. When you pick up one of the slippers, another slipper may fall out, revealing a story within a story. I am saddened this will likely be the last Mithgar book, because I feel I've actually been there. It's a wild and beautiful world to visit, with a complex, well-woven history. I've enjoyed my journeys, but I may travel back and re-visit some of those places to refresh my memory, relive the experiences and improve my understanding of the intermingled events. Dennis McKiernan's parting words sum up my perception of _Silver Wolf, Black Falcon_ and the other Mithgar books: "It's all connected, you know".
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Last Tale of Mithgar, June 17, 2000
This review is from: Silver Wolf, Black Falcon (Hardcover)
This is,perhaps,the last book of Mithgar. I, for one, am saddened by the end of an Era. Dennis McKiernan has brought to a world magic, passion, and excitement . . . but more important, he taught us lessons. In this book many lessons are brought to the forefront . . . discover the truth behind prophecy, and always test your faith, to discover the truth. In Silver Wolf, Black Falcon, we explore the world of Bair, son of Riatha and Urus, discovering origins, horrors, and ties of love and loss. No matter what happens, the true blessing Dennis McKiernan gave were those funny Warrows! It's all connected in this book, but several stories are left out of the loop. For a story supposedly ending, he's left it open for more! Let us wait for the Second Tales of Mithgar, yes?
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable, After a Slow Start, November 3, 2000
This review is from: Silver Wolf, Black Falcon (Hardcover)
"Silver Wolf, Black Falcon" will be enjoyed by any fan of Dennis L. McKiernan's Mithgar stories. First timers would be advised to start elsewhere. This book starts slow, but picks up and improves throughout, although the ending is somewhat anti-climatic. McKiernan himself describes this book as a sequel to all his prior Mithgar stories. The problem is that this is a lot of extra baggage for a less than 500 page novel. This is not the author's best work, although it is enjoyable. The Mithgar novels are not for everyone. Mckiernan writes in a highly formal style that can best be described as "High Tolkein". McKiernan has been the great master's most slavish imitator, not that there's anything wrong with that. But if you get irritated by an overdose of "thees", "thine", "thou", etc., these books are not for you. "Silver Wolf, Black Falcon" is chronologically the last of McKiernan's Mithgar novels. It tells the story of Bair, a young man born to a female elf, and a Baeron, a human shapechager of mixed heritage. He is called an Impossible Child, because elves cannot give birth on the plane of Mithgar. Millenia ago, the ways between the planes were sundered to defeat the forces of evil. Only those who have the blood of another plane can travel to that plane. Thus elves can return to their home plane of Adonar, but can't return to Mithgar; the foul beings of evil known collectively as Rucks, can return to their evil plane of Neddra, but can't return to Mithgar, etc. Bair is of mixed blood, so he can freely travel the planes. This novel spends the first 100 plus pages watching Bair grow to the age of 16, and then, finally, picks up speed as we accompany Bair and his Elven "uncle", Aravan, on a mission of great importance. As I stated, this is not the author's best novel. He provides no explanations for certain mysterious events (perhaps for future books), but the result is he provides solutions out of nowhere. Mithgar fans should know that the author leaves room for future Mithgar stories. This book starts slow and has too much baggage. The book is also too short to be a worthy climax of the Mithgar saga. Still, McKiernan fans will be entertained.
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