6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Okay, February 8, 2004
By A Customer
I do not believe it is accurate to blame the failings (if so they are) of this book entirely on Storm Constantine. This was a collaborative effort. While Constantine may have essentially written the story, she was in liaison with Moorcock for its conception through to its completion, and Moorcock would have undoubtedly read all the drafts and given his approval, seeing as it has his name on the cover. I doubt Moorcock would have blindly allowed Constantine to write what ever she wanted, at the sake of his own reputation.
As for my opinion of the story, I found it a tad laboured and in places quite boring. Conversely, I found it in places unusual and interesting. In other words, it is an uneven story and thus difficult to review or to describe. I will however say that there are much worse examples of fantasy on the market. Silverheart is just unremarkable, but passable. I found Silverheart more enjoyable a second time. There is a lot of detail to absorb - possibly too much, as Storm backfills at every opportunity she gets, laying it on a little too thickly. Probably it could have used some slimming down.
I am not a Moorcock fan, but it seems Moorcock fans are not thrilled with this book. As a former Constantine reader (I've gone off her a bit since the mid-nineties), I can say I am disappointed though not surprised at the outcome.
The plot: In six days Max Silverskin, thief and trickster, must discover the secrets of his heritage or perish from the witch mark - the Silverheart - on his chest which will devour his heart. Lady Rose Iron, daughter of the leader of the mighty Clan Iron in Karadur, city of metal, steam and ancient secrets, is thrown into an uneasy alliance with Max as she searches out the secrets which may save the city's future. Captain Cornelius Coffin, head of the clans' security forces, is in love with Lady Rose and obsessed with capturing Max. And there are others, in Shriltasi, Karadur's underworld twin, who know the prophecy which says that only Max Silverskin can save both realms.
And a note to Amazon: Silverheart is a COLLABORATION between Michael Moorcock AND Storm Constantine. For reasons unknown Amazon omitted Ms Constantine below the title of this book. Not very fair considering she is responsible for fleshing out the story - you know, the difficult bit.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable and sticks in your head, December 15, 2005
This review is from: Silverheart: A Novel of the Multiverse (Hardcover)
As a longtime sci-fi fan, I realized that I had never actually read any Moorcock besides Gloriana (which I didn't enjoy). Saw this and thought I'd try it. It was pleasant surprise - sucked me into the story, and I couldn't stop reading once it hit the end. A bit predictable in parts, but done well; the world was very well developed, and the mythos interesting. I find scenes from the book stick into my head now, and keep popping up when I'm trying to work. I'd read it again.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Unfortunately Dull, November 4, 2005
This review is from: Silverheart: A Novel of the Multiverse (Hardcover)
A fascinating setting marred by dull characterizations and a tiredly familiar rpg-cliche storyline make this book a profound disappointment. Silverheart is an ode to the typically unusual Moorcockian genre with none of the charm or the lyricism that infects the pages of an actual Moorcock novel. One gets the idea while ploughing through the pages that Moorcock's contribution to the book consisted solely of a few notes scrawled on the back of a napkin, giving the finished product the necessary decor yet none of the necessary structure.
Fortunately, its publication is immediately followed by a true-written Moorcock novel, "The White Wolf's Son".
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