The Steel Throne (Legend of the Five Rings: The Four Winds Saga, Prelude) [Mass Market Paperback]

Edward Bolme (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2002 | Series: The Four Winds Saga

The Clan War is over. The danger is not.

Once the greatest samurai in all Rokugan, Toturi has managed to hold the Empire together despite warring clans and internal treacheries. But nothing has prepared him for the hordes of vile spirits ravaging his beloved realm.

As the Spirit Wars rage, Toturi and his children are the only hope for Rokugan.

The prelude to an upcoming Legend of the Five Rings series.

This novel introduces new characters and settings based on the events in the Legend of the Five Rings: The Spirit Wars card set. This book also sets up the story for future novels in the upcoming series The Four Winds Saga.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Edward Bolme has been involved in Origins award-winning game design and fiction for 14 years. This is his first novel for Wizards of the Coast, Inc., but he has contributed short stories to various anthologies, including The Dragons of Magic, a Magic: The Gathering anthology, and Neverwinter Nights, a Forgotten Realms anthology. He lives in Washington.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786927127
• ISBN-13: 978-0786927128
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,190,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Agree--the Best in this series!!!, July 2, 2002

By 

A. Lee (L.A., CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Steel Throne (Legend of the Five Rings: The Four Winds Saga, Prelude) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is another book set in the world of Rokugan, from the Legend of the Five Rings game which has a Fantasy Japan/Asian setting. The previous books smacked of your usual game-based fiction weaknesses (usually just average writers working with someone else's world--which is ok for fan-fic, but not as satisfying usually, as good writers working in their own world). Ed Bolme is another gaming insider. This is good, since he actually knows the world of L5R. The best of the previous books was written by the one other author who also knew the material well. But I was impressed by Ed's writing. This is easily the best of the 8 books that have been published so far. The book starts when the Emperor Toturi is in the grips of possession by some dark power. The only way to save the Empire is by committing seppuku while he still has enough control. So Toturi finds himself in Jigoku, the world of the dead. The dark power threatens to shut the Gate between the living and the dead, so the living can no longer commune with dead ancestors (something very important to all of Rokugan)... The story is told with a lot of energy, strong characterization and a deft feel for the Asian/Samurai/Fantasy setting of the world. I enjoyed this. Although, I'm biased, since I've been following the story and the game for many years.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A most satisfying entry in the L5R series, August 25, 2002

By 

Ramon Pena (Barcelona, Spain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Steel Throne (Legend of the Five Rings: The Four Winds Saga, Prelude) (Mass Market Paperback)

Having read them all, I'd rate The Steel Throne in the Top 3, along with The Crane, and The Dragon, in no particular order.

While the previous 7 books in the series deal with the doings of one main character within a short timespan (a few months, at most), this one spans the decades long conflict known The War Against Spirits and there is no main character. Instead, each chapter centers on one character, then jumps forward one month, or several years, to the next. This, far from being confusing, makes for an entertaining and dynamic read.

When dealing with game-based fiction, or shared-world fiction in general, one must thread carefully the narrow line between fulfilling reader expectations and crafting a compelling read, with a few surprises to boot. In my opinion, Mr. Bolme has succeded. Most bases are covered, questions long raised are finally answered, and a plot and characters only hinted at in one-liners on a piece of cardboard are made alive in this most satysfing novel.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exciting beginning to an incredible story!, May 1, 2002

By 

Dallas Raines (Mirumoto Yashin) (Loudoun County, Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Steel Throne (Legend of the Five Rings: The Four Winds Saga, Prelude) (Mass Market Paperback)

The Steel Throne is easily at the top of all the fantasy books I've read. And don't expect it to live up to the low standards of other games turned to books, because TST is a boo based on a game that was designed to be played like a book! Confused? Don't be. Even if you are COMPLETELY unfamiliar with L5R, you can pick up this book (or any of the others) and not be confused in the slightest. Ed was given the extremely difficult task of summing up two HUGE story arcs with enough fiction and story to it to take up an entire book series, and asked to put it all in one conice novel, and beleive me, he more then lived up to the task! I say if you've ever been slightly interested in samurai, ninja or high adventure (and who hasn't) pick it up! But let the buyer beware!!! YOU WILL GET HOOKED!!!... Eternal glory to the Dragon Clan!