Customer Reviews

Sword of the Lamb (Phoenix Legacy)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Beautifully crafted. I was delighted to have the opportunity to replace my original extremely battered books. Among science fiction books that examine or explore socio-political structures, these books rank at the top of my list along with the Ender's Game trilogy by Orson Scott Card and "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" by Heinlein.

I recommend this book, but only if you can get hold of all three in the series. This is the first, "Shadow of the Swan" is the second, "House of the Wolf" is the third and final of this "The Phoenix Legacy" series. I would say this is one novel in three installments. In my 1981 edition the second and third books both have maps, previous part synopsis (there are 6 parts altogether), and a cast of characters; the third book also has an extensive glossary. It unfortunately has some pretty lame cover art. You can easily find plot synopsis elsewhere. I want to say that this book nicely combines political intrigue with some hard science fiction and social idealism in the context of a far future feudal society. One plot element involves a pseudo-christian religion, but it is not thematic and there is no supernatural, fantastic, or faith-based action. There's enough action and plot twists to keep you turning the pages, but the real strength of the novel is in the characters and the drama. To my mind, there is nothing particularly profound or inventive about this series, but it is well written and entertaining.

The Legacy of the Phoenix series is a little soap opera-ish, but the characters grip you, and once you start on the first book you will get sucked in and want to read the next two. I recommend the series full heartedly, though I wouldn't start reading the first one unless I was sure I was able to procure the next two, as once you are hooked on the series you will want to blow through all three books back to back. Not five star, but the series is very close to it, and well worth the read.

I am a young sci-fi fan who found this book in my basement twoyears ago. I can honestly say that I love this series. Of all the sci-fiauthers I have come across, I can say with complete honesty that M.K. Wren is one of the best. While I have the first two books, I have searched across the United States(literally) and have yet to find the third book. I highly encourage all science fiction fans to read this triology if you have not done so already.

A truly gripping story which contains fully realized characters, not caricatures. As in real life, you get drama, heroism and romance without the melodrama. It is very refreshing and very rare to find a truly entertaining, intricate and well-written story which main drawback as far as I can see are the covers of the books themselves (the original US edition, which is the one I got).

They are clearly the reason why these books are nearly unknown in the science fiction field. I feel certain the author must have been furious. It makes it even more astonishing that I actually bought all three books as they came out years ago (and the suspense in between was pretty bad let me tell you), and is why I can recommend them highly, with the proviso that you really want to read them in order.

This is exactly the reason why we waste our time reading slush: in order to find books like these, if we are persistent enough! And the British edition has very decent covers (and could be easier to find as well, being more recent)

I read the first of these books when I was in 7th grade. It took me two years to locate a copy of the 2nd book and two more to find the 3rd. It was well worth the wait and I stayed up all night to read the final book. The characters are wonderfully crafted, the story line is multilevel. The only books I have read more times are "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "The Lord of the Rings". If you can locate a copy of these in a used book store, buy them! Don't let the romance novel apperance keep you from enjoying these great books.

Meet Alexand and Rich, two sons of Lord Dekoven Woolf. Alexand is the heir, an intelligent, controlled young man undergoing his apprenticeship in politics. Rich is the gentle, brilliant younger brother who becomes fascinated -and deeply involved-with some sociological problems in their society. The brothers are very close, and they face many problems together. The bond between them brings about many of the events that occur throughout the trilogy.

Ignore the cover art. This is a great trilogy that spends time on characters, plot, sociology, politics and religion. The actual science in the science fiction is a bit lacking. So if that will bug you, you might have a problem with some of the issues in the series. Beyond that, the scope is wide, the plot is gripping, the characters are people you care about, and the writing is seamless.

I loved this story as a kid, and it still holds up well under adult scrutiny.

As a life long fan of SiFI and History I rate this book among my favorites along side the Foundation series. I found Vol. 1 at a used book sale and located the rest. Good Character development and realistic plot line based on past history. When I finished the series I was sorry there weren't more.

I read this trilogy for the first time a few years ago. Immediately I found myself entranced with not only the epic plot, brain-tickling technology, and intensely personal characters, but the scope and depth with which they were all written. I currently own books two and three (lucky finds liberated from second hand book stores whose owners would kick themselves for not keeping them for themselves), and am glad to have finally found the first book here. (*YAY! YAY!*) I would not hesitate to recommend these books to any lover of sci-fi, fantasy, OR techno-thrillers. Two thumbs up, and my big toes too for good measure.

I have never been fond of the sweeping space socio-political story, but this series avoided all of the cliches and pitfalls that usually frustrate me. Richard Lamb is a character who moves the reader to pity and admiration, while his brother Alexand DeKoven-Woolf is a character whom you wish you could meet. The story progresses rapidly, despite the fact that it is a trilogy, developing both the individual characters and the galactic political morass