Customer Reviews

The Sword of the Spirits

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Sword of the Spirits trilogy is definitely one of the most downer dystopia series ever written, especially for a young adult audience. The main character Luke has got to get an award for one of the most flawed protagonists of all time. The blood and death flows almost nonstop after the initial part of the book. A technological society was nearly brought to ruin and now only marginally survives, a superstitious husk of the humanity that once was.

Many people criticize the series for the infuriatingly pig-headed ending of it all. I think that's really one of the major points of the book. To think that so many people were killed, so many relationships were destroyed, and so many hopes shattered just so Luke could come to power -- and then he completely squanders it with his paranoia, his pride and his stubbornness in a final book that has got to be one of the most depressing tomes of all time. To think that everything that has been suffered is for naught is infuriating. We like to think (and many novelists do, as well) that suffering and strife will always bring some sort of redemption or good end, but this often simply is not the case. It's like Hamlet but with absolutely none of the nobility, purpose and honor. That's clear the author's point -- see the huge Hamlet reference in the final book.

This is the sort of series you want to shred after you finish reading it because it's just so anger-inducing. Not a classic, but it gets 5 stars for the impressions it's left on me.

This series is perhaps one of the darkest young adult sci-fi stories available. That is probably why it stands out so vividly in my memories from adolescence. At last having achieved Winchester's throne, Luke proceeds to unravel everything he has gained with his frustrating single-mindedness and stubborn pride. The ending so shocked me in its sadness and resignation that I can clearly recall rereading the final chapter over and over. This series, along with certain Robert Cormier novels, taught me that all stories do not end well, and in fact might be more resonant and thought-provoking if they don't. This one stays with you for quite a while.

The first time I read The Sword of the Spirits trilogy, I was maybe twelve. But it left a strong impression on me and I reread the series every couple of years.

Luke is a flawed character. He is unable to express his feelings to those he cares about, so he comes across as aloof and uncaring. For him, though, actions speak louder than words and loyalty and honor matter more than anything else. His devotion to Hans is a key example, even when that devotion can cost him personally and politically (i.e. when he elevates Hans to captain). At the same time, anyone who betrays his loyalty drives him to seek revenge, no matter the consequences. There are both Macbeth and Hamlet qualities about him.

I appreciate the stark language of the series, and how each one builds substantially off the one before it. Whoever was the editor did an excellent job, as these books contain little fat. Overall, I think this trilogy is a masterpiece and I would like to see it reprinted in the US. It stands head and shoulders above the Tripod trilogy.

Being a fan of the Tripod Trilogy, I bought the Sword of the Spirits box set well over 20 years ago and read it. I was so disturbed by it that ever since then the trilogy has moved with me 3 times, sitting on a bookshelf wherever I lived, and I had literally been afraid to re-read it even though I had only vague memories of what I found so disturbing. Anyway, I finally bit the bullet and just finished it again. It did not have quite the same effect on me, but was still incredibly powerful. I think that what is so thought provoking is that it is difficult to find fault with any particular thing that any character does throughout the trilogy. They are all motivated by things that are easily understandable, especially if you try to see the situation from their point of view. There is no "evil" character, and everyone seems to try to do the right thing, yet everything falls to pieces regardless and everyone suffers. The main character, Luke, is demonized by depression from the very beginning, yet always tries to do what is expected of him, and is fiercely (and often naively) loyal to friends and comrades. The author has an amazing way of capturing real human emotions with very few words. I am still quite disturbed... this trilogy is one that stays with you for a good while as you think and re-think it, but I believe that at 40 years old I am no longer actually afraid of it!

First of all, the last sentence of the book alone drops this book's rating from 3 stars to 2. A downer of an ending is one thing, even a positive for this genre--but a self-important downer of an ending is simply annoying.

That said, the trilogy as a whole is pretty decent, just don't expect any literary masterpieces, particularly in this volume. The plot device stolen directly from Hamlet is pure cliche, and the author seems to forget how to write an even semi-convincing female character. The ending seems to show promise, getting the reader to start thinking about issues of the allure of wealth and international trade (very salient 30 years later), but the last sentence destroys any good will built up by that point. It's fine for the narrator to be down on life, but moping? It's out of character, and jarring enough to remind the reader of the (many) other flaws in the book.

This book is by far the best I have ever read. I read The Prince in Waiting for a school book report and found myself totally intrigued. I then found Sword of the Spirits and decided that I had to read it. This book was even more exciting and ironic than the first! The twisted love story and unexpected betrayal between Blodwen, {Luke's fiancee and daughter of a king} Edmund, {Luke's best friend} and Luke {prince of Winchester} is ironic and entrancing. I found this book hard to put down and it is HIGHLY recommended!!

The title does not mean much, either for the book itself or for the series. The middle book ended on a sad note, but this one concludes on a tragic (or pathetic) note. Christopher does leave room for a possible fourth book, but Luke, the protagonist, has not undergone any real character development after all the ordeals in this trilogy. Now he is a young adult who has antagonized almost everyone who likes or loves him. The author seems to have painted himself into a corner and chosen an unsatisfactory denouement. Too many loose threads and unresolved themes.

The entire series raises serious questios about which fate is best for mankind, but Luke (or the author) seems unable to decide. Their options:

---The Seers, with their deceit and technological trickery to stage a Machine Age Renaissance, when the national religion has banned all such inventions--many of which are as deadly in the Future as they were in the Past?

--The Christians, who preach peace, have widely diverse Bishops, and do not hesitate to act as human shields to defend their city or protect those luckless individuals condemned to the stocks?

--The Wilsh nation with their music, colorful clothing, penchant for perfumes and feasts, who both love and hate to extreme? Who place revenge and Honor above their own kin...

The genius of the Tripods series and the zest of Prince in Wiating have petered out and we are left with a disappinting read and the feeling of "is that all there is?" after an entire trilogy. Whatever will happen to Luke; we don't care that much any more.

This last book is the crown jewel in a trlogy that is a hidden gem for pre-teens. Containing that English play within a play (or book in this case) the story hooks the reader with adventure and ends in a Shakespherian twist.

I've been looking for the Sword of the Spirits trilogy for years, and it still doesn't seem like I'm able to find it. If you do come across one or all three of the books in the series, don't hesitate to buy, because you're in for something really special. For my part, these books certainly changed the way I was and thought in a lot of ways.

the book is in quite good condition. It also arrived on time. I do recommend this seller.