Customer Reviews

Sword In The Storm (Book One In The Rigante Series)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read Gemmell's first book, 'Legend', when it was originally published in 1984. It's remains the only book I've ever read three times. From then on, every six months, for the next ten years, I bought every new book he released the week it was published.

When I moved to America from England, I stopped reading Gemmell's work. His books weren't readily available here and the new ones weren't even being published. By the time Gemmell started to become popular in the U.S., I'd lost the habit of reading him.

So it happened that I was looking for an easy read at the airport, after my flight was delayed. There on the shelf of Waldenbooks was a new novel by Gemmell - Sword in the Storm: Book 1 of the Rigante. Well, I was too tired to start reading it that day, but when I finally read it I was hooked. It's been a while since I read a book cover to cover in two days.

The experience reminded me why I always loved reading David Gemmell's work. He's not the most inventive writer I've read and he isn't exactly challenging. Many of his plots are recycled from previous outings and his dialog doesn't always work. What Gemmell offers is good old-fashioned story telling. I think his talent really resides in the fact that Gemmell loves his characters. For him they really seem to exist and so by extension, they exist for the reader too.

Writing has been described as mind-reading, the author putting his thoughts in the readers' heads. Gemmell does this par excellence. Rarely does he miss an emotional beat when telling his stories.

Even when Gemmell's being his most manipulative, I'm a willing sucker for his literary hucksterism. He's just a good, solid writer who seems to care about what he's writing about. I'm always sad to finish one of his books. The saving grace is I have a shelf full of his older works I could re-read.

If you're a fan of fantasy novels, don't deprive yourself of the pleasure of Gemmell's writing, his characters and his worlds. I came onto Amazon to order Book II and III of the Rigante. I guess I'm hooked again and loving every page of it.

`Sword in the Storm' is described as the `Book one in the Rigante series' - how many times have we heard that? Oh, no not another trilogy (however we do not yet known how many books will appear in this sequence yet). Gemmell normally avoids this, most of this books are `stand alone' or sequels to earlier works. The exception to this is `Ironhand's Daughter', which was marketed in the UK as the `1st Book of the Hawk Queen' though only one other volume has appeared (The Hawk Eternal'). Actually it's rather good, well up to Gemmell's best. In terms of his other works, better than `Waylander II: in the Realm of the Wolf' and `Echoes of the Great Song' and on a par with the excellent `Dark Moon' and `Winter Warriors'. Fans will not be disappointed and new reader will enjoy Gemmell's rich glorious style. The main characters are typically Gemmell: passionate, resourceful and proud. Full of revenge and destiny, envy and greed. Gemmell's plots often revolve around simple passions and motivations. Not one dimensional, but just driven by basic human nature. This fits with Gemmell's often Bronze-age feel to his fantasy. His other characters are mixed and believable. Although `Stone' is clearly late Republican Rome and the `Rigante' probably Celts, this does not matter as it's handed well. But I did see an echo with the `Outland' i.e. Roman Legions of `Ironhand's Daughter' with Gemmell's new world of Rigante. And that's my one criticism of Gemmell, `Ironhand's Daughter' was written only 3 or 4 years before the new Rigante series, but already we have a repetition of themes - he does seem to do this fairly often. This is of course just his style, and fans come to expect certain things of a writer. He would argue that basic human emotions such as revenge and lust for glory have driven great men and women throughout history and his characters are no different. I look forward, as always, to the next volume by this great British writer.

I came across Gemmell while trying to search down another author named James Silke (Death Dealer novels). Although Silke has written nothing else than those primal books I read years ago, I've found that Gemmell has stepped in to fill that void for me. Sometimes I feel that Gemmell's works lack the structure of the most lauded prose authors, but he more than makes up for it in pure characterization and his embodiment of a rousing, dynamic, fantasy yarn. His tales are a seamless amalgam of Tolkienesque high fantasy and Howardesque sword and sorcery. READ as much GEMMELL as possible. You'll be happier for it. In fact, my only TRUE complaint is that I can't seem to put a thumb on what SEQUENCE to read my Gemmell novels! Other Gemmellites agree on this one? :-)

This was on my wish list for a long time, as it only just became available in America recently. I'm not disappointed.

Basically, the novel follows the preordained rise to greatness of Conn, the titular "Sword in the Storm". He is noticed by the Seidh, a group of dangerous near-deities, who help him in times of trouble. He leaves the lands of his native tribe and visits the mainland, serving as a scout in the armies of Stone, an all-conquering empire. He comes back to strengthen his people for the coming onslaught, which is set up at the end of this book.

"Okay, but what's it like?"

Pretty darn good, actually. I like Gemmell's way of focusing on the thoughts of minor characters as well as major ones, giving us a different perspective. It is, of course, liberally drawn from European history; Conn's people are quite obviously Celtic, and the Stone are, of course, Rome.

One of the more interesting things I noticed was how Mr. Gemmell uses fate. The liberal knowledge of geasa is one manifestation, and the other is the Seidh's interest in Conn. As I mentioned, he is preordained for greatness...though I really suspect it's more of a "preordained to keep the Seidh alive for a little while longer" kind of thing, given that the Seidh are usually quite selfish in their faeishness (come on, you rearrange Seidh to get Sidhe...), and the epilogue seems to support this. Of course, I'll know more come the sequel, in May.

I highly recommend this novel.

I enjoyed this book for it's wonderful story of a young man who is controlled by destiny and a way of life. The Rigante are a warrior tribe who tended to rely upon their strentgh rather then their strategy. Then along comes Conn the Demonblade who goes around the world extracting revenge upon the killers of his friend, wife and also to protect friends. It's a little different then Gemmell's books involving the Druss and his people but that's because it doesn't go into as much detail in the battles as he (Gemmell) usually does. I wait for a chance to read the second book in this series and hope it is similar to the first.

Sword in the Storm is the first book in David Gemmell's Rigante series. Mr. Gemmell is most known for his Drenai series, most notably Legend. Mr. Gemmell has a knack for story telling that allows for a solid combination of both story telling and great characters, this book is no exception. Fans of Gemmell will notice some similarities between this book and the Drenai series, but make no mistake they are vastly different books, and series. This book takes more time to develop due to the fact that it's a larger plot and encompasses more people and places.

As with every other Gemmell book I have read this book contains plenty of action. Gemmell is one of the best in the fantasy genre for describing a fight, either a sword fight or a fist fight.

The general plot of this book centers on a young barbarian of the Rigante people. The first book follows him as he grows up into a man who becomes famous first among his own people and then gradually others. It follows his trials, and there are many, as well as his successes. The major subplot of this book is the impending invasion by the people of Stone who are across the ocean. While this subplot does not get fully explored in this book it is quite obvious how it sets up for the second booking what the Rigante will face and the challenges that lay ahead for them.

Again, as with the other books I have read by Gemmell, he has once again created memorable characters. All the characters from Connavar, to Banouin are fantastic. Each character has flaws, they are not all powerful, never do wrong like some modern fantasy characters are. Gemmell's characters have a way of touching some part of the reader, each character serves a purpose as they take the reader through the story. I believe the true strength of Gemmell's books are the wonderful characters and this book follows that mold very well.

As I mentioned earlier, Gemmell is most known for the book Legend and the series that spawned. Fans of that book, and series, will most likely enjoy this as well. However, I feel it needs to be noted that readers should not go into this book expecting the same flow as the Drenai books. This book has a much more Celtic feel than his other books. It's a much more engaging read that requires more attention from the reader than the Drenai books. That's not to say the Drenai books are bad books, in fact I enjoy they quite a bit, it's just they are different than the Rigante books and people expecting the same may be slightly disappointed by that.

I would strongly urge any fantasy fan to give this book a shot. Certainly fans of Gemmell should read this without worrying about it. They will find many things they enjoy. This is certainly a worthwhile read, and I look forward to continuing the series.

David Gemmell is by far the most enthralling fantasy writer of today. I have read The Wheel of Time by Jordan, Modesitt books, and various other adventure/fantasy books, and I always come back to Gemmell.

True, Sword in the Storm is a rewrite of the rise of Rome, and the series seems to take a lot from the movies Braveheart, Gladiator, and Rob Roy. This book takes us back to a time before civilazation spoiled ancient ways and communities.

As in all Gemmell books the main characters are flawed, which helps to make them believable as people just like us. The story of Connavar is one of my favorites, and will remain so throughout the years. The story is told through this book and its immediate sequel (Midnight Falcon), with the following two books advancing the reader hundreds of years in time.

This book will make you feel a connection with the people and the land of which it speaks, and long to be back there fighting alongside Conn and Ruathain to save their people.

Some have said the book starts a little slow as it tells the story of his childhood, but it sets the stage for the realities of why he is the way he is.

The non-fantasy equivalent of Gemmell in my opinion would be Louis L'amour. If they both wrote in the same genre, the difference between the two would be hard to distinguish.

Gemmell is a storyteller, and Sword in the Storm is one of his best stories. Enjoy it like I did, and soon you'll be scouring the countryside for every Gemmell book you can get your hands on. I have read 16 on them already, with a few left to come.

This is the first Gemmell book I read and I found it very compelling... so much so that I went out and bought the next two without thought after a few chapters!

It weaves magic, folklore, and mythology into the novel and makes you wonder if this is what could possibly have happened "way back when". A great example of transition, you see the ancient move to the modern and I found myself questioning whether this is what may have happened to our great and mysterious past. Do not be mistaken, this is not a book on magic or magic-users (though it is peppered throughout the series). Readers will, however, definitely enjoy the action-filled encounters.

The heightened sense of drama adds to the character growth and lessons learned. Though it says "Rigante Series, Book 1", it will easily stand alone (though I'm sure you will want to read on).

Though the battle scenes are thrilling, it is the individual that really makes the story.

No matter how many books he writes, David Gemmell just seems to get better and better. I loved this book. It did not end the way i expected it to but this in no way hindered the books effect on me. The character of Connavar is so complex and yet so infinitely simple that you cannot help but find the character enthralling. You sympathise with him and feel the tragedies that befall him. Gemmell is truly the definitive writer of heroic fantasy and yet i find it very difficult to find his books in any great number in books stores here. An Enigma

Gemmell devivers again with this tale of high fantasy. Connavar is the name of the man who is the sword in the storm. A brave, yet sometimes rash warrior, who from a boy is destined for greatness. Unlike many stories along this theme, this one is focused on the learning proces of this future hero, rather than on the actual acts of greatness he will someday achieve. As we read, we watch Connavar grow up, with all the trials and tribulations that come with achieving manhood. Only towards the end of the book do we see the results of his training when the enemy is approaching...
What makes Gemmell books so amazing is his ability to write secondary characters that we care about. For example, the witch, his father and mother, and even his rivals all have a role to play in the development and success of the tale.
I did not find Connavar as intriguing as Druss the Legend, however, that is likely a function of how wonderful the Druss stories are, and should not be seen as a failing of the Rigante series. I would definatly recommend this book as a stand alone tale, or a prelude to the rest of the Rigante series. Gemmell is a King of fantasy, and any fan of might and magic would be a fool to not venture into this storm.

Relic113