Customer Reviews

The Thran (Magic, The Gathering)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was clearly the best Magic The Gathering book I have ever read.

We all know Yawgmoth was a demon and Phyrexia was a terrible place. However, it was a mystery why it was so. This book charts how Yawgmoth from a medical doctor slowly became a demon and how Phyrexia came into being. It also blended very well with earlier stories like the Brother's Wars. Mysteries in the earlier books were explained here. For example, who was Gix? Why were there nine planes in Phyrexia? How did the practice of meshing body parts to form new Phyrexians come about? What roles did the Meekstone and Mightstone play? What happened in the war between Thran and Phyrexians? This book clearly explained all the mysteries in the earlier books and made the whole Magic story more interesting and convincing.

I sort of lost interest after the second book in Artifact Cycles. I thought it was incoherent, rambling and raises more questions than it answers. Also, I guess I had expected Serra to be more powerful than it was depicted.

But King has made me interested in the story again. I will definely read his Artifact Cycle book 3 now.

For those of you who play the game Magic: the Gathering, or have read any of the books, or are just a fan of fantasy war...YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK! This is the prehistory of a very diverse world of fantasy. Its machines verses dwarven warriors, magic verses science. The results of this war will shape the multiverse for the next eight thousand years.

This book goes a long way towards filling in the backgrounds of many legendary Magic names. Yawgmoth, Gix, etc. I love knowing their pasts.

This book is excellent. It has a lot of background information on some important characters in the magic universe. This book takes place before Urza and Mishra, and even before there were colors of magic. In fact, there is no knowledge of magic in "the Thran." This book starts with the knowledge of a Thran-Phyrexian War. It then jumps back and explains the build up to this war - which by the end will leave you wondering what just happened and how the magic universe was drastically affected thousands of years before Urza rocked the world in the Brother's War.

Very interesting book and I recommend it for Magic: The Gathering fans and those who have never played the game. M:TG fans will certainly love the history provided but the story is still so well written and an amazing tale that even people who do not know who Yawgmoth is will still like the book.

Upon finishing this book I wanted to immediately to jump in to the "Invasion" cycle because the Phyrexians are so crazy and powerful. I can't wait.

Before i ordered this book i was expecting a medicore story that would basically fill me in on what went on during the time of the Thran (you understand this better if you have read The Brothers War before). I was pleasntly surprized with the calibre of the story and writing talent. This book is a must read if you are interested in the Thran, the Phyrexians, or the Magic: The Gathering setting in gerneral. This book may not make much sence if you arent familiar with the Magic setting. "The Thran" tells the story of the origen of Phyrexia, the Thran/Phyrexian war, and Yagmoth. A well written book which perfictly fits in with any and all other MTG books.

The first book I read in this series is Nemisis, then I got Apocalypse, and all time I wanted to know more abot Yawgmoth, Rebbec and Halycon, now I know! This is so good I cried, even the sample pages show how cool the book is. J. Robert King writes the best MTG books (and the funniest and must cursed filled ones.). This is my favorite book in the world.

Before I start my review, I want to say that I have very little experience with the Magic the Gathering card game. Over the years I have collected the cards on and off, but have since quit the game due to lack of friends who play. With that said, I am reviewing this book not from the perspective of a player, but a reader. I am also reading this book before I have started to read the Invasion Cycle. And now, onto the review.

The Thran is the prequel to the three book Invasion Cycle (making this the fourth book in the cycle). The book tells the story of Glacian, a genius from the "city-state" of Halcyon who during a typical day in the mana rig is stabbed by an untouchable (an outcast or a criminal from the society) with a "powerstone". Afterwards, Glacian is hospitalized as he now suffers from a mysterious illness known as phthisis (am unsure of the correct spelling). After regular healing (white magic) proves to only worsen Glacian's condition, a banished "healer" is brought in to try and cure Glacian. However, it appears that this "healer" has an agenda of his own, while making slow and steady strides to cure the disease he plots and schemes until he finally gets what his heart desires. This is the story of Yawgmoth and his rise to power in the Thran empire, how he came to rule, the revolt from the Thran and other races in Dominaria to stop the evil genius, and the creation of the deadliest "plague of creatures" ever, the Phyrexians.

Though, I'm an essential novice to the game of Magic the Gathering, I have to say that I love this book. All the suspense and drama, the betrayals by loved ones, I mean it's all amazing. I had a hard time putting this book down because I was left wondering what would happen to Glacian would he get better or would he perish from the disease the eats away his body. And Yawgmoth, another gripping character, as you go through the book, you're just hoping that someone, anyone realizes what he's doing and tries to stop him. I must say that I am very pleased with how this story ends and can't wait to read the Invasion Cycle. This is a gripping novel of love and loss, deception and betrayal, and the ultimate battle of good and evil.

This book isn't too bad. It filled in all the details that was left out in the Artifact Cycle and so on. Its a very good book.A must have for all magic fans!

This is definitely a must-read for Magic fans out there. It answered questions on how Phyrexia and its lord:Yawgmoth was formed. It tells you about the Thran and its superior advancement in artifacts that in the future leads Urza to become what I would say the master of artifacts. After reading this book, no longer will you be pondering with questions of Phyrexia.

The Thran is a deep tale of progressive generation and its roots in civilization. The visions painted in our minds of heavenly cities and floating temples provoke ideas of ascension as if we were citizens of Halcyon itself. The story is enriched with intrigue and open-ended technological innovation in the form of a limitless source of energy. Insights into the brilliant mind of Glacian imbue a sense of wonder at the possibilities of such energy sources. His wife Rebbec has countless inspirations of beauty, and as an archictect they both contribute to the good of the city. Yawgmoth is the catch. He is much more than a character, he is an idea. He is the embodiment of human moral failure, shown through his rape of entire nations for his own means. He is a compulsive liar, and tends to get away with it because anyone who speaks the truth is silenced immediately and branded a sick person who needs to be quarantined. I would love to see this on the big screen, with a high budget. Johhny Depp would make a great Yawgmoth, Sean Bean would make a great Glacian, and Vin Diesel would be awesome as Gix. Angelina Jolie as Dyfed and the woman who plays "M" for 007 as Eldest Jameth.