Windlord (The De Danann Tales, Book 1) [Paperback]

Michael Scott (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Interlink Pub Group Inc (June 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0863272967
• ISBN-13: 978-0863272967
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,147,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"Some stories wait their turn to be told, others just tap you on the shoulder and insist you tell them."

By one of those wonderful coincidences with which life is filled, I find that the first time the word alchemyst--with a Y--appears in my notes is in May 1997. Ten years later, almost to the day, The Alchemyst, the first book in the Nicholas Flamel series, will be published in May.

Every writer I know keeps a notebook full of those ideas, which might, one day, turn into a story. Most writers know they will probably never write the vast majority of those ideas. Most stories wait their turn to be told, but there are a few which tap you on the shoulder and insist on being told. These are the stories which simply will not go away until you get them down on paper, where you find yourself coming across precisely the research you need, or discovering the perfect character or, in my case, actually stumbling across Nicholas Flamel's house in Paris.

Discovering Flamel's house was the final piece I needed to put the book together. It also gave me the character of Nicholas Flamel because, up to that point, the book was without a hero.

And Nicholas Flamel brought so much to the story.

Nicholas Flamel was one of the most famous alchemists of his day. He was born in 1330 and earned his living as a bookseller, which, by another of those wonderful coincidences, was the same job I had for many years.

One day he bought a book, the same book mentioned in The Alchemyst: the Book of Abraham. It, too, really existed and Nicholas Flamel left us with a very detailed description of the copper-bound book. Although the book itself is lost, the illustrations from the text still exist.

Accompanied by his wife Perenelle, Nicholas spent more than 20 years trying to translate book. He must have succeeded. He became extraordinarily wealthy and used some of his great wealth to found hospitals, churches, and orphanages. Perhaps he had discovered the secret of the Philosopher's Stone: how to turn base metal into gold.

Of course the greatest mystery linked to Nicholas Flamel is the story of what happened after he died. When his tomb was opened by thieves looking for some of his great wealth, it was found to be empty. Had Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel been buried in secret graves, or had they never died in the first place? In the months and years to follow, sightings of the Flamels were reported all over Europe. Had Nicholas also discovered that other great mystery of alchemy: the secret of immortality?

What writer couldn't resist a story that combined magical books, an immortal magician and grave robbing and, even more excitingly, that had a basis in fact? It begged the questions: if he was still alive today, where would he be and what would he be doing? Obvious really--he would be running a bookshop in San Francisco.

The Alchemyst was a tough book to write, probably the toughest of all the books I've done so far. It is the first in a series, and because the story told across all six books is so tightly integrated, keeping track of the characters and events means that I have to keep extensive and detailed notes. A minor change in book one could impact dramatically book three. There are tiny clues seeded into the first book that pay off in later books. The time frame for the entire series is very tight--The Alchemyst, for example, takes place over two days--so I too need to keep an hour-by-hour breakdown of events.

For people who like to know the practicalities, I write every day and sometimes all day and often long into the night. Nights really are the best time for writing. It's that time the conscious side of the brain is starting to shut down and the unconscious takes over. The following day I'll read what I've written the previous day, then edit and rewrite. I work on two computer screens; the story on one screen, notes and research on the second screen.

And now let me answer the question you are about to ask me because, sooner or later, everyone asks, "What is the secret of writing?"

A comfortable chair. A really comfortable chair--because if you're a writer, you're going to spend a lot of time sitting in it.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stellar Irish fantasy, September 16, 2001

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Windlord (The De Danann Tales, Book 1) (Paperback)

It's a shame that some of the best Celtic fantasy out there is unnoticed, with a few rare exceptions like "Hounds of the Morrigan." Fortunately the De Danann Tales are published by a smaller, but higher-quality publisher.

The two teenage heroes, from modern times, are suddenly swept up from our world to a different, earlier magical one--the world of Paedur the Bard, the isle of De Danann. Soon they are caught on a mystical struggle, with a bunch of unexpected new allies -- a huntress, a torc-alta, a bard with a hook rather than a hand, and a guy who controls one of the Elementals.

In short, this young and strong band much rescue the Book of Windlord from the island's evil emperor, Balor (whose name will be familiar to students of Irish myth) and his hideous army of reptilian warriors. In addition to this, Our Heroes must also find a way to get home to their own time and place.

Too many books collapse in under the wish to pander to mass tastes, simple sword and sorcery, and sacrifice the underlying tones that make them unique to start with. I include Celtic-influenced SF/F in that category. But often the best gems of this subgenre are to be found in smaller publishers, like "Riddle of Roses" and "Knockabeg." These allow the full richness of the storytelling to be seen and felt, and this one does not skimp on the details that need to be handled.

The two human kids are saved from being standard by the excellent surroundings characters and how they interact. Though I felt the huntress was kinda flat, I liked the torc-alta, the bard and the Elemental lord. Balor is evil, nuff zed (although he is a villain that has been plumbed through many books, anyone with the name Balor remains utter evil).

The writing is excellent and high-paced, though I sometimes wished that Windlord was longer than it actually was. The cover art is amazing, with the four people riding on a reptilian beastie over a castle...

Overall, an engaging and exciting read. Well worth it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An adventure for the young., December 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Windlord (The De Danann Tales, Book 1) (Paperback)

This book, written by the Author of the unparalleled Trilogy "Tales of the Bard" was created for a young audience to whom the world of Fantasy is so much more real than those who have advanced to cynical adulthood. It brings to life Paedur the Bard, that most Unique of heroes, and a number of youthful followers. Included in this tale are two modern day youths. The author brings his teenage audience on an adventure they will always remember, where they suddenly realise that growing up can happen real fast. These youths walk down an ancient path on an Islet off the Irish Coast and into the world of Padeur, a Bard of millenniums past, drawn through the winds of time by uncontrolled powers that they, along with the friends they meet, must harness if they are to return home. Their Friends are a Huntress from the Icelands, A Torc-Alta (A Man Beast), A Lord of the one of the four most power Sources of Magic, The Elementals, and a Youthful Bard with a Silver Crescent Moon Hook in place of his Left Hand. This tale can be thought of as one in a parallel world to that which existed in Tales of the Bard. A Youthful Paedur still retains the ability to make us listen to his every word filling his word with mystery and magic. For a Youthful audience but otherwise worth reading just to get to meet Paedur once again.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!!!, December 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Windlord (The De Danann Tales, Book 1) (Paperback)

Windlord is a great book. It is an andventure/fantasy book. It tells the tale of how Falon quest to find his uncle to teach him to be a Windlord. He then goes to free his parents and defeat Balor, the evil magician. This is the best of the DeDannan Isle tales. This is one of my favorite books.