Ardneh's Sword (Mass Market Paperback)

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Key Phrases: private wagon, great demon, fire elemental, Old World, Kuan Yin, Lady Ayaba (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Simple prose and a straightforward plot make the latest entry in Saberhagen's Empire of the East saga perfect for younger fantasy fans. The aristocratic parents of 15-year-old Chance Rolfson, a descendant of the hero Rolf, whose adventures are chronicled in Empire of the East (2003), encourage the lad to join an expedition seeking ancient artifacts associated with the godlike being Ardneh. They hope a taste of the outdoor life will cure Chance of "certain dreamy, unambitious tendencies." Chance soon finds that traveling with a scholar, an intelligent owl and a small band of troopers isn't all that easy. When Chance starts to notice strange occurrences, the adults in his party doubt his explanations. Eventually, the expedition becomes an exhilarating mad dash to reach Ardneh's sword, an object of immense power with the potential to change the world forever. Chance, however, remains pretty passive throughout. Hopefully, he will take a more active role in future installments. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

A thousand years ago, the legendary Ardneh battled for humanity against the archdemon Orcus. Both perished, but humans were saved and left the tradition of Ardneh's power and benevolence. Now, an archaeological expedition seeks the storied treasure of Ardneh. No one, including the scholar guiding the expedition, is sure where it is or what form it will take. Their search takes them through largely unmapped, bandit-infested lands. One expedition member, Chance Rolfson, is a descendant of the illustrious Rolf who fought beside Ardneh. He suffers from nightmares and has joined the party in hopes of curing himself by immersion in sometimes dangerous practicalities. But not only do his dreams continue, but when he encounters things and people no one else can see, he eventually realizes that he is key to the expedition's success or failure. If the characters are slightly decorated archetypes, the action is well handled and the plot well wrought. Frieda Murray
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Tor Science Fiction; 1st THUS edition (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765350599
• ISBN-13: 978-0765350596
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #420,594 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ardneh's Legacy, September 10, 2006

By	Arthur W. Jordin (Smyrna, GA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Ardneh's Sword (Tom Doherty Associates Books) (Hardcover)

Ardneh's Sword (2006) is a sequel to the Empire of the East series, following Ardneh's World. It is also a bridge to the Swords series, taking place about one thousand years after the mutual annihilation of Ardneh and Orcus.

In this novel, Chance Rolfson is a direct lineal descendent of Rolf, agent of Ardneh in the great war against the Emperor of the East. Chance has been forced by his family into an expedition searching for Ardneh's Sword. They are certain that an opportunity to get out into the fresh air of the countryside will cure him of his dreamy ways. He serves as assistant to the Scholar Jervase, often taking care of the talking owl Mitra.

One night, just before dawn, Chance is awakened by a thump on the canvas cover of the wagon. Then a slit is cut in the cover with a sharp claw and an object on a necklace chain falls into this hand. He sees a distorted human face through the tear. Scrambling outside, he finds Mitra on the ground with a wounded wing, but no other bodies. A net is lying nearby. The object on a chain has disappeared, but his hand tingles.

Scholar Jervase and Captain Horkos, commander of the military escort, question Chance about the commotion, but seem to class these events with his prior sleepwalking episodes. Enchantress Ayaba checks him for signs of magical influence, but finds nothing unusual. She also checks out the net that had presumably entangled Mitra, yet still finds nothing. Later Lady Ayaba's little helpers vanish and she knows not why or where they are gone.

Then Chance goes wandering one evening after the midday meal and finds a very young female creature by the river. She is wearing an unusual garb much like long underwear that she claims is keeping her warm, including her bare feet. She says her name is Zalmo and tries to interest him in wearing another such garment of his size. Then she asks him some strange questions. She disappears as he is leaving.

Later Chance meets her older brother, Moxis, further downstream and notices that he is wearing a larger version of the strange garment. Moxis also tries to convince him to wear one of them. Apparently these suits were found, not made, and are old technology. He also tells Chance that the infirmary of the Servants of Ardneh is further downstream. As he is leaving, Chance hears a noise and Moxis informs him that the expedition is being attacked by bandits. Moxis vanishes underwater as Chance leaves.

By now, the object on a chain has manifested itself around his neck. When he returns to camp and observes the bandits attacking, he is surprised by two bandits directly behind him. But they do not see him, even when one of them trips over his leg. However, they can hear him and flee anxiously while searching for the source of the sounds, yet never seeing him despite being in plain sight.

Both of the strange children have very bright red hair and green eyes. Now their grandmother, an older woman with bright red hair, although graying, appears to him. By now Chance is almost convinced that the children are demons. But Grandmother names herself as Zalmoxis, admits that all three are manifestations of the same entity, and claims to be a tech-djinn. She knows about the object around his neck and states that it is Ardneh's Key, which will allow him entry to Ardneh's Workshop.

Zalmoxis may not be a demon, but at least one powerful demon exists in this area. Avenarius is a very powerful demon, although not as strong as Orcus had been. The local bandit chieftain, Nathan Gokard, worships Avenarius and invokes his aid. Of course, Avenarius cannot be summoned by the likes of Gokard, but the bandit chief keeps trying; his usual approach involves child sacrifice.

Then Mitra discovers that more bandits are converging on the area. Unfortunately, these bandits may not be actual bandits; one scout notices that some of them are wearing the colors of the mad king of Yasodhara. Whether bandits or irregulars, they are massing a small army and the expedition is obviously their target.

In this story, Chance is intimidated by a demon, befuddled by a tech-djinn and beguiled by a young female Servant of Ardneh who is also a budding mage. The expedition is besieged in a cavern complex by Gokard, infiltrated by reptilian flyers and rescued by a mythical being. All told, this story keeps Chance busy, worried and confounded.

This story presumes some knowledge of the Empire of the East trilogy. Although most significant information is hinted in the narrative, full understanding of the plot requires more exposure to past events than is conveyed herein. Moreover, this story does not really terminate with all loose threads woven into the plot, but rather provides information that explains the genesis of the Swords series. This is the missing link in the larger series.

For those who have not read the Empire of the East stories, I highly recommend them as some of the best fantasy ever written. Although the plot is rather derivative, some of the concepts therein are highly original. Moreover, this series is a good example of a SF story transforming to a Fantasy through a modification of physical laws, with high tech and magic commingled.

Highly recommended for Empire of the East fans, but anyone else should read that series prior to this volume.

-Arthur W. Jordin

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars interesting epic fantasy, May 3, 2006

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Ardneh's Sword (Tom Doherty Associates Books) (Hardcover)

A thousand years has passed since the rise of the transcendent Ardneh, who along with intrepid warriors like Rolf, saved mankind from extinction from the minion of archdemon Orcus. Orcus and Ardneh died in their critical battle that employed the new magics and the old technology. Over the centuries Ardneh's tale of courage became more myth with few humans believing he ever existed or for that matter his evil adversary.

In the present Rolf's descendent Chance Rolfson suffers from stunning nightmares. Hoping to escape his dreams, Chance joins an expedition seeking proof that the legendary Ardneh existed. They seek the great vault that most people insist is fable. In the unknown forests that they trek, bandits and demons attack the band. As they seek shelter from the assaults, Chance concludes that his nightmares are visions that will enable him to find the greatest weapon left behind by the fabled heroes of yore, ARDNEH'S SWORD.

This is a fine sequel that fans of Fred Saberhagen especially those who read the EMPIRE OF THE EAST (the tale of Rolf and Ardneh) will enjoy. The story line is filled with non-stop action as Chance joins a quest as a participant, but soon realizes that to his regret he is the man. Chance makes this an interesting epic fantasy as his doubts ring true.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Saberhagen at his best, May 18, 2006

By	Jennifer A. Stigall - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Ardneh's Sword (Tom Doherty Associates Books) (Hardcover)

If you enjoyed Empire Of The East and/or the Swords series I expect you will enjoy this at least as much, especially the way he puts the pieces together and brings unity to the Swords and Empire worlds. One thing, though, if you're expecting to learn more about the Emperor, don't.