The Eye of the Hunter (Mithgar) (Paperback)

by Dennis L. McKiernan (Author) "Predator and prey: the sudden blast of snow interrupted the race for life, the race for death, the boreal owl taking to the swirling branches..." (more)
Key Phrases: wee damman, oft subtle, scarlet citadel, Foul Folk, Arden Vale, Baron Stoke (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
As the comet known as "Eye of the Hunter" sweeps the skies of Mithgar, a 1000-year-old prophecy leads five people toward their destined confrontation with an ancient foe. The author of the "Iron Tower" trilogy and the "Silver Call" duology crafts a tale of high fantasy and adventure that builds on his previous works. Filled with careful attention to both his characters and his richly detailed world, McKiernan's Tolkienesque fiction should appeal to readers who like their fantasy in large dollops. A good choice for most libraries.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews
McKiernan's latest is set in the same fantasy-world as his previous Iron Tower and Silver Call series, with some of the characters in common. As the comet of the title hangs over the Boskydells of Mithgar, the immortal Elves Riatha and Aravan set off in search of a magic silver sword lost a thousand years ago to a mysterious, evil, yellow-eyed Man; they are joined by two Warrows, Gwylly and Faeril, looking to fulfil a thousand-year-old prophecy. Together, they dig from a glacier the shapeshifting Man/Bear, Baeran, imprisoned in the ice for a millennium along with their mutual enemy--the unspeakable shapeshifter, torturer, necromancer and all-round bad hat Baron Stoke, who escapes from the glacier just before our heroes arrive. From polar ice to broiling desert, the heroes search for clues to Stoke's whereabouts, beset all the while by the Baron's foul and treacherous minions--though not, surprisingly enough, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. The expected showdown ensues. As a Tolkien-imitator and borrower of other people's best bits, McKiernan stands second to none. If he himself has ever had an original idea, it isn't apparent here. Neither has he contrived to master his craft, and the upshot is misshapen plotting in a narrative comprising irregular chunks of, variously, homespun preaching, saccharine sentiment, splatterpunk gore, and wearisomely lavish padding. Given these ingredients, bestsellerdom is in the cards. -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: Roc (August 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451452682
• ISBN-13: 978-0451452689
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #95,812 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Oh Baron, Where Art Thou?, May 2, 2001

By	Barry E. DeWalt (Redding, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This novel is about a group of adventurers who set out to destroy Baron Stoke, an evil necromancer. While this is very standard fare, the characters are well developed in which any one reader should be able to identify with at least one character.

Presented are magic, impossible goals for unlikely heroes, and love. Contrary to the urge of some authors to make their pet characters invincible, McKiernan does allow one of the main characters to perish. Perhaps it is just me, but I didn't really fee much empathy for the dead character so much as I felt sorry for the survivors.

McKiernan tends to insert his own religious/political agenda into this fantasy. Present are commentary about man's inability to care for his environment and comment about how God (in this case Rakka) is himself evil when he floods the earth in order to purge some who are evil. While I'm not that interested in McKiernan's thoughts on the environment or the story of the flood, I found the novel refreshing.

I applaud McKiernan for allowing this novel to stand on its own without forcing the reader to buy his next book to find out how the story ends. A well thought out story and a good read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing and exciting!, March 5, 2002

By	"gamergirlfay" (AZ, USA) - See all my reviews

Though I've read quite a bit in the fantasy genre, this is the first book of McKiernan's I've read. I
wasn't disappointed! The Eye of the Hunter is an absolutely enchanting story that kept me with
my nose in it from the first page to the last! In fact, I was very surprised when I found some bad
reviews of it here on Amazon!

When I pick up a fantasy book one of the first things I look for are well developed characters that
I can relate to: something this book has in abundance! The five questers: Elves Riatha and
Aravan, Warrows Gwylly and Faeril, and the shapeshifter Man Urus, are all expertly fleshed out,
with delightful personalities and interesting histories. The places on the world of Mithgar through
which they travel are described in vivid detail. Some people might find this boring and needless,
but I for one loved it! The desert cultures of the Karoo are especially intriguing.

In the story all of the five main characters have sworn to hunt down the Baron Stoke, though they
all have different reasons for doing so. Failed once before, they are determined to 'run him to the
earth' (as McKiernan often says in the story) and punish him for his awful deeds. They start by
hunting Stoke in the icy north on top the great glacier that Stoke was originally imprisoned in.
When he escapes their clutches there they are forced to travel across the vast desert of Karoo to
consult a elusive oracle of his whereabouts. After a dangerous escape from the City of Assassins,
they finally complete their mission and kill Stoke, though the price of their conquest is the life of
one of their dear companions.

McKiernan leaves the book open for the sequel to continue, (I can't wait to get my hands on it!)
but don't worry! It really isn't a cliff hanger or anything. The story of Faeril and Gwylly and the
hunt for Stoke (where the focus of the story has been) is completely wrapped up at the book's
conclusion.

I recommend this book, but not to anyone who dislikes long descriptions and extraneous stuff in
the story not directly related to the main plot of the book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME!!! One of my all-time favorites!, March 21, 1997

By A Customer

I read this book two years ago when a friend recommended it. It's got everything you could want in a fantasy novel: realistic characters, action, drama, comedy, religious allegory, love, vengeance, a "can't put this book down" plot, and a setting which rivals Tolkien's Middle Earth. It's a little longer than the average fantasy novel, but you'll want even more when you're done reading it! Also read "Tales of Mithgar" for more stories about the original search for Stoke, and "Voyage of the Fox Rider" to learn about Aravan's history (I'm still waiting for the sequel to this one!)