The First Book of Swords (Paperback)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Tom Doherty Assoc Llc (June 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812523563
• ISBN-13: 978-0812523560
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,589,634 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sharp and to the point ..., June 10, 2000

By	Paul J. Moade (Jacksonville, FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: First Book of Swords (Mass Market Paperback)

Seriously, this is a well-written and absorbing book. It's one of those volumes you might buy because the cover looks interesting or the synopsis on the jacket is intriguing -- but once you begin reading, you realise what a gem it is.

The story, in brief, centers around 12 swords forged by the olympian god Vulcan to give to mankind for the amusement of the gods. He enlists the aid of a local townsperson (Jord) during their creation and in return gives one of the weapons to him. Jord is killed but his son, Mark, carries on thru a series of adventures revolving around one sword or another.

The fascinating part of the book is the swords themselves. Each has a special power, and a special weakness. Each is totally different than any other. This first book touches on only a couple of the artifacts in any detail. Subsequent books tell the stories of the remaining swords.

For a good read with a decent amount of adventure and a plot that twists and turns, this book is hard to beat.

~P~

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Blades, November 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: First Book of Swords: The Defender (Paperback)

A Review by Tim

Mark had a pretty average life for the time. Hunting game for the family and doing household chores for his mom. He probably didn't expect that one day he would have to leave his house to start life anew. But what is the secret behind his father's sword called Townsaver. And what game are the gods talking about. Now the life around Mark is changing, perhaps faster than he would ever would want or expect.

This book is a prime example of a fantasy novel. This book was a joy to read and easy to follow. When the story follows Mark excitement is sure to trail. But Fred Saberhagen kept changing point of view every chapter. The many mysteries are unraveled throughout the story, but once one is, a new one springs from it. This feature makes you never want to put the book down. Fred Saberhagen is great at portraying a medieval setting. But it is odd that when the book refers to the old world it seems like it's referring to modern time.

I would recommend this book to anybody but anyone into fantasy will love this book. This is a great read I can't wait to finish.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fred Saberhagen created one of my favorite series of books., March 14, 1999

By A Customer

The Book of Swords series was one of the first series I read and is still one of my favorites, even after ten years and countless other literary adventures. Once you start this series, you'll find yourself living through the characters, first hoping they survive, then hoping they prosper. The Gods' role in the making of the swords, giving them to humanity, then, like a greedy child, wanting them back for themselves, imposes human qualities on them and makes their exsistance in that world much more believable while creating the background for the series. I found this to be one of the best tales of MAN VS. GODS I've ever read. Thanks Fred.