The Black Gryphon (Mage Wars) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Larry Dixon (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Setting a story in prehistory suggests a enormous potential, a feeling that all is new and possible. Lackey's latest created world (illustrated by husband Dixon) predates the setting of her Valdemar series by a millennium but never quite lives up to its expanded possibilities. The gryphon of the title is the charismatic Skandranon, leader of the gryphons, a race of birds just evolving into awareness. After establishing this intriguing premise, however, the tale soon bogs down in fantasy cliches as the main characters fight a standard war against the forces of evil. Although some of the novel's elements, like Skandranon's human friend Amberdrake, suggest a possible complexity, the plot is predictable and the overwritten battle scenes are difficult to follow. In the end, the evil Mage of Black Fire is destroyed, nearly everyone else lives and the chaotic magic of prehistory is tamed.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

As the tyrant-sorcerer Kiyamvir Ma'ar's forces sweep across the land in a relentless war of conquest, one man--Urtho, the Mage of Silence--arises as the leader of the opposition. Set a thousand years before the founding of Valdemar and the rise of the Herald Mages, the latest novel by Lackey and Dixon relates the story of the legendary black gryphon Skandranon Rashkae, his healer-companion Amberdrake, and the war that changed the face of a world forever. Featuring some of the authors' most endearing protagonists yet, this first in a projected dualogy is recommended for most fantasy collections.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: DAW; First Edition edition (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0886776430
• ISBN-13: 978-0886776435
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #141,267 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 1 in The Mage Wars Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun read for Valdemar fans, January 26, 2003

By	Leanna "moondance34" (South Deerfield, MA USA) - See all my reviews

Since the gathering of Ma'ar's evil forces drove away High King Leodhan, Urtho, the Mage of Silence, has been forced into becoming the leader of those opposed to Ma'ar. Among Urtho's subjects are the Kaled'a'in, including the kestra'chern Amberdrake, and the magnificent gryphons, most prominent of which is the Black Gryphon Skandranon.

As Ma'ar's power continues to grow, Urtho and his forces struggle to keep him from destroying all that is good in the world. Will Amberdrake and Skandranon be able to stop him before it is too late?

"The Black Gryphon" is the first book in Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon's Mage Wars Trilogy. It was an interesting read that I really enjoyed. Dixon's influence on the style of the writing will be quite evident to those who are familiar with Lackey's other novels.

What I liked most about this book were, as with all the other Valdemar books, its characters and their sensitivity and perceptiveness. Amberdrake was simply wonderful, and I loved his interactions with the gryphons and hertasi. Skandranon was a lot of fun to read about. I particularly liked the pep talks he gave himself and the sarcastic conversations he had with Amberdrake and other gryphons. Also, Winterhart's growth was very rewarding to watch.

The descriptions of the area surrounding Urtho's Tower were very effective. I felt like I could really see Healer's Hill and the gryphon landing area. I enjoyed reading about the territory that was to become the Dhorisha Plains. I can't wait to read the descriptions of the new surroundings in "White Gryphon" and "Silver Gryphon."

My one complaint about this book (and this is a common one I have throughout the Valdemar books) is that the climax comes too close to the end of the story. Lackey and Dixon effectively tie up all the loose ends, but everything somehow feels rushed. Given the length of the book (460 pages), ten pages or so of denouement seems very abrupt, but perhaps this is mainly because it is only the first book in a trilogy.

Bottom Line: A solid start to a very promising trilogy, but you'll probably appreciate it more if you read the Mage Winds and Mage Storms trilogies first

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars my favourite of the mage wars..., February 24, 2001

By	straitjacket (columbia, MO) - See all my reviews

this is a really, really great book. i reckon this is one of her best yet, in the same league as 'magic's promise' and 'magic's price'. what i regret most is the fact that it took place at the end of the war with ma'ar. i regret the fact that urtho is such an enigmatic character, in which i mean that there's not much that we know of him. it would have been great had we known him like we know vanyel... i find urtho really fascinating. one of the best thing about this book is the fact that the emotions are real and tangible.... it feels like a battlefield out there and the future looks bleak and yet hopeful at the same time. i really wanted to actually know what ka'venusho is like before the war, how urtho was dragged into the mess and generally what was the past like. all of this is sadly lost by vanyel's time and it's sad... the people, the history and the technology has all gone to dust by then. i love the way misty express the bond between amberdrake and skan, and also how urtho was with skan. i was really pissed off when i realized that urtho died in such a wastefull manner... and really uncalled for. they had such fantastic plans and well, it's just too bad. that's why i personally think that misty should do a series on his life, at least. the story telling is superb, the character development is excellent and the plot is not wasted here. be forewarned though that the ending is really heartbreaking. a truly enjoyable book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gryphons!, May 1, 2004

By	Kithwynn "Kith" (Colorado, US) - See all my reviews

The first Mercedes Lackey book I ever read(which does give me sort of a strange perspective on the timeline...); it got me hooked. I'm sure you've got better things to do than read the 64th rehash of the plot, so I'll simply say that the back- and inside-cover-summaries never explain things very well with Mercedes Lackey. It's probably one of the three greatest gryphon books of all time (the other two are 'Dark Lord of Derkholm' and 'Year of the Griffin', by Diana Wynne Jones-- another awesome author; check her stuff out!) and you should read it. Yes.