Rating: 
Summary: I actually screamed...
Review: ...when I was browsing the aisles of my favorite local specialty bookshop and turning my head, saw 'Dark of the Gods'. For one heartstopping moment I thought it might be the next book after 'Seeker's Mask'. But this is nearly as good: someone is reprinting Ms. Hodgell's works! Finally when I rave about her books I'll be able to tell people where to find them. Why do I rave? Great storytelling, first. Second, the magical way in which Hodgell puts her original spin on common fantasy elements. Third: her heroine. Jame is an impressive mixture of the powerful, the impulsive, the kindly, and the destructive. Like a good actor cast as the lead in a movie, she can carry the plot and yet be vulnerable. In the story, Jame must constantly walk a fine line between destroying others with her talents, or being herself destroyed by use of them. She is entropy personified yet Jame also has many endearing traits. I've been reading this story since I found 'Godstalk' in the early 80's. I bought 'Seeker's Mask' for $70 (didn't regret a dime). I bought the soft cover of 'Dark of the Gods' even though I own two copies of 'Godstalk' and one of 'Dark of the Moon' because I want to support this fine author. The long wait between books has done nothing to chill my ardor--for one thing they're extremely re-readable. Go on: buy; read; become addicted!
Rating: 
Summary: Overrated
Review: Although there are some inventive elements in Hodgell's world, I was disappointed with the plot and characters.First, the protaganist Jame is so perfect that there is hardly any tension. This character is not only a(n admittedly disenfranchised) noblewoman of the first order, but also: a highly skilled warrior, a master thief, some kind of cleric/avatar ("Chosen One"!) with supernatural powers and, last but not least, a superlative dancer. And yet more things besides. There are simply very few challenges for her, especially in the first book; I found my interest flagging once I realized she was practically indestructible. This situation is exacerbated by the number of characters who take a shine to Jame for little or no discernible reason. The inn she stays at (complete with overprotective mother figure) gives her free room and board. Why? Her mentor, the city's most highly regarded thief, and also a disagreeable recluse, decides to take her under his wing after a brief encounter. Why? The "prince" of the Cloudies gives her his own shorts for some silly escapade, for god's sake! And then there is the burly, well-nigh juggernaut Kencyrath Marc, who quickly assumes the role of protector and big-brother/guardian, and would probably roll over and die for her if she asked. Honestly, given her talents, I think Jame hardly needs him; he is mostly a sounding board for dialogue that reveals Kencyrath culture and history. Second, I had the distinct impression on many occasions that the author was simply "making things up" as she went along. The most aggregious example occurs when, after having been told on dozens of occasions how honor-bound the Kencyrath people are, we are told that an important Kencyrath character was able to honorably abandon the service of his mad feudal liege-lord, not by asking the lord's permission, but rather by getting the permission _of every other person in his house_! I really couldn't believe the absurdity of this proposition, especially since another character felt honor-bound to follow his own lord into eternal damnation. Third, you could almost skip the first book altogether---there is hardly any point to it. A few themes are introduced (but never resolved), and two (three, if you count Jame's pet cub) characters besides Jame appear in both books, but all in all the author could easily have compressed this information into 50 pages or so and then commenced immediately with the second book. I was able to recognize this long before I started the second book; the first one seems markedly aimless and meandering. Jame spends a year in the city of Tai-Tastigon. Why? As far as I can tell, it is not pertinent to the plot. Readers who enjoy episodic novels like Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and Gray Mousrer stories may enjoy it, but Hodgell drops many hints about an overarching plot---a plot which is hardly touched on until book 2. I found it frustrating and pointless. On the bright side, the second book is better than the first, and Hodgell's setting has some interesting, if ultimately unconvincing, elements. Tai-tastigon is kind of neat: it has a thieves' guild sanctioned by the city's authorities; it's laid out like a giant maze; and Hodgell makes a big deal about the multitude of "gods" in TT contrasting with Jame's own monotheistic heritage (also never resolved). I didn't believe it, but it kept me mildly interested. I can't recommend this book. The prose is unremarkable, the plot is directionless, the world is not convincing, and the heroine is a veritable deus ex machina. But, if you are in dire need of a fantasy fix, it may suffice. Despite my misgivings, I was able to finish it after all, and the later chapters are on improvement on the earlier. I would give it 2.5 stars if Amazon allowed it.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best fantasy novels ever!
Review: And I'm a picky reader. What really makes these novels (there's two in this book, plus some short stories) great is the main character, Jame - she's a true antihero, complex, flawed, powerful, always trying to do the honorable thing, yet often bringing destruction to everything she touches. The world created in these stories is vivid, complex, and varied. The city of Tai-Tastigon in the first book is almost a character in itself. In the second book, Jame wanders across much of the world, always stumbling across something new and bizarre. Godstalk, the first of the books, is the better one.
Rating:
Summary: highly recommended
Review: Dark of the Gods combines two books (God Stalk and Dark of the Moon) which are the first in a fun & original series of, so far, three books. Chaos and destruction dog the footsteps of the main character in a dark, whimsical, cheery sort of way. This is a series worth buying two copies of, one for lending to friends.
Rating: 
Summary: Grey please!
Review: Dark of the Gods, is a different world - still a fantasy setting with odd twists for instance, a creature that I might compare with a unicorn if a huge ivory plated vicious horse like animal. The story centers for the most part on a girl named Jame, a girl who was cast out by her tribe, and lost about 10 years of her life. She posses strange skills and she assumes that durring that time someone must have taught her. She carries with her things that will show her twin brother Tori as the true Highlord of the clan, if she can ever find him, if he in fact still lives. As the book progresses there is a urgency to it. You find yourself looseing sleep for reading it too long. As I mentioned before it has a powerful darkness to it, yet the characters are not one dimentional, you see almost 5-6 different sides of the main characters, that which they are now, that which they were, that which they hope to be.. etc etc. Good and Evil are no longer black and white, honror and dishonor are wavering shadows in the night.
Rating:
Summary: Devastated, Disappointed, and feeling Deceived!
Review: For those of you already familiar with P.C. Hodgell's books God Stalk, Dark of the Moon, Blood & Ivory, and Seeker's Mask--and who are thus chomping at the bit for the sequel--please be warned: Dark of the Gods is not a continuation of the Jame saga! It is a compilation of the first two books, along with an excerpt ("Bones") from the third. Imagine the devastation and disappointment when (having just re-read the series for the fourth time in the past decade in anticipation of a new book) I discovered that I still don't know what happens to Jame after Seeker's Mask! AAAARRRRRGGGHHH! On a more positive note, for those of you unfamiliar with Ms. Hodgell's works, this is an excellent opportunity. God Stalk introduces you to Jame as she emerges from darkness to search for her twin; however, this is NOT just another quest story. Instead, the quest steps back to hover in the background while this richly developed character learns a thing or two about politics and thieving (and no, I'm not necessarily being redundant in this case), and faces challenges to her concepts of honor and monotheism. Hodgell's portrayal of Tai-tastigon--the wonderfully intriguing setting, with its wealth of scoundrels, gods, and heroes--makes the city seem almost a character in itself. "Bones" (a brief tale written, perhaps, as a crust of bread thrown to the hungry dogs howling for a sequel to God Stalk?) provides a glimpse into another of Jame's Tai-tastigon adventures which enhances her reputation as Penari's Talisman. Although I originally read "Bones" out of order (it was written between God Stalk and Dark of the Moon), it seems to have found its proper place sandwiched between its two larger contemporaries. Originally published as a short story and obviously meant to stand alone, it merely serves as an aside--entertaining, without being crucial to the story line. Dark of the Moon, however, finally introduces the reader to Jame's elusive, and equally complicated, brother Tori--and it is as much Tori's story as Jame's. And while this shared billing perhaps accounts for my personal preference for the first book (being a big fan of strong, honorable female leads), the second book is equally intriguing. Decidedly more complex due to its shifting viewpoints and introduction of an almost entirely new supporting cast, this one should be read slowly and carefully, particularly during its development of Kencyrath history and culture, as well as where the stories begin to overlap and converge. And without giving anything away, one angle that I found most interesting was Hodgell's commentary on the importance--and the dilemma--of responsibility; I am reminded of Stanley Milgram's "The Perils of Obedience" (a must read for anyone, anywhere). By now (assuming that you are still reading this rather long-winded review) I hope you have reconciled the seemingly conflicting title of my review and the five-star rating. The book is wonderful--how could it not be, given its nature? But my initial disappointment in a lack of new material automatically led me to write this review to warn others like me who are eagerly awaiting the next step of the journey. My initial response was, I confess, one that could have come straight from the mouth of Selina Rosen's Drewcila Qwah (those of you who have read Queen of Denial know what I'm talking about--but my mother is still blessedly in the dark). However, I have decided to just get over it and, instead, to keep Dark of the Gods as a loaner copy. I guess it's only fair since I've been talking about the series for over a decade, but haven't been willing to loan out my copies.
Rating:
Summary: Devastated, Disappointed, and feeling Deceived!
Review: For those of you already familiar with P.C. Hodgell's books God Stalk, Dark of the Moon, Blood & Ivory, and Seeker's Mask--and who are thus chomping at the bit for the sequel--please be warned: Dark of the Gods is not a continuation of the Jame saga! It is a compilation of the first two books, along with an excerpt ("Bones") from the third. Imagine the devastation and disappointment when (having just re-read the series for the fourth time in the past decade in anticipation of a new book) I discovered that I still don't know what happens to Jame after Seeker's Mask! AAAARRRRRGGGHHH! On a more positive note, for those of you unfamiliar with Ms. Hodgell's works, this is an excellent opportunity. God Stalk introduces you to Jame as she emerges from darkness to search for her twin; however, this is NOT just another quest story. Instead, the quest steps back to hover in the background while this richly developed character learns a thing or two about politics and thieving (and no, I'm not necessarily being redundant in this case), and faces challenges to her concepts of honor and monotheism. Hodgell's portrayal of Tai-tastigon--the wonderfully intriguing setting, with its wealth of scoundrels, gods, and heroes--makes the city seem almost a character in itself. "Bones" (a brief tale written, perhaps, as a crust of bread thrown to the hungry dogs howling for a sequel to God Stalk?) provides a glimpse into another of Jame's Tai-tastigon adventures which enhances her reputation as Penari's Talisman. Although I originally read "Bones" out of order (it was written between God Stalk and Dark of the Moon), it seems to have found its proper place sandwiched between its two larger contemporaries. Originally published as a short story and obviously meant to stand alone, it merely serves as an aside--entertaining, without being crucial to the story line. Dark of the Moon, however, finally introduces the reader to Jame's elusive, and equally complicated, brother Tori--and it is as much Tori's story as Jame's. And while this shared billing perhaps accounts for my personal preference for the first book (being a big fan of strong, honorable female leads), the second book is equally intriguing. Decidedly more complex due to its shifting viewpoints and introduction of an almost entirely new supporting cast, this one should be read slowly and carefully, particularly during its development of Kencyrath history and culture, as well as where the stories begin to overlap and converge. And without giving anything away, one angle that I found most interesting was Hodgell's commentary on the importance--and the dilemma--of responsibility; I am reminded of Stanley Milgram's "The Perils of Obedience" (a must read for anyone, anywhere). By now (assuming that you are still reading this rather long-winded review) I hope you have reconciled the seemingly conflicting title of my review and the five-star rating. The book is wonderful--how could it not be, given its nature? But my initial disappointment in a lack of new material automatically led me to write this review to warn others like me who are eagerly awaiting the next step of the journey. My initial response was, I confess, one that could have come straight from the mouth of Selina Rosen's Drewcila Qwah (those of you who have read Queen of Denial know what I'm talking about--but my mother is still blessedly in the dark). However, I have decided to just get over it and, instead, to keep Dark of the Gods as a loaner copy. I guess it's only fair since I've been talking about the series for over a decade, but haven't been willing to loan out my copies.
Rating: 
Summary: Book Description
Review: God Stalk "Out of the Haunted Lands to the city of Tai-tastigon comes Jame, one of the few remaining Kencyr left to carry on their millennium-long battle against Perimal Darkling, an entity of primal evil. Establishing herself in the city, Jame becomes an apprentice in the Thieves' Guild, make friends and enemies, and begins to develop her magical abilities. Hodgell has crafted an excellent and intricate fantasy, with humor and tragedy, and a capable and charming female hero. Highly recommended."-Library Journal, September 15, 1985 "God Stalk by P.C. Hodgell takes some familiar elements of fantasy-a city of many gods, a Thieves' Guild, a heroine with the strange powers of an ancient race-and blends them into a delightful concoction bubbling with originality. The heroine, Jame, stumbles into the city of Tai-tastigon suffering from amnesia and the strain of headlong flight from her enemies. She finds herself in an apparently uninhabited maze, a chaos of weird supernatural effects. When the inhabitants finally appear, they're a quirky, lively, and (most of them) down-to-earth group who draw Jame into the network of their lives and concerns. With this novel, [Hodgell] makes a promising debut, and its sequels could turn out to be major contributions to the fields."-Locus, September, 1982 "It's become increasingly hard to do anything new in the high-fantasy field, but there's still a big difference between those who can only reheat the same old stew and those who can take full advantage of all that's been done before to brew up a fresh mix. Hodgell proves with this debut novel to be in the latter group. Jame is a fully fleshed character in a rich fantasy milieu influenced by the likes of C.L. Moore and Elizabeth Lynn. Like their work, this novel and the series it begins should prove popular."-Publishers' Weekly, September 21, 1982 "Those who regard fantasy as an insignificant branch of the literary tree lack understanding of the many ways in which all people approach that mystic realm we call 'reality.' Reading God Stalk might allow them to confront a few of their own demons. For the rest of us, whether because we are seeking ways of looking at our lives through fiction or because we simply want to explore someone else's vision, Hodgell's book is a dramatic introduction to a new world that both embodies and transcends our own."-The Minnesota Daily, September 28, 1982 Dark of the Moon "In God Stalk, P.C. Hodgell set in motion a convoluted plot involving such standard elements of fantasy as dark lords, thieves' guilds, and homey inns, and she transcended convention through sheer force of imagination. The sequel, Dark of the Moon, takes all these tendencies even further, with more convolutions, more familiar themes, and-again-a redeeming, delightful originality of vision. Already she brings a welcome freshness and flair to a field where creativity often seems more the exception than the rule."-Locus, September, 1985 "P.C. Hodgell is one of the best young fantasy writers we have and yet her work is not all that well known. This is partly due to her low productivity (two novels and a handful of short stories in the last ten years) and partly due to the difficulty and darkness of her work. Where so much of contemporary fantasy seems to consist of little more than a mindless reworking of Tolkien and Howard, Hodgell's affinities lie with the complex plotting of Mervyn Peake, the dark humor of Fritz Leiber, and the gruesomely poetic detail work of Clark Ashton Smith."-Fantasy Magazine, October 1985
Rating:
Summary: Long version, below. Short version, great book!
Review: I first read God Stalk a few years ago on recommendation of a friend. Until Meisha Merlin published their editions of Hodgell's books, they were difficult to find, having been out of print for a while. I later found this compiled edition. I re-read God Stalk, and didn't stop until I finished both novels and the short story "Bones"! My impression of the first novel, God Stalk, which remains the same after a second reading, is that it is cramped. We see an entire year of Jame's life in this short novel, and besides that we are introduced to the world of Rathillien, Jame's background, the city of Tai-Tastigon, and numerous characters and locations within it. Reading it requires a lot of attention, and even then it's easy to get confused without referring to the detailed map in the front of the book. The supporting characters are more sketches than fully realized human beings--Bane remains a favorite though! But despite any problems, God Stalk is fascinating. Hodgell has a beautiful way with description and her world building is awesome. God Stalk opens up several questions about Jame that made me rush to read the second book--for example, will she ever realize that her very nature, fairly or unfairly, requires her to be careful about what she does? "Bones," far from being dispensable, adds much to both Jame's character and to the Maze, her mentor's home and workplace. Dark of the Moon remedies many of the problems I had with God Stalk. It is 100 pages longer and covers a much shorter time period, a matter of weeks, making for a much better read, in my opinion. While some of the villains (Bortis, for example) are drearily one-note, some of the others, especially the Perimal Darkling characters, are fascinating, and I look forward to meeting them again in future books. Speaking of Perimal Darkling, we are given a lot more background about it and how Jame is connected to it, as well as about the "Builders" who were given minimal treatment in the first book. In Dark of the Moon we also get our first glimpse of the Kencyr society, its attitude towards women, and the conflicts between its major houses. As you might guess, there is quite a lot of detail in this volume; but it was handled in a way that didn't stop the forward momentum of the story. Rathillien builds itself up layer by layer through Ms. Hodgell's marvelous prose, and I became immersed in it, wanting to go back to it after I'd closed the book. Although Jame and Torisen are given equal stage time in Dark of the Moon, I find Jame much more interesting. I didn't find Jame that involving at first, in God Stalk. In Dark of the Moon, however, she made some conscious and difficult decisions that made me root for her and hope she succeeds against the odds that face her. Buy these books and enjoy the work of a true fantasy craftsman--someone who puts the half-effort fantasy hacks out there to shame. Both novels give you things to think about after you are done, about faith and about personal responsibility, and offer a vital, dynamic world for you and the characters to discover. It is obvious on every page that Hodgell has put a lot of thought and care into everything she includes in her stories. It is a true joy to see, even in the three years between the publications of God Stalk and Dark of the Moon, how much her writing deepened and became more readable. The third book, Seeker's Mask, and the fourth book, which I hear will be coming soon, are high on my list of things to read next!
Rating:
Summary: Long version, below. Short version, great book!
Review: I first read God Stalk a few years ago on recommendation of a friend. Until Meisha Merlin published their editions of Hodgell's books, they were difficult to find, having been out of print for a while. I later found this compiled edition. I re-read God Stalk, and didn't stop until I finished both novels and the short story "Bones"! My impression of the first novel, God Stalk, which remains the same after a second reading, is that it is cramped. We see an entire year of Jame's life in this short novel, and besides that we are introduced to the world of Rathillien, Jame's background, the city of Tai-Tastigon, and numerous characters and locations within it. Reading it requires a lot of attention, and even then it's easy to get confused without referring to the detailed map in the front of the book. The supporting characters are more sketches than fully realized human beings--Bane remains a favorite though! But despite any problems, God Stalk is fascinating. Hodgell has a beautiful way with description and her world building is awesome. God Stalk opens up several questions about Jame that made me rush to read the second book--for example, will she ever realize that her very nature, fairly or unfairly, requires her to be careful about what she does? "Bones," far from being dispensable, adds much to both Jame's character and to the Maze, her mentor's home and workplace. Dark of the Moon remedies many of the problems I had with God Stalk. It is 100 pages longer and covers a much shorter time period, a matter of weeks, making for a much better read, in my opinion. While some of the villains (Bortis, for example) are drearily one-note, some of the others, especially the Perimal Darkling characters, are fascinating, and I look forward to meeting them again in future books. Speaking of Perimal Darkling, we are given a lot more background about it and how Jame is connected to it, as well as about the "Builders" who were given minimal treatment in the first book. In Dark of the Moon we also get our first glimpse of the Kencyr society, its attitude towards women, and the conflicts between its major houses. As you might guess, there is quite a lot of detail in this volume; but it was handled in a way that didn't stop the forward momentum of the story. Rathillien builds itself up layer by layer through Ms. Hodgell's marvelous prose, and I became immersed in it, wanting to go back to it after I'd closed the book. Although Jame and Torisen are given equal stage time in Dark of the Moon, I find Jame much more interesting. I didn't find Jame that involving at first, in God Stalk. In Dark of the Moon, however, she made some conscious and difficult decisions that made me root for her and hope she succeeds against the odds that face her. Buy these books and enjoy the work of a true fantasy craftsman--someone who puts the half-effort fantasy hacks out there to shame. Both novels give you things to think about after you are done, about faith and about personal responsibility, and offer a vital, dynamic world for you and the characters to discover. It is obvious on every page that Hodgell has put a lot of thought and care into everything she includes in her stories. It is a true joy to see, even in the three years between the publications of God Stalk and Dark of the Moon, how much her writing deepened and became more readable. The third book, Seeker's Mask, and the fourth book, which I hear will be coming soon, are high on my list of things to read next!
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