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Summary: In the days of King Arthur: fact as fantasy.
Review: When I picked up this book, I was intrigued by the back-cover blurb. Post-Rome Britain? King Arthur? Not being an avid history student, I'd failed to make the connection between the fall of Rome and the legendary king. After finishing the novel, I confess I'm not at all sure Arthur WAS only a legend. Whyte pulls his facts together and spins a yarn which is as much historical novel as historical fantasy. It damned well COULD have happened this way! Whyte's well-drawn characters move easily across the landscape of Roman Britain. While the author takes a few liberties with dialogue (to the point of having a Roman soldier describe his fellow warriors as "grunts") it makes a refreshing change to the pontificating characters you meet in similar tales. Whyte's Britons aren't earth-shakers. For the most, they're swept along by pre-Dark Ages events. The "Skystone" of the story is a meteor which, having fallen to Earth, is smelted by the blacksmith father of the main character, Publius Varrus. The metal it yields is used to make a sword and a dagger, the latter inherited by Publius after his return from service in the Roman legions. It becomes Publius' obsession to find another skystone, which he does, after many adventures across Britain, the land of his birth. As he searches, he slowly realises that Rome is less important to him than his native land and its mix of tribesmen-warriors, mystics and Roman expatriates. Through conversations and arguments with his old Legion commander, Publius is persuaded that Rome's fall is imminent and that each man's future is in his own hands. It's how he begins to shape that future that shows the reader the first faint signs of the road to Camelot. This is Jack Whyte's scene-setting first novel of a trilogy. However, it's a tale in itself and a very satisfying one. Whyte's straightforward writing style and an obvious familiarity with his subject matter set this book apart. Lovers of history will devour The Skystone. The fantasy fan will also find plenty of enjoyment in Publius' quest to make a great sword capable of carving a kingdom from the wreckage of Roman Britain. A first-rate read that will keep the bedside lamp alight until the small hours
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Summary: Pass this book along!
Review: This book is incredible! I'm not usually a fan of violence or explicit sex, but who could resist such a great story teller and incredible characters.With Publious' convictions for killing, Luceeia's fight for women's rights and Cauis' almost insane, yet victorious ideas I could not resist this book. Day in and day out I felt compelled to read another page, another chapter. The battle sequences soars your imagination to another time and place. His take on the Lady of the Lake and where the metal for Excalibur came from are nice touches. Every once in a while Whyte takes a momment to remind you of how advanced we really are. For example, Publious is excited that they have found wine skins that don't leak or instead of using soap they sit in steam baths and use heavy perfumes. In all The Skystone is a real page turner. Everyone I passed the book along to loved it. The great thing is the story gets even better with The Singing Sword.
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Summary: Dallas meets the Dark ages
Review: I can't believe the positive reviews which with, but a few exceptions, have been given this book. First of all, there are glaring historical inaccuracies throughout the book which basic research should have eliminated - for instance the extent to which the indigeneous Britons were Romanized after three centuries of occupation is ignored. Even as a story it is weak and badly told. The main characters are unconvincing and badly developed. They tend to be stereotypes (i.e. noble Roman soldier representing ancient values, depraved aristocrat representing the new) rather than convincing formed personalities . The 5th century with its background of collapse of civilisation is a fascinating period which has been well covered before. Read the grimly realistic Arthurian triology of Bernard Cornwell or even the far superior young adult books of Rosemary Sutcliff and don't waste your time on this trash.
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Summary: Rewriting the ultimate legend
Review: This book is just incredible! It's a truely gritty and suspensful look at the fall of the Roman empire and the begining of a colony that will one day be known as Camalot. It leaves you begging for more, and you won't think twice about buying the other five books after you read this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Highly readable historical fantasy.
Review: The book is an enjoyable addition to the Arthurian literature genre. I do agree with those who deem the book historical fantasy. It is not historically accurate, although that doesn't distract from the reading pleasure (unless you feel it necessary to compile a list of errors as you go along). The book was well written with interesting characters. I found myself looking for excuses to keep reading (at stop lights, at lunch etc.), which is the sign of a good read.
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Summary: Why are there so many bad works of "Historical Fiction"?
Review: This is weird -- I am becoming a fuddy-duddy at 26. I used to love historical fiction because there was a chance to learn something about another time and place; I also learned very quickly that most historical fiction is merely written for boys. I am female. I find this book repugnant. Not only does the author show that he knows almost nothing about late Roman history (I might recommend that he read Geary's "Before France and Germany" for more on this era), but this is a truly sick book. The only women who count for anything seem to be woman who can spit nails and then act like Susy the Cheerleader in bed (or forest or cellar or smithy...). The men all seem to be 2-dimensional placards for some sort of partially thought-out political philosophy that revolves around "I got it. It's mine. No one else gets it." I can see why this book is popular. It is simplistic, violent, and puerile. The author obviously has no knowledge of late Roman Britain (a far more cosmopolitan and civilized region than he gives it credit for). It's hard to tell what he knows about the Arthurian legends as none of the characters are even remotely connected to those tales. Instead he has an odd mish-mosh of Conan the Barbarian and a skimmed reading of Ayn Rand. Avoid this series.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent beginning to an excellent series
Review: Yes, this is probably not quite acurate enough to be classified as historical fiction. However, it is an appropriate approach that Whyte takes to create a fictional "possibility" of how the true story may have unfolded. Was he completely accurate in his historical data? Pretty close. Close enough to put the reader into the proper perspective to understand the significance of this story. I loved it; thanks for the great imagination Jack.
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Summary: Fun, light reading.
Review: While not particualrly literary, Whyte's take on Roman and Anglo-Saxon Britain is a fun read. Everything and everyone was a little too perfect, i think (especially in "the Colony"), but hey, it's supposed to be the epic of Arthur--things can be a little grand!
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Summary: well written story about the nobility of man
Review: This book's theme is clearly man's nobility. The characters aspire to integrity, strength, courage and rational thought. They are at odds, however, with the Roman Empire as it is described. Yet, this book suceeds in describing how man should act or might act, when facing odds such as the main characters did. The authors view of man is romantic in that he lifts man up to a higher level. For instance, Whyte allows us to see how man through logical decisions can rise above the "end of the world" as the characters knew it. I appreciate that view of life. Furthermore, on the graphic portrayal of the after killing reaction, I believe many readers, who reviewed this book, have missed the point. A study of man's reaction to combat killing is as complex as the individual. The reacton to this killing by the killer is made more violent, when the target is in such close proximity. Since killing a person with a sword is about as close and personnal as you get, Brittanicus's reaction is justifiable. I appreciate the authors description of Varrus's after killing shock. I would refer any skeptics to the book "On Killing".
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Summary: Why have I never heard of this book before?
Review: I picked this book off the shelf, because I saw the Romans on the cover of a book in the fantasy section I religeously stick too. Then I read the back and was pleasantly astonished to see it was an Arthurian novel, and highly praised at that. I had yet to see a fantasy or historical fiction novel to be rooted in the Roman Empire, and after little thought I brought it home to my collection to be read later... I should have read it right away! It was refreshingly more adult then the fantasy norm. It was an education in the practices of the Roman Empire, and the roots of Brittain. Furthermore, I realized from the 10th or so page, that it lacked any monsters or conventional magic in the fantasy sense, and I never missed it once. In fact it seems to be his goal to explain every one of the magical legends and mysteries of Arthur and his world in tangable and realistic means- To make them perfectly feasable. He is well researched. And my GOD! I'm nearly ready to believe... but this is one book down, and I have at least four more to go depending on where he takes it. Two minor annoyances: the vomiting thing everyone is talking about, and the fact that Luceeia(so attractive), gets with Publius so quickly. A little more subtle in both categories, and then an otherwise perfect book. I'd give it a 4 and a half if I could, in order to leave room for such classics as Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb, Daggerspell by Katherin Kerr, Foundation by Asimov, Dune by Frank Herbert which I also would give 4 and 1/2 or 5 stars. I usually don't review books here, but this one book, Skystone, is grossly under-appreciated from what I can tell! Only 9 reviews on such a classic book?! You need beter advertisement or something! And furthermore... where can I get a hard-cover version of Skystone?!
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