Blade of Tyshalle

Rating:
Summary: Excellent characterizations and plotting
Review: Hari Michaelson is an entertainer who lives in two lives. One is on earth and the other is in the parallel realm called Overworld. In the latter, he is an assassin known for his ability to kill while providing enjoyment to the multitude of his fans, the Earthlings.

Hari soon uncovers a dastardly conspiracy perpetrated by the ruling elite of Earth. The plan is commit genocide via a virus that will eradicate the Overworld populace. Hari enlists the aid of his wife and other souls to try to save the lives of the people of Overworld.

BLADE OF TYSHALLE is an exciting work of speculative fiction that combines elements of science fiction and fantasy into the plot. The story line is filled to overkill with detailed martial arts fighting that slows down an otherwise astute novel. Hari is an epic hero and his teammates augment the understanding of his need to protect the Overworld. Don't eat reading this story, as some parts of the tale seem a bit too gory at least for this reviewer's stomach. Still, Matthew Woodring Stover has written a stalwart novel that will please readers who enjoy the crossroads between science fiction and fantasy.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: More of a good thing?
Review: I enjoyed very much the first 'Caine' novel, which left me wanting more! Then suddenly there was more! I found myself strangely hesitant; just how could there be more? The first novel leaves the main character damaged goods. Trepidations, experiences of too many cheats over the years from novels, tv, movies, even comic books. But, there was no cheat!
No cheats. Very refreshing, and a little hard to read, you almost wish the author would have cheated. If he had, then we readers would have been cheated. Everything is as it should have been, the ending is worthwhile in all aspects, and fits the world it takes place in.
Even if most of us are fighting the 'good' fight, I wonder how often we think to ask ourselves if we are fighting the 'right' fight. I could read these two novels again!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I hate the tragic hero bit, but Caine pulls it off in style.

BLade of Tyshalle is the sequel to Heroes Die. But you do not have to read the first book to get into this one. I actually thought this was the first book.

The book deals with so many social connotations and issues, that it is almost disturbing. But in that sense it is refreshing. I like the character of Caine, and my one gripe about this book is that he seems to be on the losing end of things all the time.

Rating:
Summary: great but preachy
Review: I love the character,Hari michaelson, especially as Caine. The story is really well written and holds your interest. It is a great read. The only problem I had with it was the over the top anti-capitalist, radical environmentalist point of view that was piled on with a steam shovel. In a future world where they can travel to another planet without a space craft, they still cannot gather resources without destroying the countryside. The, man is the evil destroyer of the planet, story line gets a little old as well. Still the writing is good and if you can get past the radical environmental [stuff], I think you will enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: Good read with underlying themes
Review: I read "Blade of Tyshalle" to get a feel for Matthew Stover's style cause he's writing "Traitor" a new NJO Star Wars book. It is obviouslly very dark but in no way mysterious. Matthew Stover writes in a forthright style that doesn't make you bored, but don't get me wrong, this isn't a no-brainer book. Perhaps the scariest thing about "Blade of Tyshalle" is that it is so true. Stover lets us experience the suffering of his characters and shows us gruesome horrors, but its scary because its true. This is truly a great book that opens our eyes and places us into Hari Michaelson, a man who everyone wants to be what he isn't.

Its a moving book that shows in the end, not all battles have to be won, just fought.

Rating:
Summary: Forget the follow up
Review: I tried, really I did. After the success of "Heroes Die" I assumed Stover would provide a comparable sequel, he did not. This book is about 400 pages too long, the characters are simply a re-hash of the previous novel, the plot is seemingly complex but wasteful, the action is lacking, the philosophy is strained (and not helped by the constant use of the f-bomb), the author simply tried a new approach to making a good novel but his original formula should not have been altered.

This novel is so bad that I feel it actually tarnishes the previous work "Heroe's Die". Stover has his strengths and he needs to stay with the simple, violent, seething id that is encompassed by Caine. Forget about Blade of Tyshalle, find some old George RR Martin while we all wait for A Feast for Crows.

Rating:
Summary: Forget the follow up
Review: I tried, really I did. After the success of "Heroes Die" I assumed Stover would provide a comparable sequel, he did not. This book is about 400 pages too long, the characters are simply a re-hash of the previous novel, the plot is seemingly complex but wasteful, the action is lacking, the philosophy is strained (and not helped by the constant use of the f-bomb), the author simply tried a new approach to making a good novel but his original formula should not have been altered.

This novel is so bad that I feel it actually tarnishes the previous work "Heroe's Die". Stover has his strengths and he needs to stay with the simple, violent, seething id that is encompassed by Caine. Forget about Blade of Tyshalle, find some old George RR Martin while we all wait for A Feast for Crows.

Rating:
Summary: mixed feelings
Review: I was intrigued by Cain's character, which broke the noble, just, upright molds of most fantasy heroes. He's a gritty, harsh man who, realistically, was shaped by his childhood. The villain, Maelkoth, was almost likable; indeed, he was ponderously regal. The concept of inter-dimensional travel between the world of "faerie" and our contemporary one being explained scientifically was also well done.
However, the brutality described in many of the scenes disturbed me, all the more so because such things happen all too often in our society. There was a grim bitterness that laced the pages of the entire book that left me drained by the time I finished.
Read it for the realism of life's harshness; but don't read it if you don't like to envision suffering and anguish in Technicolor.

Rating:
Summary: a must read
Review: If you can't handle true-to-life descriptions of violence and brutality,
then don't buy this book. Everyone else, though, needs to buy this book.
For the strong-willed, there is a theme that you will recognize and applaud.
For the weak-willed, there is a lesson that you all should learn.

Oh, and it's one of the most entertaining books I've ever read. If you
like action, you will -not- be disappointed. Even if you could care
less about what the author is trying to say, the face value of the
book is good enough to form the basis of a classic action movie.
_Heroes Die_, also by Stover, is in the same category.

Rating:
Summary: Intelligent; Bloody; Epic
Review: In a cliched, trite, genre, BoT is a breath of fresh air. Infinitely superior to the typical quest fantasy, the book is surprisingly intellectual and you can be sure you are going to read something more than a slash 'em up tale. Stover's prose is a step up from the norm. He is wordy but describes everything vividly.
He also writes great characters. Everyone of them is real and very unique. I especially liked the character of Kris Hansen. He really came alive to me. Of course Hari is an interesting character too, just not my type. :)
Another good point about the book is that it is very self-contained. The beginning of the book ties in seamlessly with the end and the rest of the plot fits perfectly in between. I didn't even realize it was a sequel until I read the cover for "Heroes Die". Very absorbing, very epic.
The one bad thing about this book was the amount of disturbing material. If you read the Amazon.com review you will see an excerpt that exemplifies the worst of what is in here. The rest of the book was bloody, but to a lesser degree. (except for one other section, also involving Kollberg, that I didn't read because it was even more disgusting and had no relevance to the plot.) The way I explain this kind of blood/gore/language in a book is say that it must be a guy thing and if you don't like that kind of content, don't buy this book.
In conclusion, I found Blade of Tyshalle to be both entertaining and thought provoking and would recommend it to all but the most sensitive reader.