Rating: 
Summary: This is what you were missing.
Review: This is one of those books that you absolutely must read. Even if just for the reminder of what a good book really is like. This book is complicated, it's intricately plotted, the characters have depth and dimension (but they're not necessarily likeable, sort of like they're human eh?), but best of all, the author doesn't lose sight of the _story_. There are no apologies, no easy answers, and no shortcuts taken with this book. The whole book is exploring the gray areas and dismissing the dichotomy of good v. evil. It's more than that though, if science fiction explores the gray areas, this book is exploring the 24-bit color palette. And now I know what I've been missing. Technically, the writing is superb, it uses interesting timelines, and does so with finesse. The characters all act the way you'd expect them to act, they don't jump in with the handy plot device the author needs. And the characters are built from what you have seen as the reader. There was no skimping in the editing either, it all hangs together and it's watertight. Kudos to Mr. Stover, the effort shows and we should all appreciate what must have been a phenomenal effort.
Rating:
Summary: A violent but intense read
Review: This is the follow up novel to HEROES DIE. Hari Michelson aka Caine is now an upcaste, physically crippled administrator, who after a betrayal finds all he has worked for all his life stripped away from him. His enemies think he is now of little threat - little do they know, that this is the catalyst that will bring Caine back to life in ways they could never have anticipated.
While this story could be read alone, you'll get the most out of it if you read it after the first book in this short series. This novel is quite different in pacing and content than the previous book. HEROES DIE is more of a straight adventure novel along the lines of a somewhat `traditional adventure' story. BLADE OF TYSHALLE has this aspect, but we get to see more of Hari's caste ridden earth, as well as expanding on many themes only touched upon in the first book and some very interesting new characters are introduced.
However, be warned there are some very graphic and violent scenes in here that may make you winch to read. All told these two Caine stories easily stand out in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy crowd of novels for their richness of characters, fast movement and violence. While normally gratuitous violence in a novel is a real turn off for me, in these books, it does in the end have a point and is not as gratuitous as it first seems. I'm glad I stumbled across these books and this is an author whose work I will keep an eye out for in the future.
Rating:
Summary: a must read
Review: This man is static electricity, I'm sure I'd feel it if he passed me on the street. I can best describe his style of writing as passion, steepled in anger.. Until I'd read Blade of Tyshalle and Heroes Die, I'd never known myself to be "electric" about a new author but there's something in this man's message to the world that carries a raw feeling of emotion and intensity --it makes you want to throw good vs. evil out the window - "there is no good and evil", there's only what you want and what you're willing to do to get it. If you see with clarity, you'll understand Matthew Stover, and if not, you'll question the way the world operates, by the time you're finished with his books. I encourage everyone who reads this to look into Matthew Stover interviews and read them. The guy is sharp, full of passion, slightly cynical and 110% KA entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: Stover for President!
Review: This man is static electricity, I'm sure I'd feel it if he passed me on the street. I can best describe his style of writing as passion, steepled in anger.. Until I'd read Blade of Tyshalle and Heroes Die, I'd never known myself to be "electric" about a new author but there's something in this man's message to the world that carries a raw feeling of emotion and intensity --it makes you want to throw good vs. evil out the window - "there is no good and evil", there's only what you want and what you're willing to do to get it. If you see with clarity, you'll understand Matthew Stover, and if not, you'll question the way the world operates, by the time you're finished with his books. I encourage everyone who reads this to look into Matthew Stover interviews and read them. The guy is sharp, full of passion, slightly cynical and 110% KA entertaining.
Rating: 
Summary: WATCH OUT FOR BLADE OF TYSHALLE - ITS ONE SHARP READ!
Review: This second novel to HEROES DIE was not your standard approach to your everyday sequel, which made it even more interesting. This novel was more epic in scope and vision than the 1st novel. Overall the book was a terrific read and was full of interesting characters and ideas, it was like reading a fantasy/horror/sci-fi novel. The blend of genres meshed well together. My only complaint was the final fight sequence between Caine and Ma'elkoth - it was so built up and ended much too quickly and easily, and I could not wait for Caine to get back on his feet again - it took entirely too long for that! But if you like your fantasy on the darker edge and like the unusual with hard-edged action - this ones for you! I will be looking forward to Caine's next adventure - but what can the writer come up with after this one in terms of adversity for our reluctant heroe?
Rating: 
Summary: Not Tolkien, Heinlein or anything remotely literary
Review: To give the author the benefit of the doubt I read the whole book hoping that somewhere I would find some redeeming quality within it's pages. The characters are simplistic and one dimensional. I suppose Hari's (main character) FU mouth and attitude is supposed to be his endearing characteristic, but after awhile it becomes dumb, crass and boring. ... There is nothing subtle or artistic about his ability to describe a scene or situation. ... P>On the cover review they compare it to Lord of the Rings and other classic books and it has nothing in common with any of the good books that so many people love. It is blood, guts and gore with a liberal dose of profanity and some skewed anarchist philosophy thrown in... I give it one star because it made it into print without a lot of typos.
Rating:
Summary: A study in contrast
Review: Two points stuck firmly in my mind, when I read BLADE OF TYSHALLE:
1) It's a stand alone sequel with equal punch compared to it's precursor, HEROES DIE. An unfortunate side effect of epic and multi installment fiction is an original or novel (pardon the pun) idea gets squeezed for every last ounce of mileage. Stover's CAINE novels work in their own dynamic, and you don't have to read one to understand the other. Though I admit skipping HEROES DIE might lessen your experience with BLADE, it won't void it. 2) It's cerebral and faithful to its premise. Stover has his politics, and he's true to himself in his fiction. You may not agree with his world view, but his sincerity transfers to a breathtakingly plausible dual reality that's right on the edge of greatness. Also, and supremely pertinent, this is Literature (with appropriate capitalization and Heavenly choral accompaniment). Read BLADE OF TYSHALLE, finish it, then sit back and think over each element. Everything means something in this book. Dual worlds, dual personalities for every character; this novel is a study of contrasts, and Stover's understanding of the human condition renders BLADE's revelations sublime.
'Properly, we should read for power. Man reading should be man intensely alive. The book should be a ball of light in one's hand.'
-Ezra Pound
Indeed.
Rating:
Summary: What a Remarkable Book
Review: Wow! This is quite a book, to say the least. It is extremely rich in substance and provides a skillful blend of the realms of fantasy and science fiction. I marveled at the many levels of this fine book. At its most basic level, this is an action packed adventure story involving the struggle for supremacy over two worlds and two ways of life: one based on science and one based on the power of magic. While reading the basic story line (crammed with plenty of intrigue, fighting and excitement to move the plot along), I was also pleased to consider the varied themes presented dealing with such topics as philosophy (Man's role in the universe, fate, destiny, the power of will, the good of the many v. the good of one), religion (how gods are created, how supreme beings wrestle for power in the universe, how deities interact with and shape world events) and relationships (the intimacy created between mortal enemies, the nature and power of friendship, self-discovery). On many occasions, I had to pause in my reading to utter a mental "Hmm" and consider some point being made by the author. This was my first exposure to this author and I am happy to have discovered his work. I am very happy I read this book. Like most people (I think), my time and resources are limited and I don't often get the chance to try a new author. I highly recommend this book to others. I consider it one of the best books I have read in the last year.
Rating:
Summary: I wish there was a 6-star rating...
Review: [Darn], I thumbed thru this book at [a retail store]& bought it for a friend of mine for Chrismas 2001. 48hrs later he came over, gave it back to me, & insisted that I read it. I did. Now, I read it. Took me about 36hrs (I had a great security job, LOTS of free time) & I was on the way to the store to find the first in the series, HEROES DIE. I've been reading science fiction/fantasy fiction since I was about 8. No, I take that back, I was 7, & it was a third series Tom Swift boxed set. And Matthew Woodring Stover is at the top of the list. Right up there with Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman, R. A. Salvatore, Orson Scott Card, & Frank Herbert. Stover mixes the sci-fi & fantasy genre like a batch of your Grandmother's Toll-House cookies, & yet remains completely original in the process. I don't know how he did it, but he did. If I ever meet this guy, I'm gonna offer him dinner & my first born. Well, okay, dinner, but somewhere nice. None of this Pizza Hut buffet for you, Matt. You get the best. CHINESE BUFFET!!! Or maybe Sushi if you sign my book. Oh, & TRAITOR, from the New Jedi Order series, is monumentally profound. When I thought that no one could turn the Star Wars universe on it's ear like Salvatore did with Vector Prime, along comes my man M. W. Stover. If this guys doesn't meditate, he should. He'd probably make Ken Wilber look like Howdy Doody.
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