Stricken Field

Rating:
Summary: Stricken Field continues the excellence
Review: Reviews are usually produced by a strong reaction to a book, either positive or negative, so to say that "The Stricken Field" is a powerful book in a dynamic series is still to state the obvious. It would be likewise obvious to mention that "Stricken Field" is actually part of a series, except that it might not be obvious that it is actually Book 7. Dave Duncan began this tale in the 4-book series "A Man of His Word", where he made every word count, every character real, and every incident matter. Duncan is a wordsmith, who savors his story, and treats his reader with honesty -- that means at times things don't go along storybook lines, and the gritty truth must be faced. The realism of Duncan's fantasy makes it far more satisfying than any other fantasy series I have read. The only books that approach his are Elizabeth Moon's Deed of Paksenarrion series and David Eddings' Belgariad -- and Duncan outshines them all. More than that, Duncan did not sell-out, as did Eddings, in writing his second part to the series: "A Handful of Men" is equal to the preceding four books, and takes us farther yet into a world we love and fear, and hate to leave. Read all eight books.

Rating:
Summary: Stricken Field continues the excellence
Review: Reviews are usually produced by a strong reaction to a book, either positive or negative, so to say that "The Stricken Field" is a powerful book in a dynamic series is still to state the obvious. It would be likewise obvious to mention that "Stricken Field" is actually part of a series, except that it might not be obvious that it is actually Book 7. Dave Duncan began this tale in the 4-book series "A Man of His Word", where he made every word count, every character real, and every incident matter. Duncan is a wordsmith, who savors his story, and treats his reader with honesty -- that means at times things don't go along storybook lines, and the gritty truth must be faced. The realism of Duncan's fantasy makes it far more satisfying than any other fantasy series I have read. The only books that approach his are Elizabeth Moon's Deed of Paksenarrion series and David Eddings' Belgariad -- and Duncan outshines them all. More than that, Duncan did not sell-out, as did Eddings, in writing his second part to the series: "A Handful of Men" is equal to the preceding four books, and takes us farther yet into a world we love and fear, and hate to leave. Read all eight books.

Rating:
Summary: Rolicking Fantasy
Review: This book picks up where Upland Outlaws left off. We see Garth's progression, as well as Rap's now essentially mudane plotting against Zinixo coming to a head. Duncan's writing is, as usual, superb; the way that he ties in his plots with classical literary quotes brings a delightful sense of continuity to each chapter. Only the fact that this book set owes so much to the first keeps it from being five stars.

Rating:
Summary: Rolicking Fantasy
Review: This book picks up where Upland Outlaws left off. We see Garth's progression, as well as Rap's now essentially mudane plotting against Zinixo coming to a head. Duncan's writing is, as usual, superb; the way that he ties in his plots with classical literary quotes brings a delightful sense of continuity to each chapter. Only the fact that this book set owes so much to the first keeps it from being five stars.