Rating: 
Summary: Excellent study in character conflict
Review: Elizabeth Moon is known for her extraordinary characters. Legacy of Gird is no exception. You see something of an overlapping within the two parts to this book. The first focuses on Gird from his point of view. You see the internal and external struggles he faces as he tries to liberate his people. The second half (from the book "Liar's Oath") is seen from the POV of Gird's luap, aptly named Luap. Meant to be a trusted servant of sorts and never to command, you see Luap's struggles as he fights pressure, compulsion, and himself... all within Gird's shadow. An excellent prequel to "Deed of Paksenarrion" that fantasy fans (and writers) would enjoy and learn from. I recommend reading "Deed of Paksenarrion" first since she makes two appearances in "Legacy of Gird", and it is a study in strong female character leads, though not a requirement, since you can easily follow along both books without reading the other. Warning, this is a very lengthy read, and when you reach "Liar's Oath", the descriptions do tend to veer a little off track. However, this serves to highlight "Deed of Paksenarrion" and brings an excellent historical background to the series.
Rating: 
Summary: A Very Long, but Lost Legacy
Review: Here we have a package containing the prequels to the very well done Deed of Paksenarrion. Unfortunately, neither approach the heights of that trilogy. The first, Surrender None is slow going but is worth the effort. Barely! The second, Liar's Oath, is a book that had no reason to be written. There is very little story, a confusion of who the main point of view characters are on the authors part with none getting much on page time yet not working as an ensemble piece either. In the end very little happens, and what does happen is so buried under the mundanity of most of the work that it seems trivial. Moon is a good author. She stumbled badly here though. Unless you have the disease of being a completionist, give these a pass.
Rating: 
Summary: Awful
Review: I have read the entire Deed of Paksenarrion at least nine times so I was initially excited to read this book. It was so boring that I wanted to gouge my eyes out.Unfortunately I read the book from cover to cover because I kept thinking that "It cannot be that bad, maybe the next page or story won't [stink]". I was wrong. It was shameful.
Rating:
Summary: *YAWN*
Review: I read this book because of a personal hang-up I have about finishing every series I start; otherwise, I think I would have given up by page 100. I like Moon's "Deed of Paksennarion" trilogy well enough, but think it is highly overrated. However, I felt I owed it to Moon to read her prequel, and perhaps finally discover the "incredible depth of world-building" that her fans are constantly raving about. As you may have guessed by now, I was sorely disappointed. The first novel contained in this volume, "Surrender None," does provide much relevant, sometimes interesting, though rather sluggish background to the Paksennarion trilogy. Learning the history of Gird, and seeing how many of the incidents of his life later grew into religious dogma was an overall worthwhile read, and is solely responsible for the two stars I've given this book. The second novel in this book, though, "Liar's Oath," seemed like it was written merely to "set up" a possible Paksennarion sequel. Unfortunately, Moon took around 400 pages to present what would have made a far more effective 20-page prologue or short story. "Liar's Oath" featured an unlikeable protagonist, rambling and over-used description, and no particular plot to speak of. I could probably sit here for hours and rant about how much I disliked this novel, but I've wasted enough time on this book already.
Rating:
Summary: *YAWN*
Review: I read this book because of a personal hang-up I have about finishing every series I start; otherwise, I think I would have given up by page 100. I like Moon's "Deed of Paksennarion" trilogy well enough, but think it is highly overrated. However, I felt I owed it to Moon to read her prequel, and perhaps finally discover the "incredible depth of world-building" that her fans are constantly raving about. As you may have guessed by now, I was sorely disappointed. The first novel contained in this volume, "Surrender None," does provide much relevant, sometimes interesting, though rather sluggish background to the Paksennarion trilogy. Learning the history of Gird, and seeing how many of the incidents of his life later grew into religious dogma was an overall worthwhile read, and is solely responsible for the two stars I've given this book. The second novel in this book, though, "Liar's Oath," seemed like it was written merely to "set up" a possible Paksennarion sequel. Unfortunately, Moon took around 400 pages to present what would have made a far more effective 20-page prologue or short story. "Liar's Oath" featured an unlikeable protagonist, rambling and over-used description, and no particular plot to speak of. I could probably sit here for hours and rant about how much I disliked this novel, but I've wasted enough time on this book already.
Rating: 
Summary: Human Spirit
Review: It would seem to me to be almost impossible to make a better book or set of books than the "Deeds of Paksnarion". "Surrender None" by far surmounted the previous novels in this case. It reminded me strongly of Pearl S. Bucks "The Good Earth" or "The Grapes of Wrath". If you like or think you would like this book I encourage you to read it.
Rating:
Summary: Worthy successor to the Deed of Paks
Review: Ms. Moon is filling in the history of her wonderful world in this book. It plods on at certain moments unlike the Deed but that is to be expected given that it is largely a history and basis for all her other works concerning this world. And what would you call her world? Aarenis and Aare are parts of it, but the whole doesnt have a convenient label like Middle-Earth! Maybe that is why I love it so much; you can't quite put your finger on this author's creation but in many respects it is more tangible and graphic than Tolkien. And at certain moments it is as powerful (and from a die hard Middle-Earth-in -the-process-of-rereading-Tolkien-for-the-umpteenth-time fan, she is the absolute best fantasy writer today)
Unfortunately I read this book over a year ago and can't comment on the striking details that distinguished it, but I remember putting it down with satisfaction because it filled in gaps left from the Deed and answered most of the remaining questions I had. More disturbing (for I first discovered Moon early summer 96) I realised she could turn out to be another Tolkien: an author that captivates me in my favorite genre of idealistic fantasy but only writes a handful of works! I dont want to be stranded again! What I would give for Tolkien to have written a couple more trilogies or about the 4th age..
So please Ms. Moon, I beg you, write! You are so rare and precious and are probably as appreciated by the Tolkien fans that have read you as I am, but you have only written 5 books (3 part of a trilogy!) about Paks' world! Remember, it took over a decade before Tolkien achieved mass appeal, so he didnt have that immediate feedback (I might have read somthing about fantasy not being as popular during the 40s, but I am not sure). Your vision and grasp of basic ideals and hopes is so strong though that I cannot see your work not being as enduring and potent as Tolkien's a century from now. Maybe less time devoted to your futuristic novels would free up more time for "The Real Work"?... 8-D ok, so it's none of my business and I admit being biased against futuristic works (hated them ever since Aliens scared me as a kid) but I have been on Paladin withdrawl for sometime now and am getting desperate! What I respect about the works of Ms. Moon is the consistent level throughout the stories unlike authors such as Raymond Feist (as pointed out by fellow readers in his review pages as well), who took an initially exquisite and simple mythical land with solid characters and confounded it with needless complexity when it turned into a money-making machine/monster! Ie: compare earlier works like "Magician" and the siege of Armengar ("Darkness at Sethanon"?) with later hurried efforts like "Rage of a Demon King," and seen progressively through the SerpentWar Sagas.
This is what separates the Masters, the immortal works from run-of-the-mill slap-schticks! Janny Wurts (I would recommend her unusual and literally unearthly trilogy, "Circle of Fire"(?), the only futuristic work I care for) is another author with an excellent rapport with her material and the quality is consistent but (sigh) like Tolkien there is a lamentable dearth. Would someone familiar with these rare authors please take them to some remote island with an endless supply of coffee, calm and classical music and force them to grind out at least 2 works a year?! Thanks!, and sorry for dragging on but its now almost 3am in the morning of a lost weekend and I thought I would add somthing to this quite empty review page for a wonderful work; however, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK BEFORE THE DEED OF PAKSENARRION! It may be about a time and narrating of events preceeding that of Paks, but it will be more enjoyable in the reverse order, and well, if you dont care for the Deed, then you sure wont care for this gem either!
Peace and enjoy,
-AH
Rating:
Summary: Struggling
Review: Reading this book, you get to experience of what it really is like in Real Life, just by the way that Elizabeth Moon writes. From her own experience, it seems to help with the story about Gird to be so real. Back then, that is probably what they really did, if you think about it. To me, I am living in another person's world for the every day life that he had being a Marshal-General. It is also a comfort that even in the book itself, there are struggles that have to be made, just like the real world of today.
Rating:
Summary: Struggling
Review: Reading this book, you get to experience of what it really is like in Real Life, just by the way that Elizabeth Moon writes. From her own experience, it seems to help with the story about Gird to be so real. Back then, that is probably what they really did, if you think about it. To me, I am living in another person's world for the every day life that he had being a Marshal-General. It is also a comfort that even in the book itself, there are struggles that have to be made, just like the real world of today.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent book - A worthy prequel to The Deed of Paksenar
Review: This book certainly lived up to the standard Moon achieved in her previous book. I thouroughly enjoyed it for it's action and the obvious research done into historical fact. The feudal farming system was well researched and well described. While Gird as a hero was believable and able to be sympathized with, Luap was very difficult to identify with. I suspect that this was Ms Moon's intent. The problem was that I was left not caring what happened to him. Nevertheless I read the book in one trans-atlantic flight and one extra day, unable to put it down. I am not sure I agree that The Deed must be read first, although I did read the books in that order. Both books are excellent and anyone who enjoys good writing and an exciting fantasy should give them a try.
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