The Dragonstone

Rating:
Summary: A Good book, but it falls short of his others
Review: I am an avid McKiernan fan, and in fact he is my favorite author. All his books are great, but I think this one falls a bit short of his usual standard. The character development was good, but the climax left me feeling unsatisfied. I didn't learn to love all these characters as I am accustomed to doing. I didn't cry at the end. It was--almost--stereotypical. I'll probably read it again to see if my opinion changes, but my first idea is that this is a bit below the line. But still an enjoyable read without being a sci-fi/fantasy classic. McKiernan can do and has done better.

Rating:
Summary: Don't bother
Review: I don't think words can convey how much I disliked this book, but I will try nevertheless. Basically, there is no reason why you should read this book. The story isn't interesting. The characters aren't interesting. The quest is not original. With all the good fantasy out there, and the fact that this one weighs in at nearly 600 pages, there is no compelling reason to pick this book up.

One of my biggest complaints is the characters. The elf is utterly humorless about everything, the pseudo Japanese warrior girl is a worn out warrior stereotype, and the drunk is an irritating whiner. Okay, he likes his booze. We understand this, but the author feels the need to remind us every other page. The quest revolves around a prophecy in which the elf is supposed to gather a group of heroes, each of whom is classified with a description such as "The mad queen's rutting peacock." Inexplicably, contrary to all logic, the characters take these lines literally, actually looking for a peacock and a ferret, as if those would somehow help them defeat an evil wizard. Everyone acts so stupid, and no one catches on to anything remotely subtle for the entire book.

With so many pages, you would think that at least there would be character development, but you'd be wrong. Most of the novel is just blather about travel. "They rode through the hills of Dardoth Ungol, past the River Argol, through the Plains of Tallack.." It's a list of empty Tolkienesque place names, and you never get caught up in the world itself. The plot develops through a series of lucky guesses - they are looking for a mad queen, and one of the characters says "Hey, I know a mad queen", and wouldn't you know it, that's the one they needed. Every plot point is the result of a random guess that turns out to be correct. Some of the characters are likable, but they never say or do enough for the reader to get attached to them. The author also throws in philosophical discussions at one point, but it is all really basic stuff (Do you believe in fate?) and doesn't contribute anything new.

When all is said and done, the only reason I finished the book was out of habit, and it was tough. If you consider yourself to be an intelligent reader, you won't be able to stand this. There are a million better fantasy novels out there - pass on this one.

Rating:
Summary: McKiernan's Crowning achivement!
Review: I have read many a fantasy book in my day and Dennis L. McKiernan 's books stand out above the rest. McKiernan is the only author that can have me buy his books, read them in three days and have me biting my fingernails for the next year waiting for the next book to be published. Keep up the good work!

Rating:
Summary: Book is missing part of a chapter
Review: I normally like McKiernan's books but this one is missing at least part of a chapter. Near the climax there is some interation missing between the people on the quest and the dragon guarding their objective. The text refers to a promise the dragon made and one character's opinion that he won't keep his word. I looked back twice to see if I missed anything but there was no convsersation. One of the chapters is very short, less than a page and it appears that it may be incomplete. I like his stories but bad editing is inexcusable.

Rating:
Summary: Book is missing part of a chapter
Review: I normally like McKiernan's books but this one is missing at least part of a chapter. Near the climax there is some interation missing between the people on the quest and the dragon guarding their objective. The text refers to a promise the dragon made and one character's opinion that he won't keep his word. I looked back twice to see if I missed anything but there was no convsersation. One of the chapters is very short, less than a page and it appears that it may be incomplete. I like his stories but bad editing is inexcusable.

Rating:
Summary: Save your money....
Review: I've been reading fantasy novels for 15 years and this story lacked excitement and creativity. Not only did it start slow it ended slow. I forced myself to finish the book because I spent 6 bucks for it. Stories like these can usually end in 200 or less pages. This one had close to 600. If you need any help falling asleep, then this is the book for you. (Oh yeah, a Nympho/Nutso queen?...please)

Rating:
Summary: Uh...no.
Review: I've read some of Dennis's work before, the into the Forge set, and I thought it wasn't so bad for classic fantasy...though it dragged a little. So I decided to pick up an earlier book to see how much better it would be. I was horrible surprised to find it was worse. The book's beginning wasn't too bad. You can't help but mutter at the characters' unbelievable stupidity in solving the riddles. Even the long lived elf Arin is pretty clueless. Another problem, is Dennis describes everything in WAY too much detail...600 pages of nothing is a little much. I was kind of disgruntled after reading this book, because the ending wasn't epic in any way. The drunk that doesn't really accomplish anything for the whole book dies (and believe me, I'm not giving anything away). Wow...I could care less about a guy who drags the rest of the party down with him. If you want epic...read David Gemmel's Winter Warriors. Now that is some truly epic stuff.

Rating:
Summary: Uh...no.
Review: I've read some of Dennis's work before, the into the Forge set, and I thought it wasn't so bad for classic fantasy...though it dragged a little. So I decided to pick up an earlier book to see how much better it would be. I was horrible surprised to find it was worse. The book's beginning wasn't too bad. You can't help but mutter at the characters' unbelievable stupidity in solving the riddles. Even the long lived elf Arin is pretty clueless. Another problem, is Dennis describes everything in WAY too much detail...600 pages of nothing is a little much. I was kind of disgruntled after reading this book, because the ending wasn't epic in any way. The drunk that doesn't really accomplish anything for the whole book dies (and believe me, I'm not giving anything away). Wow...I could care less about a guy who drags the rest of the party down with him. If you want epic...read David Gemmel's Winter Warriors. Now that is some truly epic stuff.

Rating:
Summary: The Silmarillion of Mithgar
Review: If you have yet to enter Mithgar, Dennis McKiernan's mythic ancient earth, the very best way is to start at the beginning - which is The Dragonstone! I tried to read this when it first came out but the first few chapters defeated me. It's a rather awkward start - but by chapter 3 everything is rolling along beautifully, and you're off on a grand adventure! Now that I have read the entire Mithgar Saga as it now stands, I can really appreciate this volume, which is the "oldest" Mithgarian tale, Chronologically. It tells of the evil mage Ordrune, the visionary Elfess Arin & the heroic warrior Egil One-Eye. Like the Silmarillion, the first 4 Mithgar Sagas [Dragonstone; Voyage of the Fox Rider; Hel's Crucible Duology] create a backdrop which evokes emotion when you read references to their stories later on. Like when Sam & Frodo talk about Beren & Luthien in the Two Towers, you get a little chill when Egil-One Eye is mentioned in "The Silver Call" Duology. It's great fun. McKiernan isn't a brilliant prose stylist - and he isn't an Brit-style writer. He's very American. Mithgar is a strange cross between Oz & Middle Earth, with every manner of culture & mythology thrown in for good measure. There are anachronisms galore - but it gives the series a distinct flavor.Having said that I must confess that some of these juxtopositions are downright Surreal - almost Dali-like in effect! Unlike Terry Brooks, McKiernan never lets the pace falter - it's one acton scene after the other! While McKiernan writes in a juvinile-novel style, his stories do have some graphic elements and low humor that border on the tasteless - but he never crosses the line. Overall, Mithgar is a fun world & the series is worth reading - from the top.

Rating:
Summary: In the history of Mithgar, this book comes first.
Review: Just a note to let those of you who follow the Mithgarian tales: _The Dragonstone_ occurs in the First Era of Mithgar, some 300 years before that Era comes to an end. I really had fun writing this book for the characters are some of the most memorable I've yet set to paper. There was a hint of this story given way back in The Iron Tower trilogy and the Silver Call Duology, but now it stands on its own. I do hope you enjoy it. I know I did.