Sword-Dancer

Rating:
Summary: Good verbal combat
Review: Jennifer Roberson balances male and female interaction well. It isn't the woman wins all the time or the man that wins all the time. I appriciate the back and forth verbal action between the charactors, most fanatsy novels don't go that far in depth. Eventhough we never see Del's full skill of combat in this book we get it first hand in the next one; Sword-Singer. If you read this book and like it I recomend the next one, especially if you want to see female dominance.

Rating:
Summary: This is the most awesome series.
Review: My boyfriend and I were discussing literature and he told me to read the Tiger and Del series. So I did. I've read books 1, 2, & 4 (He gave me the wrong book. I plan to read 3 next.) and they are just great. I love the way they make the characters seem real, and how when men try to get Del from Tiger, he doesn't know how to take it in the first. And how Tiger keeps learning that men and women are equal. It's just wonderful. I don't reccommend this book for young readers or people that don't like blood and violence. But if you like fantasy and need a good book, read Sword-Dancer.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful example of the best that Fantasy has to offer!
Review: Normally, I do not like novels written in first person. This is the exception to that rule. I can't put the book down once I've begun, whether it's my second time, or my thirtieth. This is a book of self-revelation and exploration, and I whole-heartedly endorse the entire series - but please read them in order! Tiger and Del are compelling characters, and Roberson proves that she definately can write from a male perspective. Her characters are well-rounded, complex, never lose their edge, and become very real to the reader. If you enjoy good Fantasy, then this series ranks in the top 5, along with Anne McCaffrey and Melanie Rawn. To anyone who has a tendancy to "perceive" sexism in ANY relationship between men and women, and are too narrow-minded to see past it to the great writing and story, DON'T READ THIS BOOK OR ANY IN THE SERIES!!! If you have nothing else but sexism in mind as a reader, then you missed the point and the story.

Rating:
Summary: superb, thoughtful heroic fantasy
Review: One can read this series from the viewpoint of social commentary on gender relations, heroic fantasy, or both. It speaks well for the author's talent that it succeeds in either category. Whatever you do, begin with this book, the first in the series, and read them in order.

The Tiger/Del relationship is notable for its complexity as well as the variety of interactions. To a certain extent, both are required to show some adaptiveness over time; one watches them learn and grow. As products of very different societies, we see their pre-existing cultural expectations giving way--obstinately--to the realities of life. It is impossible to miss the feminist statement that Del represents, but there is much more going on than just that.

If you could care less about sexual politics and just want to read about interesting characters in a richly detailed environment with a very high excitement level, you also came to the right series. While there is some obvious linguistic and cultural borrowing from medieval earth, it never detracts from the tale. It also has a delightful level of mature humour to keep matters lighthearted.

A must read.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad at all
Review: Seeing as how I read the book about 5 years ago and still remember it, it must be quite good. I really don't remember it enough to give it a in-depth review, but I couldn't just write nothing after I read the other review. Let's put it this way - If you can't remember that this is a FANTASY book, and you expect everything to be politically correct (ie. no male chauvinism) then don't read it. But if you want a good book, with a neat premise, and very interesting characters, I really think you would enjoy it. Saying it sucks is just too narrow minded. I really don't think that person should be reading fantasy

Rating:
Summary: Good, Solid Story
Review: The book starts out with a lot of action, has a great story that is not predictable. Tiger is a charming rogue, though I felt that the further into the book you delve, the more you find your original impression was misleading.

The relationship that grows between the two main characters is prickly, but appreciable. Overall, this book is the best in the series.

Rating:
Summary: Fun throwback to 70s female centered pulp fantasy
Review: The easiest way to sum up this review is to say I bought the next book in the series before I finished this one.

Sword Dancer is the first in a series of books about Tiger, the best sword dancer in the South, and Del, a driven woman who broke taboo to become a master sword dancer in the North. She hires him to guide her to a city far to the south in search of a kidnapped brother. Through plenty of good old-fashioned cliffhangers and revelations her quest is completed, although not necessarily as you'd expect. Along the way the relationship changes from employer/employee to companions. While nicely wrapped up, the climatic scene provides plenty of sequel fodder.

The story is told in first person by Tiger, like most men in the Arabian Nights style setting, can't imagine Del is actually a competent sword dancer until she proves him wrong. Even so he continues to slip back and forth between seeing her as another sword dancer and as a woman (a dichotomy many modern men might understand), leaving a sexist flavor to him. However, it is sexism of the pulp hero and not the woman hater. Del is more of a cipher with her closed mouth nature and single-mindedness.

While fulfilling all the pulp requirements and the expectations of 70s style "strong woman" fantasy novels a la early Tanith Lee or C. J. Cherryh there are some rough points. The slavery escape is a little too fantastic even by pulp standards, mainly in terms of villain stupidity (although no worse than the prison escape in the second Gor novel). The big problem, especially for some women readers, will be the climatic battle. While in story telling terms Roberson made the right choice it has lead to accusations of sexism. However, given events earlier in the novel this is more a case of looking at this one incident. Also, the charge ignores the key reason WHY Tiger has to intervene. Trying not to spoil it all I can say is pay attention to what puts Del at a disadvantage that Tiger doesn't have, it's not sex, it's magic.

These faults aside the novel was a fun quick read, delivering the pulp fantasy tale it promised. Tiger is especially engaging as a more modern and a little more believable version of the John Carter type. The desert as an enemy and the little gems left to fill the next five or six books are fun. The last scene reminds me of the end of C J Cherryh's classic Gate of Ivrel. All in all, a worthwhile read for those into this style of fantasy.

Rating:
Summary: interesting story, amateur writing
Review: The story is interesting, as are some of the ideas. The thought of semi-living swords is interesting, though you get a bit tired of hearing about it later in the series. Unfortunately, the writing leaves much to be desired. The characters are clichéd and tend to repeat themselves over and over again. I got sick of hearing about Del's oath, and even sicker of the word Hoolies. It is an easy read though, and is a good way to pass an afternoon if you don't have much else to do. I would pick it up at a library, rather than buy it.

Rating:
Summary: interesting story, amateur writing
Review: The story is interesting, as are some of the ideas. The thought of semi-living swords is interesting, though you get a bit tired of hearing about it later in the series. Unfortunately, the writing leaves much to be desired. The characters are clichéd and tend to repeat themselves over and over again. I got sick of hearing about Del's oath, and even sicker of the word Hoolies. It is an easy read though, and is a good way to pass an afternoon if you don't have much else to do. I would pick it up at a library, rather than buy it.

Rating:
Summary: Tough, Touching and Fun
Review: The storyline is unoriginal and thinly wrought and oftentimes is nothing more than an excuse to get the protagonists into more trouble, but this book still succeeds. Roberson is successful in making characters that are not only interesting but endearing and this novel is tough and touching. The social issues that she touches on in this book manage to tough a raw nerve. A worthwhile read.