Destiny of the Sword

Rating:
Summary: Best Trilogy by a Major Talent
Review: "The Reluctant Swordsman" (Seventh Sword, Book 1)introduces the characters and world/universe the author continues with in "The Coming of Wisdom" (Seventh Sword, Book 2)and "The Destiny of the Sword" (Seventh Sword, Book 3). This is a brilliant trilogy which remains at the top of Dave Duncan's impressive body of work. This third book doesn't just follow the first two. It reveals things which the author put there all along, giving the reader a new appreciation of the characters and events. That sounds confusing, but read it and see.

The characters remind me of Dungeons and Dragons Roll Playing Games (D&D RPG's). The hero is a 7th level swordsman who picks up a 7th level priest as a travelling companion. There is the same satisfaction of watching a companion swordsman advance through the ranks as there is developing your own character's skill levels in an RPG. There are also some other character types familiar to RPG's (archer's are held in contempt). This is not one of those cheap knockoffs on a D&D game though. This is just one element of the world the author has created which is kind of fun.

The author created a universe with a multitude of gods, like the Greek and Roman gods. While this is very common in the sword and sorcery genre, Dave Duncan has made the gods active participants in his story. One god makes repeated appearances, talks with the hero, and performs the occasional miracle. The author is able to keep the gods from completely overshadowing the human characters by stressing how they value "free will" for there own purposes. The author's brilliant use of deity characters (a recurring element throughout his best series) add facets to this story which lift it above a simple Conan type "guy with sword" story.

This trilogy has a detailed, multi-leveled plot which twists enough to keep you in suspense right up until the ending. And the ending reaches the appropriate dramatic climax, then has a satisfying denouement where the characters reap their rewards and the author ties up any loose ends. When this book ended, I was left saying, "Wow, imagine that!"

The only thing I can even think of that I didn't like about this trilogy is that it ended. The author really wrapped things up for the characters. It would be almost impossible to continue the story. I do hope that Dave Duncan comes back to this world with some new characters though. Maybe the old characters can have a cameo in the new story. . .

Rating:
Summary: Best Trilogy by a Major Talent
Review: "The Reluctant Swordsman" (Seventh Sword, Book 1)introduces the characters and world/universe the author continues with in "The Coming of Wisdom" (Seventh Sword, Book 2)and "The Destiny of the Sword" (Seventh Sword, Book 3). This is a brilliant trilogy which remains at the top of Dave Duncan's impressive body of work. This third book doesn't just follow the first two. It reveals things which the author put there all along, giving the reader a new appreciation of the characters and events. That sounds confusing, but read it and see.

The characters remind me of Dungeons and Dragons Roll Playing Games (D&D RPG's). The hero is a 7th level swordsman who picks up a 7th level priest as a travelling companion. There is the same satisfaction of watching a companion swordsman advance through the ranks as there is developing your own character's skill levels in an RPG. There are also some other character types familiar to RPG's (archer's are held in contempt). This is not one of those cheap knockoffs on a D&D game though. This is just one element of the world the author has created which is kind of fun.

The author created a universe with a multitude of gods, like the Greek and Roman gods. While this is very common in the sword and sorcery genre, Dave Duncan has made the gods active participants in his story. One god makes repeated appearances, talks with the hero, and performs the occasional miracle. The author is able to keep the gods from completely overshadowing the human characters by stressing how they value "free will" for there own purposes. The author's brilliant use of deity characters (a recurring element throughout his best series) add facets to this story which lift it above a simple Conan type "guy with sword" story.

This trilogy has a detailed, multi-leveled plot which twists enough to keep you in suspense right up until the ending. And the ending reaches the appropriate dramatic climax, then has a satisfying denouement where the characters reap their rewards and the author ties up any loose ends. When this book ended, I was left saying, "Wow, imagine that!"

The only thing I can even think of that I didn't like about this trilogy is that it ended. The author really wrapped things up for the characters. It would be almost impossible to continue the story. I do hope that Dave Duncan comes back to this world with some new characters though. Maybe the old characters can have a cameo in the new story. . .

Rating:
Summary: Best Trilogy by a Major Talent
Review: "The Reluctant Swordsman" (Seventh Sword, Book 1)introduces the characters and world/universe the author continues with in "The Coming of Wisdom" (Seventh Sword, Book 2)and "The Destiny of the Sword" (Seventh Sword, Book 3). This is a brilliant trilogy which remains at the top of Dave Duncan's impressive body of work. This third book doesn't just follow the first two. It reveals things which the author put there all along, giving the reader a new appreciation of the characters and events. That sounds confusing, but read it and see.

The characters remind me of Dungeons and Dragons Roll Playing Games (D&D RPG's). The hero is a 7th level swordsman who picks up a 7th level priest as a travelling companion. There is the same satisfaction of watching a companion swordsman advance through the ranks as there is developing your own character's skill levels in an RPG. There are also some other character types familiar to RPG's (archer's are held in contempt). This is not one of those cheap knockoffs on a D&D game though. This is just one element of the world the author has created which is kind of fun.

The author created a universe with a multitude of gods, like the Greek and Roman gods. While this is very common in the sword and sorcery genre, Dave Duncan has made the gods active participants in his story. One god makes repeated appearances, talks with the hero, and performs the occasional miracle. The author is able to keep the gods from completely overshadowing the human characters by stressing how they value "free will" for there own purposes. The author's brilliant use of deity characters (a recurring element throughout his best series) add facets to this story which lift it above a simple Conan type "guy with sword" story.

This trilogy has a detailed, multi-leveled plot which twists enough to keep you in suspense right up until the ending. And the ending reaches the appropriate dramatic climax, then has a satisfying denouement where the characters reap their rewards and the author ties up any loose ends. When this book ended, I was left saying, "Wow, imagine that!"

The only thing I can even think of that I didn't like about this trilogy is that it ended. The author really wrapped things up for the characters. It would be almost impossible to continue the story. I do hope that Dave Duncan comes back to this world with some new characters though. Maybe the old characters can have a cameo in the new story. . .

Rating:
Summary: Great fun and engrossing
Review: Book 3 of The Seventh Sword [conclusion]

The final book in this series, 'Destiny' isn't as easily read on its own as the first and middle books ('The Reluctant Swordsman' and 'The Soming of Wisdom'). However, this is that rare thing: a trilogy conclusion that really concludes the story. It's an happy ending, no fear -- and it leaves you feeling good and fulfilled, so there's no need for Duncan to write more. (It *could* be done, of course, as McCaffrey did with 'Nerilka's Story,' but it isn't a foregone conclusion that it will be -- or even should be.) Excellent reading; a real page-turner.

This one's rated 'G' by me.

Rating:
Summary: Great fun and engrossing
Review: Book 3 of The Seventh Sword [conclusion]

The final book in this series, 'Destiny' isn't as easily read on its own as the first and middle books ('The Reluctant Swordsman' and 'The Soming of Wisdom'). However, this is that rare thing: a trilogy conclusion that really concludes the story. It's an happy ending, no fear -- and it leaves you feeling good and fulfilled, so there's no need for Duncan to write more. (It *could* be done, of course, as McCaffrey did with 'Nerilka's Story,' but it isn't a foregone conclusion that it will be -- or even should be.) Excellent reading; a real page-turner.

This one's rated 'G' by me.

Rating:
Summary: A great conclusion!
Review: I love Dave Duncan's work and have been repeatedly delighted by the worlds he thinks up. The society in these three novels is original, and the handling of "magic" is as well. I thought this conclusion to the trilogy was excellent. Wallie is a believable human with normal human feelings. I could easily relate to his difficulties fitting his moral code in with the code of this world he finds himself in. Nnanji and Katanji had me in stitches, their relationship is such a real depiction of sibling interactions. A delightful read!

Rating:
Summary: 1 of my Favourite reads of all time.
Review: I loved this trilogy of books, the story was one of the best done that I have ever had the pleasure to read. With the authers style of writing the characters really do come to life. I just couldnt put these books down when I was reading them. And no I`m not a relation : )

Rating:
Summary: Great Series
Review: Let me start out with the fact that I've read this entire series at least 5 times. It is one of the most imaginatively entertaining series I have ever read. You just don't want to put these books down. The characters and engrossing and well developed. The plot moves quickly with well paced action and neither are over thought or cliche.

I can't rate this series high enough.

Rating:
Summary: Best of the trilogy
Review: The Seventh Sword is an underread and underappreciated trilogy--a lot is going on under the surface of these three books, but the surface is such a readable story that it's accessible to anyone. The plot, as other reviewers have mentioned, is typical fantasy, but there are major, important differences which reveal themselves in this book and The Coming of Wisdom (2nd in the series). Every time I read these books, I'm swept up in the action, but I also see facets and symmetries I hadn't noticed before. This book, more than the first two, delves into the problems of idealism versus necessity, the proper use of power, what a person's identity really is (body, mind, beliefs, values, memories, reactions, desires?), faith and technology, how people grow and develop, and a lot more. The characters are unforgettable--anyone who's read these books will have an instant reaction to names like Katanji, Tomiyano, Thana, Tivanixi, or Jja.

Read these books, and read them again.

Rating:
Summary: Best of the trilogy
Review: The Seventh Sword is an underread and underappreciated trilogy--a lot is going on under the surface of these three books, but the surface is such a readable story that it's accessible to anyone. The plot, as other reviewers have mentioned, is typical fantasy, but there are major, important differences which reveal themselves in this book and The Coming of Wisdom (2nd in the series). Every time I read these books, I'm swept up in the action, but I also see facets and symmetries I hadn't noticed before. This book, more than the first two, delves into the problems of idealism versus necessity, the proper use of power, what a person's identity really is (body, mind, beliefs, values, memories, reactions, desires?), faith and technology, how people grow and develop, and a lot more. The characters are unforgettable--anyone who's read these books will have an instant reaction to names like Katanji, Tomiyano, Thana, Tivanixi, or Jja.

Read these books, and read them again.