LORD OF THUNDER

Rating:
Summary: Unusually good sequel
Review: Beast Master was one of my favourite teen books and this is an unusual sequel inasmuch as that it is at least as good as the original.

N.B. The film "Beast Master" is very obviously based on these books, though migrated to a fantasy setting. I never saw them credited anywhere though. The film is an enjoyable romp, nice humorous touches without going over the top. The hero looks very good though he is awful with a sword. Worst moment: practicing sword on mountain. Best moment: "ferocious" feline threatening pretty girl.

Rating:
Summary: Unusually good sequel
Review: Beast Master was one of my favourite teen books and this is an unusual sequel inasmuch as that it is at least as good as the original.

N.B. The film "Beast Master" is very obviously based on these books, though migrated to a fantasy setting. I never saw them credited anywhere though. The film is an enjoyable romp, nice humorous touches without going over the top. The hero looks very good though he is awful with a sword. Worst moment: practicing sword on mountain. Best moment: "ferocious" feline threatening pretty girl.

Rating:
Summary: Great read
Review: The sequel to _Beast Master_, this book is a good continuation of that storyline. Picking up several months after Storm and his team dealt with the alien presence on the planet Arzor, Storm's new home, this book starts out with a mysterious migration of the native Norbies. They are gathering in large numbers, ignoring old enmities with other tribes, and traveling to forbidden regions. Storm is engaged to search for a crashed human ship at the same time, in the forbidden regions. What follows deals less with the environment of Arzor than in _Beast Master_, focusing instead on the hidden caverns of the ancient race which once peopled this planet. There were ruins of their presence on Arzor in the previous book, but nothing like that which is found in this one. Storm endures a great deal in his attempt to locate potential survivors of the crash, including facing angry Norbies and dealing with hostile creatures and machinery.

I like this book, as with the first one, because those parts which are not understood by the characters are not described. It is really a 3rd person limited POV, and very well done by the Grand Master Norton. Given that after a 40 year separation Norton has produced some new Beast Master stories, I felt a review of the original stories were in order. On a side note, the story as presented in these two books is far superior to that of the movies and TV show. These are much more of a sf focus, with some mystical elements (primarily Amerindian and Norbie "medicine") added in very nicely.

Rating:
Summary: Great read
Review: The sequel to _Beast Master_, this book is a good continuation of that storyline. Picking up several months after Storm and his team dealt with the alien presence on the planet Arzor, Storm's new home, this book starts out with a mysterious migration of the native Norbies. They are gathering in large numbers, ignoring old enmities with other tribes, and traveling to forbidden regions. Storm is engaged to search for a crashed human ship at the same time, in the forbidden regions. What follows deals less with the environment of Arzor than in _Beast Master_, focusing instead on the hidden caverns of the ancient race which once peopled this planet. There were ruins of their presence on Arzor in the previous book, but nothing like that which is found in this one. Storm endures a great deal in his attempt to locate potential survivors of the crash, including facing angry Norbies and dealing with hostile creatures and machinery.

I like this book, as with the first one, because those parts which are not understood by the characters are not described. It is really a 3rd person limited POV, and very well done by the Grand Master Norton. Given that after a 40 year separation Norton has produced some new Beast Master stories, I felt a review of the original stories were in order. On a side note, the story as presented in these two books is far superior to that of the movies and TV show. These are much more of a sf focus, with some mystical elements (primarily Amerindian and Norbie "medicine") added in very nicely.

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable reading.
Review: This book is a continuation of the Beast Master. I was only able to read it 2 or 3 times and now I cannot find a copy. The book continues with the adventures of Storm and his companions. The hunt for the downed shuttle and the journey through the caves of the Old ones was exciting. Norton has a way of describing things that allow you to see with your imagination. I also enjoyed the conclusion with the final battle between the Nitra, Storm, and the Lord of Thunder. I hope that there are further books in the series.