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Rating: 
Summary: A fine fantasy novel
Review: As these kind of stories go, I found it intelligent and original. Our young hero falls in love with a beautiful woman sometime before W.W.I. They marry and everything seems to go fine. But this woman actually comes from another world, one in which magic is common and wars are fought with bows and swords (a medieval land) connected to our own Earth through dimensional gates.
It all turns sour when his wife is kidnapped, while he's away, and taken to such world. He must follow and try to save her...
Curtis Macurdy will have to overcome many problems in his quest, while learning the ways of a different world.
The plot was good and thoughtful. I found most interesting the progression and growth of the characters. Though ultimately sad I'm very anxious to read the sequels.My only complaint is that the sisterhood shared some similarities to Herbert's Bene Gesserit, and no book can survive any comparison (even a minor one) to Dune.
Rating:
Summary: A good, captivating read
Review: I am on Amazon.com right now because I just finished Dalmas' "Lion of Farside" and I am looking for a sequel! Dalmas' protagonist, Curtis Macurdy, is what we all wish we could be when faced with tough, frightening situations: Brave, cool, and smart. His wife is taken to an alternate Earth, and he follows to get her back. Along the way, he is by turns a slave, a swordsman soldier, and a magician. He demonstrates attributes that all of wish we had, if we were in his position. Interpersonal relationships are a bit different in this alternate Earth, and the ending is not what you may expect. Now if I could just find that darn sequal...
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable, escapist entertainment.
Review: I was given this book by a friend, and was immediately put off by the cover (which, it seems, has nothing to do with the book itself!). In fact, until I ran out of other books, this sat on my shelf. Well, I must admit that it captured me within the first chapter! It's a nice escapist novel with strong characters, positive messages, and a story which keeps you riveted and wanting more. In fact, I, too, am back on Amazon.com looking for a sequel!
Rating: 
Summary: Lion of Farside a good read, but could have been better.
Review: Just finished the book. A decent idea, decently executed, but lacking a few touches that would have set it apart. Dalmas is somewhat guilty of a mistake many fantasy authors make, plopping the reader into a fully-formed world without proper background. While exposition is often discarded in favor of action in fantasy, the world of Yuulith (sp?) suffers from the "D&D syndrome" -- elves, dwarves, even hobbits under other names. While Dalmas hints at the background that would make this story feel more complete (history, evolution of politics, etc) he leaves most of the background blank. The motivations and history of the Sisterhood, for example, are lacking to the point where they are almost stereotypical. He does a better job capturing the spirit of a medieval world, and his Curtis character is quite likable, if a little simple. All in all a good read, but I couldn't help wondering how good it would have been with a little more depth.
Rating:
Summary: Lion of Farside a good read, but could have been better.
Review: Just finished the book. A decent idea, decently executed, but lacking a few touches that would have set it apart. Dalmas is somewhat guilty of a mistake many fantasy authors make, plopping the reader into a fully-formed world without proper background. While exposition is often discarded in favor of action in fantasy, the world of Yuulith (sp?) suffers from the "D&D syndrome" -- elves, dwarves, even hobbits under other names. While Dalmas hints at the background that would make this story feel more complete (history, evolution of politics, etc) he leaves most of the background blank. The motivations and history of the Sisterhood, for example, are lacking to the point where they are almost stereotypical. He does a better job capturing the spirit of a medieval world, and his Curtis character is quite likable, if a little simple. All in all a good read, but I couldn't help wondering how good it would have been with a little more depth.
Rating:
Summary: A good read, hard to put down
Review: This book kept me anxiously coming back for more throughout. The plot isn't the most believable: a man forming vast alliances and launching a major war, just because his wife may be in the enemy's country? Despite that, I loved the book. Very original, good character development, positive, lots of gratuitous sex, ... By the way, it can be downloaded free from Baen's website as a teaser to the whole series. It got me hooked.
Rating:
Summary: A good read, hard to put down
Review: This book kept me anxiously coming back for more throughout. The plot isn't the most believable: a man forming vast alliances and launching a major war, just because his wife may be in the enemy's country? Despite that, I loved the book. Very original, good character development, positive, lots of gratuitous sex, ... By the way, it can be downloaded free from Baen's website as a teaser to the whole series. It got me hooked.
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