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Off the Shelf
Greetings
all! Spring
has sprung, and that means a whole new season of new releases is upon us!
So, for this month's "Off The Shelf" I decided to review one new
release, while also going back into the bookcase and pulling out another
golden oldie from years past. Found a couple of titles that I think will
cater well to the fantasy fan this time around. As for my sci-fi friends,
take heart! I will review a new pair of novels in the next issue of
Sabledrake.
But,
without further ado, on to the reviews for this month...
Quote
for this month: 'Never judge a book by its cover.'
One
simple truth that proves itself time over time, no matter if we mean a
person, a movie or a play. Or, in this case, a book. Crafted by Gordon
Dickson - author and creator of novels such as "Necromancer" and
"Soldier, Ask Not" - this is the first book in the series
entitled "The Dragon Knight". As one would expect, this is a
fantasy work, but considering the way Dickson's mind works, it's far from
anything of the ordinary type of fantasy.
The
story revolves around a man, one Jim Eckhart; scholar and struggling
student in modern times. Within the first few pages, Jim and his fiancée
Angie Farrell go through the loss of a major teaching position, as well as
losing a new home to live in, and a few other minor stumbling blocks along
the way. Hoping for a change for the better, Jim reluctantly allows Angie
to take part in an experiment in astral projection (an assisting job that
hopefully will spur things along). However, something goes quiet
unexpected, and instead of astral projecting, Angie apports (or sends her
physical self) into another world.
Angered,
Jim tries the same method to go after her, but he ends up projected into
the body of a dragon. a large, young dragon named Gorebash. While trying
to adjust to this, Jim soon learns that the world he and Angie were sent
into is populated by all manner of fairy-tale creatures; trolls, talking
wolves, knights and a magician named Carolinus. And, if things weren't bad
enough, the forces known as the Dark Powers come along and kidnap Angie to
upset the balance of Order and Wisdom. Unless Jim can master his new body,
and convince others to join him in rescuing his fiancée, then Chaos will
decend upon the entire world.
Overall,
this book is a very entertaining read, if only for the fact we get to see
a classic fantasy situation - becoming a full-sized dragon - through Jim's
eyes. Being one of the tall, flying lizards isn't all it's cracked up to
be. Plus, given the backwards thinking of most of the people around him -
including Gorebash's uncle Smurgol - Jim has to really try to use his
underdeveloped skills of diplomacy and such to hold the eventual band of
adventurers together.
If
there were any weak points in this book, this reviewer would have to say
it is that the book is like the movie "Episode One: The Phantom
Menace": this introduces a lot of characters that feature strongly in
the novels that follow in "The Dragon Knight" series. Even
though Dickson has strong characterization throughout the story, there's
just not enough time to care for some of the peripheral ones, much less
even the ones that Jim comes close with.
Overall,
this book is one of the few I strongly recommend for any reader to add to
their collection of fantasy books. It's got the moxie to stand with some
of the more contemporary writers of today, and in my opinion is just a fun
story to read.
[REVIEWER'S
NOTE - This story was the basis for an animated movie "A Flight of
Dragons", produced by Rankin-Bass Entertainment.]
Title:
Dragon & The George, The
Review:
(out of 5 stars) 4.00
Author:
Dickson, Gordon R.
Cover
Art: Whelan, Michael
Publisher:
Del Rey/Ballentine
Cost: USA - $5.95
CAN - $6.95
Format:
Paperback (OOP)
ISBN:
0-345-29514-5
I
just had to do one of these sooner or later, but who knew I'd choose one
of the best writers of Star Wars fiction to be the subject of my first SW
novel review?
I've
had the good fortune to meet with Timothy Zahn - the award-winning author
of such books as "Cobra", "A Coming of Age" and the
popular "Conqueror's Trilogy". His first foray into penning
tales in the vast universe of George Lucas' creation began with the
"Heir to the Empire" Trilogy. These books introduced many of the
characters that appear in this double novel set, which follows the events
that come after the movie "Return of The Jedi" (aka
"Episode Six").
In
the start of this chapter of the SW Universe, we find that the once
powerful Imperial Empire of Emperor Palpatine is on it's last legs. Even
with the last few attempts to destroy the still-new Alliance of the
Republic - which took place over the span of the "Heir to The
Empire" and "Champions of The Force" trilogies - it seems
that nothing can save the Empire from a certain death. However, a plot to
resurrect it unfolds, mounted by a former Imperial Moff (high-command
officer) and an Imperial officer named Tierce to make the peoples of the
Republic think that the once-dead Grand Admiral Thrawn has returned. At
the same time - using Thrawn's legendary status to intimidate the galaxy,
a second attack is made to split the Republic asunder from within, thanks
to an atrocity that was supposedly committed by one of the strongest
supporters of the New Republic.
In
the meantime, the Jedi Master Luke Skywalker must travel across the length
of the galaxy in pursuit of the former smuggler leader (and one-time right
hand of Palpatine himself) Mara Jade. She's been drawn towards the Outer
Rim of the galaxy, where a new and as yet unknown threat is poised to use
both the Empire and the Republic against each other for its own means. Can
Luke save Mara and uncover this new threat, and can their allies - from
Luke's twin sister Leia-Organa Solo and her husband Han Solo, to the
smuggler chief Talon Karde - prevent another atrocity from tearing both
the Republic and the Empire apart at the seams?
There
isn't much that can be said about these two books that probably hasn't
been said already. Zahn is truly a master of the elements of the SW
Universe. His characterizations of all the prime canon characters are spot
on, and the new additions like Mara, Karde, and Admiral Pellieon are true
to form for featuring in this setting. As usual, there is the inclusion of
diverse alien races - from the assassin-guilds of the Noghiri, to the
newly discovered Quom-Ja and the Chiss - and of course cameos from SW
regulars, such as Wedge Antillies and Lando Calrissian.
The
action is well paced, with lots of introspection and periods of calm (or
forboding), and Zahn's visuals really plunge the reader back into the
thick of things, almost like having a Star Wars movie play inside your
head. As well, there are many twists and turns that make this a real
roller coaster ride to enjoy (including a pair of real surprises at the
end that will leave the reader breathless and cheering at the same time!).
This
is by far one of Zahn's best works to date. A very masterful piece of
work, with no flaws whatsoever! If you're a fan of Star Wars, and are
looking for something new to tide you over until the release of
"Episode Two" next year, then check out these two books!
Title:
Specter of The Past
/ Visions of The Future
Review:
(out of 5 stars) 5.00
Author:
Zahn, Timothy
Cover
Art: Struzan, Drew
Publisher:
Bantam/Spectra
Cost:
USA - $5.95 CAN
- $6.95
Format:
Paperback
ISBN:
0-345-29514-5
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