Tales of the North
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    Tales of the North
    Jack London
    Manufacturer: Book Sales
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 089009439X
    The Son of the Wolf: Tales of the Far North (Oxford World's Classics)
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      The Son of the Wolf: Tales of the Far North (Oxford World's Classics)
      Jack London
      Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      1. To Build a Fire and Other Stories (Bantam Classics) To Build a Fire and Other Stories (Bantam Classics)
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      3. The Sea-Wolf and Selected Stories: 100th Anniversary Edition The Sea-Wolf and Selected Stories: 100th Anniversary Edition

      ASIN: 019283486X

      Book Description

      Although Jack London (1876-1916) wrote on a great variety of subjects, he gained his first and most lasting fame as the author of tales of the Klondike gold rush. At the age of twenty-one London himself had trekked to the Yukon in hope of easy riches. What he found instead was a wealth of extraordinary experience, which he turned to account in his first collection of stories, The Son of the Wolf: Tales of the Far North (1900). The book centres on the exploits of Malemute Kid, who dispenses crude but unerring justice through his canny understanding of the minds and hearts of the people of this raw frontier territory. They act out their dramas of life and death in mining camps and on the Long Trail, against the backdrop of the frozen Northland. The stories tell of gambles won and lost, of endurance and sacrifice, and often turn on the unsuspected qualities of exceptional women and the complex relations between the white adventurers and the native tribes. This new edition, which includes the whole of London's first book and many of the best Northland tales from his later collections, makes available fresh perspectives on the work of this enduringly rewarding writer.
      Jack London: Tales of the North
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Great, Great, Great, and Cheap!
      Jack London: Tales of the North
      Jack London
      Manufacturer: Book Sales
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      1. To Build a Fire and Other Stories (Bantam Classics) To Build a Fire and Other Stories (Bantam Classics)

      ASIN: 0785813314

      Book Description

      If you enjoy nonstop adventure and heroic exploits, then you are sure to love Tales of the North. This masterful compilation includes - in facsimile of the original turn-of-the-century magazines-the complete novels of White Fang, The Sea Wolf, The Call of the Wild, and Cruise of the Dazzler, plus fifteen short stories- all with original illustrations. This is an adventure you won't want to miss!

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Great, Great, Great, and Cheap!.......2005-10-22

      I found this on the bargain table at a bookstore. This includes three GREAT Jack London novels, Call of the Wild, White Fang, and The Sea Wolf, along with 15 of his Alaskan wilderness short stories and Cruise of the Dazzler as well.This book can be found on amazon.com for less than a dollar most of the time so as far as bang for your buck you can't do better than picking up a copy of this book.
      The son of the wolf: Tales of the far north
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        The son of the wolf: Tales of the far north
        Jack London
        Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Unknown Binding

        United StatesUnited States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | African American | Asian American | Classics | Collections & Readers | Drama | General | Hispanic | History & Criticism | Humor | Jewish American | Letters & Correspondence | Native American | Poetry | Short Stories | Women Writers
        ASIN: B0006EBM66
        Son of the Wolf: Tales of the Far North, The (The Collected Works of Jack London - 56 Volumes)
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Son of the Wolf: Tales of the Far North, The (The Collected Works of Jack London - 56 Volumes)
          Jack London
          Manufacturer: Classic Publishers
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Library Binding

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          ASIN: 1582017417
          The son of the wolf;: Tales of the far North, (The Riverside library)
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            The son of the wolf;: Tales of the far North, (The Riverside library)
            Jack London
            Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Co
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Unknown Binding
            ASIN: B000876WGG
            TALE OF THE FAR NORTH
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              TALE OF THE FAR NORTH
              Jack London
              Manufacturer: Haldemann-Julius Co.
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Paperback
              ASIN: B000REUL8A
              Tale of the North Woods
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                Tale of the North Woods
                Jack London
                Manufacturer: Castle Books
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Hardcover
                ASIN: B000MT7XAE
                Tales of the Far North : Histoires du Grand Nord (Bilingual French and English edition)
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                  Tales of the Far North : Histoires du Grand Nord (Bilingual French and English edition)
                  Jack London
                  Manufacturer: French & European Pubns
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback
                  ASIN: 0785988505
                  Tales of the Far North Little Blue 288
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    Tales of the Far North Little Blue 288
                    Jack London
                    Manufacturer: HALDEMAN JULIUS CO
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Paperback
                    ASIN: B000SEJYMS

                    Shadows of Doom (Forgotten Realms:  The Shadow of the Avatar, Book 1)
                    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
                    • Sharantyr...
                    • Terrible, even for Greenwood
                    • Swashbuckler Three
                    • Very good starting Book for the Forgotten Realms
                    • Very good but a small amount over done.
                    Shadows of Doom (Forgotten Realms: The Shadow of the Avatar, Book 1)
                    Ed Greenwood
                    Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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                    Similar Items:
                    1. All Shadows Fled (Forgotten Realms:  The Shadow of the Avatar, Book 3) All Shadows Fled (Forgotten Realms: The Shadow of the Avatar, Book 3)
                    2. Cloak of Shadows (Forgotten Realms:  The Shadow of the Avatar, Book 2) Cloak of Shadows (Forgotten Realms: The Shadow of the Avatar, Book 2)
                    3. Waterdeep (Forgotten Realms: The Avatar) Waterdeep (Forgotten Realms: The Avatar)
                    4. Prince of Lies (Forgotten Realms: The Avatar) Prince of Lies (Forgotten Realms: The Avatar)
                    5. Tantras (Forgotten Realms: The Avatar) Tantras (Forgotten Realms: The Avatar)

                    ASIN: 0786903007
                    Release Date: 1995-03-01

                    Book Description

                    Elminster's Doom

                    It was the eve of the Time of Troubles. The chaos of spilled blood, lawless strife, monsters unleashed, and avatars roaming Faerûn was still to come. Unbeknownst to mortals, the gods had been summoned together, and among them was Mystra, grown proud and willful in the passing eons. With the others, she was about to be stripped of her godhood.

                    The secret of her power gave her an idea. She made certain preparations, looking always for one who would be her successor . . . But until that person's ascension, her power must be preserved.

                    A lone mortal must carry the greater share of her divine energy until the power could be reclaimed, and it was the fate of this mortal to risk being destroyed or driven wild, involuntarily and without warning.

                    This was the occaision of Elminster's Doom.

                    Customer Reviews:

                    4 out of 5 stars Sharantyr..........2003-10-30

                    Sharantyr is the main reason to read this book. She's clever and feisty, and Faerun can use all the feisty sword-slinging women it can get. She's also in a few other books, but this is the one that introduces her (as far as I know).

                    1 out of 5 stars Terrible, even for Greenwood.......2002-08-11

                    Based on some of the other reviews, it looks like some people actually enjoy reading about Ed Greenwood's invincible characters. I find them predictably boring. It takes much more than mindless hack and slash to tell a story. Greenwood's vocabulary must be limited, since I see the same words repeated again and again <"rueful" sigh>.

                    4 out of 5 stars Swashbuckler Three.......1999-12-21

                    I really enjoyed this book, the characters were engaging, the story was good, and the descriptions were wonderful. Action and humor were the two words I'd most likely assign to this book, and in reality the whole series. The Two Harper Lads that travel with Sharantyr, youngest of the Knights of Myth Drannor, are just hilarious. I spent most of my time laughing, I think that's why it took me so long to finish. I recommend this series, especially if you're a fan of the realms. The only thing I found lacking, really, was the odds. Three rangers and Elminster versus that many Zhentilar? And El hardly casts because Magic is unstable? That's my only complaint.

                    3 out of 5 stars Very good starting Book for the Forgotten Realms.......1999-08-31

                    I too, believe it was a little overdone and the odds were definitely against them. However, it did a good job describing the places in the Realms as well as it provided the history of some of the characters and Gods, I.E. Mystra and Elminster. Overall, it was very enjoyable.

                    3 out of 5 stars Very good but a small amount over done........1999-08-28

                    The idea was very good, but the odds were a little bit bad. Probably the best parts were the Battle seens in High Dale.
                    Untangling Tolkien: A Chronology and Commentary for The Lord of the Rings
                    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
                    • Excellent Resource
                    • Knits up the ravels
                    • A Radiograph of LotR.
                    • Splendid Tolkien Reference Work
                    • a giant mass of undifferentiated trivia
                    Untangling Tolkien: A Chronology and Commentary for The Lord of the Rings
                    Michael W. Perry
                    Manufacturer: Inkling Books
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Paperback

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                    Similar Items:
                    1. Tolkien on Film: Essays on Peter Jackson's the Lord of the Rings. Tolkien on Film: Essays on Peter Jackson's the Lord of the Rings.
                    2. The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion
                    3. Understanding The Lord of the Rings: The Best of Tolkien Criticism Understanding The Lord of the Rings: The Best of Tolkien Criticism
                    4. The Children of Húrin The Children of Húrin
                    5. The Essential J.R.R. Tolkien Sourcebook: A Fan's Guide to Middle-earth and Beyond The Essential J.R.R. Tolkien Sourcebook: A Fan's Guide to Middle-earth and Beyond

                    ASIN: 1587420198

                    Book Description

                    Here is the book that Tolkien fans have needed for half a century--a detailed, book-length chronology of J. R. R. Tolkien's complex tale. Whether you are a serious Tolkien fan or simply someone who enjoys reading the story over and over again, this is the book for you. It's the first totally new reference for The Lord of the Rings since the 1970s.

                    Beginning over 1400 years before the major events in Tolkien's epic, it describes, year-by-year, the amazing and imaginative background history that Tolkien created for his masterpiece. Then for the main narrative, it becomes a day-by-day reference, describing what each character does on that day and all the places where those events are described in Tolkien's writings. You can find out, for instance, what Merry and Pippin are doing as Sam perpares rabbit stew on the morning of March 7.

                    Probe deeper into Tolkien. See why someone as serious as Gandalf was interested in fun-loving Hobbits. Discover an exciting new plot, based on Tolkien's notes, that begins when Aragorn captures Gollum. Follow along as the Black Riders and Gandalf race for the Shire. Decide for yourself whether Sauron and the Ring have any ties to Hitler and Stalin. Explore what Tolkien believed about nature and technology.

                    A few facts illustrate how helpful this chronology is. Most of narrative is a deliberately confusing sea of next days and third days that leave readers as confused as the tale's main characters.The middle 60 percent of The Lord of the Rings gives the current date only once. In the narrative as a whole, the date is given only 23 times, or once for every 43 pages, and most of those come when the plot is moving slowly. That's why those who want to dig deeper and understand better what Tolkien was saying will find this book a must-have.

                    Customer Reviews:

                    5 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource.......2006-12-10

                    Perry has done a wonderful job in untangling the very intricate tale woven by J.R.R. Tolkien. Of particular help are the copious margin notes which reference exactly where Perry is drawing the information contained within that section of his book. The commentary made by the author is a welcomed pause for reflection on the events that are taking place and keep the book from being a mere listing of dates and events. I teach a course on J.R.R. Tolkien and have found Untangling Tolkien a valuable resource, since it covers the entire history of Middle-earth: what comes before The Hobbit and what takes place after The Lord of The Rings. Bravo Mr. Perry, I look forward to reading your other books.

                    5 out of 5 stars Knits up the ravels.......2004-10-31

                    An amazing accomplishment by a dedicated Tolkien fan.

                    That is how I'd sum up the book Untanging Tolkien. Michael Perry has first unraveled all Tolkien's "dates" -- which can be extrapolated from phases of the moon -- and then knit them together again in a cohesive outline, presented in much greater detail than Tolkien's own timeline (found buried in Appendix A of LOTR). By incorporating information from other Tolkien writings, the author of Untangling Tolkien collates additional facts about all the characters and the circumstances surrounding the War of the Ring, folding them all into this detailed chronology. He includes material that sheds light on possible parallels between Tolkien's work and events that were contemporary, and he provides original commentary that suggests some additional motivations for Tolkien's characters. Sidebars offer references to every source for the information presented and for each conclusion the author has drawn.

                    I found the format, with quick-reference bulleted lists and clearly delineated sections and subheadings, well-organized and easy to use.

                    NOTE: I read the third printing that was published in May 2004. Apparently the author has corrected many of the errors that David Bratman objected to (below). You won't find a better overview or a more throrough treatment of time and dates in LOTR than Perry provides in this book.

                    4 out of 5 stars A Radiograph of LotR........2003-12-27

                    This book is layed out as a chronological record of the events covered by Tolkein's masterpiece with prefaces that explain the calender system created by Tolkein and its conversion to our more mundane (and possibly inferior) system. The type is clear, and margin citations clear and present for every entry. It's primary utility, at which it succeeds admirably, is as a kind of radiograph of Tolkein's work that reveals its astonishing complexity more clearly and allows one to admire, and more importantly, explore the book itself more quickly, easily, and deeply.

                    The book also contains copious notes inline with the chronology. These vary from informative to tangential, but at worst do not detract from the book's primary function. Mr. Perry is perhaps foremost as Lewis scholar, and so C.S. Lewis, a close acquaintance and friend of Tolkein, makes a number of appearances. Also making appearances in the notes are William Shakespeare and Winston Churchill.

                    All in all, a unique book which will save anyone who wants to do an in depth study of LotR a lot of time.

                    5 out of 5 stars Splendid Tolkien Reference Work.......2003-12-21

                    Superb, exhaustive chronology of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings saga. Perry does a superior job in untangling a number of thorny chronological issues in Tolkien's narrative, and he employs some fine literary detective work in reconstructing what events are happening across Middle Earth on any given date. Especially admirable is his reconstruction of how much moonlight there was during each day of Frodo and Sam's journey into Mordor.

                    In addition to chronology, Perry supplies a lot of background information about Tolkien's themes and sources, as well as biographical tidbits about Tolkien. For example, there are fascinating discussions of Tolkien's views of technology, freedom, and totalitarianism. Perry also discusses Tolkien's stance toward the misuse of Germanic myths by the Nazis.

                    This is a great resource for Tolkien-lovers everywhere.

                    1 out of 5 stars a giant mass of undifferentiated trivia.......2003-12-21

                    A year-by-year, later day-by-day, chronicle of the war against Sauron from the founding of the Shire to the glorious conclusion seems at the outset like a good idea. Perry calls LOTR's Appendix B, the Tale of Years, "far from complete" but it covers the whole period: what he means is that it's not detailed enough for him. Appendix B won't tell you which day Sam cooked coney for Frodo; Perry will.

                    But alas, the book does not stop there. The entries are written as bullet lists like a PowerPoint presentation, and many add pointless little flowcharts such as two-generation family trees. They reduce Tolkien's magnificently complex subcreation into a giant mass of undifferentiated trivia. And each yearly or daily entry comes with its commentary, whether directly relevant, side points, broader considerations, or dogmatic essays in applicability. The unrelieved banality and inappropriateness of these must be read to be believed; as also the author's clumsy, grammatically inept style, and his smug superiority to the characters. (He frequently criticizes the good guys' "blunders," all of them more complex than he implies.)

                    There's actually some good chronological analysis and speculation hiding in here. But how can someone who knows his Tolkien that well say that the wizards were Valar, or that Rohan gave Isengard to Saruman (it wasn't theirs to give, and Saruman was made its warden, not a freeholder), that Boromir and Faramir had a sibling rivalry (Tolkien specifically says not), or suggest that Galadriel should have sent daily eagles to check up on the Fellowship?

                    These are not isolated examples: the bloopers and misconceived ideas go on and on. The whole book is like that: it has the soul of a PowerPoint presentation. I can't recommend it on any terms.
                    Shadows of Doom (Iron Tower Trilogy)
                    Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
                    • Great read
                    • Not like the first book
                    • Literally Laughable
                    • Like a poke in the eye with a sharp stick
                    • The train wreck continues.
                    Shadows of Doom (Iron Tower Trilogy)
                    Dennis L. McKiernan
                    Manufacturer: Roc
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Paperback

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                    4. Silver Wolf, Black Falcon (Mithgar) Silver Wolf, Black Falcon (Mithgar)

                    ASIN: 0451451031

                    Customer Reviews:

                    4 out of 5 stars Great read.......2005-07-26

                    I've been reading Fantasy for years. From Jordan through Erikson, Marco and a ton others. McKeirnan continues to be one of the BEST story tellers. His skills are amazing and in the Iron Tower Trilogy anybody can see what keeps McKeirnan on the top.

                    Buy it. Read it. Be happy!

                    3 out of 5 stars Not like the first book.......2005-05-10

                    The second volume of The Iron Tower Trilogy picks up right where the first one left off. In fact, McKiernan is considerate enough to provide a synopsis of the first book for the reader who either hasn't read it or doesn't remember it. As the book opens, the lovely Laurelin, betrothed to Prince Galen, is in the last waggon train of refugees being sent to safety from Challerain Keep. Escorted by the Prince's younger brother, Prince Igon, they hope to escape the Dimmendark and Modru's Horde and rally the High King's Host from the southern realms. Unfortunately, their greatest fears become reality and Laurelin is captured and taken to the Iron Tower, Modru's stronghold. Meanwhile, back at the doomed Keep, the small band of Warrows, including Tuck, Patrel and Danner, has been separated during the chaos surrounding the final battle. McKiernan follows as each of the characters goes their separate ways and new groups of allies are formed. Elves, Dwarves, Warrows and Men all form alliances to fight the encroaching evil. The High King's forces are embattled on every front and the situation looks dire for our small band of intrepid heroes.

                    Once again, McKiernan has written a fast-paced, interesting story. I especially liked the Warrows' outlook on life. No matter how dreary the situation, they are still able to see the silver lining. This ability allows them to find humor in all but the worst scenarios. The plot may be familiar, but the characters are likable and you can't help but cheer them on. In this volume, McKiernan provides more information about Modru and the forces driving him on. By the end of the book, the situation is looking grimmer and grimmer for Tuck and his friends, but they fight gamely on, determined to resist the Horde and turn it back. As with the previous novel, the main plot line is left unresolved. However, this is one of those novels where the journey is half the fun. Knowing that there is a third and final book in the series, I don't mind waiting for the next installment to find out how our heroes will fare.

                    1 out of 5 stars Literally Laughable.......2004-12-07

                    This book was a discard I picked up at the library. Unfortunately, this was one book that truly deserved to be discarded. I am never critical of Tolkien-esque books solely because they are Tolkien-esque. This book was not only a rip-off, but also badly written to an extreme extent. It takes cliche to a new level, showing why the fantasy genre has had a reputation as "not good literature". This book's wimpy, unrealistic, cliche characters, painful use of fake "Olde English" grammar and sentence structure, and poor writing style in general made it unreadable. Perhaps because I am an actor, I always pay attention to dialogue. This dialogue is so incredibly melodramatic that I literally burst out laughing at several points. Imagine someone actually saying this stuff, or trying to act it! I kept wondering if this was being written seriously- was McKiernan perhaps trying to spoof bad Tolkien copies? Even the descriptions are fantasy cliche. And you can read one paragraph and count at least one stupid made-up name (usually with apostrophe!) per sentence. Ridiculous and unbelievable. Please, please read _The Tough Guide to Fantasyland_ by Diana Wynne Jones to find out just how pathetic and unoriginal this book really is.

                    1 out of 5 stars Like a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.......2004-11-21

                    McKiernan in his foreword tells us that he is paying homage to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Homage? Hmm. According to the American Heritage® Dictionary "homage" is defined as: "Special honor or respect shown or expressed publicly." I fail to see the "honor" to Tolkien in McKiernan's "The Iron Tower" trilogy. While it is true it is said that imitation is the highest form of flattery, McKiernan's books are less like flattery and more like regurgitation. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind if a writer is heavily inspired by the work of another. Even Tolkien himself drew much of his thematic elements and ideas from other ancient and mythic sources (Beowulf for example), but he reconstituted those ideas in such a way that they seemed fresh; not copied or reprinted. He was reinventing not simply rewriting.
                    Unfortunately, such is not the case with McKiernan's work. His ideas are directly lifted from the pages of "The Lord of the Rings" without any attempt at originality.

                    In McKiernan's story, a Warrow (Hobbit) named Tuck Underbank (Frodo) embarks on a quest to defeat an ultimate evil, Mordu (Sauron) who dwells in the evil land of Gron (Mordor). Along the way he encounters a dwarf called Brega (Gimli), an elf named Gildor(Legolas), a human warrior (Aragorn), etc, etc, etc...The Tolkien plagiarism's go on and on.

                    He even includes a scene where some of the main characters have to pass through an abandoned Dwarf city called Kraggen-Cor. The city is abandoned because some terrible monster (Ghath) drove all of the dwarfs out long ago. The only way into the subterranean city is through some magical doors that they have some difficulty getting open. While waiting at the doors, a monstrous squid/octopus-like creature attacks them. And yes, there is even a battle with the Ghath in the dwarfin city on a narrow bridge over a bottomless cavern.

                    I have a one hundred page rule when it comes to books; if the book can't engross me, can't keep my interest by the hundredth page I give it up. In this case, morbid curiosity kept me reading these books; like a horrible car accident, I couldn't tear my eyes away. Page after page I kept telling myself "it can't get any worse" and page after page I was proved wrong.

                    As bad as the plagiarism is, the writing is even worse.

                    The epic scope of Tolkien's story is GONE. Tolkien's writing was marked by mystery, grandeur and a poignant sense of loss and realism. All of this is missing from McKiernan's work. The characters in "The Lord of the Rings" (and the "Hobbit" for that matter) were three-dimensional; they seemed almost to have stepped out of the history books and not a novel. Tolkien made us care about his characters and what happened to them. McKiernan is incapable of doing this with the cardboard cutouts that populate his world. For example, Tuck Underbank is written to be a tragic/heroic figure and spends A LOT of time crying and sobbing about this or that. The narrative, time and time again, tries to make us feel sorry for him. After a while, I just started rolling my eyes and hoping someone would put him out of his misery. Throughout the story the dialogue is stilted, completely unnatural and pathetic. This may be one of the only times in history where a story would have been improved if none of the characters spoke.

                    Rather than "honoring" Tolkien with "The Iron Tower" trilogy, McKiernan dishonors the great writer. For those looking for a well written, enriching story in the style of Tolkien or just a good epic fantasy: Look elsewhere.

                    1 out of 5 stars The train wreck continues........2003-05-06

                    Reading Dennis McKiernan's "Shadows of Doom" is not unlike watching a train wreck as it occurs... in slow motion. The first book of the Iron Tower trilogy, "Dark Tide," was irritating and poorly-written, full of elements lifted straight from "Lord of the Rings." One would expect that it couldn't get worse in "Shadows of Doom." Astonishingly, it does.

                    Picking up where the previous book left of, the Spawn attack the wagons leaving Challerain Keep, killing everyone except Igon (who almost dies) and Laurelin, who is captured and taken to Modru's dungeons. Elsewhere, Patrel and Danner return to the Boskydells, only to find that Modru's Horde has attacked. Galen, Tuck and Gildor set out to find the armies of the late king, teaming up with a very rude dwarf named Brega along the way. Being pursued by Vulgs, they have no choice but to venture into the evil-filled dwarf citadel of Kraggen-Cor.

                    Not only does the pace slow in "Shadows," but the characters become even flatter and duller and the elements become even more blatantly Tolkienesque. The writing is terrible, the dialogue laughable, and the derivative elements aren't helped by poor plotting. A pivotal plot point appears most of the way through the book, utilizing the cliched villain-gloats-and-explains-his-evil-plot tactic; the attack on the Boskydells has no real impact on the plot, except to make Tuck cry.

                    The Warrows are copies of Tolkien's hobbits, but lacking in the enthusiastic charm of those particular "wee folk," which the quality that makes people love them so much; the Warrows lack charm, strength, or courage. Similarly with the derivative Elves, who are immortal, cultured, elegant, and dull as ditchwater. Dwarves are crabby and crusty, lacking in personality; medieval human Men are even duller than Warrows or Elves, and the assorted evil beasties who menace our heroes (copies of orcs, uruk-hai, Nazgul and wargs) are not-so-veiled copies of Tolkien's works. Moria, the Dwarves (or as he calls them, the Chakka), the squid-beast, and the Balrog -- in "Shadows," you can find unexciting copies of all of the above. At a certain point, you stop goggling in horror and just find it all immensely funny.

                    Tuck is still as annoying as he was before, crying and asking stupid questions, although he's somewhat easier to ignore. Still, the idea that McKiernan is setting this little twerp up as an alternate Frodo Baggins is nothing short of hysterical. Galen's sole moment of character development is some very contrived conflict over who to rescue (a real king would not experience any conflict -- he'd do his duty, no dithering). Gildor is still quite dull; Brega is abrasive and bossy; Danner and Patrel lose whatever shreds of personality they might have had. And Modru was a lot more frightening before we actually saw him.

                    The female characters are still passive, boring and lacking in any strength, except McKiernan tries to make us think otherwise. Laurelin stabs a Ghul after lying down and crying through a fight scene, then sits and cries for the rest of the book. Merrilee, at the Boskydells, has to be verbally defended by Danner when she proves unable to speak up for herself and her fighting skills, then starts sobbing into a male shoulder after a battle (the implication is that women cry when there's a fight). You go, girl.

                    McKiernan's writing remains hideously repetitive and weird. As if the readers are incapable of remembering anything more than a page back, he constantly mentions that the Mere is black, Tuck's eyes are "sapphirine" and sparkle, that Brega is gruff, and that Elves are graceful. The characters often act in bizarre ways, such as the escaping Patrel and Danner laughing like a pair of recently escaped mental patients; the fight scenes are absurdly hard to visualize, except for the battle with the Gargon (which is just silly -- how often do heavy footsteps sound like "Doom"?).

                    "Shadows of Doom" o'ertops "Dark Tide" like a wave of Shadowlight. It's a painful experience unless you stop taking it seriously. Derivative, poorly-written, lacking in any interesting qualities at all.
                    Shadows of Doom: Book Two of the Iron Tower Trilogy (Book two of The iron tower trilogy)
                    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
                    • good stuff!
                    • Like a poke in the eye with a sharp stick
                    • The Middle of a Great Trilogy
                    Shadows of Doom: Book Two of the Iron Tower Trilogy (Book two of The iron tower trilogy)
                    Dennis L. McKiernan
                    Manufacturer: Doubleday
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Hardcover

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                    McKiernan, DennisMcKiernan, Dennis | ( M ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
                    GeneralGeneral | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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                    ASIN: 0385188374

                    Customer Reviews:

                    4 out of 5 stars good stuff!.......2006-01-01



                    Another fine offering from McKiernan. Please ignore the Tolkien fanboys. As a guy that has been reading fantasy books for over half my life (I'm 32), McKiernan stands well above the most other authors in the genre. He isn't a Martin/Erikson/Tolikien quality, but he smokes the Jordans and Goodkinds.

                    The only complaints I've noticed about his works are that they mirror Tolkien (well duh this is a known fact, if you don't like it don't read it) and that he isn't suitable for younger readers since he tends to not be a lite and easy read.

                    1 out of 5 stars Like a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.......2004-11-21

                    McKiernan in his foreword tells us that he is paying homage to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Homage? Hmm. According to the American Heritage® Dictionary "homage" is defined as: "Special honor or respect shown or expressed publicly." I fail to see the "honor" to Tolkien in McKiernan's "The Iron Tower" trilogy. While it is true it is said that imitation is the highest form of flattery, McKiernan's books are less like flattery and more like regurgitation. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind if a writer is heavily inspired by the work of another. Even Tolkien himself drew much of his thematic elements and ideas from other ancient and mythic sources (Beowulf for example), but he reconstituted those ideas in such a way that they seemed fresh; not copied or reprinted. He was reinventing not simply rewriting.
                    Unfortunately, such is not the case with McKiernan's work. His ideas are directly lifted from the pages of "The Lord of the Rings" without any attempt at originality.

                    In McKiernan's story, a Warrow (Hobbit) named Tuck Underbank (Frodo) embarks on a quest to defeat an ultimate evil, Mordu (Sauron) who dwells in the evil land of Gron (Mordor). Along the way he encounters a dwarf called Brega (Gimli), an elf named Gildor(Legolas), a human warrior (Aragorn), etc, etc, etc...The Tolkien plagiarism's go on and on.

                    He even includes a scene where some of the main characters have to pass through an abandoned Dwarf city called Kraggen-Cor. The city is abandoned because some terrible monster (Ghath) drove all of the dwarfs out long ago. The only way into the subterranean city is through some magical doors that they have some difficulty getting open. While waiting at the doors, a monstrous squid/octopus-like creature attacks them. And yes, there is even a battle with the Ghath in the dwarfin city on a narrow bridge over a bottomless cavern.

                    I have a one hundred page rule when it comes to books; if the book can't engross me, can't keep my interest by the hundredth page I give it up. In this case, morbid curiosity kept me reading these books; like a horrible car accident, I couldn't tear my eyes away. Page after page I kept telling myself "it can't get any worse" and page after page I was proved wrong.

                    As bad as the plagiarism is, the writing is even worse.

                    The epic scope of Tolkien's story is GONE. Tolkien's writing was marked by mystery, grandeur and a poignant sense of loss and realism. All of this is missing from McKiernan's work. The characters in "The Lord of the Rings" (and the "Hobbit" for that matter) were three-dimensional; they seemed almost to have stepped out of the history books and not a novel. Tolkien made us care about his characters and what happened to them. McKiernan is incapable of doing this with the cardboard cutouts that populate his world. For example, Tuck Underbank is written to be a tragic/heroic figure and spends A LOT of time crying and sobbing about this or that. The narrative, time and time again, tries to make us feel sorry for him. After a while, I just started rolling my eyes and hoping someone would put him out of his misery. Throughout the story the dialogue is stilted, completely unnatural and pathetic. This may be one of the only times in history where a story would have been improved if none of the characters spoke.

                    Rather than "honoring" Tolkien with "The Iron Tower" trilogy, McKiernan dishonors the great writer. For those looking for a well written, enriching story in the style of Tolkien or just a good epic fantasy: Look elsewhere.

                    5 out of 5 stars The Middle of a Great Trilogy.......2000-07-17

                    If you've read part one of this Trilogy, then you probably couldn't wait to get your hands on part 2. And you certainly won't stop here until part 3 is read as well.

                    McKiernan takes all the human emotions from the highs of noble exhileration to the lows of death's despair and injects them into his wonderful and vast world. Join us now in the Winter War....
                    3 Titles By Dennis L. McKiernan Iron Tower Trilogy (1-3) : 1. The Dark Tide 2. Shadows of Doom 3. The Darkest Day
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      3 Titles By Dennis L. McKiernan Iron Tower Trilogy (1-3) : 1. The Dark Tide 2. Shadows of Doom 3. The Darkest Day
                      Dennis L. McKiernan
                      Manufacturer: Signet
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Mass Market Paperback
                      ASIN: B000VS5JWA

                      Product Description

                      multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.
                      5 Titles in Amber Series - The Courts of Chaos - Trumps of Doom - Blood of Amber - Knight of Shadows - Prince of Chaos
                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                        5 Titles in Amber Series - The Courts of Chaos - Trumps of Doom - Blood of Amber - Knight of Shadows - Prince of Chaos
                        Roger Zelazny
                        Manufacturer: various
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Mass Market Paperback

                        AmberAmber | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
                        ASIN: B000PGC6K6

                        Product Description

                        5 massmarket paperback Titles in Amber Series - The Courts of Chaos - Trumps of Doom - Blood of Amber - Knight of Shadows - Prince of Chaos
                        BLOCH AND BRADBURY: The Shadow From the Steeple; The Watchers; The Grinning Ghoul; Mannikins of Horror; Fever Dream; The Druidic Doom; The Dead Man; A Question of Etiquette; The Handler; The Man Who Cried Wolf
                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                          BLOCH AND BRADBURY: The Shadow From the Steeple; The Watchers; The Grinning Ghoul; Mannikins of Horror; Fever Dream; The Druidic Doom; The Dead Man; A Question of Etiquette; The Handler; The Man Who Cried Wolf
                          Ray; Bloch, Robert (edited by Kurt Singer) Bradbury
                          Manufacturer: Tower Books
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Paperback

                          Bloch, RobertBloch, Robert | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Horror | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                          Bradbury, RayBradbury, Ray | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Horror | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                          ASIN: B000E8POJK
                          Dark Doors Of Doom
                          Average customer rating: Not rated
                            Dark Doors Of Doom

                            Manufacturer: Black Dog Books
                            ProductGroup: Book
                            Binding: Paperback
                            ASIN: 1928619096

                            Product Description

                            Three stories of mystery and terror. "Dark Doors of Doom" "House of Deathless Shadows" "Prey of the Prowler"
                            DARK FANTASY - Number 12 - April 1979: Fafnir; Lord of Lightning; Sea of Doom; Powers to Destroy; Shadows and Shades; Hand of the King; The Black Sword; Women of Wonder
                            Average customer rating: Not rated
                              DARK FANTASY - Number 12 - April 1979: Fafnir; Lord of Lightning; Sea of Doom; Powers to Destroy; Shadows and Shades; Hand of the King; The Black Sword; Women of Wonder
                              Howard E. (editor) (Tom Egan; Gordon Derevanchuk; Joe Froehlich; Phillip Heath; Neal Wilgus; Galad Elflandsson; Larry Gay; Dan Day) Day
                              Manufacturer: Shadow Press
                              ProductGroup: Book
                              Binding: Paperback
                              ASIN: B000LIDVZC
                              DOOM 2099: THE SHADOW KING--SAVAGE DECLINE (VOL.1 NO.21 SEPTEMBER, 1994)(MARVEL COMICS) (DOOM 2099, VOLUME I)
                              Average customer rating: Not rated
                                DOOM 2099: THE SHADOW KING--SAVAGE DECLINE (VOL.1 NO.21 SEPTEMBER, 1994)(MARVEL COMICS) (DOOM 2099, VOLUME I)
                                JOHN MOORE
                                Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
                                ProductGroup: Book
                                Binding: Comic
                                ASIN: B000K1V5SK

                                Product Description

                                36-PAGE COMIC BOOK ADVENTURES OF "DOOM" BY MARVEL COMICS. UPC 759606011582 0211>.

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                                3. The Broken Mirror: Understanding and Treating Body Dysmorphic Disorder
                                4. The Collected Plays Of Edward Albee: Volume 1 1958 - 1965
                                5. The Complete Fiction: The Bean Trees, Homeland, Animal Dreams, Pigs in Heaven
                                6. The Dodd Family Abroad
                                7. The Essential Cosmic Perspective Media Update with Astronomy Place website, Skygazer Planetarium Software, eBook CDROM and Astronomy media workbook (3rd Edition)
                                8. The Extraordinary Journeys: Journey to the Centre of the Earth (Oxford World's Classics : the Extraordinary Journeys)
                                9. The Graveyard Shift
                                10. The Headmaster's Papers: A Novel

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