Hate Crime: A Novel of Suspense

Book Description

Bestselling author William Bernhardt is an unsurpassed master at blending psychological suspense with gripping, surprise-filled legal action. Now, Bernhardt and his crusading attorney Ben Kincaid return in a thrilling story of love, hate, and the power of a courtroom to separate deception from the truth.

In Tulsa, Ben Kincaid has built a national reputation as a stalwart defense attorney who will fight tirelessly for his clients. In Evanston, Illinois, Johnny Christensen has built a national reputation as a sadistic bigot who beat and stabbed a gay man and left him to die. When Johnny’s mother comes to Ben and begs him to defend her son, he has one secret reason for saying no.

But while Ben turns down the case, his younger, beautiful partner, Christina McCall, does not. Traveling to Chicago and facing an explosion of controversy and deadly violence surrounding the trial, Christina steps into a case that is already nearly lost. Her client’s only defense is his claim that he left his victim bludgeoned but alive. To prove that someone else committed the actual murder, Christina needs a little bit of evidence—and a good motive to go with it.

When unforeseen circumstances force Ben Kincaid to enter the trial, the defense attorney sees only one way to prove Johnny’s innocence. But Ben’s plan means luring a killer out of the woodwork—even though he may kill again. . . .

A novel of gut-wrenching twists and surprises, this thriller brilliantly explores the passions between lovers—and the passions behind society’s most heinous crimes. Once again, the remarkable William Bernhardt makes us challenge every assumption, second-guess every judgment, and feel the terror of the truth.

From the Hardcover edition.

Download Description

In Tulsa, Ben Kincaid has built a national reputation as a stalwart defense attorney who will fight tirelessly for his clients. In Evanston, Illinois, Johnny Christensen has built a national reputation as a sadistic bigot who beat and stabbed a gay man and left him to die. When Johnny's mother comes to Ben and begs him to defend her son, he has one secret reason for saying no.

But while Ben turns down the case, his younger, beautiful partner, Christina McCall, does not. Traveling to Chicago and facing an explosion of controversy and deadly violence surrounding the trial, Christina steps into a case that is already nearly lost. Her client's only defense is his claim that he left his victim bludgeoned but alive. To prove that someone else committed the actual murder, Christina needs a little bit of evidence -- and a good motive to go with it.

When unforeseen circumstances force Ben Kincaid to enter the trial, the defense attorney sees only one way to prove Johnny's innocence. But Ben's plan means luring a killer out of the woodwork -- even though he may kill again...

A novel of gut-wrenching twists and surprises, this thriller brilliantly explores the passions between lovers -- and the passions behind society's most heinous crimes. Once again, the remarkable William Bernhardt makes us challenge every assumption, second-guess every judgment, and feel the terror of the truth.

Customer Reviews:

EEEEUUUUU.......2006-12-28

Well, I managed to finsh this book, but with gritted teeth. I, too, hated that ending that really came out of nowhere. I read a lot of myseries and part of the fun is trying to figure out whodunit. There is NO WAY in hell anyone could have figured this out! I read all the earlier Ben Kincaid books and liked them - what happened? These were not real people! It was too long and could have benefited from fewer plot lines - it was just - BAD. I used to like Ben, now he just sounds like an idiot.

Loved It!.......2004-07-27

Mr Bernhardt writes legal thrillers like no other. When it comes to Ben, Christina, Jones and Loving, he doesn't disappoint. This was a well written story, that really disturbed me when it came to the details of the beating. Too sad to even imagine. The court room theatrics are the best and the twist and turns were very surprising.

An excellent, fast paced read. Very entertaining.

As always, I anxiously wait for what's next.

Further exploration.......2004-05-22

This Ben Kincaid mystery further explores both the surface
interactions between Ben and his partner Christina as well
as the concept of a "hate" crime.
Here, a gay man is tortured and murdered, apparently by two
stupid, drunken college frat boys, and when Ben, the champion
of the unpopular defendant, is asked to defend one of them,
he surprisingly refuses. Everyone who knows him is mystified.
But then his partner Christina, over his objections, takes on the defense, and the case plods along with the defendant looking
worse all the time.
A parallel case, which doesn't seem to have any connection with
the gay murder, is also tackled, and Ben's pal, the Tulsa PD
detective who loves driving his vintage high-powered Pontiac,
is working that one. The Tulsa case involved a kidnapping with
ransom, where the victim was left unharmed, but the kidnappers
suddenly, and surprisingly since they were surrounded by both
local police and the FBI, disappear. Mike, the detective, pursues the case as long as possible, until his superiors assign
him to more current cases. But Mike doesn't forget, and he keeps trying to remember details of some aspect of the case that
is in the background of his mind and won't go away.
As Christina's case is nearing its end, with virtually no hope,
Ben is visited by the defendant's mother, and that whole visit
is quite mysterious, and Ben's office-mates wonder what is going on. Christina is determined to learn how and why that other woman seems to know Ben, when Ben denies such knowledge.
This Kincaid entry is rather more complex than most of these,
and the cases come to a nice conclusion; the only drawback to
many readers will be that the ending is a bit too pat and too
sudden. It has a feel that the author sort of took the easy
way out at the end by offering up a solution that isn't entirely
logical.
But it is interesting and very readable.

Fast and easy story.......2004-05-21

Lawyer Ben Kincaid takes on another case he seemingly has no chance of winning, but he "back doors" this one because he initially refuses to have anything to do with the case, and he
refuses to give a reason to anyone, but after his partner Christina takes the case, and is faltering, he has to take over.
The case consists of two parts, seemingly unrelated, the first
the big murder case involving a "gay bashing" killing by a couple of ignorant, hapless frat boys, and the other a sophisticated kidnapping where the criminals got totally away.
But then some low-level people are killed, in gruesome fashion,
and Ben's buddy, a detective on the Tulsa PD, starts seeing some
common threads in the murders, and the chase is on.
How Bernhardt handles the two crimes, and the various factors,
is well-done, and he does a very nice job of tying up loose
ends.
Some readers will think those loose ends are too quickly tied
up, and the final solution sort of falls together too easily,
so there will be some dissatisfaction here, but, overall, this
is a nice story well done.

A bit of the same old... but still good.......2004-05-08

Being his 13th novel, William Bernhardt sticks to his tried-and-true formula to feature Tulsa defense attorney Ben Kincaid. Johnny Christensen, a hate-filled frat boy is accused of beating a gay man to death outside a singles bar in a Chicago suburb. Ben Kincaid is assigned to the case and is reluctant to take the case. The well-paced plot weaves the hate crime of the title together with an Oklahoma kidnapping, Kincaid's romantic past, another grisly unsolved murder and a detective gone bad. Bernhardt offers agood read, full of courtroom fireworks, double-crosses and even a bit of romance. Not a bad book, overall.

Average customer rating:

Cliches Abound
Here's another conservative novelist
Covers Broad Ground with Decent Depth, But Plot Gets in Way
Neuronal advocate
Hard to stomach

Brain Storm: A Novel
Richard Dooling
Manufacturer: Picador
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Legal | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Psychological & Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0312203993

Amazon.com

It's 2002, and Joe Watson, who came straight out of Harvard Law to a job doing online research at one of St. Louis's top law firms, has never spent a day in court. Now he's been appointed to defend a sleazeball accused of killing a deaf African American, which violates not one but two tough new Federal hate-crime statutes. At their first prison meeting, this Client from Hell not only demands an extra blanket and two-ply toilet paper, but also that Watson get him permission to have a racist tattoo removed before it gets him killed. "There are a lot of Afro-Americans of color in here," he tells Watson. "I don't mean anything by that. Some of my best friends are friends of people who have talked to friends of Afro-Americans. You maybe saw on the news where a lot of men of colored end up in here because they are discriminated against or whatever..." Richard Dooling's combination legal/medical thriller and deadly satire of political correctness is a pure delight, as Watson has to juggle everything from a sexy scientist doing brain research who seems bent on destroying his marriage to a growing conviction that maybe the murder victim died just because he was a bad guy. Other examples of Dooling's artfully hilarious fiction available in paperback are Critical Care and White Man's Grave. --Dick Adler

Book Description

Joe Watson is an associate in a prestigious St. Louis law firm when a notorious district court judge assigns him a politically explosive pro bono case--he must defend a bigoted white man accused of killing a deaf black man. Watson's decision to represent his irreputable client in court, rather than wriggle out of the case, outrages his partners and imperils his marriage. Lacking any prior trial experience, Watson depends on Rachel Palmquist, a sexy neuroscientist, and Myrna Schweich, a brash criminal defense attorney, to uncover the truth about the murder.

Customer Reviews:

Cliches Abound.......2005-08-12

I bought this book in the dollar bin at Target since I was traveling over the summer and needed some light reads. Let me just say it's not worth the $1 I spent on it.

To give the author credit, he sets up an interesting premise with a man assigned to a pro bono case through the courts that he takes an interest in even with all of the odds against him, and all of the problems it will cause him.

However, that's about as far as the good writing goes. For starters, every single one of the characters is flat and seem to be taken out of a mold of 'common characters.' The seemingly insane judge who really knows what's best, the short, funny lawyer friend who's crude on the outside, but a sweetheart to her kids, the rich inlaws who think they know what's best for the 'hero,' etc, etc.

Nevertheless, I suffered through the 400 some odd pages thinking that perhaps the setup will end in a way worthy of its premise, but it doesn't. It almost seems as if the author couldn't decide a good ending so he just ties up all of the knots and finishes it.

I would not reccommend this book.

Here's another conservative novelist.......2005-04-08

Brain Storm concerns a hotshot young corporate attorney, Joe Watson, who specializes in researching the arcana of video games in search of copyright violations. He's got a bright future, a perfect wife and child, and a mortgage just barely within his means. But then an irascible, lawyer-loathing Federal Judge assigns him to a pro bono case, defending a white supremacist charged with a hate crime for killing the deaf black man he caught in flagrante delicto with his wife. The government wants the death penalty for political reasons, the federal attorney wants to wrap up the case in time to run for the U.S. Senate on it, the law firm doesn't want Watson wasting billable hours on an indigent, and his wife doesn't want him defending a racist, but, even as his life crashes around him, he gets caught up in the intellectual problems posed by the case and forges ahead. The first conundrum: should the state really be in the business of trying to determine what people were thinking when they committed what are already criminal acts. As the Judge puts it: "It's hard enough trying to find out what the accused did. Now you want to add to that another four days of trial to find out what he was thinking about when he did it?'' Second, thanks to a sexy neuroscientist who's brought in to examine the client: are any of us really responsible for our actions or are we just self-glorified biological machines responding to chemical and electrical commands.

The situation and these issues afford Mr. Dooling the opportunity, which he exploits to the fullest, to lambaste lawyers, the politicization of the law, the desire of science to free us from our consciences, etc. Especially interesting, though it does sidetrack the author at times, is how Joe Watson's Catholic faith in the existence of the soul and of morality is challenged by physical temptation and scientific cant. If the book ends up somewhat overstuffed and the mystery in the middle gets kind of lost, it's nonetheless deliciously sardonic, proudly politically incorrect, rich in ideas, and great fun to read.

Covers Broad Ground with Decent Depth, But Plot Gets in Way.......2004-11-13

Okay, so how can plot get in the way? It's more like the plot seems in a hurry to wrap up in the end. A lot of the plot information gets dumped in the last pages rather than dispersed among, say, the whole latter half of the book.

Here's the basics of the plot:
Watson is the protagonist. He's a Midwestern guy with a young family, and also a Harvard Law graduate at the biggest firm in St. Louis. From a slightly loony judge, Watson gets a pro bono assignment to defend a man suspected of murder. Even worse, his defendant is an acknowledged racist who killed a black man. Working every angle, Watson gets fired from his big-firm gig when his pro bono work takes up too much of his time. He goes back to a defense attorney for whom he worked one summer in law school. As he passionately pursues his case, he almost loses his family to his infidelity (both sexual and time-wise).

What are the angles in this book?
1.) Large law firm critique--bureaucracy slows down a genius lawyer, and then the profit-seeking firm ditches a great lawyer, supposedly in violation of one of the firm's arcane rules. Plus, young associates must align themselves with a powerful partner to ensure they one day make the cut to partner. Ever wonder why Grisham's lawyers either start out or end up independent?

2.) Computer Technology vs. the Brain--very postmodern here, and that was appreciated by this reader! Search engines contrast with human memory and experience. And, the femme fatale doctor is the merging of these two fields--she uses high powered computers to map and study the brain. However, her self-aware self-gratifying behavior is repugnant; whereas our protagonist is torn apart by his semi-adultery. The unanswered question--is it natural brain chemistry that differentiates these two or is it Watson's Catholic upbringing?

3.) Fact and Law--this book does a good job discerning the difference between law and fact. Watson fights a scholarly law battle against the constitutionality of a hate crime statute. This battle, like all legal differences, is decided by judges, not juries. Then, Watson has to figure out the truth behind his case. Were his defendant's actions really premeditated, or is he being set up? Kudos to Dooling for letting us root for Watson without pulling for his despicable client.

4.) Sex--there's plenty of lust in this novel, and it works well with some of the richer themes discussed above.

Richard Bernstein called this "A thinking man's John Grisham thriller." True. However, too bad the plot isn't quite as well-paced as Grisham's earlier stories. But, the challenges this book presents more than make up for it.

Neuronal advocate.......2003-04-20

...Dooling has made a serious attempt to show how poorly the law reflects the workings of the human mind. Changes must be made and the changes must be based on firmer understanding.

A story of a struggling lawyer isn't unusual, although this one is tempered by a grasping wife and her Big Money father, a lush suburban house and a position with the city's leading law firm. The case itself seems simple. A vocal racist is accused of murdering a "African American" [the "scare quotes" are an essential facet of this book] - who happens to be deaf. There are heavy implications in this event, not the least of which is conviction for a provable "hate crime" invokes the death sentence. How is a young lawyer, with neither criminal law nor trial experience to cope with the enormity of this situation?

The legal issues are more than words in the statute books. Dooling's knowledge of science and technology introduces some fresh twists. The circumstances, convoluted enough, become even more intricate as Joe Watson becomes mired in trying to understand the new "hate" legislation permeating American law. How is "hate" defined? As he researches the case, he meets neuroscientist Rachel Palmquist [whose name becomes an essential factor in their relationship]. Palmquist tries to educate Watson on the latest findings in human cognition as part of her efforts to seduce him. Watson is better at cognition than seduction, as you will likely be as you follow her lectures on why we lack free will and what happens when electrodes are used to stir emotions. All this cognitive studies material is, of course, the basis for the book's title.

The issue in this story isn't attorney Watson's struggles with morality nor the respective merits of corporate or criminal law. What's really at stake is how the law defines and treats "hate" crimes and other politically correct issues. Dooling's point is what laws are now on the books and the prospects for future legislation. He wants proposed laws to consider the recent advances in behaviour studies. Can the cure be implemented before the symptoms come to light? Dooling, through his projection Watson, examines the science, the implications and the possible outcomes. We are shown how some of the studies are done, not always a pleasant vista, but with human and legal implications. Reading this book, it's easy to dismiss Watson as an over-focused simpleton. When you realize he's speaking for lawyer Dooling, however, who likely went through much of the introspection Watson relates, this book gains in importance as a social statement. Dooling uses several good sources for material for this book, although you have to go to his web site to discover who they are.

Dooling has given us an entertaining view of law and science brought in conjunction. How good a job he's done depends on your tastes. This is certainly not escapist crime fiction. His concentration on legal and neuroscience issues far outweighs the specific crime involved. His characters try fervently to express the many concepts this book deals with, but fall short of the mark. The one success is Federal Judge Stang, whose seniority and astute understanding of law and lawyers make him the star of the book. If you want "mysteries", go elsewhere. ...Dooling's ideas and discussions of practical issues, however, are an excellent start in either direction. Read it, but don't stop here.

Hard to stomach.......2001-11-28

Dooling makes a decent attempt at a philosophical take on the way that modern science perceives the self and the soul in the guise of a legal thriller. It seems that his extensive research into brain scanning technologies left him little time to clean up the rest of the book.

There are a number of irritating inaccuracies throughout the book, and it is hard to fathom why it is necessary to give a character the "600 mhz Pentium VI" instead of a computer that actually exists. Descriptions of search engines and web surfing technology have similar flaws.

Worse than these details, the plot seems to be pulled from a manual on deus ex machina. The lawyers and judges are pulled from prototypes, and those looking for the subtle word play that makes legal fiction so fun will be sadly disappointed. The underlying crime is so far-fetched, and the odds so against the protagonist, that every extreme must be reached for the book to achieve a happy ending. After about three implausible plot turns - and I have nothing against an exciting plot twist, when somewhat feasible through human nature, or even good luck - it was hard to take the book seriously at all.

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A link to my reviews.

Plastic Fantastic Lover

Loved my visit and escape to the low country

flashback a low country novel

A Novel like this is why I love to read

Flashback: A Low Country Novel
D A Welch
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books
Romantic Suspense | Romance | Subjects | Books
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My Sister's Keeper

The Land of Mango Sunsets: A Novel

ASIN: 0595412718

Book Description

From Hilton Head Island to Myrtle Beach, the coastal area of South Carolina is known as the Low Country. This picturesque region provides the backdrop for the story of a stoic soldier and a beautiful artist who, despite ill-fated timing, are drawn to each other as they struggle to put their pasts behind them.

In the blackness between midnight and dawn, an explosion threw Nate from a sound sleep. He woke sweat soaked and head pounding . He made his way to the cabinet and grabbed the aspirin inside. Then he stood in front of the sink and tossed back four tablets with a glass of tap water.

Eve sat quietly in her dark office and watched him go through the ritual. She had seen him do it before . She felt torn. Should she remain quiet and linger in her own torment? Should she reach out and help him with his? . He turned and met her gaze . With nothing left inside he stood still and stared. Neither moved nor spoke . both wanted, both craved, just a word or a touch.

Customer Reviews:

A link to my reviews........2007-09-17

This is not an attempt to post a review for my own book, but rather a way to link to the reviews I've posted for other writers. I hope you enjoy some of my recommendations. With respect to my own work, Flashback: A Low Country Novel was a significant accomplishment for my first novel. The feedback I've received has been very encouraging and I hope to improve in the next book.

Plastic Fantastic Lover.......2007-08-18

D. A. Welch unleashes her first novel on an unsuspecting public. Flashback emphasizes the luxuriously humid lifestyles of the not so rich and famous living on the coastline and barrier islands of South Carolina. If the characters have any foibles, it is their plastic, Barbie-and-Ken, Porsche-piloting Yuppieness. The men are ex-Navy SEALS who work under contract with the FBI and the U.S. military, and the women glide silently through their foo-foo symphonic and artistic professions as if everyone they know enjoys the idol luxury of jobs they enjoy. Fortunately for the readers, these fantasy characters and formulaic subplots are the only negative issues waiting to be uncovered in Flashback. Ms. Welch has created a nice, light story in which many beachfront vacationers will surely wallow, especially those who enjoy a feminine fantasy.

From the lovely cover capturing the essence of The Low Country to the delicate descriptions of the island weather conditions, Flashback delivers on its promise. The storyline is a modern, romantic adventure punctuated by just enough steamy sex to keep things interesting. There are a few typos, but they are of a distinctly minimalist nature. You might find the compositional style a little too ordinary, too, but this is preferable to the overuse of conceits in which many new authors indulge. Flashback barely misses five stars, and it is certainly a fine, professionally executed first effort. Ms. Welch is to be commended for accurately writing the subject matter she knows, rather than stumbling off the deep end of the pier of artistic overextension.

Loved my visit and escape to the low country.......2007-07-27

Excellent pacing and energetic plot kept me truly engaged in D A Welch's novel. Her descriptive phrases and vivid imagery took me right back to the heart of the low country. What a great trip. I became so invested in the lives of Nate, Eve, Devon, and Katie that I didn't want the novel to end. Will be looking for a sequel.

flashback a low country novel.......2007-07-24

This was the thriller I was looking for this summer. Flashback was a page turner that kept me up all night. D.A. Welch, please do a sequel!

A Novel like this is why I love to read.......2007-07-17

Author Deb Welch tells a story that pulls the reader into a world where good people find love, adventure, treachery, and the promise of a happily ever after. Nate, a Navy Seal, returns home from his last assignment to meet Eve, an artist, who is visiting Nate's father. Nate is immediately drawn to Eve, even thinking that he has found love at first sight. Eve is skittish, and turns down Nate's offer of a dinner date. Eve soon finds out that Navy Seals do not take "no" as a definite answer! Nate's pursuit of Eve, and his steadfast manner soon breaks down Eve's reluctance and Nate discovers that Eve is recovering from a recent violent relationship. As Nate's and Eve's relationship grows, the previous boyfriend returns with a vengeance, and Nate becomes Eve's protector. Soon Nate is calling for assistance from other seals, and the F.B.I. becomes involved as Nate realizes that Eve is in very real danger from a lot more than a violent rapist. Nate, his fellow seals, and the F.B.I. find themselves pitted against a religious white supremest group that will stop at nothing to keep Nate from exposing their illegal activities. I Highly recommend this wonderful story, and I am hoping for a sequel!!

Average customer rating:

Hate Crime: A Novel of Suspense
William Bernhardt
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OVF90Q

Average customer rating:

We need Lyndon Hardy's Trilogy in Hardcover

Systematic fun

Hidden Gem

Interesting and fun look at magic in a fantasy setting

A fascinating treatise on magic (but not a great read)
Master of the Five Magics: (#1)
Lyndon Hardy
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Secret of the Sixth Magic: (#2)

A Darkness at Sethanon: Volume IV in the Riftwar Saga

Silverthorn (Riftwar Saga, Volume 3)

Magician: Master (Riftwar Saga)

ASIN: 0345334256
Release Date: 1985-10-12

Customer Reviews:

We need Lyndon Hardy's Trilogy in Hardcover.......2007-01-16

Lyndon Hardy wrote a wonderful trilogy
Master of the Five Magics
Secret of the Sixth Magic
Riddle of the Seven Realms

I highly recommend all three books and I hope someone out there will reprint them in hardcover editions! Hint Hint ;-)

Systematic fun.......2005-12-12

I worked for Lyn a long time ago, and I've read his books every decade or so since they were written. They're fun, and the magic system he came up with is fascinating.

The guy ("trent?") who doesn't like the books, and claims none of his friends do either, has to learn to live with the fact that people can have different opinions without being invalid human beings, rather than deciding that all of us who liked the books are part of some conspiracy.

I will grant that this isn't exactly great literature, but neither are, say, Dickinson's Dragon and the George series, or the Robert L. Asprin Myth or Phule's Company series, or the Chicks in Chainmail books either. I enjoyed all of them in different ways.

The hero gave his name to a company Lyn founded years later too. Oh the stories!

Hidden Gem.......2005-10-12

I'm surprised this book is out of print. Someone should print up a big trade or hardcover of this book and the two sequels Secret of the Sixth Magic and Riddle of the Seven Realms. While the writing is good and not great, the intelligent design of magic in this world makes this a must read for the originality alone.

Interesting and fun look at magic in a fantasy setting.......2005-09-04

I really quite enjoyed this book. The logical view of how magic works is well developed and has an internal consistency that is lacking in most fantasy worlds.

The writing is not the best you will ever read. However, it is a fun read. It is significantly better than most of the crap that is being published by Wizards of the Coast stable of authors -- I have to apologize to R. A. Salvatore (he still puts out a good book now and again).

The approach to the story, magic and character development are a bit different that most other books. If you see a copy in a used bookstore, it is worth picking up and giving a try. If you like this book you will like the two follow up books.

A fascinating treatise on magic (but not a great read).......2005-08-22

This book is one I am proud to own, but not one I found satisfying to read. This paradox comes from my reasons for tracking down a copy.

Master of the Five Magics is a fantastic discussion of how magic works - as the main character progresses through the five paths of magic, the reader learns the natural laws of magic that govern spells. These laws and their application are the meat of this book; roleplayers interested in designing their own magic systems could learn a lot from it. Others interested in magic for its own sake will also enjoy it. Those seeking a good read, however, may be disappointed.

I found the writing to be fair, but nothing special; the plot was original but not exciting; the characters failed to gain depth and gain sympathy from me, although they felt realistic enough. The main character is an apprentice magician who finds himself caught up in war, seeking to save the princess he is infatuated with by picking up first one, then another form of magic. This boyish motivation leads him not to master any one form of magic, but to flit from one to another in order to find some solution to the current problem facing his group, and eventually, by combining several of the forms, to face the root of the problem and overcome it. An exciting plot, in theory, yet it never seems to truly take off; one has the feeling that it could have been so much better without having any real complaint per se.

This book was followed by two sequels (Secret of the Sixth Magic and Riddle of the Seven Realms, in that order) which expanded on the laws of magic by showing us entirely new forms. Both are worth picking up in a used bookstore if you enjoyed the first, but if not, you shouldn't bother.

Average customer rating:

Magic Finally Making Sense

An adaptive look at magic

One of the greatest fantasy novels from the 1980's

Makes Sense!
Master of the Five Magics
Lyndon Hardy
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Secret of the Sixth Magic: (#2)

ASIN: 0345319079
Release Date: 1984-04-12

Customer Reviews:

Magic Finally Making Sense.......2007-02-27

I unfortunately read the first two books backwards upon just picking up "Secret of the Sixth Magic" at random from a section of used books at the local library. Once I finished it I went back immediately and was joyed to find that the first one was there also.

This is probably the most sensible description of magic I've ever encountered in a fantasy book. It is detailed enough to understand how the systems work and how each school derives its own workings. I'm guessing because of Mr. Hardy being a physicist, that he had the technological slant in his writing to make it come out this way. Even though the story is imaginative enough on its own and the ideas behind the workings of demonology I think are great. I'm yet to read the 3rd novel but plan to buy a copy immediately after reading this just recently again (and enjoying it even more this 3rd time reading it).

The theme in the book is rather basic but fits well to life and is perfectly understandable. I would recommend this book to any avid fantasy reader. If you enjoyed this one, then the other ones no doubt will be a good read to you.

An adaptive look at magic.......2006-10-24

I read this series a long time ago simply on impulse. The story is excellent and enjoyable. The book however is more than the story, it is a concept that is brilliant in it's execution. At the very beginning, even before chapter 1, it lists 5 different types of magic, and the rules for each. These are concepts that exist at the very core of almost every form of magic that you have ever read about in fantasy or seen in movies. Such examples include sorcery (thrice spoken, once fulfilled) which celebrates the conbination of the word and reality, with repitition.

These rules have always been used by various authors, but Hardy is one of the first to not only combine them, but in fact define them with precepts.

One of the greatest fantasy novels from the 1980's.......2006-08-16

I grew up reading fantasy and science fiction, and one of the greatest regrets I have is that I never found more than three books written by Lyndon Hardy, an author I still consider an automatic buy. In a way, this man's work defined what I expect from fantasy.

Of his three published works, I liked 'Master of the Five Magics' the best, followed closely with 'Secret of the Sixth Magic'. 'Riddle of the Seven Realms' comes in third, but keep in mind it's been over 20 years since I purchased the books, and I've moved six times and had to parse my book collection. I still have these wonderful novels, which I've re-read about once every five years.

Now about the book -- it follows Alodar, an apprentice Thaumaturgist. The magic system used by Lyndon Hardy is unique and self-consistent, hitting the right balance of rules vs power to make fantasy magic truly interesting. The closest modern equivlents I can think of are David Farland's Runelords or even Robert Jordan's One Power.

Alodar's journey takes him into enclaves of each magic practitioner across the land, and he meets adversaries that constantly beat him down. Yet he doesn't give up! I could really feel for Alodar by the end of the novel, so the primary characterization is wonderful.

The plotting was strong, and kept me with the book until the end. I never expected some of the twists thrown at me by Hardy.

As for the settings, I can still conjure up the inner heart of the Volcano with uncut gems waiting like burning fruit, the wizard's library with the spell barrier gongs, and the imposing black tower surrounded by minor demons. Those images have stayed with me for years, and have become benchmarks I measure new fantasy by. Lyndon Hardy hit the right mix of dialogue, pacing, and description I find lacking in so many 'modern' fantasy efforts.

If you haven't read this wonderful novel, I urge you to try it.

Makes Sense!.......2003-12-25

One of my all-time favorite books, this is one of those I come back to every now and then. Wonderfully crafted, Hardy takes logic to fantasy and returns with an outstanding storyline.

Average customer rating:

Master of the Five Magics
Lyndon Hardy
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000HLU7TG

Average customer rating:

Master of the Five Magics
Lyndon Hardy
Manufacturer: NY Del Rey Books 1985.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

THE ARCADIA SEQUENCE: Book (1) One: Master of the Five Magics; Book (2) Two: Secret of the Sixth Magic; Book (3) Three: Riddle of the Seven Realms

Average customer rating:

THE ARCADIA SEQUENCE: Book (1) One: Master of the Five Magics; Book (2) Two: Secret of the Sixth Magic; Book (3) Three: Riddle of the Seven Realms
Lyndon Hardy
Manufacturer: Del Rey - Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NRTWIG

Average customer rating:

Master of the Five Magics
Lyndon Hardy
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IMR41S

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