Dragondoom

A thoughtfully written book that only looks like the "sameold sameold" superficially. I can't think of a single other fantasy out there that does a better job addressing the difference longevity makes in how the world gets approached (dwarves vs humans, in this case). McKiernan's style is dense and perhaps not for everyone, but if you want a meaty fantasy read, this is it.

This book was quite good, though the plot resembles, at least in general outlines, parts of the Hobbit. Defeating a dragon and taking its treasure home is only the start of a bad sequence of events. That naturally starts a squabble over the treasure, and leads to more sorrow and individual heroics. I really liked this book, even though it sounds Tolkien-ish, it was well written.

Unlikely companios' quest for magical weapon, dark lord, blah, blah, yatta yatta - if it was your first fantasy novel, I'm sure it wouldn't be bad, and if you like getting the same formulaic stuff over and over again from different authors, OK, but if you're looking for fantasy with fresh ideas, this is not it.

Fair's fair: It's not quite as bad as some - while there is one of those stupid "dark lord" figures in this world, the book is not about trying to destroy him, and the ending is not entirely predictable.
Another plus is that despite there being at least one major loose end tying to a sequel, it can well be read on its own.

It's an OK read if you like this kind of book, but nothing I'd particularly recommend.

Sleeth the Orm.
That name was enough to rouse any treasure-seeker's interest. The legendary Blackstone, richest of the Dwarven (or, as they called themselves, Chakka) mining holds, had fallen to the mighty dragon centuries before. All attempts slay the dragon and recover the treasure had failed.

Then Elgo, Prince of the horse-loving plains natin of Jord, renowned for his many dangerous and cunning adventures, thought of a way to kill the worm. Incredibly dangerous, bodly daring, he gives the plan a try, and succeeds.

But dragongold always has a curse laid on it, and the curse follows Elgo and the fraction of treasure he manages to get back over the mountains and sea to his steppe homeland. First, the Chakka lay a claim on the gold. Then show more the claim leads to war.

Then, something out of everyone's expectations occurs. Another dragon, the greatest dragon, Black Kalgalath comes raiding....and then Elyn, Elgo's twin sister, Warrior Maid, goes on a quest to slay him. But Kalgalath has caused the Chakka great grief, also. So they send Thork, Prince of Kachar, the Chakka nation that laid claim on the dragongold, with whom the Jord are currently at war.

The only thing that can slay the greatest dragon is the Rage Hammer, the Kammerling of ancient legend, Adon's Hammer. But who will get to it first?

This is a great read, you'll fall in love with the characters and the world before you realize it. show less

One of MCkiernans best. Traditionally in this type of novel cross species love affairs are conducted between elves and humans. This involves the fairly non-tradtional relationship between a dwarf and a human. Excellen story.

My favorite McKiernan novel. I don't remember much about it now because I read it so long ago but it was great (then).

An old favorite of mine. A beautiful romance, an exciting adventure, and some thoughts on greed, "human" nature and prejudice.