This series itself is tons of fun so you should definitely read it in it's entirety. But, this book, two of seven was my least favorite of all. I read the first book, and in the middle of it, loved it so much, I HAD to get all seven! So I ordered all(being new to PBS) and when I got into this one, awe, I was was disappointed...BUT, now I'm on book four, and I see the importance of reading it becuz of the character build up and the history you learn. It's all preference obviously- you may totally love it. I am big on dialogue, and there is one character-becuz' of who he is, I know!- has some dialogue I don't care for, but that really was all that turned me off about it. He didn't cuss or throw profanity, it's just the choice of words, and what he says. Not all the characters speak like him, so it was easy to let it slide.
Anyways, you should def read this series! It's so clever and provocative-meaning makes me fall in love with the characters, and feel for them. ENJOY!
Anyways, you should def read this series! It's so clever and provocative-meaning makes me fall in love with the characters, and feel for them. ENJOY!
Death Gate Cycle book 2 of 7. A very well written fantasy series of a future of the Earth where magic has sundered the world into 4 new worlds, each completely different. Each book stands alone to a large extent but each also tends to build onits predecessors.
On steamy Pryan, Realm of Fire, never-ending sunlight and plentiful rain have created a jungle so vast that homans and elves dwell high in the trees and only dwarves live anywhere near the ground. From the treetops the aristocratic elves sell weapons to the other races, whose incessant warfare sends a steady stream of profits and essential resources skyward. Now, generations of dissent and race hatred will not heal--not even under the threat of annihilation at the hands of the legendary tytans. Armed with little more than their wits and a prophecy, an elf, a human and a dwarf must unite to try to save the world from destruction.
From Publishers Weekly
Destruction looms over the dwarves, men and elves of Pryan, the World of Fire, in this second volume of The Death Gate cycle, begun in Dragon Wing. Childlike but immensely powerful, eyeless tytans move through the three societies, killing all in their path. Elven arms dealer Paithan Quindiniar, arriving too late with weapons for the dwarves, flees to warn his people, accompanied by Rega, the human woman he warily loves against all convention, and other survivors. Meanwhile, arriving among the elves are Zifnab, a human and slightly addled wizard with an attendant dragon, and Haplo, an agent of the Lord of the Nexus, member of an ancient race that seeks to regain lost power over the four worlds created by the long vanished Sartan. A race for survival ensues. The authors deploy colorful characters in an intricate plot line and universe as the story slowly develops in what is intended to be a seven-volume saga. The atmosphere is often diluted by jarring touches, however, especially references to and jokes about our current world.
Destruction looms over the dwarves, men and elves of Pryan, the World of Fire, in this second volume of The Death Gate cycle, begun in Dragon Wing. Childlike but immensely powerful, eyeless tytans move through the three societies, killing all in their path. Elven arms dealer Paithan Quindiniar, arriving too late with weapons for the dwarves, flees to warn his people, accompanied by Rega, the human woman he warily loves against all convention, and other survivors. Meanwhile, arriving among the elves are Zifnab, a human and slightly addled wizard with an attendant dragon, and Haplo, an agent of the Lord of the Nexus, member of an ancient race that seeks to regain lost power over the four worlds created by the long vanished Sartan. A race for survival ensues. The authors deploy colorful characters in an intricate plot line and universe as the story slowly develops in what is intended to be a seven-volume saga. The atmosphere is often diluted by jarring touches, however, especially references to and jokes about our current world.
from the back- On steamy Pryan, never-ending sunlight and plentiful rain have created a jungle so vast that humans and elves dwell high in the trees and only dwarves live anywhere near the ground. From the treetops the aristocratic elves sell weapons to the other races, whose incessant warfare sends a steady steam of profits and essential resources skyward. Now, generations of dissent and race hatred will not heal -- not even under the threat of annihilation at the hands of legendary Titans. Armed with little more than their wits and prophecy, an elf, a human, and a dwarf must unite to try to save the world from destruction.
The second in a very well written series. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and look forward to continuing to enjoy this well thought out and written series.
This is fantasy amped up a notch and it is great. I read all seven and have just posted them all. I loved each and every one. Great, memorable characters and adventures galore. Weis and Hickman are legends for a reason.
Upon picking up this book, I believe I was so insulted that it had even been pushed through for publishing that I was too sick to read any further. That was around chapter one. Against better judgement and the warning of my very much wiser friend, I picked it up and before I knew it, I was shoving it in a time capsule, wrapping it up in a touch-sensitive bomb, burying it six feet under and then running as far away as I could. Yes, it was that bad.
The second book in this series, Elven Star focuses on a world that is almost all forest where the reader finds not only an unusual planet but interesting, fascinating characters. Three races live here: elves, dwarfs and men. The races hate each other with conflict often erupting. Most residents have never seen the ground because they live in cities built on treetop moss beds. Only dwarves live anywhere near the ground. As the novel unfolds, the reader wonders if the races can shelve differences to deal with the mysterious threat threatening them all. The author's emphasis often seems to focus on interspecies relations and prejudice.
Characters of interest include Haplo and his dog journeying from planet to planet. Consummate explorers, they land on Pryan created after the sundering of a natural world into planets of air, fire, earth, water. Pryan is the world of fire. These characters link the book with the first in the series. Zifnab, the primary narrator, is a delightfully crazy mage. His references to modern times and wizards like Gandalf and Merlin confuse other characters. In addition, humorous interactions between between Zifnab and his dragon are downright funny. Other characters include Paithan Quindiniar, an Elven arms dealer, and Rega, a human woman he loves.
As the tale unfolds, three individuals, an elf, a human, and a dwarf must work together to save the world from destruction. Thus the story begins bringing the reader into an imaginary world of Pryan.
Characters of interest include Haplo and his dog journeying from planet to planet. Consummate explorers, they land on Pryan created after the sundering of a natural world into planets of air, fire, earth, water. Pryan is the world of fire. These characters link the book with the first in the series. Zifnab, the primary narrator, is a delightfully crazy mage. His references to modern times and wizards like Gandalf and Merlin confuse other characters. In addition, humorous interactions between between Zifnab and his dragon are downright funny. Other characters include Paithan Quindiniar, an Elven arms dealer, and Rega, a human woman he loves.
As the tale unfolds, three individuals, an elf, a human, and a dwarf must work together to save the world from destruction. Thus the story begins bringing the reader into an imaginary world of Pryan.
Book 2 of the Death Gate Cycle.
Haplo journeys to Pryan, a world where the sun is always shining and plentiful rain keeps things growing green and lush. Humans and elves live in the trees and the dwarves live near the ground. Haplo's mission is to sow chaos, but he finds that there is already chaos in the never-ending wars amongst Pryan's inhabitants. Not even the threat of world destruction by the legendary tytans will unite the hatred the different races have for each other. Haplo has to depend on his own ability to overcome the tytans, but not even he knows how to conquer these renegade giants.
Haplo journeys to Pryan, a world where the sun is always shining and plentiful rain keeps things growing green and lush. Humans and elves live in the trees and the dwarves live near the ground. Haplo's mission is to sow chaos, but he finds that there is already chaos in the never-ending wars amongst Pryan's inhabitants. Not even the threat of world destruction by the legendary tytans will unite the hatred the different races have for each other. Haplo has to depend on his own ability to overcome the tytans, but not even he knows how to conquer these renegade giants.
