- Paperback
- Publisher: Ace Books (Jan 1 1980)
- ASIN: B000H98HYK
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Most helpful customer reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Bewildered by the praise!,
By
This review is from: Empire of the East (Paperback)
I bought a used copy of this book and read it because a review by Roger Zelazny compared it to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and called it superior. I don't know what everyone is smoking who praises this book so lavishly, but send me some now!!! There are a number of interesting plot elements, characters, and settings which is why I allowed it two stars. The problem is that the disjointed storyline and plot threads that trickle off to nothing take away from what might have been a great story. By the time I had finished reading the book I was wondering if I had mistakenly purchased a first outline that was meant for a publisher to review. But, alas, the book is the final product. I am not a sci-fi or fantasy snob and read everything from Niven to Piper and Tolkien to Piers Anthony so I think that I have a wide range of reading experience to use in evaluating this book. I would not go so far as to recommend avoiding the book (reference the above mentioned good points) but would warn any potential reader that there is far better Saberhagen out there. It's not often that I feel negatively about a book that I've read but I just feel that the praise of this one led me to an unfulfilled sense of expectation which did not materialize once the story spun out. Good luck.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fantasy and high technology,
By
This review is from: Empire of the East (Paperback)
Fred Saberhagen is best known for his grim depiction of hard science fiction, in his Berserker series. So much so that sometimes you hear of the "Berserker hypothesis", as to why there might not be much sentient life out there. Yet, for decades, he has also written well received fantasy. This book is a recent reissue of what was originally several short stories seemlessly stitched into one organic narrative.A strange and original blend of fantasy with high technology. True, this is strictly a fantasy. But Saberhagen seemingly places it in the far future after a devastating nuclear war. We see a still functioning tank, nuclear powered, though not as capable as Keith Laumer's Bolos. Plus, throughout the text, there are continual references, and instances of surviving technology. These are sometimes invoked with deliberate hilarity. As when a magic spell sets fire to a villain's court. He then calmly uses a bright red fire extinguisher to snuff it out. The utter incongruity of this scene would make marvellous filming!
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.3 out of 5 stars (21 customer reviews) 24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fundamental Change of Laws,
By Arthur W. Jordin - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Empire of the East (Paperback)
The Empire of the East is an omnibus edition of a fantasy trilogy that includes The Broken Lands, The Black Mountains, and Ardneh's World (the last story is a revised version of Changling Earth). This series follows the adventures of Rolf, a sixteen year old peasant boy in the lands of the Satrap Ekuman. When his parents are killed and his home destroyed, Rolf goes looking for the killers and his sister Lisa. He meets the peddler Mewick, who helps him bury his parents, and then accompanies the peddler until they are stopped by three soldiers of the Castle. While the soldiers are distracted by the contents of the peddler's pack, Rolf goes beserk and throws a rock at the closest trooper. Although he misses, Mewick doesn't, and they kill all three soldiers. However, their actions are seen and they immediately have to run from other soldiers. Through these deeds, Rolf became a member of the Western resistance.In The Broken Lands, Rolf and his teammates search for the Elephant, a very powerful thing or creature of the Old World. In The Black Mountains, Rolf and his teammates follow Lord Chup and a golden charm to the Black Mountains, where they encountered a demi-god. In Ardneh's World, Rolf dreams of Ardneh and the transformation of the Old World of science into a new world of magic, and follows his dreams to Ardneh itself. This series is one of the most enthralling tales of magical adventure that I have ever encountered. All of the Swords and the Gods books are based on this series, but, while quite enjoyable in themselves, the sequels have never really achieved the same level of fascination. Recommended for Saberhagen fans and anyone who enjoys well crafted tales of sword and sorcery. -Arthur W. Jordin 21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
No-Frills Fantasy at its Best!,
By Brian J. Kirkell - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Empire of the East (Paperback)
Anytime I get sick of the over-written, under-edited garbage that many publishing houses pass off as fantasy literature these days, I turn to my 1979 Ace Books edition of Empire of the East.Saberhagen's sparse, fast-paced style may seem harsh to people who grew up with the 90's and new millennium bloated literary vomit of Robert Jordan and his ilk; however, anyone who is willing to step past the "more words = better writing" mindset will be happily surprised by the energy, characterization, plotting, and true sense of proper conclusion that Empire of the East provides. Empire of the East is a fine example of late 60's, early 70's fantasy: characters grow in direct correlation to their deeds and not through some unappetizing mechanism of video game-like power levels that has become the norm these days; moral and ethical issues are explored through the stories and not through the preachy 40-page socio-political rants made famous by Terry Goodkind; and, best of all, it's a rousing good tale that you can get through in a few days and walk away from deeply satisfied. I would recommend Empire of the East to anyone, but would also warn that it is not for everyone. Most people who only know fantasy that reads tolerably well when skipping one page in eight will need to develop a taste for books like Empire of the East. Still, it is well worth doing if you are looking for an exceptional book that can be read and re-read once every five or so years over your entire lifetime. 8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An incredible blend of sorcery and science,
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Empire of the East (Paperback)
This is the book which gave rise the the "Swords" series. An wonderful tale of a peasant boy caught up in a world of magic which is not quite what it seems. This is without a doubt the one of the best fantasy books ever written. It is down to earth (no passing through realms the human mind cannot grasp) but written so well and with such real characters that few books ever compare. Characters are not black and white and a "villan" can later become a "hero" as each person must answer to their own code of ethics. Also any dog lover has got to fall in love with Draffut who perfectly captures the unconditional loyalty of mans best friend. If you enjoy fantasy this is a must read.
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