The Seeker [Mass Market Paperback]

I want to like the Tribe of One series, I really do. The concept of multiple personalities and how they interact with one another is terrific. You can also tell that Simon Hawke lives in the Arizona desert, he captivates the beauty of the desert so well in his writing. The plot was a good, solid premise. And that's where my liking of this series ends. The heroic characters are just UNGODLY POWERFUL! Never once do I feel they are in danger. Several times I wanted to throw my book in disgust because the author throws scary insurmountable foes at the main characters but then the two heroes (Sorak and Ryana) dispatch them with such ridiculous ease. After the second or third fight it becomes about as enjoyable as reading about a child stepping on ants.

The main character Sorak is just Superman with a sword and no one he faces has Krptonite, Ryana is a souped up Wonder Woman. Together they are unstoppable, separate Sorak is still unstoppable but Ryana might get a few bruises.

I truly believe that Simon Hawke read the Drizzt books by R.A. Salvatore and in a fit of sword fighter envy declared "I'm going to create a character that could kill 100 Drizzt Do'Urdens with one hand tied behind his back!". It's bad enough that the Drizzt books become boring and predictable simply because there is no fear of Drizzt losing but Simon Hawke's character, Sorak, becomes even MORE boring and predictable before the first book even ends! By the time you finish the second book you are wondering why you are reading this series and are likely thinking 'I don't need to read the third book, I already Sorak can't lose even if he faced TEN Dragons!

Sorry Simon Hawke, go back and rewrite this with more believable heroic characters and you will get 4-5 stars from me.

If you like it when you characters can mow down any and all opposition without breaking a sweat then I guess these books are for you.

This book is one of the three written in the series. It is a refreshing thing to see a new type of fantasy novel. This book takes place in a world that is almost run out and Sorak the main character clings to whatever is left of a dying but not dead world. I call him Sorak because he is the owner of the body, but he is composed of several different personalities both male and female, manifested at a young age. From the Guardian who acts as a parent to Screech who talks with all animals, there is an enjoyable diversity not only in character but in landscape. I strongly recommend this and the other two books of this series (Nomad, outcast)

As with the other books in the series this book has potential but falls short of it. We learn some interesting things about the Dark Sun world but between his magic sword, massively powerful psionic abilities, elfling nature which gives him stamina, night vision, and in general makes him more powerful than any other humanoid in the entire Dark Sun world, Sorak is so powerful no one short of a sorceror king is really any threat to him. And whenever it looks like the situation is getting tough one of this other personalities jumps to the surface and takes care of everything. Unlike people who really do have multiple personality disorder only one of Sorak's personalities causes him even slight trouble while the rest feel like faithful comrades than anything else. The only fight in the story that even has a hint of danger to it is when his girlfriend is fighting something by herself. And the only setback Sorak suffers (caused by a character he is escorting of course, Sorak never makes any mistakes himself) seems very heavy handed and is clearly thrown in just so that the character suffers and setback and to extend the story.
It's an enjoyable enough read. I've read it twice. But I read it when I'm trying to fall asleep and don't want to have to seriously think about anything. Good 'summertime reading' I suppose.