Most helpful customer reviews
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5.0 out of 5 stars
My all-time favorite book, Jun 29 2004
This is one of the few books that I press upon everyone I meet.This volume contains both "The Door into Fire" and "The Door into Shadow." Both are fine fantasies, with enough adventure for those who mostly want slam-bang plot, and enough character development for those who prefer that. But the setting is probably this series' biggest draw, a land where one doesn't have to *believe* in the Goddess, because everyone meets Her once during their lives. Bisexuality seems to be the norm, and people love according to personality and chemistry, not gender. It's a great series for anyone, but it will especially appeal to Pagans, polyamorists, and GLB folks. Both stories have lovely messages about openness, tolerance, and facing one's fears without feeling like "message stories" that sacrifice plot and character to the message. One caveat: the second book deals partly with the main character's recovery from child sexual abuse, and the resolution that the character reaches about this may feel offensive to some real-life survivors of child sexual abuse. Of course, others will find the story edifying or freeing. Cory
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A Quest of Power and Shadow, Aug 12 2003
The Sword and the Dragon is an omnibus edition of the first two novels in the Tale of the Five series. It includes The Door Into Fire and The Door into Shadow. Herewiss is the heir to the Brightwood, a principality within the Kingdom of Darthen. Freelorn is his loved, the uncrowned king of Arlen. Segnbora is a scion of the forty families and a powerful sorceress whose power is blocked, but who speaks with the tongue of dragons.In The Door Into Fire, Herewiss is the first male in centuries who is capable of using the Power of Flame. However, the fire within him will not express itself in any useful way without a focus and his every attempt to use Rods and swords as focuses have destroyed the objects. When Freelorn sends a message asking for his help, he puts his quest aside for a while and rides to the rescue. In The Door Into Shadow, Herewiss has found his focus, but he has a true dream that the Shadow is very angry and is going to lean heavily on the Royal Bindings keeping him in check. Since these bindings have worn thin, the Shadow could well escape. Herewiss knows that he must journey to the Morrowfane to master his Power, despite the dangers to his mind and person. Freelorn, Segnbora and the others ride with him. This omnibus edition brings these two novels back into print after a long absence. Recommended for all Duane fans and anyone else who enjoys well-crafted tales of powerful magic and strange cultures.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
"The Door into Starlight" on the horizon, Jun 20 2003
Personally, I'm just happy to see such an excellent serie finally attracted the attention of a publisher who's willing to reissue them. Diane Duane dealt with the issue of liberal sexual orientation with extraordinary grace and eloquance. The story plots themselves are seamlessly meld with the relationships between the characters, thus avoiding the pitfall of a story written with male-female pairing in mind, but substituted with male-male/female-female characters for one reason or another. If you have been as frustrated as I have been in tracking down the last volume of the series, have courage. According to the author's official website,... the second volume of the "Tale of Five" edition is due to come out some time this year, 2003. The forthcoming book (title unannounced in the website) will contain both "The Door into Sunset" and "The Door into Starlight."
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