Book Description
The dramatic climax of the SEA OF FERTILITY, bringing together the dominant themes of the three previous novels; the decay of Japan's courtly tradition and samurai ideal, and the essence and value of Buddhist philosophy.
Customer Reviews:
A fine last volume leading up to a nihilistic but utterly fascinating ending........2006-07-22
Yukio Mishima's THE DECAY OF THE ANGEL is the last volume of his "Sea of Fertility". It is also the last book he wrote. On November 25, 1970 he sent the manuscript off to the publisher, then went to incite the soldiers of Japan's military headquarters to a coup d'etat. When he failed, he committed seppuku. As might be expected, THE DECAY OF THE ANGEL contains much that that relates to Mishima's dissatisfaction with life, and the cosmic nihilism that he promised would be the ultimate theme of the tetralogy comes to the forefront. The ending is also possibly the most shocking in all of literature.
The year is now 1970, and Shikeguni Honda adopts a young orphan named Toru, who he believes is the third successive reincarnation of Kiyoaki. The decay present throughout the book is especially present in Honda, who we meet as as a man of seventy-six and who reaches eighty-one by the novel's end. His physical health, memory, and wife are gone. He keeps company with Keiko, the former neighbour whose secret formed the climax of THE TEMPLE OF DAWN, and they talk inanely about senility and medical ailments. But it's also present in Toru who, although young, possesses none of the beauty of Kiyoaki, the dedication of Isao, or the allure of Ying Chan. In fact, Toru is pure evil, and the bulk of the novel is his plot to destroy his adoptive father. The political commentary here is much more subtle than I expected it to be, considering that Mishima ended his life as a nationalist. Japan is plagued by a loss of its own traditions--Keiko shows interest in Japanese culture, but Honda remarks that she treats it as a hobby instead of authentically living it. The country is overrun with Coca-Cola ads and student radicals. But all in all, it is the mind of Honda that is the important setting, not the country around him.
By far the most impressive part of the novel is its surprise ending, which demolishes the entire "Sea of Fertility" cycle in a most impressive way when Honda meets Satoko again, who tells him either the mundane truth or the secret to enlightenment itself. The lectures on transmigration and the self which formed such a large part of THE TEMPLE OF DAWN are there for a reason, and what Mishima does with the no-self philosophy of Buddhism is awesome. If you've read one or more of the earlier volumes and are uncertain about pressing on, I exhort you to make it through this one. Looking back on the cycle, I admire its clever design, where the first two novels set a precedent and the second two undo it, and the general arc where we track Honda from youth to senescence, and Kiyoaki from a praise-worthy youth to despicable brat is skillfully done. The series as a whole is brilliant, read it all.
Sea of Silence ..........2005-08-15
This is not an intent to (summarize) mishima's sea of fertility... rather it's an approach into analyzing it ... a sort of reading between the lines...
Then ... again, what are we exactly trying to portray?
we would say we are ( intending ) to deliver a semiotic vision of what the sea of fertility represents ... we are not trying to ( read ) it for our reader , rather , we let him read , and help him amidst it , by presenting a cluster of signs , keys , semiotics , call it whatever you want , that would - at the end - clarify the road , and that can be grasped by the reader so he can get a wider vision , and a better comprehension of this gigantic universe , which mishima called ( sea of fertility ) ...
But first, why is this bizarre title (sea of fertility)?
mishima himself is going to answer this question , to give it the first ( leading ) sign , that we should know it doesn't crack secrets for us , but merely provides us with a minimum limit , which we can begin our journey from ..
in a note mishima sent to the famous American criticizer Donald Keene , he clearly admits that the reason he chose this title for his tetralogy is a hint for an area of the same designation on the moon's surface not so far of ( the sea of silence ) ... the reason for this reference is to aim at a ( contradiction ) between this vivid and colorful name , and the wasteland it stands for in real ... we can go further on saying that this title combines the image of universal nihilism with the image of ( sea of fertility ) ...
in summer 1945 mishima wanted to write an immense oeuvre that would sum up Miller's famous trilogy ( the rosy crucifixion ) , and that would stress more and more on that ( dark ) side of art ... to write a novel that would take six years of his life , and that would cover - chronogically - those sixty years from 1912 and on ..
That decision , which was the most important one in mishima's practical life , obliged writing this novel in four volumes , in each an individual story , for each a special protagonist , but these characters would not be totally separated from each other ...
How?
The figure in the first volume is the lad kiwaki, the noble descent of the wealthy family of Matsugai, lives a love story, one of its kind that memory would not forget easily, and his friend Honda stands as an eye witness for this superb experience of his...
From that point on , in every volume that succeeds, we can notice that the hero is merely the first one, but after being (reincarnated), to start a new cycle of life, and to let Honda only figure out the connections that ties these four characters...
Mishima Knew very well that his Tetralogy is a rich threshold for everything he learned as a writer ... he told his friends, that when he finishes it, there is only one thing left for him to do ... (suicide) ... and by taking his own life in November 25th 1970, he fulfilled his final quote: the life of men is short, I want to live forever...
( The sea of fertility ) is not an easy read nor its a happy one , it is a lament melancholic presentation of life ... rendered by an artist ...
Staggering.......2004-09-24
I must admit, I didn't really like this book that much at first. I felt as if Mishima's depiction of Toru (the 'incarnation' this time around), with all the hyper-intelligent, will-to-power stuff, was teetering on the brink of self-parody, especially in an extended first-person section taken from his journal, in which he comes across as a more malevolent version of the narrator of Temple of the Golden Pavilion. And then too the fact that he's just so over-the-top demonic didn't make it any easier to take the narrative entirely seriously. Honda, elevated to the lead part in this and the previous book after supporting roles in the first two, is still an indelible character, but it wasn't really enough, and I was all prepared to give it a rather sour three-star rating. However...however. In the last thirty or so pages, Mishima, in a single blinding burst, turns the entire text upside-down, and ends up by undermining the foundation of the entire Sea of Fertility. I know that seems like a narrative cliché-big plot twists in the end that force one to re-evaluate the entire work-but this, I think it's safe to say, is unlike any other instance of the device that you've ever seen, and Mishima pulls it off brilliantly. I cannot overstate the awe in which I was left. Small wonder he ritually disemboweled himself afterwards-how could you write something like this and go on living? I may not buy into his brand of cosmic nihilism, but that's not important. What matters is, this is the work of a genius at the top of its game. I don't suppose it needs my recommendation, since if you've read the other three books you're not likely to just leave it at that, but I will nonetheless put all my powers of persuasion behind it. Not to be missed.
brilliant.......2004-03-24
CONFESSIONS OF A MASK *****
THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA *****
THE GOLDEN TEMPLE *****
SPRING SNOW ****
RUNAWAY HORSES *****
THE TEMPLE OF DAWN ***
THE DECAY OF THE ANGEL *****
culmination of the tetralogy.......2004-01-18
"Spring Snow" was brilliant and breathtakingly beautiful.
"Runaway Horses" was Spartan, brave and controversial.
"Temple of Dawn" was somewhat boring, but decadent in an atractive sort of way.
Here comes the last part, which is a real culmination of the tetralogy. It is intellectually stimulating, highly mystical and very personal. Is it also very sad and pessimistic. It is a book about death and nihilism. Main characters are brilliant. It is of course Honda - the man of Reason, who is more real and attractive and complete as a person than in any previous book, but also a rich hedonistic lesbian destroyed by old age, Toru - the last reincarnation of Kiyoaki, who lost all his powers of uncompromising life and beauty, mad ugly girl, who believes she is very beautiful, mysterios enlightened Satoko, and the main protagonist of the novel - Japan the Great that greadualy lost her uniqueness and tradition and spirit during the infamous XX century and now is close to death.
Particulary powerful is the scene when Honda visits beach made famous by ancient No play about the decay of the angel, and discovers that this harmonic holy place is desecrated by tourists with countless fast-food bags and Cola cans scattered all over it. Also the last few pages is the very best ending I've ever read.
And dont forget about translation. Seidensticker is really superior to any other translator from Japanese to English.
Average customer rating:
|
The Decay of the Angel
Yukio MISHIMA
Manufacturer: Secker & Warburg
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| Classics
| Comic
| Contemporary
| Literary
ASIN: 0436281597 |
Average customer rating:
- A fine last volume leading up to a nihilistic but utterly fascinating ending.
|
The Decay of the Angel
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: 0671800922 |
Customer Reviews:
A fine last volume leading up to a nihilistic but utterly fascinating ending........2006-07-22
Yukio Mishima's THE DECAY OF THE ANGEL is the last volume of his "Sea of Fertility". It is also the last book he wrote. On November 25, 1970 he sent the manuscript off to the publisher, then went to incite the soldiers of Japan's military headquarters to a coup d'etat. When he failed, he committed seppuku. As might be expected, THE DECAY OF THE ANGEL contains much that that relates to Mishima's dissatisfaction with life, and the cosmic nihilism that he promised would be the ultimate theme of the tetralogy comes to the forefront. The ending is also possibly the most shocking in all of literature.
The year is now 1970, and Shikeguni Honda adopts a young orphan named Toru, who he believes is the third successive reincarnation of Kiyoaki. The decay present throughout the book is especially present in Honda, who we meet as as a man of seventy-six and who reaches eighty-one by the novel's end. His physical health, memory, and wife are gone. He keeps company with Keiko, the former neighbour whose secret formed the climax of THE TEMPLE OF DAWN, and they talk inanely about senility and medical ailments. But it's also present in Toru who, although young, possesses none of the beauty of Kiyoaki, the dedication of Isao, or the allure of Ying Chan. In fact, Toru is pure evil, and the bulk of the novel is his plot to destroy his adoptive father. The political commentary here is much more subtle than I expected it to be, considering that Mishima ended his life as a nationalist. Japan is plagued by a loss of its own traditions--Keiko shows interest in Japanese culture, but Honda remarks that she treats it as a hobby instead of authentically living it. The country is overrun with Coca-Cola ads and student radicals. But all in all, it is the mind of Honda that is the important setting, not the country around him.
By far the most impressive part of the novel is its surprise ending, which demolishes the entire "Sea of Fertility" cycle in a most impressive way when Honda meets Satoko again, who tells him either the mundane truth or the secret to enlightenment itself. The lectures on transmigration and the self which formed such a large part of THE TEMPLE OF DAWN are there for a reason, and what Mishima does with the no-self philosophy of Buddhism is awesome. If you've read one or more of the earlier volumes and are uncertain about pressing on, I exhort you to make it through this one. Looking back on the cycle, I admire its clever design, where the first two novels set a precedent and the second two undo it, and the general arc where we track Honda from youth to senescence, and Kiyoaki from a praise-worthy youth to despicable brat is skillfully done. The series as a whole is brilliant, read it all.
Average customer rating:
- Enjoyable read
- A hauntingly beautiful story - about real people
- Not since Moonrise and Ritual Sins......
- I don't get it . . .???
- Stuart once again shows she is a master!!
|
Shadows At Sunset
Anne Stuart
Manufacturer: Mira
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Contemporary | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
-
Black Ice (MIRA)
-
The Widow
-
Cold As Ice
-
Still Lake
-
The Devil's Waltz (Mira Historical Romance)
ASIN: 1551665719
Release Date: 2000-09-01 |
Customer Reviews:
Enjoyable read.......2007-03-14
I liked how many characters were involved in this book. I liked how real they felt. The mystery was also interesting. I love Anne Stuart and she knows how to create some nice love scenes and deep characters.
A hauntingly beautiful story - about real people.......2005-03-03
Anne Stuart has written a book that is so good, it's fabulous.
Where should I start? I don't like "bad boy" books, this *is* a bad boy book. I don't like ghosts in my stories, this book has ghosts. What can I say, except that I loved this book, it's so well written, so exceptionally, so sweetly done, that I forgot - what was it I don't like?
Anne Stuart has a different writing style from what I'm used to, a least in this book. This is a book that is written in a terse writing style, with the assumption that less is better. Most writers do tend to take more than a page or two to get to the point, some writers actually can make an entire book about a few days by s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g out the story to such an extent that it takes us pages and pages just to get through a single idea. Anne Stuart writes in exactly the opposite way - she writes as shortly and concisely as possible. I think that that's harder to do, but I happen to particularly enjoy that writing style more, and I also think that an author that can do this style is a much better writer.
So for those reviewers who complained that the story went to fast - no, you just have to read more slowly. If you skip a paragraph, you might lose the whole thread of the story. I'm one of those "fast readers" that likes to skip - sometimes writers go on and on about something, and I'm two pages ahead, and I didn't lose a thing about the plot. You can't do that here.
Generally, when I finish a book, I can usually give you some idea of the author's strengths and weaknesses - good at characterization, for instance, or this book has good dialogue, or this writer writes well, or she is good at plotting . . . But when I put down "Shadows at Sunset" my mind was a total blank. I couldn't even begin to analyze it, this is a writer who really knows what she is doing, and I can't even begin to figure out her techniques, they were way over my head. So I don't know how she did it, all I can say is that I was mesmerized from beginning to end.
Anne Stuart simply has the gift, there is no other way of putting it. To say that she's the best writer I have ever read, period - that's a very broad statement, and I would be hesitant to say that, but if there would be *one* best writer, period, in any genre, I think that I would nominate Anne Stuart. She's that good.
She is also a romance writer - even though she has brought in so many elements that would normally detract from a romance line, this author does not lose track of the bottom line - that we are looking for a very happy ending, and, believe it or not, this book delivers!
Anne Stuart has the gift - she has the gift of words, she has the gift of writing about *real* people, and especially, she has the gift to suck you into her book in a way that almost no other writer can.
I am so impressed with this author that I will probably buy *anything* she wrote, sight unseen, and I'm rationing them. There's no point in gobbling them up all at once, is there?
***** I have since read some other Anne Stuart books, and while they are all good, this one remains my personal favorite. It has such a perfect blend of the sweet and sour, that for me, this story was totally perfect. Recommended, recommended, recommended!!! I can't recommend this book highly enough!!!
Not since Moonrise and Ritual Sins.............2002-10-27
Not since Moonrise and her earlier works has her narrative been that compelling, and in SHADOWS AT SUNSET, she gains mastery over complexed characters and a family saga beleaguered with deceit and treachery.
Anne Stuart's writing manifest genuine suspense and tension between the leads, Coltrane and Jilly Meyer as well as a secondary romance between her sister Rachel and Rico. The family rivalry, the tragic love story as a legacy from the two ghost Ted and Brenna and the mystery enshrouding Coltrane's betrayal strings up a story of substance and it is rare that a writer can keep you engaged right till the end of the book.
Coltrane and Jilly are also multi-faceted characters with their over-protectiveness and tortured souls and both linger between the heat of the passion and their feuds. SHADOWS AT SUNSET is laudable for its consistency through out the book and the irresistible characters that jump right out the page. Ms. Stuart wastes no time in dragging the plot with emotional quandary, and instead expresses the rage and turmoil in each character with clipped words that resonate powerfully the feelings and let readers revel in her short prose.
Proving once again, no matter if it contemporary or historical, short books or long, Stuart delivers!!!
WISE Writers and Readers Book of the Month for August 2000
I don't get it . . .???.......2002-10-20
Why is everyone raving over Anne Stuart? I read this novel and THE WIDOW because they got such good reviews, but each time, I was disappointed. I love bad boys in romance novels, but Anne Stuart's bad boys are so bad that she really never convinces me that they are falling in love with the heroines. In this novel, it seems like he treats Jillian like ..., and then every once in a while he has a stray thought about caring more for her than he will admit. Based on these few stray thoughts are we supposed to buy the ending? I couldn't. Besides, I never liked a desperate heroine and Jillian turns into one. I hate the fact that Zach is so sure of her and she lets him be.
All in all, I'm not impressed with Stuart's works.
Stuart once again shows she is a master!!.......2002-01-27
Not since Moonrise and her earlier works has her narrative been that compelling, and in SHADOWS AT SUNSET, she gains mastery over complexed characters and a family saga beleaguered with deceit and treachery.
Anne Stuart's writing manifest genuine suspense and tension between the leads, Coltrane and Jilly Meyer as well as a secondary romance between her sister Rachel and Rico. The family rivalry, the tragic love story as a legacy from the two ghost Ted and Brenna and the mystery enshrouding Coltrane's betrayal strings up a story of substance and it is rare that a writer can keep you engaged right till the end of the book.
Coltrane and Jilly are also multi-faceted characters with their over-protectiveness and tortured souls and both linger between the heat of the passion and their feuds. SHADOWS AT SUNSET is laudable for its consistency through out the book and the irresistible characters that jump right out the page. Ms. Stuart wastes no time in dragging the plot with emotional quandary, and instead expresses the rage and turmoil in each character with clipped words that resonate powerfully the feelings and let readers revel in her short prose.
Proving once again, no matter if it contemporary or historical, short books or long, Stuart delivers!!!
WISE Writers and Readers Book of the Month for August 2000
Average customer rating:
- An eye catcher!
- Delightful Haunting!
- Excellent
|
Shadows on a Sunset Sea (Love Spell)
Sabine Kells
Manufacturer: Love Spell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0505519844 |
Customer Reviews:
An eye catcher!.......2003-07-06
I didn't know what to expect at first, but the it quickly picked up pace and kept me entertained! I highly recommend!
Delightful Haunting!.......1999-08-10
I wish I was as lucky as Carolyn to have someone, even a ghost, who was so successful at seducing me in my dreams, and provided such a romantic companion to me in the day. Tiernan is a wonderfully romantic and passionate hero who captured my heart and left me crying. This story is a thorough blend of the past and the present, of romance and logic, and of choice and destiny.
Excellent.......1999-05-21
I enjoyed reading this book immensely. This is a great love story. I like how the author intermixed the past and the present. This was the first book I ever read by Sabine Kells and I will definitely buy more of her work.
Product Description
Multiple books shipped as one item for your convenience. Save on Shipping/Handling charges.
Average customer rating:
|
Shadows At Sunset
Manufacturer: Mira
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0739412426 |
Product Description
romance novel
Average customer rating:
|
Shadows at Sunset
Anne Stuart
Manufacturer: Mira Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000P9F66O |
Book Description
This story deals with a deeply-felt unrequited love which has a deep and corrosive effect on the lives of its principal characters. A love which often finds its ultimate fulfilment and redemption in death.
Product Description
Three wonderful romances in one beautiful book with lots of gold guilding and a ribbon marker.
Average customer rating:
|
Sunset Shadows
Lee Thorne
Manufacturer: L.T. Connection ;
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0967639808 |
Book Description
Tarita McKinney, an up-and-coming securities broker, on the verge of breaking into the upper echelon of market trading. An apartment in an affluent high-rise, over-looking the Chicago skyline. A sleek brand new fire red Mustang...everything seemingly within her grasp, except the one thing that would complete the picture and make her totally assured that she has made it. She wonders why it keeps eluding her. That one solid, long lasting relationship that will satisfy the longing within her.
Her best friend, June, never seems to have companion problems. Her happy go lucky - here today, gone tomorrow attitude nevr slows her down. Well, maybe this time, yes Tarita is sure this is it. Dennis is the one. She will finally be whole.
Then, her co-worker tells her something that shatters her entire world and sends her reeling.
Product Description
3 Titles By Anne Stuart - Black Ice - Into the Fire - Shadows At Sunset
Book Description
Like all Space Marine Chapters, the Soul Drinkers are bound to serve the Imperium by ancient vows. But when an ancient relic of the Chapter is misappropriated, the Soul Drinkers face a terrible dilemma - betray the Imperium, or lose their honour? Their final choice, and its consequences, form the theme of this classic trilogy of SF stories set in the nightmare world of the 41st millennium.
Customer Reviews:
Very impressive work.......2007-08-26
I am a fan of a lot of the stories produced by the Black Library, and I can now say that I'm officially a Ben Counter fan. I read his Grey Knights novels, and, while I liked the first, I was generally unimpressed. Dark Adeptus was not good at all, and "Grey Knights" was good but not what I'd call great. It was reading these three stories that convinced me that Counter is capable of spinning a very good story. In other words, he won't draw anymore comparisons to CS Goto. At least not in my mind.
The Soul Drinkers Omnibus has the noted plus of being three books for the price of one-and-a-half, but it takes a good storyline to make buying such a monster a good idea. Counter's protagonist is Sarpedon, who starts out as a Commander in the Soul Drinkers Space Marine Chapter. The Soul Drinkers are a child of Rogal Dorn's Imperial Fists Legion, and they have served the Imperium and its undying Emperor for many centuries. In many WH40K stories, it's clear that there's a lot of political infighting going on between institutions of the Imperium. In fact, the vast majority of the time, the supposedly great Imperium of Man comes off as a corrupt semi-dictatorship that cares little for its citizens and, in some cases, its heroes.
Counter takes to another level when he has the Soul Drinkers separate themselves from serving the Imperium when they are backstabbed by another Imperial group when carrying out a mission onboard a starfort. Led by Sarpedon, the Soul Drinkers decide to stop bowing to the corrupt politicans and start doing only what they deem is really the Emperor's Will. They turn their backs on the Imperium, but still fight against the forces that threaten humanity. They are considered traitors by the Imperium, yet they still fight against the xenos and chaos.
The character development is very good, and just excellent when you consider how wooden some Space Marine characters are. Sarpedon, the noble leader; Graevus, the consummate Sergeant; Luko, an idealistic Sergeant; Karraidin, the grizzled Terminator Captain and trainer of Novices; Tech Marine Lyrgis; Chaplain Inkinitos...the list goes on. You will feel the distinction between all of these soldiers, and that's more than many writers can do.
The plots are convoluted sometimes, but I can't help but admire the extremes that Counter goes to sometimes to immerse you in the rich WH40k universe. In particular, I really enjoyed the characters of Inquisitor Thaddeus and Lord General Xarius, as Counter is not found wanting when it comes to fleshing out believable enemies.
Excellent work, with some plot weaknesses sometimes. Four Stars.
Nice work from Ben Counter again..........2007-06-21
I had read his Grey Knights and Dark Adeptus, this one is as exciting as them. Having said that there ARE some things in the storyline that should have been a little more thought on.
Overall a nice book for the fans.
One of the best Space Marine Anthologies out there.......2007-06-13
I started off reading the Space Marine sci-fi with Iron Hands, so my bar was set far lower than most. The problem with Space Marines in fiction is there personality. By definition, they're not supposed to have much of one, due to a rigorous multi-year course of indoctrination and subliminal suggestion. which is what makes the Soul Drinkers storyline so appealing.
It shows the Space Marines for what they really are: humans, with minds and wills of their own. The storyline, which is sparked by a betrayal of staggering proportions, and spirals quickly out of control, is original and well thought out. It shows an incredibly dark side of the Imperium, where the greatest enemy Man faces is really itself. Despite being manipulated in the extreme, the characters act out of rational planning and thought, rather than a knee-jerk reaction of "Destroy!" that most would expect from Space Marines.
The main protagonist, Sarpedon, is well thought out and develops a great deal in a short amount of time. His psychic abilities are well used and described, without seeming either boring or overly god-like.
This story arc is well planned and executed, and leaves the door open for another and another, which I am personally eagerly awaiting.
Great Fluff.......2007-04-27
I think the other reviews of these novels are a little over the top. It's a satisfying read and if you're a fan you'll appreciate that the world is done right. That being said it's written very badly. In the first book there are paragraphs that don't make sense. There is a lot of repeating the same word over and over again (Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot).
I enjoyed these books but 5 stars is excessive, it's actually just mediocre sci-fi at best and at worst it's a hack job.
Soul Drinkers.......2007-04-18
I like the books very much,its telling how this chapter becomes fallen,and at same time its fight to stay alive and no become a chaos legion.
Im not sure i liked the last books ending so much,because now the chapter which is already weakened,just when its rebuilding is ready to break apart again,i would have liked to see more books in between showing Sarpedon and his mutated marines save guard troopers on worlds overun by chaos or tyranids etc.
The book's story lines jump too much,i liked it better atleast when the went into more detail on how they moved into their new home,the space hulk,also through out the imperium their are tons of planets fallen or lost,i would have liked to see more detail and more stories in between.
Customer Reviews:
Pure Fantasy.......2000-07-01
If you liked Drinker of Souls, you will probably like this book. This book stands alone though and you don't have to read Drinker of Souls to enjoy this one. It has been several generations since Bran's last adventure when she is called to "remember the promise" she made to the heirs of Harra Hazzani (a character from Drinker of Souls). From there coincidence abounds as Bran runs into the current generation of offspring, from her previous companions of adventure. It does seem a bit far fetched and tired (an easy way out of creating completely new companions for Bran) but after a few pages that feeling fades. Kori (the heir of Herra) is trying to save her brother Tre, who the Chained God has selected as his new priest. The threat comes not from the Chianed God, but from a powerful sorceror Settismaksim, who has forced the villagers to accept the Goddess Amortis and her servant/enforcers into the villages, where they burn the priests of the Chained God. Bran is called by Kori, from her sedintary life as a potter, to stop Settismaksim. The plot gets complicated as the reader (and Bran) realize that Settismaksim is not a completely vile and evil sorceror, rather a flawed man who is trying to give his people freedom. The Chained God, in his greed, really doesn't care much one way or the other and forces Bran, the changers, and Danny Blue into a battle with Settismaksim. Other Gods of Brans world manifest (the Godalau, and Tunjii) and there are parallel universes and all sorts of other plot twists to hold your interest. There isn't much high-tech sci-fi in this book, but if you like fantasy, and magic, and improbable things this will be right up your alley
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book, great entry for the Black Library.......2005-12-05
I love how the book goes, while the ending is interesting it was not how i hoped originally, but now i want to read the other books to find out exactly what happens. Pretty Shocking i thought, what they went through in detail. One not to be missed.
Awesome reading!.......2005-09-16
If you're interested in Warhammer 40,000 and the Black Library, the Soul Drinker series is definitely the one you must read! William King is great and Dan Abnett is also incredible, but Ben Counter rocks. I've read the complete Soul Drinker series (Three books so far)and his Grey Knights novel, which is also state of the art. The storyline of the Soul Drinkers is something completely new in the Warhammer 40k world. In the other series you learn about the adventures of superhuman Space Marines warriors, totally committed to the Human Empire and the Golden Throne.
The Soul Drinkers are different, as they, after being betrayed by those they once served and protected, search for a better way to serve their Emperor, without obeying to a Human Empire which is completely corrupted in their minds. Not to tell too much, get the first book and drown in this marvellous story of Space Marines Chapter which is declared heretic by the Empire and hunted down all over the galaxy.
A big let down..........2005-03-01
I'm giving this book 2 stars because it kept me interested for the majority of the time. However, I'm one of those people that if the ending sucks, it will ruin the whole thing for me. That's just what this one had, a TERRIBLE ending. A slap in the face to all people who have even an inkling of what Chaos is supposed to be.
Here is a Space Marine that rebels against the Empire, and thus is granted mutations almost immediately afterwards, and yet somehow seems to think that he is doing the right thing and following the way the Empire is supposed to be like. Sorry, no dice. I've always thought Astartes are thick headed, but this one was downright stupid. No space marine can get "blessed" with mutations and not suspect that it has something to do with Tzeentch, and yet he and his comrades blissfully maintain that they are evolving into the image of the "true emporer."
What makes it better is, at the end, when a demon finally reveals to them what they really are: mutants, what do they do? They kill the demon and insist that they are still on the true and noble path. After the earth shattering realization that they were following Chaos all along, they decide that there's still a way they can make things right and leave normal lives afterwards... Almost reminiscent of the pot smoking plot of the "Draco" trilogy, but I won't go into that today.
sooooooo good.......2004-04-29
this book has a different view from the very beginning. no book has done what this book does. ben counter is a very talented writer and the twists and turns never end. all i can say is that if you are a fan of the warhammer galaxy then this book is a must. if you are new it is still a great book. so good i read it twice in 1 day.
Breathtaking but technical!.......2003-12-13
Interested in space marines? Familiar with the 40K Universe? If so, this is a remarkable book. The book makes heavy use of the language and concepts described in other novels and the game books themselves, making this a poor choice for new players.
INCREDIBLE story! Lots of twists and turns, very well imagined, constant action, interesting characters. You can tell from the writing that the author has a great passion for this story, and really enjoyed writing it.
Book Description
After replenishing their number with new recruits, the Soul Drinkers Chapter of Space Marines are once thrown into conflict with the forces of Chaos and the Imperium. This is the third volume in the trilogy dealing with the corruption of the Space Marine Chapter.
Customer Reviews:
Falls Flat.......2007-05-17
I have read the other books in this series and they were not bad. I like 40K literature I am hoping that one day it will do what D&D literature did and that is produce a great Chracter and writer like RA Salvatore. I hold no illusions that thise series was on the way to do that but the Soul Drinkers have been well developed and entertaining especially the first novel were their obession with an artifact leads to their downfall and their ultimate freedom. I thought that was a well developed theme that's why this novel is a disappointment. Its feels anti climatic at the end and much as the previous review there are typical plot turns and the inclusion of the Crimson Fists is really pointless. I am hoping the next novel chapter wars redeems the series but I have to say this novel really drops it back into the pack. A novel in a series should serve to advance the overall story line and leave you with a sense of wow because some questions were answered and new ones posed. After I was done reading it was more like uhh.
Rolicking Action; So-so Plot & Characters.......2005-06-05
Those who are simply looking for an action adventure set in Games Workshop's 40K universe - or those who enjoyed the first two Soul Drinkers novels - will like this book as well. All the elements of 40K, from elite Space Marines to the mass troops and armor of the Imperial Guard, are there. All the characters from the first two novels - Sarpedon and the all the rest of the Soul Drinkers - are there.
Unfortunately, the plot devices and many of the supporting cast are clumsy and/or forced so M. Counter can make his points. The Crimson Fists are mindless automatons, complete slaves to tradition and the Codex, single-mindedly pursuing the Soul Drinkers to the exclusion of all else ... until it's convenient to the plot for them not to do so. They serve as the "enslaved" counterpoint to the "freedom" that the Soul Drinkers have achieved. The plot device used to get the Soul Drinkers into the story at the outset is conveniently ignored when it's time for them to leave.
In short, entertaining to fans who don't look too closely at the writer's craft.
Customer Reviews:
A different twist.......2000-04-17
A young & curious girl is bound to two young metamorphic beings by a little known god. Beings of energy, the creatures change the girl, maturing her body and changing her features.
The village of the girl is pillaged and she vows to avenge her people by hunting down the bandits. Then she discovers what it means to be bound to two young creatures made of energy and a god who wants to be free. For the only way for them to survive is to feed on the energy of souls.
Average customer rating:
|
Drinker of Souls
Jo Clayton
Manufacturer: Daw
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GRGJ7U |
Average customer rating:
|
The Soul Drinker
Jo Clayton
Manufacturer: New York: Daw Books Inc. 1989
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NXHTQW |
Average customer rating:
|
The Soul Drinker
Jo Clayton
Manufacturer: Guild America Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| Classics
| Comic
| Contemporary
| Literary
Clayton, Jo
| ( C )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Wild Magic
-
Wildfire (Wild Magic)
ASIN: B00071QLSM |
Book Description
For 20 years, meditators have relied on these simple teachings which offer advice on faith, fulfillment, and stillness. Serving as a perennial meditational diary, this new edition presents inspirational and practical messages for everyone embarking upon the journey to find a true inner self and spiritual truth. Anyone who meditates—whether inexperienced or seasoned—will find these adages helpful and inspirational. A new foreword, layout, and revised illustrations create an accessible and uplifting treatise on daily spiritual satisfaction and internal happiness.
Customer Reviews:
Simply magic!.......2000-12-20
This book found its way to my hands in 1992. It is astounding...and simply magic! Countless times I would read the message for the day and it provided the perfect guidance for things that were happening in my life. It's a great book and a great gift. Plus if you travel a lot it does not take up much space at all and can be a constant companion. Thank you, dear Eileen Caddy, for such a jewel!
Every one should own a copy of this book.......2000-09-02
This is a book that every one should have and use on a regular basis. I think that if this were the case there would be more happines and tolerance in the world. I have recomended this book to a number of people and each of them has sent me a message saying thank you and that the book was helping them in many ways.
Excellent daily meditation book........1999-03-15
This book has been by my side for over 5 years, traveled half way around the world, and never ceases to amaze me with how timely it is. I've made tiny notes in the margins and can track my progress in life. It is a very life-affirming and self-validating book.
Contact diairy with the our Creator - a page read per day........1998-09-25
To have in hands this small book, after reading some sentences, makes us to thank deeply in our heart. They are small spiritual jewels driven to our heart. The larger merit of Eileen Caddy's work is to give truthfulness to God speaking and supplying us with His immense Love. I recommend the whole ones!
Books:
- The Falcon of Palermo
- The Floatplane Notebooks (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
- The Florabama Ladies' Auxiliary & Sewing Circle
- The Gangster We Are All Looking For
- The Green Age of Asher Witherow
- The Handyman: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
- The Ice Storm: A Novel
- The Last Great Dance on Earth
- The Lemon Table
- The Money-Whipped Steer-Job Three-Jack Give-Up Artist: A Novel
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Little Princesses: The Story of the Queen's Childhood by her Nanny, Marion Crawford
- On The Wings Of Heaven
- I Hate To See That Evening Sun Go Down: Collected Stories
- Group Solutions, Too: More Cooperative Logic Activities for Grades K-4
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Introduction to Fourier Analysis and Wavelets
- Larry Bird: An Indiana Legend
- History: Fiction or Science
- International Co-Operation in Tax Matters: Guidelines for International Co-Operation Against the Eva
- The Millionaire Mindset : How Ordinary People Create Extraordinary Income
The Temple of Dawn
Runaway Horses
Spring Snow
The Temple of the Golden Pavilion (Everyman's Library (Cloth))
Confessions of a Mask (New Directions Paperbook)
