Product Description
Kethol--The pretty fellow, a long and lanky redhead with an easy smile and an easygoing attitude that his clever eyes deny. He is quick with a quick...and quicker with a sword.

Durine--The big man, a head taller than most and twice as wide, built like a barrel, with a loyal heart and hands too thick to use anything more delicate than an ax handle.

Pirojil--The ugly one, his face heavy-jawed, with an eye ridge that would mark him as a Neanderthal only to the most gracious. But looks deceive, and his might be the rarest gift of all.

Athos, Porthos, and Aramis they're not.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

A further slide into vanilla
I have to say I really enjoy the early Guardians of the Flame novels. However, my overall impression is that each successive book gets less interesting than the one before it, and this book is no exception.It simply lacks anything to set it apart from the crowd.Its not that its badly written (Although Rosenberg has a nasty tendency to get extremely repetitive with the character quips and descriptions) because it isn't.Its not that its a terrible story, because it isn't.It just doesn't have that same spark that early books in the series had.Next time I read through the Guardians of the Flame series, I will probably just stop at The Road Home and leave this book and its successors on my bookshelf.

Boring, repetitive and disinteresting.
Joel Rosenberg really blew it by developing the changes in the alternative fantasy world far too quickly.

The great fun and interest of the original three books was the interplay between characters with contemporary/technology and the alternative world people.

I don't blame Joel Rosenberg for trying to expand on the theme and draw out the original trilogy, but the whole Home Valley concept seems as laughably unrealistic as like Ayn Rand's hidden valley in "Atlas Shrugged." There were too many changes in too short of a time.

Unfortunately, this only leaves a rather snoozy theme of feudal political intrigue peppered with the ageing original characters...Who have been relegated to the equivilent of a rather clownish upper middle-class medieval gated suburb.

As far as the broken trio of Pirojil, Durine and Kethol from the previous book...Enjoy reading about the character Kethol had become a magically disguised lovelorn milksop. Feh.

Erenor, the low level wizard scoundrel with a penchant for magical glamour disguises is almost completely ignored except for the tail end of the story, where his threat seems completely out-of-character.

The worst part was with the character Pirijol, the only possible half saving grace of this entire "next generation" series, completely underdeveloped and underused except when Rosenberg reminds the readers for the 100th time about how ugly he is.

This book is a sad and worthless waste of a great fantasy franchise.

I'll confess,
I am a Rosenberg fan. I really like the Guardian of the Flame novels even if they are getting a bit (okay a LOT) repetitive. I am also a fan of series, and I like that this one is starting to branch off from the original characters and explore more of the world through the eyes of what were only secondary players in the beginning novels. All of the Guardian books have been solid enjoyable reads, and I recommend them highly to those who enjoy fantasy.



Right before Christmas, out of new books and searching for something to read I came across the first book in the Guardian series and I reread it. Which led me to reread ALL the Rosenberg books again and I take it back. They really aren't repetitive. I am surprised I thought so. They were a very, very enjoyable read even though it was my second time through the entire series. Maybe the first time I read them too fast, who knows? All I can say is that I was wrong. I recomend them even more.

Definitely an enjoyable book.
I actually started the series by reading this book (thank you, Andy, for the gift. Good call) and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Summary: Three soldiers are dragged into a political argument and ordered to investigate a minor dispute in the outreaches of the realm, which leads to more than anyone had bargained for.

Pretty good opening concept, although I never read the backs of the books (it ruins the surprise for me). What interested me more than anything else was the pure grittiness of the world that Joel, whom I'm sure doesn't mind being on a first-name basis from me, captured and dropped into my hands. In a land of magic, legends and dragons, one wouldn't expect there to be hardship in simply travelling or even danger in getting a simple drink.
If life were so simple, there wouldn't be much of a story. So the attention to detail, the dangers of everyday life in a world without constant police presence, was impressive.

The characters are hardened veterans, having fought, bled and watched those they've known fall in battle, or even in a street fight. They're honorable without being fanatical about it, exceptionally practical and utterly dedicated to their lord. Joel captures and keeps the societal differences between our world and theirs, and the consistency of it was well done indeed.

The characters are Pirojil, ugly as can be and never is he portrayed otherwise, Durine, large and dangerous and distant, and Kethol, heroic and not too bright but humble. Despite their weaknesses, they are engaging and make for some plausible interaction. It seems obvious that people who have worked together for a long time would know each other, but Joel makes it a point to note some of their conversational short-cuts, and includes some failings among friends that are understandable.

Summary: Great characterizations, a good story and some creative solutions to tricky problems. If you liked Glory Road, Outlaws of Sherwood and/or the Deed of Paksenarrion series, you'll like Not Exactly the Three Musketeers.

A fun read
This book is a fun read. I started reading the guardians of the Flame series a few years ago and have enjoyed them all.

The book starts off a little slow but has great character developement and by the end you won't want to put it down. In fact you'll be sad that it's over.

This the first time that the leads of the story are neither Othersiders or the son of an Oothersider and it is fun to see things from a different point of view. ... Read more

Product Description
The first page of The Last Jihad put readers inside the cockpit of a hijacked jet coming in on a kamikaze attack into an American city...but it was written 9 months before 9/11/01. As The Last Jihad unfolds, an American president finds himself in a war with Saddam Hussein over terrorism and weapons of mass destruction...but it was written 5 months before the actual war with Iraq began. The Last Days opens with the death of Yasser Arafat and an American president pressing for peace in the Middle East...but it was published 13 months before the actual death of Arafat. Now comes The Ezekiel Option, an explosive political thriller that literally feels ripped from tomorrow's headlines. The world finds itself facing this chilling question: ARE WE RUSHING TO THE BRINK OF AN APOCALYPSE PROPHESIED MORE THAN 2,500 YEARS AGO? The Copper Scroll: Another Dead Sea Scroll has been found, unlike any before it, describing treasures worth billions buried in and around Jerusalem. But the scroll's code has never been broken, and experts from all sides warn that any effort by Israel to rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem would unleash a war of biblical proportions. Saddam Hussein is gone. Yasser Arafat is dead. A new Iraq is rising. Now Bennett and McCoy find themselves facing a terrifying new threat triggered by an ancient mystery. Dead Heat: The stage is set for war. Oil prices are surging to record highs. A new dictator is rising in Iraq. China is threatening Taiwan. North Korean forces are ready to strike south. Israel is feverishly trying to complete the Third Temple. And in the midst of a world ready to explode, the questions arises: Just what role--if any--does the US play in history's last days? The US Secret Service learns of a catastrophic plot to assassinate one of the candidates campaigning to replace MacPherson--but which one? And can US forces stop the terrorists before millions lose their lives? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Thoroughly enjoyable
I first started reading Rosenberg with his Guardians of the Flame series.I enjoyed the first several books in tha series, and sought out other Rosenberg novels.I found this two book series - D'Shai and Hour of the Octopus - to be probably the most enjoyable.This fits in the genre of Fantasy Mystery - similar to David Duncan's Alchemist series.Well crafted, throughly enjoyable.

Another Rosenberg gem.
Rosenberg's books are so good I wonder why they don't have a wider audience? The worlds he creates are consistent and believable. His characters have depth. Plots in his books are always interesting, endings are satisfactory without being tied up too neatly. I have never ever regretted the time and money spent on his books. I wish I could say that for half of all the fantasy books I have ever bought and read.

This book and the follow up to it, Hour of the Octopus, are very different from his Guardian novels. The writing is more spare, but there is no lack in plot or character. Again the world is believable and the magic system consistent and also believable.

Highly recommend.

Wonderful
D'shai is a refreshing fantasy novel set in a land you haven't seen before. The system of magic used in the book is refreshing and new and the characterizations are engaging. I highly recommend this book.

Different and engaging!
I liked Joel Rosenberg's Guardians of the Flame series but not his others, so stumbling on D'shai a while back was a welcome surprise. This book is simply superb, as is the sequel, Hour of the Octopus.Kami, the protagonist, is likable though flawed and weaves a fascinating mystery.The setting, an eastern mythos that was a great deal of fun, was richly painted and a nice departure from the watered-down-ren-fair stuff we are too often fed. D'shai is packed full of neat little cultural commentaries and has its share of twists.I would dearly love to see Mr. Rosenberg write another in this series... and another... and another.

a great book
being and acrobat performing with Cirque du Soleil, as well as a big fan of science fiction, I've found this book to be one of the most accurate interpretations of the life of an acrobat. some authors seem to have noclue, but Rosenberg does a very convincing job... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Books 4 & 5 combined in a hardback
This is books 4 & 5 of the popular "Guardians of the Flame" books together in a Science Fiction Book Club hardback:

"The Heir Apparent"
"The Warrior Lives"

The story continues in these next two books.The "Other Siders" are older, and the next generation joins the protagonists; Aeia & Jason Cullinane, Jane Slovotsky have their day.Jason struggles in trying to fill his fathers very large shoes.

Joel Rosenberg continues his lively, gritty storytelling. (One reviewer calls it "aggressive whimsy.") He has a way of turning so many fantasy clichés on their heads.Leaders make mistakes and heroes get killed.

The series began in "Guardians of the Flame: The Warriors" (ISBN 1568650612) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

A Cherished Classic
I got this book by mail order when I was 14. 20 years later I find it as readable as ever. The characters seem a little over the top at first, but every once in a while there a detail that leaves the careful reader wanting more. I find myself caring about them and wondering who would play them in a film.There are lots of references to things that are never explained that is paradoxically intriguing. It has often made me wonder how the author would explain this history and tie everything together. My one complaint is that this world has 1000 stories waiting for exploration and only a handful have been written. I hope some day Rosenberg delivers us some more.

Not For Glory
This is an awesome book!!!!!!! I would not recommend it to young children becuase it uses swears

Engaging military sci-fi
Joel Rosenberg tends to write in a very gritty style where bad things happen to good people.This tendency is starkly evident in Not For Glory, a far-future military novel set after humanity has colonized a thousand worlds in the stars.

The descendants of old Israel...and for some reason never explained, Japanese ninjas...were both exiled and chose to make their new home on Metzada, an inhospitable world where everything - food, medicine - has to be imported.To pay for this, the entire male population of Metzada trains from childhood to become the best darn mercenaries (and assassins) ever - and hire themselves out to whomever can pay, committing bloody acts of war in exchange for food for their children.

This rationale gets brought out and drummed every chapter of the book; by the end, one is left with mixed feelings of sympathy for them and the feeling that they're just plain obsessed.Mentions are made of the Meztadan reconstructive surgery and other medical marvels, all home-grown out of necessity when half your population is in the line of fire.Why couldn't they export their medical skills?In a far future world where space travel seems to be a dime a dozen, why not grow food in satellites?We are left to assume that the Metzadan way is the only way, which is fair enough for as short a book as this.

The writing is smooth, the action quick - you won't be left bored with this book.The characters are human and interesting, with some pecularities unique to part-Japanese Jewish mercenaries.Personally, I found some of the Hebrew words thrown around a bit hard to follow, but by and large this is a military book - I found myself looking up words such as 'brevet' and 'bivouac' more often than anything else.Fans of the genre already won't have any problem with the language, and it seems to be very realistic when it comes to war - complete with the kind of language soldiers everywhere use to simplify things.

Not For Glory was well worth reading, but not worth collecting; it made for an interesting book, but not one I'd want to re-read again and again.Your Mileage May Vary.

Nice book for military history SF fans
Joel Rosenber's book has an interesting mix of military history, Jewish nationalism and good-old sci-fi violance. To some extent, he follows in R.A.Heinlein's steps, only that his chatacters are more human and less exciting. He makes interesting references to historic figures (that reveal the age of the book by being already outdated) and makes a half-baked attempt at building a complete ethos for a mercenary society. The book is short enough for Joel Rosenberg to get away with it and so he does. The story is light, very readable, and in fact - fun. If you don't get distracted by the plethora of Heilein's cliche's, you can have a good time with this one.

Not so good
Not as good as I had heard or read other reviews say it was. Not really a military sci-fi story, it just has people in the military. The main guy, Tetsuo, is not human. You can tell by the ending. His relationship with his family is non-existent, all under the cover of trying to be a good soldier. I get the whole we-fight-to-feed-our-family story, but it was not interesting. No big fights or battles between squads or platoon. No dropships. No armor. No military esprit-de-corps. No camaraderie between people. I know it's an old book, but don't bother. Just re-read Starship Troopers, Armor, Forever War, Halo: The Fall Of Reach, any William Dietz or David Drake book, To Hell And Back, or The Greatest Generation. ... Read more

Product Description
In an ancient world of magic, Kami, the Discover-of-Truth, must use his detective skills to investigate the murder of a nobleman on the eve of a royal wedding, a crime in which the bridegroom becomes the prime suspect. Amazon.com Review
Sequel to D'Shai, this story doesn't rely too heavily onwhat's gone before and can be read alone. Kami Dan'Shir, a socialclimber in a rigidly stratified society, has creatively promotedhimself from Acrobat to Discoverer-of-Truths, from peasant tobourgeois. Alas, the privileges of class bring with them duties, andKami must demonstrate both his social skills and his ability to solvepuzzles when he travels to a wedding and a murder interrupts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Horendous read.
Maybe it's me and maybe but this is one of the worst books I ever read. I guess it just doesn't stand up to the standard of books I read, which is usually sci-fi, horror or fantasy. My usually authors are: Brian Lumley, Dean Koontz, Piers Anthony, John Varley.

Okay, I admit it, I am a Rosenberg junkie.
This is such a great little read. I don't mean little to be demeaning either. Just not a lengthy book, but certainly not a novella. As always Rosenberg has created a realistic world with fully fleshed characters. That the world he has created has roots in Japanese culture only makes it better in my opinion. Well I think it is mostly Japanese, possibly just oriental flavored might be a better description. Anyway, it like all his books, pulled me into another world and out of this one for a blissful couple of hours.

Rather unbalanced
As far as being a mystery novel, the murder doesn't take place until page 175 and is solved on page 235.The other 200 pages of the book are just setting and character development.Except the characters don't develop; they're just introduced.It's not an unpleasant read, it just feels like there isn't much point.

Joel Rosenberg does it once again
Hour of the Octopus was a fun read. While I still prefer his Guardians of the Flame series, both this book and D'Shai have kept me very wellentertained. I especially loved the prologue. It was extraordinarilywell-written.

A very solid book, a different style.
This book is different from the start.It is somewhat hard to follow at times buy is worth the effort.There are several unusual twists and turns. ... Read more

Product Description
As magic from Faerie begins to creep into This Side, the border town of Ehvenor becomes the site of a battle between Jason Cullinane's warriors and the invading forces of sorcery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Very Moving
This series had rolled along very nicely, not a typical fantasy series but with some of the same elements. There had been five books and some people felt that they got weaker after Karl's death. I thought they were weakest right before Karl's death and that his death let me keep reading the series. Still, a five book series is getting pretty long and I didn't expect what happened with books six and seven.

This book and the next one, _The Road Home_ make a very large jump in quality. It is almost a shame that Joel didn't pour this excellence into a stand-alone novel or two or into the start of another series. Because almost no one is going to read these books who hasn't read the first five. Now reading the first five is no tough chore. They are fine but they don't measure up to the Road books.

The things that make these books so great are the depths we plumb into Walter's thoughts and feelings, the echos of Tennyson's Ulysses and Andy's tragic situation. Other than that, we get more rollicking storytelling and a bit of the usual humor.

This is my review of _The Road Home_ also. I'm lazy.

Downhill slide
When I read the first book of this series, which I found at a yard sale, I was sucked right in. I loved it! All of the books that had Karl in them were great. But----, as far as I am concerned, the further the series goes, the weaker it gets. It is like Mr Rosenberg is digging for a storyline, some character that can fill Karl's shoes. Duh! Can't be done. All I can say is, when he killed off Karl, he killed off the series. What a shame!

Not up to standards
I found myself dissappointed in this Guardians of the Flame novel.With the Heir Apparent and The Warrior lives I was drawn back in hard, but this novel really let me down.
Point of view in the story has shifted to Walter Slovotsky, and he is a character that I have a hard time identifying with.He is arrogant, rude and insensitive.He cheats on his wife constantly, uses women like 'shake-n-bake' bags and has the gall to be hurt when she is unfaithful to him.
The pace limps along for much of the book.Had Mr. Rosenburg spent as much time on plot as he did trying to impress us with his culinary knowledge it would have made for a much more interesting read.As it was everytime Walter began to eat I started skipping pages.
Later installments in the series are better, but he would be better served by moving Jason back into the limelight.The Cullinane family makes for better characters.

Worst book from this author. I expected better
the first 3/4 of the book i could do without. 3/4 of cairator development in the 6th book and very little plot development or action is a grate way to bore a reader. after the first Walter dream segment skip the rest, that never goes any were.

How many ways a character can sit "tailor-fashion"...
This series is great!The concept was creative ad well entertaining.Joel Rosenburg delightfully colors his characters with strengths and weaknesses, making them very easily to relate with.

Yet there is onemajor flaw I see in Mr. Rosenburg's writing of this series.EVERYONE hasto sit "tailor-fashion".... Do you know how OLD this has becomeafter re-reading this series straight through?Walter Slovotsky sitstailor-fashion on the boat, Tennetty sat tailor-fashion while sharpeningher blades, even Ahira gets to sit tailor-fashion! WHAT'S UP THETAILOR-FASHION SEATING ARRANGMENTS? This descriptions is laced throughall the books like wormwood in how much it is used.It begins to detractthe reader from the excellent story that is written here.

The onlynegative critique I have for Mr. Rosenburg is that he needs to write hischaracters as sitting in some other way than "tailor-fashion". He has worn holes through this term, and should not use it again.

Iwonder is Ellegon gets sit tailor-fashion in The Road Home....? ... Read more

Product Description
Hoping to intercept his bitter best friend's crusade to kill off all the slave masters in the land and keep the legend of the Warrior alive, baron Jason Cullinane is unaware that his search will force him into a dangerous pact. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Most series disappoint
after a while. The books get progressively worse and the disappointment progressively higher. But not with Rosenberg's books. Always a pleasure. Like sitting down with old friends and catching up. And clearly, as Rosenberg matures, so does his writing. And I mean that in the best possible way. Richer, more thoughtful.

Talk about the perfect name for a novel!
This is the one that breaks all the rules and still follows them to the letter.Most sequels grow weaker as they drift away from the original work (ie: the fourth sequel being weaker than the third, both weaker than thesecond, etc) but The Road Home draws on it's own wellspring in addition tothe previous books, combining new and strange with old and familiar toweave a tapestry stronger than it's threads.

Walter's recurringnightmares and flashbacks seem superflorous at first, but weave togetherinto a climax that could only be created by a master craftsman such asRosenberg.

I'd better shut up before I give away the story, but I thinkmost readers will associate with 'The Big Car' and, like me, findthemselves re-reading the showdown and reliving their own memories everytime they hear Walter smiling to his enemy with the words, "Youlose."

I loved it -- and I want the next one!
I finally found a copy of this and The Road to Ehvenor, and now I see whatthe fuss was all about.

Terrific books.Best in the series, and that's alot to say.

Guardian's of the Flame is one of my favorite series
Rosenberg's flair for character interaction has produced one of my favorite characters: Walter Slovotsky.I have enjoyed re-reading the series many times.He HAS left some aspects of the series unfinished as of yet and I eagerly await their conclusion.

When Are we Going Home?!?!?
I could tell early on in this book that it was going to be a wrap-up of The Road to Ehvenor, which was excellent. After The Heir Apparent, in which Karl Cullinane died, the books have spent a lot of time re-creating the entire world of the Guardians of the Flame Series, which Karl had come to dominate.However,It did not address many of the issues that The Heir Apparent left unanswered, such as: (1) Whatever happened to Professor Deighton, whose final scene with Titania after Karl's death foreshadowed an entirely different storyline than what folloewd? (2) What about all the "strange things coming out of Faerie" thatescaped at the end of The Road to Ehvenor? (3) Most Importantly, are any of the characters EVER going to come in contact with the Other Side?They seem to be getting too old and fragile (Ahira notwithstanding) to survive much longerin the Eren Regions.I guess my point is, Joel Rosenberg has told just enough andleft plentyenough out so that I will ALWAYS check the bookshelves for the next Guardians of the Flame book.I have a feeling that's what he intended all along. JP ... Read more

Product Description
In a place of lethal politics, three friends became entangled in the sinister intrigues of noble houses.

Amid the whispers of doomsday prophecies, young Ian Silverstein's swordsmanship and mettle were tested and judged most worthy.

Now the young duelist is being summoned again from Hardwood, North Dakota, back into this strange and perilous universe. . .

To serve as peacemaker in a time of impending war. . .

To carry a legend's spear and a warning. . .

To save a future. . .and the life of an ailing god. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Exciting, well-plotted and fun to read!
One of Joel Rosenberg's best!Now, if you folks at Amazon can't eliminate all the "repetitive" comments (apparently from the same troll) can you at least remove the one who says he's me?I know you have donethis before, but he's back...

Thanks.

Dale Rosenberg

Still pretty good, but v-e-e-e-r-y slow
After reaching the midpoint of the book I was wondering just what had happened. When I added it all up, it didn't come to very much. Sure Ian is attracted to Torrie's mom, but do you have to tell me over and over and over again? And do we really need *all* those 4-letter expletives which don't add much to either the dialogue or the mood? I'll buy and read the 3rd in the series, but I certainly hope that Rosenberg picks up the pace a little, and that we don't have a repeat of the downhill spiral we saw in his Guardians of the Flame series.

Great book.Read it.Read the next one, too.
This is a typical Joel Rosenberg book, filled with fresh takes on classical ideas (dwarves as Neanderthals!!), terrific characters (Arnie Selmo agan threatens to steal every scene he's in although Ian Silversteinshines through again) and a some of the best action scenes I've everread.

Terrific book -- I want the next one now!
This is Rosenberg's best yet, and that is saying something. The charactersand scenes seem to leap off the page and into my mind.

Stronglyrecommended.

Wow!
This one blew me away. Rosenberg increasingly reminds me of Frank Capra: not only does the story have impact and scope, and not only are the major characters deftly drawn, but the minor characters shine like stars. I'll never forget Arnie Selmo or Dr. Sherve or Maggie Christianson. ... Read more

Product Description
With over one million novels in print, New York Times best-selling author Joel C. Rosenberg has been called "eerily prophetic" and a "modern Nostradamus" for his uncanny ability to write political thrillers that come true. In his first nonfiction book, this evangelical Christian from an Orthodox Jewish heritage takes readers on an unforgettable journey through prophecy and current events into the future of Iraq after Saddam, Russia after Communism, Israel after Arafat, and Christianity after radical Islam. You won't want to miss Joel's exclusive interviews with Israeli, Palestinian, and Russian leaders, and previously classified CIA and White House documents. Similar to the approach Joel takes in his novels, his desire is to draw readers into stories, anecdotes, and predictions in a way that builds confidence that allows Joel to share his faith in Jesus Christ and the reliability of Scripture as a guide to understanding the past and the future.Drawing on his experience in Washington, his own exclusive interviews with world leaders, and his astute political acumen, Joel makes sense of the events surrounding the Middle East. He connects information in a way that will make you understand and really care about the world's most important events and how they impact your life--from gas prices to your bank account. ... Read more

Product Description
When it all began, it was just supposed to be a game: Seven college students sitting down for an evening of role playing. But a real wizard intervened, and the students found themselves in a world where magic worked-too well-with their only way home the near-mythical Gate Between Worlds. Years later, their earthlike existence now seems like a fading dream. They have fought and tricked their way into positions of power, seeking justice for all and the abolition of slavery But they have also made many powerful and dangerous enemies. And one of these in particular has decided that the time is ripe for eliminating these idealistic troublemakers once and for all... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Before you buy...Start from the begiinning
First of all, this book is a combination of two book that are really in the middle of a fantastic series.But to really appreciate the series, you realy REALLY must start from the beginning.The first book is called "The Sleeping Dragon" and may be a bit hard to find new, but it should not be hard to find at any used book store or at the Half site.

The Sleeping Dragon was the first book I ever read start to finish in 3 days.It is not that it is simple or short, but rather it is just exceedingly well written and engrossing.I quite frankly only put it down to sleep or when my eyes needed a break.I would read it rather than watch TV (and I liked TV alot when I read this the first time).Each book after The Sleeping Dragon adds so much to the story and truly builds up the characters and explains a huge amount of what each character is about and how they are related.Plus there are tons of secondary and terciary characters that really fill out the story...Not so many that it is hard to keep track of them...Mr Rosenberg has a knack for making each caharacter (even the non-main characters very memorable, so you wan't be flipping around the book trying to remember what some characters background was).

If I recall correctly the book listed here is about the 6th book in the series and it does mark an interesting turning point in the story, but it would be a great disservice to jump to this book as the enormity of the events will not really make an impact on you unless you know the full background.

Once you get The Sleeping Dragon (first book), the first page or two will list the next few books in the series and they in turn will list the next and so on...So Start with the Sleeping dragon and prepare for an awesome journey of fantasy, action romance, intriugue, sarcasm (you will know whom I am refering to when you read the books!) and a whole lot more.

One of the greatest things about Mr Rosenberg's style is that no character is safe, and you never know what will happen next...there are plenty of characters and action to leep you guessing chapter after chapter.He is really one of the best authors I have ever read and is right up there with Piers Anthony, Terry Brooks, J.R.R.Tolkien, Weis and Hickman (DragonLance), Isaac Asimov (but much more of a fantasy author than Asimov's Sci-Fi stylings) and other great fantasy authors.

I have only reviewed a few books here on Amazon, but I felt compelled to share this wonderful author with others...I have read other series' by Mr Rosenberg and I truly enjoyed them, but I have to say that the Guardians Of The Flame novels (starting with The Sleeping Dragon) are by far my favorite work of his.

If you are looking for a new series to quickly sweep you up into a whole new world, you search is now complete...I cannot recommend this series (and Mr. Rosenberg's works in general) highly enough !!I hope he continues to write for a long, long, time!!

Helpful bit of information
First off, I love this book and the entire series.
Also, this Joel Rosenberg is not the same as Joel C. Rosenberg, author of The Last Jihad and others.This Joel Rosenberg is vastly different and his books are, in my opinion, much better.

Excellent book
One of the best books i have read. Great for all ages. Well written. Will keep your interests.

Review of Legasy
I purchaes this book because I really ejoyed Ezekiel Option but I could not relate to this book

Good for the Newbie, bad for the collector
Personally, I hate it when an author or a publisher re-prints a book (or in this case 2 books) under a new title.

If you have already read or already own "Heir Apparent" and "The Warrior Lives" don't bother getting this book. ... Read more

Product Description
In the seventeenth century, in an alternate universe where Mordred defeated King Arthur-now known as "Arthur the Tyrant"-and founded the Pendragon dynasty, much of Europe, Asia, and the New World are part of an Empire ruled from England. The Order of Crown, Shield, and Dragon, originally founded as Mordred's personalbodyguard, has become a legion of special agents for the Crown: special emissaries in time of peace, and invincible warriors in more violent times. They carry special weapons: swords, each of which contains the soul of someone of great power. White swords are inhabited by the souls of saints-and red swords by those who were anything but saints. Even in the hands of a knight of the Order, even wielded in the cause of righteousness, a red sword is terribly dangerous to its owner and all around him. In more evil hands, a red sword is the most dangerous and powerful weapon known to mankind. Now, three knights of the Order have just tracked down a previously unknown red sword which was found on a Grecian shore, and which shows all signs of having been recently forged. Worse, the mind encased in the sword remembers that it was only one of many which were cached in the hold of a mysterious sailing ship, origin unknown. . . . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Dull...
I rarely don't finish a book that I paid good money for.I tried really hard with Paladins, slogging on well after I felt like quitting, but in the end I just couldn't take it.It just inches along at a terribly slow pace, the characters meandering around, crossing and recrossing their own paths without apparently making any headway or having much of anything interesting happen.Rosenberg keeps introducing pointless and uninteresting subplots and characters all over the place even as the overarching plot goes nowhere, and the whole thing steadily devolves into a confusing mess.Then suddenly the mystery they were trying to uncover is explained by a highly convenient villain who pops out of nowhere.The reveal was so random and underwhelming that I finally quit reading right then, at what was supposed to be right before the climax of the novel.
What can I say?Don't bother.

One of Joel Rosenberg's Best
I'm about 2/3rd of the way through Paladins and this review does not give away any plot material.

I've read all the "Guardian of the Flame" series, and while I always enjoyed them, I thought that the writing style and complexity were for a younger audience while the content was for a more mature audience (such as what really happens to a person's body when they die ... versus the sanitized description most novelists give).

With "Paladins", Joel Rosenberg has married a writing style and complexity for adults with content for a more mature audience."Paladins" takes a major step closer the "Tom Clancy" style of complexity within a novel.

Needs heavy editing
The characters and the plot of this book were fairly interesting, so I finished it. But it was a wade through the cluttered writing, which would have benefited greatly from a thorough edit. Most of the text consists of the interior reflections of various characters giving far, far too much unnecessary and irrelevant detail. This is written in rambling, complex sentences which frequently end up not making grammatical sense (often because the author has inexplicably included a "not" which is not logically required). As a former technical writer, I'm surprised that former technical writer Rosenberg did this; as a former book editor, I'm surprised that his editor let him. Perhaps they were both under time pressure.

An annoying side effect of this overdone interior-monologue technique of exposition is that the dialogue between characters is often broken up - two consecutive sentences of dialogue can have a page or more of interior monologue between and you have to flip back to see what question the second character is answering. Sometimes the answers don't match the questions very well, and several times Rosenberg makes out that the characters understand each other so well that the second character answers what the first one was thinking instead of what he said. How often does this happen in real life?

A good setting, reasonable characters, I found the plot fairly engaging - but could have been much better written.

Well-written but gritty fantasy
Joel Rosenberg is a master of low fantasy, a genre where magic doesn't solve all your problems, battle is deadly and our heroes only human, after all.This kind of gritty writing style is very realistic, but not as escapist as many prefer in their fantasy.Be warned!

Paladins is a departure from Rosenberg's popular series, "Guardians of the Flame".It is set in a 17th century world where magic is real and history changed when Mordred the Great defeated King Arthur the Tyrant, thus changing English history considerably.All this is just a teaser, however, that bears little impact on the story a thousand years later and is really just backdrop for the main characters, knights of the order that served Mordred.Armed with sentient magical blades, they turned England into the world power it was in the 17th century, competing with the Dar al-Islam and the Holy Roman Empire.With the great wizards dying out in the last great war of magic, the art of making new swords was lost - or was it?A new sword turns up in the hands of a small fisherman, a sword that can only be a few years old, at most.

As always, Rosenberg's characters are fully fleshed out characters with human desires, weaknesses and doubts.They come alive on the pages in his masterful prose.However, it is hard for any hero to stand up under such a microscope, and it is hard to truly sympathize with the characters.

My main complaint with the book is that many issues are left unresolved at the end; the young knight errant Niko still lives in fear that his pagan beliefs will be uncovered by the other knights, and his childhood love interest remains behind in his homeland with barely a mention, despite his burning desire not to see her marry his rich local rival.The Dar al-Islam may have the upper hand for a while, and it is obvious that the knights as an order are floundering, with the American colonies beginning to seek independence.All these tangled threads pave the way for an obvious sequel, but readers interested in a standalone book may find the ending unsatisfying.

As always with Rosenberg, readers who want a little more realism in their fantasy will love his work, while those who just want to have fun will end up disappointed.

I liked it!
There's a good story, characters that have more than one side to them, and best of all, it has an ending. Yes, this is a book in a series that you could pick up, read, enjoy, and not feel compelled to read the next one to find out what happens. While there are some loose ends (not wanting to spoil anything, it *is* a series), the book is written so that those ends don't need your reading to get wrapped up.

Did I mention that he didn't explain *everything*? For me, that's a plus. He may explain it in later volumes, or maybe I can just use my imagination about what drove Arthur to start killing babies...

It's a young-man-coming-of-age story, historical fiction, naval fiction (as someone pointed out, we get to see O'Brien's Aubrey after he's been forced into a desk job) and parallel universe all thrown in one. ... Read more

Product Description
When aging copyeditor Ernest 'Sparky' Hemmingway (no relation) gets a call from the daughter of his Vietnam buddy George Washington (also no relation), he has a choice: go to Minneapolis to help her out of a jam or hang up the phone. Sparky's erected a pretty effective cocoon around himself over the last few years, and no amount of aggravation can get through his shell. He's very comfortable in the little North Dakota town of Hardwoods, where everybody knows everybody's secrets but pretends they don't. Sparky's pal Doc Holiday (you guessed it-no relation) meets him in Minneapolis and tosses him a .45, which comes in handy when they run into a hard time with a gang. After dealing with the threat, Doc and Sparky split up, and Sparky takes Washington's young daughter Tenisha back to his place. Between the gang, the Minne-apolis police, Doc's brain tumor, and Sparky's mostly-white town dealing with the color of Tenisha's skin-not to mention hauling a four-months pregnant neighbor and her baby to safety during a blizzard-Sparky thinks he's handling himself pretty well . . . . And then things start to get weird. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

One of the best books I have ever read
This book clearly has the best opening line of ANY book I have ever read. The author sent me a copy of the first chapter before he finished the book. It just about killed me waiting until I could buy it.

This book is a, well, how would I call it? A crochety old editor (Close to Archie Bunker, but no, not really) that has the ability to throw out lines of dry humor that cause you to run around and read them to your friends, who then run out to get their own copy of the book.

This author has a cult following of many of his other books. I have read many of them and I see the attraction. Personally, I think that this is his best.

A good read
I really like this book so much so I went and bought the second before I finish this book.

Yes the bit with famous names is over done, but then all the good series have some points that are well just kind of in jokes with the reader.This is after all a mystery story not great literature.I disagree about it being the story's central plot on the color of Tenishia Washington's skin, it is more about how the writer feels a small town of white folks would deal with the fact they have what to them is even more odd an outsider that happens to be black. I think the hero handling of was a little too PC, but I liked book all the same.

The book made me think of Blue Deer Thaw of the Jules Clement series by Jamie Harrison with it setting in a small town out in the wide open spaces of the upper Midwest and with mystery driven by the characters' and setting like in the Montana Mystery series featuring Gabriel Du Pre by Peter Bowen and Tony Hillermans books in southwest. If you like this book then I bet you like these and vice a versus

Where have all the good writers gone?
It seems the majority of my favourite authors are just cranking out books per contract lately, and this one is unfortunately no different. Like Joe Haldeman and Stephen King, it seems Joel Rosenberg has been getting by on reputation in his past several books. I loved Rosenberg's early work, and was hoping some of the old Joel would shine through in this break from the Guardians series. This non-"skiffy / fantasy" novel doesn't break the trend for Rosenberg.

As a Midwestie I found the "East Dakota" bits compelling enough, and I was actually quite interested in those parts of the book. Other than that the character development and main plot (particularly the ending) were embarrassingly contrived. The book reads like a movie written, directed and *narrated* by Stephen Segal.

It seems this book is going to be the first in a series -- I'll probably buy the subsequent novels out of a sense of duty, but I don't expect to enjoy them unless Rosenberg stops mailing in his work. And please, Joel, for the love of God, put the Guardians series to rest.

Credible fun
As a recovering Midwesterner, I was fascinated by the depth and accuracy with which Rosenberg shows small-town life on the plains.

And then there's the characters.Small towns are filled with characters, and Ernest "Sparky" Hemingway is as fun a curmudgeon as you'll ever find.

My only criticism of this book is that the sequel isn't out yet.There will be a sequel, I hope?Many of them, if Rosenberg can maintain this level of quality.

Very Enjoyable Read
I was a little hesitant purchasing this title.I've enjoyed the author's fantasy novels and Home Front is a departure from that genre.I was pleased to find that I fell right into this story and never looked back.

Not only does it have a great opening line that hooks the reader immediately, the protagonist is highly likable (in a crotchety kind of way).Those familiar with Mr. Rosenberg's "Keepers of the Hidden Ways" series will recognize many of the colorful residents of Hardwood, ND.I enjoyed seeing Doc Sherve and Jeff Bjerke again.

One of the things I enjoyed most was the dichotomy between the ways of Hardwood and the attitudes of Minneapolis.

The story ended a little abruptly, for my taste, but left me wanting to hear more about this great cast of characters. ... Read more

Product Description
With over one million novels in print, New York Times best-selling author Joel C. Rosenberg has been called "eerily prophetic" and a "modern Nostradamus" for his uncanny ability to write political thrillers that come true. In his first nonfiction book, this evangelical Christian from an Orthodox Jewish heritage takes readers on an unforgettable journey through prophecy and current events into the future of Iraq after Saddam, Russia after Communism, Israel after Arafat, and Christianity after radical Islam. You won't want to miss Joel's exclusive interviews with Israeli, Palestinian, and Russian leaders, and previously classified CIA and White House documents. Similar to the approach Joel takes in his novels, his desire is to draw readers into stories, anecdotes, and predictions in a way that builds confidence that allows Joel to share his faith in Jesus Christ and the reliability of Scripture as a guide to understanding the past and the future.

Drawing on his experience in Washington, his own exclusive interviews with world leaders, and his astute political acumen, Joel makes sense of the events surrounding the Middle East. He connects information in a way that will make you understand and really care about the world's most important events and how they impact your life--from gas prices to your bank account.

Epicenter is about:

• Change--big changes, dramatic changes, changes that will transform the world as we know it
• Answers--what the changes are underway in the world's most important countries
• Insight--readers will understand the trajectory of world events by being taken inside the governments of Iran, Iraq, Russia, China, and more
• Accessibility--aimed for a wide audience in both the general and Christian markets
• Faith--Joel shares his faith in Jesus Christ and the reliability of Scripture

Product Description
The word arrives that Karl Cullinane is dead. Jason, his son and heir, assumes command. He leads the inner circle of warriors and the dragon Ellegon against the evil Slaver's Guild. Then Jason learns his father still lives. When a dwarf appears, signaling death, Jason faces a choice and the full weight of kingship. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The last book
Rosenberg, finishes his series with a surprise. After Karl is supposedly dead Jason takes up the task in finding his father by looking for signs which include dead slavers and a note posted on them that states "The Warrior Lives". This book kind of drags on but the end is worth the read.

Good
I liked this one.I hated to see Karl get killed off in the last one, but hey, that's what happens.As the saying goes, you live by the sword you die by the sword.Or in this case the sword and the gun.At any rate, Ithought this "he's really not dead 'schtick'" was well-played.Iwould only have been disappointed if he had not really been dead.I wantedto see more of Karl, but at the same time knew that wasn't possible - hewas _dead_.It would have been very easy to bring him back again as thewriter can basically do whatever he wants, he can play God.But he didn't. He played it like the real world in spite of the fact that his world isfilled with magical beings, etc.Karl Cullinane, for all he wasextraordinary, was as mortal as anyone.I liked this one.

Just Nonsense
This theme has been played-out and such poor writing does nothing to help. ... Read more

Product Description
When seven students participate in a role-playing game with their college professor, they find themselves in a dangerous magical world from which their only escape is the elusive Gate Between Worlds, in an omnibus volume containing the novels The Sleeping Dragon, The Sword and the Chain, and The Sil ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Fantasy Fans Take Note
Does anyone remember the old D&D cartoon on Saturday mornings? The plot involved a bunch of kids being transported to a fantasy realm and facing quests to try to get home... Well, this is pretty much the work that inspired that idea, except instead of being aimed at kids, it's aimed at adult readers.

What do I mean by adult readers, you ask?

Well, I don't want to spoil it, but let's just say that midieval fantasy realms kind of suck. There's death, maiming, slavery, bad food and water, horrible monsters and people, and women are brutalized and treated poorly by the locals.

To put it another way, this would be the D&D cartoon if Hank, Bobby and Presto were tied up and forced to hear Sheila and Diana being gang-raped by slavers outside for several hours. Where's Eric? His smart mouth got him killed. Do they eventually prevail? Sure... It's fiction, but it's not watered down. People die. People are emotionally scarred for life.

Yeah. That's what I mean by "adult".

I enjoy this series. It's a bit harsh in places, but it's also pretty realistic. The heroes are truly heroic, and the bad guys are real slime. It's a great tale, well worth the prices listed here.*

Try it. You'll like it.


* Update: When I wrote this review, the book was available for under five dollars. Now, it looks like the price has jumped quite a bit. With that in mind, I'd have to say that although I love this series, the book is NOT worth a high price unless you're getting a pristine copy for a collection. Frankly, I'm annoyed at the dealers who seem to have recently hiked the price because it sure seems opportunistic to increase it to ten times the standard used list price. It's curious, at least.

A good classic "d&d style" fantasy for younger readers
If you've ever spent any time clustered around a table playing a role playing game of any genre then you will be able to appreciate the possibilities in Joel Rosenberg's Guardians of the Flame series. This book is a reprinted version of the first three books in the original series: "The Sleeping Dragon", "The Sword and the Chain", and "The Silver Crown".

Mr Rosenberg starts off with a wonderfully mixed group of characters, each with their own virtues and vices, and puts them into a rich fantasy world full of magic and danger. The characters are very real and easy to understand, and are at times both heroic and tragic. The troubles they must endure as they strive to cope with their situation, blend well with their triumphs as they overcome each obsticle.

I'll definately be adding this to my library so I have it on hand for my kids to read when they're ready.

Best Series Ever
I love this series. I have had to buy it 3 times as I have loaned my copies to friends, and they are never returned, because they have gotten wrapped up in it as well. The characters are rich and diverse. There is romance, action, and humor. The story begins with a bunch of college friends who even though they have different education backgrounds, a professor, a jock, an engineer, a dilitante, psych ect., they all have one thing in common, fantasy RPG (role playing games). I also like the fact that this is one of the first books I have read that had a physically challenged person as one of the main plot characters. So the friends meet every week for their RPG fix....but something then goes terribly wrong, or terribly right, as the real world and the fantasy world of gaming come together in such a way that you will not want to put the book down. This book combines the first three novels, and is a must have for those that want a good book to lose yourself in. If you have a friend, or kids (12-17), or know anyone that's into Role Playing Games, you really need to buy them this book. Themes might be a little too adult for the Harry Potter crowd.....

An Awesome Begining to a Spectacular Series
Quite possibly one of the best series of books ever written.
Mr. Rosenberg has created a believable fantasy world. The story flows so well that you'll look up to find that hours have passed and you've become so engrossed that you really don't mind the missing time.
With this omnibus you begin a sweeping saga of character growth. You will see how each character is given time to grow and become an integral part of the story.
You will follow Karl and his companions- Walter, Doria, Andrea, Ahira, Lou, Ellegon, Tennetty, and Chak- as they travel the Eren Regions. You will find yourself cheering out loud and crying along with them.
Don't forget to read the other Guardian's novels. Also look for Mr. Rosenberg's fans on the net, we're waiting to meet you.

A book I've read many times
This is one of those books that you can pick up and read over and over again.I am about to enter college and can identify with Rosenberg's life-like characters.His fantasy world is so realistic I can smell the trees of the Healing Hand Tabernacle and felt the heat of the Waste of Elrood.I've read this book at least a dozen times since my dad introduced it to me and I have to order a new copy to take with me to school. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Odd Couple In Space
Emile and the Dutchman were made for each other, though neither would ever admit it. They compliment each other perfectly, covering each other's weaknesses and amplifying each other's strengths. They make the best team in the Thousand World Contract Service.

They are in the business of making first contact with alien species. They hold the power to welcome a friendly species into the galactic community or to completely shut off a hostile species. What constitutes `friendly' or `hostile' is completely dependent on the interpretation of Emile and the Dutchman.

Any book with Joel Rosenberg's name on the cover is guaranteed to be good but this one is different from any of his others. This one is not so much a novel as it is a collection of short stories. In a series of six different stories, all tied together by the two main characters, Rosenberg weaves a tapestry of action and adventure.

Half military adventure and half coming of age story, Emile And The Dutchman is sure to please not only Joel Rosenberg's loyal fans but any fan of sci-fi.

A brief history of contacts
It has been a while since I have seen a character as obnoxious and sympathetic as the Dutchman. The two main characters of this story are completely opposite in personality and it gives some hilarious moments during their adventures.
The book is divided in five sections, each one describing how our heroes deal with a new species. Each first contact brings out undiscovered qualities in Emile and some understanding for the Dutchman's nastiness.
This book can be read in an afternoon and you will not feel like you wasted your time.

Adventures with the Thousand Worlds Contact Service.
Who do you turn to when humanity encounters the bizzare and potentially murderous races living on the frontiers of explored space?This is a job for the Thousand Worlds Contact Service (TWCS) and their elite four man team:
The Dutchman - foul smelling, foul mouthed biggot, no better leader in a pinch, just don't let him deal at poker.
Emile - rich-boy snob who can't seem to get over the idea that the universe should be fair; his one saving grace is that his skill as a pilot is almost as high as his thinks it is.
The mercenary - One of the best the Metzadan Mercenary Corps has to offer, and you know what that means.
The Psychic - Distracted, more interested in the thoughts outside of his own mind, can a man trained to share thoughts with aliens be trusted to support his own teammates in the end?
Absolutely one of the best collections of skiffy stories to come out of the 80's.

Truthful Intent
This story is good, somewhat slow in some portions, however shows how humans would indeed handle life from other planets. It shows our somewhat darker side. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Not Free SF Reader
Karl, Andrea, Ahira, Lou and Walter are stuck in the fantasy game world.It is a little bit different now as they are used to it, so this becomes more of a standard fantasy adventure type novel.

They become good guys, and fight to oppose a bunch of wizards and slavers.

Still Great
I can't believe these books are out of print.I originally bought them as a single hardcover collection from a book club.This takes up right where The Sleeping Dragon left off.There is no drop off in quality and it certainly feels like the 2nd part of a greater story and not some forced sequel.It also is an interesting social commentary on the ills of slavery.

Fine fantasy, but aimless
The Sword and the Chain, while still a quick, entertaining read, lacks the unique appeal that The Sleeping Dragon had.The characters, having been imported into a Dungeons & Dragons world from our own, are now completely ensconced and resigned to staying.There is no longer any disconnect between the characters and their setting and, except for a certain sense of greater superiority, there is little to distinguish our heroes from any other fantasy character.Also problematic is that the narrative focus has shifted entirely onto Karl Cullinane, leaving the far more interesting Ahira in a side-kick role.There is, however, an intriguing plot development involving erstwhile professor Deighton, whose resolution appears to await later books.

Like The Sleeping Dragon, The Sword and the Chain is an incredibly quick read.It's not always enjoyable (do we really need to read about disembowelments that sound like a wet fruit exploding?), but it is a fine distraction from our own daily lives.A worthwhile read for any fantasy fan.

The Quest Continues
The second book in the Guardians of the Flame series returns the reader to the world of Dungeons & Dragons.Karl, Andrea, Ahira, Walter, and Lou are stuck in a strange world in the bodies of the characters they created and played.These friends are bound to this world through a pledge to bring freedom to the world.They made their pledges to save the life of a friend.Now Karl and his friends must wage a war on slavery, fighting against Wizards and the Slaver's Guild.With the aid of the young dragon Ellegon, from the first novel, Karl and his friends start trying to fulfill their promise.The two books in this series that I have read so far have read mostly like you would expect a Dungeons & Dragons adventure to be.The characters have to adapt to the strange world of magic, with only their wits and the instincts of their bodies.There is, of course, the obligatory quest, and plenty of magic and spells.This book is interesting, easy reading.Do not expect many plot intricacies, but do expect to enjoy the developing story of the Guardians of the Flame.

Joel Rosenberg has outdone himself!
I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed with this outing.While most sequels are stale and transparent, Joel Rosenberg manages to take up where The Sleeping Dragon left off and create a mystical tale that keeps the readers attention from the first page to the last.

Admittedly, I let out a yelp of joy when Karl announced to the slaver, "Tell you masters that I am hunting them!"It showed a glimmer of what was to come in this series (especially this installment), and it did not disappoint.

I won't allow myself to announce any spoilers for those who haven't enjoyed this, but let me say that it was delightfully intriguing when the secret of Deighton was revealed.The implications of this information should have an enormous impact in future volumes. ... Read more

Product Description
It had begun as an evening of fantasy gaming--college students passing the time. Then the impossible happened: The layers found themselves transported into the bodies & personnae of their game characters--trapped in an alternate world where magic worked all too well, dragons were a fire-breathing menace, and only those quick enough w/a sword, or their wits, survived. The only way back to Earth was a legendary portal called the Gate Between Worlds, but there was no guarantee they'd pass through safely even if t hey managed to find it. And their new selves had precious little time to devote to the search; they were too busy just trying to stay alive., contains: "The Heir Apparent" & The Warrior Lives". ... Read more