David Gemmell

Legend

'THE HARD-BITTEN CHAMPION OF BRITISH HEROIC FANTASY' - Joe Abercrombie 'HEROISM AND HEARTBREAK . . . GEMMELL IS ADRENALINE WITH SOUL' - Brent Weeks His name is Druss The stories of his life are told everywhere. But the grizzled Drenai veteran has spurned a life of fame and fortune and retreated to the solitude of his mountain lair. The fortress is Dros Delnoch And it is the only route through the mountains for the invading army of the Nadir. The fortress was once the Drenai's greatest stronghold - now it will be their final battleground. And Druss their last hope. Legend is the classic Drenai novel from the British master of heroic fantasy, a powerful tale of courage and sacrifice in the face of overwhelming odds. Novels by David Gemmell The Drenai series Legend The King Beyond the Gate Waylander Quest For Lost Heroes Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend Jon Shannow series Wolf in Shadow The Last Guardian Bloodstone Stones of Power Ghost King Last Sword of Power Hawk Queen series Ironhand's Daughter The Hawk Eternal Ancient Greece novels Lion of Macedon Dark Prince Other novels Knights of Dark Renown Morningstar

Aaron J Mitchell

One of my favourite books of all time telling a thrilling story of an impossible siege lead by a near mythical hero. I absorbed Gemmell's almost entire library in a year after reading this book.

Michael Springer

**Update, February 2010: I was a bit surprised to see this one pop up on the "1001 Books To Read Before You Die" list. I'd love to find out what the polled book-whizzes have to say in order to back this up. I kind of assumed this wasn't his best book. ** 

Original Review: 

This is a work of very well done heroic fantasy. It has a full storyline in 350 pages, which is apparently an impossible feat for fantasy writers these days. (Don't get fooled by the fact that this is the first book in a series. Each book is entirely independent.)

This novel's primary characters are Druss, an old, legendary fighter who is way past his prime, and Rek, a young rover who isn't at first glance much of a hero. 

Throughout, we hear many other characters, and by the end of the book, it feels like we've seen many of the angles (albeit the more heroic ones) that war can be seen from. Gemmel goes pretty deep here in comparison to most heroic fantasy. He totally stomps a mud-hole in Dragonlance. 

(view spoiler)[My biggest issue with Gemmel is how he portrays women. Two characters fall completely in love in one page, right after having sex the same night they met. Does this really happen? Well, it never happened to me. There are two women in this book, and both serve as foils for male characters. Both women die. Both women were incredibly sexy. It wasn't as macho / annoying as Robert Howard, but it was dangerously close.  (hide spoiler)] 

Over all, a very fun read, and better composed than a lot of fantasy.

Fantasy book that questions what a hero truly is, who one becomes is a hero for, and answers your question in the most satisfying way. Truly made for me.

Abdul H

The Legend Druss, Captain of the Axe: the stories of his life were told everywhere. Instead of the wealth and fame he could have claimed, he had chosen a mountain lair, high in the lonely country bordering on the clouds. There the grizzled old warrior kept company with snow leopards and awaited his old enemy death. The Fortress Mighty Dros Delnoch, protected by six outer walls, the only route by which an army could pass through the mountains. It was the stronghold of the Drenai empire. And now it was the last battleground, for all else had fallen before the Nadir hordes. And hope rested on the skills of that one old man...

James Paden

A run romp for 4/5ths of the book. Can't really recommend unless you want a lighthearted fantasy read and you're not feeling picky.

Legend

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