Favourite Book By David Gemmell

[drosdelnoch]

Thought that it might be a good one to get everyone warmed up with and its going to be a mega chat as to be honest with 30 titles to pick from it could end up fists at dawn over a bottle of the Old Lentrian Red. (Can't you tell where my votes going already. LOL)

Anyway, which is your favourite book by David and why?

For me its Legend, and whilst many would say that its perhaps not his best or that his later titles had more skill behind them I have to stick to his first book. I think its the passion behind the writing that gets me everytime, the fact that whilst he was waiting for test results he threw himself into this world full tilt and brought out the heroes who were scared of the dark but faced it anyway.

The way that ol Druss stalked the walls of Dros Delnoch delivering death until his own time and the way he wouldn't give in until the last. Yep, for me its the passion with which the book comes across that really still sells it to me and I think I read it around four times a year for the sheer enjoyment I get from each scene within. Damn I wish I could write like that.

[NAASHANITE]

My favorite book by DG. THE SWORDS OF NIGHT AND DAY. don't be fooled by the fact that i got it out in the first line of this. I spent most of my day at work thinking about it. SKILGANNON THE DAMNED whether his actions were honourable or not so honourable he conquered. Even in the void, I'm pleased with the question though because it gave me the pleasure of absorbing the various characters DG brought to the page.

I find that i get quite envious of people that haven't read DG's work because they really are in for such an experience. each and every character with the exception of Druss did battle with enemies, that's to be expected but DG's characters carried out their greatest battles internally. Now that's a whole other dimension.

[ediFanoB]

Hi Drosdelnoch,

I wasn't sure whether to post or not but I hope you don't "knock"me down.
To be honest: I never read a book by David Gemmell so far.

So I would really appreciate a recommendation from you or whoever reads this post.

[drosdelnoch]

edi,
Hey I wouldnt dream of it, everyone has to start somewhere and in certain respects I am quite jealous of you as you have the magical first read of every book to enjoy. Its really a case of what type of book you enjoy, if you like celtic warriors then you have the Rigante series, if you like Louis Lamour type westerns then you have the post apocolyptic Shannow books (although they have to be read in sequence.) If youre a straight up and up fantasy fan you have the Drenai. Or if you like Arthurian then you have Ghost King and Last Sword of Power. David also wrote an ancient Greek story set in the days of Phillip of Macedon or you have his final series Troy to enjoy.

What I generally recommend people to do is start with David's first book, Legend. A lot of people hold this up to be thier favourite although as you can see theres a few people who'd argue with that. LOL. Its just a case of what you like and try one that way.

Sorry if this confuses you even more but hopefully we might be able to steer you in the direction of the type of book you enjoy.

Gareth

[ediFanoB]

Gareth,
thank you very much for a reply which I hoped to receive but didn't expect.
I'm not a fan of Greek and Arthurian stories - different people different taste.
Concerning Celtic warriors I'm indecisive.
Post apocalyptic stories arose my interest. I have some books on my list and I will
definitely add the Shannow books.
As a long time fantasy fan I will go for the Drenai series. Nine books :-) I like long series.
Normally I don't read books with less than 205 pages.

My current reading is The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón.
What a fascinating book!!

After this my next read will be Legend by David Gemmell.

Gareth, replies like yours make it worth to be a member of a network like this.
To be honest that isn't fishing for compliments.

Again thank you

ediFanoB

[Roger O'Donnell]

As a sort of sidebar, a friend of mine from University, who is now a Church of England clergyman, used the Jerusalem Man (Jon Shannow) in several of his sermons in the 1990s. I take the blame for that, since I bought him 'Wolf In Shadow' in 1988 as a Graduation gift (we were both Class of '88).

[Roger O'Donnell]

NASHANITE said:

My favorite book by DG. THE SWORDS OF NIGHT AND DAY. don't be fooled by the fact that i got it out in the first line of this. I spent most of my day at work thinking about it. SKILGANNON THE DAMNED whether his actions were honourable or not so honourable he conquered. Even in the void, I'm pleased with the question though because it gave me the pleasure of absorbing the various characters DG brought to the page.

I find that i get quite envious of people that haven't read DG's work because they really are in for such an experience. each and every character with the exception of Druss did battle with enemies, that's to be expected but DG's characters carried out their greatest battles internally. Now that's a whole other dimension.

Skilgannon was a warrior and leader in a full on war of conquest. 'Honour', in that kind of war, is at best a luxury, and at worst a weakness. Ulrich was cut from the same cloth. Violence, at times extreme and bloody, was a tool to be used as needed, but nor for the 'pleasure of getting smeary' to coin a phrase. In the real world, Constantine was a leader of that sort. Richard the Third of England learned the cost of 'honour' leaving Henry Tudor (later Henry VIIth) alive and in exile.

[NAASHANITE]

Roger O'Donnell said:

NASHANITE said:

My favorite book by DG. THE SWORDS OF NIGHT AND DAY. don't be fooled by the fact that i got it out in the first line of this. I spent most of my day at work thinking about it. SKILGANNON THE DAMNED whether his actions were honourable or not so honourable he conquered. Even in the void, I'm pleased with the question though because it gave me the pleasure of absorbing the various characters DG brought to the page.

I find that i get quite envious of people that haven't read DG's work because they really are in for such an experience. each and every character with the exception of Druss did battle with enemies, that's to be expected but DG's characters carried out their greatest battles internally. Now that's a whole other dimension.

Skilgannon was a warrior and leader in a full on war of conquest. 'Honour', in that kind of war, is at best a luxury, and at worst a weakness. Ulrich was cut from the same cloth. Violence, at times extreme and bloody, was a tool to be used as needed, but nor for the 'pleasure of getting smeary' to coin a phrase. In the real world, Constantine was a leader of that sort. Richard the Third of England learned the cost of 'honour' leaving Henry Tudor (later Henry VIIth) alive and in exile.

[Rose Lina Salehud Din]

I wanted to vote for Hero in the Shadow - the book reflex my late father. I enjoy all the Waylander books. The character is so like my father. I love Legend too.Then I love all the big mans' books. I love Fall of Kings very much as one of the character reflex my own madness at time and the book discribe the sea, sometimes very unforgiving to those who sail in, but the beauty of sailing, the sea world especially the dolphins are so breathtaking. One can feel the sea breeze caressing one's face while reading. I know I should vote for for HiTS or FoK. Then I should vote for the first of the big man's book I read, the book that attract me to read all of his books - that will be Knights of Dark Renown - a book about vampires - the story is so different from all the vampire books I have read before - it was the best vampire book I ever read.

I am so fickle, I had to go to Sydney to get HiTS in 2000. Spend more than RM10K - well I could go to Melbourne as most of the books I got it in Melbourne, but I want to see the city. Then KoDR, I was too young to really understand the book at the time, but I love it, the book remind me of my youth too.

It was worthwhile, I sit by the bay - at the Rock watching opera house, the sun sets (took me two days to finish the book, I like to savor everything in it, it was so intoxicated) and book in hand, coffee beside me, yeah! coffee, no wine, pelicans and all the other beauty while reading HiTS - my imagination running wild and vast - far beyond the horizon. The smell of salted water really blend in with the book in my hand. The set-up for the reading was perfect. I have a place by the beach back in my home town, I used to bring books to read there too, but I didn't know the big man then, so I don't remember what I read. It has to be HiTS.

Legend huh?! it get me starting to rethink of my roots - I am part of the desert child. I know my great great grand parents travel far to settle in this part of the world. Legend start me reading more of the Mongolian history, Chingis Khan, Kublai Khan, part of the Chinese Dynasty - the Yuan Dynasty founded by Kublai Khan.

I like Morningstar too as I like the legend of the highlanders. The mountains always attract me - about the same to my attraction to the sea and the rivers. Each and every book written by the big man have deep impact on me, fantasy or not, it is so close to my heart. I do not think in this life time, there will be other wordsmith could touch me with their books like the work of the big man. I somehow think that he wrote each story to entertain me and to built up my courage, to shape my thinking and make me a better thinker. I love the way he explain about good and evil. He really has the wonderful flare of words. Stan I need help here to vote!

There is also White Knight Black Swan - I know it is not in this category. I would like to be able to write like him too, but I rather not, I want him just to be exclusive - he wrote ordinary people with code of life and make them big, make them heroes - in my eyes, he is my hero. I know so there will be no other wordsmith in this era could touch my soul.

I was trying to find myself too at the time I was reading HiTS for the first time, rethinking of my anger why my late father serve my country and the people - he has not much time for me, but I would not want him any other way, though my father never kill anyone, but he did the same for his community, protected the people. I was in the middle of trying to leave my country and not coming back - I want to make somewhere else my home as I feel the same as the grey man - he just want to sail away and not return as nothing of interest to offer me here Kuala Lumpur.

It has to be HiTS.so be it, it will be Hero in The Shadow

[Liz]

Ah now, see, my favourites are his books on Alexander, but then I will quite honestly admit that it is because I am an Alexander nut.

I just mentioned this topic to my hubby, who is a HUGE DG fan and he immediately said, without quible: "the first one, tell them, the first one." Which to you and I translates into Legend.

[Roger O'Donnell]

@Rose Lina

There's a Knights of Dark Renown World of Warcraft Guild

http://www.knightsofdarkrenown.co.uk/

:)

[Isaiah Gilliland]

By far for me it was Stormrider!
The ending by far was one of the most beautiful endings I've ever read. I don't think I've ever gottten so emotional by an ending. Also the scene with the king on an upside down cross and slitting his throat and the blood dripping on the skull was extreme.
Probably the greatest book I've ever read in my life.

Anybody else enjoy that one?

[drosdelnoch]

A lot of people cite the previous one (Ravenheart) as thier favourite because of Jaim. What did work well for me in Stormrider was the Moidart. I liked the way he adapted to the situation. Must have a Rigante reread as well as having another reread of the Troy saga. I seem to have phases of going through mass rereads, although I do tend to reread the Drenai two or three times a year.