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.

[Axis]

Peter Elliott said:

This is really tough, My first read was Legend and i love all the Drenai books. I also love the Rigante , Troy, and Macedon novels, but my favorite are the Skilgannon books . I cant put my finger on why but i read these books more than any other DG books i have .

I have to aggree that the Silkganon books are brilliant. While the books themselves are still second to Legend (in my opinion) the character Silkganon is so magnificantly portrayed. I've never read any book that has a character deeper than silkganon.

[Axis]

NAASHANITE 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...

Hi.
I also loved the Silkganon books, but I found White Wolf more enjoyable than The Swords of Night and Day. I guess it would be because the plot was not as unpredictable in 'The swords...".
That being said they were both still excelent books.

[Axis]

drosdelnoch said:

To be honest Mark, you'll find that youre not the first nor the last who will have done this. I also tend to think that most fans favourite book is the first one that they read as its the book that introduced David to them plus that magical first read of every book also adds to the pleasure.

This did not apply to me. My first Gemmell book was Dark Moon, and it was O.K., but not brilliant. Later on, I read White Wolf and The Swords of Night and Day, and now I'm hooked on Gemmell. The only thing stopping me from rweading more Gemmell books is the fact that I don't have any others, and I'll get more when I finish reading the Dune trilogy.

[Mark Tilbury]

For me Ravenheart, followed by WKBS.
Ravenheart has just become My Favourite because of a horrific murder that happened in Southampton recently.
Ravenheart starts dark and looks like getting a lot darker but in the end through selflessness, giving and love good things will happen to good people you may have to search them out in real life but they're there behind the bad news. You will find a Maev, a Jaim or a Arif Shadler.

[kingdobster]

Hey there

I have to go with the first one I read, Legend. I read it in 1986 when I was 12 years old and i have never been drawn into a book as much as this. I remember vividly being unable to put it down even though I was needing to sleep, as I couldn't wait until the next morning to find out how it ended. My oldest boy is now nearly old enough to start reading them, I have to admit that I am a little jealous that he has them all to read for the first time, but also i'm very excited for him. I know he'll love them!!!

[Tomasz]

I love Troy novels. Those books are so brilliant! I hope I didn't lost anything of Gemmell's mastery becouse I read it in Polish... Everybody knows stories about Trojan War and how that finished but David took his own way and I just want to go his own way over and over again! :D

[Mikhail Karan]

Well this one is really tough for me. Id have to say its a tie between Legend of Deathwalker and White Wolf. I loved how Legend of Deathwalker brought so much together for Legend. Whitewolf was a great book to, Skillagonnon being my favorite DG character because of this book.

[Ryan]

The first book I ever read was Sword in the Storm. I loved the book. However, if I had to choose a number one all time favorite. I would have to choose White Wolf. I loved the all the settings. when I first read it and Druss came running out at the riders, axe in hand, and clove through them. Wow. Loved it. I never read another Druss book, but after reading White Wolf, and Swords. I have a good understanding of him. I am actually picking up Druss books at chapters after my final today.

[drosdelnoch]

Ryan said:

I am actually picking up Druss books at chapters after my final today.

Hey Ryan,
You'll enjoy the saga of the Silver Slayer. You really are in for a treat, let us know how you get on.

[Ryan]

Well I picked up the following novels:
Legend
First Chronicles of Druss the Legend.
The Legend of the Deathwalker.

Once I finish my Re-Read of Swords of Night and Day, I'll get into Legend.

[Andrew Collingwood]

I have not read alot of books from David Gemmell's collection but I have read the Troy Series and in my 26 years of reading books these are the best I have ever read. While I was reading the Shield of Thunder I heard of David's death and was sad. I assumed there wouldn't be the final book but one day a few months ago I was just looking at David's other books when i came across Fall Of Kings and i almost screamed with joy. Thank you David and Stella Gemmell for writing, in my eyes, the best books ever.

[Matthew Tyree]

I love Legend! Anytime I need something to rally my spirits from dark depths of too much work, I crack open Legend and escape behind the walls of Dros Delnoch to fight alongside Druss the Axeman! Great stuff!

I wish I could write like that as well!

Matt