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.

[Andrew Guile]

Has to be Legend for me. Ok, it's raw stuff at times but it's David speaking from the heart and guts and it comes through. I think it has thr stongest theme and therefore impact for that reason.

[wild_ice]

I have gone through quite a few Legend books. The pages drop out and the spine goes...all ways upsets me.

Still, absolutely and completely a wonderful book and Virae is way hot!

[Paul]

i got to say Waylander because i loved the opening scene and new i was going to have a fun ride through the book.

[drosdelnoch]

Paul said:

i got to say Waylander because i loved the opening scene and new i was going to have a fun ride through the book.

Funnily enough Waylander started as writing example by David. He was talking about writing patterns and lulls and peaks and how you had to modify each one so that it wasn't over powering. That sequence was given as an example of how not to start a book and he went away as it made him ask a lot of questions. And thus the slayer was born.

[Ramah]

Hey guys, I'm new here so I thought I'd register to drop an answer into this thread.

I re-read Knights of Dark Renown a few months ago so it now has the dubious honour of being the only DG book I have read three times. I have a soft spot for it... but it's not my favourite. :)

Like many Legend was the first DG book I read and I loved it. At that time he had about five or six books under his belt and I consumed them all and craved more. I've always held a soft spot for Legend even though it is, like others have mentioned, rougher in the writing than many of his following books. But again, it's not my favourite.

My favourite, and I'm really surprised that it hasn't even been mentioned yet in this thread, is The Last Guardian. Wolf in Shadow, although good, always seemed too meandering to me, with not enough focus on what it actually wanted to be (maybe because of his having re-written a large part of it). TLG however was plotted tightly and I though the central ideas in it were amazing. Actually, thinking about it makes me realise how many years it's been since I read it. I think I might dig it out again. :)
Btw, Bloodstone was a very poor conclusion to Jon Shannow's story in my opinion.

I actually stopped reading DG books some years ago because to me they had all started blending in to one. It seemed like he was just starting to reuse old ideas and old characters under a different name. Consequently, even though I often look at his titles in the bookshop, I have real trouble knowing which ones of his later ones I have read already. Something like the last five maybe I haven't read.

Oh, and one more thing before I stop writing... it seemed like he had no intention of ever writing their story, but I remember reading Quest for Lost Heroes and getting to the end and LOVING the possibility of the story of the twins and their relationship. It's been many, many years since I read it but doesn't it end: "What are you looking at?"... "The enemy." ? I was stoked to read the follow up to that but it never happened. :( Did anyone else feel like that?
Sorry, I guess a question like that would be better housed in a different thread.

[Phil Keeton]

Hi Ramah! We discuss a little of the twins story in the Campfire Tales thread. Hope to hear from you there soon?

[brian4]

For me, my favorite Gemmell book is the first Gemmell book I read, Knights of Dark Renown. Maybe it was just because it was the first book of his that I read so I was first introduced to his excellent writing and the memory stuck with me, but the book really moved me - I remember being close to tears and wondering how I could have not heard of the author before. Also the fact that it was a stand-alone novel is what helped me decide to give it a try, I had just finished reading several partially-completed series and I was sick of either the series falling off and losing my interest (e.g. Sword of Truth, Wheel of Time) or waiting forever for the next book (e.g. Song of Fire and Ice).

I still feel David Gemmell is greatly underrated, hopefully this award will help introduce others to his writing as well.

[FedesanDeluxe]

Hi everyone, i've just joined this discussion group and i really enjoy to see how many David Gemmell's fan is there. So nice to meet you. I'm italian so sorry for my written English.

I'm a reader... uhm a zelot Gemmell's reader... yes... In Italy, David Gemmell's book are quite rare traslated in italian.
You can find some really old edition (or unique edition) nested somewhere on a dusty library bookshelf (and the reaction is always: yeah yeah! another one!) or you have to order it in original language... from Amazon or other online bookshops (and not really bad... English or Italian traslated, Gemmell's book always rock!)

Ok so, in about 4 years i've readed all David's book and only two last (but i got it! so it's a week or two before i finished!): the second and third of Troy. Wonderful serie!


If i have to choose a David's book... i'll really in trouble...
Eh eh! I've loved character like Druss, Waylander, Parmenion, Shannow.... and their stories....

Perhaps, in my opinion, the most virtuous book is Quest for Lost Heroes. David's mastery to realize epic plot with simple (on the surface) character - like an archer or a farmer - and stereotyped (apparently) situation is, in this book, absolutely legendary! A masterpiece of this talented writer. Yeah yeah! this book is wonderful!
Ok another is Winter Warrior... sublime!
And yeah Shannow's Sipstrassi books.... you have to read!
And... ok ok i'll stop... sorry

[Captain Dangle]

When I first looked at this question Echoes of a Great Song came into my head, but upon some not too deep thought it has to be Waylander as it was my first DG read.

Most of the time when I lend someone a DG book I start them off on Waylander, although this depends on the person....

[Stretch]

Waylander was the first DG I was ever lent (by the above goat) - and is probably my favorite single DG book, but if I'm allowed to nominate a favorite series then its the Jon Shannow books... The way they were all interlinked blew my mind.

[Sean]

Have to say, Winter Warriors.
It's not his best but it was the first Gemmell book I ever picked up, so I owe it a debt.

[Scott Anthony Webber]

white wolf, legend and hero in the shadows. i love all his books the waylander saga is by far the best saga going. i love the skilgannon character aswell. but Druss is still my favourite.