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.

[Josh Malfait]

David Gemmell for me was my inspiration to start writing and that is what i have done, i first read legend when i was eight years old and have been hooked on Gemmell and the other master of fantasy's ever since, and to limit his books to just one to be called my favorite would be to hard to do. What i can say though is how he write the Troy series was amazing, and nothing beats the way he tells the Story of Druss and Skilgannon. When stuck in a bas situation i will often as myself what would Druss do. =d

[John Carver]

Hey folks this is both my introduction and my fist ever forum post ever.

My name is John, and after a very long gap (about 15 years) between finishing a book (Dragons of the summer flame) and starting a new one I think maybe adolescence put a block on my enjoyment of reading, I found myself about to deploy to Iraq for 6 months and felt that maybe just maybe I might find the time to read a book. This is where thankfully my journey with David Gemmell began.
Armed with two clumsily purchased books that piqued my interest, I found myself in possession of Sword in the storm and Ravenheart, (books one and three of the series, Doh).

I danced through SitS and loved every minute of it, maybe my love and been rekindled, but it wasn't until I discovered the man with the magic eye who knows a hero when he sees one, that had me lying in my bunk thankfully off duty with my helmet and body armour on with mortar fire almost constant over head, I'm not sure if it was the stress of the situation I was in or the gravity of the power that the author had over me but I found myself un-ashamedly weeping and staining the pages, I'm sure I don't have to go into any more detail about which specific scene or book I'm talking about but its this book in particular that gets my vote as my favourite Gemmell book, one for reuniting me with my love of reading and two refreshing my belief in people who are still out there willing to go the extra mile to do what's right, in fiction and reality alike.

Thanks David.

[drosdelnoch]

Cracker of a reply David.
It always moved David when he heard the effects his writing had on people, one episode that he heard from a fan always stuck with him. "One of my fans wrote to me once telling me that he'd just finished a book of mine and was out walking his dog when he saw two men attacking a woman. Instinctively he charged in and the men ran away. He said he didn't think he would have reacted in quite that way if he hadnt just finished reading a book about heroes. "

"I believe in heroes, and I believe in what the old tales teach us. Too often we just see the sword fights and the action, and don't stop to look beyond, at the nature of heroism." said David. "We need heroic role models now more than ever before. Someone once said that evil thrives when good men do nothing. Evil is thriving."

[Morne Buitendag]

hmm it's so hard to pick a favourite book. It would definately be in the rigante series, since they are s badass and my first DG book was midnight falcon. I guess that would have to be my favourite too, with breath taking characters like rage and a hero who could just as easily have been the opposite.
The ending is probably my favourite of all of DG's books too, could not have been written better.

Suprisingly, after reading through the last 10 pages, i've changed my mind on who my favourite character really is. always thought it was bane, kaelin or druss (of course) but ive come to realise that it is in fact the moidart ( lol i know wtf) i guess its the ending that gets me, always does with DG's books

[Reg Pearson]

I would have to say that Legend is my favourite. I really could relate to Rek. I remember some one once said "great acts of bravery are not done with an absence of fear" or something like that. Anyway I feel that Rek captures the spirit of this to a tee.

I also remember that I heard of David's passing about the same time I aquired a copy of "Fall of Kings". I was absolutely gut wrenched and almost didnt want to read what I knew was going to be the last book he wrote.

Anyway I just wanted to say that I love all his books, particularly Legend as it was the first one I ever read

[John]

I just re-read Knights of Dark Renown and The Morningstar.

The MorningStar is my favorite book and Jarek Mace my favorite character.
I think he really symbolizes the personae of what a hero is, not some romantic figure who chases opportunities of glory (I think that is a fool), but someone who has the ability and in spite of his better judgement does the right thing when it really matters. (It doesn't hurt to have a large smattering of luck thrown in for good measure either)

[JOE CRAWFORD]

Try Dark Moon! Its among the finest fantasy novels ive ever read and i have read a number of them.
joe

Morne Buitendag said:

hmm it's so hard to pick a favourite book. It would definately be in the rigante series, since they are s badass and my first DG book was midnight falcon. I guess that would have to be my favourite too, with breath taking characters like rage and a hero who could just as easily have been the opposite.
The ending is probably my favourite of all of DG's books too, could not have been written better.

Suprisingly, after reading through the last 10 pages, i've changed my mind on who my favourite character really is. always thought it was bane, kaelin or druss (of course) but ive come to realise that it is in fact the moidart ( lol i know wtf) i guess its the ending that gets me, always does with DG's books

[John]

Yes, Dark Moon is a great read too. It seemed a little rushed though - I wish he would have spread the story over a trilogy and gave us more background on Tio and Daces origins as well as their relationship and it's resolution.

The background of the other three races and what was that warrior womans name? She was awesome would have liked to see more done with her character too. The whole thing, the Duke and the evil sorcerer guy - I guess my main criticism is I wanted more!!! lol

[JOE CRAWFORD]

I must agree that some background info would have been helpful though not essential. Also, more extensive character development would have fleshed out the tale to trilogy length, David probably did not htink there was enough"meat" for that length. As written, it is still one of my favorites!
joe

John said:

Yes, Dark Moon is a great read too. It seemed a little rushed though - I wish he would have spread the story over a trilogy and gave us more background on Tio and Daces origins as well as their relationship and it's resolution.

The background of the other three races and what was that warrior womans name? She was awesome would have liked to see more done with her character too. The whole thing, the Duke and the evil sorcerer guy - I guess my main criticism is I wanted more!!! lol

[Kevin Cummings]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on the forums, my favourite book is definately Legend and favourite characters Druss, Waylander ansd Skilgannon.

Back to the beginning, I remember walking around WH Smiths in dare I say it (covers his mouth 1985 cough cough) looking for my next book and seeing Legend, I picked it up read the back and thought this looks good, I read it at work then went home and finished it overnight. The following week I read it again and must have done that dozens of times since along with all his other books.

I was hooked and bought everything as soon as it came out, couldn't wait to finish them, then when I was finished was disappointed I had to wait for the next one. He became one of my 2 my favourite authors (the other being Robert E Howard) .

I introduced my son to him as they got older and he too has read them a number of times interestingly his favourite characters are the same but his favourite book is Waylander

The Gemmell books are my goto books when I am waiting to buy something new, my old favourites and that's any of the books!

When Mr Gemmell passed I bought the last in the Troy series and like lots of others didn't want to read it and left it for about 2 weeks (a very long time for me). I still haven't found another author who I order books in advance for. :-(

[drosdelnoch]

Thanks for the moving post Kevin.
Im a convert of old as well so it was always magical to get that next book. I used to have to rush to beat my Dad to it with our rule of "He who buys it gets to read it first." Alas due to my small pay cheque at the time I used to get the Large PB's which I wish Id now paid for the HB's. Incidently the rule didn't hold as for some reason the book had to stay in the house and someone always seemed to know what was happening in it before I did. Hmmmmm.

[Gary Walsh]

It's tremendously dfficult to pick out just one of the books They have been so important to me over the years. I'm currently re-reading Legend of Deathwalker - I'm going back revisiting as many as I can - starting with the Drenai series.
So far the most enjoyable re-read has been Waylander 2. It's compelling and exciting from the first page to the last, and Waylander is the most enduring and complex character that Gemmell created.
I haven't read anything for about 3 years so is's great getting involved with the characters again.

My 15 year old daughter Olivia is in the process of choosing her first Gemmell book to read - she has asked me which one would be good to start with - I would welcome another opinion anyone would care to contribute
.
What do you think?

Thanks
Gary



Gary