perelgut (04/12/83)
This is my first attempt at a book review for sf-lovers. I
am an avid reader of sf and I would be happy to share my opinions
on new books if there is enough demand. Since I have been known
to go crazy and actually buy the odd hard-cover, I can review
some books that the more sensible paperback readers won't see for
a year or so.
The First Book of SWORDS
Fred Saberhagen
TOR, March 1983
This is a trade paperback which I paid $6.95Cdn for. This
is the first book of a planned trilogy.
The story is set in the same universe as "Empire of the East"
(1979) (also published as three separate books: "The Broken
Lands" (1968); "The Black Mountains" (1971); and "Changeling
Earth" (1973)). "Swords" contains a mediocre essay at the end
which includes some background. I apologize for any direct
quotes I steal to support my failing memory of "Empire". All
research credit should go to the essay author: Sandra Miesel.
"Empire" takes place in a post-catastrophic North America
whose culture is vaguely medieval. Physical reality has been al-
tered to prevent total destruction by hell-bombs. This altera-
tion allows magic to work. Wizardry dominates and demons run
loose. The more powerful demons are actually the incarnations of
some of the last bombs to explode during the transformation from
technical to life-force reality. The Old World refers to a high-
ly technical society, the New World refers to the highly magical
world of "Empire".
"Empire" ends with the mutual destruction of the largest
hell-bomb/demon and the computer responsible for creating the New
World. Ardneh, the computer manages to blend the New and Old
Worlds somewhat and we are left with a world of rebuilding tech-
nology and working magics.
"SWORDS" (finally, the main topic again!) starts 2000 years
after Ardneh's destruction. Beings who call themselves gods have
re-appeared and Vulcan has forged 12 swords with unique special
powers. The swords are used as tools in a game being played by
the gods. However, it becomes apparent that the gods may not be
all the claim to be, and there are hints by the end of the book
that the game might be of deeper significance.
I don't want to go into too much more detail about the plots.
You will not need to read "Empire" to understand "SWORDS" and
there is only one character in common between the two, although
Ardneh is mentioned frequently as a synonym for God. If you feel
a real need for all the background, the essay appendix will more
than suffice.
This first books is mainly swords and sorcery with a few
hints about greater things to come. If it follows plot-lines
similar to "Empire", the second book will concentrate more on
clarifying the situation, and the final book will make everything
clear and wrap up most loose ends. Saberhagen tends to leave
enough room to expand further, but provides enough detail to
satisfy the reader that there are no gaping holes.
The hardest thing in the book is to keep track of the swords.
During the course of this first book, you will meet four of the
swords in at least one of their aspects. The Epilogue is a poem
listing all twelve swords, and the essay explains them all (sur-
rounded by what I feel is pedantic rubbish) in a little more de-
tail.
One of the interesting tid-bits which made the essay worth
reading was the comment that the books are written partially to
"provide the data base for an intricate new computer game that
will uniquely combine both adventure-text and interactive
features for play on a micro-computer." This is an optimistic
statement since Sandra also says that the game design hadn't
started. Don't hold your breath although the story would serve
as an great basis for a FRP scenario.
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Comments on the above review will be appreciated. Flamers please
say it is a flame in the title.
--- Stephen Perelgut ---
{decvax!utzoo,ihnp4,uw-beaver}!utcsrgv!perelgut