Fantasy Books > David Gemmell Fantasy Books

Advantages: Excellent plot, believeable characters, great story.
Disadvantages: To a book by Gemmell? Are you serious? ;)

...is one of those books. Dark Moon is up there as one of my very favourite books by this author and in fact one of my favourites ever. This is about the fourth time I have read it and every time I read it I am sucked in to the story and get totally absorbed into the plot. So what makes Dark Moon so good? Read on and you’ll see. Tarantio is a soldier in the army. In fact he’s not sure which duke he is fighting for from one day to the next as he is a ...
...at war over a mysterious dark pearl left when the Eldarin, a highly powerful race, disappeared one day without a trace, well almost. The only thing left was the pearl. Anyhow Duke Sirano of Romark currently has the pearl and is working on releasing it’s magical powers (It was left by a race of sorcerers so it must be magic and powerful right?) Whilst the war wages on. One night they make a breakthrough and as the pearl is broken a great dark moon ... Read review

Advantages: Well set out, thought provoking
Disadvantages: Quite graphic, definetly for older readers

I was sitting at home the other day going through a couple of my old books when I came across this one...and I couldn't remember any of the storyline. So I decided to read the first few pages to refresh my memory. To my utter shock and everlasting shame, I quickly realised that I had yet to read the book!!!! Now I am a self-confessed Gemmell fanatic and this is a capital sin....hopefully you will all forgive me after reading my review. This story ...
...gateways and stones of power are both evident in this book. This was one of the few weak points for me as it seemed that David was relying on a tried and tested formula. But having said that, I still found it a very enjoyable read. I did love the way that he blends historical figures into the writing, while most of what he writes about them is conjecture, it feels as if he has got them nailed down perfectly. The story starts off where the Lion of ... Read review

Advantages: Stand alone book
Disadvantages: none

I love Gemmell's books. It's as simple as that. This one is one of my all time fav's, it is a stand alone story of a race of technologically advanced people who manage to survive the cataclysmic "fall of the world" by that David means change in orbital rotation leading to the seas rising up and swamping the land. So the Avatars (a few hundred?) manage to make a new home in the north of the planet, they manage to subjugate the locals (Vagars) with ...
...from the race they subdue) they are facing an uprising and are in a tough spot. In an attempt to recharge the weapons they have one of their top scientist goes to the ice caps above their old capital. They manage to get some power from the source below, but a volcanic eruption puts an end to possible future trips. A great character in this book is Viruk a crazed killer who hears voices telling him to kill and know joy. I think he is great, totally ... Read review

Advantages: Gives insight into the creation of Druss, the hero of Gemmell's first novel, Legend
Disadvantages: Although it's a prequel, it needs to be read AFTER Legend

Legend was the first novel written by David Gemmell, the undisputed King of Heroic Fantasy, and this is the story of how Druss the Legend was created. For those that haven't read Legend and know nothing of Druss, he is known among the people of his world by various names: Deathwalker, The Captain of the Axe and Silver Slayer to name but a few. The story opens with a young Druss, felling trees in the mountain village that has become his home. He ...
...humour, which leads him to take offense when others tease him. Due to his prodigous strength this makes him feared by the people of his community, especially when he breaks anothers jaw simply because the man said that he was lucky to be married to Rowena, as he wouldn't mind bedding her. This leads to a converstaion with his father Bress, who Druss despises as a coward, due to his father backing away from most confrontations. While Druss is working, ... Read review

Advantages: Wonderfully well crafted characters, good plot, beautifully written
Disadvantages: It's Gemmell at his best -no disadvantages here!

...about a book called The Ghost King. Also if you know anything about David Gemmell as a writer you will know he specialises in blood thirsty battle and monsters and ghouls and magic from spiritual plains. Ideal for such a spooky time of year then! Now my copy of this book is the 1988 vintage (pictured above)but there is not much sense in me describing it’s cover to you. The latest edition of this book is mostly a golden colour with a beautiful sun ...
...in the plot of the ghost King to a certain very famous legend. That of the King Arthur. This is Gemmell’s take on the Arthurian legend and very much focuses on what happened after Arthur’s death. It is pure fantastical magic. In my mind Gemmell outstrips Tolkien, but I would at least put him in the same league as the author of one of the most classic fantasy books of all time, The Hobbit. To compare him to Authors of this time his style is very similar ... Read review