Advantages: Opens your mind to the darker side of fantasy
Disadvantages: Don't read before eating!

...This book by David Gemmell is a book that explores the dark side of fantasy. It is thoroughly well written, with characters you care about and characters you would rather not meet on a dark night. The basics of the story are a knight who is trying to reclaim some pride (after failing to ride into a strange land with his fellow knights), and also to save his own life (if he doesn’t he will die, as he cannot remove his helmet which is held in place by a spell of shame, which means that as his hair and beard grow, they are slowly strangling him to death). To reclaim his pride, he must overcome his fears and follow in his comrades footsteps and discover who the ‘Red Knights’ are who are destroying his world. Although this book is slightly disturbing in places, it is definitely worth reading whether you are a Gemmell fan or not.... Read review

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Advantages: three books you'll want to keep reading
Disadvantages: you won't get any work done till you've read them at least once

...You don't need to have read any of Eddings's other books to really enjoy this trilogy. The first book, The Diamond Throne, begins with the return from exile of Sir Sparhawk, Pandion Knight and Queens Champion, to find that the queen is gravely ill. She has been sealed in crystal to keep her alive until a cure can be found, by the Styric sorceress Sephrenia, with the help of 11 Pandion Knights. Every moon, one of the 12 people present will die and then finally the Queen herself will perish. So starts the book... but if only life were that simple for our hero. Annias, the Primate of Cimmura has his eyes on the throne of the Archprelate, who is old and in failling health, and will stop at nothing, even mass murder, to get what he wants. As with other Eddings books, the central characters come together gradually, and very deep... Read review

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Advantages: A thrilling story.
Disadvantages: A bit slow to start

...The book begins with a boy called Jack who gets a toy castle with one tiny toy knight. But what he didn’t know was that a magic spell had been laid on the castle and the knight by a wicked witch. One day he went to the toy castle and he was amazed to see the little knight running across the courtyard. When I first picked up this book and looked at the cover I thought, “This doesn’t look like a very good book.” But by chapter five I had changed my mind. The little knight shrinks Jack with a magic wand and they go off together on an “adventure”. They pass under and over hills and mountains and through the odd valley. Eventually they get to a witch’s castle. There are dragons and guards at the castle, but when Jack turns to ask the Knight for something he is….. gone! So what do ya know, he... Read review

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Advantages: Slightly improved graphics and gameplay
Disadvantages: Still not great graphics.

...The great game Jedi Knight, Dark Forces two, gets a great add on, Mysteries of the Sith. The Sith are a bunch of very nasty jedis, or dark jedis. This game takes place long after jedi knight, with the player takng control of Mara Jade (of the Empire books) and Kyle Katarn, of the orginal games. The ending is very good, and the style of fighting and thinking is kept right through the game, unlike the Half Life addon, Apposing Force. Extra force powers are useful as well. Expecially force throw the lightsaber, like Darth Vader does in Return Of The Jedi. The music, as ever, keeps the flow of the game, and secondary functions to weapons keeps the game interesting. Some great level designs make this game one of the best addon packs ever.... Read review

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Advantages: Fantastic Story
Disadvantages: Its not long enough.

...Knights of the Dark Renown by David Gemmell The Knights of the Gabala, legendary protectors of the Nine Duchies, have disappeared through a demon-haunted gateway between worlds. Only one held back: Manannan, the Coward Knight. When murder and black magic beset the Duchies, Manannan must ride through the gate and seek out his companions… What?? Huh?? Well ok let me explain. David Gemmell writes some of the most captivating, fantasy books out there. I should know I have read about 18 of them now (and still going). He is very rarely boring, and such a great story teller who creates some of my favourite fictional characters ever… OK, back to the book… This is one of his finest books to date. It’s a one off story, so all those people out there who fancy reading Gemmell but don’t know where to start... Read review

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Advantages: easy to use, engrossing plot, likeable characters
Disadvantages: none that spring to mind

...If you don’t own this game, and you’re a particular fan of the point ‘n’ click genre, then if you ever see it, purchase it immediately. It would be hard to imagine someone not enjoying this game. It has a fantastic, and at the time, revolutionary, interface making it easy to control, and the plot and cast of characters are nothing below excellent. An intricate and believable plot set around a mysterious voodoo cult in New Orleans is supported by the title character, Gabriel Knight(voiced fantastically by Tim Curry) sets the scene. You, as Gabriel Knight, investigate the recent voodoo murders as research for your new book. But there’s more. A side plot opens, introducing Gabriel’s uncle, Wolfgang Ritter draws Gabriel to Germany, and then Africa, all of which ties in with the voodoo cult based in New Orleans. I really can... Read review

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Advantages: Learn about The Templar Knights.
Disadvantages: None.

...Whilst browsing through my usual book catalogue, TSP, (The Softback Preview), I came across a book by Historian Stephen Howarth. It was entitled The Knights Templar. I thought, Ooooh, this looks interesting, and it is a companion to the other book I have, the locations of Templar Knight graves around Britain. So, herein lies a tale of bravery, murder, corruption and lies in the Early Centuries. A Brotherhood, known as The Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ, Knights of the Temple of Solomon, but better known as The Knights Templar, were founded in 1118 or 1119 (no-one is sure which), and they united two medieval ideals which should never have existed together, Monks and Warriors. They had jobs in all walks of life, Bankers, Diplomats and Tax-Gatherers to name but a few. The Templar Knights were themselves poor, but the wealth... Read review

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Advantages: it is very exciting
Disadvantages: it is rather long

...the sword in the stone is a fantasy book for ages of eight and above. it it appealed to me at first was when i looked on the back of the book to see what it was about it said, "a book about knights witches and magicians" and because i liked all three of those things i decided to take it and read it. It is about a boy who looks for a bird in a wood and eventually finds merlyn the magician, and many of his magical possesions and he soon find lots of adventures waiting for him. It is based on the original story about king arthur, and it is also about his chldhood. I would recommend this book to people who like a really good fantastic fantasy story. With knights and witches and magicians. You will never have another dull or boring dream at night. I liked this book because even though it was quite long and drony, it was so exciting that i... Read review

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Advantages: Offers a superb glimpse into a world that doesn't need heroes.
Disadvantages: None in itself, but it's responsible for all the angsty superhero comics that followed.

...One of the most frequently recommended comic books of recent years, Frank Miller's 'The Dark Knight Returns' was the book that made comics edgy again. Unfortunately it's also responsible for virtually every comic writer thinking that their own creations needed to have a dark and edgy side, but I won't hold that against him. The book takes place in a world where all the world's heros and superheroes have disappeared from public view. As you might have gathered from the title, it tells the story of the previously retired Batman's return to active duty. Sounds a like a cue for a lot of 'Blam! 'Ker-Pows' and 'Kazam's, right? Wrong. You see, the book is entirely focused upon Batman himself. It also shows how his actions effect the world he's living in. And it raises the question of just how good, or bad, Batman is for the world. I... Read review

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Advantages: A good read
Disadvantages: none

...I found Bernard Knights books by accident whilst shopping in Tesco. Some books were on offer of 3 for £10.00. Being an avid reader I thought I'd give them a go even though I normally prefer horror espicially James Herbert. I'm really pleased that I did. Bernard Knight was born in 1931 in Cardiff and qualified as a Doctor in 1954 and as a Barrister in 1967. He served in the Army as a pathologist and Army Doctor. He became a Home Office pathologist in 1965 and was appointed Professor of Forensic Pathology at the University of Wales College of Medicine in 1980. He was given a C.B.E in 1993 and retired from medicine in 1996. His books are the Crowner John Mysteries. 11 books in this series have been published. The 12th is due to be released summer 2008 The Crowner John series are set in 12th century Exeter (the same era as Robin... Read review

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