David Gemmell

[TheQuestionMan]

David Gemmell is... was one of my favourite authors. His books were low fantasy, but retained that vital element to them. For those interested in reading some excellent fantasy I highly recommend him.


David Gemmell (August 1, 1948–July 28, 2006)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Gemmell


QM

[Saru Sponge]

I second this sentiment.

[Celephais]

Never given him a look I must say. I've always passed him by for another author everytime a book of his caught my interest. Hmm maybe I'll look into some of his stuff over the summer.

[Devin Parker]

I had no idea that David Gemmell had died. Well, I'm sorry to hear it.

My older brother introduced me to Gemmell's work with Morningstar. He would have lent me Legend but he was in the middle of his second read-through, so I had to wait until he was done with that. I thoroughly enjoyed both his take on the reluctant Robin Hood-style hero of the former title and the elderly hero of the latter commanding a hopeless siege in his twilight years (though I will never be able to think of Druss without picturing him being played by Sean Connery, thanks to the cover illustration of the edition I read).

Somewhere on my pile of books I've got a copy of The Lion of Macedon that I started last summer and had to put down for some reason. I'm looking forward to getting back into that story again.

The way I try to sell Gemmell to my friends is, "It's not that he's necessarily doing anything new with the fantasy genre - it's just that he handles it in such a gritty, realistic way that's really engaging to read."

[Luke Fleeman]

I read Sword in the Storm, which I did enjoy. I don't think he was breaking any new ground, but it was a good read. He did a good job with characterization, and perhaps the only drawback was Connavar's Conan level awesomeness, which could be off-putting. But well written and enjoyable.

[Eric E.]

I have thoroughly enjoyed every book I've read from Gemmell. My favorite, hands down, is The Jerusalem Man. Yes, I know, it was reprinted in the Stones of Power series, but I just like the name of the book. Something about that title just adds to the book that isn't there with its alternate title in the reprint.

[Major Grubert]

I'm a notoriously slow reader, the only two books that I can recall having read cover to cover in one sitting were Moorcock's The Bane of the Black Sword, and Gemmell's Legend. The first I picked up in a second hand bookstore, and the second I spotted soon after it was first published and it just drew me in for some reason. And easy and very enjoyable read no doubt.

[Olive]

So, where is the best place to start? Legend? Gemmell is one writer who's books often can be found in airport bookshops which is usually the only time I'm in a bookshop without a clear idea of what I'm there to buy.

[TheQuestionMan]

So, where is the best place to start? Legend? Gemmell is one writer who's books often can be found in airport bookshops which is usually the only time I'm in a bookshop without a clear idea of what I'm there to buy.

Drenai Series

* Legend (1984) (Originally published in the USA as Against the Horde, re-released as Legend)
* The King Beyond the Gate (1985)
* Waylander (1986)
* Quest for Lost Heroes (1990)
* Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf (1992)
* The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend (1993)
* The Legend of Deathwalker (1996)
* Winter Warriors (1996)
* Hero in the Shadows (2000)
* White Wolf (2003)
* The Swords of Night and Day (2004)

Anthologies:

* Drenai Tales Volume I: contains; Legend, The King Beyond the Gate and Waylander
* Drenai Tales Volume II: contains; Quest for Lost Heroes, Waylander II and The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend
* Drenai Tales Volume III: contains; The Legend of the Deathwalker, Winter Warriors and Hero in the Shadows

Rigante Series

* Sword in the Storm (1999)
* Midnight Falcon (2000)
* Ravenheart (2001)
* Stormrider (2002)

Stones Of Power — Sipstrassi — Jon Shannow

This series is known by several names. The entire series deals with the Stones of Power, also known as the Sipstrassi. The last three novels involve the protagonist Jon Shannow. The first four novels were published in an omnibus edition as Stones of Power: A Sipstrassi Omnibus in 1992. The last three novels were published in omnibus form as The Complete Chronicles of the Jerusalem Man in 1995.

* Ghost King (1988)
* Last Sword of Power (1988)
* Wolf in Shadow (1987) (first published as The Jerusalem Man)
* The Last Guardian (1989)
* Bloodstone (1994)

Hawk Queen Series

* Ironhand's Daughter (1995)
* The Hawk Eternal (1995)

Individual Fantasy Titles

* Knights of Dark Renown (1989)
* Morning Star (1992)
* Dark Moon (1997)
* Echoes of the Great Song (2002)


Greek Series (alternate history)

* Lion of Macedon (1990)
* Dark Prince (1991)


Troy Series

* Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow (2005)
* Troy: Shield of Thunder (2006)
* Troy: Fall of Kings (August 2007)

[Max]

I would start with Legend. It was his first published work, which does show in spots, but hot damn! it's good. Very powerful stuff, very compelling. I quite literally couldn't put it down once I cracked it open late one night for just a quick peek before bed... next thing I know, it's seven in the morning and the story's over.