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Spellsinger #2
The Hour of the Gate
Spellsinger Jon-Tom follows bespectacled turtle wizard Clothahump for allies against invading insect Plated Folk with new magic - and way home to our world. Crew is his crush Flor, 5' otter Mudge, red-hair Talea, big bat Pog, gambler Caz, dragon Falameezar. Froggy Bribbens guides them in split river under mountain but no farther to arachnid Weavers or mythical Ironcloud.
300 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 17, 1984
About the author
Alan Dean Foster
517 books1,893 followersBestselling science fiction writer Alan Dean Foster was born in New York City in 1946, but raised mainly in California. He received a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA in 1968, and a M.F.A. in 1969. Foster lives in Arizona with his wife, but he enjoys traveling because it gives him opportunities to meet new people and explore new places and cultures. This interest is carried over to his writing, but with a twist: the new places encountered in his books are likely to be on another planet, and the people may belong to an alien race.
Foster began his career as an author when a letter he sent to Arkham Collection was purchased by the editor and published in the magazine in 1968. His first novel, The Tar-Aiym Krang, introduced the Humanx Commonwealth, a galactic alliance between humans and an insectlike race called Thranx. Several other novels, including the Icerigger trilogy, are also set in the world of the Commonwealth. The Tar-Aiym Krang also marked the first appearance of Flinx, a young man with paranormal abilities, who reappears in other books, including Orphan Star, For Love of Mother-Not, and Flinx in Flux.
Foster has also written The Damned series and the Spellsinger series, which includes The Hour of the Gate, The Moment of the Magician, The Paths of the Perambulator, and Son of Spellsinger, among others. Other books include novelizations of science fiction movies and television shows such as Star Trek, The Black Hole, Starman, Star Wars, and the Alien movies. Splinter of the Mind's Eye, a bestselling novel based on the Star Wars movies, received the Galaxy Award in 1979. The book Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990. His novel Our Lady of the Machine won him the UPC Award (Spain) in 1993. He also won the Ignotus Award (Spain) in 1994 and the Stannik Award (Russia) in 2000.
Foster began his career as an author when a letter he sent to Arkham Collection was purchased by the editor and published in the magazine in 1968. His first novel, The Tar-Aiym Krang, introduced the Humanx Commonwealth, a galactic alliance between humans and an insectlike race called Thranx. Several other novels, including the Icerigger trilogy, are also set in the world of the Commonwealth. The Tar-Aiym Krang also marked the first appearance of Flinx, a young man with paranormal abilities, who reappears in other books, including Orphan Star, For Love of Mother-Not, and Flinx in Flux.
Foster has also written The Damned series and the Spellsinger series, which includes The Hour of the Gate, The Moment of the Magician, The Paths of the Perambulator, and Son of Spellsinger, among others. Other books include novelizations of science fiction movies and television shows such as Star Trek, The Black Hole, Starman, Star Wars, and the Alien movies. Splinter of the Mind's Eye, a bestselling novel based on the Star Wars movies, received the Galaxy Award in 1979. The book Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990. His novel Our Lady of the Machine won him the UPC Award (Spain) in 1993. He also won the Ignotus Award (Spain) in 1994 and the Stannik Award (Russia) in 2000.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
August 3, 2021
*** 3.65 ***
May 2, 2024
This is the second half of the story that began in Spellsinger, which introduced the situation (bug army invasion), the world (anthropomorphic animals and magic that works), and (most of) the characters. In this one, alliances are forged, the enemy is scouted, and the battle is fought. The climactic fight is a little rushed, and the day is saved well after the last minute via Deus ex machina. The Spellsinger doesn't sing many spells, but it all works out pretty well anyway. It's a fun, light fantasy with several clever and amusing bits, and a cute (if obvious) romantic twist. This Warner paperback sports a nice cover painting from the great Carl Lundgren, just as Spellsinger did, but, curiously, I don't think that the characters look much alike.
December 7, 2023
Now that the introduction of characters from the first entry is out of the way, the Hour of the Gate---yes, introduces a couple more characters---but delves a lot more into the action and adventure aspect that fantasy lovers will get a kick out of.
This is the climax book one was building towards a.k.a. the second half of "Spellsinger" by Alan Dean Foster.
Unfortunately, character development is very slim, but if you got through the first book, you should be used to it by now. Our Bat friend, Pog gets a little info, but everyone else, not so much.
Another thing you may be disappointed by is the lack of actual spellsinging. There is some, but not as much as one might hope. However, despite being a world full of magic and talking animals, it's a realistic part of the story. You need to remember that Jon-Tom is still growing since he only just got sent to this world. And even if he did know which songs to sing, as we've learned from Book One, those songs only conjure the things of the world he's currently in, not from his own.
That's about all I can say without jumping into spoiler territory, but all you need to know is that I enjoyed it. It works best as a young adult fantasy, but it's an acquired taste. It's not rich with lore, but it is easy to follow. The characters aren't very well-balanced, but you still end up rooting for them. I suppose some might say it's a great book to pass the time, but not much more than that.
This is the climax book one was building towards a.k.a. the second half of "Spellsinger" by Alan Dean Foster.
Unfortunately, character development is very slim, but if you got through the first book, you should be used to it by now. Our Bat friend, Pog gets a little info, but everyone else, not so much.
Another thing you may be disappointed by is the lack of actual spellsinging. There is some, but not as much as one might hope. However, despite being a world full of magic and talking animals, it's a realistic part of the story. You need to remember that Jon-Tom is still growing since he only just got sent to this world. And even if he did know which songs to sing, as we've learned from Book One, those songs only conjure the things of the world he's currently in, not from his own.
That's about all I can say without jumping into spoiler territory, but all you need to know is that I enjoyed it. It works best as a young adult fantasy, but it's an acquired taste. It's not rich with lore, but it is easy to follow. The characters aren't very well-balanced, but you still end up rooting for them. I suppose some might say it's a great book to pass the time, but not much more than that.
November 26, 2016
Alan Dean Foster has written, according to Wikipedia, over 100 novels, and as I was (re)reading The Hour Of The Gate I was trying to work out in my head if, based on sheer volume alone, Foster would rank as my favorite author.
I counted up the books I've read by him, and it's 18. The only other authors prolific enough to match up, I think, are Piers Anthony and Stephen King, so I counted them, too. King, I've read 13 (or 14; it's hard to tell sometimes, because his stories run together in my mind.) Anthony it's at least 31; I can't remember if I've read some of his, too, like the 2nd half of The Apprentice Adept series. Which puts Foster pretty firmly in second place, not a bad spot to be in my opinion.
The Spellsinger books, like a lot of the mid-80s fantasy I like so much, rely on a tried-and-true formula that works because Foster is a good writer and can rise above the cliches. The Spellsinger series follows Jon-Tom, a law student/musician from our world who gets accidentally pulled into another world by the wizard Clothahump, a turtle; in Clothahump's world, all animals -- spiders, insects, mammals, and birds, but not lizards (other than dragons) -- act more or less like humans. Jon-Tom's been pulled there because Clothahump thought he was an engineer; engineering in our world is like magic in Clothahump's world, we're told, although there's not that much evidence to support it.
The books themselves aren't short on action or adventure or imagination, from double-rivers (one underground flowing under the above-ground one to communist dragons to a mystical horse that must circle the universe in order to end it, Foster lays out a good adventure that moves briskly from one scene to the next, and the books manage to be a good, pulp-movie-style adventure.
The kid-who-has-powers thing was obviously big in the 1980s, and maybe Luke Skywalker started it or maybe he was just the latest iteration of it, but Foster's take on Jon-Tom's stumbling version of magic is kind of fun: he's a "spellsinger," so when he plays music and sings he can do magic, magic that's loosely based on the song he's singing -- so, for example, when he tries to conjure a boat in one book he sings Sloop John B. The magic has side effects or is uncontrolled, and in that Sloop John B example, Jon-Tom accidentally makes himself the first mate, and thus spends part of the voyage drunk because the first mate, he got drunk.
Jon-Tom's magic comes in mostly when Foster needs it to; although the books are about being a spellsinger, like most books in which characters have magic there are limits on the magic, both artificial and in-story. In The Hour Of The Gate Jon-Tom decides not to use his magic sometimes because he's too angry, or at others because the group deems it too dangerous, and so on. Whenever I read characters who have magic that have limits on it (for whatever reason) I go back to my list of dream stories I would like to write, which include:
1. A murder mystery in which the detective is himself the one who committed the murder, but he doesn't know it and the reason he doesn't know it has nothing to do with accident, drugs, or being drunk, or amnesia or the like -- in other words, he murdered someone, then has to solve the mystery, and the reason he can't remember it isn't explainable through hokey devices, and
2. A fantasy story in which there is an all-powerful wizard, one who can do pretty much anything he wants, and then... I haven't worked out the rest of the plot but there'll be no limits on his power.
The limitation-on-power thing bugs me, especially when the limit is arbitrary or unexplained. In All The Birds In The Sky the witch's power was limited by the need to not be aggrandizing, although that was never really explained. In the Xanth books characters are always trying to forego their powers and figure things out some other way, which strikes me as incredibly odd, and counterintuitive. Imagine this:
Batman and Superman are standing atop a skyscraper and a giant robot begins tearing down Gotham City. Batman says You should just pick it up and throw it into the sun. Superman says nah I think I'll try to outsmart it so it leaves the city alone.
What would Batman do? I think probably slap Superman and say don't be stupid, just pick it up and throw it into the sun.
(There are a certain amount of people right now saying well what if the robot is actually filled with some sort of explosives that, if launched into the sun, will destroy the universe? but that's not part of the setup, and you're sort of part of the problem.)
The problem is, I think, artificial conflict. And it works worst when it's used only whenever you want it to be a limit. I was watching The Force Awakens the other night when I couldn't sleep, and I was thinking about how Rey manages to mind-control the stormtrooper, and how Obi Wan did that in the first movie. Mind control seems to me to be exactly the kind of thing Jedi shouldn't do; if you can't get mad and attack someone without going to the dark side, how can you make someone else do something against his or her will? And why not use it all the time? I know, I know: it only works on weak minds or something, but the point is: there is a limit to Jedi power that is applied only when the story requires it. Luke can't get mad and fight Vader without going to the Dark Side. Rey can use her mind-control powers to make stormtroopers give her weapons so she can kill people. It's inconsistent.
There's a bit of limitation, for no real reason, in The Hour Of The Gate, even beyond Jon-Tom's occasional reluctance or lack of ability. Clothahump sometimes is too tired to do more magic, a limit that also gets applied somewhat randomly, and there are things magic can't do that, again, don't seem too consistent.
The point of it is that if your story requires a basic element to fail or not be used at a certain point to create drama, then the story itself isn't probably so hot, or the system you've set up (regardless of whether it's meant to be a system or not) isn't consistent and needs some work. All systems need consistency or people get removed from the story.
As an example, consider my objections to shows like Law & Order: I don't like to watch them because frequently they cut corners or do something that wouldn't happen, like two lawyers arguing a point of constitutional law as they walk down a hallway with a judge, who then rules, all off-the-record and with no witnesses or anything. That's ludicrous! I usually say.
Then, one time, watching the show Ed, about a lawyer who bought a bowling alley and works out of it, Ed The Lawyer got hired on some huge case that went to trial like literally the next day, with no witnesses or subpoenas or juries or depositions or anything. How come you don't get bugged by stuff like that? Sweetie asked me, given how unrealistic it was. The difference, though, was that Ed didn't pretend to be a realistic version of the legal system; it was a show about a bowling-alley lawyer. Law & Order wants to be deemed realistic, and so when it cuts corners for the sake of storytelling (it's more dramatic to have lawyers walking down a hall than simply sitting at a table, I get it) it breaks the system down.
If your limits are built into the story, like Superman's kryptonite, Jon-Tom's unfamiliarity with how magic works, then they're fine. It's perfectly fine to have Jon-Tom's magic fail at a key moment because he's been doing magic for like 2 days. If your limit needs to be created at that moment simply to create drama -- the wizard is suddenly too tired or magic 'doesn't work' on that thing or some such - -it's just poor storytelling.
That's not a critique of The Hour Of The Gate. Foster doesn't fall prey to the 'we can't do that so it's dramatic' bug all that often. This is a good book, as good as I remembered it being, and if you like pulpy-fun fantasy fiction Alan Dean Foster is your guy.
I counted up the books I've read by him, and it's 18. The only other authors prolific enough to match up, I think, are Piers Anthony and Stephen King, so I counted them, too. King, I've read 13 (or 14; it's hard to tell sometimes, because his stories run together in my mind.) Anthony it's at least 31; I can't remember if I've read some of his, too, like the 2nd half of The Apprentice Adept series. Which puts Foster pretty firmly in second place, not a bad spot to be in my opinion.
The Spellsinger books, like a lot of the mid-80s fantasy I like so much, rely on a tried-and-true formula that works because Foster is a good writer and can rise above the cliches. The Spellsinger series follows Jon-Tom, a law student/musician from our world who gets accidentally pulled into another world by the wizard Clothahump, a turtle; in Clothahump's world, all animals -- spiders, insects, mammals, and birds, but not lizards (other than dragons) -- act more or less like humans. Jon-Tom's been pulled there because Clothahump thought he was an engineer; engineering in our world is like magic in Clothahump's world, we're told, although there's not that much evidence to support it.
The books themselves aren't short on action or adventure or imagination, from double-rivers (one underground flowing under the above-ground one to communist dragons to a mystical horse that must circle the universe in order to end it, Foster lays out a good adventure that moves briskly from one scene to the next, and the books manage to be a good, pulp-movie-style adventure.
The kid-who-has-powers thing was obviously big in the 1980s, and maybe Luke Skywalker started it or maybe he was just the latest iteration of it, but Foster's take on Jon-Tom's stumbling version of magic is kind of fun: he's a "spellsinger," so when he plays music and sings he can do magic, magic that's loosely based on the song he's singing -- so, for example, when he tries to conjure a boat in one book he sings Sloop John B. The magic has side effects or is uncontrolled, and in that Sloop John B example, Jon-Tom accidentally makes himself the first mate, and thus spends part of the voyage drunk because the first mate, he got drunk.
Jon-Tom's magic comes in mostly when Foster needs it to; although the books are about being a spellsinger, like most books in which characters have magic there are limits on the magic, both artificial and in-story. In The Hour Of The Gate Jon-Tom decides not to use his magic sometimes because he's too angry, or at others because the group deems it too dangerous, and so on. Whenever I read characters who have magic that have limits on it (for whatever reason) I go back to my list of dream stories I would like to write, which include:
1. A murder mystery in which the detective is himself the one who committed the murder, but he doesn't know it and the reason he doesn't know it has nothing to do with accident, drugs, or being drunk, or amnesia or the like -- in other words, he murdered someone, then has to solve the mystery, and the reason he can't remember it isn't explainable through hokey devices, and
2. A fantasy story in which there is an all-powerful wizard, one who can do pretty much anything he wants, and then... I haven't worked out the rest of the plot but there'll be no limits on his power.
The limitation-on-power thing bugs me, especially when the limit is arbitrary or unexplained. In All The Birds In The Sky the witch's power was limited by the need to not be aggrandizing, although that was never really explained. In the Xanth books characters are always trying to forego their powers and figure things out some other way, which strikes me as incredibly odd, and counterintuitive. Imagine this:
Batman and Superman are standing atop a skyscraper and a giant robot begins tearing down Gotham City. Batman says You should just pick it up and throw it into the sun. Superman says nah I think I'll try to outsmart it so it leaves the city alone.
What would Batman do? I think probably slap Superman and say don't be stupid, just pick it up and throw it into the sun.
(There are a certain amount of people right now saying well what if the robot is actually filled with some sort of explosives that, if launched into the sun, will destroy the universe? but that's not part of the setup, and you're sort of part of the problem.)
The problem is, I think, artificial conflict. And it works worst when it's used only whenever you want it to be a limit. I was watching The Force Awakens the other night when I couldn't sleep, and I was thinking about how Rey manages to mind-control the stormtrooper, and how Obi Wan did that in the first movie. Mind control seems to me to be exactly the kind of thing Jedi shouldn't do; if you can't get mad and attack someone without going to the dark side, how can you make someone else do something against his or her will? And why not use it all the time? I know, I know: it only works on weak minds or something, but the point is: there is a limit to Jedi power that is applied only when the story requires it. Luke can't get mad and fight Vader without going to the Dark Side. Rey can use her mind-control powers to make stormtroopers give her weapons so she can kill people. It's inconsistent.
There's a bit of limitation, for no real reason, in The Hour Of The Gate, even beyond Jon-Tom's occasional reluctance or lack of ability. Clothahump sometimes is too tired to do more magic, a limit that also gets applied somewhat randomly, and there are things magic can't do that, again, don't seem too consistent.
The point of it is that if your story requires a basic element to fail or not be used at a certain point to create drama, then the story itself isn't probably so hot, or the system you've set up (regardless of whether it's meant to be a system or not) isn't consistent and needs some work. All systems need consistency or people get removed from the story.
As an example, consider my objections to shows like Law & Order: I don't like to watch them because frequently they cut corners or do something that wouldn't happen, like two lawyers arguing a point of constitutional law as they walk down a hallway with a judge, who then rules, all off-the-record and with no witnesses or anything. That's ludicrous! I usually say.
Then, one time, watching the show Ed, about a lawyer who bought a bowling alley and works out of it, Ed The Lawyer got hired on some huge case that went to trial like literally the next day, with no witnesses or subpoenas or juries or depositions or anything. How come you don't get bugged by stuff like that? Sweetie asked me, given how unrealistic it was. The difference, though, was that Ed didn't pretend to be a realistic version of the legal system; it was a show about a bowling-alley lawyer. Law & Order wants to be deemed realistic, and so when it cuts corners for the sake of storytelling (it's more dramatic to have lawyers walking down a hall than simply sitting at a table, I get it) it breaks the system down.
If your limits are built into the story, like Superman's kryptonite, Jon-Tom's unfamiliarity with how magic works, then they're fine. It's perfectly fine to have Jon-Tom's magic fail at a key moment because he's been doing magic for like 2 days. If your limit needs to be created at that moment simply to create drama -- the wizard is suddenly too tired or magic 'doesn't work' on that thing or some such - -it's just poor storytelling.
That's not a critique of The Hour Of The Gate. Foster doesn't fall prey to the 'we can't do that so it's dramatic' bug all that often. This is a good book, as good as I remembered it being, and if you like pulpy-fun fantasy fiction Alan Dean Foster is your guy.
February 14, 2015
Closing in on 1*. I liked better while writing review. Go figure. I thought I was done with series, easier to review book I didn't like. Nope. I found lots to like, criticize and ponder.
Big battle is most exciting. Maybe quest slows down over large cast? Words and action for all? Why dragon Falameezar quits instead of nagging us/them with Marxist politics?
Jon only hero at end, where he does a spell, or two, on lute-like duar required. What if string breaks, wood warps, cracks? He moons after Spanish girl Flor who tries to gently reject his declarations. Her foreign phrases are mas mucho grande. Red-hair girl Talea glances his way.
In big reveal, Weavers are spiders. Mythical far Ironcloud is cliff of black hematite with holes and dangling ropes. In context, "potted tarsier" p 195 still unclear, could be drunk bird, monkey, or another species. http://www.endangeredspeciesinternati...
"Now shut up. I dislike noisy chatter, especially from romantic females" p 88. Bribbens gives Flor reason for snippy retort she didn't have before. Repeated theme. Does author suppresses self?
Bribbens sounds like Ribbet, traditional frog noise. Boatman's "batrachian face" p 81 pertains to frog or toad. Not to big bat "famulus" turtle wizard familiar Pog with dis-dat accent. Expands my vocabulary.
"Her breasts bobbed easily in the current" p 99. Is adult-level X-rated? When everyone has to undress, single brief bouncing phrase draws attention to Talea. Nothing about supposed beloved Flor. Jon doesn't look? Or she doesn't show? What gives?
"So icky" grimaces Flor about Weavers. Jon "to his surprise .. staring straight into Talea's eyes. "He decided she probably hadn't been looking at him" p 156. Obvious which way the wind blows there.
"It is a terrible thing to hear an old person, human or otherwise, moan like that. It was the helpless, weak sound a sick child might make .. Mostly the high singsong that filled the room was unintelligible nonsense" p 196. Are moans not terrible from child? In Ironcloud, Cloth goes into unexpected trance with no guarantee of recovery. "Always has before" p 197 shrugs Pog.
Why call cat just "margay" p 10? Most misleading. "Wild, near threatened, solitary, nocturnal" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margay. Patterned like cheetah, leopard, but smaller. Cute perky. Dark lines down to amber slanted eyes. https://www.google.ca/search?q=https:...
"you may call me Oll" p 170. "sometimes it is better to die happy and honored than to live miserably and unrespected" p 178. Her spidey-speak is lower case, not mine.
"delightful and inspiring selection of garb. it marks you clearly as a superior being" p 178. Black widow Queen invites Jon to be her mate, talks mainly to him. Is he that stupid? He overlooks blue spider-spun soft scarf given him by Anathos "common river guard" p 176 patroller who led them to central capital Gossameringue? Some names are so suitable.
"Jon-Tom was left to consider his bright black leathern pants, his matching boots, and dark shirt" p 179. When is black leather "bright"? shiny? well-kept? polished? After long journey, guards dumped gang in "old and filthy" p 159 dungeon cell.
"Jon-Tom was now immune. The encounter had inoculated him against nightmare. One who has looked on the Mother of Nightmares [Massawrath= lots of anger?] cannot be frightened by her mere minions of ill sleep" p 122. Yet in Jon hears gloating "giant armored spider .. you can't play music .. you'll have to go to law school . . . aha ha ha!" p 199. All should be "immune" now. Father/parent issues?
Does turtle have a death wish? "I'm only putting myself in danger to preserve life for others. That hardly means I want to relinquish my own" p 206. He does have his own phrasing.
His disguise spell in land of Plated Folk gives them costumes. At worst times, they "slip slidin' away" 1977 Paul Simon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_H-L... came to mind. 5' otter Mudge's left antennae is "pointing backward" p 209.
"Can't have one without the other" p 230. Jon sings, duar spells. Does author embed other lyric lines to tease? Frank Sinatra's Love and Marriage www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtS46Wfsxnw
"'Poor boy you're going to die' as the song lamented" p 231. Tom Dooley by Kingston Trio 1958 is "Poor boy you're bound to die" set to hang tomorrow for murder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhXuO...
"I've known that bird off an' on for years" p 230 says Mudge. Yet all believe Talea betrays them when enemy sorcerer Eejakrat sees through their costumes. Maybe a glamor atop?
"I think I love you" p 238 is no surprise from Talea to Jon 1970 Partridge Family's David Cassidy.
Bad computer reminds me of Terminator movie series, sort of Happy For Now endings. Sad ending keeps me from 1948 George Orwell's 1984. In London, Winston Smith and Julia try to love while Big Brother oversees dystopian future. http://www.gutenberg.ca/ebooks/orwell... . Typing manuscript was iffy because Orwell used "a lot of neologisms" newly coined words or expressions http://www.theguardian.com/books/2009....
Typos:
p 84 Clothah "ump" letters blanked
p 221 "an arched" "iron gates" blanked letters
p 239 "mist of the palace square" is midst
p 249 "breech the wall" is BREACH = break
*** spell-checkers won't catch
Big battle is most exciting. Maybe quest slows down over large cast? Words and action for all? Why dragon Falameezar quits instead of nagging us/them with Marxist politics?
Jon only hero at end, where he does a spell, or two, on lute-like duar required. What if string breaks, wood warps, cracks? He moons after Spanish girl Flor who tries to gently reject his declarations. Her foreign phrases are mas mucho grande. Red-hair girl Talea glances his way.
In big reveal, Weavers are spiders. Mythical far Ironcloud is cliff of black hematite with holes and dangling ropes. In context, "potted tarsier" p 195 still unclear, could be drunk bird, monkey, or another species. http://www.endangeredspeciesinternati...
"Now shut up. I dislike noisy chatter, especially from romantic females" p 88. Bribbens gives Flor reason for snippy retort she didn't have before. Repeated theme. Does author suppresses self?
Bribbens sounds like Ribbet, traditional frog noise. Boatman's "batrachian face" p 81 pertains to frog or toad. Not to big bat "famulus" turtle wizard familiar Pog with dis-dat accent. Expands my vocabulary.
"Her breasts bobbed easily in the current" p 99. Is adult-level X-rated? When everyone has to undress, single brief bouncing phrase draws attention to Talea. Nothing about supposed beloved Flor. Jon doesn't look? Or she doesn't show? What gives?
"So icky" grimaces Flor about Weavers. Jon "to his surprise .. staring straight into Talea's eyes. "He decided she probably hadn't been looking at him" p 156. Obvious which way the wind blows there.
"It is a terrible thing to hear an old person, human or otherwise, moan like that. It was the helpless, weak sound a sick child might make .. Mostly the high singsong that filled the room was unintelligible nonsense" p 196. Are moans not terrible from child? In Ironcloud, Cloth goes into unexpected trance with no guarantee of recovery. "Always has before" p 197 shrugs Pog.
Why call cat just "margay" p 10? Most misleading. "Wild, near threatened, solitary, nocturnal" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margay. Patterned like cheetah, leopard, but smaller. Cute perky. Dark lines down to amber slanted eyes. https://www.google.ca/search?q=https:...
"you may call me Oll" p 170. "sometimes it is better to die happy and honored than to live miserably and unrespected" p 178. Her spidey-speak is lower case, not mine.
"delightful and inspiring selection of garb. it marks you clearly as a superior being" p 178. Black widow Queen invites Jon to be her mate, talks mainly to him. Is he that stupid? He overlooks blue spider-spun soft scarf given him by Anathos "common river guard" p 176 patroller who led them to central capital Gossameringue? Some names are so suitable.
"Jon-Tom was left to consider his bright black leathern pants, his matching boots, and dark shirt" p 179. When is black leather "bright"? shiny? well-kept? polished? After long journey, guards dumped gang in "old and filthy" p 159 dungeon cell.
"Jon-Tom was now immune. The encounter had inoculated him against nightmare. One who has looked on the Mother of Nightmares [Massawrath= lots of anger?] cannot be frightened by her mere minions of ill sleep" p 122. Yet in Jon hears gloating "giant armored spider .. you can't play music .. you'll have to go to law school . . . aha ha ha!" p 199. All should be "immune" now. Father/parent issues?
Does turtle have a death wish? "I'm only putting myself in danger to preserve life for others. That hardly means I want to relinquish my own" p 206. He does have his own phrasing.
His disguise spell in land of Plated Folk gives them costumes. At worst times, they "slip slidin' away" 1977 Paul Simon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_H-L... came to mind. 5' otter Mudge's left antennae is "pointing backward" p 209.
"Can't have one without the other" p 230. Jon sings, duar spells. Does author embed other lyric lines to tease? Frank Sinatra's Love and Marriage www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtS46Wfsxnw
"'Poor boy you're going to die' as the song lamented" p 231. Tom Dooley by Kingston Trio 1958 is "Poor boy you're bound to die" set to hang tomorrow for murder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhXuO...
"I've known that bird off an' on for years" p 230 says Mudge. Yet all believe Talea betrays them when enemy sorcerer Eejakrat sees through their costumes. Maybe a glamor atop?
"I think I love you" p 238 is no surprise from Talea to Jon 1970 Partridge Family's David Cassidy.
Bad computer reminds me of Terminator movie series, sort of Happy For Now endings. Sad ending keeps me from 1948 George Orwell's 1984. In London, Winston Smith and Julia try to love while Big Brother oversees dystopian future. http://www.gutenberg.ca/ebooks/orwell... . Typing manuscript was iffy because Orwell used "a lot of neologisms" newly coined words or expressions http://www.theguardian.com/books/2009....
Typos:
p 84 Clothah "ump" letters blanked
p 221 "an arched" "iron gates" blanked letters
p 239 "mist of the palace square" is midst
p 249 "breech the wall" is BREACH = break
*** spell-checkers won't catch
June 22, 2015
An invasion of the insects
30 January 2013
This is a continuation, and the conclusion, to the story that began in Spellsinger. The party of adventurers (which is what they are) have reached the main mammal city to warn the council of the invasion of a race of insects called the Plated Folk. Apparently the Plated Folk have access to Earthlike technology (which is why Clothahump wanted an engineer) and if they invade then it is going to be a bloodbath. However the council pretty much behaves like one would expect a council full of old fuddyduddies to behave, 'we have our defences, and they should hold up just fine, so thanks for the warning, but we have more important things to do (like taking bribes)'.
Anyway, they decide to travel to other places, such as the Ironclouders and the Weavers, to enlist their help, but the catch is that the Ironclouders and the Weavers pretty much hate each other, so as well as trying to enlist their help, they must also act as diplomats between these two sides. As can be expected in most books, they manage to broker a deal between the two sides, get to the gate in time, and fight off the invasion of the Plated Folk.
I find it interesting that insects are always portrayed as bad guys in novels, whether it involves talking animals, or just some fantasy or science-fiction universe, they are always the bad guys. The strange thing is that it is not as if insects are the most annoying creatures on Earth. In fact most of them are quite passive, even useful. Okay, ants and flies are annoying, but stick insects aren't, and bees, while dangerous if handled stupidly, actually provide quite a good service to our survival (and it goes beyond producing honey to actually pollinating flowers to enable them to reproduce). The only reason insects get aggressive is the same reason everything else gets aggressive, we annoy them. It is like us bursting into our neighbour's house and then pushing him and his family around. Understandably he is going to be very annoyed and either summon help, or deal with me himself. The same goes with insects.
I guess another reason is that insects are simply so alien when compared to our physiology. He can understand mammals, reptiles (though they are also portrayed as bad guys) and birds (who are generally portrayed as good). However when we get to fish (to a lesser extent) and insects we enter a much more alien world. Take flight for example, we understand how birds fly and they tend to fly in accordance with accepted laws of nature. However insects don't. In fact, most of the flying insects out there (such as bees) really shouldn't fly. Secondly is physiology: most animals seem to have a physiology that is similar to ours, but when we get to insects (and fish) once again the laws change drastically. Some of them don't even have mouths and absorb food through their bodies.
So, in answer to my initial question, I guess the reason why insects are always portrayed as nasty, evil, invaders is because to us they are probably the most alien animal life form that we know.
30 January 2013
This is a continuation, and the conclusion, to the story that began in Spellsinger. The party of adventurers (which is what they are) have reached the main mammal city to warn the council of the invasion of a race of insects called the Plated Folk. Apparently the Plated Folk have access to Earthlike technology (which is why Clothahump wanted an engineer) and if they invade then it is going to be a bloodbath. However the council pretty much behaves like one would expect a council full of old fuddyduddies to behave, 'we have our defences, and they should hold up just fine, so thanks for the warning, but we have more important things to do (like taking bribes)'.
Anyway, they decide to travel to other places, such as the Ironclouders and the Weavers, to enlist their help, but the catch is that the Ironclouders and the Weavers pretty much hate each other, so as well as trying to enlist their help, they must also act as diplomats between these two sides. As can be expected in most books, they manage to broker a deal between the two sides, get to the gate in time, and fight off the invasion of the Plated Folk.
I find it interesting that insects are always portrayed as bad guys in novels, whether it involves talking animals, or just some fantasy or science-fiction universe, they are always the bad guys. The strange thing is that it is not as if insects are the most annoying creatures on Earth. In fact most of them are quite passive, even useful. Okay, ants and flies are annoying, but stick insects aren't, and bees, while dangerous if handled stupidly, actually provide quite a good service to our survival (and it goes beyond producing honey to actually pollinating flowers to enable them to reproduce). The only reason insects get aggressive is the same reason everything else gets aggressive, we annoy them. It is like us bursting into our neighbour's house and then pushing him and his family around. Understandably he is going to be very annoyed and either summon help, or deal with me himself. The same goes with insects.
I guess another reason is that insects are simply so alien when compared to our physiology. He can understand mammals, reptiles (though they are also portrayed as bad guys) and birds (who are generally portrayed as good). However when we get to fish (to a lesser extent) and insects we enter a much more alien world. Take flight for example, we understand how birds fly and they tend to fly in accordance with accepted laws of nature. However insects don't. In fact, most of the flying insects out there (such as bees) really shouldn't fly. Secondly is physiology: most animals seem to have a physiology that is similar to ours, but when we get to insects (and fish) once again the laws change drastically. Some of them don't even have mouths and absorb food through their bodies.
So, in answer to my initial question, I guess the reason why insects are always portrayed as nasty, evil, invaders is because to us they are probably the most alien animal life form that we know.
April 2, 2016
Picks up where the previous book leaves off and finishes the story; it wouldn't stand alone. Good characters grow from caricatures, and the protagonist experiences much growth. I must have read at least one more of these as a kid, because I haven't found the reference to the Sloop John B yet. Same rating as the first book.
This is a good stopping point; will likely reread the third book after I polish off a few of the twenty other series I haven't finished yet.
This is a good stopping point; will likely reread the third book after I polish off a few of the twenty other series I haven't finished yet.
July 24, 2012
Another great fun fantasy romp writen by a master. Mr Foster has a fantastic imagination and is a wizard with a type writer.
August 9, 2018
Wow... its been a LONG time since these were published - '83 and '84 (so if you are under 35, these count as "before you were born"!), and I cant believe that it hasn't got a lot more hype around r/Fantasy... These were an awesome read!
This is basically a single story split over two books... so you need to get the pair of them to get the whole story - but damn it is worth it! At first whiff it seems Mr Foster has done the classic fantasy trope of "chosen one" to vanquish the big bad evil, but this whole story is a happy subversion of most fantasy tropes!
Our main PoV character is Jonathan Thomas Meriweather - a pre-law student who is a bit of a stoner and amateur musician... and he finds himself drawn into a strange fantasy world populated by anthropomorphic animals... about to be invaded by the "plated folk" who have a new evil magic brought across from our world...
The setup and antics of the book are quite funny as it is a contrast of a "fantasy world" but the main character (and general tone) is straight up realistic... so the lack of plumbing, technology, social mores etc are played straight... and our poor PoV Jon-Tom has a really hard time of it. Mr Foster plays with the "chosen one" in that the wizard Clothahump was searching out for a magician of our world - an En'giniear - and Jon-Tom as a part time job at the university as a janitor (sanitation engineer...) I love that Jon-Tom is just your average university student... and really has no useful skills for a medieval-style world - in fact he is almost killed numerous time and desperately wants to get home! The only "skill" he finds by accident is that his music acts as a magical focus... he summons magical effects based on the song he sings... given that he only really knows a bunch of rock/jazz from the 60's and 70's - and that the magic tries to interpret the song based on the surroundings - the effects are usually quite different from expectations!
I loved his attempt to summon riding water-salamanders by singing "yellow submarine" by the Beatles... his companions get worried by the lyrics - rightfully so when he summons a river-dragon big enough to eat them all whole!
Given that Clothahump the wizard summoned Jon-Tom to counter an evil invasion... and cannot cast such a taxing spell for a long time - Jon-Tom gets dragged along for the ride of going to warn the inhabitants of the capital city... and then on a mad treck to gain allies (of sentient spiders!!!) and infiltrate the Plated folk country to try to stop the evil magics from our world... a military computer ala war-games
This reminds me of Discworld actually - using a fantasy world to comment on and satirize many real-world issues.
Definitely get this book and read it!
This is basically a single story split over two books... so you need to get the pair of them to get the whole story - but damn it is worth it! At first whiff it seems Mr Foster has done the classic fantasy trope of "chosen one" to vanquish the big bad evil, but this whole story is a happy subversion of most fantasy tropes!
Our main PoV character is Jonathan Thomas Meriweather - a pre-law student who is a bit of a stoner and amateur musician... and he finds himself drawn into a strange fantasy world populated by anthropomorphic animals... about to be invaded by the "plated folk" who have a new evil magic brought across from our world...
The setup and antics of the book are quite funny as it is a contrast of a "fantasy world" but the main character (and general tone) is straight up realistic... so the lack of plumbing, technology, social mores etc are played straight... and our poor PoV Jon-Tom has a really hard time of it. Mr Foster plays with the "chosen one" in that the wizard Clothahump was searching out for a magician of our world - an En'giniear - and Jon-Tom as a part time job at the university as a janitor (sanitation engineer...) I love that Jon-Tom is just your average university student... and really has no useful skills for a medieval-style world - in fact he is almost killed numerous time and desperately wants to get home! The only "skill" he finds by accident is that his music acts as a magical focus... he summons magical effects based on the song he sings... given that he only really knows a bunch of rock/jazz from the 60's and 70's - and that the magic tries to interpret the song based on the surroundings - the effects are usually quite different from expectations!
I loved his attempt to summon riding water-salamanders by singing "yellow submarine" by the Beatles... his companions get worried by the lyrics - rightfully so when he summons a river-dragon big enough to eat them all whole!
Given that Clothahump the wizard summoned Jon-Tom to counter an evil invasion... and cannot cast such a taxing spell for a long time - Jon-Tom gets dragged along for the ride of going to warn the inhabitants of the capital city... and then on a mad treck to gain allies (of sentient spiders!!!) and infiltrate the Plated folk country to try to stop the evil magics from our world... a military computer ala war-games
This reminds me of Discworld actually - using a fantasy world to comment on and satirize many real-world issues.
Definitely get this book and read it!
July 2, 2017
Jon-Tom, Mudge, Clodsahamp, Talea, Flor, Pog, Caz und der Drache Falameezar haben es bis nach Polastrindu geschafft und müssen nur noch den Rat davon überzeugen, dass die Bedrohung durch die Gepanzerten real ist und ein Angriff unmittelbar bevor steht. Doch zur Verteidigung werden noch weitere Verbündete gebraucht. Das Volk der Weber wäre bestens dafür geeignet, doch liegt deren Land hinter den Bergen, wo noch niemand zuvor je lebend wieder zurückgekommen ist.
Jon-Tom und seine Freunde möchten das Unmögliche schaffen und machen sich auf den Weg.
Der zweite Band des Bannsänger-Zyklus schließt unmittelbar an den ersten (Bannsänger) an. Und somit geht es auch genauso spannend weiter.
Die Bedrohung steht nun unmittelbar bevor. Den Freunden bleibt nicht viel Zeit, um weitere Verbündete zu gewinnen. Doch machen sie sich auf den Weg und lernen so den Schiffseigener Brabbis kennen, einen Frosch, der ihnen auf der beschwerlichen Reise helfen soll.
Ein großes Abenteuer beginnt, ein Wettlauf gegen die Zeit. Und so wird es wieder richtig spannend und rasant. Auf ihrer Reise stoßen die Freunde auf unterschiedliche Wesen, die mehr oder weniger hilfreich sind.
Die Gruppe ist bunt zusammengewürfelt und dies ergibt eine ebenso große Artenvielfalt an Möglichkeiten. Der Autor nutzt geschickt die verschiedenen Talente der Geschöpfe aus und spinnt um diese eine Geschichte herum.
Jon-Tom entwickelt sich weiter, auch wenn er mit seinen magischen Kräften nicht gerade Fortschritte macht. Doch merkt er, dass er sein Studentenleben nun endgültig hinter sich gelassen hat und auch über seine Zukunft nachdenken muss. Außerdem macht er sich einige Gedanken um die weiblichen Mitglieder der Gruppe. Die rothaarige Talea weckt in ihm einen Sehnsucht. Aber auch die schlagfertige Flor hat es ihm angetan.
Und so muss er sich nicht nur Gedanken um den bevorstehenden Krieg machen, sondern auch um sein Liebesleben.
Die Gruppe muss einiges an Geschick beweisen, um sich der abenteuerlichen Reise zu stellen. Es gibt verschiedene Probleme, die gelöst werden müssen. Jeder trägt etwas zum Gelingen bei und dies schweißt die Gruppe natürlich auch zusammen.
Der Autor fesselt mit seinem Stil wieder so sehr, dass man kaum vom Buch loslassen kann. Die Reihe hatte ich vor über zwanzig Jahren schon einmal gelesen und bin jetzt noch genauso begeistert von der Idee und der Umsetzung.
Fazit:
Kann die Gruppe es schaffen, die Bedrohung der Gepanzerten abzuwenden? Der Weg dorthin ist schwer.
Jon-Tom und seine Freunde möchten das Unmögliche schaffen und machen sich auf den Weg.
Der zweite Band des Bannsänger-Zyklus schließt unmittelbar an den ersten (Bannsänger) an. Und somit geht es auch genauso spannend weiter.
Die Bedrohung steht nun unmittelbar bevor. Den Freunden bleibt nicht viel Zeit, um weitere Verbündete zu gewinnen. Doch machen sie sich auf den Weg und lernen so den Schiffseigener Brabbis kennen, einen Frosch, der ihnen auf der beschwerlichen Reise helfen soll.
Ein großes Abenteuer beginnt, ein Wettlauf gegen die Zeit. Und so wird es wieder richtig spannend und rasant. Auf ihrer Reise stoßen die Freunde auf unterschiedliche Wesen, die mehr oder weniger hilfreich sind.
Die Gruppe ist bunt zusammengewürfelt und dies ergibt eine ebenso große Artenvielfalt an Möglichkeiten. Der Autor nutzt geschickt die verschiedenen Talente der Geschöpfe aus und spinnt um diese eine Geschichte herum.
Jon-Tom entwickelt sich weiter, auch wenn er mit seinen magischen Kräften nicht gerade Fortschritte macht. Doch merkt er, dass er sein Studentenleben nun endgültig hinter sich gelassen hat und auch über seine Zukunft nachdenken muss. Außerdem macht er sich einige Gedanken um die weiblichen Mitglieder der Gruppe. Die rothaarige Talea weckt in ihm einen Sehnsucht. Aber auch die schlagfertige Flor hat es ihm angetan.
Und so muss er sich nicht nur Gedanken um den bevorstehenden Krieg machen, sondern auch um sein Liebesleben.
Die Gruppe muss einiges an Geschick beweisen, um sich der abenteuerlichen Reise zu stellen. Es gibt verschiedene Probleme, die gelöst werden müssen. Jeder trägt etwas zum Gelingen bei und dies schweißt die Gruppe natürlich auch zusammen.
Der Autor fesselt mit seinem Stil wieder so sehr, dass man kaum vom Buch loslassen kann. Die Reihe hatte ich vor über zwanzig Jahren schon einmal gelesen und bin jetzt noch genauso begeistert von der Idee und der Umsetzung.
Fazit:
Kann die Gruppe es schaffen, die Bedrohung der Gepanzerten abzuwenden? Der Weg dorthin ist schwer.
January 14, 2022
The Hour of the Gate, Alan Dean Foster's second in the Spellsinger Series, is, in my opinion, a very imaginative fantasy. I must admit that I haven't read anything quite like it. Readers can most certainly escape in this illusional world as the main heroes face challenges travelling through various cities such as Polastrindu and Gossameringue peopled by beings with such names as Weavers and Ironclouders and venturing through treacherous lands and waters such as The Swordsward and The Earth's Throat. This would-be group of adventurers were comprised of three humans (Jon Tom, Talea, and Flor), a wizardry turtle, an unscrupulous but loyal otter, a disagreeable bat, an elitist rabbit, and sometimes supported by other characters including a socialist dragon, and a sailor frog. Foster does an excellent job relating these characters among themselves, with those in whom they come in contact, and their surroundings. This is a group who is willing to sacrifice everything to warn the warm blooded creatures of an inevitable devastation that will eventually be caused by those known as the plated folk.
All this may sound like a children's tale, but it is not. It also may seem somewhat confusing, but Foster sorts it all out to provide a very fun and engaging story, particularly toward the end where it is simply hard to put down. If you like science fiction (this of course is not that) or fantasy (which this most certainly is), I believe you would like this book. In my opinion, it is a significant improvement over the first book, and is probably comparable with some of the more accomplished fantasies that I have read. A fun and captivating book.
All this may sound like a children's tale, but it is not. It also may seem somewhat confusing, but Foster sorts it all out to provide a very fun and engaging story, particularly toward the end where it is simply hard to put down. If you like science fiction (this of course is not that) or fantasy (which this most certainly is), I believe you would like this book. In my opinion, it is a significant improvement over the first book, and is probably comparable with some of the more accomplished fantasies that I have read. A fun and captivating book.
June 3, 2020
This book was disappointing. It was enjoyable but had the potential to be so much better. By this book, the main character had become a spellsinger, yet he barely tried out his powers. The powers were the most interesting thing about the book. Not only did the character barely use his powers, but the songs he used weren't really mentioned. The book just said what sort of vibe the songs had, although the book did mention possible songs and music artists a couple of times. The author should have talked about a lot of songs. I would have loved to see how popular songs could have misinterpreted results. The character also only used the spells when he felt he needed to. I was hoping to see him try out different spells at times of no danger to see what would happen. Experimentation with his powers would have been fascinating. Instead, the powers that made this book unique from other fantasy books were barely featured. If not for the powers, the book would have been just okay for the most part. It didn't really stand out from other fantasy too much. I would recommend other books before this one. The Myth Adventures series by Robert Lynn Asprin is also about a person displaced from his world through magical means. That series also had humor. The Myth Adventures series was way better in stories, characters, and humor though. I was hoping this series would be like that one. Unfortunately, this series is just somewhat enjoyable.
July 21, 2018
7/20/2018 - 6/10
The second Spellsinger book didn't hold up really well compared to my long ago teenage remembrances. It's fun enough to keep me reading though. It's a nice simple adventure fantasy story. The book starts off with a lot of travel adventures, then at the end there are a lot of predictable plot twists with the battle. The relationships are pretty shallow and immature with some odd endings (Talea, Pog, and Flores). I seem to remember a lot more detail with the songs and spellsinging too.
The second Spellsinger book didn't hold up really well compared to my long ago teenage remembrances. It's fun enough to keep me reading though. It's a nice simple adventure fantasy story. The book starts off with a lot of travel adventures, then at the end there are a lot of predictable plot twists with the battle. The relationships are pretty shallow and immature with some odd endings (Talea, Pog, and Flores). I seem to remember a lot more detail with the songs and spellsinging too.
June 6, 2024
The second part of the story is a logical conclusion to the first book. The plot arc that began in the first book finally reaches a logical end.
This book feels more interesting, better in terms of text and structure. Despite being 40 years old and some plot decisions feeling outdated, many of the work's ideas still hold up wonderfully. The heroes' adventures contain enough captivating concepts that are rarely encountered in other stories.
I almost feel sad that I didn't come across this book when I was a teenager – I would have enjoyed it even more back then.
This book feels more interesting, better in terms of text and structure. Despite being 40 years old and some plot decisions feeling outdated, many of the work's ideas still hold up wonderfully. The heroes' adventures contain enough captivating concepts that are rarely encountered in other stories.
I almost feel sad that I didn't come across this book when I was a teenager – I would have enjoyed it even more back then.
February 21, 2021
Definitely enjoyed this one a lot more than the previous one. I love a rag tag team of characters going on a perilous journey/quest to prevent a horrible ending to life. Jon-Tom continued to annoy me but everyone else was alright. Especially Pog, my heart went out to him and ahh that ending 💕
Lol also, I found it hilarious how much things surprised me when they happened. Considering this is a reread for me 😂
Lol also, I found it hilarious how much things surprised me when they happened. Considering this is a reread for me 😂
November 22, 2023
Whether it's science fiction or fantasy, I tend to enjoy Alan Dean Foster's approach. His work is highly readable, almost pulpy, with just enough depth there to hold your interest. The Hour of the Gate is a solid continuation of The Spellsinger series focused on a law student/rock musician who finds himself a wizard's apprentice in a world full of people-sounding and thinking animals. Highly recommend for Fantasy readers seeking something a bit lighter.
June 30, 2021
Spellsinger continues to surprise me in the best way possible. I'm really starting to love this group of characters and the journey they are on (who doesn't love Pogs personality?) I do with there was a little more spellsinging in the book, but I'm guessing future books will get into it a bit more. Overall these books are proving to be humorous, face paced and easy reads that I love!
July 7, 2022
Lots of tension, tons of very creative creatures and armageddon-ish challenges. The characters introduced in the first book continue to grow. Got to love the philosophical dragon. The spellsong magic is still hard to figure out.
I absolutely loved that Mr. Foster did not drag out the over-arching threat for yet another book. It was a reasonable and satisfying resolution.
I absolutely loved that Mr. Foster did not drag out the over-arching threat for yet another book. It was a reasonable and satisfying resolution.
September 21, 2018
Jon-Tom learns a lot about Love
Excellent conclusion to the war between the warm bloods and the insects. Jon-Tom matures and magic abounds although his spells never turn out the way he expects.
Excellent conclusion to the war between the warm bloods and the insects. Jon-Tom matures and magic abounds although his spells never turn out the way he expects.
September 27, 2021
Seriously it took them half of the book to realize that a non-living brain with With immense thinking ability and vast knowledge is a computer
what kind of morons are they?
The entire book I want to get in there and hit them on the head with a computer
March 30, 2023
Spellbinding dimensions ripped fun.
I base looked forward to reading this set of books for a long time. I'm not disappointed in any way. Never liked giant cockroaches, or preying mantisis . had a pet one that got so big it started to look at my finger as a smack.
I base looked forward to reading this set of books for a long time. I'm not disappointed in any way. Never liked giant cockroaches, or preying mantisis . had a pet one that got so big it started to look at my finger as a smack.
May 20, 2024
The adventure continues with a trek through the plains of the swordsward to the land of Scuttleteau and its capital Gossameringue in search of allies. A grand tale with some great descriptions of the scenery and peoples of this unusual land. Enjoyable reading!
March 2, 2017
And the adventure continues. More absurd circumstances and a final battle! I'm giving it 5 stars for the fun factor and brilliance of the cast from the audiobook. It was very entertaining.
January 6, 2019
This is basically the second half of the story begun in book one so my review for that one covers this one too. Still very good, very enjoyable and a quick, fun read.
February 14, 2019
enjoyed and looking forward to continuing the series its A very interesting all round idea the protagonist is easy to warm to and the characters are good and funny too
March 30, 2019
I remember being absolutely terrified by the spiders in this when I was 12.
July 1, 2019
Had to read this after the first one to tidy up the first story arcs.
October 21, 2019
Really enjoyed that while this one has similar fantasy plot bits, the outcomes and choices the characters make are different, even unique - especially the ending wrap ups. Great weekend read :)
February 8, 2020
Loved the concept and the way it ended. :D
September 17, 2021
It is not bad and there is a lot going on in this story, and I do like the big battle stuff, I would have to say, This was a Good Read
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