Gathering of Heroes/A

'A Gathering of Heroes', MAY be the best sword and fantasy novel of all time. A terrific story that you wish could go on and on..., and one that you wish you could be part of. Read the companion novel 'Ingulf the Mad' too, and find out more about this perflexing character.

After stumbling upon "The Lost Prince" and "King Chondos Ride" in a local library I was determined to locate this book. At the time I believed the trilogy unfinished, and desparately desired the outcome for Istvan and Jodos.Some ten years later, I stumble upon it in a tiny book shop in the middle of nowhere. In those ten years I had managed to purchase only one of the two original novels!Regardless that I lacked the opening novel, I re-read the KCR, and read for the first time The Gathering of Heroes. The first thing that grabbed my attention was (of course) the extensive list of the main characters at the start of the novel. Paul Edwin Zimmer had already proven that he does not rely on perhaps two or three main characters but a score, and this novel seemed epic even compared to prior efforts.The next thing I noticed was that while this was a sequel, it was not the direct continuance of the story. It was not long before that fact was long overlooked! Gripping is hardly the word to describe Paul Edwin Zimmer's work, as the word seems to lack the substance that Paul deserves. Indeed, Paul gives substance in his novel. Every character has a background, and while you do not know the entire background of these some twenty heroes (and at least three or four main enemies!) you certainly get the feeling of a well fleshed character in Paul's mind. The interaction between characters perfectly implies the status it deserves - so many heroes meeting the heroes they aspire to, or other heroes whom "nobody has heard of" regardless of their great deeds and weapons blessed by the Hasturs.Once these heroes arrive at Rath Tintallain, it is incredibly hard to put this book down. The combat just grows upon itself with the next fight being bigger than the last. And just when you can't believe how enormous that last combat was, another awaits to completely blow your mind away. And then the dyole is summoned. And then the dragons come.On top of all the combat exhausting the men, they are also forced to endure the songs of the elves, and the box that is kept secret from all but a few in the hidden city of Rath Tintallain. Come learn why it is so secret, and why the Sarlow want it.

As many other's, I was also shattered to hear of Mr. Zimmer's untimely death. I remember the Goosebumps that would continually envelope me when reading his books. That to me, was the mark of a great novel...a rare occurrence to this jaded reader of thousands of Fantasy/Sci-Fi books over the last 25 years. A Gathering of Heroes was among his best work, right up there with the wonderfully fabulous Dark Prince & King Chondos' Ride. Only David Gemmell has since written books that can equal Mr. Zimmer's in grandeur. That rare intuitive grasp of human nature & complexities was his forte, & he wielded it with uncanny precision & care. You were thrust into his visions & imagination within the first few pages... & you felt lost & alone when the last page was read & the journey done. I HIGHLY recommend his books to anyone who wants 'Mature', 'Realistic', 'Dark' Fantasy. Except for David Gemmell, there is NO substitute.

From the first page you are thrust into the action. Istvan after a season of campigning for the Airian Empire is weary and is looking forward to period of relaxation. Away from the savage Norians and the armies of Sarlow but it is not to be. Answering urgent summons from the Mystic Hasturs, the mysterious guardians of the world. Istavan finds himself on a wild Elven ride in the company of the greatest heroes of the Island continent of Y'gora. Riding to the aid of a hidden city, which contains a secret that must be protected at all costs. Ranged against them are the dreaded armies of Sarlow augmented by evil sorcerors, dark demons of great power, werewolves and ancient Dragon and his brood. And if that were not enough the heroes must face the trio of warriors that lead this fearsom crew; Svaran the Black, wearer of an armour that is proof against all mystic swords ;Grom Beardless skilled deadly swordsman a match for Istvan himself and Vor halftroll a giant warrior possessing great speed and strength. For you readers who love their heroic fantasy to be dark, uncomprising, intelligently written and leaves you with a sense a wonder at it's epic scope. Then buy this book. Sadly Paul only wrote 5 of these Dark Border books and a few short stories relating to them. Quality not quantity what was mattered unlike a large number of his more verbose contemporaries. His last book is called 'The king who was of old". As I understand it, the executors of his estate are still attempting to find a publisher. Well I for one wish them luck and god speed

In a Gathering of Heroes, Paul Edwin Zimmer returns to the world of the Dark Border and his alternate personna Istvan the Archer, the greatest living swordsman in the world. Zimmer's power is he makes you believe and understand how elves can be both good and dangerous, the motivation of absolute evil, how drangons can fly, and how a hero can be human and hate his reputation. No fantasy author writes heroic conflict so realistically, his knowledge of swordsmanship and his ability to convey it is unmatched. A poet as well as a writer, Zimmer uses his skill with image and language to wrap you up in his world. He ties in Celtic mythos with threads of Norse, Indian and Japanese into an invention that is his own. While you might find similar elements in other works, his vision is his own, and uniquely consistent and powerful. And sadly, after this work and Ingulf the Mad, never to be revisited again.