Legend (Drenai Tales, Book 1)

After reading this book, I went out and bought everything that David Gemmell ever wrote, and I buy every new novel he writes. This is a classic tale, full of adventure, and tremendous battles. This is the story of Druss, a man so powerful, even his enemies respect him. Druss is not perfect however, he is a man who sees things only in black or white. You can either be right or wrong, no inbetween. If you like fast paced adventure and terrific writing, pick this one up along with all the Drenai tales.

I don't know about you guys but i can't seem to get enough of David Gemmell, or Waylander the Slayer. This book gives us one more adventure with Waylander and lets us experience all over again his ability to deal Death to all who oppose him.I thought that the book was very good reading and i especially liked the way that Gemmell ended it off.To all you other die hard fans out there keep on reading and harassing Gemmell to write more books.

...Legend is one of the most refreshing books I have read in a good long time (probably since the last time I read it). It is not great literature, and it doesn't try to be. What it is is a grand heroic adventure full of awesome, bloody, inspiring battle scenes, motivational speeches and pep talks to shame BraveHeart, brave warriors, beautiful women (most of whom also happen to be brave warriors), magic, sieges, true love, valor, and all that other good stuff. It is the story of a vast empire, soft due to complacency, that is being threatened by the barbarian hordes basically. All that stands in the way of the main barbarian armies is one fortress, vastly undermanned, and the soldiers there aren't really soldiers at all but farmers volunteering as soldiers. And at fifty to one odds against, their chances of holding the fort until their empire can raise a REAL army aren't looking good. Enter Druss, fat old man and legendary warrior, who has never lost a battle, who has never given up, who has never sacrificed his principles. The main point of this book is, can the defenders hold out long enough, can this living legend fighting with them give them enough hope to survive. The question isn't whether they will win, but rather how long until they lose. Don't look for deep characters or character development here, look for grand heroes and grander villains, who make their point with actions much more than words. But what action! This has quickly become one of my favorite books just to pick up an read. Try it, you'll love it!

I bought this book when it was first published in paperback and have now read it so many times that my copy is falling apart!For the first time I've found a fantasy author who actually goes to the trouble of building believible characters. His heroes (and heroines) are flawed people living in a flawed world, trying to live by a code of honour even when it is obvious that the world in general does not share this belief. The main characters: Druss, Rek, Orrin et al are all believible and made more so by the fact that it is clear from the narrative that they struggle as much with their own fears and consciences as with their physical enemies, the Nadir.In an almost unheard of departure from traditional fantasy stories, the author has dispensed with having an 'evil' adversary: it is clear that Ulric wants to bring down the Drenai not out of any evilness on his part, but as the only way to ensure the rise of his own people. His forces take on the mantle of evil simply because they oppose the heroes of the novel.As for the storyline itself, all I can say is Superb! The waning Drenai Empire is faced by the hordes of Ulric Kahn, founder of a vast barbarian empire, at the legendary fortress of Dros Delnoch. The vastly outnumbered defenders must hold the fortress long enough to give the Drenai nation time to build an army capable of holding Ulric's forces at bay. Aided by a group of mystic warrior-priests and the hero Drus an unknown Drenai leader must defend the fortress to the last.David Gemmell has excelled in this story of ancient siege warfare and, without a dragon or elf in sight, produced what is probably the greatest fantasy in the last twenty years.

This is an excellent book full of drama and intrigue. If you like to think and become involved wiht the characters then this is the book for you. It has an intricate plot that weaves together a wonderful tale of a group of characters that are all uniquely different. The old warrior Druss, legend of the past, comes out of retirement to battle against a horde of vicious barbarians from the north. He is badly outnumbered over 500 to 1 but will fight to the last man. This novel is a tear jerker at times and full of vicious savagry. I guarentee that you won't want to set it down and when you turn the last page you'll know that was one great novel. All I can say is that is my all tiem favorite novel and wil remain so forever. It has the mark of greatness.