The Dark Tide

Out of the many people I know that have read McKiernan's Iron Tower trilogy the ones that don't like it are either younger readers or people that cant handle McKiernan being a big fan of Tolkien. As with most of McKiernans works, this installment of the Iron Tower trilogy is well written and enjoyable. I recommend McKiernans Mithgar series (which this book is a part of) to any fan that enjoys good fantasy that isn't aimed at 10 year olds.

You might think from my title that this will be a negative review. My rating for this book says otherwise. Let me first say, that over the past twenty years I have read, and re-read, The Lord of the Rings about seven or eight times. It remains the standard by which I judge all other fantasy. Other reviewers, including myself, have called The Iron Tower Trilogy a The Lord of The Rings cliff-notes. But perhaps a better appellation is, The Lord of The Rings companion. It is not as rich in detail and history as Tolkien's work. Nor is it quite as epic. But the story is every bit as compelling, every bit as gripping, and certainly as worthwhile a read. The language is awkward in places and not as polished. Does McKiernan's work stand on its own, apart from comparisons to The Lord of The Rings? I think so. As with The Lord of The Rings I found myself near tears at certain points and almost laughing aloud at others. Will you like this book? I don't know. But as a Tolkien fan of twenty years I loved it. I prefer to think of the Iron Tower Trilogy as a tribute to the genius of Tolkien; much like Moorcock's Kane of Old Mars was a tribute Edgar Rice Burroughs.

I have to say that I love this trilogy and have read the series about 5 times since I first read it back in 1988. In fact, I just started reading it again. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great fantasy novel. I can not fathom how someone can say this book did not keep their attention. I found this book to be non-stop for me, but to each their own and my opinion says this book is worth reading and saving...

I read this book and trilogy a few years ago and could not put it down. Now Dennis L. McKiernan is my favorite author.

Having read "The Lord of the Rings" as well as "The Iron Tower" it is easy to see the similarities between the two as far as character types and plot goes. But, when comparing the two for sure reading enjoyment "The Iron Tower" wins hands down. LoR drags in a number of places for me. So if you enjoyed LoR, but thought it was slow you will LOVE this series.