The Edge of the World

When I first decided to read this book, I had never read a book by Kevin J. Anderson. But, he came highly recommended, so I gave it a shot. This book exceeded my expectations! Kevin has a gift for attention to detail in the mind's eye. His world, it's places, it's languages, it's cultures, it's characters, all have an authenticity about them that continually draws you in. You become connected with the characters and their storyline, and you can't stop reading, because you have to know what's just over the next hill. The scenes and action are as grand as anything that you've seen in a George Lucas or Steven Spielberg movie. When it is all finished, you WILL want more. Of course, there WILL be more, because this is only the first book in a three book series. I highly recommend this book. Get it and hang on for the ride, because, as the book says, "When you reach the edge of the world, you can fly." Also, there is a companion music CD available, inspired by the book, called "Terra Incognita - Beyond the Horizon", performed by Roswell Six. It has wonderful music that follows the story line of the book. The lyrics were written by Kevin and his wife, and the music was written and produced by Erik Norlander of Lana Lane and Rocket Scientists fame. Do yourself a favor and get both the book and CD. You'll thank me later. I'm ready for the second book, NOW! Come on, Kevin! What's keeping you?

If you pick this book up - please take my advise and stay with it - you won't be disappointed. This isn't your typical fantasy novel with a good vs. evil plot. It takes place in a mysterious and glorious new world that has two distinct but related kingdoms who are pitted against each other in war. But both sides have their good and evil virtues and as you read the story you will find characters from either side that you both love and hate. I just found that aspect of the story to be refreshingly unique and though I kept asking myself "who should I be rooting for here?" I quickly realized that wasn't the point of the story. Again - KJA uses short chapters to tell his tale - and does it superbly. I've mentioned in other reviews of his books that I absolutely love this style of writing and KJA is one of the best at it. I simply could not put this book down and before I knew it I was through 565 pages in no time at all. Character development is what sold this book for me. The plot was quite intriquing and the setting was just spectacular but what kept my nose in this book was the characters and each of their individual stories - how they progressed and how they interwove with one another. This was just a great tale that I think has the makings of being a classic. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.. DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A MEMBER OF THE KJA SPECIAL FORCES GROUP OR ANY OTHER.

Rarely do I read a novel that moves me the way "The Edge of the World" did. This story kidnapped my imagination, brutalized my senses in a whirlwind of chaos and discovery and left my mind curled up on the carpet begging for more. This book blends the horrors of battle with the terrors of religious fanaticism. Revealing how simple misunderstandings can spark international war, Kevin J. Anderson has delivered part one of a trilogy that is sure to raise the question, "Are we absolutely sure ours is the `one true way?'" The overall story is set in a distant time on a world that is still largely undiscovered. It contains ships, giant sea serpents, love, war, adventure, mystery and just a little magic in all the right places. It actually feels like a dark mirror image of our own society's past, when people were banished for trying to prove there was so much more to the world we thought we knew. A time when religious fanatics ruled the masses... OK maybe we are still suffering from that. There's also a music tie-in CD recorded under the name of "Roswell Six" by some of todays most talented prog-rockers that is scheduled for simultaneous release. With the recent release of "Enemies and Allies", as well as "The Winds of Dune", (with Brian Herbert), to be released in August of this year, Anderson has proven two things: he can still come up with great stories to fascinate the mind, and that he has no intention of slowing down any time soon. "The Edge of the World" is a must read for any lover of fantasy or discovery.