The Lost Prince (THE DARK BORDER, VOLUME 1)

I don't much like the cover. Otherwise, this book and its sequel, , make up one of the great works of fantasy literature. As you can see, they are out of print. They were written as one book, just as Tolkien wrote TLotR as one book, and they were divided as a publishing decision. This is a review of both books. The late Paul Edwin Zimmer wrote the best action scenes in fantasy. It was no wonder. He was quite at home with a sword in his hand and had been a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism for decades. However, knowledge would not be enough. Paul was a poet and his words never rang any truer than when blades were meeting and men, and other beings, were sweating in the hurly-burly. However, he handled love and intrigue and conversations, an occasional flash of humor with equal truth and grace. It is just that the field of fantasy, with so many swords drawn and arrows flying, is sorely lacking in people who can describe them well. His characters are fascinating, his "monsters" compelling. The Hastur, the closest things to gods that he portrays, glow on the page. This book, its sequel, rate at least five stars. The related but somewhat less compelling books, are both fine, worth four stars. And all of his work, except the two books he co-wrote with his sister, Marion Zimmer Bradley, are out of print. I blame the covers.

One of the all time under-rated fantasy "series" (it is a diptych in an age of trilogies) The Lost Prince and King Chondos' Ride were dark and innovative in their day in 1982. They have stood the test of time and are still fresh and oozing with style in 2004.A study in contrasts and character development in a High Fantasy backdrop, Paul Zimmer also writes in a dark style and was not shy writing about gore, sexual themes and adult situations. The reluctance of the author to remove this material from the novels lead to mainstream publishers like Del Rey rejecting the work. Playboy Paperbacks published the first printing, with Ace picking up the reprinting in 1987. While the story is better for the adult feel, this probably was the major factor in why the series did not make it onto most bookseller's shelves and why it is so unknown. To be clear, the novels are not full of smut; there are only a few scenes in question. However, back in 1981-82 when squeaky clean Del Rey dominated the fantasy genre, that was enough to be make sure they would be rejected.As noted by other reviewers, the world of the Dark Border is beset by evil that literally lives within shadow and darkness, a visible border across the sky which destroys and turns to ash the wholesome earth that falls under its sway. The denizens of this evil land are nameless and they are no-holds-barred-evil. There is no romanticizing the bad guys in these novels. While humanity's morality is gritty and grey and very ambiguous, the true evil within the Dark Border are monstrously twisted and possess an alien hatred of all life. That is not to say there is no moral relativism in Zimmer's writing, it is a sophisticated novel in terms of its morality. There is much here that compares with Glen Cook. But True Evil™ is presented as something that cannot be understood or bargained with; it can only be opposed. I find that clear imperative as refreshing now as in 1982. The characters are memorable. Istvan and Martos are very much tragic figures. Like Hector and Achilles, they are the best their age has to offer. Like Homer's heroes, they fight for their own honour, even though good sense has abandoned the men they serve.Chondos is, on the other hand, a man you do not like initially. It is only as Chondos grows and finds himself that the reader comes to smile when the next chapter focuses on him.Jodos is a study in how a society can pervert a mind and nurture alien values through lies and deceit. A human, raised by those within the Dark Border, his view of the rules of that society and the alien morality that underlies it are the reader's only real insight into the monstrous evil that besets the heroes.The author was a founder of the SCA and was a serious swordsman who knew his craft well. The combat descriptions in the novels are wholly unique and the descriptions of the battles are both riveting and compelling. No author has written about swordplay better than Zimmer does in King Chondos

One of the all time under-rated fantasy "series" (it is a diptych in an age of trilogies) The Lost Prince and King Chondos' Ride were dark and innovative in their day in 1982. They have stood the test of time and are still fresh and oozing with style in 2004.A study in contrasts and character development in a High Fantasy backdrop, Paul Zimmer also writes in a dark style and was not shy writing about gore, sexual themes and adult situations. The reluctance of the author to remove this material from the novels lead to mainstream publishers like Del Rey rejecting the work. Berkely Paperbacks published the first printing, with Ace picking up the reprinting in 1987. While the story is better for the adult feel, this probably was the major factor in why the series did not make it onto most bookseller's shelves and why it is so unknown. To be clear, the novels are not full of smut; there are only a few scenes in question. However, back in 1981-82 when squeaky clean Del Rey dominated the fantasy genre, that was enough to be make sure they would be rejected.As noted by other reviewers, the world of the Dark Border is beset by evil that literally lives within shadow and darkness, a visible border across the sky which destroys and turns to ash the wholesome earth that falls under its sway. The denizens of this evil land are nameless and they are no-holds-barred-evil. There is no romanticizing the bad guys in these novels. While humanity's morality is gritty and grey and very ambiguous, the true evil within the Dark Border are monstrously twisted and possess an alien hatred of all life. That is not to say there is no moral relativism in Zimmer's writing, it is a sophisticated novel in terms of its morality. There is much here that compares with Glen Cook. But True Evil™ is presented as something that cannot be understood or bargained with; it can only be opposed. I find that clear imperative as refreshing now as in 1982. The characters are memorable. Istvan and Martos are very much tragic figures. Like Hector and Achilles, they are the best their age has to offer. Like Homer's heroes, they fight for their own honour, even though good sense has abandoned the men they serve.Chondos is, on the other hand, a man you do not like initially. It is only as Chondos grows and finds himself that the reader comes to smile when the next chapter focuses on him.Jodos is a study in how a society can pervert a mind and nurture alien values through lies and deceit. A human, raised by those within the Dark Border, his view of the rules of that society and the alien morality that underlies it are the reader's only real insight into the monstrous evil that besets the heroes.The author was a founder of the SCA and was a serious swordsman who knew his craft well. The combat descriptions in the novels are wholly unique and the descriptions of the battles are both riveting and compelling. No author has written about swordplay better than Zimmer does in King Chondos

Paul Edwin Zimmer is a fantastic fantasy author with a true sense of good versus evil - the moral dilemmas facing the good, the long term plans of the immortal evil.In this novel a Lich (for want of something better to call him!) steals one prince twin at birth, and while all people involved assume the lost prince dead, the Lich trains the son in an evil manner giving the boy something no other man has ever known - the power to control the living and the dead.By the death of the king, the good prince has become bitter and twisted; all his life people have been leeching off him and trying to win him over, politics has ruined his beliefs and faith in his people. With the death of the king, the lich sends the evil prince back to trade places with the newly crowned king. In one foul swoop, evil controls the kingdom and manages to avoid the probing of the meddling Hasturs (the blue robed wizards who eternally battle the evil force).King Chondos (the good prince) finds himself captured and tortured in a land of darkness and death.Jodos the usurping evil prince now turns man against man by encouraging a civil war, and Chondos must do what no man has ever managed - escape the darkness of evil with the two weapons he can manage - a knife and some magic rock.Paul Zimmer not only creates a great story, but he develops his characters deeply. You'll live each character, and when you read the combats you'll realise that Paul Edwin Zimmer knows what he's talking about! As already stated in others' review, this series is greatly underrated, and it is a shame that these novels are so difficult to find. They are very much worth searching for though. But be warned, don't begin reading this novel before you can find King Chondos' Ride.

Outstanding. A classis example of Good vs Evil. Plenty of Magic, hate, love, betrayal and action. The setting is dark and gloomy, like the Black company books, but in a way similar to Feists books. A world half covered by a dark shadow in which evil wizards,vampires,trolls,goblins and their evil human allies strive to consume all that is in their path. The forces of good, lead by the Hasturs,who are powerful magicians, constantly battle for survival against overwhelming odds. The war is fought on many fronts in different kingdoms by brave men and women. I have been fortunate enough to have owned and read the other two Dark Border novels, King Chondos's Ride and A Gathering of Heroes. This series is fantastic and does not get the credit it deserves. Too bad that these books are very difficult to find, but they are worth the trouble of finding.