White Wolf: A Novel of Druss the Legend
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- Published by: Random House
- eBook Publish Date: March 31, 2003
- Print ISBN: 034545832X
- Filesize: 884.66 KB
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Overview
White Wolf marks a return to the bestselling Drenai series and David Gemmell's most popular hero of all, Druss the Legend.Skilgannon the Damned had vanished from the pages of history. No-one knew where he had gone, following the terrible triumph at Perapolis, and the assasins sent by the Witch Queen could find no trace of his passing. Three years later, a murderous mob gathers outside a monastery, faced by a single, unarmed priest. In a few terrifying seconds their world is changed for ever, and word spreads across the lands of the East -- Skilgannon is back.
Editorial Reviews
This new heroic fantasy in Gemmell's engrossing Drenai series takes place immediately before his first published novel, Legend (1984), but stands well on its own. Skilgannon, swordmaster and former general of Queen Jianna's army, walked away from the queen's service after his forces sacked a city with such savagery that his name is ever after followed by "the Damned." He's spent three trying years submitting to monastic discipline in hopes of understanding the places of man and evil in the world. His dreams are disturbed by a white wolf; his thoughts by memories of his dead wife and hopeless love for Queen Jianna. Now the surrounding town is torn by civil unrest and the monks debate fleeing: Skilgannon might have stayed with them but for the price on his head and the futility of his disguise as Brother Lantern. The abbot sends him to the capital, Mellicane, escorting an unworldly monk. In the woods outside town, they pick up the boy Rabalyn, whose troubles with a town bully ended with the torching of his aunt's house and the killing of the aunt and the bully; his ne'er-do-well parents are said to be in the capital. Thus begins a journey that will continue beyond Mellicane and draw in the author's most famous character, Druss the axeman. The plot seamlessly supports the predictable violence. Magic plays little part in everyday life, but when it affects the deeds of rulers and leaders, Gemmell describes it in a concrete,nuts-and-bolts way in welcome contrast to much airy-fairy fantasy. (Apr.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information. -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY.
Author Information
Bio of David Gemmell
David Gemmell is widely regarded as the best writer of heroic fantasy. His award-winning first novel, Legend, published in 1984, has become a classic. Hero in the Shadows, Ravenheart, Stormrider, The Swords of Night and Day and Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow, the first book in the exciting Troy trilogy have all been Sunday Times bestsellers. His most recent novel, The Swords of Night and Day, is now available from Bantam Press.
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Additional Info
Imprint
Ballantine Books
Filesize
884.66 KB
Number of Pages
480
eBook ISBN
9780345463623
Excerpt from: White Wolf by David Gemmell
Smoke from the burning buildings still hung in the air, but the rioting mobs of yesterday had dispersed now, as the two priests walked slowly down the hill toward the town. Heavy clouds were gathering over the eastern mountains, promising rain for the afternoon, and a cool wind was blowing. The walk from the old monastery buildings to the little town was one that Brother Braygan usually enjoyed, especially with the sunshine glinting from the white buildings, and glittering on the rushing river. The chubby young priest loved to see the colorful meadow plants, so small and ephemeral against the backdrop of the eternal, snowcapped mountains. Not so today. Everything seemed different. The beauty was still there, but now an underlying sense of menace and real peril hung in the air.
"Is it a sin to be frightened, Brother Lantern?" he asked his companion, a tall young man, with eyes of cold and brilliant blue, upon whom the pale robes of the acolyte seemed out of place.
"Have you ever killed a man, Braygan?" Lantern's reply was cold and disinterested.
"Of course not."
"Or robbed, or raped, or stolen?"
Braygan was shocked and stared up at his companion, his fears momentarily forgotten.
"No."
"Then why do you spend so much time worrying about sin?"
Braygan fell silent. He never enjoyed working alongside Brother Lantern. The man said very little, but there was something about him that was wholly disturbing. His deep-set sapphire eyes were fierce, his lean face hard, his expressions unyielding. And he had sword scars upon his arms and legs. Braygan had seen them when they worked in the fields in the summer. He had asked him about them, but Lantern had ignored him. As he ignored questions concerning the harsh and warlike tattoos upon his back, chest, and arms: an eagle with outstretched wings and open talons between his shoulder blades, a large spider on his left forearm, and the snarling head of a leopard upon his chest. When asked of them Lantern would merely turn his cold eyes on the speaker and say nothing. Yet in all else he was an exemplary acolyte, working hard and never shirking his duties. He never complained, nor argued, and attended all prayer and study meetings. When asked he could quote verbatim from all sections of holy script, and knew also much of the history of the nations surrounding the land.
