[Belgarion]

Has anyone read Michael Scott Rohan's Winter of the World series?

I have never read his books before and was considering reading his WotW series. Is it any good?

He has never been mentioned in this forum (according to my knowledge) and that has concerned me and ha smade me a bit hesistant in purchasing his books.

So I appreciate any comments regarding the author and his series.

[Mithfânion]

I think I've asked a question about him on another board, or possibly here a while ago, which got almost no replies, which is telling in terms of writer popularity. Which is not to say that the books are not worthwhile reads. I've been thinking about them myself.

[Steven Savile]

Goodness me, I had almost completely forgotten about MSR - he was one of my first reads after Lord of The Rings, Thomas Covenant and The Belgarion. I picked them up because I was interested in the artist (who says never judge a book by its cover) I really liked that almost Pirinasi style pencilwork the artist had gone in for... anyway, I began reading and found the first book quite heavy going with Elof's (if I recall correctly) apprenticing to the magician/smith... but as the series progressed and Keryn Kermovan and other characters came into it, I REALLY enjoyed this very intelligent, exceptionally well written fantasy novel. It certainly isn't a Tolkein clone despite the fact that it draws on the same mythology - read it Belgarion. I loved Gates of Noon, and the rest of his split world novels... hell, MSR is a gem waiting to be found - but not to be confused with Michael Scott (of Bard, etc)...

[ezchaos]

You know how there are just some books that you love, even if they aren't well know or haven't been bestsellers? The WotW trilogy was like that for me. I rarely re-read books, but I've read this series twice.
I think these are the only fantasy books Rohan wrote, and they came out back in the mid 80's. I read them back then, and also a few years ago, when I found all three books used.
I think the trilogy was re-released in the 90's sometime. Recently, I was in one of my local 'big-box' bookstores and saw them there, new, with different covers. It looked like somebody special ordered them and then never picked them up. The store want $9 US dollars a piece for them(paperback)!
Enough of my rambling.A big reason I like these books is because the story is set in our prehistory, during the last ice age. You can tell by the maps in the books that the setting is North America and Europe. Also, gods play a major role in what happens.

[estranghero]

What? I could have sworn I put in my two cents before on MSR's WotW series.

I agree with Kane, it's one of the underrated, really good fantasy trilogies around. First off is that it has one of the better antagonists around which is... the ICE!!!! Included here are old and crazed gods who have started serving the Ice because they found themselves powerless against it. Second is the creation of really great magical items. You won't find any silly, old magic swords here. (Though there is, it's radically different. Reminds me of Saberhagen's magic swords and how different they were from usual run-of-the-mill magic swords.) Third is the fascinating mythology of the series, the different gods running around, etc. Really good stuff in this series.

Reminds me actually of Ursula K. Leguin's Earthsea series, which is a great compliment.

[Barbarossa]

I know I mentioned it before, MSR is a great writer and one of my early favorites. It's a pity he's so underrated. Winter of the world is original, and dark. My only complain is that the third volume is something of a letdown in my opinion. BTW did anyone read MSR other trilogy starting with "Chasing the morning". I enjoyed it even more.

[Steven Savile]

Well, inspired by the memory jog, I've scoured the bookstores and picked up Chase The Morning, Gates of Noon, Cloud Castles and Maxies Demon... so I can finally read the OTHER series...

MSR has a webpage but it seems fairly out of date... but it mentions a series he wrote with Allan Scott, under the penname Michael Scot, who was ofc a great alchemist in his day... ahhh, all of this is making my head spin http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Steven Savile]

First 2 Winter of Worlds are on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1531788114

going very cheap. Go on, be a devil.

[Belgarion]

Kane,

Thanks very much for your input, much appreciated, you have twisted my arm and I will go out and give them a try!

Is the name Kane from WWF? Undertaker's brother? Or is it from a Fantasy novel?

[Steven Savile]

Hehe, Kane was Karl Edward Wagner's warrior/sorcerer, and also one of the major characters (though VERY different) in my own Bones of Dominion, book one of The Beggar Kings War, which is my own little tribute to one of the men that launched me into this path of destruction, I mean career... a soldier called Leiber makes an appearance as well... Thanks for asking, and you will not regret MSR.