[Rob B]

Anybody read these books? I've seen praise from Tad Williams on these books and Nicholls, based on the blurbs, presents a fairly interesting fantasy twist, not dissimilar to what Mary Gentle seemed to do in Grunts!.

The Nicholls books are as follows:


Bodyguard of Lightning
Legion of Thunder
Warriors of the Tempest

[Ouroboros]

I bought Bodyguard of Lightning and was initially quite impressed with it. The opening battle scene is above par, and Nichols writes fluidly.

However, I must confess that I abandoned it at around the half-way mark. I had an inkling that the story was never going to really take off, and I was right... it just sort of plodded along and at one point I felt like I was watching some 30 minute cartoon where the heroes go out, have an adventure, and you never really feel like anything has been achieved.

That said, I may go back and give it another shot sometime. I like the concept.

[JohnH]

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[Mithfânion]

His Lordship the Don was not the first one to use the word Orc I think, but to say that the word was familiar to half a percentage of the people who knew it after they'd read would be overestimating the word's familiarity.

I agree anyway, anything with the word goblin, troll or Orc tends to put me off and I won't buy it unless there's a whole lot of fascinating material to make up for it.

Stan Nicholls's stuff looks suspiciously much like a FR book though. Could Williams have been mistaken?

[milamber_reborn]

If you can't use orcs, then ban all books with elves and dwarves and dragons while you're at it.

[Rob B]

Originally posted by milamber_reborn
If you can't use orcs, then ban all books with elves and dwarves and dragons while you're at it.
:rolleyes: I don't think anybody was saying that we should ban any of these fantastical races from books. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[JohnH]

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[James Barclay]

Stan's Orcs books are action adventures, written to a formula, quite short and pretty good fun. They are easy reads if that's what you're after.

I would say it isn't Stan's best stuff but do look out for Quicksilver Rising. A very good idea he's had here, in my opinion.

[rune]

I've just finished reading Bodyguard of Lightning and quite enjoyed it. I've not read any of the other books by this author and wondered if anyone else had read his other works :)

If so, what were they like, what kind of fantasy tales were they?

[TIPoP 0.141]

I would categorise the Orcs: First Blood books in the "Light but enjoyable" category. They are not classics by any means but they are good escapist fun.