What does everyone think of James Barclay?

My hands are red

I have to say I grabbed at hold of Shadowheart (it was at my local bookstore which really suprised me and early too :) I absolutely love the cover art and the red pages (well the sides anyway) though my hands are red :P
My mother asked me to ask if its meant to respent "Blood stained hands" I just think it looks good and she sees too much into it :P

So far (more than half way since I got it last night mind you) I love it though the Raven aren' the same without - well I won't say

Oh yeah if its possible to have Auum in future books = very happy Khallandra :)
Now all I have to do is get my friends to read them so that I can talk to them about it :)

Great work!
 
Yeah, I agree - Auum's been an excellent new addition to the cast of characters - seriously hope he hangs around...
 
Alternatively the fun, in a sadistic kinda way, is in guessing who's next :D NOM hurry up with the next book will you I'm bored again now :D
 
Sorry all but however much I hurry up, publication ain't going to be before July 2004.... that's scheduling for you.

And it spoils nothing to tell all who want to know that Auun does indeed make another appearance this time around.

NOM
 
*whoo hoo* !

(Now this is the kinda occasion i need my exuberant bouncy av for :D)
 
DOH! Shoulda put this here earlier:

The SFFW Fantasy Book Club will be discussing James' first 'Raven novel, 'Dawnthief' as it's October Book of the Month. Discussion opens on 1st Oct, and anyone's welcome to join in.

Sammie :)
 
Originally posted by NOM
And it spoils nothing to tell all who want to know that Auun does indeed make another appearance this time around.
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Oh happy dance! I finshed it that afternoon BTW - after a while the red didn't come off so much :)
 
Hi NOM I've recently read you first four books and have just started Shadowheart, to be honest I've not been this impressed since my first Gemmell book. I think my fav is Dawnthief mainly due to the opening scene with Denser, don't know if it was intentional but by having the Raven meet Denser right at the start it gave both internal and external views of the Raven and I found myself taking sides with Denser. So if you can please don't kill off my fav character, I still can't believe what you did to a certain sombody at the end of Elfsorrow :)

Great action scenes and I like the way the mana and magic works, it's also a breath of fresh air to see some of the main charaters die unlike other books where they seem to be invincible.
My more negative views however would be how Balaia is square shaped with a mountian range cut straight down the middle. Also the names of places and locations seem a little too Engish and close to home, but then stuff like that doesn't really hold much weight in a book review. Another point would be that when people get struck by swords and axes they seem to cut almost straight through and don't get stuck very often.
But anyway keep up the good work, you're still young yet so I'm relying on you to keep me entertained in years to come.

(btw this is Ray from the DrosGemmell forums can't figure out how to change my name on here)
 
I visited Amazon website today and under the new book Demonstorm I saw this:

The climax to one of fantasy's landmark series from the 'Sergio Leone of the genre' (SFX)

Say it isn't so NOM, you got something new up your sleeve?
 
Hi Kater,

Well it is so, Demonstorm is the third and last of the second trilogy and my next book isn't going to feature The Raven. But that doesn't mean I'll never write about them again of course... never say never and all that.

I guess you'll just have to read it and draw your own conclusions come July...

Blimey but I've been away from this site for a long time - hardly even dropped in in the last few months. Very bad behaviour.

Take it easy

NOM
 
Originally posted by Jacquin
There were a couple of niggling little things that got to me though, I still have problems with The Unknown Warrior. I accept the story about how he got his name and I like the fact that his friends call him "unknown" as lets be honest they have to call him something and if he doesn't give them his name they will give him one. Ut is more tha fact that he is described in the text constantly as "The Unknown Warrior" despite the fact that I have accepted his name is "Unknown", it just seems a little bulky and almost redundant somehow.
Click to expand...
I only have the first book and I will admit that I never finished it. The above is perhaps the biggest reason for that. Sometimes a book just needs to "click" with me and the fact that he was always referred to as "the Unknown Warrior" was, as you say, too bulky and sometimes made me think the book was about to turn into a Pratchet novel.
 
Originally posted by NOM
Hi Kater,

Well it is so, Demonstorm is the third and last of the second trilogy and my next book isn't going to feature The Raven. But that doesn't mean I'll never write about them again of course... never say never and all that.

I guess you'll just have to read it and draw your own conclusions come July...

Blimey but I've been away from this site for a long time - hardly even dropped in in the last few months. Very bad behaviour.

Take it easy

NOM
Click to expand...

Hey NOM considering you've been away for a while thanks for such a quick response, I really can't wait till July having only the next DG book to tide me over until then but I'll survive.
I think its actually quite good your moving away from the Raven, I liked them a lot but there seems to be a preponderance of big name authors who are clinging to their famous characters for every last penny, that you should choose to move away from yours at their peak says a lot, all good, about you. Out of curiousity is the next piece you intend to write/are writing set in the same world?
Good luck and bring on July :D
Kater
 
Neat, though it will be sad to see the Raven put on hold :) But they do need a break - poor fellas :)
 
The next series is in a different world entirely. I'm in the middle of researching and populating it at the moment. It's a big job but it'll be worth it, I think. More anon when I know exactly where I am... It's going to be a big departure from The Raven and I hope they enjoy their break, for however long it turns out to be.

Interesting comments on The Unknown. People have loved or hated that nickname - mostly they like it if they read from the start but hate it if not... I can see how it would look faintly ridiculous if you haven't read the history. But if you know Hirad, in particular, you'll know he won't let anything go however daft it seems after a while.

Don't think he's referred to constantly as 'The Unknown Warrior' by the way. But perhaps it does jar. Apologies if it does but not for the man behind the name... gotta love him, haven't you?

Thanks for being so interested... makes all the work worthwhile.

NOM
 
I think it would be interesting to hear tales of the Raven before the events in Dawnthief. I like to know about some of the characters that where in the first chapter or so.

Also about the Unknown's name... at first I did not like it (i mean at the very start when I first started reading) I figured it was lazy writing! When I was explained however, I became OK with it.
 
Congrats on Demonstorm (after finally getting my hands on it) I loved it! Though very sad. A great conclusion to the Raven series (and Auum I STILL adore Auum).

Now I can't wait until the brand new series that you will pull out of your hat ;)
 
Read all The Raven books,completely enthralled by them, Hirad was my favourite. We do learn more about Unknown as the series go on,but without giving too much away he does have another name:
its Sol.
 
Thanks both - much appreciated.

And magze - thank you. It is a constant confusion of mine that people have a go at The Unknown being called that throughout the book. It's a nickname. Countless millions of people have them. I've had one from the age of seven that my old school mates still use. Perhaps it's a peculiarly English thing but I seriously doubt it. Grrr.

NOM
 
I just loved this series and the last made me cry!! They are on my permanent re-read list. Cannot wait for the new stuff!!

Yeah what is your nickname James and why is it not on your forum first??? :) Lol
 
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