The Silver Stone

Keepers of the Hidden Ways #2

by Joel Rosenberg

Ian Silverstein and an old army vet from Hardwood, North Dakota make their way through a hidden passageway to Tir Na Nog to find more of the seven jewels that can shape the universe. They are followed soonafter by four friends, including Tir Na Nog natives Thorsen and the mysterious Hosea. Odin sends Ian on a mission, supposedly to broker peace between two strongholds, that places Ian in great danger, and Ian learns that gods like Odin can mislead humans for their own strange reasons. Ian’s challenges include overcoming the demons within himself as well as defeating foes in the magical world of The Hidden Ways. on THE SILVER "Rosenberg expertly blends Irish and Norse mythology ... highly recommended." - Library Journal "Features the same marvelously wrought world [as The Fire Duke], a number of engaging characters ... and some of the best use of Norse mythology in contemporary fantasy." - Booklist on THE FIRE "A taut, gripping narrative . . . Combin[es] a firm, practical grip on reality with an effective blend of Irish and Norse mythologies in a taut, gripping narrative." - Kirkus Reviews "Exuberant... derring-do" - Publishers Weekly "An excellent and intelligent fantasy adventure." - Booklist “Rosenberg tells a great story . . . it’s time to sit down and be royally entertained.” - Raymond E. Feist "Unpretentious fun." - El Paso Times “A sprawling portrait on a vast canvas . . . readers will be waiting anxiously for a return trip to this world of gods and monsters.” - Orlando Sentinel on JOEL “A major star in the fantasy firmament” - Mike Resnick, author of STALKING THE UNICORN “One of the few writers I deliberately seek out . . . His splendid stories are intricate and fast-paced and exciting.” - Dennis L. McKiernan, author of VOYAGE OF THE FOX RIDER “If I see a book with Joel Rosenberg’s name on it, I buy it . . . His plots are fast-moving, meticulously crafted . . . his works are page-turners from first to last.” - S.M. Stirling, author of MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA “If you’re one of the few people who haven’t read Joel Rosenberg, you owe it to yourself to change that right away.” - John E. Stith, author of REDSHIFT RENDEZVOUS “One of the leading lights in fantasy, Joel Rosenberg burns as brightly as ever.” - William R. Forstchen “Joel Rosenberg writes fantasy rich with intelligent humor and gritty, well-researched detail.” - Janny Wurts “Joel Rosenberg is one of the emerging talents in our field today!” - Raymond E. Feist Joel Rosenberg (1954-2011) grew up reading Robert A. Heinlein, L. Sprague de Camp, Gordon R. Dickson and Rafael Sabatini, and found himself becoming a writer pretty much as a natural outcome of such early influences. He is best known as the author of the Guardians of the Flame fantasy series, although his other science fiction and fantasy -- particularly the Mordred's Heirs series, published by Baen Books -- has been drawing him new fans. Outside of science fiction and fantasy, he was known as a terrific amateur cook, a particularly good firearms instructor and remarkably bad bridge player. He lived in Minneapolis MN, with his wife Felicia Herman and two daughters, five cats, and the most useless dog ever born.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 1996

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Note: This is a different person than the political/thriller author, Joel C. Rosenberg

Joel Rosenberg was the author of the bestselling Guardians of the Flame books as well as the D'Shai and Keepers of the Hidden Ways series. He made his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat weaker than the first book in the series; there's a rather contrived plot in which the protagonist's friend from the first book gets more screen time.

[Jon]

Review written December, 1999
Here's another one where far too much time had passed since I read the first book in this series. I think the third one is actually out in the bookstores, so the fault is strictly my own. However, I was lost through much of the book, because I couldn't for the life of me recall "what had gone before."

Nevertheless, I've always enjoyed Rosenberg's style, and this book was no exception. I started reading his stuff back when he first published his Guardians of the Flame stuff, and have eagerly devoured anything he's published. I'd suggest, however, that you read the first book in the series, The Fire Duke, before starting on this one.

Again (I guess), we follow the adventures of Ian Silverstein, aka Silver Stone as he is drawn into the mythical world of Tyr na nog, where Norse mythology plays a very important part in the tale. Odin tricks Ian and his companions into undertaking a quest, which is not exactly what it seems to be. He's supposed to deliver a message to the Sons of Tyr asking them to back off from the precipice of war upon which they're poised.
However, some of the Sons think that Ian is the Promised Warrior, who will lead them to victory and dominion over the entire land. Others don't believe he's the promised one, and most of Ian's challenges on his quest revolve around this conflict.

Actually, the whole story is a little shallow, but it kept me entertained for a few hours. Ian's companions are all somewhat one-dimensional, in my opinion, just a great bunch of guys and gals - doing the right thing whatever the odds.

[James]

Expert swordsman Ian Silverstein crosses from Hardwood, North Dakota, into a magical realm to serve as peacemaker and to save the life of the ailing god Odin, in the second book in the fantasy-adventure series, which began with The Fire Duke. Original.

[Keith Swyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as exciting as The Fire Duke, but still a rich and deep exploration of his world of Tir na Nog. And I love Ephie Selmo like she was one of my very own Aunts. Rosenberg is VERY good.

[David Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this volume at all. It just wasn't a book that kept my interest at all.
The characters were bland and just not worth following.

[Joel Flank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosenberg spins another fun tale of adventure in Tir Na Og when Ian has to take Uncle Hosea there to find a cure for his worsened heart condition. He's maneuvered into an agreement with Habard, the Old One formerly known as Odin to act is his harbinger in exchange for helping Hosea. Along the way, he is ensnared deeper into a web of deceit and manipulation so subtle that he is unaware. Fortunately, his friends Ian and Maggie follow him to render aid he doesn't know he needs, and he has his faithful friend and landlord, Artie, all but given up on life after the passing of his wife of 50 years.

Rosenberg again tells a story of fencers from Earth dealing with the politics and magic of another world, but does so in his typical way where all characters are deep and have mundane problems and baggage that drives their actions and personalities, even as they deal with survival in a fantasy world. While they encounter many creatures and legacies of myth, the difference between reality and the stories passed down over the ages prove far more dangerous than the pretty stories that developed.

[Jim Razinha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The next in this unfortunately abbreviated series. I'd only read it the once, when it came out, and had completely forgotten the ending, which was met with the figurative raised eyebrow and "Oh, yeah!"

[Fatbaldguy60 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually liked this one better than the first one.