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Gideon's Wall
The wasteland that fills the borders of the empire has slept undisturbed for decades. But an age of fear is ending, and the Archaists are coming now to unravel a hidden past. They are crossing oceans and braving deserts to seek the truth of what enemy sank a living empire beneath an ocean of sand. The answer is buried at Gideon's Wall.
Paperback
Published July 1, 2003
About the author
Greg Kurzawa
13 books13 followersGreg Kurzawa studied theology at a small university in East Texas before stumbling into a career in information technology--a career from which he hopes to stumble away someday. He has lived in Texas, Colorado, and North Carolina, but currently resides with his incredible wife and their three rowdy children in Nebraska, where he is sometimes mistaken for Gage Kurricke, with whom he co-authored the bleak fantasy novel "Gideon's Wall." His work can be found in Clarkesworld, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Interzone, and Gray's Sporting Journal.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 13, 2016
I won this book from the goodreads giveaway. I am always thankful to win a book especially of an author I have not read before.
I anticipated this book being a run of the mill book about an archeological dig and something 'wrong' being let loose on the world. I was so mistaken. The 'wrong' had happened hundreds of years before and this was the discovery of that 'wrong'.
The writing style of Mr. Kurzawa threw me off a bit. It was mostly prose and not unlike reading books written long ago. But once I got the rhythm, it was interesting.
My biggest problem with the book is that I would have loved to have known more of the origin of the sthaak who were so powerful. A little background on their beginnings, why the bloodlust and complete disregard for any and all creatures would have gone a long way to my enjoyment of the book.
Nonetheless, it was well done and the fight scenes were well written and action packed without being too gory.
I anticipated this book being a run of the mill book about an archeological dig and something 'wrong' being let loose on the world. I was so mistaken. The 'wrong' had happened hundreds of years before and this was the discovery of that 'wrong'.
The writing style of Mr. Kurzawa threw me off a bit. It was mostly prose and not unlike reading books written long ago. But once I got the rhythm, it was interesting.
My biggest problem with the book is that I would have loved to have known more of the origin of the sthaak who were so powerful. A little background on their beginnings, why the bloodlust and complete disregard for any and all creatures would have gone a long way to my enjoyment of the book.
Nonetheless, it was well done and the fight scenes were well written and action packed without being too gory.
April 23, 2018
I won this in a giveaway a while back and I put it off for too long. I finally read it and wish I had read it sooner. I enjoyed it. It was interesting and built up a world I wanted to know more about. The characters weren't anything special but I was still drawn into Del and his story. I would have liked to have seen more about the seriphs but they felt a little out of place with being brought in toward the end.
February 19, 2013
“I have crossed an ocean to come here, but my journey is yet in its infancy. I stand at the cusp of a formidable expedition, and I cannot say to what far reaches my journey will take me, or what might be waiting for me. I can only say that I have come to discover a past that has remained hidden for too long. I have come to exhume an empire…”
I’m not entirely sure how I stumbled across Gideon’s Wall by Greg Kurzawa. I think I might have been browsing around Amazon looking for something new, but I honestly can’t recall how I heard about this small gem. The book is tragic in every sense of the word, and by the end you can’t help but set it aside and reflect for a while. I was recently browsing topics on a SFF forum, and one person was complaining about too many “heavy themes” in fantasy. He was arguing that fantasy should be an escape from the day to day grind, and that heavier themes should be reserved for works of nonfiction. I wholeheartedly disagree with that statement and I think fantasy is a perfect platform to explore human nature. Gideon’s Wall was exactly the kind of story that proves my point.
The ancient empire of Shallai has all but vanished from the face of the earth. What exactly happened has been lost to time, but an Archaist is determined to find out. The opening chapters really set the scene for the entire story. The first few chapters read like a journal and it fills the reader with a real sense of loneliness and unease. The archaist makes his way to the ancient city of Shallai and has a dream telling him that the answers to his questions lie at Gideon’s wall. After stumbling across an old map he finds a small speck that reveals Gideon’s wall’s location.
After arriving at Gideon’s wall the archaist finds it in ruins. Once the archaist and his team of explorers begin to excavate the surrounding area of Gideon’s wall the real fun begins. Strange dreams, hallucinations, and paranoia fill the crew’s minds as they begin their excavation. The archaist eventually stumbles across a small wooden idol. During the night the idol whispers to the archaist and this is where the actual story begins.
The story is essentially one big flashback, and although you already know the fate of Gideon’s wall, you can’t help but root for the characters within. This element really gave the story a tragic feel, because you already know the fate of the characters. The desert setting that Kurzawa describes was bleak and miserable, but it also has its own beauty. I was reminded of my deployment to Afghanistan during my reading, and I suspect that Greg Kurzawa has also spent some time in the desert, because he captured it perfectly.
The story is short and clocks in around 300 pages, I read it in two sittings. I’m puzzled as to how this one flew under everyone’s radar! I think fantasy fans of all tastes will find something to like here, but fans of middle-eastern settings will be especially pleased. I can’t help but feel like the archaist in the story because like him I stumbled across a story that is worth reading. Anyone who needs a break from the door-stopping epics of fantasy should cleanse their palates with this little treasure. Check it out, you won’t be disappointed!
I’m not entirely sure how I stumbled across Gideon’s Wall by Greg Kurzawa. I think I might have been browsing around Amazon looking for something new, but I honestly can’t recall how I heard about this small gem. The book is tragic in every sense of the word, and by the end you can’t help but set it aside and reflect for a while. I was recently browsing topics on a SFF forum, and one person was complaining about too many “heavy themes” in fantasy. He was arguing that fantasy should be an escape from the day to day grind, and that heavier themes should be reserved for works of nonfiction. I wholeheartedly disagree with that statement and I think fantasy is a perfect platform to explore human nature. Gideon’s Wall was exactly the kind of story that proves my point.
The ancient empire of Shallai has all but vanished from the face of the earth. What exactly happened has been lost to time, but an Archaist is determined to find out. The opening chapters really set the scene for the entire story. The first few chapters read like a journal and it fills the reader with a real sense of loneliness and unease. The archaist makes his way to the ancient city of Shallai and has a dream telling him that the answers to his questions lie at Gideon’s wall. After stumbling across an old map he finds a small speck that reveals Gideon’s wall’s location.
After arriving at Gideon’s wall the archaist finds it in ruins. Once the archaist and his team of explorers begin to excavate the surrounding area of Gideon’s wall the real fun begins. Strange dreams, hallucinations, and paranoia fill the crew’s minds as they begin their excavation. The archaist eventually stumbles across a small wooden idol. During the night the idol whispers to the archaist and this is where the actual story begins.
The story is essentially one big flashback, and although you already know the fate of Gideon’s wall, you can’t help but root for the characters within. This element really gave the story a tragic feel, because you already know the fate of the characters. The desert setting that Kurzawa describes was bleak and miserable, but it also has its own beauty. I was reminded of my deployment to Afghanistan during my reading, and I suspect that Greg Kurzawa has also spent some time in the desert, because he captured it perfectly.
The story is short and clocks in around 300 pages, I read it in two sittings. I’m puzzled as to how this one flew under everyone’s radar! I think fantasy fans of all tastes will find something to like here, but fans of middle-eastern settings will be especially pleased. I can’t help but feel like the archaist in the story because like him I stumbled across a story that is worth reading. Anyone who needs a break from the door-stopping epics of fantasy should cleanse their palates with this little treasure. Check it out, you won’t be disappointed!
May 27, 2016
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. This is one of the better books I have read this year. I really could not place this story in any one genre as it has a bit of fictional history,science fiction, and fantasy mixed into the plot. A historian is sent to find out what happened to a civilization in the middle of the desert. He finds a couple of artifacts, one containing a ghost, who tells him the tale of what destroyed an entire area a long time ago. A great original story told a little differently than most tales. I give it the whole five stars.
March 19, 2009
Not your typical fantasy book with dragons and elves and dwarves (oops, they prefer "little people" don't they?). Writing is great. The story is even better. There's not another book out there which has a comparable plot.And I'm not just sayin' that because my brother wrote it.
March 1, 2011
This was a good book. Even though it has an inevitable ending, you can't help but read through hoping that things will work out for the best anyway. I would recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy books.
December 1, 2015
"The thing that does not die is the honor of a deed done mightily".
One of the most depressing novels I've ever read, yet brilliantly executed. Leaves me sad and proud at the same time. Exactly as I imagine it was intentioned.
One of the most depressing novels I've ever read, yet brilliantly executed. Leaves me sad and proud at the same time. Exactly as I imagine it was intentioned.
May 30, 2016
I enjoyed the story and plot. I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews