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Lost Swords #7-8
The Lost Swords: Endgame
Contents:
•Wayfinder's Story • [Book of Lost Swords] • (1992) • novel by Fred Saberhagen
•Shieldbreaker's Story • [Book of Lost Swords] • (1994) • novel by Fred Saberhagen
•Wayfinder's Story • [Book of Lost Swords] • (1992) • novel by Fred Saberhagen
•Shieldbreaker's Story • [Book of Lost Swords] • (1994) • novel by Fred Saberhagen
378 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1994
2 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
About the author
Fred Saberhagen
335 books495 followersFred Saberhagen was an American science fiction and fantasy author most famous for his ''Beserker'' and Dracula stories.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 19, 2021
Not sure how I never finished the Saberhagen Swords' Books....
Read the "Complete Book", and the "Lost Swords Triads", but never actually read "Endgame"..... :(
***
Post-Read:
3.5 stars. If I had thought about it, I would have re-read the entire saga before moving on to this.
This book (like the others) had a deliberate (even plodding?) pace; I think if I re-read them now, I might have an entirely different take on it from reading it when I was younger.
The first "("Complete") series thrived on the mystery; slowly introducing the concept of the Swords and the Great Game, and building up the introduction of each new sword in intriguing ways. The second ("Lost Swords") series focuses on (broadly) one sword per book, allowing a bit more in-depth explanation of concept and characters.
So, "Endgame" (which contains the last 2 books of the "Lost Swords") gets off to a bit of a slow start, but ultimately ends in a generally satisfying conclusion.
Read the "Complete Book", and the "Lost Swords Triads", but never actually read "Endgame"..... :(
***
Post-Read:
3.5 stars. If I had thought about it, I would have re-read the entire saga before moving on to this.
This book (like the others) had a deliberate (even plodding?) pace; I think if I re-read them now, I might have an entirely different take on it from reading it when I was younger.
The first "("Complete") series thrived on the mystery; slowly introducing the concept of the Swords and the Great Game, and building up the introduction of each new sword in intriguing ways. The second ("Lost Swords") series focuses on (broadly) one sword per book, allowing a bit more in-depth explanation of concept and characters.
So, "Endgame" (which contains the last 2 books of the "Lost Swords") gets off to a bit of a slow start, but ultimately ends in a generally satisfying conclusion.
April 19, 2021
Read the Lost Swords trilogy as a young teen. I think the only fantasy book I had read before them was The Legend of Huma. At the time I didn't even know about the earlier Book of Swords trilogy nor the greater Ardneh stories. Need to come back and read these again and that whole cycle sometime. At the time discovering the true nature of the demons and where they were sent when banished just blew my mind. Remember loving the resolution of Mark's son's illness and being intimidated by the evil Wood.
November 28, 2018
I have to admit these books were a lot different than I remember them from 30 years ago. Much slower as well. Decent, yes, but certainly not as good as I remember them being. Worth the read? Probably once, but I probably not a second time.
December 24, 2015
A solid end. I enjoyed it. Don't see why Sheildbreaker was so hated in comments. Will say it did leave me many more questions about Mark and the Emperor, but I still enjoyed it!
May 16, 2022
The last two books in the series - Wayfinder's Story & Shieldbreaker's Story. Wayfinder's story was okay - good, even. But the final book, Shieldbreaker's story, was just awful. To be fair, I'm a little biased against any setting that has future tech as "old world" - anybody that wants to put a moon colony into a fantasy story has got to work hard to please me. Saberhagen did NOT work hard. And, the hamfisted use of "old world" technology wasn't the only place he failed to work hard. His efforts to bring way too many loose ends to closure made the last season of Game of Thrones seems like something written by Tolkien. Blech.
February 11, 2023
So I read this the first time decades ago. I have read every book in the series. I even remember some parts of the denouement. In particular the very ending of the series seemed extremely rushed. Still it was a satisfying payoff for the first 15 or so books.
Incidentally, Hollywood, this is absolutely made to be a much better television or movie series that could probably be option for pennies.
The general concept of 12 unique Magic swords, each of which has unique interactions with the others, leads to (12 x 11) possible crazy interesting stories.
Incidentally, Hollywood, this is absolutely made to be a much better television or movie series that could probably be option for pennies.
The general concept of 12 unique Magic swords, each of which has unique interactions with the others, leads to (12 x 11) possible crazy interesting stories.
April 16, 2025
Enjoyed _Wayfinder's Story_ a lot, but not crazy about _Shieldbreaker's Story_; it had a lot of good within it, but the writing was terrible--all telling and no showing, with little dialogue. I enjoyed the first few chapters, but then the narrative reads like a Cliffnotes summary. Maybe he was sick or something, or just ran out of steam.
January 19, 2019
Kind of a mellow ending to a wondrous series. It took me awhile to read it all, I think I started it 3 years ago and I'm glad I took my time.
March 19, 2024
Least favorite of all the books. Wrapped up a lot of stuff nicely but skipped a few things and most of it was just weird.
July 9, 2012
Omnibus!
Wayfinder's Story:
Wayfinder's introduces yet another one-off character to bring in the title Sword, but mostly focuses on bringing the wandering Zoltan and Yambu back home. It's a fairly straightforward adventure, and clearly aimed at tying up a bunch of loose threads - the big bad Wood is addressed, the lingering fallout of The Second...'s Blue Temple raid is taken care of, and Wayfinder itself does not survive the book, foreshadowing the mass destruction to come.
Shieldbreaker's Story:
The Last Book of Swords reads more like an obituary than anything, as the remaining eight Swords are destroyed one after another. We see the last of a couple of old acquaintances, and it's fitting that the Dark King is the final enemy, but for the most part this is really just a litany of the destruction of the Swords. The final clash between Shieldbreaker and the anti-weapon Woundhealer is apt, and the symbolism of the only surviving sword being the only one that can't kill is unsubtle but appropriate. The big reveal of the identity of the Emperor, however, is too over-the-top for me to take the least bit seriously. It really undercuts a lot of the series, I think.
All in all, a fast-paced and engaging wrap-up to a classic series. The standouts are the ones least connected to the larger plot, but it holds up fairly well as pulp fantasy.
Wayfinder's Story:
Wayfinder's introduces yet another one-off character to bring in the title Sword, but mostly focuses on bringing the wandering Zoltan and Yambu back home. It's a fairly straightforward adventure, and clearly aimed at tying up a bunch of loose threads - the big bad Wood is addressed, the lingering fallout of The Second...'s Blue Temple raid is taken care of, and Wayfinder itself does not survive the book, foreshadowing the mass destruction to come.
Shieldbreaker's Story:
The Last Book of Swords reads more like an obituary than anything, as the remaining eight Swords are destroyed one after another. We see the last of a couple of old acquaintances, and it's fitting that the Dark King is the final enemy, but for the most part this is really just a litany of the destruction of the Swords. The final clash between Shieldbreaker and the anti-weapon Woundhealer is apt, and the symbolism of the only surviving sword being the only one that can't kill is unsubtle but appropriate. The big reveal of the identity of the Emperor, however, is too over-the-top for me to take the least bit seriously. It really undercuts a lot of the series, I think.
All in all, a fast-paced and engaging wrap-up to a classic series. The standouts are the ones least connected to the larger plot, but it holds up fairly well as pulp fantasy.
December 13, 2008
Terrible does not begin to describe this rushed piece of writing...
January 7, 2012
Last book felt very rushed and incomplete.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews