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The Sea Hag
When Dennis flees the crystal walls of Emath because of the revelation of a horrible secret, he must undergo a severe test in the wilderness to win his love and overcome the dark forces of magic
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1988
44 people are currently reading
441 people want to read
About the author
David Drake
306 books886 followersDavid Drake is an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran who has worked as a lawyer, he is now one of the major authors of the military science fiction genre.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 9, 2017
I keep thinking that this was just the sort of thing I would have enjoyed as a teenager and would have never realized how stripped down and basic the story was.
Then I realized that this was the just the sort of thing I do enjoy as an adult all the while realizing how stripped down and basic the story was.
I'm nothing if not mature.
Then I realized that this was the just the sort of thing I do enjoy as an adult all the while realizing how stripped down and basic the story was.
I'm nothing if not mature.
November 20, 2015
I want to give this four stars, but I don't think I ought to. There is much about this I liked - the coming of age with the aid of my robot pet/friend is a neat trope we don't see enough of, and the zoology (indeed the botany too) is well written: alien but not beyond the easily grasped/imagined. Reads not unlike a video game plot - almost entirely centered on Dennis (and Chester, obviously) like an RPG. Some serious weaknesses though: the love interest is impossible to understand (she's cold, she's flighty with affections, she lets him almost get killed MULTIPLE times? the fact that she slightly pitches in on the last mission is not sufficient to justify how much Dennis loves her just because of her beauty. end rant), there is no resolution whatsoever of the over-bearing-father issue that is so prominent at the beginning of the book, and the plot is more quest-based than a true sequence of events with an overarching goal (although the title does provide a theme that carries through the book, I admit) and there's no deeper meaning I can discern. I liked this, I enjoyed reading it, but critically speaking I just can't give it a higher rating.
August 14, 2017
Despite the fact that this book is set in the far-distant future on some far-distant planet, it reads more like a standard sword-and-sorcery fantasy.
Wizards! Dragons! Monsters! A Princess In Peril! And let us not forget, the eponymous SEA HAG!
One bow to the science-fiction genre: an extremely likable robot sidekick named Chester, something of a cross between C-3PO and Charlie Chan (or maybe Confucius), who always has an apt word of advice for our hero, 16-year-old Prince Dennis of Emath.
Wizards! Dragons! Monsters! A Princess In Peril! And let us not forget, the eponymous SEA HAG!
One bow to the science-fiction genre: an extremely likable robot sidekick named Chester, something of a cross between C-3PO and Charlie Chan (or maybe Confucius), who always has an apt word of advice for our hero, 16-year-old Prince Dennis of Emath.
July 1, 2016
Great fantasy elements and nice character development though it started off slow and dull. While Drake wants to show the vulnerable side of the protagonist, there seemed to me to be too much emphasis on those details early on. The story develops well and it's enjoyable read especially for the fantasy elements.
September 21, 2013
Very readable, very enjoyable, tons of fun. Stock characters (my favorite's the prim, soothsaying robot) and stock situations woven into a somewhat coherent plotline, including one of the most horrific sequences I've ever read. Worst title ever. Three stars for the fun.
June 13, 2013
I was not sure I would like it.....but as with all of Drake's books I found myself drawn in. This was very different from his other books I had read...but I liked it. It had a fascinating ending..that left you with the choice to continue with the series or leave it as a stand alone story.
March 13, 2017
The Sea Hag
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Sea Hag (Kindle Edition)
Not the best David Drake in my opinion. That said, it is still David Drake which puts it far ahead of most offerings from others.
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Sea Hag (Kindle Edition)
Not the best David Drake in my opinion. That said, it is still David Drake which puts it far ahead of most offerings from others.
February 26, 2010
Entertaining and well-plotted, but I wouldn't say it was terribly good. A bit like a Jack Vance novel written for (or indeed by) thirteen year-olds.
February 10, 2011
A decent read but nothing special. Starts off a little slow, but the second half is much more interesting.
March 25, 2013
A light and escapist read, taking its inspiration from fairy tales.
June 15, 2013
A simple read, good uncomplicated plot from beginning to end.
August 13, 2013
I liked it okay. It had its fun moments, but a little confusing. I still enjoyed it.
December 30, 2013
I loved it because both my son and I were entranced by the characters and the relationship between the main character and his robo buddy.
June 3, 2015
Excellent!
June 2, 2020
Mystery and adventure.
Spoilers ahead.
An adventure tale but more so a coming-of-age adventure in the span of a month. Though some portions seem simple and fabled, the story reads like an old fairy tale that one can let themselves go with. An inexperienced boy dares a treacherous jungle to become a man.
If we can read into anything, one could assume it's a story of being able to survive on your own experience, not needing the present technology at our hands, but using it properly when necessary to our benefit (Dennis and Chester).
The tale focuses on our hero but echoes a cosmic mystery that effects much of the dealings, like the horrifying creatures Mother Grimes, Malduanan, Rakastava, Malbawn, and the Sea-Hag. Or the intrusive Cariad shape-shifter or the otherworldly star-metal sword and armor and mirror. Maybe this is part of a larger universe for Drake's stories or maybe we're to wonder about origins.
The love of a good man and woman is showcased in the second-half, with love outweighing fear, whether fully armored with weaponry or totally naked and blinding.
Dennis and Chester make for a good camaraderie that I enjoy but I am glad to see the addition of Aria as a non-threatening, assertively helpful hero in her own rite. When the scene shifts, Chester easily takes up with Aria as he did Dennis, guiding proper steps into a tense adventure. Where Dennis brought us a boyish wonder experiencing natural manhood, Aria exhibits beauty and her own strength, feminine elegance complimentary to Dennis, and vice versa.
Chester is matter-of-fact and full of wisdom, offering up a multitude of relevant quotes to chew upon: "He who loves his neighbor finds a family around him." "People see what they hope to see [...] People know what they wish to know, and they act on that truth which they create for themselves. And it may be that they are happier to live lies."
Per Drake's storytelling, Dennis "left Emath thinking that only a great hero would dare the jungle - and [he] was wrong." Hardships are what end up making Dennis seasoned at which Dennis marvels that life is not sterile so living in a sterile, yet safer, environment is not living at all.
Spoilers ahead.
An adventure tale but more so a coming-of-age adventure in the span of a month. Though some portions seem simple and fabled, the story reads like an old fairy tale that one can let themselves go with. An inexperienced boy dares a treacherous jungle to become a man.
If we can read into anything, one could assume it's a story of being able to survive on your own experience, not needing the present technology at our hands, but using it properly when necessary to our benefit (Dennis and Chester).
The tale focuses on our hero but echoes a cosmic mystery that effects much of the dealings, like the horrifying creatures Mother Grimes, Malduanan, Rakastava, Malbawn, and the Sea-Hag. Or the intrusive Cariad shape-shifter or the otherworldly star-metal sword and armor and mirror. Maybe this is part of a larger universe for Drake's stories or maybe we're to wonder about origins.
The love of a good man and woman is showcased in the second-half, with love outweighing fear, whether fully armored with weaponry or totally naked and blinding.
Dennis and Chester make for a good camaraderie that I enjoy but I am glad to see the addition of Aria as a non-threatening, assertively helpful hero in her own rite. When the scene shifts, Chester easily takes up with Aria as he did Dennis, guiding proper steps into a tense adventure. Where Dennis brought us a boyish wonder experiencing natural manhood, Aria exhibits beauty and her own strength, feminine elegance complimentary to Dennis, and vice versa.
Chester is matter-of-fact and full of wisdom, offering up a multitude of relevant quotes to chew upon: "He who loves his neighbor finds a family around him." "People see what they hope to see [...] People know what they wish to know, and they act on that truth which they create for themselves. And it may be that they are happier to live lies."
Per Drake's storytelling, Dennis "left Emath thinking that only a great hero would dare the jungle - and [he] was wrong." Hardships are what end up making Dennis seasoned at which Dennis marvels that life is not sterile so living in a sterile, yet safer, environment is not living at all.
February 23, 2019
The plot of this fantasy reads a lot like a computer adventure game, where slaying one monster reveals the magical treasure you need in order to overcome the next monster. As in the computer game, there is never any justification for the treasures being there. Plus, the hero has a super-knowledgeable, all-wise, and seemingly indestructible companion with him, which also seems a bit of a cheat. The book was entertaining enough, with a variety of interesting characters and scenes, decent narrative, and a satisfying ending, but it is far from being good literature.
January 31, 2020
A fantasy story set in the future on a distant world where humanity is set back to the dark ages with real monsters. That sadly is the stories biggest flaw. The setting is paper thin and would be better just set in a fantasy world. Much of the evil is being evil for evil's sake. The characterization of the main character is equally thin. The main character's android egg shaped companion with robotic tentacles would honestly have made for a better protagonist. Reading the novel I kept wanting to know more about the side character or the world than anything that was actually happening.
August 2, 2021
Fantasy listening 🔰
Due to eye issues and damage from shingles Alexa reads to me.
A will written fantasy Sci-Fi thriller adventure novel by David Drake. The characters are interesting and will developed. The story line is about a young man 🚹growing up in a world 🌎full of danger. He and his robot conquer all challenges on the way to the love 💘of his life. I would recommend this novel to readers of fantasy adventure. Enjoy the adventure of reading 📚2021🏰👑 🗾
Due to eye issues and damage from shingles Alexa reads to me.
A will written fantasy Sci-Fi thriller adventure novel by David Drake. The characters are interesting and will developed. The story line is about a young man 🚹growing up in a world 🌎full of danger. He and his robot conquer all challenges on the way to the love 💘of his life. I would recommend this novel to readers of fantasy adventure. Enjoy the adventure of reading 📚2021🏰👑 🗾
July 13, 2021
Coming of Age Fantasy
A solid fantasy adventure, reminiscent of several ancient Greek heroes, with strong horror elements. The structure requires the protagonist to start childish, and his childish behavior made the first half difficult to read.
Not bad, but Drake's more recent fantasy is better.
A solid fantasy adventure, reminiscent of several ancient Greek heroes, with strong horror elements. The structure requires the protagonist to start childish, and his childish behavior made the first half difficult to read.
Not bad, but Drake's more recent fantasy is better.
May 14, 2021
Fantasy meets Sci-fi
Fantasy meets Sci-fi in a hero's journey. Never have I read a book that so clearly so that advanced tech is the same has magic. And yet there is magic in the world.
Fantasy meets Sci-fi in a hero's journey. Never have I read a book that so clearly so that advanced tech is the same has magic. And yet there is magic in the world.
January 4, 2021
Really liked this book was a good fantasy read. It was slow getting started but when half way I couldnt put it down.
April 25, 2021
Good
I really loved the Lt Leary series. I was looking around and I found this one it was good. I just do not have the imagination.
I really loved the Lt Leary series. I was looking around and I found this one it was good. I just do not have the imagination.
August 13, 2013
I like David Drake's books. Hammer's Slammers, for example, remains one of my favourites reeads. That said, this was a mess. Stock characters, cliches and fantasy elements incoherently crammed into a science fiction background without any explanation.
Overlooking the question of where exactly this novel takes place, it is soon clear that this is a dystopian future where technology has been lost. Ok, so the creation of the castle is sort of explained but how the monsters obtain such power is never resolved nor is any explanation offered for why they exercise their power in the ways the do. In fantasy settings, it is simply magic and waved off as the nature of the beast but if you want to suggest this is based on high tech, then some explanation is necessary. The big question ten becomes, where did the robot come from? Why is it the only one in existence? given the loss of technology, why does everyone accept it without question while attributing to magic the trickery of the wizard?
Get one of his other books
Overlooking the question of where exactly this novel takes place, it is soon clear that this is a dystopian future where technology has been lost. Ok, so the creation of the castle is sort of explained but how the monsters obtain such power is never resolved nor is any explanation offered for why they exercise their power in the ways the do. In fantasy settings, it is simply magic and waved off as the nature of the beast but if you want to suggest this is based on high tech, then some explanation is necessary. The big question ten becomes, where did the robot come from? Why is it the only one in existence? given the loss of technology, why does everyone accept it without question while attributing to magic the trickery of the wizard?
Get one of his other books
January 14, 2015
Drake has written some incredibly good SF, and some far-better-than-average Fantasy, and then he comes up with this drivel.
It's a pastiche of rewritten fairy tales, a typical YA plotline, and a completely predictable ending, with that vague SF-ness I first encountered in Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders books: as if the author is embarrassed to be writing Fantasy, so has to place the novel in a degenerated colony world.
August 30, 2013
The Sea Hag retells some fairy tales, a prince coming of age story, with robot companion in fantasy-like world. Not always coherent, but a very quick read and Prince Dennis and his robot Chester are likable enough amid their adventures. Ended up with several of Drake's free e-books. Come another lazy summer day I may read another.
August 13, 2016
One of many fantasy tales by the late David Drake, this one is typical of his style. Accompanied by his faithful robot, sage and servant Chester, a young protagonist-hero leaves his comfortable castle and heads out into the jungle seeking adventure. I found it a nice diversion from more serious works and a good if not great read.
March 2, 2014
Dennis fled the crystal walls of Emath when he learned the truth behind the city his father rules. In the jungle, his sword arm is tested with monsters and his courage with nightmares. Sword and spirit can win Dennis a princess--but he can overcome the final evil only by risking all he has become.
February 10, 2019
Not David Drake's usual fare
As a favorite author, I downloaded the Sea Hag expecting high adventure. And that's what u received.
A far future fairy tale set on a planet settled by Earth with a mix a science and magic. And a sidekick.
As a favorite author, I downloaded the Sea Hag expecting high adventure. And that's what u received.
A far future fairy tale set on a planet settled by Earth with a mix a science and magic. And a sidekick.
November 30, 2022
I read this last year, but somehow forgot to add it.
It's okay.
Meh.
It's okay.
Meh.
August 1, 2014
Not bad, could be better but enjoyable just the same.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews