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The Guin Saga #4
Prisoner of the Lagon
The Guin Saga is epic heroic fantasy in the smae vein as Robert E. Howard's Conan, the Barbarian. More than a hundred books strong and growing, the saga has sold more than twenty-five million copies in Japan. Vertical will publish the first five installments that comprise "The Marches Episode" arc. Each paperback edition will feature artwork taken from the original Japanese editions. (see art above). Though decimating the vaunted Red Kights of the Mongauli Army in a sea of deadly yidoh, the combined tribes of the Sem remain vastly outmumbered. Guin decides to leave his friends in search of the legendary Lagon. He must find the giant warriors before the fragile Sem alliance unravels and the tribes fall to the Mongauli. Meanwhile, Istavan the mercenary's deft covert-op helps destroy the Blue Knights.
296 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 1980
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141 people want to read
About the author
Kaoru Kurimoto
458 books31 followersKaoru Kurimoto ( 栗本 薫, Kurimoto Kaoru, February 13, 1953 – May 26, 2009) was the pen name of Sumiyo Imaoka (今岡 純代, Imaoka Sumiyo), a Japanese novelist. Imaoka also used the pen name Azusa Nakajima (中島 梓, Nakajima Azusa) to write criticism and music. She was known for her record-breaking 130-volume Guin Saga series, which has been translated into English, German, French, Italian and Russian. Her style has been described as being part of the New Wave science fiction movement.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 8, 2013
This fourth book in the Guin Saga series is just as good as the other, if not better. The story is intense and exciting and the descriptions colorful.
In this story, Guin and the Sem are working together to fight off the Mongaul forces. Guin manages to unite all the Sem tribes of the desert so their forces are increased ten-fold. Even if combined they don't nearly meet the numbers of the Mongaul, they learn new fighting tactics to force the Mongaul into submission.
While the Mongaul forces are running, Lady Amnelis, General of the Right, faces challenges herself. She calls upon a strange spell-caster that is said to be the only one to cross the great Nospherous desert alive and he explains everything he can about the land ahead they face. This brings new confidence to the Mongaul forces despite the dangers they've faced so far.
Now on the attack, the Mongaul forces push through the desert, determined to finish the Sem off. Guin realizes that they need more help if they are to defeat the Mongaul once and for all, so he decides to set out in search of the legendary Lagon people. Remus and Rinda protest and tell him not to go, but he says that if he does not, the Sem will surely lose this war. Rinda gives him some strange advice, and he sets off.
Just as he is starting, Guin gets caught in a massive sandstorm that blows him all the way to the top of Dog's Head mountain, where he meets a strange wolf spirit that leads him through strange glowing salt fields, and then disappears. Guin thinks all is lost when he is captured by a strange people that turn out to be the very Lagon people he has been seeking. Two days have already passed, so Guin must find his way out at the same time the Sem must fend off their enemies while they wait for his return.
It, like its predecessors, are excellent stories. I did find myself frustrated by the endless descriptions of things and sometimes I wished the story would just move on, but ignoring that, it was a very well put together edition of the tale. I plan to read the final edition soon, but as I am a very slow reader, it may take a while.
I give this one a 7.5 out of 10 and recommend it for everyone that likes fantasy and adventure stories of heroes and battles for glory.
In this story, Guin and the Sem are working together to fight off the Mongaul forces. Guin manages to unite all the Sem tribes of the desert so their forces are increased ten-fold. Even if combined they don't nearly meet the numbers of the Mongaul, they learn new fighting tactics to force the Mongaul into submission.
While the Mongaul forces are running, Lady Amnelis, General of the Right, faces challenges herself. She calls upon a strange spell-caster that is said to be the only one to cross the great Nospherous desert alive and he explains everything he can about the land ahead they face. This brings new confidence to the Mongaul forces despite the dangers they've faced so far.
Now on the attack, the Mongaul forces push through the desert, determined to finish the Sem off. Guin realizes that they need more help if they are to defeat the Mongaul once and for all, so he decides to set out in search of the legendary Lagon people. Remus and Rinda protest and tell him not to go, but he says that if he does not, the Sem will surely lose this war. Rinda gives him some strange advice, and he sets off.
Just as he is starting, Guin gets caught in a massive sandstorm that blows him all the way to the top of Dog's Head mountain, where he meets a strange wolf spirit that leads him through strange glowing salt fields, and then disappears. Guin thinks all is lost when he is captured by a strange people that turn out to be the very Lagon people he has been seeking. Two days have already passed, so Guin must find his way out at the same time the Sem must fend off their enemies while they wait for his return.
It, like its predecessors, are excellent stories. I did find myself frustrated by the endless descriptions of things and sometimes I wished the story would just move on, but ignoring that, it was a very well put together edition of the tale. I plan to read the final edition soon, but as I am a very slow reader, it may take a while.
I give this one a 7.5 out of 10 and recommend it for everyone that likes fantasy and adventure stories of heroes and battles for glory.
February 15, 2019
This is a fairly simplistic series, but its still fun. Its been probably over a year since I read book 3, but I was still able to jump in to this story with almost no difficulty. There isn't a whole lot of depth to the story at this point, with the story essentially being a fantasy pulp adventure. I thought that the most interesting aspect was the character of Istavan.
Overall I enjoyed this book for its simplistic fantasy pulp action, but there are definitely qualities that date it, especially in regards to the female characters. Recommended for fans of pulp fantasy, light novels, and the idea of fate/causality.
For the #ReadHarder2019 challenge, I read this for #9, a book published prior to January 1, 2019 with fewer than 100 reads on GoodReads.
Overall I enjoyed this book for its simplistic fantasy pulp action, but there are definitely qualities that date it, especially in regards to the female characters. Recommended for fans of pulp fantasy, light novels, and the idea of fate/causality.
For the #ReadHarder2019 challenge, I read this for #9, a book published prior to January 1, 2019 with fewer than 100 reads on GoodReads.
May 15, 2022
This was a weird one. This is the first time that I'm not giving a book in this series 5 stars.
Even though the second half of this book really made me want to. But ultimately, I just couldn't overlook my issues with the first half.
First up though; The worldbuilding, the characters, the iconic moments; The things I loved about the books till this point are mostly there. This is still a good entry into the series and most definitely worth reading. I especially am surprised by the worldbuilding in this one. For me, one of the best experiences when reading, is when a part of a story, or the entire story, feels like they were always there. Instead of coming into existence by being told, it feels like they were only waiting to be told. This is a state of immersion that stories rarely achieve for me. Every time it happens, I feel like I've found a gem in the endless world of stories that mankind tells... (Is this too corny though xD)
But okay. Enough explaining that I still liked a lot in the book. Now comes the reasons for the lost star. The plot in this one was not good. I'll describe in a vague way further down why. So if you don't want to know even vaguely then the vaguest possible way I can put it, is that it felt to me as though the author had written herself into a corner and struggled to get out of it.
What my problems were vaguely:
Even after that was over, there is one more less significant thing that somewhat bugs me. It's not a big deal at all, but it is just a weird part of these books. I can't describe it vaguely, so:
So yeah, the plot wasn't it this time. The second half of the book was so good, I almost wanted to just forget my issues with the first half and give it 5 stars again. But no. Some criticism seems fair to me on this one.
Even though the second half of this book really made me want to. But ultimately, I just couldn't overlook my issues with the first half.
First up though; The worldbuilding, the characters, the iconic moments; The things I loved about the books till this point are mostly there. This is still a good entry into the series and most definitely worth reading. I especially am surprised by the worldbuilding in this one. For me, one of the best experiences when reading, is when a part of a story, or the entire story, feels like they were always there. Instead of coming into existence by being told, it feels like they were only waiting to be told. This is a state of immersion that stories rarely achieve for me. Every time it happens, I feel like I've found a gem in the endless world of stories that mankind tells... (Is this too corny though xD)
But okay. Enough explaining that I still liked a lot in the book. Now comes the reasons for the lost star. The plot in this one was not good. I'll describe in a vague way further down why. So if you don't want to know even vaguely then the vaguest possible way I can put it, is that it felt to me as though the author had written herself into a corner and struggled to get out of it.
What my problems were vaguely:
Even after that was over, there is one more less significant thing that somewhat bugs me. It's not a big deal at all, but it is just a weird part of these books. I can't describe it vaguely, so:
So yeah, the plot wasn't it this time. The second half of the book was so good, I almost wanted to just forget my issues with the first half and give it 5 stars again. But no. Some criticism seems fair to me on this one.
July 21, 2025
A refreshing contribution to the Ginn universe after the (somewhat) disappointing #3. The separation of the main character from the battle scene worked well and presaged a (possible) great final novel. I'm looking forward to it!
March 31, 2017
Again. Incredible, pulse-absorbing action ducks between various instruments of airy boredom, aiding readers whom must feel their way through the dull darkness lest they drift away or fall asleep. THE GUIN SAGA remains as powerful and entertaining a work of fiction as one could ask for, in terms of rhetorical flair and the perpetuation of a single character's influence on the course of the narrative. And yet, THE GUIN SAGA remains just as bulky and cocooning a fantasy novel as one will ever read. . .
Kurimoto's Prisoner of the Lagon starts strong but gradually fades to a lumbering halt, only to quickly gain speed and conclude with a thrilling, emotional punch.
As the book opens, the battle for Nospherus continues in all its savage glory. Guin and the twins and the rallied Sem have done a commendable job of routing the Mongauli army into various bouts of anger, fear, and in many cases, paranoia. Guin is the unquestioned leader of these defenders of Nospehrus, and his assorted scheming and plotting has taken them much deeper into battle than anyone ever thought. Whether he's using the wild lands against the invading humans, or simply barking coarse insults at the female general who stands in his way, Guin and his arrogance is so perfectly placed that it would be exasperating if it weren't so remarkably fun to watch.
Except, of course, when the fighting stops. Because once the fighting stops, things get boring.
Kuromoto's penchant for precision, detail, and thoroughly extravagant description are invaluable when canvassing the carnage of the battlefield. But sitting around a campfire? Wandering through a rocky façade in the dark? Not so much. In the middle of the book, Guin spends roughly 60 pages wandering the mountainside. This departure from the excitement of war crooks the reader into one slightly relevant but ultimately boring subplot after another; an endeavor helped in no small part by the warrior's variously odd and inexplicable visions, including his encounter with the giant "limbless baby" that is "curled up like a caterpillar, a great lump of flesh with a giant head and giant torso" (p. 129).
Weird, to say the least.
But stepping back, all in all, Prisoner of the Lagon suffers from the same dips and valleys of its predecessors: the action is incredible; the non-action is painful to endure.
Of the few exceptions to this rule are moments when Lady Amnelis bickers with her military council. Her appearance as the beautiful and cold but occasionally, regretfully boisterous and inexperienced leader colors the story with great and meaningful dynamism. The quantity of reputable female characters in this series is slim enough; Lady Amnelis, though incredibly flawed and routinely critiqued, nonetheless remains an influential character.
Another exception might be when the Mongauli guards whisper to one another at dusk, absolutely terrified the creatures of Nospherus may come for them under the cover of darkness. These little excursions of human frailty are what make long-winded novels like Prisoner of the Lagon such a pleasure to devour.
And the book's conclusion, no doubt, is a treasure. The final chapter, "Fire and Stone," is a beautiful ode to fantasy-adventure literature that never lets its readers come up for air. As the Mongauli army rides through the desert in hot pursuit of the fleeing Sem, violence envelopes the known universe, and the arrogance and treachery known to inhabit this universe's most outspoken denizens, rears its ugly head. Prisoner of the Lagon is a fantastic read for the final chapter alone.
Kurimoto's Prisoner of the Lagon starts strong but gradually fades to a lumbering halt, only to quickly gain speed and conclude with a thrilling, emotional punch.
As the book opens, the battle for Nospherus continues in all its savage glory. Guin and the twins and the rallied Sem have done a commendable job of routing the Mongauli army into various bouts of anger, fear, and in many cases, paranoia. Guin is the unquestioned leader of these defenders of Nospehrus, and his assorted scheming and plotting has taken them much deeper into battle than anyone ever thought. Whether he's using the wild lands against the invading humans, or simply barking coarse insults at the female general who stands in his way, Guin and his arrogance is so perfectly placed that it would be exasperating if it weren't so remarkably fun to watch.
Except, of course, when the fighting stops. Because once the fighting stops, things get boring.
Kuromoto's penchant for precision, detail, and thoroughly extravagant description are invaluable when canvassing the carnage of the battlefield. But sitting around a campfire? Wandering through a rocky façade in the dark? Not so much. In the middle of the book, Guin spends roughly 60 pages wandering the mountainside. This departure from the excitement of war crooks the reader into one slightly relevant but ultimately boring subplot after another; an endeavor helped in no small part by the warrior's variously odd and inexplicable visions, including his encounter with the giant "limbless baby" that is "curled up like a caterpillar, a great lump of flesh with a giant head and giant torso" (p. 129).
Weird, to say the least.
But stepping back, all in all, Prisoner of the Lagon suffers from the same dips and valleys of its predecessors: the action is incredible; the non-action is painful to endure.
Of the few exceptions to this rule are moments when Lady Amnelis bickers with her military council. Her appearance as the beautiful and cold but occasionally, regretfully boisterous and inexperienced leader colors the story with great and meaningful dynamism. The quantity of reputable female characters in this series is slim enough; Lady Amnelis, though incredibly flawed and routinely critiqued, nonetheless remains an influential character.
Another exception might be when the Mongauli guards whisper to one another at dusk, absolutely terrified the creatures of Nospherus may come for them under the cover of darkness. These little excursions of human frailty are what make long-winded novels like Prisoner of the Lagon such a pleasure to devour.
And the book's conclusion, no doubt, is a treasure. The final chapter, "Fire and Stone," is a beautiful ode to fantasy-adventure literature that never lets its readers come up for air. As the Mongauli army rides through the desert in hot pursuit of the fleeing Sem, violence envelopes the known universe, and the arrogance and treachery known to inhabit this universe's most outspoken denizens, rears its ugly head. Prisoner of the Lagon is a fantastic read for the final chapter alone.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews