A Call to Arms

The Delgroth Trilogy #3

by Thomas K. Martin

Returning to his modern-day life as an everyday college student, Steve Wilkinson, alias the Dreamer, is unaware that he is followed by the evil wizard Belevairn, who hopes to obtain modern weaponry to defeat ancient Delgroth. Original.

Genres: Fantasy

240 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Thomas K. Martin was born in a small mining town in the Cumberland Gap region of Kentucky near the West Virginia and Tennessee borders. His father served in the U.S. Air Force, and the family moved frequently when Martin was a child. Martin came to Texas with his parents in 1974 and has lived in and around Dallas / Ft. Worth ever since.

Martin published his first novel, A Two-Edged Sword (the first book of The Delgroth Trilogy), through Ace/Berkley in December 1993. He completed a second series, The Magelord Trilogy, in 1999.

Apart from writing, Martin also works as a computer programmer, creates his own chain mail and serves as a member of The Artemis Society of Dallas. He lives near Dallas with his wife, Mary, and four of their five children.

Reviews

[Grant Snoes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that as far as the "Delgroth Trilogy" goes this was the most entertaining to read. I wish I could rate it 3.5 instead of 3 but I don't have that option.

Maybe I only feel that way coming off of the god awful second book which I think might be the single worst piece of media I've ever consumed, but this was a much better twist on fantasy.

For one, they brought back Erelvar which was my favorite character from the first book, they also made Steve less of a jerk, and Arthwyr is back, and it was all in all just a great return to the first books magic.

I'm glad I read all 3 of the books in the trilogy, even though I wouldn't wish the second book on anyone. Terrible ending to this third book though, like seriously what a goofy and corny way to end this book.

Biggest complaint is the fact that this book technically ends on a cliffhanger so it feels like there should be a fourth book but there just isn't.

[Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Call to Arms is the final book in the Delgroth Trilogy. This review is for the entire series and I'm sure involves some spoilers so...beware!

I just love the way Thomas K. Martin writes. At first I was intensely skeptical of the storyline, which was portrayed on the cover of this final volume with the hero, Steve, riding a white horse in full plate armor and holding a rifle. Eh? I took a chance simply because I loved Martin's other work; the Magelord Trilogy. Thankfully the Delgroth Trilogy did not end up being some steampunk disaster or alternate history. In a nutshell, Steve Wilkinson takes part in a sleep research experiment while in college and his dream-self is transported to Delgroth, another reality of knights and undead wizards.

Steve is apparently a figure of prophecy, and as “The Dreamer” he allies himself with the forces of good and their leader Erelvar. Together they oppose a powerful and arcane evil in the form of Daryna, immortal sorceress and her 12 undead acolytes. Her forces are the Morvir, a warlike people who seek to dominate all other life on Delgroth. Steve must learn to become a knight, honing the sword and the forces of “good” magic to defeat the masked Dread Lord Belevairn and his demonic steed. Steve will triumph, he will die, he will rise again and he will defend the forces of Delgroth against sword, magic, tank and machine gun on two different worlds. In this final volume his obviously messianic return finds Delgroth on the brink of annihilation. Is he the harbinger of salvation or armageddon? Time will tell, but what is certain is that in "The Dreamer", Martin creates and intensely likable and realistic protagonist you can't help rooting for.