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The Silver Call #1-2
The Silver Call
Bestselling author Dennis L. McKiernan's mythical novels of Mithgar are among the most cherished stories in the pantheon of fantasy fiction. The Silver Call collects two of the earlier novels-Trek to Kraggen-Cor and The Brega Path-in one volume for the very first time.
507 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2001
86 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
About the author
Dennis L. McKiernan
69 books519 followersMcKiernan was born in Moberly, Missouri, where he lived until he served the U.S. Air Force for four years, stationed within US territory during the Korean War. After military service, he attended the University of Missouri and received a B.S. in electrical engineering in 1958 and an M.S. in the same field from Duke University in 1964. He worked as an engineer at AT&T, initially at Western Electric but soon at Bell Laboratories, from 1958 until 1989. In 1989, after early retirement from engineering, McKiernan began writing on a full-time basis.
In 1977, while riding his motorcycle, McKiernan was hit by a car which had crossed the center-line, and was confined to a bed, first in traction and then in a hip spica cast, for many months. During his recuperation, he boldly began a sequel to J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. The publisher Doubleday showed an interest in his work and tried to obtain authorization from Tolkien's estate but was denied. Doubleday then asked McKiernan to rewrite his story, placing the characters in a different fictitious world, and also to write a prequel supporting it. The prequel, of necessity, resembles The Lord of the Rings; the decision of Doubleday to issue the work as a trilogy increased that resemblance; and some critics have seen McKiernan as simply imitating Tolkien's epic work. McKiernan has subsequently developed stories in the series that followed along a story line different from those that plausibly could have been taken by Tolkien.
McKiernan's Faery Series expands tales draw from Andrew Lang's Fairy Books, additionally tying the selected tales together with a larger plot.
McKiernan currently lives in Tucson, Arizona.
(Biography taken from Wikipedia)
In 1977, while riding his motorcycle, McKiernan was hit by a car which had crossed the center-line, and was confined to a bed, first in traction and then in a hip spica cast, for many months. During his recuperation, he boldly began a sequel to J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. The publisher Doubleday showed an interest in his work and tried to obtain authorization from Tolkien's estate but was denied. Doubleday then asked McKiernan to rewrite his story, placing the characters in a different fictitious world, and also to write a prequel supporting it. The prequel, of necessity, resembles The Lord of the Rings; the decision of Doubleday to issue the work as a trilogy increased that resemblance; and some critics have seen McKiernan as simply imitating Tolkien's epic work. McKiernan has subsequently developed stories in the series that followed along a story line different from those that plausibly could have been taken by Tolkien.
McKiernan's Faery Series expands tales draw from Andrew Lang's Fairy Books, additionally tying the selected tales together with a larger plot.
McKiernan currently lives in Tucson, Arizona.
(Biography taken from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 7, 2025
Rating: 3.5 stars
This is an omnibus edition that collects Trek to Kraggen-Cor and The Brega Path. It tells the Tolkien-inspired tale of the attempt of the Dwarven folk to regain their lost realm of Moria Kraggen-Cor, with the assistance of two Hobbits Warrows. I believe this is McKiernan's first Mithgar story and some of his earliest writing. It's not as well written as some of his other works, such as Dragondoom or the Eye of the Hunter. However, this is still an entertaining adventure quest with new friendships (and losses), humour, prophesies, lots of travelling and sneaking, battles, and an infamously ominous silver horn engraved with Dwarves riding horses (everyone knows Dwarves don't ride horses!). And a Kraken... possibly. Can't forget the Kraken... it might be dead, or it might still be in the lake before the doors...
This is an omnibus edition that collects Trek to Kraggen-Cor and The Brega Path. It tells the Tolkien-inspired tale of the attempt of the Dwarven folk to regain their lost realm of Moria Kraggen-Cor, with the assistance of two Hobbits Warrows. I believe this is McKiernan's first Mithgar story and some of his earliest writing. It's not as well written as some of his other works, such as Dragondoom or the Eye of the Hunter. However, this is still an entertaining adventure quest with new friendships (and losses), humour, prophesies, lots of travelling and sneaking, battles, and an infamously ominous silver horn engraved with Dwarves riding horses (everyone knows Dwarves don't ride horses!). And a Kraken... possibly. Can't forget the Kraken... it might be dead, or it might still be in the lake before the doors...
January 17, 2023
The Silver Call is an adventure of two Wee Folks discovering they are vital to a mission of great importance to the Dwarf King who has a legion ready to regain their lost realm of Kreggan-Kor from the menacing Dark Lord. These Warrows, Perry and Cotton, have spent years with the details of the Raven Book which has the way into the hidden mountain underground kingdom. Perry and Cotton’s knowledge is vital to the Dwarf legion in their quest to regain the lost kingdom. This is a heart pounding tale of adventure, courage, hope and loss. The words penned in this tale not only speaks of a fantasy tale similar to Tolkien’s great works, but they speak to the heart of what it’s like to go on adventure, to face danger, to know joy and wonder and to experience loss as well. There are some eternal words written in this work spoken by the characters as they venture forth. They apply to reads of all ages, in all times and places. This is a great read. Be ready for an adventure that will grip your heart.
February 24, 2018
2.5 half maybe.
I am not sure why I decided to read more McKiernan...Dragondoom was quite good actually, this one I think it was the single most derivative piece of literature I have ever read. It would be interesting to analyse how many parts of it were just Middle-earth transposition. More than I can count. But that in a sense, was not even the greatest of its defects probably. This book mostly lacked energy, things just happened without much consequence or character development. The protagonists suddenly behaved out of character when the plot required it, and there were at least two amazing plot contrivances when the writer wrote the story into a corner.
There are a few uplifting moments here and there, and the systematisation of the world can be interesting for those who like extensive worldbuilding. Wouldn't reccomend it to many people though.
The Iron Tower was better I think (not entirely sure).
I think I will not read any more Mithgar novel, but...who knows the future?
I am not sure why I decided to read more McKiernan...Dragondoom was quite good actually, this one I think it was the single most derivative piece of literature I have ever read. It would be interesting to analyse how many parts of it were just Middle-earth transposition. More than I can count. But that in a sense, was not even the greatest of its defects probably. This book mostly lacked energy, things just happened without much consequence or character development. The protagonists suddenly behaved out of character when the plot required it, and there were at least two amazing plot contrivances when the writer wrote the story into a corner.
There are a few uplifting moments here and there, and the systematisation of the world can be interesting for those who like extensive worldbuilding. Wouldn't reccomend it to many people though.
The Iron Tower was better I think (not entirely sure).
I think I will not read any more Mithgar novel, but...who knows the future?
January 12, 2023
A fine tale of adventure
I am new to Dennis L. McKiernan. Having read and loved The Iron Tower trilogy, I came to The Silver Call duology with great hopes, and it managed to live up to them.
However, a few things felt less than worthy of five stars. In Iron Tower, the prose was exquisite. Unfortunately, I found in the first part of this duology, the writing felt forced, but by the end of the story it was definitely improved.
This, I am sure, is because Silver Call was releases after Iron Tower, but written before. Sure, it was a little clunky at times, but the adventure was exciting, heartfelt, whimsical and at times soulcrushingly real.
A wonderful story, from an author I am going to be reading a whole lot more of!
I am new to Dennis L. McKiernan. Having read and loved The Iron Tower trilogy, I came to The Silver Call duology with great hopes, and it managed to live up to them.
However, a few things felt less than worthy of five stars. In Iron Tower, the prose was exquisite. Unfortunately, I found in the first part of this duology, the writing felt forced, but by the end of the story it was definitely improved.
This, I am sure, is because Silver Call was releases after Iron Tower, but written before. Sure, it was a little clunky at times, but the adventure was exciting, heartfelt, whimsical and at times soulcrushingly real.
A wonderful story, from an author I am going to be reading a whole lot more of!
December 7, 2025
Remembered from my youth
One of my favorite series that I read back when I was in high school. Loved reading about the Warrow and the Seven's journey. Great read and I highly recommend this and any of his books. Didn't realize that he wrote 13 books related to Mithgar. This is 2 or 3 books in one. The series deals with the retaking of Kraggen-cor by the Dwarves led by the Warrow guides Perry and Cotton. The story is a great read. There are funny parts, sad parts and glorious parts in between. Highly recommend!
One of my favorite series that I read back when I was in high school. Loved reading about the Warrow and the Seven's journey. Great read and I highly recommend this and any of his books. Didn't realize that he wrote 13 books related to Mithgar. This is 2 or 3 books in one. The series deals with the retaking of Kraggen-cor by the Dwarves led by the Warrow guides Perry and Cotton. The story is a great read. There are funny parts, sad parts and glorious parts in between. Highly recommend!
April 23, 2023
Mckiernan remains one of my favorite authors and this book showcases why. His storytelling is gripping, his characters engaging, and his worlds well designed. The ending is predictable with nice twists and surprises along the way that keep it fun. I would recommend this, or any one of his books to anyone looking for an adventure.
July 11, 2017
Good books- not overly great, but enjoyable stories. I just wish he went into more detail with the fighting and less on the travelling. Still, always good for a quick read.
May 29, 2022
DNF. 1/5 stars ⭐️
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August 11, 2016It’s inevitable that the work of Dennis McKiernan is going to be compared with that of J.R.R. Tolkien. In fact, we may as well state (as McKiernan does, in his Introduction to the reissue of THE SILVER CALL) that the Tolkien influence is obvious, especially in that earlier work, and get past it. Lambasting McKiernan for his analogues to hobbits (Warrows) his Dwarves and Elves and Rucks (if they aren’t Orcs, they may as well be) is so easy it’s kind of pointlessly boring.
In the Introduction to THE SILVER CALL, McKiernan tells the story of the origin of this work (meant to be a two part story, separated into two novels for its first appearance in print). He was lying flat on his back in traction after a serious car accident. To keep his sanity he wrote this story, drawing not only on Tolkien’s mythological creation but on Cherokee tales of wee folk, and on some of the mythological sources that Tolkien drew on. His world Mithgar is meant as a tribute, or homage, to Tolkien.
THE SILVER CALL is his earliest writing. The two stories concern a pair of Warrows, Peregrine Fairhill and Cotton Buckleburr, whose chief characteristics are their small stature and their gem-like eyes. They are visited in their Boskydells village by a pair of Dwarves and a man, Lord Kian, who turns out to be a crown prince in disguise. That much is certainly familiar, of course. Perry lives in an underground warren called The Root, but living with him as housekeeper and cook is a comely young damman (a female Warrow) named Holly, who will keep the homefires burning for Perry. Perry is also a scholar, and well versed in the history of Mithgar.
The three seekers are on a quest for information: they need to consult THE RAVEN BOOK, an exact account of a journey made ages ago by a Warrow named Tuckerby Underbank. It is precisely here that McKiernan’s own vision starts showing its own direction: key to Perry and Cotton being drawn from their warm and cozy village into adventure is not just the fact that they both have memorized THE BREGA PATH, an exact descrption of how to get into the ancient mountain fortress of the Dwarves, Kraggen-Cor, but a silver horn has come into their possession, carved round with Dwarves riding horses, that must be taken as well. There are prophesies and doomsayings galore about all these matters, and must be heeded even if not understood.
But central to them all is that silver horn. Dwarves on horseback! Everyone knows Dwarves don’t ride. This mystery is lightly referred to at first, but after the Warrows set out, to serve as guides to the Dwarves who are determined to retake their ancient homeland from the foul creatures now infesting it, the silver horn’s importance slowly becomes clear.
The rest of the story is straightforward battle quest fare. Lots and lots of battles, with thousands of cruel-talking, ugly critters getting hewn in droves by the heroes. Yet there is a terrible cost; those who live through that adventure are not unscathed. Heroes die, and there is some sorrowful examination of the realities of war. In between there are glimpses of humor. Cotton exhibits Samwise Gamgee’s practical approach to life, Perry is more poetic and less mystical than Frodo becomes, but both are good-hearted, courageous, and devoted friends. When at last the silver horn comes to be blown by the proper person to use it, McKiernan evokes the numinous in his description of its effect.
The writing is awkward in places, sentences taking far too long for their effect, some tried-and-true purple prose from 19th century tales employed (“We must set forth at once to array the Host against the foul Spawn.”), and the battles do go on for a very long time--all of them--but there is enough good character development, especially of the Dwarves to keep the reader engaged. McKiernan’s Dwarves are his strength in both books; they are interesting in SILVER CALL, and fascinatingly complex in DRAGONDOOM.
In the Introduction to THE SILVER CALL, McKiernan tells the story of the origin of this work (meant to be a two part story, separated into two novels for its first appearance in print). He was lying flat on his back in traction after a serious car accident. To keep his sanity he wrote this story, drawing not only on Tolkien’s mythological creation but on Cherokee tales of wee folk, and on some of the mythological sources that Tolkien drew on. His world Mithgar is meant as a tribute, or homage, to Tolkien.
THE SILVER CALL is his earliest writing. The two stories concern a pair of Warrows, Peregrine Fairhill and Cotton Buckleburr, whose chief characteristics are their small stature and their gem-like eyes. They are visited in their Boskydells village by a pair of Dwarves and a man, Lord Kian, who turns out to be a crown prince in disguise. That much is certainly familiar, of course. Perry lives in an underground warren called The Root, but living with him as housekeeper and cook is a comely young damman (a female Warrow) named Holly, who will keep the homefires burning for Perry. Perry is also a scholar, and well versed in the history of Mithgar.
The three seekers are on a quest for information: they need to consult THE RAVEN BOOK, an exact account of a journey made ages ago by a Warrow named Tuckerby Underbank. It is precisely here that McKiernan’s own vision starts showing its own direction: key to Perry and Cotton being drawn from their warm and cozy village into adventure is not just the fact that they both have memorized THE BREGA PATH, an exact descrption of how to get into the ancient mountain fortress of the Dwarves, Kraggen-Cor, but a silver horn has come into their possession, carved round with Dwarves riding horses, that must be taken as well. There are prophesies and doomsayings galore about all these matters, and must be heeded even if not understood.
But central to them all is that silver horn. Dwarves on horseback! Everyone knows Dwarves don’t ride. This mystery is lightly referred to at first, but after the Warrows set out, to serve as guides to the Dwarves who are determined to retake their ancient homeland from the foul creatures now infesting it, the silver horn’s importance slowly becomes clear.
The rest of the story is straightforward battle quest fare. Lots and lots of battles, with thousands of cruel-talking, ugly critters getting hewn in droves by the heroes. Yet there is a terrible cost; those who live through that adventure are not unscathed. Heroes die, and there is some sorrowful examination of the realities of war. In between there are glimpses of humor. Cotton exhibits Samwise Gamgee’s practical approach to life, Perry is more poetic and less mystical than Frodo becomes, but both are good-hearted, courageous, and devoted friends. When at last the silver horn comes to be blown by the proper person to use it, McKiernan evokes the numinous in his description of its effect.
The writing is awkward in places, sentences taking far too long for their effect, some tried-and-true purple prose from 19th century tales employed (“We must set forth at once to array the Host against the foul Spawn.”), and the battles do go on for a very long time--all of them--but there is enough good character development, especially of the Dwarves to keep the reader engaged. McKiernan’s Dwarves are his strength in both books; they are interesting in SILVER CALL, and fascinatingly complex in DRAGONDOOM.
April 20, 2014
It was a slooow long read... but it is a big book written in the style of Tolkien. Thank god the travelogue portions where thin and light. I wasn't too engaged in the tale; but it was nicely written. I lost it at least twice in my house and wasn't upset. Each time, I sorta shrugged and thought, "well, I wasn't digging it all that much." But a book this big doesn't stay lost forever. I found each time after a few days.
Not a single page was badly written and I thought it superior to Tolkien in every way. Hobbits (or Warrow) just aren't my bag, I guess.
Not a single page was badly written and I thought it superior to Tolkien in every way. Hobbits (or Warrow) just aren't my bag, I guess.
September 14, 2007
It was a good read for someone who loves Tolkien. Dealing with dwarves and a race of creatures similar to Tolkien's hobbits, this novel held my interest well. I liked the balance of humor and fantasy writing. There was also a good amount of calm periods mixed in with the action that kept the pace fast enough but not so fast I couldn't keep up with all the plot elements. The author created a fascinating world that would ring true for any fantasy fan that enjoys a 'world' much like Tolkien's.
December 6, 2020
My thoughts on the two individual books can be found on their pages. Over all, I found this to be a fun read, albeit one that's obviously heavily derivative of Tolkien. Still, I'm glad I read this, since there's something nice about seeing a familiar world with some twists and expansions to it. This omnibus edition is largely nice, though I find the 50 page glossary at the back to be completely absurd.
September 9, 2020
I am a fan of Mithgar and as such I have yet to come across a Mithgar book I didn't like. Of course some are better than others and it's been a while since I read this particular book, but this is one of my favorites.
February 6, 2008
I read this years ago and still remember it in detail...I think that says enough! A GREAT READ! a fantasy classic!
December 15, 2009
Great book, in the tradition of LOTR. I really enjoy McKiernan. Great high fantasy.
October 24, 2014
One of the better Mithgar books.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews