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The Seventh Sword #1
The Reluctant Swordsman
The last thing Wallie Smith remembered was a fog of hospitals, grim-faced doctors, and pain. So when he woke in the body of a barbarian swordsman, attended by a beautiful slave girl and a wizened old priest nattering about the Goddess, he assumed it was a fever-dream.
But the World could not be dismissed so lightly. A naked little demigod called Shorty explained that the Goddess needed a swordsman. If Wallie undertook the job and succeeded, all that World had to offer would be his. If he refused, the results would be...unpleasant.
Wallie was not convinced, but Shorty was exquisitely persuasive. Soon Wallie found himself bearing a magnificent sword, with no idea how to use it -- and the servants of the Goddess were out to stop him.
But the World could not be dismissed so lightly. A naked little demigod called Shorty explained that the Goddess needed a swordsman. If Wallie undertook the job and succeeded, all that World had to offer would be his. If he refused, the results would be...unpleasant.
Wallie was not convinced, but Shorty was exquisitely persuasive. Soon Wallie found himself bearing a magnificent sword, with no idea how to use it -- and the servants of the Goddess were out to stop him.
326 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
257 people are currently reading
2879 people want to read
About the author
Dave Duncan
140 books589 followersOriginally from Scotland, Dave Duncan lived all his adult life in Western Canada, having enjoyed a long career as a petroleum geologist before taking up writing. Since discovering that imaginary worlds were more satisfying than the real one, he published more than 60 novels, mostly in the fantasy genre, but also young adult, science fiction, and historical.
He wrote at times under the pseudonym Sarah B. Franklin (but only for literary purposes) and Ken Hood (which is short for "D'ye Ken Whodunit?")
His most successful works were fantasy series: The Seventh Sword, A Man of His Word and its sequel, A Handful of Men, and seven books about The King’s Blades. His books have been translated into 15 languages, and of late have been appearing in audiobook format as well.
He and Janet were married in 1959. He is survived by her, one son and two daughters, as well as four grandchildren.
He was both a founding and honorary lifetime member of SFCanada, and a member of the CSFFA Hall of Fame.
He wrote at times under the pseudonym Sarah B. Franklin (but only for literary purposes) and Ken Hood (which is short for "D'ye Ken Whodunit?")
His most successful works were fantasy series: The Seventh Sword, A Man of His Word and its sequel, A Handful of Men, and seven books about The King’s Blades. His books have been translated into 15 languages, and of late have been appearing in audiobook format as well.
He and Janet were married in 1959. He is survived by her, one son and two daughters, as well as four grandchildren.
He was both a founding and honorary lifetime member of SFCanada, and a member of the CSFFA Hall of Fame.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
November 23, 2013
Yes, I'm giving this the rare 5 star rating. I'm a bit surprised I decided to go that high...but it's a good read. No deep emotional depths here, no great philosophical insights just a good adventurous read.
Wally is dying, well actually he seems to be dead. But instead of heading off to the after life he gets a bit...side tracked. See Wally is inside the body of a large, skilled swordsman in a completely different world.
Not a new plot device. As a matter of actual fact if you're a fantasy fan (or science fiction fan or science fantasy fan, etc.) you've undoubtedly run across it before.
That's cool though. As I've mentioned before there probably isn't a plot/idea/story line that hasn't been used before....multiple times. Mostly it depends on HOW WELL the plot is used or reused. In this case it's done quite well.
We get a story here with some humor, a little pain, a bit of romance and lots of action. It's the story of Wally trying to BE a swordsman in a world where swordsmen are royalty and sort combination soldiers/police. He has to learn to function in a world of strict class restrictions, a world of slaves, casts and iron age sensibilities.
It's a good book, I've already started the next volume. I can recommend this novel, enjoy.
Wally is dying, well actually he seems to be dead. But instead of heading off to the after life he gets a bit...side tracked. See Wally is inside the body of a large, skilled swordsman in a completely different world.
Not a new plot device. As a matter of actual fact if you're a fantasy fan (or science fiction fan or science fantasy fan, etc.) you've undoubtedly run across it before.
That's cool though. As I've mentioned before there probably isn't a plot/idea/story line that hasn't been used before....multiple times. Mostly it depends on HOW WELL the plot is used or reused. In this case it's done quite well.
We get a story here with some humor, a little pain, a bit of romance and lots of action. It's the story of Wally trying to BE a swordsman in a world where swordsmen are royalty and sort combination soldiers/police. He has to learn to function in a world of strict class restrictions, a world of slaves, casts and iron age sensibilities.
It's a good book, I've already started the next volume. I can recommend this novel, enjoy.
October 30, 2022
This is a portal fantasy with quite interesting worldbuilding.
Plot. Rating 2
The initial movement of the plot was exciting, but then the hero and the execution of his mysterious mission remain without significant changes. The plot is bogged down in unnecessary intrigue and preparation for the further continuation of the series. Wallie surpasses the locals with his physique and martial arts, but he is also helped by the gods using the technique of "deus ex machinas"
Heroes. Rating 4
The main character is shown well, especially in the first part of the book. Honakura and Nnanji are also interesting and have distinctive features. In general, many of the characters in the book show their personalities when they first appear, but later on they become less distinct. The seven characters that are necessary to continue the story did not arouse my great interest, although they are an original idea.
Dialogues. Rating 3
The dialogue in the book is normal. Their advantage is the presentation of an interesting world-building, unobtrusive humor, as well as reasoning about faith and morality. The disadvantage is a large amount of sexism, which, apart from its own negative meaning, is shown in a very primitive way, making the characters' dialogues stupid.
Writing style. Rating 4
The first part of the book is easy to read. In the future, I came across a dense tangle of petty intrigues, the implementation of military etiquette and the interpretation of religious principles. For me, this did not become an important part of the book and slowed down the reading.
Worldbuilding. Rating 5
It is quite original and complex, with apparent simplicity. The local prison made an impression on me. I liked such details of the world as sutras, legends and gods. Also, in my opinion, the book shows well the various hierarchy of social groups and attempts to change this cruel society for the better.
Overall conclusion. Rating 3
Plot issues swayed me to a 3 rating, but the book has various merits.
Plot. Rating 2
The initial movement of the plot was exciting, but then the hero and the execution of his mysterious mission remain without significant changes. The plot is bogged down in unnecessary intrigue and preparation for the further continuation of the series. Wallie surpasses the locals with his physique and martial arts, but he is also helped by the gods using the technique of "deus ex machinas"
Heroes. Rating 4
The main character is shown well, especially in the first part of the book. Honakura and Nnanji are also interesting and have distinctive features. In general, many of the characters in the book show their personalities when they first appear, but later on they become less distinct. The seven characters that are necessary to continue the story did not arouse my great interest, although they are an original idea.
Dialogues. Rating 3
The dialogue in the book is normal. Their advantage is the presentation of an interesting world-building, unobtrusive humor, as well as reasoning about faith and morality. The disadvantage is a large amount of sexism, which, apart from its own negative meaning, is shown in a very primitive way, making the characters' dialogues stupid.
Writing style. Rating 4
The first part of the book is easy to read. In the future, I came across a dense tangle of petty intrigues, the implementation of military etiquette and the interpretation of religious principles. For me, this did not become an important part of the book and slowed down the reading.
Worldbuilding. Rating 5
It is quite original and complex, with apparent simplicity. The local prison made an impression on me. I liked such details of the world as sutras, legends and gods. Also, in my opinion, the book shows well the various hierarchy of social groups and attempts to change this cruel society for the better.
Overall conclusion. Rating 3
Plot issues swayed me to a 3 rating, but the book has various merits.
March 19, 2013
Portal fantasy appears to be quite popular for the 1980's. The ones I'm familiar with (debuts or ongoing series) include : The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny (1985 for the second series), Thomas Covenant by Stephen Donaldson (starts in 1977 but continue), Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay (1984), Videssos by Haryy Turtledove (1987). I'm adding now my first Dave Duncan from 1988, and I must say I'm impressed by the narrative drive and by the nuanced characterization of this latest addition.
What sets Dave Duncan apart from the examples above is a tighter focus, away from the big epic canvas and into the story of one character and the moral implications of the actions he is forced to undertake. Wally Smith is a more or less ordinary Earthman (an engineer working in the oil industry, like the author, and like me ;-)) who has fallen gravelly ill and wakes up in a secondary fantasy world, in a new body that carries the tattoo of a master swordsman. This is not his only surprise, as he must come to terms with the fact that in this new World gods are real, and They have a plan for him: he's the Chosen One and, in the best tradition of fantasy yarns, he receives a prophecy, a legendary sword and the ability to wield it. I've simplified the elements to the bare minimum in order to avoid spoilers, but the story evolves mostly around Wally coming to terms with the basic nature of the sword fighter, which is to kill. The most dramatic revelation being that he's not in Kansas (Earth) anymore, and the rules / ethics that governed his previous life may not apply to the new challenges he faces, including the fact that misguided mercy can be seen as a weakness and invite retaliation from ruthless and opportunistic adversaries.
The limited geographic setting of this opening volume helps in maintaining the focus on Wally and on his transformation from builder to destroyer. The force of destruction being here seen in its Oriental incarnation as clearing the weeds and making place for renewal / rebirth. Basically we have an ancient temple to the Goddess, a military barracks guarding it and a city servicing the religious establishment. There are hints at the larger picture, at the mythology and the social structures of the world (including slavery), but the reader only learns about them gradually, at the same pace as the outsider Wally. The world has a definite Oriental flavour in the naming conventions, in the animist pantheon (River Goddess, Fire demigod), in the caste system, and most of all in the martial code, set up like Bushido in sutras / tenets around the concepts of honour and duty and obedience. To continue the analogy, the book includes some very well written action sequences that reminded me of classic Kurosawa / Mifune samurai movies.
Another element that makes the story closer in style to the classic high fantasy epics of Tolkien et Co. is the establishment of a fellowship on a yet undefined quest. Seven is the magic number in the World ruled by the Godess, and Wally has to discover and recruit six companions while he is kept in the dark about their identity and about his patron God final purpose. His fellowship is a rather unconventional one , and their coming together offers the chance for Duncan to show off his comedy talents, already hinted at in Wally's irreverent atitude towards magic and towards the social conventions of his adopted World. The romantic angle in Wally's new identity is also played very well, never gratuitous or taking precedence over the larger issues, but providing a new angle in understanding his motivations and atitudes.
This was an easy read, fast and engaging with some very well plotted situations highlighting the ethical dillemas arising from the use of violence. The story of Wallysmith and of his fellowship is only beginning, and I am looking forward to the next book. And probably to other works by Dave Duncan.
December 22, 2023
Good series. Fantasy set in medieval place called “the world” where a huge river flows from city to city, shifting course as the Goddess chooses. She choses a few good men to change the world — bring it out of the dark ages of piracy and “might makes right” where corrupt reeves (sheriffs) rob and murder the people they are sworn to protect. Across the series, civilization is modernized a bit, through new and more humane laws, the introduction of literacy, and a few key inventions.
Two main conflicts in series: 1) Corrupt reeves / protectors. These high ranking swordsmen break oaths and hold themselves above the law, above the temple. 2) Sorcerers who worship the Fire demigod come down from the mountains, employing magic and literacy against swordsmen of the River goddess.
Asian themes: Even though young Nnanji has red hair and freckles, and wears a kilt, there is an Eastern / Asian flavor to the setting and characters, as conveyed via the terms of address, the caste system (ranked from 1-7, with nameless getting no rank, like unmentionables), and in the many sutras / tenets illustrating respect, honor, duty, obedience, etc.
Intelligent plot, likable but textured characters (except some women are minimized, a sex object), interesting world, some philosophy, with humor, science, swords, sorcery, gods, faith, friendship, and some smexy romance.
Levels or Ranks and their kilt color:
1st rank is a novice in a white kilt
2nd rank is apprentice in a yellow kilt
3rd rank is swordsman in brown kilt, a graduate, can own stuff, most common rank. Hard to achieve post graduate levels 4-6. Very few make it to rank 7.
4th rank is an adept in orange
5th rank is a master in red
6th rank is an honorable, in green
7th rank is a lord, in blue
Beggars, slaves, and nameless ones wear black kilts
Characters:
*Pronunciation note from author: “When names begin with double consonants, both letters should be pronounced. Thus Nnanji sounds like N’Nanji and Jja roughly like Zsa-Zsa.”
Lord Shonsu, Swordsman of the Seventh Rank. He exchanges souls with dying Wally Smith, a chemical engineer in car accident
Honakura — Priest of the Seventh Rank, serving the Goddess at the Temple Hann. Old, thin and stooped. Wise, shrewd.
Shorty — Wally’s name for the demigod in the guise of a naked ragged little boy, the voice of the Goddess
Wally’s lover JJa (slave woman) and her baby boy, Vixini.
Cowie, another slave girl, younger, dumb, sexy
“The fat man with the rubies and fancy blue kilt” — Lord Hardduju, a seventh rank swordsman. A corrupt Reeve, sworn to protect the Temple and the honorable people
young apprentice Nnanji and his even younger brother Katanji , sons of the local rugmaker
Adept Briu, vassal to the dis-Honorable Tarru, and former mentor to Nnanji.
Tarru - corrupt swordsman of the sixth rank, deputy to the corrupt reeve, Lord Hardduju.
Coningu, shrewd old swordsman of the fifth rank, a retired swordsman, commissary of the temple barracks.
Gorramini — of the fourth rank, a henchman.
Trasingi — of the fifth rank, protégé to Honorable Tarru.
Meliu — of the fourth rank, a henchman.
Landinoro — of the third rank, a friend of Briu’s.
Janghiuki — of the third rank, a swordsman of the guard.
Ephorinzu — of the first rank, known as “Ears,” protégé to Swordsman Janghiuki.
Ghaniri — of the fourth rank, another henchman.
The traveling band of Free Swords:
Imperkanni — of the seventh rank, a free sword. Leader of the Free Swords
Yoningu — of the sixth rank, protégé to Lord Imperkanni
Sutras, Lessons or Parables:
Sutras are unique to each honorable service or guild. Sutras must be memorized and honored. The Last Sutra of the Sword is # 1144
#1144 THE FOURTH OATH
“Fortunate is he who saves the life of a colleague, and greatly blessed are two who have saved each other’s. To them only is permitted this oath and it shall be paramount, absolute, and irrevocable: I am your brother, My life is your life, Your joy is my joy, My honor is your honor…”
Two main conflicts in series: 1) Corrupt reeves / protectors. These high ranking swordsmen break oaths and hold themselves above the law, above the temple. 2) Sorcerers who worship the Fire demigod come down from the mountains, employing magic and literacy against swordsmen of the River goddess.
Asian themes: Even though young Nnanji has red hair and freckles, and wears a kilt, there is an Eastern / Asian flavor to the setting and characters, as conveyed via the terms of address, the caste system (ranked from 1-7, with nameless getting no rank, like unmentionables), and in the many sutras / tenets illustrating respect, honor, duty, obedience, etc.
Intelligent plot, likable but textured characters (except some women are minimized, a sex object), interesting world, some philosophy, with humor, science, swords, sorcery, gods, faith, friendship, and some smexy romance.
Levels or Ranks and their kilt color:
1st rank is a novice in a white kilt
2nd rank is apprentice in a yellow kilt
3rd rank is swordsman in brown kilt, a graduate, can own stuff, most common rank. Hard to achieve post graduate levels 4-6. Very few make it to rank 7.
4th rank is an adept in orange
5th rank is a master in red
6th rank is an honorable, in green
7th rank is a lord, in blue
Beggars, slaves, and nameless ones wear black kilts
Characters:
*Pronunciation note from author: “When names begin with double consonants, both letters should be pronounced. Thus Nnanji sounds like N’Nanji and Jja roughly like Zsa-Zsa.”
Lord Shonsu, Swordsman of the Seventh Rank. He exchanges souls with dying Wally Smith, a chemical engineer in car accident
Honakura — Priest of the Seventh Rank, serving the Goddess at the Temple Hann. Old, thin and stooped. Wise, shrewd.
Shorty — Wally’s name for the demigod in the guise of a naked ragged little boy, the voice of the Goddess
Wally’s lover JJa (slave woman) and her baby boy, Vixini.
Cowie, another slave girl, younger, dumb, sexy
“The fat man with the rubies and fancy blue kilt” — Lord Hardduju, a seventh rank swordsman. A corrupt Reeve, sworn to protect the Temple and the honorable people
young apprentice Nnanji and his even younger brother Katanji , sons of the local rugmaker
Adept Briu, vassal to the dis-Honorable Tarru, and former mentor to Nnanji.
Tarru - corrupt swordsman of the sixth rank, deputy to the corrupt reeve, Lord Hardduju.
Coningu, shrewd old swordsman of the fifth rank, a retired swordsman, commissary of the temple barracks.
Gorramini — of the fourth rank, a henchman.
Trasingi — of the fifth rank, protégé to Honorable Tarru.
Meliu — of the fourth rank, a henchman.
Landinoro — of the third rank, a friend of Briu’s.
Janghiuki — of the third rank, a swordsman of the guard.
Ephorinzu — of the first rank, known as “Ears,” protégé to Swordsman Janghiuki.
Ghaniri — of the fourth rank, another henchman.
The traveling band of Free Swords:
Imperkanni — of the seventh rank, a free sword. Leader of the Free Swords
Yoningu — of the sixth rank, protégé to Lord Imperkanni
Sutras, Lessons or Parables:
Sutras are unique to each honorable service or guild. Sutras must be memorized and honored. The Last Sutra of the Sword is # 1144
#1144 THE FOURTH OATH
“Fortunate is he who saves the life of a colleague, and greatly blessed are two who have saved each other’s. To them only is permitted this oath and it shall be paramount, absolute, and irrevocable: I am your brother, My life is your life, Your joy is my joy, My honor is your honor…”
July 19, 2008
Few authors in the fantasy genre are capable of coming up with as many unique magic concepts as Dave Duncan and his very best work is the Seventh Sword Trilogy. Book 1 is The Reluctant Swordsman and I remain as blown away today as I was when I first read it 10 years ago.
The Reluctant Swordsman is, at its heart, a tale of faith, miracles, and duty. It is much deeper than most fantasy novels yet Duncan keeps his tale crisp and avoids getting too metaphysical or theological. Although much of the storyline might prove illuminating for Christians, Duncan is not presenting a Christian parable or fictional apologetic. The initial plot hook - a dying man from our world wakes up in the body of a virile and highly skilled man in another to perform a divine task - is perhaps not unusual but the setting of the World is very special.
In addition to examining the relationship of miracles and faith as well as whether it is sufficient to be good or do good (as well as define good), The Reluctant Swordsman also explores matters such as a fairly rigid caste system, slavery, and the nature of justice.
The Reluctant Swordsman is a deep read but it is not a hard read. Fans of writers as diverse as Edgar Rice Burroughs, C.S. Lewis, Robert Jordan, Tolkien, and Stephen Donaldson can easily enjoy the book. Read this book. You will not regret the investment of your time and interest!
The Reluctant Swordsman is, at its heart, a tale of faith, miracles, and duty. It is much deeper than most fantasy novels yet Duncan keeps his tale crisp and avoids getting too metaphysical or theological. Although much of the storyline might prove illuminating for Christians, Duncan is not presenting a Christian parable or fictional apologetic. The initial plot hook - a dying man from our world wakes up in the body of a virile and highly skilled man in another to perform a divine task - is perhaps not unusual but the setting of the World is very special.
In addition to examining the relationship of miracles and faith as well as whether it is sufficient to be good or do good (as well as define good), The Reluctant Swordsman also explores matters such as a fairly rigid caste system, slavery, and the nature of justice.
The Reluctant Swordsman is a deep read but it is not a hard read. Fans of writers as diverse as Edgar Rice Burroughs, C.S. Lewis, Robert Jordan, Tolkien, and Stephen Donaldson can easily enjoy the book. Read this book. You will not regret the investment of your time and interest!
December 13, 2011
Wallie Smith can feel the pain. He goes to the hospital, remembers the doctors and the commotion, but when he wakes up it all seems like a dream. However, if that was a dream how do you explain waking up in another body and in another world? Little Wallie finds himself in the physique of a barbarian swordsman, accompanied by both an eccentric priest babbling about the Goddess and a voluptuous slave girl. Is this a rude awakening or a dream come true? What in the world will Wallie do now that he's found himself stranded in a strange realm? Well it just so happens that the Goddess is in need of a swordsman. It won't be easy but if he succeeds he will have everything he wants. If he doesn't, things could get ugly. Wallie is reluctant but sees his chance. If only he had the faintest clue as to the adventure he is about to unleash! If only he could imagine the forces that will be out to vanquish him!
This was the trilogy that forever enshrined Dave Duncan as one of my go to favorite authors.
This was the trilogy that forever enshrined Dave Duncan as one of my go to favorite authors.
August 16, 2008
Genre: High Fantasy
A very fast-paced tale of a modern fellow (Wallie Smith) who's brain/mind/soul is transplanted into a sword-swinging hero's body due to a meddlesome Goddess. The world he's cast into is lush, succeeding in being both foriegn and envoking the "Age of Legends" - a bronze age culture from before writing is discovered/invented.
There are some wonderful bits both of his trying to grapple with the idea that gods are real and miracules exist and realizing that many emotions are generated in the body rather then the mind - so the mild-mannored chemist has to learn to deal with the swordsman-body's instant-fury reactions.
For all that I don't generally like "modern person placed into historic/fantasy setting" this one worked very well for me. I liked the world, and Wallie is an admirable hero. I highly recomend it.
A very fast-paced tale of a modern fellow (Wallie Smith) who's brain/mind/soul is transplanted into a sword-swinging hero's body due to a meddlesome Goddess. The world he's cast into is lush, succeeding in being both foriegn and envoking the "Age of Legends" - a bronze age culture from before writing is discovered/invented.
There are some wonderful bits both of his trying to grapple with the idea that gods are real and miracules exist and realizing that many emotions are generated in the body rather then the mind - so the mild-mannored chemist has to learn to deal with the swordsman-body's instant-fury reactions.
For all that I don't generally like "modern person placed into historic/fantasy setting" this one worked very well for me. I liked the world, and Wallie is an admirable hero. I highly recomend it.
August 13, 2014
I read this book about a year ago, and I enjoyed it, but not enough to want read the rest of the books in this series. I think it may be one of those novels that I will have to give another try, or at the very least try another one of Duncan's series.
July 17, 2025
“I need to convince you that this is a real world and that you were brought here for a purpose.” “You’re not doing very well so far.”
An early Duncan excursion into epic fantasy. Good, clean fun with moral ambiguities and tests. This Connecticut Yankee tale has roots in science fiction, but only as backstory. The upshot is that a dying human from (apparently) contemporary earth finds himself occupying the body (and selective non-personal memories) of a heroic samurai-type swordsman in a fantasy world where gods and miracles do happen.
That left the third explanation: both worlds were real — and he was in the wrong one.
Duncan tells an enjoyable tale. His protagonist confronts numerous people and situations totally outside his experience and learns (painfully at times) how to cope. Turns out, he’s there for a mission, but of course he gets a cryptic poem instead of an ops plan. First, he needs to find out who he is and who he can trust. Determining which is part of the fun.
“But I don’t understand!” “Of course not! I am being Delphic — it is a tradition amongst gods.”
An early Duncan excursion into epic fantasy. Good, clean fun with moral ambiguities and tests. This Connecticut Yankee tale has roots in science fiction, but only as backstory. The upshot is that a dying human from (apparently) contemporary earth finds himself occupying the body (and selective non-personal memories) of a heroic samurai-type swordsman in a fantasy world where gods and miracles do happen.
That left the third explanation: both worlds were real — and he was in the wrong one.
Duncan tells an enjoyable tale. His protagonist confronts numerous people and situations totally outside his experience and learns (painfully at times) how to cope. Turns out, he’s there for a mission, but of course he gets a cryptic poem instead of an ops plan. First, he needs to find out who he is and who he can trust. Determining which is part of the fun.
“But I don’t understand!” “Of course not! I am being Delphic — it is a tradition amongst gods.”
April 24, 2017
I spent so much time wishing the story would get on with itself that I really couldn't enjoy it that much. I had problems with the master/slave sex relationships that seemed like they were supposed to be loving and/or funny but which were still master/slave relationships. The main character even called it rape, and then went ahead and did it anyway simply because he was told he couldn't free his slave. The fact is, she's still his slave. And then his protege buys a sex slave, and his antics with her are supposed to be funny. But she's still his slave. It was gross.
Also, I was expecting the main character (Shonsu) to at least get his journey started in this book. He starts his journey at 96%. The rest of the book is him trying to figure out how to get out of the city, while mucking everything up. He doesn't even really learn anything until the end, when a bunch of the mission riddle seems to click in his brain. I wish there had been more going on in this book instead of plans of an escape followed by thwarting at every opportunity. I am not interested enough in the rest of his journey to bother with book two.
Also, I was expecting the main character (Shonsu) to at least get his journey started in this book. He starts his journey at 96%. The rest of the book is him trying to figure out how to get out of the city, while mucking everything up. He doesn't even really learn anything until the end, when a bunch of the mission riddle seems to click in his brain. I wish there had been more going on in this book instead of plans of an escape followed by thwarting at every opportunity. I am not interested enough in the rest of his journey to bother with book two.
May 25, 2015
reviews.metaphorosis.com
3 stars
Wallie Smith has died. Much to the surprise of all concerned, however, he's turned up in the body of Shunso, Seventh-level swordsman in a world of temples, slaves, and duels. Wallie tries to do good, but then a god steps in, and Wallie has to re-evaluate his choices.
I'm not generally a fan of sidewise type - where an ordinary guy suddenly finds himself in another time or dimension. There have been good ones - Narnia, "Sidewise in Time", Barsoom, "A Connecticut Yankee", Thomas Covenant, Amber - but generally I lack interest. I am, on the other hand, a fan of Dave Duncan, and The Seventh Sword is a series I haven't previously read. Based on this first book, he succeeds with the concept - partially.
Duncan doesn't waste a lot of time on the setup, and none at all on the preliminaries. Wallie Smith is dead, then he's in Shonsu, then Shonsu is effectively out. Smith accepts his new status fairly readily, and that's that. Fine by me; we all know pretty well how these things work, by now. To his credit, Duncan focuses much more on the moral and philosophical aspect of it. Smith avoids violence; Shonsu's world accepts it. Smith abhors slavery; in Shonsu's world, it's a fact of life. Smith tries to follow his original ideals, and in his new world, that's not always the right choice. Duncan returns to this idea throughout the book. Smith makes choices that trouble him, and he stays troubled, even as he begins to see things in part by local standards.
That makes slavery a difficult issue. Smith meets a sex slave, and makes an effort to do what he thinks is right. Sometimes. Early on, Smith has sex with his new slave, and I found his acceptance of the situation both uncomfortable, and not credible for his character. That discomfort continues, but it's also true that Smith himself is uncomfortable. It's not the one-off rationalization I feared, but a continuing examination of what to do with a slave in a world where slaves cannot be freed.
I wish that Duncan had made some different choices for his character, and it's true that Duncan stays well within his accustomed light fantasy lane. But I give him credit for at least considering how to handle slavery and for having that worry be a continuing theme throughout the book. On the upside, "How do you know when your slave is happy?" is a multifaceted question. On the other hand, the key slaves are all women, and their role is largely sex and decoration oriented. I'm hopeful that will change in later books.
All in all, an interesting and surprisingly thoughtful swords-and-muscles fantasy, but one that presents some moral obstacles to enjoyment.
December 9, 2011
This one starts a bit slow, and I remember at one point, when I realized what the goal of the action was, I was like, really? We're going to spend the whole book doing *that*? But I think he uses this slow action successfully to pack in a lot of information about the world, which our hero is discovering along with us, the readers. Stick with it, there is a definite pay off at the end of all three books, with lots of swashbuckling action and interesting characters to enjoy along the way.
Read
May 12, 2016DNF
I tried it and I have a problem with the god interfering in the life of people too much...something just annoys me with the way this book is written but I got to about 7%, so maybe I'm not giving it enough chance...sometimes it's not the book's fault, I'm just not in the mood;)...anyway, I will probably wait until some of my GR friends read this book and I read their reviews...otherwise it's at the bottom of the list of the books I want to give another chance...
I tried it and I have a problem with the god interfering in the life of people too much...something just annoys me with the way this book is written but I got to about 7%, so maybe I'm not giving it enough chance...sometimes it's not the book's fault, I'm just not in the mood;)...anyway, I will probably wait until some of my GR friends read this book and I read their reviews...otherwise it's at the bottom of the list of the books I want to give another chance...
December 23, 2018
Got this as part of the complete set, but am reviewing it separately because each book deserves its own rating. This first one in the series in the best of the bunch. The writing is good, the characters believable, and the plot interesting. Not high art, but a very, very good read. The plot is reminiscent of Conan the Barbarian, but with a twist of "Quantum Leap" (that old TV series where a guy ends up in other bodies) thrown in. Wallie Smith, a 20th century manager at a pharmaceutical plant, suddenly finds himself thrust into the body of the greatest living swordsman in another world, a world where might is right, and the swordsmen are the might. He's been brought there to complete a mission for the Goddess (a truly divine, supernatural being), a mission that the man whose body he now wears failed at. But the mission has to be discovered, and Wallie has to figure out how to accomplish it when his 20th century morals are far from in alignment in a world where swordsmen can kill with impunity.
The best part of this book is not the plot line (nothing new, and the intervention of a goddess and a demigod to get the ball rolling is hardly jarring), but the characters. They are distinct, realistic (all things considered), and given plenty of time for development. Wallie's reluctance to do what he was tasked to do, due to his morals and lack of understanding of the world he now finds himself in, drives the interactions, which flow naturally one into the other. And the little wrinkle at the end is one you cannot possibly see coming.
A couple caveats. Again, this is just a good romp through a barbarian world type of book. There are scantily dressed women (nothing explicit, but there), men killing ruthlessly, and plenty of character stereotypes. But this is just "fun" reading. The pacing is good, and you well and truly learn to care for these comic book characters. Definitely a good read and recommended for anyone who enjoys the barbarian swordsman genre.
The best part of this book is not the plot line (nothing new, and the intervention of a goddess and a demigod to get the ball rolling is hardly jarring), but the characters. They are distinct, realistic (all things considered), and given plenty of time for development. Wallie's reluctance to do what he was tasked to do, due to his morals and lack of understanding of the world he now finds himself in, drives the interactions, which flow naturally one into the other. And the little wrinkle at the end is one you cannot possibly see coming.
A couple caveats. Again, this is just a good romp through a barbarian world type of book. There are scantily dressed women (nothing explicit, but there), men killing ruthlessly, and plenty of character stereotypes. But this is just "fun" reading. The pacing is good, and you well and truly learn to care for these comic book characters. Definitely a good read and recommended for anyone who enjoys the barbarian swordsman genre.
June 2, 2024
"The Reluctant Swordsman" by Dave Duncan is a gripping and entertaining read, filled with interesting characters and a unique setting that keeps the story engaging from start to finish. The protagonist wakes up in a new world as a powerful swordsman/policeman, only to immediately fall afoul of the local rulers and face a death sentence.
Throughout the series, the reader is treated to a few standouts, including a serious student who becomes attached to the protagonist, and a few well-rendered antagonists who either subvert the laws or bypass them with secret technology. The conflicts that arise from these elements add to the overall excitement and intrigue of the story.
However, the late addition of book four may leave some readers disappointed. While the series predates the isekai genre, it follows many of the same conventions, with a powerful protagonist thrust into a new world where he must navigate cultural differences and new threats. The pacing is fast, and the action is intense, making it an excellent read for fans of the fantasy or isekai genres.
Overall, "The Reluctant Swordsman" is a compelling read that is sure to captivate readers with its intricate world-building, engaging characters, and exciting plot. Highly recommended for fans of the genre, particularly those who enjoy stories with well-developed antagonists and interesting cultural clashes.
Throughout the series, the reader is treated to a few standouts, including a serious student who becomes attached to the protagonist, and a few well-rendered antagonists who either subvert the laws or bypass them with secret technology. The conflicts that arise from these elements add to the overall excitement and intrigue of the story.
However, the late addition of book four may leave some readers disappointed. While the series predates the isekai genre, it follows many of the same conventions, with a powerful protagonist thrust into a new world where he must navigate cultural differences and new threats. The pacing is fast, and the action is intense, making it an excellent read for fans of the fantasy or isekai genres.
Overall, "The Reluctant Swordsman" is a compelling read that is sure to captivate readers with its intricate world-building, engaging characters, and exciting plot. Highly recommended for fans of the genre, particularly those who enjoy stories with well-developed antagonists and interesting cultural clashes.
May 28, 2011
Review written for the last book in the series:
This is the third and final book in the Seventh Sword trilogy. I read the entire trilogy over the past couple of weeks and I take that as proof that it had gripping power and was well enough written to keep me hooked until I had finished all the books. While trying not to spoil anything, the story is about a swordsman who is given a task in the form of a riddle and who then ventures to explore the world and finds love, power and sadness on the way.
Overall, the first and second books are the strongest of the series and well worth the four stars that I gave them. The final book is the hardest to read, mainly because the character development of the main character takes a direction that I did not care for that much. However, the bittersweet ending makes up for much and the entire series deserves strong three and a half stars.
Dave Duncan may not be the most famous of fantasy authors, but he has his unique style that keeps him on my reading list. His fiction is set aside from the regular fare by the fact that he often manages to find the side of the coin that the reader didn't expect, making an otherwise heroic story suddenly bittersweet and melancholy.
This is the third and final book in the Seventh Sword trilogy. I read the entire trilogy over the past couple of weeks and I take that as proof that it had gripping power and was well enough written to keep me hooked until I had finished all the books. While trying not to spoil anything, the story is about a swordsman who is given a task in the form of a riddle and who then ventures to explore the world and finds love, power and sadness on the way.
Overall, the first and second books are the strongest of the series and well worth the four stars that I gave them. The final book is the hardest to read, mainly because the character development of the main character takes a direction that I did not care for that much. However, the bittersweet ending makes up for much and the entire series deserves strong three and a half stars.
Dave Duncan may not be the most famous of fantasy authors, but he has his unique style that keeps him on my reading list. His fiction is set aside from the regular fare by the fact that he often manages to find the side of the coin that the reader didn't expect, making an otherwise heroic story suddenly bittersweet and melancholy.
January 14, 2009
As I consumed the opening pages of this fine story, my miserable excuse for a brain could not but help attempt linking this work to The Reluctant Sorcerer by Simon Hawke. Hawke also wrote a trilogy featuring someone from our world forced to adapt in an alternate, medieval one; and its no coincidence that both this trilogy and that have an opening novel with the word reluctant in the title. You must forgive the parallel - I was rather heavily entoxicated at the time. 'tis the little things that amuse.
anyway apart from that similarity the books hold little in common - this title, whilst not devoid of some comedic moments, only fleetingly alights upon the path of amusement. it has a story well told, characters that are clearly going places, and despite the concept of the uprooted earthman in unfamiliar surroundings and a demigod doing whatever he sees fit with no challenge to his authority being a little old-hat, its a cracking good read and I'm already on the next one.
anyway apart from that similarity the books hold little in common - this title, whilst not devoid of some comedic moments, only fleetingly alights upon the path of amusement. it has a story well told, characters that are clearly going places, and despite the concept of the uprooted earthman in unfamiliar surroundings and a demigod doing whatever he sees fit with no challenge to his authority being a little old-hat, its a cracking good read and I'm already on the next one.
November 20, 2011
I find myself with little to say about this book. It was perfectly adequate, and I didn't feel I was wasting my time by reading it. But it didn't move me, make me think all that much, or otherwise strike me as all that memorable.
The series spends a lot of time on the topic of faith - particularly willingness to blindly place one's deity's will before his/her own. Throughout the book, the protagonist routinely was asked to do things that violated his own ethical/moral code at the bequest of a deity. Inevitably, when he obeyed his conscience instead of the deities things turned out a lot worse for everybody in the long run. Thus there was a general theme of obedience over personal ethics. It wasn't clear to me if the author was endorsing this generally, or just for the fictional world he has created, but it made me vaguely uncomfortable throughout.
If you're in an airport and need something to read, this will serve admirably for that purpose. But I wouldn't put this all that high on my list of books to go out and buy.
The series spends a lot of time on the topic of faith - particularly willingness to blindly place one's deity's will before his/her own. Throughout the book, the protagonist routinely was asked to do things that violated his own ethical/moral code at the bequest of a deity. Inevitably, when he obeyed his conscience instead of the deities things turned out a lot worse for everybody in the long run. Thus there was a general theme of obedience over personal ethics. It wasn't clear to me if the author was endorsing this generally, or just for the fictional world he has created, but it made me vaguely uncomfortable throughout.
If you're in an airport and need something to read, this will serve admirably for that purpose. But I wouldn't put this all that high on my list of books to go out and buy.
November 10, 2021
An interesting first book in a series, not unlike the Princess of Mars, but here our hero is in another body, that of a Seventh Swordsman.
Setting has the feel of 16th century Japan.
An enjoyable first entry.
Setting has the feel of 16th century Japan.
An enjoyable first entry.
June 4, 2016
absolutely love this book...about wallie who is shonsu and is put to the test to test his value and brain in a time where there was none...like earth...lol
February 24, 2017
Good story, tho I found Wally very annoying! The book did end well.
October 30, 2020
Although portal fantasy might’ve been a popular subgenre, the author uses these plot devices to lay out a figurative red carpet for his main character, Wallie. Wallie can do no wrong. A demigod appears to him and guides him through this world. Every cultural taboo Wallie breaks turns out great in the end. Wallie is handed a pile of money. As far as I could tell, Wallie had only one true struggle: he was jailed in the beginning. He was released from this struggle by a God’s intervention; Wallie did no work to get out of his predicament. A hero with only luck on his side and no real work done makes for a lackluster hero.
The world itself is interesting. A preliterate society with a strict adherence to its caste system and political decorums is a fine basis for the World. But the devil is in the details. The police force class of warriors are formidable men with great honor and strength. They each wield a sword that is sheathed in a harness that sits on their back. And in the tropical climate, they wear only a “kilt”: a uniform with some serious Conan the barbarian vibes.
But the swords are not the great broadswords you might be picturing. Oh no. The author describes the swordsmanship in fencing terms. These swords are foils. The swordsman execute fencing moves, and in one scene the main character Wallie is described as having his non-sword arm curled behind him — you know — like fencing. The training yard has a wall of masks... fencing masks.
A preliterate world protected by a method of weaponry intended for combat with heavy armor. Fencing conjures the image of slight athletes with grace and impeccable manners or prep school rich boys. Not half naked warrior men. The book reads like the author opened the encyclopedia to “swords”, saw an illustration of fencing, and just dove right in. Pay no heed to how this society would possess the skill to make such delicate weapons. Or how silly our great, hulking hero would look with a fencing foil (like a football linebacker doing ballet).
I know this seems like a trite thing to pick apart. It is. But so much of the book is built around this swordsmen warrior concept that for its core to be so... ridiculous is hard to forgive.
One of my other major gripes is the Wallie’s dialogue. He is an earth man blending in with this World. His speech alternates from stiff and formal to casual and full of modern earth colloquialisms. He suggests that a conversation would be a good one for “a cold beer on a hot day.” These people A) do not have means of chilling any beer and have no idea what means and B) live in a tropical climate and probably have no concept of a “hot day.” There are a lot of moments like this one. Phrases that just made me audibly sigh.
Lastly, but certainly not least is the problematic “morality.” Although Wallie considers himself to carry his earth moral code with him into this new life, he bends quite easily to murder innocents and keep a love slave. The author blames all these misdeeds on the Shonsu body so that Wallie can maintain a clean hero image. But I’m not fooled.
I won’t go into how terribly misogynistic this book is. Other reviewers have said it better than myself. But it’s gross. I’ll say that.
I was enchanted at first by the idea of Shonsu being “possessed” by Wallie. But overall the holes in the world, the cringey dialogue, and the blatant fulfillment of some sexual kinks the author must have about keeping a willing sex slave in his bed have aggravated me into posting this lengthy review on such an old fantasy. If you don’t mind glossing over these transgressions, it is a mildly entertaining book. The hero gets pretty much everything he wants. All the time. Which might be refreshing for those readers who are tired of current fiction and its strife. And the World being created by the same gods who created Earth is a cool idea.
But oh, the fencing and gross misogyny...
The world itself is interesting. A preliterate society with a strict adherence to its caste system and political decorums is a fine basis for the World. But the devil is in the details. The police force class of warriors are formidable men with great honor and strength. They each wield a sword that is sheathed in a harness that sits on their back. And in the tropical climate, they wear only a “kilt”: a uniform with some serious Conan the barbarian vibes.
But the swords are not the great broadswords you might be picturing. Oh no. The author describes the swordsmanship in fencing terms. These swords are foils. The swordsman execute fencing moves, and in one scene the main character Wallie is described as having his non-sword arm curled behind him — you know — like fencing. The training yard has a wall of masks... fencing masks.
A preliterate world protected by a method of weaponry intended for combat with heavy armor. Fencing conjures the image of slight athletes with grace and impeccable manners or prep school rich boys. Not half naked warrior men. The book reads like the author opened the encyclopedia to “swords”, saw an illustration of fencing, and just dove right in. Pay no heed to how this society would possess the skill to make such delicate weapons. Or how silly our great, hulking hero would look with a fencing foil (like a football linebacker doing ballet).
I know this seems like a trite thing to pick apart. It is. But so much of the book is built around this swordsmen warrior concept that for its core to be so... ridiculous is hard to forgive.
One of my other major gripes is the Wallie’s dialogue. He is an earth man blending in with this World. His speech alternates from stiff and formal to casual and full of modern earth colloquialisms. He suggests that a conversation would be a good one for “a cold beer on a hot day.” These people A) do not have means of chilling any beer and have no idea what means and B) live in a tropical climate and probably have no concept of a “hot day.” There are a lot of moments like this one. Phrases that just made me audibly sigh.
Lastly, but certainly not least is the problematic “morality.” Although Wallie considers himself to carry his earth moral code with him into this new life, he bends quite easily to murder innocents and keep a love slave. The author blames all these misdeeds on the Shonsu body so that Wallie can maintain a clean hero image. But I’m not fooled.
I won’t go into how terribly misogynistic this book is. Other reviewers have said it better than myself. But it’s gross. I’ll say that.
I was enchanted at first by the idea of Shonsu being “possessed” by Wallie. But overall the holes in the world, the cringey dialogue, and the blatant fulfillment of some sexual kinks the author must have about keeping a willing sex slave in his bed have aggravated me into posting this lengthy review on such an old fantasy. If you don’t mind glossing over these transgressions, it is a mildly entertaining book. The hero gets pretty much everything he wants. All the time. Which might be refreshing for those readers who are tired of current fiction and its strife. And the World being created by the same gods who created Earth is a cool idea.
But oh, the fencing and gross misogyny...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2023
I am done. This isn't terrible, I am just not having a good time.
I cannot see past the fact that this is a yet another ultimate male fantasy book, it's even worse than regular male fantasy in a sense that the premise of it is that a guy from our world dies and gets transported into a magical realm.
Like at least with most male fantasy books it's a straight up fantasy, while here it's a wish-fullfillment of a regular guy working some economist job but upon his death he becomesTHE CHOSEN ONE BY a magical goddess to fullfill her wishes.
The first thing that happens in the book is that the male character Wallie Smith (Yep, that's his name) gets taken care of by a gorgeous woman slave, who legalistically cannot refuse sex to Wallie. But NOT ONLY she cannot legally refuse sex to him, she actually wants to bang him. Yep, a slave, a prostitute, is falling head over hills over WALLIE after knowing him for an hour and jumps into bed with him willingly.
That actually happens before Wallie starts believing he is actually in this magical realm and not dreaming.
Then Wallie starts believing he is not dreaming, gets told by a demigod that he is actually THE CHOSEN ONE for one ambiguous mission, gets a magical sword, gets riches, magically (aka LITERALLY putting 0 effort of his own) gets good at swordfighting and whatnot. What's not to love if you're a guy?
Oh, and first thing Wallie did when got rich was purchasing that slave woman. Legally he couldn't free her, but he gives the slave woman a choice of keeping her baby boy and / or going back to her old employer if she wishes. HOWEVER his act of altruism and the author trying to show how Wallie is a good guy for being against slavery and rape, gets totally overshadowed by the fact that the dude said "I cannot legally free you but I would if I could, hence, here's your first duty: Make me happy" (The second order was to look after her baby boy she wished to keep)
Like CMOOOOOOOOOOOON
I've read 63% of the book and there wasn't much happening. It wasn't dragging at all - it's a fairly light read, but the story didn't move much in progression over these 63%.
I am just not interested in reading a male wish fulfillment that has nothing going on in it.
It's a shame because I was really excited for Dave Duncan as he seemed like a popular 80s-90s author (I am making an assumption cuz he has a TON of series published) who is not well known to modern fantasy readers. I might give a try to one of his later series, but this particular installment lacked any depth for me as well as just read like a male wish fulfilment fantasy
I cannot see past the fact that this is a yet another ultimate male fantasy book, it's even worse than regular male fantasy in a sense that the premise of it is that a guy from our world dies and gets transported into a magical realm.
Like at least with most male fantasy books it's a straight up fantasy, while here it's a wish-fullfillment of a regular guy working some economist job but upon his death he becomes
The first thing that happens in the book is that the male character Wallie Smith (Yep, that's his name) gets taken care of by a gorgeous woman slave, who legalistically cannot refuse sex to Wallie. But NOT ONLY she cannot legally refuse sex to him, she actually wants to bang him. Yep, a slave, a prostitute, is falling head over hills over WALLIE after knowing him for an hour and jumps into bed with him willingly.
That actually happens before Wallie starts believing he is actually in this magical realm and not dreaming.
Then Wallie starts believing he is not dreaming, gets told by a demigod that he is actually THE CHOSEN ONE for one ambiguous mission, gets a magical sword, gets riches, magically (aka LITERALLY putting 0 effort of his own) gets good at swordfighting and whatnot. What's not to love if you're a guy?
Oh, and first thing Wallie did when got rich was purchasing that slave woman. Legally he couldn't free her, but he gives the slave woman a choice of keeping her baby boy and / or going back to her old employer if she wishes. HOWEVER his act of altruism and the author trying to show how Wallie is a good guy for being against slavery and rape, gets totally overshadowed by the fact that the dude said "I cannot legally free you but I would if I could, hence, here's your first duty: Make me happy" (The second order was to look after her baby boy she wished to keep)
Like CMOOOOOOOOOOOON
I've read 63% of the book and there wasn't much happening. It wasn't dragging at all - it's a fairly light read, but the story didn't move much in progression over these 63%.
I am just not interested in reading a male wish fulfillment that has nothing going on in it.
It's a shame because I was really excited for Dave Duncan as he seemed like a popular 80s-90s author (I am making an assumption cuz he has a TON of series published) who is not well known to modern fantasy readers. I might give a try to one of his later series, but this particular installment lacked any depth for me as well as just read like a male wish fulfilment fantasy
April 10, 2021
I'm slapping the old five stars on this one, but am wondering if I'll feel the need to move it to four at some point.* For now: I enjoyed that one! Unlike another recent five-star read of a completely different vein, Migrations, this one didn't rock my world because of its prose or its emotional impact, per se, just in its ability to entertain and pluck at my wannabe heartstrings of honor. I read half of it one day, and it took only two more to finish the second half. That's pretty quick for me.
I started this book while glumly lying in bed well into the morning like a lazy sack of sheets. It was on a whim after opening all the other apps three times each and not having anything else distracting me readily. I figured I'd click on various Kindle books and read a few lines to see if any grabbed me. No need. This was the first and only, and I wouldn't say I was hooked after the first line, but it wasn't much long after that.
The reviews seem to appreciate pointing out that this adventurer-appearing-from-another-world is a worn out, beaten-to-death trope, but I thought Duncan managed it marvelously. I have read another book or two that had aspects of "our" world mixed into the fantastical one, and it was sometimes jarring. Somehow he blends them very well here, in my opinion, and throughout the entire book, too, not just at the beginning or at one point or another. Honestly, it occurred to me while reading that Duncan was having a good time writing this. I've only ever thought that while actively reading maybe once or twice before, but that was a clear interjection during my reading of this one: this guy is loving his own story. And it shows.
Another intriguing aspect for me was his weaving in of religion and deity and miracles and faith. There is a fascinating conversation (or two) between our MC and a little god that provided some fun food for thought. The MC even experienced a Moses moment in being overwhelmed by the light—and Moses is even mentioned in passing somewhere else. And then the entire story basically revolves around MC trying to live a life of faith and follow some commands. All quite fascinating to me indeed, particularly because there was certainly still a strong sense of the MC being part of "my" world here on Earth, someone more relatable than other sword-wielding warriors of fantastical realms who might be casually trying to please some god or other.
I imagine, as this was published in 1988, that besides some of the older language issues (not many, but enough to be noticeable), there are those who would disparage the book or writer because of this or that not-PC aspect of it. No, there are no true female main characters (and yes, the couple that are there are well endowed and we're reminded of it). I am sure there are more complaints to be had. One of my petty ones (not necessarily a not-PC one, I guess) was that there was also no (or very little) addressing MC's sudden loss of everything known to him. In another book, that alone could be an the entire premise, and I could imagine it being very melancholy. But so much for perfect PC-ness. The story takes place in a fantasy world of a different culture and the author simply gets us right into the action. For me that's all right.
I liked it. I think it even wrapped itself up quite nicely, even though there's obviously still plenty more adventure to be had and this was clearly a setup for more. I'm realizing, however, that I could revert this to four stars even while finishing up my thoughts here because I'm already discovering that my initial impetus to move right into book two is waning and I think I'm actually ready to pursue something else. That said, I suspect I'll come back to this. It might've been different had I had book two on hand already, but I didn't. And unfortunately I can't recall how I initially came across this one. Looks like I tagged it in 2017, but I wasn't taking notes as well quite yet.
*Well, done. Maybe this is one of those legitimate 4.5 stars. It's definitely at least a four, but as I realized toward the end of my review, I think to move it to five it would've had to have rocked my world a little more in some way. Certainly a solid book though.
I started this book while glumly lying in bed well into the morning like a lazy sack of sheets. It was on a whim after opening all the other apps three times each and not having anything else distracting me readily. I figured I'd click on various Kindle books and read a few lines to see if any grabbed me. No need. This was the first and only, and I wouldn't say I was hooked after the first line, but it wasn't much long after that.
The reviews seem to appreciate pointing out that this adventurer-appearing-from-another-world is a worn out, beaten-to-death trope, but I thought Duncan managed it marvelously. I have read another book or two that had aspects of "our" world mixed into the fantastical one, and it was sometimes jarring. Somehow he blends them very well here, in my opinion, and throughout the entire book, too, not just at the beginning or at one point or another. Honestly, it occurred to me while reading that Duncan was having a good time writing this. I've only ever thought that while actively reading maybe once or twice before, but that was a clear interjection during my reading of this one: this guy is loving his own story. And it shows.
Another intriguing aspect for me was his weaving in of religion and deity and miracles and faith. There is a fascinating conversation (or two) between our MC and a little god that provided some fun food for thought. The MC even experienced a Moses moment in being overwhelmed by the light—and Moses is even mentioned in passing somewhere else. And then the entire story basically revolves around MC trying to live a life of faith and follow some commands. All quite fascinating to me indeed, particularly because there was certainly still a strong sense of the MC being part of "my" world here on Earth, someone more relatable than other sword-wielding warriors of fantastical realms who might be casually trying to please some god or other.
I imagine, as this was published in 1988, that besides some of the older language issues (not many, but enough to be noticeable), there are those who would disparage the book or writer because of this or that not-PC aspect of it. No, there are no true female main characters (and yes, the couple that are there are well endowed and we're reminded of it). I am sure there are more complaints to be had. One of my petty ones (not necessarily a not-PC one, I guess) was that there was also no (or very little) addressing MC's sudden loss of everything known to him. In another book, that alone could be an the entire premise, and I could imagine it being very melancholy. But so much for perfect PC-ness. The story takes place in a fantasy world of a different culture and the author simply gets us right into the action. For me that's all right.
I liked it. I think it even wrapped itself up quite nicely, even though there's obviously still plenty more adventure to be had and this was clearly a setup for more. I'm realizing, however, that I could revert this to four stars even while finishing up my thoughts here because I'm already discovering that my initial impetus to move right into book two is waning and I think I'm actually ready to pursue something else. That said, I suspect I'll come back to this. It might've been different had I had book two on hand already, but I didn't. And unfortunately I can't recall how I initially came across this one. Looks like I tagged it in 2017, but I wasn't taking notes as well quite yet.
*Well, done. Maybe this is one of those legitimate 4.5 stars. It's definitely at least a four, but as I realized toward the end of my review, I think to move it to five it would've had to have rocked my world a little more in some way. Certainly a solid book though.
Read
October 1, 2021Cykl jest w oczywisty sposób grą z konwencją Conana Barbarzyńcy - i jest bardzo dobry oraz wciągający (te trzy tomy zassały mnie na ponad cztery dni!). Jak to zwykle w takich wypadkach, pastisz składa też gatunkowi hołdy - jest bardzo samoświadomy, ale nie unika wszystkich elementów conanowskiego fantasy, jakie można znaleźć, razem z umięśnionymi, półnagimi wojownikami oraz czasem umięśnionymi, półnagimi kobietami (to ostrzeżenie - powiela wady "fantasy dla chłopców", pomimo krytycznego do nich stosunku). To już uwaga do trzeciego tomu - na miejscu Jji nie wybaczyłabym Shonsu, mimo jego dwoistości umysłu. Ale zakończenie mi się podoba, tak samo jak wątek korupcji Walliego przez władzę. Wspaniale napisany, spójny cykl.
August 18, 2020
This book was written in 1988 and it shows. Not in a fun quirky way, but a "Yikes you can't say that anymore grandpa" way. It was cool that it was a western Isekai I guess, but it was also a hot pile of problematic garbage.
--Spoilers--
I did not enjoy this book's treatment of its female characters. It felt too much like male sexual fantasy fulfillment. "Oh nooooooo, I don't believe in objectifying woman and respect them, but now I'm in a super hot super horny body and I guess I haaaaaave to have sex with this beautiful slave girl who happens to also be madly in love with me making it okay, and I just can't control myself around my apprentices arguably intellectually disabled bombshell Cowie." Are we supposed to be proud of Wallie because he briefly hesitates before giving into his prurient desires. He literally acknowledges to himself that it would be rape, and then goes ahead and does it anyway!? WTF? The treatment of Cowie was another big yikes for me. Especially in the last few pages where the whole joke was that Wallie was trying to swear a vow with Nannji while his little brother is trying to rape Cowie ... without HIS [Nannji's] permission. Are we seriously trying to play this for laughs? I wish this scene had happened earlier so I could have worked up the guts to drop this book from the start. It's my fault though. I should have known when the synopsis included "Wallie was now the master of a beautiful slave girl". Unsurprisingly, the women in this book are all treated like mere sex objects. This story might have been better received in 1988, but its 2020 now, we know better. Relationships don't need to feel like they were pulled from a mediocre fetish porno. I'm sure there is a lot that could be said about the representation of slaves in general in this book, but I am in no way qualified to speak on it.
What did this novel have going for it. I have of course mentioned that it was cool to read a western book about being transported into a fantasy world. The world of this story was unique, and there was some decent world-building. I think it could have been a pretty good series. I would have loved for it to further explore Wallie's relationship to and irreverence of the gods, his struggles with morality in a world and society where that means a very different thing, and how he handles owning a slave in a world where that is normal. Cool concepts to explore, but the first book has done an irredeemably Schizer job.
This book had a premise I hadn't seen in western media yet and a mildly interesting world. Unfortunately, there are far too many yikes moments to not feel like a shitty chauvinist/misogynist while reading it. This book belongs in 1988.
--Spoilers--
I did not enjoy this book's treatment of its female characters. It felt too much like male sexual fantasy fulfillment. "Oh nooooooo, I don't believe in objectifying woman and respect them, but now I'm in a super hot super horny body and I guess I haaaaaave to have sex with this beautiful slave girl who happens to also be madly in love with me making it okay, and I just can't control myself around my apprentices arguably intellectually disabled bombshell Cowie." Are we supposed to be proud of Wallie because he briefly hesitates before giving into his prurient desires. He literally acknowledges to himself that it would be rape, and then goes ahead and does it anyway!? WTF? The treatment of Cowie was another big yikes for me. Especially in the last few pages where the whole joke was that Wallie was trying to swear a vow with Nannji while his little brother is trying to rape Cowie ... without HIS [Nannji's] permission. Are we seriously trying to play this for laughs? I wish this scene had happened earlier so I could have worked up the guts to drop this book from the start. It's my fault though. I should have known when the synopsis included "Wallie was now the master of a beautiful slave girl". Unsurprisingly, the women in this book are all treated like mere sex objects. This story might have been better received in 1988, but its 2020 now, we know better. Relationships don't need to feel like they were pulled from a mediocre fetish porno. I'm sure there is a lot that could be said about the representation of slaves in general in this book, but I am in no way qualified to speak on it.
What did this novel have going for it. I have of course mentioned that it was cool to read a western book about being transported into a fantasy world. The world of this story was unique, and there was some decent world-building. I think it could have been a pretty good series. I would have loved for it to further explore Wallie's relationship to and irreverence of the gods, his struggles with morality in a world and society where that means a very different thing, and how he handles owning a slave in a world where that is normal. Cool concepts to explore, but the first book has done an irredeemably Schizer job.
This book had a premise I hadn't seen in western media yet and a mildly interesting world. Unfortunately, there are far too many yikes moments to not feel like a shitty chauvinist/misogynist while reading it. This book belongs in 1988.
November 11, 2014
Almost done with this and while I like Wallie's story, I can't help but be distracted by the way women are portrayed. If an author can't write women in a unique and non-offensive way, then it is really better to just leave them out, IMO. I fully understand that the book is purposefully set in a place quite different from this world, and with a different culture. But there doesn't seem to be any redeeming purpose to the way the women are portrayed, and there is the implicit difference in how men and women are described that irks me and and has nothing to do with the setting.
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By the end of the novel I can say the women are portrayed a little better, and the optimist in me thinks it will keep getting better as they are more fleshed out in the rest of the series. That said, even besides that issue, I'm not going to keep reading this series. The "get a party, go on a quest" isn't generally something I enjoy. I did like the beginning with the god (demigod?) who helped Wallie with faith, that was interesting, but the rest didn't really grab me.
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By the end of the novel I can say the women are portrayed a little better, and the optimist in me thinks it will keep getting better as they are more fleshed out in the rest of the series. That said, even besides that issue, I'm not going to keep reading this series. The "get a party, go on a quest" isn't generally something I enjoy. I did like the beginning with the god (demigod?) who helped Wallie with faith, that was interesting, but the rest didn't really grab me.
January 21, 2013
I enjoyed this one very much,it was kind of a change of pace for me as I've been reading mainly drama/action books, and this one made me a laugh a little.
This book follows a guy who has died in our world and get transported into the body of the greatest swordsman in an alternate world where your skill with a sword determines your rank in society. The good swordsmen take what they want without any repercussions or remorse. Now comes Wallie from a different world with different ideals and morals. The contrast between the world he came from and the world he gets sent to makes for some good reading with lots of action scenes, some romance and even some comedy mixed in to make this a very fun read.
This book follows a guy who has died in our world and get transported into the body of the greatest swordsman in an alternate world where your skill with a sword determines your rank in society. The good swordsmen take what they want without any repercussions or remorse. Now comes Wallie from a different world with different ideals and morals. The contrast between the world he came from and the world he gets sent to makes for some good reading with lots of action scenes, some romance and even some comedy mixed in to make this a very fun read.
October 16, 2010
Felt like a Robert E. Howard (Conan) take on the "modern American transplanted to fantasy world" theme. Had some potential but in the end everything is motivated by deus ex machinas. It almost felt like a Christian polemic with the constant refrain of "God(dess) moves in mysterious ways" and "have faith". What started out as an interesting moral struggle about the contrast between the two worlds simply gets thrown away when the protagonist gets tortured enough.
Not keen enough to bother reading the other two books in the series.
Not keen enough to bother reading the other two books in the series.
February 11, 2010
Another good series from Duncan. Sometimes I find it hard to get started on his books. He takes awhile to set the scene, and numerous characters are usually involved. But once I'm in, it's always a good time. This series has a man from Earth finding himself transferred into the body of a Swordsman from another world and expected to complete a quest for that world's Goddess.
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