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Time of Heroes #3
The Serpent
Jon of Dun Add has created a civilization where before there had only been isolated pockets of humanity in a shattered cosmos.
Young knight Pal is one of the most respected members of Lord Jon’s Hall of Champions. But Pal’s greatest talent lies not on the field of battle, though he’s no slouch there. He is also a Maker, one who can repair the tools the Ancients had left—sometimes. Moreover, he has learned to use his warrior dog’s ability to predict motion better than any human could, an ability that has saved his skin and won the day more than once.
Now, Pal will need all his talent—as a fighter, as a Maker, and as a Champion—to deal with the monsters the Waste throws at him—and to deal with his fellow humans. For there are those who would destroy Dun Add and Lord Jon’s vision of a humanity united in peace from within . . .
Young knight Pal is one of the most respected members of Lord Jon’s Hall of Champions. But Pal’s greatest talent lies not on the field of battle, though he’s no slouch there. He is also a Maker, one who can repair the tools the Ancients had left—sometimes. Moreover, he has learned to use his warrior dog’s ability to predict motion better than any human could, an ability that has saved his skin and won the day more than once.
Now, Pal will need all his talent—as a fighter, as a Maker, and as a Champion—to deal with the monsters the Waste throws at him—and to deal with his fellow humans. For there are those who would destroy Dun Add and Lord Jon’s vision of a humanity united in peace from within . . .
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
184 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 6, 2021
28 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
David Drake
306 books886 followersDavid Drake is an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran who has worked as a lawyer, he is now one of the major authors of the military science fiction genre.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
September 7, 2021
This is the third book in Drake's Time of Heroes series. There isn't much more of an explanation of the character of the here/not here world or advancement of an overall arc, but it's a fine read nonetheless. Heavily rooted in Arthurian legend, this is the continuing story of Pal, a young man from a rural agricultural community who becomes a knight errant in the service of Jon and the goals and philosophies of the commonwealth government he's founded. In this one, Pal embarks on a series of short missions to rescue distressed damsels, help his magical mentor through a bad time, and do what he can to right wrongs as they find him. There are several typographical errors, which is most unusual for a Drake book, but they don't impact the story. It's a short but very enjoyable read.
July 7, 2021
I've been reading David Drake for 50 years. In this book he managed to fuse philosophy, story and duty and a lotta fun. While I have some hundreds of books on my tbr list I'm going to reread the other two in this series over the next month. It was just that good and inspiring.
August 3, 2021
Slipped a bit
I enjoyed the first two books, and was looking forward to this one. But it’s missing something, some spirit the first 2 had that this lacks. There no real tension, the main character doesn’t grow or adapt at all, the situations are very pedestrian vs. the other 2. Just not an inspired installment.
I enjoyed the first two books, and was looking forward to this one. But it’s missing something, some spirit the first 2 had that this lacks. There no real tension, the main character doesn’t grow or adapt at all, the situations are very pedestrian vs. the other 2. Just not an inspired installment.
February 15, 2022
subpar
First entry was weak, had some interesting premises but cardboard characters so I wanted to see where it went. Second had a couple of interesting parts but weak character development and and inconsistency in the story were disappointing. Third entry was a waste of money. I have most of drakes works and felt this whole series was a waste of time.
First entry was weak, had some interesting premises but cardboard characters so I wanted to see where it went. Second had a couple of interesting parts but weak character development and and inconsistency in the story were disappointing. Third entry was a waste of money. I have most of drakes works and felt this whole series was a waste of time.
May 9, 2022
While not as good as the previous two (I think b/c Drake spent too much time retelling us what had happened before, and also b/c there were a lot of stories and characters to keep track of), it was still a good book, and should he decide to write another about Pal, I would for sure read it.
November 30, 2021
Once more into the weird post-technology nightmare world along with a great example why trial by combat does not belong in any sane legal system. A short, fast read.
July 7, 2021
Strong narrative
Pal continues his Arthurian adventures, in a more cohesive volume than the previous. Plenty of callbacks, action, and wonder made this engaging and a joy to read.
Pal continues his Arthurian adventures, in a more cohesive volume than the previous. Plenty of callbacks, action, and wonder made this engaging and a joy to read.
July 28, 2021
Garter Snake
A mediocre book by an author much more capable than this sample of writing. The old romance adventure style Mr. Drake was attemping to create fell short of the mark he set for himself in my opinion.
A mediocre book by an author much more capable than this sample of writing. The old romance adventure style Mr. Drake was attemping to create fell short of the mark he set for himself in my opinion.
August 20, 2021
Sadly Underwhelming
David Drake has written some great books in his time, but this is not one of them. As a stand alone book it is probably a 2 star read, but the fact I know of this universe from previous books saves it.
I am saddened by the lack of substance in this book as I have looked forward to this 3rd installment. I expected an advancement in Pal’s development both in personality and ability. But instead found myself fatigued by the repetitive dumb hick dialogue and shallow depth of characters. There was a definite lack of advancing the readers understanding of this fractured universe. Coupled with a lack of good battle scenes.
I think the goal was stylistic writing based on the authors notes, but it fell flat as a novel.
David Drake has written some great books in his time, but this is not one of them. As a stand alone book it is probably a 2 star read, but the fact I know of this universe from previous books saves it.
I am saddened by the lack of substance in this book as I have looked forward to this 3rd installment. I expected an advancement in Pal’s development both in personality and ability. But instead found myself fatigued by the repetitive dumb hick dialogue and shallow depth of characters. There was a definite lack of advancing the readers understanding of this fractured universe. Coupled with a lack of good battle scenes.
I think the goal was stylistic writing based on the authors notes, but it fell flat as a novel.
December 31, 2022
Not the best installment in this series. I was seriously thinking of DNF-ing it. It was just a mumble jumble of little adventures with no real progress in the main storyline. Nor does it explain the world any better either. To me this has fallen a off track. I don't think I will be reading anymore of this series. Its just not for me.
March 15, 2024
Rating: 3 generous stars of five
The Publisher Says: Jon of Dun Add has created a civilization where before there had only been isolated pockets of humanity in a shattered cosmos.
Young knight Pal is one of the most respected members of Lord Jon’s Hall of Champions. But Pal’s greatest talent lies not on the field of battle, though he’s no slouch there. He is also a Maker, one who can repair the tools the Ancients had left—sometimes. Moreover, he has learned to use his warrior dog’s ability to predict motion better than any human could, an ability that has saved his skin and won the day more than once.
Now, Pal will need all his talent—as a fighter, as a Maker, and as a Champion—to deal with the monsters the Waste throws at him—and to deal with his fellow humans. For there are those who would destroy Dun Add and Lord Jon’s vision of a humanity united in peace from within . . .
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: I screwed up. I got book three in a series I had never heard of before because I recognized the author’s name...what SFF reader wouldn’t...and, once I clocked my eff-up, I thought I’d just go back and get the others. That has never happened in three years, in spite of his December 2023 demise, because I just did not like this Arthurian retelling all that much. The writing is ordinary David Drakery. The typos were plentiful, and they irked me a lot.
It really just, as a story, goes nowhere much, which is actually quite a feat when retelling a millennium-old story; it has action that is not tied to anything like a plot; and, in under two hundred pages, there is more flashback to the first two books than there is present action. So it is not something I recommend to you.
Still, not everyone thinks like me, so a Kindle edition is only $6.99...but seriously, buy something from an unknown instead.
The Publisher Says: Jon of Dun Add has created a civilization where before there had only been isolated pockets of humanity in a shattered cosmos.
Young knight Pal is one of the most respected members of Lord Jon’s Hall of Champions. But Pal’s greatest talent lies not on the field of battle, though he’s no slouch there. He is also a Maker, one who can repair the tools the Ancients had left—sometimes. Moreover, he has learned to use his warrior dog’s ability to predict motion better than any human could, an ability that has saved his skin and won the day more than once.
Now, Pal will need all his talent—as a fighter, as a Maker, and as a Champion—to deal with the monsters the Waste throws at him—and to deal with his fellow humans. For there are those who would destroy Dun Add and Lord Jon’s vision of a humanity united in peace from within . . .
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: I screwed up. I got book three in a series I had never heard of before because I recognized the author’s name...what SFF reader wouldn’t...and, once I clocked my eff-up, I thought I’d just go back and get the others. That has never happened in three years, in spite of his December 2023 demise, because I just did not like this Arthurian retelling all that much. The writing is ordinary David Drakery. The typos were plentiful, and they irked me a lot.
It really just, as a story, goes nowhere much, which is actually quite a feat when retelling a millennium-old story; it has action that is not tied to anything like a plot; and, in under two hundred pages, there is more flashback to the first two books than there is present action. So it is not something I recommend to you.
Still, not everyone thinks like me, so a Kindle edition is only $6.99...but seriously, buy something from an unknown instead.
February 4, 2022
This is third in the Time of Heroes Series, in which Arthurian legend is recreated in a post-apocalyptic world set in the distant future. Lord Jon of Dun Add is trying to bring all Mankind into a Commonwealth which will establish order among the fragmented human settlements that struggle to survive on the fringes of ‘the Waste’. To help him maintain justice within the Commonwealth and drive back the monsters which attack from the Waste, his Champions patrol branches of ‘the Road’ which connect the ‘nodes’ where humans have settled. Lord Pal is one of those champions.
Like the Knights of the Round Table, the Champions live a dangerous and adventurous life. Pal battles huge creatures that wander onto the Road and into human settlements, he rescues damsels from abductors, and he fights on their behalf to ensure they receive justice. Since Drake draws upon medieval romances and heroic tales for material, it is unsurprising that the plot is episodic, as one encounter leads to another. Although the names differ, readers familiar with Arthurian legend will find plenty of situations and relationships to identify, including the love triangle between the ruler, his consort, and greatest champion. Pal’s duel against a close friend comes from Yvain by Chretien de Troyes.
This is a rather complicated world in which artifacts survive from earlier civilizations; nor is it clear what they do, nor how dangerous they are. As a result, the early sections can be confusing. Readers would be advised to read the earlier books in the series first: The Spark and The Storm.
Like the Knights of the Round Table, the Champions live a dangerous and adventurous life. Pal battles huge creatures that wander onto the Road and into human settlements, he rescues damsels from abductors, and he fights on their behalf to ensure they receive justice. Since Drake draws upon medieval romances and heroic tales for material, it is unsurprising that the plot is episodic, as one encounter leads to another. Although the names differ, readers familiar with Arthurian legend will find plenty of situations and relationships to identify, including the love triangle between the ruler, his consort, and greatest champion. Pal’s duel against a close friend comes from Yvain by Chretien de Troyes.
This is a rather complicated world in which artifacts survive from earlier civilizations; nor is it clear what they do, nor how dangerous they are. As a result, the early sections can be confusing. Readers would be advised to read the earlier books in the series first: The Spark and The Storm.
December 31, 2021
David Drake continues his series of a weirdly twisted continuum of human pockets amist inhuman weirdness. Which also happens to be a retelling of Arthurian legends.
As the first books before, it is its own thing. It mixes bizarre problems, Pal the warrior, Pal the explorer, Pal the investigator and a large cast of characters. It also includes deadly duels, wicked nobles and strange sorcerers, since it is an Arthurian tale after all. It is its own thing, and that's a good thing. The kind of series where you want more, but could stop there at any time.
Thankfully, M. Drake is the right person to make this work.
As the first books before, it is its own thing. It mixes bizarre problems, Pal the warrior, Pal the explorer, Pal the investigator and a large cast of characters. It also includes deadly duels, wicked nobles and strange sorcerers, since it is an Arthurian tale after all. It is its own thing, and that's a good thing. The kind of series where you want more, but could stop there at any time.
Thankfully, M. Drake is the right person to make this work.
February 2, 2024
This entire series has been a delight. Pal is such a simple protagonist, young and sure of what is right and wrong. I can’t help but feel if the author hadn’t retired from writing and eventually passed on, he could’ve told many more stories about Pal of Buene. This could’ve been a long series. While the book has a satisfying ending, I wonder if the author intended to write more before he was forced to give up writing due to illness.
I’m grateful to have discovered The Spark, the first book, and look forward to reading more by David Drake.
I’m grateful to have discovered The Spark, the first book, and look forward to reading more by David Drake.
July 15, 2021
The Story Continues
The Story of the adventures of Lord Pal continues. The editing was a rough, unexpected in a Favid Drake story... pretty bad editing. An odd collection of short adventures losely or not particularly connected other than Lord Pal's presence. Maybe these stories are.leading to a fuller expansion of the story... or these are reinterpreted stories from the English legeds they are based on.
The Story of the adventures of Lord Pal continues. The editing was a rough, unexpected in a Favid Drake story... pretty bad editing. An odd collection of short adventures losely or not particularly connected other than Lord Pal's presence. Maybe these stories are.leading to a fuller expansion of the story... or these are reinterpreted stories from the English legeds they are based on.
July 28, 2021
It's David Drake
Despite his opening comments, to me it reads like Northworld in Camelot. The MCs have extremely similar points of view and characters, but that is true of most of his work. It is more fun how he weaves in classics into a modern retelling. The setting is less grimdark than his earlier works, which IMO makes for the difference, but it is still grim and dark enough.
Despite his opening comments, to me it reads like Northworld in Camelot. The MCs have extremely similar points of view and characters, but that is true of most of his work. It is more fun how he weaves in classics into a modern retelling. The setting is less grimdark than his earlier works, which IMO makes for the difference, but it is still grim and dark enough.
Read
September 9, 2022Third in the "Time of Heros" series, and I hope there will be another. It's a little short at 181 pages hardcover, but David Drake always tells a good story. The fictional world is like no other and the hero is well developed and consistent in his actions and thoughts (with good mental admissions when he fails himself) which leads to a story that doesn't feel 'forced' to a conclusion or along an inconsistent path.
August 9, 2025
As the author mentions at the beginning of this book, this is based on the Arthurian story, but in a unique (to me) situation. The story follows that adventures of a good hearted Champion who can also go into a trance to observe the molecular structure of objects called artifacts. I picked this book up randomly at a book sale - it is not obvious that it is the third in a series. Light reading for summer.
September 4, 2021
The Champion
The whole premise of the story is a questing knight on errantry. So if you don’t mind being tossed all over the map by chance encounters and loose threads this book is for you. It’s something to be said about following the course and determined man cuts once loose in the world.
Rating: 4/5
Cover : 5/5
Narration: na
Favorite Line: Na
The whole premise of the story is a questing knight on errantry. So if you don’t mind being tossed all over the map by chance encounters and loose threads this book is for you. It’s something to be said about following the course and determined man cuts once loose in the world.
Rating: 4/5
Cover : 5/5
Narration: na
Favorite Line: Na
May 30, 2025
Good and satisfying conclusion of the trilogy. On the other side, starting to become a bit repetitive, thus I do not mind it either that this ends the trilogy. :)
Easy recommendation: if you liked the first two, buy this one. If you didn't, don't. And if you have not read the first two, why do you read a review of the third?
Easy recommendation: if you liked the first two, buy this one. If you didn't, don't. And if you have not read the first two, why do you read a review of the third?
October 7, 2021
David Drake has a third tale of nobel knight Pal in a world where solid ground exists in a world where solid ground connects to voids. In The Serpent (hard from Baen) Pal has to rescue ladies in distress, deal with bullying nobility, and even serve as a agent for one side in a trial by combat.
December 21, 2022
Good, but the weakest of the 3.
I liked the further development of Pal and May. The final conflict was well crafted, with a good feel for the mindset of the "time".
Some PC developments were unwelcome but peripheral to the story arc.
I liked the further development of Pal and May. The final conflict was well crafted, with a good feel for the mindset of the "time".
Some PC developments were unwelcome but peripheral to the story arc.
July 8, 2021
Perfect finish to a great trilogy
There really isn't much else I can add without spoilers. To be fully honest, I'm happy this series ended before Mordred.
There really isn't much else I can add without spoilers. To be fully honest, I'm happy this series ended before Mordred.
July 8, 2021
A really good conclusion to the trilogy.
July 10, 2021
More interesting side story than any true advancement of any over arching plot for the series.
July 16, 2021
good followup, though not as much world building as the past two
August 14, 2021
See my comments on book #1, The Spark.
Very short.
Very short.
September 11, 2021
A continuation of the retelling of the Arthurian legend but in an SF setting. Worth a read if you are a fan of good storytelling by a master.
November 11, 2021
OK but was looking for more.
August 5, 2022
Nowhere near as good as the first two books in the series ! Looks like it was written just for a paycheck ! Does nothing to advance the plot or story line !
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews