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Kane #2, 5 & 7
Gods in Darkness: The Complete Novels of Kane
Kane An immortal, cursed to wander the Earth until he is destroyed by the violence that he himself has created. A warrior and statesman: As comfortable in the shadowy halls of courtly intrigue as he is on the bloody battlefields where those intrigue's inevitably play themselves out. Karl Edward Wagner's complex and compelling character of Kane redefines the boundaries of heroic fantasy, and stands besides Michael Moorcock's Elric, and Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and Gray Mouser as one of the most idiosyncratic and compelling characters of the fantasy genre. Gods in Darkness gathers together in one volume the complete novels of Kane.
Contents:
Bloodstone (1975)
Dark Crusade (1976)
Darkness Weaves (1970, revised 1978).
Contents:
Bloodstone (1975)
Dark Crusade (1976)
Darkness Weaves (1970, revised 1978).
528 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
15 people are currently reading
1296 people want to read
About the author
Karl Edward Wagner
244 books388 followersKarl Edward Wagner (12 December 1945 – 13 October 1994) was an American writer, editor and publisher of horror, science fiction, and heroic fantasy, who was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and originally trained as a psychiatrist. His disillusionment with the medical profession can be seen in the stories "The Fourth Seal" and "Into Whose Hands". He described his world view as nihilistic, anarchistic and absurdist, and claimed, not entirely seriously, to be related to "an opera composer named Richard". Wagner also admired the cinema of Sam Peckinpah, stating "I worship the film The Wild Bunch".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 4, 2025
4,25⭐
Kane, to taki Conan w nieco mroczniejszych szatach.
Pasują mu te szaty.
Recenzja: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqb9k...
Kane, to taki Conan w nieco mroczniejszych szatach.
Pasują mu te szaty.
Recenzja: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqb9k...
February 8, 2011
If you have a craving for pulp style fantasy, look no further. Gods in Darkness is a good set of stories, a delightful blend of Howard and Moorcock, and Kane is what would happen if Conan and Elric were able to mate successfully.
Later:
Kane's a red haired immortal barbarian, cast out of a garden paradise-prison by a mad god, destined to wander the earth until he dies by violence.
I'll review Bloodstone since it's the one I remember the most:
The story starts out with a bang. Kane's a member of a gang of bandits. The Bloodstone of the title appears in the Bandit's haul one day. Kane winds up slaying most of the gang of bandits after the leader rejected his offer of foregoing his share of the treasure in exchange for the ring.
The larger back story of Bloodstone is that two kingdoms are at war. Kane's dealing both sides and not playing honest with either. Without giving too much away, after a few betrayals Kane's true intentions become known, as are the powers of the Bloodstone and why Kane was so keen on possessing it. Unfortunately for Kane, he gets a little more than he bargained for. That sums it up nicely without giving too much away.
Now for the writing. I thought Karl Edward Wagner's writing would be breezier, ala Fritz Leiber. It's more like Robert E. Howard's; dense and robust. It's like eating a steak rather than the salad that comprises a lot of fantasy these days. The settings and monsters feel more like Moorcock and Lovecraft than Howard's but that just lends to the overall creepiness. Twists abound and you find yourself wondering how things are going to play out, a far cry from the usual "Slay the big baddie and/or destroy this artifact" sprawling quest you've all read so many times already.
Later:
Kane's a red haired immortal barbarian, cast out of a garden paradise-prison by a mad god, destined to wander the earth until he dies by violence.
I'll review Bloodstone since it's the one I remember the most:
The story starts out with a bang. Kane's a member of a gang of bandits. The Bloodstone of the title appears in the Bandit's haul one day. Kane winds up slaying most of the gang of bandits after the leader rejected his offer of foregoing his share of the treasure in exchange for the ring.
The larger back story of Bloodstone is that two kingdoms are at war. Kane's dealing both sides and not playing honest with either. Without giving too much away, after a few betrayals Kane's true intentions become known, as are the powers of the Bloodstone and why Kane was so keen on possessing it. Unfortunately for Kane, he gets a little more than he bargained for. That sums it up nicely without giving too much away.
Now for the writing. I thought Karl Edward Wagner's writing would be breezier, ala Fritz Leiber. It's more like Robert E. Howard's; dense and robust. It's like eating a steak rather than the salad that comprises a lot of fantasy these days. The settings and monsters feel more like Moorcock and Lovecraft than Howard's but that just lends to the overall creepiness. Twists abound and you find yourself wondering how things are going to play out, a far cry from the usual "Slay the big baddie and/or destroy this artifact" sprawling quest you've all read so many times already.
July 25, 2011
For those who haven't tried it yet.
The reviews on this list are more than sufficient to let you know that, if dark fantasy is your thing, Wagner's Kane comes highly recommended.
But some of us put off reading Wagner, not because of the books themselves, but (ironically) by the glowing praise for them. For example, "Anti-Hero" was pretty much coined for the character of Kane because there was just no other word to describe a story where the villain is actually the protagonist. These days, any brooding, or angst-y character is given the same title (Wolverine, I'm looking at you...) and this waters down the power of the description and might lead some to think that Kane is cut from the same mundane cloth.
Next is Wagner's, much touted "poetry" of writing. Yes, the man cut a mean phrase, but if this is "poetry", it is the poetry of death, madness and violence that could destroy a civilization. Road less traveled by, indeed...
Last, is the very concept of Villain as Hero. "How does that work?" a new reader might ask. Well, it's pretty simple. Just think of what any supervillain, like Doctor Doom, is doing when he isn't being defeated by the Reed Richards; killing off whole countries full of people, garnering power that rivals the gods and releasing alien horrors on the world just to satisfy his ego and rage.
Like you do...
So don't let the occasional, over flowery, book blurb hold you back. I assure you this is grade A, psychopathic, axe swinging, back stabbing,nail biting, spell casting, bloody, apocalyptic violence that rivals, or just plain beats the pants off almost any of Wagner's contemporaries. It was a great loss to the fantasy genre that Karl Edward Wagner died so young. But at least we have Kane.
The reviews on this list are more than sufficient to let you know that, if dark fantasy is your thing, Wagner's Kane comes highly recommended.
But some of us put off reading Wagner, not because of the books themselves, but (ironically) by the glowing praise for them. For example, "Anti-Hero" was pretty much coined for the character of Kane because there was just no other word to describe a story where the villain is actually the protagonist. These days, any brooding, or angst-y character is given the same title (Wolverine, I'm looking at you...) and this waters down the power of the description and might lead some to think that Kane is cut from the same mundane cloth.
Next is Wagner's, much touted "poetry" of writing. Yes, the man cut a mean phrase, but if this is "poetry", it is the poetry of death, madness and violence that could destroy a civilization. Road less traveled by, indeed...
Last, is the very concept of Villain as Hero. "How does that work?" a new reader might ask. Well, it's pretty simple. Just think of what any supervillain, like Doctor Doom, is doing when he isn't being defeated by the Reed Richards; killing off whole countries full of people, garnering power that rivals the gods and releasing alien horrors on the world just to satisfy his ego and rage.
Like you do...
So don't let the occasional, over flowery, book blurb hold you back. I assure you this is grade A, psychopathic, axe swinging, back stabbing,nail biting, spell casting, bloody, apocalyptic violence that rivals, or just plain beats the pants off almost any of Wagner's contemporaries. It was a great loss to the fantasy genre that Karl Edward Wagner died so young. But at least we have Kane.
April 17, 2024
Dawno nic mnie tak nie zaskoczyło jak ta książka. Miałam o niej bardzo stereotypowe wyobrażenie spodziewając się historii o bohaterze w typie barbarzyńcy, który jest okrutny dla zasady. Dostałam zbiór opowieści o kimś kto owszem, ma wypaczoną moralność, ale oprócz tego jest inteligentny, refleksyjny i pełen uczuć, których bym się nie spodziewała. Nawet jego wątpliwą moralność idzie zrozumieć znając jego losy. Historie Kane'a są proste i nieskomplikowane, ale napisane w taki sposób, że w ten świat się wsiąka i nie można z niego wyjść. Walki są pełne dynamiki, nawet bitwy morskie angażują i są wykreowane tak, że aż widać przed oczami żywe obrazy. Prostota i klasyczność tych historii działa tylko na plus przy tym jak doskonale Wagner operuje językiem i klimatem. Polecam nie tylko w ramach zapoznawania się z klasyka fantasy, ale po prostu po to żeby poznać jednego z ciekawszych bohaterów świata dark fantasy i wciągnięcia się w wyjątkowo dobre historie (którym ani trochę nie ujmuje ich lekka przewidywalność).
August 17, 2017
Mais um da lista de leitura obrigatória do gênero da Espada e Magia: Gods in Darkness, a coleção dos três romances de Kane, a grande criação de Karl Edward Wagner! :)
Gods in Darkness: The Complete Novels of Kane - Karl Edward Wagner | NITROLEITURAS | #fantasia #espadaemagia | Nightshade Books, | 600, páginas | Lido de 13.08.17 a 19.08.17
SINOPSE
Kane Um imortal, amaldiçoado para vagar pela Terra até ser destruído pela violência que ele próprio criou. Um guerreiro e um homem de estado: tão confortável nas salas sombrias da intriga cortesana como ele está nos campos de batalha sangrentos onde essas intrigas inevitavelmente se exercitam.
O personagem complexo e convincente de Kane, de Karl Edward Wagner, redefine os limites da fantasia heróica sendo considerado, junto com Elric de Michael Moorcock e Fafhrd e Gray Mouser de Fritz Leiber como um dos personagens mais idiossincráticos e convincentes do gênero de fantasia. Gods in Darkness reúne em um volume as novelas completas de Kane.
RESENHA
Se hoje temos uma nova onda de fantasia épica ou fantasia brutal (grim fantasy), isso se deve ao trabalho de Karl Edward Wagner, que, na década de 70, renovou a fantasia "pulp" de espada e magia com um dos mais interessantes anti-heróis do gênero, o medonho Kane.
Em GODS IN DARKNESS, temos reunidos os três romances do personagem, Bloodstone (1975), Dark Crusade (1976), Darkness Weaves (1970, revised 1978), que trabalham e expandem os temas e o estilo da espada e magia, acrescentando uma amoralidade semelhante a introduzida por Moorcock com seu Elrick.
Wagner tem um estilo peculiar de narrativa, é o seu Kane é uma espécie de mescla entre Conan e Elric, modernizando o aspecto moral e ético da espada e feitiçaria e acrescentando uma moralidade bem mais cinzenta do que nas narrativas anteriores.
Em outras palavras, no mundo de Kane só tem bandido! :)
Karl Wagner busca desconstruir alguns dos lugares-comuns da espada e magia, criando um anti-herói que é mais selvagem do que o Conan mas ao mesmo tempo cultiva um lado intelectual e filosófico profundo, devido à sua maldição de imortalidade. O interessante é que as histórias são bem sombrias, Kane quase nunca é bem sucedido, seus planos fracassam enormemente, o mal maior vence o mal menor, mas, ao mesmo tempo, a crueldade nem é sempre vitoriosa.
A prosa de Wagner é muito interessante, pois tem todo o estilo e atmosfera de um Edgar Alan Poe ou um Lovecraft mas sem a poesia do primeiro ou as firulas barrocas do segundo. É uma espécie de atualização da prosa de Robert E. Howard, com a energia do criador de Conan mas forjada em um estilo claro, direto e bem "testosterona", mas já com uma melhor percepção e criação de personagens femininos.
O horror é descrito com casualidade e até de maneira discreta, o que, paradoxalmente, o torna mais assustador. Me lembrou o nosso mestre Rubem Fonseca, que também é adepto da exposição crua e sem firulas de atos de violência explícita.
O tomo é composto de três livros publicados na década de 70 em volumes individuais:
DARKNESS WEAVES:
Uma mulher horrivelmente mutilada se transforma em uma força malévola de vingança que procura recuperar um trono perdido. Kane, assume o papel de general de um exército de mercenários, trabalhando primeiro para a feiticeira em busca de vingança e depois se voltando contra ela. A trama envolve uma raça poderosa de criaturas lovecraftianas, e uma guerra horrenda que acaba por destruir todo um império.
DARK CRUSADE:
Sataki, um deus das trevas, toma posse de um chefe de bandidos. Proclamando-se o Profeta, ele está destinado a transformar o Mundo da Luz em um Mundo das Trevas. Ele lidera uma grande mas desorganizada multidão de crentes verdadeiros que, quando confrontados com soldados treinados, são abatidos por dezenas de milhares. Kane, novamente para seus próprios propósitos, se torna o general do Profeta e constrói um poderoso exército de mercenários e os da multidão que ele pode treinar.
BLOODSTONE:
Kane procura aproveitar o poder de Bloodstone, um cristal alienígena que também é uma criatura sensível. Uma entidade de poder divino, que é o foco da energia cósmica. O poder de Bloodstone não é sobrenatural, mas o resultado de uma ciência alienígena que Kane acredita está além dos conceitos humanos do bem ou do mal. Ele espera usá-lo para desbloquear um poder vasto e usá-lo para seus próprios propósitos. Esses propósitos envolvem mais do que uma ânsia cega de poder.
Kane é a grande estrela das histórias, um guerreiro gigantesco com conhecimento de magia, cruel mas com um senso de justiça pessoal, de cabelos ruivos e de olhos azuis e frios, condenado a vagar eternamente através de um mundo selvagem que ele mesmo criou.
Recomendadíssimo, Karl Edward Wagner é citado como uma das grandes influências de autores como George R. R. Martin, Joe Abercrombie, Steven "Malazan" Erickson, Glen "Compania Negra" Cook entre muitos outros. E ele manda bem demais, devo ler até os romances de Conan o Barbaro, que o Karl escreveu!
Doidimais da conta!
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Gods in Darkness: The Complete Novels of Kane - Karl Edward Wagner | NITROLEITURAS | #fantasia #espadaemagia | Nightshade Books, | 600, páginas | Lido de 13.08.17 a 19.08.17
SINOPSE
Kane Um imortal, amaldiçoado para vagar pela Terra até ser destruído pela violência que ele próprio criou. Um guerreiro e um homem de estado: tão confortável nas salas sombrias da intriga cortesana como ele está nos campos de batalha sangrentos onde essas intrigas inevitavelmente se exercitam.
O personagem complexo e convincente de Kane, de Karl Edward Wagner, redefine os limites da fantasia heróica sendo considerado, junto com Elric de Michael Moorcock e Fafhrd e Gray Mouser de Fritz Leiber como um dos personagens mais idiossincráticos e convincentes do gênero de fantasia. Gods in Darkness reúne em um volume as novelas completas de Kane.
RESENHA
Se hoje temos uma nova onda de fantasia épica ou fantasia brutal (grim fantasy), isso se deve ao trabalho de Karl Edward Wagner, que, na década de 70, renovou a fantasia "pulp" de espada e magia com um dos mais interessantes anti-heróis do gênero, o medonho Kane.
Em GODS IN DARKNESS, temos reunidos os três romances do personagem, Bloodstone (1975), Dark Crusade (1976), Darkness Weaves (1970, revised 1978), que trabalham e expandem os temas e o estilo da espada e magia, acrescentando uma amoralidade semelhante a introduzida por Moorcock com seu Elrick.
Wagner tem um estilo peculiar de narrativa, é o seu Kane é uma espécie de mescla entre Conan e Elric, modernizando o aspecto moral e ético da espada e feitiçaria e acrescentando uma moralidade bem mais cinzenta do que nas narrativas anteriores.
Em outras palavras, no mundo de Kane só tem bandido! :)
Karl Wagner busca desconstruir alguns dos lugares-comuns da espada e magia, criando um anti-herói que é mais selvagem do que o Conan mas ao mesmo tempo cultiva um lado intelectual e filosófico profundo, devido à sua maldição de imortalidade. O interessante é que as histórias são bem sombrias, Kane quase nunca é bem sucedido, seus planos fracassam enormemente, o mal maior vence o mal menor, mas, ao mesmo tempo, a crueldade nem é sempre vitoriosa.
A prosa de Wagner é muito interessante, pois tem todo o estilo e atmosfera de um Edgar Alan Poe ou um Lovecraft mas sem a poesia do primeiro ou as firulas barrocas do segundo. É uma espécie de atualização da prosa de Robert E. Howard, com a energia do criador de Conan mas forjada em um estilo claro, direto e bem "testosterona", mas já com uma melhor percepção e criação de personagens femininos.
O horror é descrito com casualidade e até de maneira discreta, o que, paradoxalmente, o torna mais assustador. Me lembrou o nosso mestre Rubem Fonseca, que também é adepto da exposição crua e sem firulas de atos de violência explícita.
O tomo é composto de três livros publicados na década de 70 em volumes individuais:
DARKNESS WEAVES:
Uma mulher horrivelmente mutilada se transforma em uma força malévola de vingança que procura recuperar um trono perdido. Kane, assume o papel de general de um exército de mercenários, trabalhando primeiro para a feiticeira em busca de vingança e depois se voltando contra ela. A trama envolve uma raça poderosa de criaturas lovecraftianas, e uma guerra horrenda que acaba por destruir todo um império.
DARK CRUSADE:
Sataki, um deus das trevas, toma posse de um chefe de bandidos. Proclamando-se o Profeta, ele está destinado a transformar o Mundo da Luz em um Mundo das Trevas. Ele lidera uma grande mas desorganizada multidão de crentes verdadeiros que, quando confrontados com soldados treinados, são abatidos por dezenas de milhares. Kane, novamente para seus próprios propósitos, se torna o general do Profeta e constrói um poderoso exército de mercenários e os da multidão que ele pode treinar.
BLOODSTONE:
Kane procura aproveitar o poder de Bloodstone, um cristal alienígena que também é uma criatura sensível. Uma entidade de poder divino, que é o foco da energia cósmica. O poder de Bloodstone não é sobrenatural, mas o resultado de uma ciência alienígena que Kane acredita está além dos conceitos humanos do bem ou do mal. Ele espera usá-lo para desbloquear um poder vasto e usá-lo para seus próprios propósitos. Esses propósitos envolvem mais do que uma ânsia cega de poder.
Kane é a grande estrela das histórias, um guerreiro gigantesco com conhecimento de magia, cruel mas com um senso de justiça pessoal, de cabelos ruivos e de olhos azuis e frios, condenado a vagar eternamente através de um mundo selvagem que ele mesmo criou.
Recomendadíssimo, Karl Edward Wagner é citado como uma das grandes influências de autores como George R. R. Martin, Joe Abercrombie, Steven "Malazan" Erickson, Glen "Compania Negra" Cook entre muitos outros. E ele manda bem demais, devo ler até os romances de Conan o Barbaro, que o Karl escreveu!
Doidimais da conta!
___________________________________________
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Aulas TODOS OS DIAS, de 7 às 23 horas!
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December 10, 2025
Nieśmiertelny kane,pierwszy morderca ,ten który wszczął bunt przeciw bogom. Zbiór klasycznych opowiadań zebranych w nowym wydaniu z fajną okładką i obrazkami . Najbardziej spodobało mi się 3 opowiadanie Zimne swiatło w którym taki pozornie nieslaziterny paladyn zbiera grupę mściwych wojowników i próbuje dopaść Kane i rozpoczyna się polowanie . I rozkminy o większym większym dobru.
Opowiadanie sploty mroku jest najdłuższe i najpierw mi się nie podobało przez długie opisy ale potem się rozkręciło ,były intrygi i wojną morska i rozgrywki między szpiegami . Zwłaszcza fajne były tam postacie poboczne cass szpieg i skrytobójca kumpel Kane ,Abres . Są też motywy podwodnej przedwiecznej rasy i potworów z głębin.
Zaduma nad żalem w mym sercu jakoś średnio mi pasowała . Kane razem z grupą szlachty o wieśniaków jest uwięziony w zamku przez śnieżyce i próbuje odkryć kto jest mordującym potworem wilkołakiem . Niby jest tam plot-twist.
Mriaz ostatnie opowiadanie w którym Kane spotyka wampirzycę i zastanawia się czy nie chce umrzeć. To też było średnie . Najlepsze było 3 i 1 ale ogólnie jestem zadowolony
Opowiadanie sploty mroku jest najdłuższe i najpierw mi się nie podobało przez długie opisy ale potem się rozkręciło ,były intrygi i wojną morska i rozgrywki między szpiegami . Zwłaszcza fajne były tam postacie poboczne cass szpieg i skrytobójca kumpel Kane ,Abres . Są też motywy podwodnej przedwiecznej rasy i potworów z głębin.
Zaduma nad żalem w mym sercu jakoś średnio mi pasowała . Kane razem z grupą szlachty o wieśniaków jest uwięziony w zamku przez śnieżyce i próbuje odkryć kto jest mordującym potworem wilkołakiem . Niby jest tam plot-twist.
Mriaz ostatnie opowiadanie w którym Kane spotyka wampirzycę i zastanawia się czy nie chce umrzeć. To też było średnie . Najlepsze było 3 i 1 ale ogólnie jestem zadowolony
April 16, 2009
Wagner's Kane is a hero worth knowing, if only for how different he is from what we've come to expect from a mighty-thewed warrior. Cunning, cynical, power-mad, and ferocious, Kane defies all stereotypes, all categories. Which is to say, of course, that he has a reality about him missing from many heroes, allowances being made for sorcery working, history being different than we learned in grade school, etc.
One can ask one's self, "were I in Kane's position, would I not become like Kane." I fear the answer, for most of us is yes. The genius of Wagner is that he holds up this mirror and still makes it entertaining to follow along with Kane through his adventures.
One can ask one's self, "were I in Kane's position, would I not become like Kane." I fear the answer, for most of us is yes. The genius of Wagner is that he holds up this mirror and still makes it entertaining to follow along with Kane through his adventures.
June 28, 2008
Karl Wagner set out to overturn the cliches of sword and sorcery fiction, with an intellectual anti-hero who didn't always get the girl, whose plans did not always work out. Virtue does not always prevail, nor is vice inevitably punished. Wagner was a great talent and one hopes his Kane fiction will see a wider audience.
June 24, 2024
Kane Kane co zrobiłeś.
Książka a raczej sklejka różnych tekstów wprowadza nas w świat Kane'a, nieśmiertelnego wojownika, szalone bóstwo skazało go na wieczną wędrówkę po ponurym, apokaliptycznym świecie pełnym przestępców, demonów i przerażających starszych bogów. Kane, uzbrojony w bliźniacze ostrza, zakazaną magię i mroczne serce szalonego wojownika, niszczy wszystko, co staje na jego drodze do zdobycia tego, czego pragnie. Każda opowieść o Kane jest samodzielna, a sam Kane przekracza granice czasu, co oznacza, że można czytać serię w dowolnej kolejności, nie czując się zagubionym ani niedoinformowanym.
Spodziewałem się typowej historii o brutalnym barbarzyńcy. Jakże się myliłem! Otrzymałem coś znacznie głębszego i bardziej złożonego – zbiór opowieści o bohaterze, który, choć moralnie wypaczony, jest inteligentny, refleksyjny i pełen zaskakujących emocji. Jego moralność, choć wątpliwa, staje się zrozumiała w kontekście jego życiowych doświadczeń.
Historie o Kane'ie są proste i nieskomplikowane, ale napisane w sposób, który wciąga i pozwala zanurzyć się w wykreowanym świecie. Prostota i klasyczność tych opowieści tylko podkreślają, jak doskonale Wagner operuje językiem i tworzy klimat. Nie mogę nie wspomnieć o przepięknym wydaniu tej książki. Wydawnictwo Vesper pięknie wydało tą książkę.
Kane, jako postać, również przypadł mi do gustu. To solidny antybohater – samotny mężczyzna, bestia o niewiarygodnej sile, bezlitosnej odwadze, genialnej inteligencji i złej do szpiku kości. Jego oczy mają coś nieludzkiego, coś zabójczego. Klimat brutalności panuje w całej książce, a liczne sceny walki i intryg są opisane barwnie i wciągająco. Jednak nie chodzi tu tylko o pokazanie niezwyciężoności Kane'a. Autor pragnie ukazać jego samotność i wędrówkę, co dodaje głębi jego postaci. Nawet jeśli powieść nie jest w twoim stylu, warto ją poznać dla samego doświadczenia literackiego.
Nie będę kupiłem tą książkę z czystej ciekawości, jak wyglądały początki mojego ukochanego gatunku jakim jest "Dark Fantasy". Gatunek się trochę zmienił i szczerze chyba na dobrze dziś Kane pewnie zasłużył by na określenie girmdark.
Generalnie sięgnę po Kane ale nie szybko ciekawe fajne ale nie wybitne. 3.75/5
Książka a raczej sklejka różnych tekstów wprowadza nas w świat Kane'a, nieśmiertelnego wojownika, szalone bóstwo skazało go na wieczną wędrówkę po ponurym, apokaliptycznym świecie pełnym przestępców, demonów i przerażających starszych bogów. Kane, uzbrojony w bliźniacze ostrza, zakazaną magię i mroczne serce szalonego wojownika, niszczy wszystko, co staje na jego drodze do zdobycia tego, czego pragnie. Każda opowieść o Kane jest samodzielna, a sam Kane przekracza granice czasu, co oznacza, że można czytać serię w dowolnej kolejności, nie czując się zagubionym ani niedoinformowanym.
Spodziewałem się typowej historii o brutalnym barbarzyńcy. Jakże się myliłem! Otrzymałem coś znacznie głębszego i bardziej złożonego – zbiór opowieści o bohaterze, który, choć moralnie wypaczony, jest inteligentny, refleksyjny i pełen zaskakujących emocji. Jego moralność, choć wątpliwa, staje się zrozumiała w kontekście jego życiowych doświadczeń.
Historie o Kane'ie są proste i nieskomplikowane, ale napisane w sposób, który wciąga i pozwala zanurzyć się w wykreowanym świecie. Prostota i klasyczność tych opowieści tylko podkreślają, jak doskonale Wagner operuje językiem i tworzy klimat. Nie mogę nie wspomnieć o przepięknym wydaniu tej książki. Wydawnictwo Vesper pięknie wydało tą książkę.
Kane, jako postać, również przypadł mi do gustu. To solidny antybohater – samotny mężczyzna, bestia o niewiarygodnej sile, bezlitosnej odwadze, genialnej inteligencji i złej do szpiku kości. Jego oczy mają coś nieludzkiego, coś zabójczego. Klimat brutalności panuje w całej książce, a liczne sceny walki i intryg są opisane barwnie i wciągająco. Jednak nie chodzi tu tylko o pokazanie niezwyciężoności Kane'a. Autor pragnie ukazać jego samotność i wędrówkę, co dodaje głębi jego postaci. Nawet jeśli powieść nie jest w twoim stylu, warto ją poznać dla samego doświadczenia literackiego.
Nie będę kupiłem tą książkę z czystej ciekawości, jak wyglądały początki mojego ukochanego gatunku jakim jest "Dark Fantasy". Gatunek się trochę zmienił i szczerze chyba na dobrze dziś Kane pewnie zasłużył by na określenie girmdark.
Generalnie sięgnę po Kane ale nie szybko ciekawe fajne ale nie wybitne. 3.75/5
July 28, 2009
Three novels of heroic fantasy featuring Kane the immortal force of chaos and destruction. Described by his creator as one "who could master any situation intellectually, or rip heads off if push came to shove". You find yourself rooting for him anyway. Awesome battle scenes, cyclopean monsters and court intrigue make Wagner good reading.
August 22, 2020
Wagner's Kane is a very dark character and perhaps more of an anti-hero than Moorcock's Elric in that Kane tends to be more of the antagonist in each of these stories than a guy to root for. So in that regard he is unlike Conan in the extreme.
Kane tends to be opportunistic and very much invulnerable as well given his "curse" and in all three of these stories he sides with the bad side of the overall conflict as either a leader or commander of the given army involved.
Just a very different kind of vibe reading these stories compared to most fantasy I have read where I find myself rooting for the hero I am reading. I did like how Kane is generally left handed though he can use his right well enough as well. And his red hair and beard certainly make him look unique enough.
In terms of the actual novels themselves I would rank "Darkness Weaves" as my favorite, "Bloodstone" and its magic ring second, and "Dark Crusade" last though all three stories are very dark and gripping.
Kane tends to be opportunistic and very much invulnerable as well given his "curse" and in all three of these stories he sides with the bad side of the overall conflict as either a leader or commander of the given army involved.
Just a very different kind of vibe reading these stories compared to most fantasy I have read where I find myself rooting for the hero I am reading. I did like how Kane is generally left handed though he can use his right well enough as well. And his red hair and beard certainly make him look unique enough.
In terms of the actual novels themselves I would rank "Darkness Weaves" as my favorite, "Bloodstone" and its magic ring second, and "Dark Crusade" last though all three stories are very dark and gripping.
February 11, 2025
Wahałem się nad oceną czy to będzie 3G czy 4G
Ale finałowa przygoda przeważyła szalę ze spokojem daje 4
Ale finałowa przygoda przeważyła szalę ze spokojem daje 4
January 17, 2026
4,5
Zawsze, gdy sięgam po bardziej klasyczne fantasy, obawiam się schematyczności w fabule - motywów, które popkultura przerobiła już na tysiąc sposobów, powolnej akcji i „drewnianego” języka.
Nic bardziej mylnego! Książkę czyta się jak napisaną współcześnie przygodówkę fantasy.
Opowiadania są ciekawe i przeważnie mają zaskakujące zakończenia. Pierwsze, najdłuższe opowiadanie wzięło mnie kompletnie z zaskoczenia. Przy kolejnym udało mi się domyślić rozwiązania, jednakże i tak bardzo dobrze się na nim bawiłam.
Można i dla mnie jest to przepis na udany wieczór. Zostawiam na półce.
Zawsze, gdy sięgam po bardziej klasyczne fantasy, obawiam się schematyczności w fabule - motywów, które popkultura przerobiła już na tysiąc sposobów, powolnej akcji i „drewnianego” języka.
Nic bardziej mylnego! Książkę czyta się jak napisaną współcześnie przygodówkę fantasy.
Opowiadania są ciekawe i przeważnie mają zaskakujące zakończenia. Pierwsze, najdłuższe opowiadanie wzięło mnie kompletnie z zaskoczenia. Przy kolejnym udało mi się domyślić rozwiązania, jednakże i tak bardzo dobrze się na nim bawiłam.
Można i dla mnie jest to przepis na udany wieczór. Zostawiam na półce.
December 20, 2013
Karl Edward Wagner is one of the fantasy genres unjustly forgotten giants (much of the fault lies with his publisher that puts out the expensive limited editions). As a horror author and anthology editor so has his influence on fantasy as we know it was unimaginable. The title of the book comes from one of his many dark poems. He coined the term "dark fantasy" so we have a lot to thank him for . But his greatest creation was his hero-villain ( Wagner's term , he disliked the term "anti- hero" ) Kane.
When it comes to sword and sorcery so Kane is the most complex character ever created. He is amoral , allies himself always with the evil bad guys and has the sole objective to seek power at any cost. But he is always betrayed by the little spark of humanity hiding behind his killer blue eyes. One can not help but cheer for him while and against him. Much of his past is obscure but start slowly taking shape after a while.
For the most part the other characters also well described and it is fun to see how they grow over Kane's influence.
BloodStone
Where Kane finds a lost alien civilization with a weapon that can give him power over the world .
Teres is a fascinating character. She drinks, swears, fight, fuck, and her relationship with Kane are among the book's most fascinating parts. Wagner demonstrates his talent for complex moral and amazing battle scenes. It was the first book, Wagner wrote, but the second one to be published .
Dark Crusade
Where Kane allies himself with a vicious cult who plan to cleanse the world of all non-believers.
Jarvo is Kane's enemy but still manages to be transformed from a spoiled brat into a true hero on the most credible way . Wagner has a knack for showing peoples dark side, especially in children. Kane is not much in the story itself , but it makes me appreciate his chapters more and makes him much more mysterious. It is also in this story that Wagner really explores himself and his inner demons as horror gear is set at a high, almost metaphysical level.
Darkness Weaves
Where Kane takes the service of a grotesquely sorceress who are planning revenge against a tyrant with the help of an alliance with creatures from the deep.
Kane's world has never been more depressing. Prophecies never come true, everyone wants power but nobody gets what they want. Life is a single cruel. Arbas philosopher who became assassin is my favourite among Kane's companion and definitely the most developed character in the book. Kane's stories often have a certain Lovecrafian elements (fixed with swords) and it shows here.
The books are short and told in a fast pace and the action scenes are impressive and bloody. The descriptions are short but have a kind of poetic darkness. The nihilism is total and we remain ignorant of Kane's travels will lead him to his death or salvation. Sadly Wagner died of alcohol before he could write more novels about Kane (once again, Kane kills his creator). And that's why should I fight so that his stories will get the fame they deserve!
Score 4.5
When it comes to sword and sorcery so Kane is the most complex character ever created. He is amoral , allies himself always with the evil bad guys and has the sole objective to seek power at any cost. But he is always betrayed by the little spark of humanity hiding behind his killer blue eyes. One can not help but cheer for him while and against him. Much of his past is obscure but start slowly taking shape after a while.
For the most part the other characters also well described and it is fun to see how they grow over Kane's influence.
BloodStone
Where Kane finds a lost alien civilization with a weapon that can give him power over the world .
Teres is a fascinating character. She drinks, swears, fight, fuck, and her relationship with Kane are among the book's most fascinating parts. Wagner demonstrates his talent for complex moral and amazing battle scenes. It was the first book, Wagner wrote, but the second one to be published .
Dark Crusade
Where Kane allies himself with a vicious cult who plan to cleanse the world of all non-believers.
Jarvo is Kane's enemy but still manages to be transformed from a spoiled brat into a true hero on the most credible way . Wagner has a knack for showing peoples dark side, especially in children. Kane is not much in the story itself , but it makes me appreciate his chapters more and makes him much more mysterious. It is also in this story that Wagner really explores himself and his inner demons as horror gear is set at a high, almost metaphysical level.
Darkness Weaves
Where Kane takes the service of a grotesquely sorceress who are planning revenge against a tyrant with the help of an alliance with creatures from the deep.
Kane's world has never been more depressing. Prophecies never come true, everyone wants power but nobody gets what they want. Life is a single cruel. Arbas philosopher who became assassin is my favourite among Kane's companion and definitely the most developed character in the book. Kane's stories often have a certain Lovecrafian elements (fixed with swords) and it shows here.
The books are short and told in a fast pace and the action scenes are impressive and bloody. The descriptions are short but have a kind of poetic darkness. The nihilism is total and we remain ignorant of Kane's travels will lead him to his death or salvation. Sadly Wagner died of alcohol before he could write more novels about Kane (once again, Kane kills his creator). And that's why should I fight so that his stories will get the fame they deserve!
Score 4.5
December 28, 2012
If you don't know of Kane, but do know about sword-and-sorcery, imagine Conan with even more brains and a talent for magic, or Elric with more muscles and less mopeyness. That's the Kane of Karl Edward Wagner, not to be confused with the Kane of Mars of Michael Moorcock.
The three novels in this omnibus edition,
Bloodstone,
Dark Crusade, and
Darkness Weaves
all exist in stand-alone editions. Read their reviews elsewhere.
The version of Darkness Weaves in this edition has the "corrected text," which as far as I can tell names minor characters and adds some adjective and adverbial phrases without changing stories.
The big bonus of this edition appears on the inside front and back covers, where the endpapers show a map of the setting's known world. Well worth the fee my local library charged me for inter-library loan!
The three novels in this omnibus edition,
Bloodstone,
Dark Crusade, and
Darkness Weaves
all exist in stand-alone editions. Read their reviews elsewhere.
The version of Darkness Weaves in this edition has the "corrected text," which as far as I can tell names minor characters and adds some adjective and adverbial phrases without changing stories.
The big bonus of this edition appears on the inside front and back covers, where the endpapers show a map of the setting's known world. Well worth the fee my local library charged me for inter-library loan!
October 31, 2014
Sword & Sorcery and Dark fantasy are my favorite genre, and I am a fan of Robert E. Howard. I have often heard, that Karl Edward Wagner's character Kane, is on par with Howard's Conan, so the Kane chronicles have always been on my reading list. My first exposure to Karl Edward Wagner's Kane Chronicles, was a short story called "Undertow". Amazed at how good it is, I purchased Gods in Darkness, and Midnight Sun.
Gods in Darkness, is s collection of 3 novels about Kane. Once I started reading this book, I found myself completely absorbed in the stories. The character of Kane is intriguing, and I also like Wagner's concept for Kane, where he took a break from the tradition of fantasy fiction, by writing stories where the protagonist is actually a formidable, super villain. Readers will cheer for Kane, at the same time chilled by the evil and the violent natures resided in him.
Out of the three novels, my favorite was Darkness Weaves, followed by The Dark Crusade, then Bloodstone. All 3 novels are great, and I will definitely re-read this book again in the future. One thing I noticed, is that Kane is definitely not a Conan clone, but a mesmerizing character of its own created by Wagner.
If you like Robert E. Howard, Dark Fantasy and Sword and Sorcery. Then I am pretty sure you will like Kane as well.
Highly recommended!
Gods in Darkness, is s collection of 3 novels about Kane. Once I started reading this book, I found myself completely absorbed in the stories. The character of Kane is intriguing, and I also like Wagner's concept for Kane, where he took a break from the tradition of fantasy fiction, by writing stories where the protagonist is actually a formidable, super villain. Readers will cheer for Kane, at the same time chilled by the evil and the violent natures resided in him.
Out of the three novels, my favorite was Darkness Weaves, followed by The Dark Crusade, then Bloodstone. All 3 novels are great, and I will definitely re-read this book again in the future. One thing I noticed, is that Kane is definitely not a Conan clone, but a mesmerizing character of its own created by Wagner.
If you like Robert E. Howard, Dark Fantasy and Sword and Sorcery. Then I am pretty sure you will like Kane as well.
Highly recommended!
July 25, 2008
Contains Bloodstone, Dark Crusade, and Darkness Weaves. I've commented individually on those books elsewhere in my list.
April 24, 2024
O jejku, ale to było dobre...
Dawno nie czytałem takiego dobrego, mrocznego, pisanego w starym stylu fantasy.
Do tego dochodzi przepiękne wydanie. Wydawnictwo Vesper robi rewelacyjna robotę z swoimi książkami. Dobry papier, świetna okładka, śliczne grafiki oraz dodatki składają się na piękne wydanie.
Sam Kane też przypadł mi do gustu. Taki o solidny antybohater. Aż chętnie bym sięgnął po pozostałe tomy,ale tylko od tego wydawnictwa,a za tym trochę poczekamy.
Dawno nie czytałem takiego dobrego, mrocznego, pisanego w starym stylu fantasy.
Do tego dochodzi przepiękne wydanie. Wydawnictwo Vesper robi rewelacyjna robotę z swoimi książkami. Dobry papier, świetna okładka, śliczne grafiki oraz dodatki składają się na piękne wydanie.
Sam Kane też przypadł mi do gustu. Taki o solidny antybohater. Aż chętnie bym sięgnął po pozostałe tomy,ale tylko od tego wydawnictwa,a za tym trochę poczekamy.
February 21, 2025
Długo się zbierałem do Kane'a. Na zbiorek składają się 4 opowiadania w tym jedno prawie 300 stronicowe. Kane jako antybohater jest fenomenalną postacią. Czuć, że to szaleniec, różni się od śmiertelników bagażem doświadczeń i sposobem myślenia. Trup ściele się gęsto i akcja idzie do przodu. Na końcu książki jest spora garść informacji nt. świata i regionów. Czekam na kolejne historie!!! Teraz czas na Conana... ?!
June 9, 2024
4,5
Bardzo dobra rzecz, nie czuć tego upływu czasu, a zarówno postać jak i styl w jakim te historie są napisane bardziej mi przypadły do gustu niż Conan. Czekam na kolejne wydanie zbiorcze, bo to naprawdę mnie wciągnęło.
Bardzo dobra rzecz, nie czuć tego upływu czasu, a zarówno postać jak i styl w jakim te historie są napisane bardziej mi przypadły do gustu niż Conan. Czekam na kolejne wydanie zbiorcze, bo to naprawdę mnie wciągnęło.
May 4, 2024
Powrót do przeszłości :)
August 26, 2010
If you like anti-heroes and the idea of gothic horror swords & sorcery appeals to you, then I cannot recommend this collection more. These novels are among my absolute favorites. Get them. Read them. Be amazed.
September 28, 2014
I love Wagner's short stories, but I just don't feel he ever mastered the novel. They feel like short stories that are being drawn out to fill more pages.
December 5, 2021
This is a review of the entire series!
Kane is a brutal, scarlet-maned barbarian that defied fate by murdering the god that created him. He’s an immortal bastard doomed to wander a bleak apocalyptic world full of criminals, demons and horrifying elder gods. Death stalks him everywhere he goes and he never knows a moment of peace. Armed with twin blades, forbidden sorcery and the dark heart of a mad warrior, Kane conquers and destroys anything that dares to stand in the way of him getting whatever he desires.
If Conan the Barbarian had an edgy goth big brother, his name would be Kane. Kane shares the hotblooded spirit, the lust for danger and conquest, the unparalleled skill for battle as Conan, but he kicks it up a few notches by being extremely intelligent, unlawful, immortal, cruel and possesses a knack for evil sorceries which Conan would definitely not be a fan of. The world he lives in also feels like a much more scary and bloody version of Hyboria. It’s pure gothic horror and lovecraftian nightmare territory. Fans of Dark Souls will feel right at home.
While the action, adventure and world is filled with tons of gritty fun, it manages to be quite creative and original compared to many other sword and sorcery series that begin to feel repetitive after running for too long. Kane constantly keeps things fresh by branching out into areas of exploration such as entire stories dedicated to discussing advanced literature, art, philosophy, history, race, religion, politics, nature, society, human morality and many other topics that stand out from the brutal cutthroat action sequences, bloodthirsty demons and chaotic sorcery the genre is typically known for. This gives the characters more depth and creates a melancholy yet immersive atmosphere that many other sword and sorcery books don’t often capture.
Every Kane tale is a stand-alone story and Kane himself transcends time which means you can read the series in any order you wish without feeling lost or uninformed. The series is a great blend of bloody awesome action, dark humor, philosophical musings and Moorcockian wizardry.
***
If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
Kane is a brutal, scarlet-maned barbarian that defied fate by murdering the god that created him. He’s an immortal bastard doomed to wander a bleak apocalyptic world full of criminals, demons and horrifying elder gods. Death stalks him everywhere he goes and he never knows a moment of peace. Armed with twin blades, forbidden sorcery and the dark heart of a mad warrior, Kane conquers and destroys anything that dares to stand in the way of him getting whatever he desires.
If Conan the Barbarian had an edgy goth big brother, his name would be Kane. Kane shares the hotblooded spirit, the lust for danger and conquest, the unparalleled skill for battle as Conan, but he kicks it up a few notches by being extremely intelligent, unlawful, immortal, cruel and possesses a knack for evil sorceries which Conan would definitely not be a fan of. The world he lives in also feels like a much more scary and bloody version of Hyboria. It’s pure gothic horror and lovecraftian nightmare territory. Fans of Dark Souls will feel right at home.
While the action, adventure and world is filled with tons of gritty fun, it manages to be quite creative and original compared to many other sword and sorcery series that begin to feel repetitive after running for too long. Kane constantly keeps things fresh by branching out into areas of exploration such as entire stories dedicated to discussing advanced literature, art, philosophy, history, race, religion, politics, nature, society, human morality and many other topics that stand out from the brutal cutthroat action sequences, bloodthirsty demons and chaotic sorcery the genre is typically known for. This gives the characters more depth and creates a melancholy yet immersive atmosphere that many other sword and sorcery books don’t often capture.
Every Kane tale is a stand-alone story and Kane himself transcends time which means you can read the series in any order you wish without feeling lost or uninformed. The series is a great blend of bloody awesome action, dark humor, philosophical musings and Moorcockian wizardry.
***
If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
June 17, 2024
Czytając o przygodach Kana jego obraz w mojej głowie kreował się jako samotnego mężczyzny - bestii . Ten opis szczególnie urzeczywistnił się po przeczytaniu słów: "Kane wydaje się kimś więcej niż człowiekiem. Jest wyjątkowym połączeniem osoby o niewiarygodnej sile, bezlitosnej odwadze, genialnej inteligencji i złej do szpiku kości. Jego oczy mają w coś krańcowo nieludzkiego, coś zabójczego ''
W książce panuje klimat brutalności. Nie zabrakło tu licznych scen walki, czy knucia intryg. Są to sceny opisane dość barwnie i wciągająco. Pojawił się też moment, w którym krzywdzono kobietę, a bohaterowie próbowali wmówić jej, że to "sprawiedliwości". Czytelnik mógł w takim momencie doznać myśli dotyczących człowieczeństwa. Mam wrażenie, że te magiczne i brutalne stworzenia występującego w lekturze nie były wcale najbardziej w niej przerażające. W końcu sterować chciał nimi człowiek.
Uważam, że w historii nie chodziło tylko o to, by pokazać jakim niezwyciężonym człowiekiem jest Kane. Sądzę, że autor chciał przedstawić bohatera jako samotnego człowieka, a także niejako pokazać nam jego wędrówkę.
Mimo, że powieść nie jest w moim klimacie, to uważam, że to bardzo ciekawy twór literacki.
Wiem, że powieść też nie trafi do większości moich odbiorców, ponieważ najlepiej ta książka spodoba się mężczyznom. Nie dyskryminuje tutaj kobiet, ale obiektywnie wskazuje większą grupę odbiorców.
Książka ma cudowne wydanie, wzbogacone o wiele ilustracji, dlatego idealnie nada się na prezent np. dla taty, dziadka czy brata.
Dodam jeszcze, że na końcu książki znajduje się wytłumaczenie wielu pojęć oraz chronologii książki, co może ułatwić czytanie.
W książce panuje klimat brutalności. Nie zabrakło tu licznych scen walki, czy knucia intryg. Są to sceny opisane dość barwnie i wciągająco. Pojawił się też moment, w którym krzywdzono kobietę, a bohaterowie próbowali wmówić jej, że to "sprawiedliwości". Czytelnik mógł w takim momencie doznać myśli dotyczących człowieczeństwa. Mam wrażenie, że te magiczne i brutalne stworzenia występującego w lekturze nie były wcale najbardziej w niej przerażające. W końcu sterować chciał nimi człowiek.
Uważam, że w historii nie chodziło tylko o to, by pokazać jakim niezwyciężonym człowiekiem jest Kane. Sądzę, że autor chciał przedstawić bohatera jako samotnego człowieka, a także niejako pokazać nam jego wędrówkę.
Mimo, że powieść nie jest w moim klimacie, to uważam, że to bardzo ciekawy twór literacki.
Wiem, że powieść też nie trafi do większości moich odbiorców, ponieważ najlepiej ta książka spodoba się mężczyznom. Nie dyskryminuje tutaj kobiet, ale obiektywnie wskazuje większą grupę odbiorców.
Książka ma cudowne wydanie, wzbogacone o wiele ilustracji, dlatego idealnie nada się na prezent np. dla taty, dziadka czy brata.
Dodam jeszcze, że na końcu książki znajduje się wytłumaczenie wielu pojęć oraz chronologii książki, co może ułatwić czytanie.
January 3, 2025
Razem z Conanem i Wiecznym Wojownikiem to była w młodości moja wielka trójca bohaterów fantasy.
Chciałoby się powiedzieć heroic fantasy ale bądźmy szczerzy - Kane to chyba najbardziej typowy protoplasta antybohatera jakiego spotkałem w literaturze tego typu.
To także postać tragiczna a jego działania to chyba 100% zaprzeczenie tego czym jest heroic fantasy. Z Conanem łączy go chyba tylko podobna budowa zewnętrzna toteż jeżeli spotkacie się z takimi porównaniami to nie są one zbyt adekwatne.
Za to są to opowieści równie klimatyczne i równie sprawnie napisane.
Dzisiaj może już tak nie zaskakuje jak lata temu ale cieszy, że Vesper zdecydował się wydać to w tak pięknym opakowaniu i chyba będzie to wydanie kompletne.
Mam gdzieś te zielone książeczki które kiedyś były wydane i chętnie postawiłbym całość Kane'a w tak pięknym wydaniu w biblioteczce.
Tytułowej mini powieści nie znałem chyba wcześniej i jest ona moim zdaniem dobrym otwarciem i najsłabszą częścią tomu pierwszego... potem jest tylko lepiej... co oznacza, że lecimy tu z poziomu dobry do rewelka :)
Kane kontra mitologiczne stwory, fanatyczni krzyżowcy... czyta się to świetnie...
Krótko rzecz biorąc - dla każdego fana fantasy - w tym przypadku dark fantasy chyba... pozycja obowiązkowa...
Chciałoby się powiedzieć heroic fantasy ale bądźmy szczerzy - Kane to chyba najbardziej typowy protoplasta antybohatera jakiego spotkałem w literaturze tego typu.
To także postać tragiczna a jego działania to chyba 100% zaprzeczenie tego czym jest heroic fantasy. Z Conanem łączy go chyba tylko podobna budowa zewnętrzna toteż jeżeli spotkacie się z takimi porównaniami to nie są one zbyt adekwatne.
Za to są to opowieści równie klimatyczne i równie sprawnie napisane.
Dzisiaj może już tak nie zaskakuje jak lata temu ale cieszy, że Vesper zdecydował się wydać to w tak pięknym opakowaniu i chyba będzie to wydanie kompletne.
Mam gdzieś te zielone książeczki które kiedyś były wydane i chętnie postawiłbym całość Kane'a w tak pięknym wydaniu w biblioteczce.
Tytułowej mini powieści nie znałem chyba wcześniej i jest ona moim zdaniem dobrym otwarciem i najsłabszą częścią tomu pierwszego... potem jest tylko lepiej... co oznacza, że lecimy tu z poziomu dobry do rewelka :)
Kane kontra mitologiczne stwory, fanatyczni krzyżowcy... czyta się to świetnie...
Krótko rzecz biorąc - dla każdego fana fantasy - w tym przypadku dark fantasy chyba... pozycja obowiązkowa...
April 25, 2025
Byłam mega pozytywnie nakręcona na tą książkę, ale się zawiodłam. Jeśli jesteś fanem bitew, walk, spisków w otoczce horroru i nie zwracasz aż tak dużej uwagi na dialogi, bohaterów i ogólny zarys historii, to ci ją polecam.
To nie jest książka dla mnie, a szkoda, bo chciałabym. Gdyby tak tylko dialogi nie były suche i większości nie stanowiły monologów, gdybym tak potrafiła się wczuć w dramat postaci, gdyby tak autor zamiast wkręcić 3 historii w jednej książce, skupił się na pierwszej historii (mega pociągającej i zalążkami na pokochania postaci), to bym dała 5 gwiazdek, ale tak się nie stało. 3 gwiazdki, tylko dlatego że widzę wiedzę i możliwości i czasami mi sie buźka uśmiechnęła.
To nie jest książka dla mnie, a szkoda, bo chciałabym. Gdyby tak tylko dialogi nie były suche i większości nie stanowiły monologów, gdybym tak potrafiła się wczuć w dramat postaci, gdyby tak autor zamiast wkręcić 3 historii w jednej książce, skupił się na pierwszej historii (mega pociągającej i zalążkami na pokochania postaci), to bym dała 5 gwiazdek, ale tak się nie stało. 3 gwiazdki, tylko dlatego że widzę wiedzę i możliwości i czasami mi sie buźka uśmiechnęła.
April 12, 2024
I am a bit in two minds about this one. On the one hand, on a very simple, readerly level I enjoyed it. It is set of a classicaly, decently written stories with a good amount of tension. And although this is not classical fantasy and Wagner likes to turn the tables on genre rules, it still feels from a past era. It feels like watching a good action movie from the 80s - you have fun but at the end it's not a game changer. Kane was one but from a historical point of view and from this perspective there is a lot to read into.
Oh, a half star can be added if you like lovecraftian themes.
Oh, a half star can be added if you like lovecraftian themes.
June 7, 2024
Wszystko, co najlepsze w pulpowej fantastyce: wilkołaki, wampiry, ghule, Cthulu, piękne kobiety i Conan yyy… to znaczy Kane w głównej roli. Najbardziej podobało mi się opowiadanie z tym pierwszym, taki kryminał z klimatem tajemnicy.
Muszę się jednak przyczepić do tłumaczenia / korekty, bo jest tutaj garść literówek i innych błędów. Niektóre zdania musiałem czytać kilka razy, żeby załapać o co chodzi, bo np. szyk zdania był nieprawidłowy. Nie wiem, czy to kalka z angielskiego, czy co, ale bardzo wybijało z lektury.
Muszę się jednak przyczepić do tłumaczenia / korekty, bo jest tutaj garść literówek i innych błędów. Niektóre zdania musiałem czytać kilka razy, żeby załapać o co chodzi, bo np. szyk zdania był nieprawidłowy. Nie wiem, czy to kalka z angielskiego, czy co, ale bardzo wybijało z lektury.
June 17, 2024
Great sword and sorcery adventures from a true master. Kane should be as well known as Elric or Conan, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser and Kane has novels, which most of them don't. A few parts of the final of three disintegrates into purple prose, but even then there's enough treachery and scheming to keep things moving and the tales are always fast-paced and for the most part well-written. Very happy I finally worked my way through the Kane novels (in conjunction with the stories.)
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