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The Seeking Sword
THE
SPELLBOUND
SCOURGE
George Quinterus was seeking the reason for an outbreak of senseless murders—each one committed with a mysterious, ill-fashioned sword. Buried in the musty pages of ancient books, he found that the primitive weapon had been fashioned eons ago at a time of shamanistic spells and forgotten knowledge.
Had this weapon somehow come down through the ages, its thirst for vengeance never sated? Or was it being used by a mysterious league of thrill-killers, able to control minds at a distance?
In either case, the sword was drawing innocent blood and ruling its possessors with a dark power that only the unfortunate chosen could understand—but never resist. Somehow, Quinterus could not abandon his reckless quest...then he suddenly and inexplicably found himself presented with the sword!
SPELLBOUND
SCOURGE
George Quinterus was seeking the reason for an outbreak of senseless murders—each one committed with a mysterious, ill-fashioned sword. Buried in the musty pages of ancient books, he found that the primitive weapon had been fashioned eons ago at a time of shamanistic spells and forgotten knowledge.
Had this weapon somehow come down through the ages, its thirst for vengeance never sated? Or was it being used by a mysterious league of thrill-killers, able to control minds at a distance?
In either case, the sword was drawing innocent blood and ruling its possessors with a dark power that only the unfortunate chosen could understand—but never resist. Somehow, Quinterus could not abandon his reckless quest...then he suddenly and inexplicably found himself presented with the sword!
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 12, 1977
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 2, 2014
Not my style of writing. A supernatural murder mystery story. but the main character just seems to wander through the plot without doing much. Just couldn't get into it. Not recommended
July 7, 2023
This was an interesting one, a fantasy novel to be sure but not like any I have ever read before. It’s a supernatural murder mystery of sorts, a story of three people seeking and then deciding what to do with what looks like might be an intelligent sword, one hundreds of years old, that forces people who own it to kill seemingly random people, with the killer afterwards convinced they did something correct, even deserving of praise for the murder, though often the murderer and the victim had no relationship whatsoever and the victim was a normal, decent person, certainly not a dangerous criminal deserving of a shocking quick death by sword.
Set between 1968 and 1972, the book has its focus a true crime writer and novelist named George Quinterus, who becomes fascinated with the sword’s bloody history going back to early in 19th century America (and hints that it originates from much longer ago than that), of the random murders, of the random murderers too, of the common things said by the murderers after they were caught (and they pretty much always were eventually), and how the sword had a history of disappearing and then always reappearing again to commit more murders.
In the course of his investigations, George learns about a recent murderer who used the Seeking Sword to commit a murder, a man now committed to an insane asylum. George approaches the man’s lawyer, a man named Joseph Carnett, with both feeling each other out, George afraid Carnett will see him as insane, Carnett wondering if George is insane but might be offering a way to help his client, the two forming an alliance to find and if possible stop the sword. The quest has them (mostly George) crossing the country, though most of the book takes place in Ohio there are parts of the book are set in California and Florida, investigating murders or the history of the sword, and George reading quite a few dusty old rare medieval books to try to discern the origin of the sword and why it was created and if possible, how to stop it. A third person enters the equation, George’s “no strings attached” girlfriend Gloria Barr, never enthusiastic about George’s quest and if George does manage to get the sword, wants George to destroy or bury the sword, not to try to understand how it works or why it kills.
The premise was great, original, refreshing, there is some really deep character development to the point it read like a much more a recent book. The book, published in 1977, has lots of great period detail with social conventions and fashion and the characters talk a good bit about contemporary politics, mainly Richard Nixon and the Vietnam War. When they get the sword later on, the tone of the book changes tremendously but it was quite fascinating at times, as they actually talk at great length with the sword.
The book falls short for me though in that the characters, mainly George and Carnett, spend an awful lot of time talking and speculating about the sword and an awful lot of time is spent with premises about the sword that prove to be false. Though there are a few shocking murders, they are a very small percentage of the book and it is not really action-oriented, mostly lots of research about the sword, talking about what to do with the sword once they get it, then once get the sword, long discussions about how to deal with the sword. The nature of the sword was surprising, I will give the author that, but it was also such it robbed the story of a lot of potential drama and action.
Pacing was ok to actually not bad, though there is a lot of talking and speculating and researching. It was interesting to read passionate discussions of Nixon or the Vietnam War that have not been part of the public consciousness in such a long time, as well as see a world with lot of smoking, lots of drinking, still talking about hippies and free love and being anti-establishment and if at one point at one point Gloria's orange pantsuit. A few elements were maybe not needed, as George spends a fair amount of time thinking about his ex-wife Betsy, not sure why so much of that was in the story, and Carnett and Gloria didn’t see eye to eye on politics, that could have been maybe a bit reduced. It is certainly an interesting book, not like anything else I have read.
Set between 1968 and 1972, the book has its focus a true crime writer and novelist named George Quinterus, who becomes fascinated with the sword’s bloody history going back to early in 19th century America (and hints that it originates from much longer ago than that), of the random murders, of the random murderers too, of the common things said by the murderers after they were caught (and they pretty much always were eventually), and how the sword had a history of disappearing and then always reappearing again to commit more murders.
In the course of his investigations, George learns about a recent murderer who used the Seeking Sword to commit a murder, a man now committed to an insane asylum. George approaches the man’s lawyer, a man named Joseph Carnett, with both feeling each other out, George afraid Carnett will see him as insane, Carnett wondering if George is insane but might be offering a way to help his client, the two forming an alliance to find and if possible stop the sword. The quest has them (mostly George) crossing the country, though most of the book takes place in Ohio there are parts of the book are set in California and Florida, investigating murders or the history of the sword, and George reading quite a few dusty old rare medieval books to try to discern the origin of the sword and why it was created and if possible, how to stop it. A third person enters the equation, George’s “no strings attached” girlfriend Gloria Barr, never enthusiastic about George’s quest and if George does manage to get the sword, wants George to destroy or bury the sword, not to try to understand how it works or why it kills.
The premise was great, original, refreshing, there is some really deep character development to the point it read like a much more a recent book. The book, published in 1977, has lots of great period detail with social conventions and fashion and the characters talk a good bit about contemporary politics, mainly Richard Nixon and the Vietnam War. When they get the sword later on, the tone of the book changes tremendously but it was quite fascinating at times, as they actually talk at great length with the sword.
The book falls short for me though in that the characters, mainly George and Carnett, spend an awful lot of time talking and speculating about the sword and an awful lot of time is spent with premises about the sword that prove to be false. Though there are a few shocking murders, they are a very small percentage of the book and it is not really action-oriented, mostly lots of research about the sword, talking about what to do with the sword once they get it, then once get the sword, long discussions about how to deal with the sword. The nature of the sword was surprising, I will give the author that, but it was also such it robbed the story of a lot of potential drama and action.
Pacing was ok to actually not bad, though there is a lot of talking and speculating and researching. It was interesting to read passionate discussions of Nixon or the Vietnam War that have not been part of the public consciousness in such a long time, as well as see a world with lot of smoking, lots of drinking, still talking about hippies and free love and being anti-establishment and if at one point at one point Gloria's orange pantsuit. A few elements were maybe not needed, as George spends a fair amount of time thinking about his ex-wife Betsy, not sure why so much of that was in the story, and Carnett and Gloria didn’t see eye to eye on politics, that could have been maybe a bit reduced. It is certainly an interesting book, not like anything else I have read.
June 8, 2013
I first read this book about ten years ago, and it has stuck in my mind as one of the most interesting, original fantasy stories I'd read in a long time.
The premise is that an evil presence has been stalking and killing mankind since the dawn of time. And I will admit that does not sound like an original story line, but there are twists and counter plots that make this an unforgetable read.
I think this is a very overlooked fantasy classic.
The premise is that an evil presence has been stalking and killing mankind since the dawn of time. And I will admit that does not sound like an original story line, but there are twists and counter plots that make this an unforgetable read.
I think this is a very overlooked fantasy classic.
June 18, 2017
The story itself isn't bad, and has the potential to be something really interesting. Unfortunately, it spends too much time on the "introduction," as it were and on theories that prove to be completely wrong by the end of the narrative. It could be seen as an interesting relic, but ultimately, save yourself the hassle and don't bother.
February 28, 2015
I picked this book up at a used book store for a buck. The title and description sounded interesting. So I figured I would give it a go. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.
It starts off a bit slow, and you have to wonder at some of the characters decisions along the way, along with some of the character dialog, which can become a bit long winded. I suppose I would classify this book as a murder mystery with a fantasy/science fiction twist thrown in the mix.
It's definitely a three star kind of book, its interesting enough to keep you flipping the pages, but not one I would be rushing to re-read in the future.
It starts off a bit slow, and you have to wonder at some of the characters decisions along the way, along with some of the character dialog, which can become a bit long winded. I suppose I would classify this book as a murder mystery with a fantasy/science fiction twist thrown in the mix.
It's definitely a three star kind of book, its interesting enough to keep you flipping the pages, but not one I would be rushing to re-read in the future.
July 13, 2026
kinda really boring :/
about 4/5 chapters in and still too much blah blah and not enough on the sword
about 4/5 chapters in and still too much blah blah and not enough on the sword
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews