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Books of Swords #2
The Second Book of Swords
Vintage paperback
313 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
72 people are currently reading
1029 people want to read
About the author
Fred Saberhagen
335 books497 followersFred Saberhagen was an American science fiction and fantasy author most famous for his ''Beserker'' and Dracula stories.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
October 29, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It's like a heist movie but in an epic fantasy setting, and it's quite a refreshing change from all the newer fantasy novels that seem to follow the same basic formulaic plot.
The second book picks up the story five years later, and we get to follow Mark, Ben, and Barbara once again. I loved how Saberhagen doesn't waste time filling us in with too many details of whatever the hell the group has been up to over the past five years because honestly, who gives a shit? Ben was a recruit with the Blue Temple, Mark was part of Sir Andrew's army, and Barbara traveled with a circus. That's all I needed to know.
The group has some lofty goals: Mark wants to get more Swords for Sir Andrew to help him in his war against the Dark King and Silver Queen, Ben wants to go find enough treasure to settle down and marry Barbara, and Barbara seems to have no problems with Ben's plan.
Ben comes up with the crazy idea to rob the Blue Temple, whose worshippers revere all things material. These people literally worship money and wealth and the temple's Inner Circle is believed to have a fabulous treasure hoard of gold, precious stones, and priceless artifacts which they've been greedily collecting for almost a millennia.
With that plan in mind, Ben and Mark providentially meet Baron Doon who has the Wayfinder, the Sword of Wisdom. This Sword points its bearer to whatever their heart desires, and Baron Doon wants to find the Blue Temple's treasure hoard. To pull off the heist, Wayfinder makes the Baron gather an amusing motley crew that includes a beastmaster, two wizards, two mercenaries, a princess, and of course, Ben and Mark.
The group has a delightful adventure with lots of twists and turns that kept me turning pages like my life bloody depended on it. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a different kind of fantasy novel to read!
The second book picks up the story five years later, and we get to follow Mark, Ben, and Barbara once again. I loved how Saberhagen doesn't waste time filling us in with too many details of whatever the hell the group has been up to over the past five years because honestly, who gives a shit? Ben was a recruit with the Blue Temple, Mark was part of Sir Andrew's army, and Barbara traveled with a circus. That's all I needed to know.
The group has some lofty goals: Mark wants to get more Swords for Sir Andrew to help him in his war against the Dark King and Silver Queen, Ben wants to go find enough treasure to settle down and marry Barbara, and Barbara seems to have no problems with Ben's plan.
Ben comes up with the crazy idea to rob the Blue Temple, whose worshippers revere all things material. These people literally worship money and wealth and the temple's Inner Circle is believed to have a fabulous treasure hoard of gold, precious stones, and priceless artifacts which they've been greedily collecting for almost a millennia.
With that plan in mind, Ben and Mark providentially meet Baron Doon who has the Wayfinder, the Sword of Wisdom. This Sword points its bearer to whatever their heart desires, and Baron Doon wants to find the Blue Temple's treasure hoard. To pull off the heist, Wayfinder makes the Baron gather an amusing motley crew that includes a beastmaster, two wizards, two mercenaries, a princess, and of course, Ben and Mark.
The group has a delightful adventure with lots of twists and turns that kept me turning pages like my life bloody depended on it. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a different kind of fantasy novel to read!
December 31, 2024
Nu kan niemand mij betichten van valsspelen voor volgend jaar. Beginnen met een schone lei.
Leuk boek, maar een demoon weg laten jagen door een maagdelijke prinses is wel echt heel erg jaren '80
Leuk boek, maar een demoon weg laten jagen door een maagdelijke prinses is wel echt heel erg jaren '80
May 13, 2023
Like its predecessor, this book is so so fun! It follows more of a heist story structure than the first one, which is along the lines of a coming of age fantasy (which I do tend to prefer). This book still has a compelling plot though, and I found it super entertaining.
However, I’m left a bit disappointed with the character work upon finishing: if I thought, reading the first book, that the representation of women in this book couldn’t get worse, Oh boy was I wrong. Don’t even get me started on Ariane…anyways, hoping the third book fixes these issues lol (a girl can dream).
Also, what happened to Nestor?? Did I miss something?? I wish we would have gotten more context bridging the gap between book 1 and 2, because the narrative felt disjointed at times. Kinda missed him and Drafutt and Sir Andrews,,, which I strangely care about.
But anywho, this book has massive flaws, I love it, cant wait to continue onwards with this series!
However, I’m left a bit disappointed with the character work upon finishing: if I thought, reading the first book, that the representation of women in this book couldn’t get worse, Oh boy was I wrong. Don’t even get me started on Ariane…anyways, hoping the third book fixes these issues lol (a girl can dream).
Also, what happened to Nestor?? Did I miss something?? I wish we would have gotten more context bridging the gap between book 1 and 2, because the narrative felt disjointed at times. Kinda missed him and Drafutt and Sir Andrews,,, which I strangely care about.
But anywho, this book has massive flaws, I love it, cant wait to continue onwards with this series!
May 30, 2019
Eh, fairly standard fantasy fare. Passing this book on to a new home.
July 4, 2018
The Second Book suffers a bit from middle-book-of-a-trilogy-syndrome. We have our heroes acting in a way not exactly in character, but instead moving the plot along. We get the big reveal (no spoilers) towards the end, and more swords are introduced. Still, a fun heist story.
February 8, 2013
What a disappointing read. Mind you, it isn't horrible, it's just so bad compared to the first book. Actually it can't be compared to the first in any significant way because this should have been called "The Book Between The Second Book of Swords".
It is almost bereft of any aspects that I could have defined as making The First Book of Swords engaging. Together with the fact that I had trouble pointing to what was significant in that volume and you see my problem.
The book is all about the journey to steal gold. Sure there is some justification that more swords will be there but it's all just a big con. The constant switching of swords that was the first book culminates in the second. It's a bit too much. Almost as if the scenarios and dialogues are there just to facilitate some feasible connection with one sword or another. Whichever one it may be will soon be in another hand, so what difference does it make.
Mark the protagonist from the first book barely scrapes by with a personality that may as well be paint on a wall. Ben, another old character picks up some dimensionality only to totally lose it. This guy wants one thing so bad yet as soon as something else comes along he totally forgets it.
Above all there is just a total lack of background here. This is a slapped together adventure without consequence. All the other characters are disposable, unlikeable and yet just as benign as the two main ones.
Maybe if someone had told the author, that his characters, should have character I might have felt better about this. Unfortunately, they don't and the only real thing that was a draw in the first book is jarringly lacking here. The total lack of interesting swords, two stupid "gods" and an ending that was more lackluster than the first book. It's the potential that's there which makes me hope that the final book will redeem this tale. Right now, I am not confident in that being so but I can hope.
It is almost bereft of any aspects that I could have defined as making The First Book of Swords engaging. Together with the fact that I had trouble pointing to what was significant in that volume and you see my problem.
The book is all about the journey to steal gold. Sure there is some justification that more swords will be there but it's all just a big con. The constant switching of swords that was the first book culminates in the second. It's a bit too much. Almost as if the scenarios and dialogues are there just to facilitate some feasible connection with one sword or another. Whichever one it may be will soon be in another hand, so what difference does it make.
Mark the protagonist from the first book barely scrapes by with a personality that may as well be paint on a wall. Ben, another old character picks up some dimensionality only to totally lose it. This guy wants one thing so bad yet as soon as something else comes along he totally forgets it.
Above all there is just a total lack of background here. This is a slapped together adventure without consequence. All the other characters are disposable, unlikeable and yet just as benign as the two main ones.
Maybe if someone had told the author, that his characters, should have character I might have felt better about this. Unfortunately, they don't and the only real thing that was a draw in the first book is jarringly lacking here. The total lack of interesting swords, two stupid "gods" and an ending that was more lackluster than the first book. It's the potential that's there which makes me hope that the final book will redeem this tale. Right now, I am not confident in that being so but I can hope.
September 12, 2016
So I never read a dungeon crawl before.
Certainly not what I was expecting -- not from something written in 1984 (I thought fantasy authors were better than that) -- but it's the best way to describe it. It's straight out of Dungeons & Dragons. The main characters start by going to a town. They meet some supporting cast who are on their way to a quest. There's negotiations and debates and arbitrary motivations. One of the characters drops out and is never seen again, like she stopped coming to the meetings. And then they break into this vault guarded by a dragon, and descend one floor at a time to get the priceless treasure, ending with a confrontation with a hell-demon and a god. That's the whole book. And it's not really thrilling. Just a paint-by-numbers.
You'd think the second book of a trilogy would focus more on bridging the first book and the second. Nope -- here we're just getting more swords. Adventuring in a hole while exploring nooks and crannies, occasionally losing redshirts. There isn't any greater sense of what's at stake. No new character development. No changes to the world. In fact, it seemed the whole purpose was to warp the characters closer to collecting all the swords (although who knows what happens when they do that). If this is supposed to be the "defining moment" for the character, it's not a very explicit one. Everyone's still bland, and worse, there is zero female presence. It's no wonder I stopped reading here years ago.
Certainly not what I was expecting -- not from something written in 1984 (I thought fantasy authors were better than that) -- but it's the best way to describe it. It's straight out of Dungeons & Dragons. The main characters start by going to a town. They meet some supporting cast who are on their way to a quest. There's negotiations and debates and arbitrary motivations. One of the characters drops out and is never seen again, like she stopped coming to the meetings. And then they break into this vault guarded by a dragon, and descend one floor at a time to get the priceless treasure, ending with a confrontation with a hell-demon and a god. That's the whole book. And it's not really thrilling. Just a paint-by-numbers.
You'd think the second book of a trilogy would focus more on bridging the first book and the second. Nope -- here we're just getting more swords. Adventuring in a hole while exploring nooks and crannies, occasionally losing redshirts. There isn't any greater sense of what's at stake. No new character development. No changes to the world. In fact, it seemed the whole purpose was to warp the characters closer to collecting all the swords (although who knows what happens when they do that). If this is supposed to be the "defining moment" for the character, it's not a very explicit one. Everyone's still bland, and worse, there is zero female presence. It's no wonder I stopped reading here years ago.
November 15, 2016
As a child, I was enthralled by Fred Saberhagen's Books of the Gods series. I branched out and bought this series a long time ago and read the first book a year or two ago...and was extremely underwhelmed to the point I didn't pick this one up for a long time. Finally, I figured I would give it a shot again.
The first third of the book was awful. I did not remember who anyone was, and forget there being any context clues or hints to help you out for about 120 pages or so. However, as the book went on and the action progressed I began to enjoy it more and really start to hit the stride. I'm hoping the rest of the books in this series carry that momentum.
The first third of the book was awful. I did not remember who anyone was, and forget there being any context clues or hints to help you out for about 120 pages or so. However, as the book went on and the action progressed I began to enjoy it more and really start to hit the stride. I'm hoping the rest of the books in this series carry that momentum.
February 4, 2024
I read somewhere that Saberhagen created this series as a video game, but then when that didn't get made, he wrote it as a series of books. But I think that is wrong. It must have been an RPG (role playing game).
And as an RPG, I could see this really working well. You and your group of friends are questing after the swords and can use them each to complete quests or to acquire more. What does make the series interesting is how the swords work; their strengths and weaknesses.
But as a book, this is pretty terrible. Perhaps if he had found a good writer to take on his idea, he would have a small empire going of games, films, merchandise - all off a strong idea.
Look down all the reviews and everyone agrees, this book is a dungeon crawl. It reads like Saberhagen and his friends played out a campaign and then he wrote it down as a book. I've read a lot of fantasy books, from this era, that read like that - and I'll give Saberhagen at least the credit of creating his own world for this to occur in. But he still cannot write.
The protagonists are passive for most of the plot of the book. The antagonists are idiots who let them keep their weapons even when they are captured. Characters leave and then randomly show back up as the plot needs. Which really comes down to all of the decisions the author makes. The whole thing is driven by plot convenience. It makes sense, as a dungeon master, to give your players ways out of every situation. But it makes no sense for anyone standing in their way to be so considerate.
The only reason that I gave this book a star more than the first in the series is that the final confrontation is pretty cool.
And as an RPG, I could see this really working well. You and your group of friends are questing after the swords and can use them each to complete quests or to acquire more. What does make the series interesting is how the swords work; their strengths and weaknesses.
But as a book, this is pretty terrible. Perhaps if he had found a good writer to take on his idea, he would have a small empire going of games, films, merchandise - all off a strong idea.
Look down all the reviews and everyone agrees, this book is a dungeon crawl. It reads like Saberhagen and his friends played out a campaign and then he wrote it down as a book. I've read a lot of fantasy books, from this era, that read like that - and I'll give Saberhagen at least the credit of creating his own world for this to occur in. But he still cannot write.
The protagonists are passive for most of the plot of the book. The antagonists are idiots who let them keep their weapons even when they are captured. Characters leave and then randomly show back up as the plot needs. Which really comes down to all of the decisions the author makes. The whole thing is driven by plot convenience. It makes sense, as a dungeon master, to give your players ways out of every situation. But it makes no sense for anyone standing in their way to be so considerate.
The only reason that I gave this book a star more than the first in the series is that the final confrontation is pretty cool.
May 10, 2020
Saberhagen's second installment absorbed me just as much as the first. This picks up the narrative five years after the first book ends, and most of the world now seems to know about the twelve swords. This book follows our protagonists, along with some new characters, on an epic quest that is essentially a treasure hunt. The author begins to introduce some deeper metaphysical comparisons in the second book than he did the in the first, and the quest is a good mechanism by which to do this. I think what bemused me a bit was that I done the math and made some assumptions going in: twelve swords and three books, four swords introduced in the first book, so we should see four in each. And, ultimately we do, but three of the four appear in the final pages, which leads the reader through a lot of build-up through the course of the story.
What we do see, though, is some wizardry and enchantments from the new characters that give us a lot more insight into the world in which the story takes place, which I thought was imaginative and valuable. Although the swords are their own characters, allowing the plot to revolve exclusively around them at the expense of all else would cause the story to fall flat, and that is skillfully avoided here.
There were a couple of plot inconsistencies, but I don't want to leave spoilers in this review. Overall, I'm just as hooked on this trilogy as when I first discovered it years ago, and I'm looking forward to the third book.
What we do see, though, is some wizardry and enchantments from the new characters that give us a lot more insight into the world in which the story takes place, which I thought was imaginative and valuable. Although the swords are their own characters, allowing the plot to revolve exclusively around them at the expense of all else would cause the story to fall flat, and that is skillfully avoided here.
There were a couple of plot inconsistencies, but I don't want to leave spoilers in this review. Overall, I'm just as hooked on this trilogy as when I first discovered it years ago, and I'm looking forward to the third book.
November 19, 2024
My Audible review: I initially read this novel (and the rest of Saberhagen's Swords series) as a teenager in the 1990s and could not get enough of it. I was disappointed when I ran out of books to read in this series. Now, a couple decades later, I'm giving them another read, now that I have a bit more to compare the series to in my memory / library.
With very little additional information, this novel could easily have been the first in the series. The series would benefit from more action / adventure / character development in the first novel a reader experiences. There's far too much world-building in the first novel and not enough focus on the main protagonists. The Second Book Of Swords is a far more enjoyable story. The adventure and perils are exciting. The world building is still happening, but it's not the main purpose behind this novel. All in all, I'd rather read this book then go back to the first one for background later.
Derek Perkins is still a fine narrator. His characters are unique and his voice acting conveys the proper emotions.
I'll rate this one, "I loved these as a kid and now that the adventure is in progress, the series is fun."
With very little additional information, this novel could easily have been the first in the series. The series would benefit from more action / adventure / character development in the first novel a reader experiences. There's far too much world-building in the first novel and not enough focus on the main protagonists. The Second Book Of Swords is a far more enjoyable story. The adventure and perils are exciting. The world building is still happening, but it's not the main purpose behind this novel. All in all, I'd rather read this book then go back to the first one for background later.
Derek Perkins is still a fine narrator. His characters are unique and his voice acting conveys the proper emotions.
I'll rate this one, "I loved these as a kid and now that the adventure is in progress, the series is fun."
March 30, 2021
This was a bit different. The only con was a gapping hole in the plot of getting out of the basement where the worm addicts were and poof at the boat they were. So loss of a store for that. Otherwise a fun to read book And is Ariane really dead or not. Can't be sure about that one. Someone said it was a bit of a heist movie. Eh barely. The swords were more important and apparently they keep trading them. Although killing Hermes is about as ? as Ariane. Got one more book in this omnibus to read, that looks like it's back to the original. This was what 5 yrs from the end of book 1. See how far the next one is..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2025
The First Book of Swords felt much more epic in scope than this book. Not that the story was necessarily wide in scope, but it felt like the story was taking place in a much larger world than this one. The Second Book of Swords takes place in the same world, with several of the same main characters, but it felt much more narrow. The entire book was a taken up with a heist quest that only made a few references to the world.
I enjoy Saberhagen's writing, and the heist quest was well done, it just felt like it didn't live up to the promise of the first book.
I enjoy Saberhagen's writing, and the heist quest was well done, it just felt like it didn't live up to the promise of the first book.
September 30, 2023
I loved the second installment in this series. Ben of Pujurke has enlisted in the Blue Temple guards and he is selected to a secret mission. What follows is unexpected and some of my favorite scenes in all of fantasy. My only gripe is that these books are short. At ~250 pages, I wish they were all 500, so the world could be fleshed out and the stories deepened. "I wanted more" is my favorite type of gripe.
January 30, 2020
I adore this trilogy, mostly because they keep me guessing. This did have a rough patch for me at one point but it cleared up in a couple pages. I like how this world keeps moving forward even with all these outside influences, its realistic. Book of Swords is defiantly in my top five favorite books.
June 25, 2022
It's entertaining, but there's a lot of killing for edginess's sake. Characters get shuffled on, murdered, and dropped.
Story itself is fairly straight forward. It's self contained, but has a few big gaps like peg-holes so it can be hung on the greater plot.
It's fine. It's definitely a three-star book, but it's worth a library rental or a few bucks at the used bookstore.
Story itself is fairly straight forward. It's self contained, but has a few big gaps like peg-holes so it can be hung on the greater plot.
It's fine. It's definitely a three-star book, but it's worth a library rental or a few bucks at the used bookstore.
February 26, 2025
A grand fantasy heist featuring the various magical swords that the series is centered around. Meanwhile, it seems like some interesting things are happening with the gods, but we only get a hint or two in that direction. A fun story overall, but I remain unsure how the third and final volume of this main series will wrap things up in a fulfilling way.
October 8, 2025
A fine story involving a heist on a mystical treasure horde. Good, but a bit shallow feeling in comparison to something like Gene Wolfe’s severian books.
Again, I feel like there’s enough background lore hinted at to remain intriguing, and the books are not long enough to keep me from blazing through them in a few hours.
Again, I feel like there’s enough background lore hinted at to remain intriguing, and the books are not long enough to keep me from blazing through them in a few hours.
January 16, 2026
4/5. Really comfy old school "dungeon crawl" from the early 80s. Definitely feels like this was inspired by early DnD and in turn has been an influence on table tops and modern LitRPG type books. Definitely not the craziest world building or groundbreaking character work, but the OG vibes are unmatched leading to a total cozy fantasy adventure.
July 15, 2018
Fun fantasy story, but the reading order is a bit confusing. I first read the first book in "The Book of Lost Swords" then picked up this one, thinking it was the sequel. It's actually book 2 of the first trilogy. I was a bit confused why suddenly the new story took place in the past.
December 7, 2020
Pacing problems plague this book from the get-go, for example. it takes 80 pages for the author to restore our heroes to... exactly where they were at the end of the last book. Some nice reveals though. On to the next.
December 22, 2020
This felt like a bridge book, I thought that the characterizations were better in the other Swords books I've read. This one felt more like it was done to set up other books than any real intense desire to tell this particular story
July 30, 2021
I liked the middle volume in this trilogy more than the first. The heist/dungeoncrawl plot gives it a tighter flow. It felt more connected with the original Empire of the East trilogy, with demons and old-world technology.
January 30, 2024
Bit of a slow start, and it definitely shows its age with Ariane's introduction and arc, but all that said, I really enjoyed this book. A certain Sword's appearance at the end was excellent. I'm looking forward to the next!
April 6, 2024
Easy read, quite simplistic. I can see why this was recommended to me as a dungeon crawler. It's interesting to see where the genre has evolved from, but I can definitely see how this has influenced more modern books.
May 22, 2024
If you haven't read the previous book(s), then do so, silly. No spoiler warnings for those who read ahead.
Saberhagen, as always, is a fun and easy ride. The Swords books are a fun and easy ride. Enjoy.
Oh, yeah, no spoilers, anyway.
Saberhagen, as always, is a fun and easy ride. The Swords books are a fun and easy ride. Enjoy.
Oh, yeah, no spoilers, anyway.
January 2, 2025
Completely pointless, literally nothing happens, just made up a treasure hunt story to write something and make $$, which is astoundingly lazy considering the amount of plot opportunities opened up by the first book. Hate authors who scam like this and steal your time and money.
December 30, 2017
Good, but somewhat confusing as to who the main character is supposed to be.
February 15, 2019
More of a dungeon crawl and not quite as good as the first book, but I enjoyed it.
March 28, 2019
Book was better than the first the story concludes better.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews