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Books : Science Fiction & Fantasy : Authors, A-Z : V : Van Lustbader, Eric
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Eric Van Lustbader leads off his Pearl series by mixing science fiction and fantasy into an exciting adventure with The Ring of Five Dragons. Although much of the book's mythology is standard fantasy fare, Lustbader creates intriguing and conflicted characters and spins a complex world of religion, magic and technology around them.The Ring of Five Dragons tells the tale of the people of Kundala, who have suffered for 101 years under the oppression of the alien invaders, the V'ornn. The Kundalan people are treated as slaves by the technologically superior and Nazi-like V'ornn, who seek to dominate them and deplete the planet's resources. But even the V'ornn have masters.
The Gyrgon are mysterious techno-mages who rule the V'ornn and have their own agenda--they want to find the source of the Kundalans' magic. To discover the secret, they must first find the Ring of Five Dragons, which is said to open the Storehouse. It has been written that untold treasures rest in the Storehouse, perhaps including the sacred Pearl. Now only the prophesied Dar Sala-at, who was born at both ends of the cosmos, can save and restore hope to the oppressed Kundalan people.
The Ring of Five Dragons follows the path of many fantasy series, with a prophecy to drive the action and a powerful hero to save the day. However, Lustbader writes rousing action scenes and gives his characters plenty of complex issues to deal with. He nicely switches between the V'ornn intrigue and the struggle of the Dar Sala-at, offering a surprise or two along the way. It is a satisfying read that sets up a good foundation for the rest of the Pearl series including plenty of untied threads to weave together for future adventures. --Kathie Huddleston, Amazon.com
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Eric Van Lustbader leads off his Pearl series by mixing science fiction and fantasy into an exciting adventure with The Ring of Five Dragons. Although much of the book's mythology is standard fantasy fare, Lustbader creates intriguing and conflicted characters and spins a complex world of religion, magic and technology around them.The Ring of Five Dragons tells the tale of the people of Kundala, who have suffered for 101 years under the oppression of the alien invaders, the V'ornn. The Kundalan people are treated as slaves by the technologically superior and Nazi-like V'ornn, who seek to dominate them and deplete the planet's resources. But even the V'ornn have masters.
The Gyrgon are mysterious techno-mages who rule the V'ornn and have their own agenda--they want to find the source of the Kundalans' magic. To discover the secret, they must first find the Ring of Five Dragons, which is said to open the Storehouse. It has been written that untold treasures rest in the Storehouse, perhaps including the sacred Pearl. Now only the prophesied Dar Sala-at, who was born at both ends of the cosmos, can save and restore hope to the oppressed Kundalan people.
The Ring of Five Dragons follows the path of many fantasy series, with a prophecy to drive the action and a powerful hero to save the day. However, Lustbader writes rousing action scenes and gives his characters plenty of complex issues to deal with. He nicely switches between the V'ornn intrigue and the struggle of the Dar Sala-at, offering a surprise or two along the way. It is a satisfying read that sets up a good foundation for the rest of the Pearl series including plenty of untied threads to weave together for future adventures. --Kathie Huddleston, Amazon.com
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Like its predecessor The Ring of Five Dragons, Eric von Lustbader's The Veil of a Thousand Tears is a frustrating mix of stylishly unpleasant imaginings, and overly complicated plots, too many lazy uses of default sf and fantasy material. The previous book gradually revealed that the oppression of the spiritual Kundalan people by the brutal militarist Vo'orm invaders is just the superficial aspect of a broader attempt by demons to move back into the world and overthrow the Goddess who exiled them into nothingness. Specifically, the corruption of the Vo'orm war lord Kurgan turns out to be only the first of a whole series of corruptions and possessions; Lustbader is very good indeed at the nightmare of personalities being expunged and desecrated--the stuffy convent of the first book is gradually turned into an abomination. His protagonist Riane, a male Vo'orm soul implanted in a martyred female Kundalan, gradually grows into the role of messiah; the journeys Lusbader sends Riane on involve some very clichéd Arabian material and some rather arbitary use of magical skills. Fans of Lustbader's dark heroic fantasies and martial arts thrillers will love having more of the same; other readers will find some engaging material here and some not so good.--Roz Kaveney
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Like its predecessor The Ring of Five Dragons, Eric von Lustbader's The Veil of a Thousand Tears is a frustrating mix of stylishly unpleasant imaginings, and overly complicated plots, too many lazy uses of default sf and fantasy material. The previous book gradually revealed that the oppression of the spiritual Kundalan people by the brutal militarist Vo'orm invaders is just the superficial aspect of a broader attempt by demons to move back into the world and overthrow the Goddess who exiled them into nothingness. Specifically, the corruption of the Vo'orm war lord Kurgan turns out to be only the first of a whole series of corruptions and possessions; Lustbader is very good indeed at the nightmare of personalities being expunged and desecrated--the stuffy convent of the first book is gradually turned into an abomination. His protagonist Riane, a male Vo'orm soul implanted in a martyred female Kundalan, gradually grows into the role of messiah; the journeys Lusbader sends Riane on involve some very clichéd Arabian material and some rather arbitary use of magical skills. Fans of Lustbader's dark heroic fantasies and martial arts thrillers will love having more of the same; other readers will find some engaging material here and some not so good.--Roz Kaveney
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