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 The Legend of Deathwalker by David Gemmell
reviewed by Helen Ryder
Original appearance: Albedo one issue 10, 1996
When this book was presented to me for review I winced. The Legend of Deathwalker by David Gemmell - 'His triumphant new Legend novel'. With eyes screwed up in 'anticipation' I read the blurb on the back and gave a deep sigh. I enjoy fantasy. I enjoy speculative fantasy. I enjoy speculative fantasy with a different twist. I DO NOT warm to another bloody Nordic saga populated by dragons, elves, drow elves, and the ubiquitous orc. Too many fantasy books remind me of very slow and boring D&D games. So after some weeks of leaving the book in work so I couldn't read it at home; leaving the book at home so I couldn't read it on my breaks and plain just 'forgetting it was there', I finally started it.
Rats. I liked it. Don't ask me how, but I was hooked. Maybe it was the start. A frightened kid who thought he would be a hero , but who found that he saw his friends die in a horrible manner in a futile siege. The night before the main onslaught the aged legendary fighter, Druss the Waylander comes to sit beside him to jaw the night away, telling his story of the Gothir God-King and the Eyes of Achnazzar.
The story then slips back to a much younger Druss who has arrived in Gothir to compete in a series of athletic 'games'.On the other side of the city a Nadir warrior known as Talisman begins a quest to search for the Uniter who will bring together the squabbling Nadir tribes to free his people from the oppression of the Gothir. Druss' and Talisman's paths cross when Talisman initially aids Druss in a street fight engineered to prevent Druss from fighting in the games. Later the two will search independently for the Eyes of Achnazzar, jewels of remarkable power lost by the Nadir warrior Oshikai many centuries before; one will need them as a symbol of unity and power for his people, the other for their healing properties.
As with many fantasy books there is often a convoluted drawing together of questing parties but here it is handled skilfully and with good characterisation of both the good guys and the villains. Druss cones across as a gentle giant who 'falls into' situations because of his innate sense of rightness and justice Gemmell provides insights into his character with well-drawn flashbacks or reminiscences from other adventures/books, obviating the need to have read those novels before this one. Talisman is drawn as a deep thinker. trained at a military college with his compatriots by the Gothir so that they would ostensibly form a core of 'loyal' warriors to continue the subjugation of their own people. Talisman graduates with honours but returns to his people to take up his quest.
Once started it did not take long to finish this book, not for any lack of depth but because I needed to know the ending! It is a rollicking, well-paced yarn (heck, I even read the fight scenes, normally the part where my eyes glaze and slide over the offending paragraphs/sequences/chapters) and has caused me to give the Druss series a second chance when I have the opportunity to return to the book shelves.
 David Gemmell's Legend by Stan Nicholls and Fangorn
Graphic Novel
reviewed by Underview
Original appearance: Albedo one issue 4, Spring 1994
In 1988 a new fantasy and SF imprint appeared from Century on the shelves of our book shops, named after one of the most successful books in the genre. The name of the imprint, and the book, was LEGEND. Random House's fantasy and sf line is still published under the Legend imprint and the group's entry into the field of graphic novels is, aptly enough, DAVID GEMMELL'S LEGEND (LEGEND, UKŁ9.99, 95pp).
The graphic novel, adapted by Stan Nicholls and illustrated by Fangorn, is a beautiful presentation. As I have never read the original novel I cannot comment on the quality of the adaptation but taken on its own merits I found the tale of Druss the Legend highly entertaining and recommend it to anyone who doesn't think a tenner is steep for what is, in effect, a glossy comic.
The story centres around an attack by a barbarian horde upon the last defensible outpost of the disintegrating Drenai empire. Dros Delnoch is a six walled citadel spanning a pass which must be breached to give the barbarians entry to the empire, which will then be largely undefended. Although the citadel has never been over-run, the odds are vastly in favour of the invaders.
On the face of things the fall of Dros Delnoch and thereby the Drenai empire seems to be a formality. But there is one man whose reputation alone may inspire the defenders to victory: Druss the Legend. But it has been fifteen years since the battle which created the legend and Druss is sixty years old. Will there be enough strength in his ageing limbs to wield his mighty battle axe? Can one man indeed turn the odds in favour of the defenders of Dros Delnoch?
It is this set-up which is the strength of LEGEND, which makes it a classic story of heroism beyond duty and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. There is also a love story to help colour the background, though here there is little room for it to develop as there is for the entire back story and the motivation of the minor characters. But any carping seems unimportant compared to the overall feel of the piece, which is superbly illustrated by Fangorn (the pseudonym of emerging British artist Chris Baker).
In fact the artwork deserves special mention as it seems to have captured so perfectly the atmosphere of the fading Drenai Empire and the hopelessness of the position into which the defenders have willingly placed themselves. For a work of high fantasy his style could hardly be better suited.
Wolf in Shadow by Stan Nicholls and Fangorn
Graphic Novel
reviewed by Underview
Original appearance: Albedo one issue ??, date?
Another recent graphic novelisation to hit the bookshops is David Gemmell's WOLF IN SHADOW. Adapted by Stan Nicholls and illustrated by Fangorn, this is the second graphic offering from Legend and also the second from Gemmell. From the same team as LEGEND, the Graphic Novel, this is not quite as satisfying overall as its illustrious predecessor. Perhaps that is only natural. Perhaps anything of Gemmell's will pale in comparison to Legend. However, it seems to me that even Fangorn's illustrations, which perfectly suited the style requirements of Legend, fail to hit the mark (or its very centre at least) on this occasion.
WOLF IN SHADOW is the story of Jon Shannow, also known as The Jerusalem Man, in honour of his quest for the city of that name. Set in a post holocaust world this novel takes a slice from Shannow's life, presenting him as something of a legend yet failing to fully explain how he attained this status. That death follows him, visiting those who stand against him or whose opinions fail to match his own, appears to be the sole reason for his fame (or infamy). Apart from being a killer he is also a man of high moral standards and righteousness. His quest has definite religious significance and the story seems to have originally written form a strong Christian viewpoint, but it never attempts to make any telling points or put forward any meaningful arguments in support of Shannow's position. We are expected to accept that Shannow is right because his quest is righteous (?).
If the above paragraph seems to you (as it does to me) to be woolly and confused then it adequately conveys my own feelings on WOLF IN SHADOW. Somehow it leaves one vaguely dissatisfied. If this was a chocolate bar it would be AERO. Like AERO it is tasty and attractive but at the end of the day its substance is dominated by holes and there's nothing in the holes. It's a pity; I was so looking forward to this following LEGEND. I think I'll go back and read that one again.
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