David Gemmell was born in London, England, in the summer of 1948. Expelled from school at sixteen, he became a bouncer by night, working nightclubs in Soho. Born with a silver tongue, Gemmell rarely needed to bounce customers, relying on his gift of gab to talk his way out of trouble. This talent eventually led to a job as freelancer for the London Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, and Daily Express. His first novel, Legend, was published in 1984 and has remained in print ever since. He became a full-time writer in 1986. His books consistently top the London Times bestseller list.
“SOLID, ENTERTAINING FANTASY SET IN A METICULOUSLY CRAFTED WORLD
CREATED BY A MASTER STORYTELLER.”
–SFX magazine
“[RAVENHEART] could nestle cozily next to Sir Walter Scott’s Rob
Roy or The Lady of the Lake. . . . [It] will thrill Gemmell’s
current fans and bring more readers into his fold with this tale of
heroes and villains who are larger than life, yet still painfully
human.”
–Starlog
British author Gemmell's books are international best sellers, and Legend, his first novel of the Rigante, has been in print since its publication in 1984. Here, the enslaved Rigante look for a daring hero who will be called Ravenheart and who will set them free. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Adult/High School-Kaelin Ring (Ravenheart) is growing up in a society torn by hatred. The proud Rigante are subjugated by the equally proud Varlish, and neither group sees much of value in the other. A series of atrocities, graphically but not gratuitously described, sharpen Kaelin Ring's hatred. He kills two Varlish soldiers who are about to escape justice for raping a young Varlish woman who dared to associate with him. The scenario will be familiar enough to anyone who sees the news reports of ethnic strife around the globe. In Gemmell's hands, the tale evolves into something more complex, and members of each group slowly recognize the nobility present in members of the other, and come to terms with some of their own weaknesses. Kaelin's awkward relationship with a young woman he desires, Chara Jace, adds to the cauldron of emotions. Gemmell gives readers heroes with deep flaws and antagonists with surprising moments of virtue, as well as a few entertainingly black-hearted villains. The frequently bloody action is interspersed with epiphanies about the value of human life, and Kaelin's experiences are balanced with those of a Varlish boy, Gaise Macon, aka Stormrider. (A sequel to Ravenheart, Stormrider is due out in February, 2002.) This fast-moving book will appeal to fans of action and adventure. The book uses material from The Sword in the Storm and Midnight Falcon (both Ballantine, 2001) for background, but since those books were set 800 years earlier, this one doesn't seem at all like a sequel.-Paul Brink, Fairfax County Public Library System, VA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
"SOLID, ENTERTAINING FANTASY SET IN A METICULOUSLY CRAFTED WORLD
CREATED BY A MASTER STORYTELLER."
-SFX magazine
"[RAVENHEART] could nestle cozily next to Sir Walter Scott's
Rob Roy or The Lady of the Lake. . . . [It] will
thrill Gemmell's current fans and bring more readers into his fold
with this tale of heroes and villains who are larger than life, yet
still painfully human."
-Starlog
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
