The Swords of Night and Day
I just finished listening to The Swords of Night and Day by David Gemmell. It was wonderful. I don't expect to be moved by swords-and-sorcery fantasy, but Gemmell portrayed his characters so plausibly: the heroes have superhuman abilities but human souls, and most (but not all) of the villains could have been heroes themselves if they had chosen their priorities differently. When it's so easy to be cynical about the nature of humanity, it's good to have something that looks at the best and worst of human nature and assert that humanity as a whole is still worthwhile. When it's so easy to feel hopeless about whether your life has any meaning, it's good to be reassured that while the good we may do in our life may not last forever, it's still worthwhile. And in an age where people are called heroes merely for managing to become wealthy or famous, it's good to have another perspective on heroism. That's how I feel about the two Gemmell books I've read so far (this one and Hero in the Shadows): your mileage may vary.
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sirvalence) wrote,
