Wagner Books

I have to admit that I was once afraid of Wagner. For years, I listened to Italian and French opera and loved much of it. However, I just stayed away from Wagner. Recently, I heard Mr. Berger being interviewed about Wagner on NPR. I was immediately taken by his humor, his vast knowledge of the composer's life and his work. So, based on that interview and the reviews on this website, I purchased this book. I can actually say that I no longer fear Wagner. I bought my very first Wagner operas - the entire Ring cycle - and I have enjoyed them more that I could ever imagined. And I can thank Mr. Berger for that. His book on Wagner is easy to read and makes listening to the operas an absolute pleasure. So, have no fear, get this book! Although I already love Verdi and Puccini, I have already ordered Mr. Berger's books on those two great Italian opera composers. Well done, Mr. Berger!

A very reader-friendly review of Wagner's life and then a serious concentration on all of his operas.

this book is a poor reccomendation for those who appreciate wagner's music.

This is an excellent book for someone like me - a total novice to Wagner and his music. I have always enjoyed Wagner's music and was desperately looking for some introductory material to his works. What I wanted was something that was not too simplistic and not too academic. Well, this is it.

The book contains a brief section on biography followed by a great introduction to each of Wagner's operas. I read each of the opera introductions at least twice and then watch the opera on DVD (The Met's version by Levine). What a treat!

I do understand how some of the more scholarly amongst us find this work shallow and demeaning. But friends, for someone like myself, who does not read music; and has no formal training in music, books such as these are a good first start. And who knows - this book may introduce some yet unknown kid to the joys of opera.

Excellent work. Thank you.

I am a young music student and I checked this book out to introduce myself to Wagner's operas. I think this book is fantastic. I also think it is a bit unfair that people nag the book for not being academic enough, for trivializing the meaning of the opers, etc. etc. It seems to me the book only attempts to be an INTRODUCTION to Wagner's operas, and in that sense, he does a great job. The list of reccommending reading tells me that this is meant only as a welcome mat and a vast amount of more serious literature awaits anyone who wishes to dive further into the subject. It is the same sort of Scholarly Elitism you get from people who condemn this book that keeps the classics away from my generation and keeps it in the concert hall for a concert going audience that will soon be gone. Unless people quit condemning this sort of literature which makes these great dramas accessible to new listeners, you can kiss Wagner goodbye in 20 years. Maybe less.

Oh, and Wagner was not just an anarchist, blah blah...he was a horrible anti-semite...more so than the "common sentiment of his day". I saw Gottfried Wagner give a lecture and I think he threw a number out that said Wagner wrote over 1800 pages of anti-semetic sentiments. That seems a bit more than a common sentiment. "All Jews should be burned at a performance of Nathan the Wise." - Richard Wagner.

-- Kyle M. Terrizzi --

This movie went a bit too slow for me, but overall, it was a good film. Made me cry a couple times when soem horrific things happened to the horse. But it was genuinely a well written story and Begley, Jr. is always a solid actor. The man is one of the greats of his era, as his Oscar winning father was a great in his. Tab Hunter did a great job with a small part. But his greatest film is: Track of the Cat.

Wonderful family movie, heartwarming and endearing. A++++

Great movie. espeially for horse lovers.I really like how everything worked out at the end and Allison got Jet!

Good movie especially for teens. The only parts I didn't like were the goofy "romantic" scenes between Ed Begley and Mimi Rogers...they had absolutely no on-screen chemistry. The interaction between the girl and the horse is great. Worthwhile.

I first saw the last 1/4 on Animal Planet on cable about a year ago. It stunned me and amazed me at the same time. I hunted high and low for a copy to no avail. I emailed Animal Planet and found out that it would be on again on President' s Day. The stupid VCR didn't work! I finally found a place that could order me a copy and it arrived today. I watched it all the way through. Amazing. A great family story if I've ever seen one. Buy this movie, you'll be SO glad you did!

This book is pure pleasure--it is a pleasure to read about some of the most neglected talents, i.e., Ann Dvorak, Jean Hagen, Mercedes McCambridge, as well as some who have rated more print like Claire Trevor and Gloria Grahame--two of the best noir ladies of the movies. Ida Lupino, Ann Sheridan and Lucille Ball were all top stars of the forties and fifties, but not that much has been written about Sheridan and Lupino. All of the stories were well written and some were most revealing.

May I suggest to these two writers that they maybe think about a second volumn. Many terrific ladies were left out. Beautiful Lizabeth Scott has had so little written about her--she was a top tomato, as well as the other sensational noir lady, Audrey Totter. She was a tough cookie in so many great forties and fifties films.

To add to the list there are June Havoc, Jan Sterling, Glenda Farrell, Marie MacDonald, Jane Greer, Alexis Smith, Vivian Blaine and not to be forgotten--Iris Adrian and Veda Ann Borg (two of the best of the character ladies), Yvonne DeCarlo, the gorgeous sand and sea lady who also tangled with the likes of Burt Lancaster, Clark Gable, Howard Duff among others--and the two most beautiful tomatoes Gene Tierney and Ava Gardner. Tierney was tops in Leave Her To Heaven, gorgeous as Laura, and wonderous in The Razors Edge. She was sexy and smokey in Shanghai Gesture and the list goes on.

Ava Gardner was a real killer tomato opposite Burt Lancaster in The Killers. They sizzled!! She sizzled in almost every film she made after that torrid forties movie.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a good ride getting into the lives of a number of very appealing ladies who all made their mark in films (and TV). And we can only hope that maybe someday there will be a sequel!!

This is an excellent book on the tough women character actors of the 1940s through 1970s. It's an interesting book to read and the illustrations are good, but I don't see paying $35 for a paperback book like this. I would not do that again, although I understand that small publishing companies have to make a profit.

There seems to be a lot of differing opinions here but I have to agree with the all the reviewers below who said it was boring and not worth the price. It is a flimsy paperback with poor quality photos. I know McFarland is a tiny publishing house but when you spend almost $40 you expect a little more.

A quick and enjoyable read, this book provides brief essays on 15 actresses who enjoyed varying degrees of success and fame in Hollywood. The authors' affection for their subjects comes through clearly, and readers will be tempted to seek out the movies described.

In the style of James Robert Parish, this volume provides interesting essays on 15 stars. A few, like Barbara Stanwyck, have been subjects of other volumes but others like Ann Dvorak and Marie Windsor are much rarer subjects.

Each essay combines details of each star's career with their personal life in reasonable detail for the level at which the volume is pitched. The personality of every lady is evident. There are some great photos too. Some of the ladies were still alive when the volume was published so the book benefits from direct quotes whenever possible. The gem is the transcript of a lengthy interview with Ann Sheridan.

Of its type, this book is as good as any others.

This book is a real gem for beginners, it gives lots of great tips without the egotistical mumbo jumbo.

This book is mainly for beginners, and offers a good introduction into investing.

This the type of book that benefits one early in one's trading process and merits re-reads after more experience. While there is very little from the technical point of view, the practical, "real world" advise rings very clear. People often buy books that are too complicated for their current level of understanding. Accordingly, they acquire more "knowledge" but not more understanding. Confusion can lead to a lot of lost money in trading. Thankfully, this is not such a book. It deserves a permanent place on the traders and investor's bookshelf.

THIS BOOK WAS NOT USEFULL TO ME. IF YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW THE BEGINERS INFORMATION IN THIS BOOK, YOU HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

The worst trading book I ever purchased. The book is full of catch phrases and waffles page after page. Example: more than 100 pages of advice such as:
Don't trade scared (1 full page)
Be patient (1 full page)
Trade like a robot, wothout emotion (1 full page)
Always have a profit goal (1 full page)
etcetera
The book does not show any examples of successfully backtested strategies. Better go for "Trade like a Hedge Fund" from J Altucher.

I am very pleased with my purchase of this book but I did not buy it for the afghans, doilies or clothing as I have many patterns for these things. The book is of course outdated to some degree as it should be for an older publication but there are some really adorable designs in here. I especially liked the halloween projects like the witch and pumpkins and there is a gorgeous "Raggedy Ann" doll draft catcher that hangs on the door knob when not in use. There are also several projects using scraps of fabric strips along with the instructions on using this technique.

If you are looking for fabulous doily, afghan and clothing projects skip this book. Your best bet for clothing are the more recent publications and there are many afghan or doily books out there with a variety of gorgeous designs.

If, on the other hand, you are looking for variety, particularily something different like whimiscal designs, you will find quite a few in here.

something for everyone and most every ocassion in here. I have made several projects out of this one and have not found any mistakes. One of the great things about the patterns are they really are timeless.

I also found this book a little out of date. I thought there was just too much "stuff" in it. I prefer doing doilys, afgans and some home decor things but this but was limited to that due to putting the silly stuff in like the rabbit (pg 111). It was not what I had expected. There was so much in the book there was no room for a variety of diffrent doilys.. you just have the 2 doily or so to choose from and then they move on. Just not my type of book.

This adorable book has inspired me to make a few new things! The rabbit is very cute, there is a masculine scarf, lots of afghans and plenty of other new projects to try. This book has a good variety and is fun to browse through. I think this is a worthwhile addition to any crocheter's collection. I give 4 not 5 stars because the clothing patterns are really not useable except for the cute little girl's farm vest.

This book is wonderful. I took up crochet about 4 months ago and have already made several of these projects. There are several afghans, (my favorite is the victorian elegance), lampshades, doilies, pot holders, bath rugs and other bath ensembles,kitchen essentials, a beautiful 4th of July afghan (which you can see on the cover) and the instructions are written for even the beginning crocheter. A must have for one's crochet library.

I can easily understand why this book was banned for a long time. It is...explicit. But because it was written 2 centuries ago, the descriptions are far from crass and you have to read some sections twice to make sure that what you thought just happened really did happen.

That having been said, I think this book is a classic, and not just a literary "curiosity" for one simple reason: it portrays sex as something good despite the fact that Fanny is clearly repentant of her past ways. I went into this book expecting a tale of woe, but that aspect of it was only weakly attempted. In short: promiscuity is undesirable, but the sexual act itself is not some kind of horrible sin. This is surprising for a book written in that time, and thus breaks certain boundaries which make it worth reading.

This book is fascinating, not merely as an erotic novel (and the historical significance of this book cannot be denied) but also as a glimpse of society and mores of the mid-18th century.

Fanny is an orphaned girl who goes to London to Seek Her Fortune and ends up with a career alternating between prostitution and being a kept woman. Unlike most porn, she's not always happy about her sexual encounters, and there are times when she's heartbroken over a lost love. She's decieved by a woman who claims to be hiring her "as a companion," in a another scene she's exploited by a money-hungry landlord.

As she grows older, though, Fanny becomes more in charge of her sexuality and more open to exploration. We, as readers, also see a glimpse of 18th-century prostitution and the demimonde of kept mistresses (which many wealthy men of the period kept).

Hardly a rollicking farce (there are times when sex has serious consequences) but at times it is humorous. Never crass or vulgar, but nevertheless explicit, this bawdy gem is worth checking out. Fanny is always honest about herself and what she does to survive, and pulls no punches. (I took away a star because, at times, it is difficult going because of the outdated language, but don't let that deter you.)

Maybe it's because I don't think it's particularly newsworthy that people in the 18th century had sex (after all there wouldn't have been people the 19th, 20th, or 21st centuries, otherwise, and lots of the other 18th century novels and quite a few of the poems give the secret away). And I'm not saying, "Don't read Fanny Hill," because it is an interesting read once, as interesting to read as any 18th century tale that's purely about sex would be. But it's not high literary art--while entertaining to read once, it's really little more than a picaresque sex tale, clearly designed for men to read, moving from one incident to another with a "reforming" ending tacked on. The plot setup is totally unrealistic and perfunctory--i mean, would any woman in any century ever write down her sexual activity in such detail to send to another woman to read as memoirs?? As a novel, it pales in comparison to any of the other myriad 18th century works that feature sex as a plot element (e.g., Defoe's Moll Flanders, Fielding's Tom Jones, Matthew Lewis's The Monk, de Laclos' Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and so forth). The difference between those works and this one isn't just the explicitness, it's the fact that in those other works the sex serves a purpose in a larger plot. They may not get into the size of their characters' "machines" but they're simply better, more entertaining books over the long haul. So I'd say check this one out from your public library (it's all right, no one will suspect its contents!) and spend your money to feast on Tom Jones and his late night "conversations" instead.

I have always been rather fond of this work. Not only is it well written, in a Victorian way, but it is a very nice "dirty book" to boot. There is never really anything crass or gross in the book, the author's use of the language sees to that. The story is certainly realistic, there is humor and a certain sadness all at one time. I am old enough to be able to remember when this particular work was not available in the United States. Thank goodness those days are over. We did miss a lot of purely good writing in those days. I am not at all sure if this one is appropriate for a High School Lit. class, but is certainly worth the read and the study for the more mature reader. On the other hand, the work is certainly a lot less graphic than some of the material the kids have ready access at any time. All in all I have to recommend this one. It is interesting and certainly gives us a good lesson in writing.

...Even if it seems like it isn't, it really is. Let's face it, the critics and scholars have tried to dignify the reading and "study" of this text to make the dirty pleasure more dignified. THis is almost like the guys who claim to only look at Playboy for the articles, and not the articles of clothing. It's amusing when professors assign this book, usually the new young male ones.;)

I bought this book wanting more of want I got in the first volume of The Crow and all I got was utter disappointment. To make something great you need to spend time with it and none was given to this book. The Crow in this book lacks in so many different areas I dont have enough room to even list them all. The number one lacking area of the Crow is the underdevelopment of his relationship to his loved ones, which helps the reader connect with the crow and want the revenge the crow needs to find peace. In the first Crow book the memories of the love fueled the fire of anger and revenge for Eric, but for Joshua, the new Crow, has none except for the actual killing of his family which happens over a century ago. Oh and have I mentioned the actwork in the book is sub-par in comparision to that of James O'bara. Thank god the third volume has a better story line, more development, but not enough, and the artwork is increasingly improved, but by the same artist. I must say that if I had never read the first volume then this book probably would have scored higher in points with me.

on the back, it says that this book was originally written as a treatment for the sequel...so what the **ll happened?

What is most impressive about this, and the other three sets of comics about the Crow that Kitchen Sink Press published (just before closing down their comics department) is that they truly explore the Crow mythos in a way City of Angels never did. Each comic explores and expands a different area.

In Dead Time Joshua, a native american farmer, is killed, but he doesn't return straight away. In fact, it is 100 years later when he bursts out of the ground. He hunts down the killers who, reincarnated, nevertheless start again on their life of crime. He gives them a chance to repent, and they do not.

Now the question to ask is this - had they not been evil men, just stupid, and had returned, led a different life, been good citizens and all of that, would Joshua have come back?

O'barr does it again. This book has it all- beautiful art and poetry (not to mention the storyline). If you loved the original crow, you'll love this. Nuff said.

Well,I am a die hard crow fan.I watch the show ,saw the movie , and read this graphic novel. I think that the story line is great (I am emersed in the story line of anything crow related),However , if you saw the movie , this is great graphic novel for the reason that it has the cool crow story line working for it , but o'barr puts it in new words.Fantastic.A must have for all crow fans.

If you want a taste of how informative this book is, just read the book excerpt on the left. The writing style of the authors is fast-paced and extremely readable. There is a ton of information included in the book, including an entire chapter on the psychology of trading. If you even have a remote interest in after hours trading, you will not be disappointed.

Authors, keep up the good work!

I never quite understood what people meant by "leveling the playing field." After reading this book, I now know. It is very exciting to know how the averge person can have access to the stock market in much the same way as institutional investors. Also, I didn't understand what ECNs were and how they worked, but now I do. This book is a great overview of the stock market--where it's been, where it could be going, and the role after hours trading will play. I found the trading strategies discussed in the book valuable, too.

I read this book over the 3 day weekend and I thought it was extremely helpful and a smooth read.This book gives the ins and outs of the after hours market and gets to the bottom line with every paragraph. The interviews with the two top traders and the strategies were most helpful to me, although I am an experienced trader.The sections on picking an online broker and one minute strategies are best for beginners.All in all, a superb book taht I have recommended to my all my friends on the exchange.It is the first and perhaps only book on after hours trading.

The discounted price of this book reflects its content. For $15 it is worth the read but not much more.

One problem this book has is that it repeats information across chapters. If this repetition was removed, the size probably would be reduced by 50 pages, if not more. A sizeable amount of historical information takes up many pages. Some of it is interesting, and some of it isn't. You will have to decide for yourself. My feeling is that the author should have replaced a portion of it with screen captures related to other things, rather than write a lot of filler.

A second problem is that much of the information is dated. All authors of trading and investing encounter this same problem. The book was written when a year ago there was a raging bull market. Since the market correction (really, a crash) earlier this year, volume has declined during regular hours and after hours. This lack of liquidity in the current bear market makes it more difficult to trade after hours.

Lastly, as an actual trader, I can tell you that no beginner should be trying to trade in the after hours market. It is ironic that many newcomers want to trade after hours because of their full time job commitment.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, but with reservations. I believe anyone who intends to be successful at trading should read as much as possible. New traders should buy it, be entertained, and learn a few new things about this specialized area of trading.

A must read for the active online trader. After-hours trading volumes continue to surge and this book shows you where to get your information and how to use it. Well done and highly recommended. I have been a broker for 15 years and it is the best book I've read so far.

Drake and Wagner add several twists on the theme of a race against time as the heroes try to hunt down an alien monster in late first century Rome.

Not that the heroes know their quarry has escaped from a spaceship - the alien merchants who have lost the monster, and are using the heroes to track it down, have disguised themselves as humans when they recruited local trackers to find it. They've told the heroes of the book that they're after a rare and very dangerous escaped ape.

To provide the heroes with additional motivation, the aliens have also set up a situation where the humans have to catch the killer quickly, or the Emperor Domitian will send them to the arena.

But the reader knows that our heroes have even less time than they realise - if they don't stop the monster before it can reproduce, mankind is in serious danger.

This book rather like a version of the film "Species" set in Rome in about 90 AD, though from the description and the cover illustration the monster is not nearly as nice to look at as Natasha Henstridge.

Since we know humanity didn't get wiped out nineteen centuries ago, I couldn't get too frightened about the possibility that the good guys would lose, but I was curious to see how they would overcome the almost insuperable obstacles the authors throw in their way.

Some nice use of irony and humour in the book, and amusing poetic justice in how several of the bad guys get their comeuppance. You are left wondering who is the real "Killer" of the title - the alien monster, the supposedly civilised aliens, or Emperor Domitian. When I read the last line of the book, the answer which I found myself thinking was to tell the speaker "Look in a mirror."

The characters and the description of ancient Rome are adequate rather than brilliant but the story is well told and anyone who likes "hunt the monster" stories is likely to enjoy the book

This was such an interesting tale in the beginning. It was a fantasy-based story that reminded me of the movie Predator but set in the Roman era.

I don't know which author started this novel, but he was by far the better writer because, by the middle half, it started to drag and bore me. I could actually feel the steam of the story run out. What a shame...

Great idea that could have panned out for a much better ending.

Part history lesson, part absolutely believable science fiction, all thriller.

To put this book in movie terms, imagine a big game hunter from Ancient Rome encountering both an Alien and a Predator at the same time. The hunter should have a short messy end, right? Guess again. The ending will stay with you for a long time.

The arena of Emperor Domitian is always hungry for a new bloodsport, so when an unheard-of strangely-scaled and vaguely simian animal appears in the wake of a fiery explosion, the enterprising men who capture it think it will be no more than a new toy for their Roman "lord and god." But the "lizard-ape" as they call it has other ideas. Displaying intelligence and ferocity beyond anything its would-be captors have seen before, the creature escapes. Can gladiator-turned-beastcatcher Lycon track down this new game in time, or will the streets of Rome run red with blood?

A collaboration of renowned science fiction and fantasy authors Karl Edward Wagner and David Drake, "Killer" is a fast-paced mix of military history, unfettered action, and doomsday thriller. For the lizard-ape is in fact a particularly diabolic alien, one which if not brought to earth before it's too late will contaminate the whole world with its evil progeny, a contagion for which the only cure is thermonuclear fire.

A fast, potent read enlivened with likeable protagonists and villains you love to hate and realistic non-stop action, "Killer" is a light and engaging white-knuckler that for those who like sci-fi, fantasy or thrillers, is great literary excitement.

_Predator_ meets _Gladiator_ would be a good way to describe this science-fiction actioner set in Rome during the reign of the decadent Domitian (81-97 C.E.). A relentless, feral, and cunning alien beast lands on Earth and finds its way to Rome where it wreaks havoc and prepares to release its brood. Beastcatcher Lycon, Armenian animal dealer Vonones, and an alien hunter disguised as an Egyptian pursue the "sauropithecus" through the maze of ancient Rome.

The emphasis on Iron Age weaponry and armor indicates Karl Edward Wagner's presence (the guy knew his armor and weapons!), while the quick and sometimes choppy action passages display David Drake's style. _Killer_ moves rapidly and sometimes cleverly, but the writing style turns confusing in the more furious passages. The finale also abandons the development of Lycon's character, who should have been portrayed as more tragic and driven. The premise is the most outstanding element of this decently entertaining thriller.

It doesn't get much better than this...

Wagner's horror writing was in some ways superior, but his 'Kane' fantasy series was simply an outstanding contribution to the genre. Gritty, grim, & bloody with Lovecraft-like overtones, it will appeal to modern readers of George R.R. Martin and the like. If you like this, you will LOVE his 'Kane' short stories collected in 'The Midnight Sun'.

As a long-time Wagner/Kane fan, these stories are excellent. I must say that I enjoyed his short stories much more. if you are afraid of spending the $$ on the complete novels, get the short stories compendium. You will not be disappointed!

The three Kane books in my opinion are some of the best old style sc-fi/fantasy/horror written. It is not a Robert Jordon that sends you to sleep, it is that old fashion - torch under a blanket/can't put it down fantasy. I have read the three as separate novels and each one is awesome. Rather than some of the previous reviewers, I don't think that Bloodstone is a weaker novel - it is better seen as a faster, rollicking read not as layered or dark as the other novels.

I love the "Who won this war, that killed so many" attitude that Kane invaringly answers "I did" - "but why", "because I lived and they died.". It is so refreshing to see what is called an anti-hero, but is probably more acurately called a realist in todays terms. Not quite an opportunist, as Kane will often sacrifice self needs for cold or hot revenge or dark justice. To me this is how more of our heros should be written - all of the care but for darker reasons :-)

If you have not read these novels please do yourself a favour and do so. For Conan, Deathstalker, Corwin of Amber fans I belive you will be the richer. For Robert Jordon, Stephan Donaldson and those who want to read 1000 pages before the hero gets the fortitude to leave his town and love it - steer clear.

What I'm Reading: GODS IN DARKNESS - Karl Edward Wagner

When Karl Edward Wagner began writing his Kane stories in 1970 he inherited the legacy of the barbarian hero from Robert E. Howard. Howard had almost single-handedly created sword-and-sorcery with his works, but Wagner - in creating his character of Kane - not only went back to the roots which had been planted by Conan and Kull (as so many other pale imitators had done), but also infused those roots with the rich traditions of fantasy and horror which had blossomed in the forty years since Howard had died.

Kane is one part Elric, one part Conan, but a creation all his own. His tales inherit the purity of Howard's barbarism, but also reach back into Howard's own influences to crank up the elements of Lovecraftian horror. You can feel the influences of Moorcock, Leiber, Moore, and Tolkien bubbling beneath the surface.

To this rich tradition, Wagner brought his own natural talent for the fantastical and the horrific, telling his stories with a brutal, beautiful prose.

GODS IN DARKNESS, from Night Shade Books, is a collection of all three of Karl Edward Wagner's Kane novels: BLOODSTONE, DARK CRUSADE, and DARKNESS WEAVES. It has a sister volume, THE MIDNIGHT SUN, which collects all of the Kane short stories.

BLOODSTONE
Unfortunately, the first novel in this collection is almost certainly the weakest. Perhaps the most persistent and grating problem here is Wagner's infatuation with the thesaurus, coupled with an inordinate amount of obvious pleasure taken in finding the most obscure terms possible. The intention appears to an evocation of Lovecraftian prose, but the effect which Lovecraft so expertly crafts is rendered impotent through the sheer tenacity with which Wagner pursues it.

The plot, while strong in many regards, is conveyed in an episodic fashion - with many events relegated off-stage with description or narration. The effect, in later works, is to keep the action focused on the primary cast of characters - seeing their place and their reactions within a large world. In BLOODSTONE, however, the effect is disjointed and further weakened by the fact that most of the characters (with the exception of Kane himself) have strong taints of the cliché about them.

Coming to BLOODSTONE I had heard that Wagner was something of a hidden gem in the sword-and-sorcery genre: A writer whose talents compared favorably to Howard, Leiber, and Moorcock - but whose career had been cut tragically short by an early death. Reading BLOODSTONE, I was disappointed to discover an author of only mediocre skill.

DARK CRUSADE
Fortunately, the second novel in the collection is DARK CRUSADE, which should be on the reading list for any fan of sword-and-sorcery.

I don't know if BLOODSTONE was just an early work which took its time getting into print, if Wagner was simply rushed or off his rhythm while writing it, or if Wagner had a major breakthrough between '75 and '76: Whatever the case may be, everything which was only nascent mediocrity in BLOODSTONE comes together in DARK CRUSADE to craft a top notch novel.

One of the interesting things to note about Kane is that, unlike his fellow heroes-in-arms, Kane frequently finds himself on the wrong side of a conflict. Conan finds a crown when he joins a just rebellion against a tyrannical king. Kane seeks empire, and frequently allies himself with any power which becomes convenient or available. He believes that he can overcome whatever flaws or corruption exist within the power base he takes advantage of, but finds - time and time again - that the flaws and corruption are inherent to the power. As a result, Kane often finds himself in a role which would be villainous if it were not for his own nature as an anti-hero: Often he destroys his own dreams in an attempt to purify them of a tarnish which cannot be removed.

It is this dark depth of contradiction and tragic flaw - a wisdom and strength coupled with folly and weakness - which makes the character of Kane so infinitely fascinating. Like all of the great sword-and-sorcery tales, it is not the plot of pulp adventure which makes the stories of Kane a compelling read: It is the careful drawing of their larger-than-life protagonist.

DARKNESS WEAVES
The third novel in GODS IN DARKNESS is on the same playing field as the second. If anything, DARKNESS WEAVES represents an improvement over the craft and skill which went into the telling of DARK CRUSADE. Notably, a more complex cast of characters is invested with more detail, drawn in more depth, and (as a result) given greater significance.

Ultimately, none of these novels impressed me with the quality of Howard's THE HOUR OF THE DRAGON or Leiber's "Lean Times in Lankhmar". But DARK CRUSADE and DARKNESS WEAVES are both classics - and if I want to see more of the war in DARK CRUSADE and more of the twin romances in DARKNESS WEAVES, that's only a testament to the strength of what's already on the page.

If you're considering buying the expensive and out-of-print hardcover, Gods In Darkness, which collects the three Kane novels, my recommendation is don't waste your money. Buy the enjoyable Dark Crusade and, if you're feeling a bit masochistic, the problematic but still serviceable Darkness Weaves. You can get them separately as the original paperbacks (I've reviewed them both on Amazon). While I have not read Bloodstone (the only other Kane novel), the reviews seem to be very much against it. If you buy the used paperbacks, you'll save money and these novels have been way overhyped... I agree that the fantasy genre needs more books about villains and anti-heros as the main character, but Karl Edward Wagner's Kane novels just don't do it for me (although Dark Crusade comes very, very close -- my only complaint about it being Kane's character does not become interesting until 2/3 of the way through). If you want to read a truly flawless, gritty fantasy novel by Wagner, try The Road Of Kings. That's easily the finest Conan pastiche ever written and puts even the best of the Kane novels to shame!