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The First Book of Swords
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins
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Publisher's summary
For a game, the gods have given the world 12 Swords of Power so that they might be amused as the nations battle for their possession. But Vulcan the Smith has had his own little joke: the Swords can kill the gods themselves. What started out as Divine Jest has become all too serious as the gods fight to recover the Swords, and mortals discover that the mantle of power is more delicious and more terrible than anything they could have imagined.
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Centuries ago, the murder of a beloved king tore apart the Kingdom of Caledun. The land was plunged into chaos and thousands perished. A new order was established in an attempt to return Caledun to its former glory. It failed, but in its place rose the beginnings of the Code. During this same period, the mystical caretakers of the Great Wood retreated from the world of Kal Maran, their disappearance an ominous harbinger of the suffering that was to follow. The Great Wood now grows out of control. Cities, towns, and villages have fallen before the relentless march of the forest.
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Quite Impressed
- By Maclane on 07-27-20
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The Last Swordsman
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- By: Benjamin Corman
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Nikolis’ parents are dead - murdered before his eyes. What’s worse, they were traitors to the crown. At least that’s what he hears the village folk saying moments before he is whisked away to the castle of Highkeep. There he finds himself before the aged King Alginor, a man brought to a boil by his very presence.
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This book is horrible
- By Amazon Customer on 09-10-20
By: Benjamin Corman
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Geomancer
- By: Ian Irvine
- Narrated by: Grant Cartwright
- Length: 23 hrs and 48 mins
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Two hundred years after the Forbidding was broken, Santhenar is locked in war with the lyrinx - intelligent, winged predators who will do anything to gain their own world. Despite the development of battle clankers and mastery of the crystals that power them, humanity is losing. Tiaan, a lonely crystal worker in a clanker manufactory, is experimenting with an entirely new kind of crystal when she begins to have extraordinary visions.
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About As Satisfying as Coitus Interruptus
- By Craig G. Clark on 07-26-13
By: Ian Irvine
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Child of a Mad God
- The Coven, Book 1
- By: R. A. Salvatore
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 18 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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From R. A. Salvatore, the legendary creator of Drizzt Do'Urden, comes the start of a brand new epic journey. When Aoleyn loses her parents, she is left to fend for herself among a tribe of vicious barbarians. Bound by rigid traditions, she dreams of escaping to the world beyond her mountain home. The only hope for achieving the kind of freedom she searches for is to learn how to wield the mysterious power used by the tribe's coven known as the Song of Usgar. Thankfully, Aoleyn may be the strongest witch to have ever lived, but magic comes at price.
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A lot of nothing happening over a long time
- By steven brachna on 02-08-18
By: R. A. Salvatore
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The Wizard's Mask
- By: Ed Greenwood
- Narrated by: Fleet Cooper
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In the war-torn lands of Molthune and Nirmathas, where rebels fight an endless war of secession against an oppressive military government, the constant fighting can make for strange alliances. Such is the case for the man known only as the Masked, the victim of a magical curse that forces him to hide his face, and an escaped halfling slave woman named Tantaerra.
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A well performed boring story is still boring.
- By Kris on 04-08-16
By: Ed Greenwood
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Rise of the Ranger
- The Echoes Saga, Book 1
- By: Philip C. Quaintrell
- Narrated by: Steven Brand
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Mankind has lorded over the land of Illian for a thousand years, building on the ruins left by the elves, as if it were their birthright. A thousand years is a long time for an immortal race to see the truth of things, a truth that has remained unsaid for a millennium - elves are superior. They are faster, stronger, and connected to the magical realm in a way that man could never grasp. Illian should belong to them.
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Worth it
- By Ali on 03-24-18
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Child of the Flames
- A Sword and Sorcery Saga
- By: D.W. Hawkins
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The Red Swords came with the sunrise and took everything Shawna Llewan held dear. Her family massacred, her home destroyed, she escapes with nothing but her mother’s heirloom and the desire for vengeance. When she’s found by Dormael, a Warlock of the Conclave, she learns that her mother’s keepsake - the very reason her family was killed - holds the power to unleash boundless destruction.
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Great start!
- By Gordon on 08-18-19
By: D.W. Hawkins
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Circuit World
- By: Daniel Pierce
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For three years, Rixon Caldwell has been the most lethal gamer online. He is undefeated in international play, and his stream is viewed by millions of avid fans each and every day. When an unsigned email arrives inviting him to beta test the newest, most immersive MMO ever, Circuit World, he discounts the offer out of hand. For him, offers like this one are a daily event. He’s a brand, and charity is not his default setting. When he moves to delete the email, his laptop screen vanishes, replaced with a simple question: Do you accept our challenge?
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they should let you know....
- By Adam Dintelman on 10-07-19
By: Daniel Pierce
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Mage's Blood
- The Moontide Quartet, Book 1
- By: David Hair
- Narrated by: Nick Podehl
- Length: 26 hrs and 6 mins
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Most of the time the Moontide Bridge lies deep below the sea, but every 12 years the tides sink and the bridge is revealed, its gates open for trade. The Magi are hell-bent on ruling this new world, and for the last two Moontides they have led armies across the bridge on "crusades of conquest". Now, the third Moontide is almost here, and this time the people of the East are ready for a fight... but it is three seemingly ordinary people that will decide the fate of the world.
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Nick Podehl
- By Logan on 01-05-15
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The Complete Chronicles of Corin An Fol
- Legends of Ansu
- By: J.W. Webb
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Six volumes together in one collection! Follow the adventures of Corin an Fol as he avenges his family, learns the way of the sword, and battles evil across the world of Ansu. Includes: Gray Wolf, Legends of the Longsword, Wolves and Assassins, The Shattered Crown, The Lost Prince, and The Glass Throne.
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Deep, Celtic, Epic Fantasy
- By Armour Bearer on 04-19-21
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Unfettered
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You define life or it defines you. In Shawn Speakman’s case, it was both. Lacking health insurance and diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2011, Shawn quickly accrued a massive medical debt that he did not have the ability to pay. That’s when New York Times best-selling author Terry Brooks offered to donate a short story that Shawn could sell to help alleviate those bills—and suggested he ask the same of his other writer friends. Unfettered is the result: An anthology built in order to relieve that debt, featuring short stories by some of the best fantasy writers in the genre.
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A TRULY BAD COLLECTION OF DOGS
- By Randall on 12-21-18
By: Terry Brooks, and others
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What listeners say about The First Book of Swords
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Mike Naka
- 03-04-13
had me from the prologue
Any additional comments?
wow. michael's review hit it out of the park! i downloaded it based on his enthusiastic comments.
good introductory book. the god, vulcan, recruits some local humans to help him forge 12 magical swords. each sword has a different magical ability. only george, a local blacksmith, survives, and vulcan gives him the sword, townsaver, for his loss of an arm. george's 2nd son, mark, is born under mysterious circumstances. a tragedy lands townsaver in mark's hands, and he must flee those who desire it.
the first book introduces us to 4 of the swords and some of the people who crave them. the swords are fickle and seem loyal to no one. for instance, townsaver will take control of the bearer and cause him to fight w/o stopping until the threat is no more w/o regard to the bearer's condition. after fighting, some bearers collapse from exhaustion or die from the wounds they received while in beserker mode- all offense.
i liked the unpredictability of the swords learning when they'd work and when they wouldn't. i didn't expect swords switching hands so quickly and easily. it actually adds to the drama. just when you want one person to have a certain sword, the author throws a curveball and may take away a sword or replace it with a different sword.
there's a believable amount of cruelty in the story- what people would do for swords, how far they'd go to attain a sword. there's cruelty on the gods' part for creating a game where people and kingdoms clash for possession and cruelty among people who will go to any length and sink to any level to possess a sword.
the story is fast-paced, and a good opening shot as the first kingdoms go to war over the possession of a sword. the different battle scenes are well-paced and fun to listen to. there's no fluff to lengthen the story, and it will keep your attention. i'd say the length is perfect for what is told.
the characters grow on you, and you find yourself rooting for some and wishing bad things on others.
my only disappointment is that this is the only book in the series available on audile. i'll definitely pick up the others as they become available.
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- Kenneth
- 02-17-14
I really enjoyable fresh take fantasy
What made the experience of listening to The First Book of Swords the most enjoyable?
It wasn't an overly complex story but a good one. The idea of Roman/Greek gods was very interesting and even more compelling once i heard about the prequel series. The idea of the swords them self is very cool and reminiscent of the old Greek myths which i loved.
What other book might you compare The First Book of Swords to and why?
I feel like it had a very classic feel. Drawing more from ancient myths then Tolkien or other fantasy godfathers.
Which character – as performed by Derek Perkins – was your favorite?
I thought the narration was quite good in general. Variety in characters without being over the top.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The big climax near the end.
Any additional comments?
A really enjoyable start to a series. I have since read the others and felt things dropped off a bit...but this novel was a great introduction to an interesting world.
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- Wayne Mills
- 06-14-22
good start to a bigger story
I enjoyed the beginning of this series. the performance by Perkins was very good as usual. I would reccomend this story to anyone who enjoys sword and sorcery fantasy.
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- Kwailah
- 07-06-16
I admit my bias
I loved it as a child. To listen to it 20+ years later I can't believe how much I forgot. What a joy to revisit it. I plan I re"reading" everyone available....please let this series and the next be available...please please please💛💛💛
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- M.Logan
- 08-14-15
Saberhagen delivers a wonderful exciting epic tale
This is young adult fantasy before it was known as such. Every hunger games or harry potter owes much to Saberhagen for setting the bar high. Epic tale involving gods and their penchant for playing with the lives of mortals. Mark's journey from the deaths of famiky members to the meeting of great friends who join him as he plays the game of swords the Gods have laid out is fun and exciting. Saberhagens fantasy world is just a future timeline for our world gone awry and lost in the dusts of time. Genius storytelling.
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- David
- 08-06-16
A listen of an old read.
It was still a great story. The narrator did a good job. Must read in order or you will be lost.
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- Randy
- 05-24-20
Great book.
Enjoyed it thoroughly and will be getting the rest of the series. Very much my kind of story.
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- J.N.
- 03-06-24
Brilliant!
One of my All-Time favorite fantasy book series. 40 years of entertainment. Can't wait to listen to the rest of the series.
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- BubbaPrime
- 12-29-16
Full Series Review: Swords/Lost TL;DR - OK to Skip
I read the first couple of these books when they came out, and remembered liking them, but never finished the whole series, so I started from the beginning again. I could have skipped it. The series is mainly appropriate for a YA audience, though I don't know if that was the intention. The first three books/performances are perfectly fine. The stories are interesting, though the writing is a bit ingenuous, and the narrator is professional and engaging. The rest though, oy vey. Again, the series is mainly G-rated, which I actually prefer. But when Saberhagen makes forays into PG territory, things get sketchy. It's as if he was told "sex sells", and so felt compelled to put some into the stories, even though it's not his thing. The scenes, even when in-line with the narrative, seem oddly placed, and the writing is awkward and stilted; he seems embarrassed to be discussing it. And there are a couple of places where he simply should have left it out altogether.
Then there's the narrator. First, I can't be sure why they chose a female narrator for books where the cast is o.ver.whelmingly male. And as I mentioned in another review, the reading was.. strange. The narrator was given to odd, inappropriate pauses, weird inflections, and bad pronunciation. There were times she inflected sentences that ended up carrying meanings entirely different from what the intent obviously was from the context, even turning the occasional question into a statement and vice versa. She also had a tendency to change the pronunciation of words - regular words and proper names alike - halfway through a narrative, or from book to book, and definitely different from the first narrator, though I realize that's not uncommon. And the woman can not say the word "tentatively". There are other words that came out with weird pronunciations too, but that one stuck with me because it happened a few times (3 syllables vs 4). I'm finishing the series, because that's what you do, but if someone reads this review, I'd say feel free to give it a miss unless you're fifteen...
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-14-20
This was a blast from my past.
A very good telling of one of my favorite books. the story comes alive with this telling.
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