The gathering forces of the Dark Powers threaten the world of man. The legions of Faery, aided by trolls, demons, and the Wild Hunt itself, are poised to overthrow the Realms of Light. Holger Carlsen, a bemused and puzzled twentieth-century man mysteriously snatched out of time, finds himself the key figure in the conflict. Arrayed against him are the dragons, giants, and elfin warriors of the armies of Chaos and the beautiful sorceress Morgan le Fay. On his side are a vague prophecy, a quarrelsome dwarf, and a beautiful woman who can turn herself into a swan, not to mention Papillon, the magnificent battle horse, and a full set of perfectly fitting armor, both of which were waiting for him when he entered the magical realm. The shield bears three hearts and three lions—the only clue to Holger Carlsen’s true identity. Could Carlsen really be a legendary hero, the only man who can save the world?
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"Read on my nook. I'm a huge fan of modern, gritty fantasy (Abercrombie is my favorite author, after all), but sometimes you just want an ADVENTURE. That's what this book is... one big, crazy, fun adventure. It really is an overlooked classic of fantasy that should be right up there with Lord of the Rings on any fantasy fan's reading list." — Cody (5 out of 5 stars)
"Read on my nook. I'm a huge fan of modern, gritty fantasy (Abercrombie is my favorite author, after all), but sometimes you just want an ADVENTURE. That's what this book is... one big, crazy, fun adventure. It really is an overlooked classic of fantasy that should be right up there with Lord of the Rings on any fantasy fan's reading list."
“Count it a dream—a fantasy—a parable. In the hands of a T. H. White it might have turned into a Once And Future King. With Poul Anderson as mentor, it becomes something of a reverse side of the science fiction shield with more than a cloak of mystery.”
" Classic moving to a different world in the John Carter style - good read "
" very well written, captivating fairy tale. "
" For a fantasty book, it wasn't bad... "
" A rather identical precursor to "Magic Kingdom for Sale - Sold" by Terry Brooks, this was written some 40 years earlier and is a comfortable and easy read, lowering my IQ by a mere handful of points. "
" Poul Anderson tells a wondrous tale of war and magic and heroism in this 50's classic. His style is so literate that it's hard to compare him with anybody writing today. I enjoyed it, even though it's really a man's story. "
" Lackluster and uninspiring plot, great writing. "
" An essential read for all those of a chivalric mind! Galadin the Paladin is who he is because of this book. "
" I don't think there's much to say about this book, except maybe that it truly is a fantasy masterwork. "
" Loved this classic fantasy that had great characters and a thrilling plot with no excess filler. Listened to the audio version read by Bronson Pichnot who really threw himself into all the different accents and dialects. "
" A new friend recommended this out of a gaming discussion. Very good! I am beginning to like this sort even more now. "
" Anderson is a past master of blending science and magic in the conflict between the old and the new and good and evil. This short book abounds with likable characters, creatures from norse mythology and a plot cleverly extrapolated from the legends of King Arthur and Charlemagne. "
" Damn, I loved this book when I was about 12. I don't want to read it again and risk spoiling the memory. "
" The writing is brisk and fun, but there is no focus. The desires of the antagonists are vague and confusing, and the ending is a total let down. "
" A quick, fun read. A little dated, and I wasn't a big fan of the framing sequence, but the middle is pretty much gold. "
" So far, it's a fun read "
" I've had this book for years and I never get tired of it. I think I've read it 5-6 times and every time I take something different away. Always in my top 10! "
" It was okay, but the archaic language put me off a bit. "
" A classic of the genre. "
Poul Anderson (1926–2001) was one of the most prolific and popular writers in science fiction. He won the Hugo Award seven times and the Nebula Award three times, as well as many other awards, including the Grand Master Award of the Science Fiction Writers of America for a lifetime of distinguished achievement. With a degree in physics and a wide knowledge of other fields of science, he was noted for building stories on a solid foundation of real science, as well as for being one of the most skilled creators of fast-paced adventure stories. He was author of over one hundred novels and story collections, several hundred short stories, and several mysteries and nonfiction books.
Bronson Pinchot, Audible’s Narrator of the Year for 2010, has won Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Awards, AudioFile Earphones Awards, Audible’s Book of the Year Award, and Audie Awards for several audiobooks, including Matterhorn, Wise Blood, Occupied City, and The Learners. A magna cum laude graduate of Yale, he is an Emmy- and People’s Choice-nominated veteran of movies, television, and Broadway and West End shows. His performance of Malvolio in Twelfth Night was named the highlight of the entire two-year Kennedy Center Shakespeare Festival by the Washington Post. He attended the acting programs at Shakespeare & Company and Circle-in-the-Square, logged in well over 200 episodes of television, starred or costarred in a bouquet of films, plays, musicals, and Shakespeare on Broadway and in London, and developed a passion for Greek revival architecture.
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