book data
190 ratings,
3.76
average rating, 16 reviews
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published
December 4th 2003
by Gollancz
(first published 1961)
details
Paperback, 160 pages
characters
isbn
0575074981
(isbn13: 9780575074989)
description
A 20th-century fighter is snatched into a world of sword-wielding knights and spell-casting sorcerers. When a bullet creases Holger Carlsen's skull an…more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 304)
All ratings
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5 stars (48)
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4 stars (71)
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3 stars (54)
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2 stars (12)
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1 star (5)
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avg 3.76
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in November, 2009
This was first published as a novella in 1953, and later expanded into a full novel in 1961. It is among the "educational and inspirational reading" listed in the famous Appendix N of Gary Gygax's Dungeon Masters Guide, and the influence it had on Dungeons and Dragons will be obvious. Michael Moorcock also admitted that he cribbed his ideas about an apic struggle between Law and Chaos (rather than Good and Evil) from Anderson's work, so this book is, in a way, an ancestor of the Elr...more
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Read in April, 2009
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!
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Read in September, 2008
recommends it for:
fantasy fans
Very interesting, well-written yarn.
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2 comments
Read in March, 2005
recommends it for:
readers of fantasy
I bought this book because it sounded like something that I might enjoy, being a fan of much fantasy, and I wasn't mistaken. It was a quick, easy read, and it had all the good things that a finely-written fantasy has, and wasn't too long, which, as I have come to expect, is opposite of most fantasy novels nowadays. I enjoyed the read, the mystery to it, and the concept, as well as his writing itself.
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Read in August, 2009
Holger Carlson is an engineer who finds himself thrust into a magical version of medieval Europe. This story has many similarities with other books, esp the Harold Shea stories. An important source for Gary Gygax in creating D&D, this book has a good story, but is not as action-packed, epic, or character-driven as more modern stories.
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Owns a copy
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Read in January, 2010
This is the archetypal heroic fantasy adventure. Holger Carlsen finds himself transported from a WWII battlefield to a 'faerie' realm, where he traditionally is given a task of saving the world, though instead of nazis he is now to fight the forces of chaos, whatever, right? There he must face many terrifying perils involving creatures such as dragons, trolls, werewolves, etc.; and did I mention eager beautiful women?!! Oh woe betide him... Yes, this is a 'not so very' complex yet enchanting fan...more
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Read in August, 2009
A new friend recommended this out of a gaming discussion. Very good! I am beginning to like this sort even more now.
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Apr 27, 2009
Kaley
marked it as to-read
SFBC 50th Anniversery Collection
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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.
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Read in January, 2003
This is one of my favorite books by him. He writes both fantasy & SF, but this one is definitely fantasy. He dusts off some old myths & tosses a modern man into one. Very well done.
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Read in October, 2008
recommended to Daniel by:
theron bretz
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.
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Read in January, 1966
Damn, I loved this book when I was about 12. I don't want to read it again and risk spoiling the memory.
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Read in January, 1972
This one is set in the Charlemagne and his knights myth cycle.
Very good.
Very good.
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