Legends

by Robert Silverberg

Legends

book data

474 ratings, 3.75 average rating, 21 reviews (more data...)

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published

September 15th 1999 (first published 1998) by Tor Books

binding

Paperback, 400 pages

isbn

0812566637 (isbn13: 9780812566635)

description

Acclaimed writer and editor Robert Silverberg gathered 11 of the finest writers in fantasy to contribute to this collection of short novels. Each of t...more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 658)

All ratings | 5 stars (97) | 4 stars (182) | 3 stars (153) | 2 stars (22) | 1 star (3) | avg 3.75

all | this edition

Laura

Laura rated it:

(review of isbn 0765300354)

11/30/08

I love anthologies, and this is one of the defining reasons why. This is a great book, with a series of well-developed novellas by well-known authors in Fantasy and Sci-Fi. The best thing about Legends, to my mind, was that each of the authors chosen has a successful book or series out already, and the novella for this book was based in whatever world that author had already conceived. It was a great way of introducing me not only to previously un-read authors, but also introducing me to intr...more

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Robert Beveridge

Robert rated it:

(review of isbn 0006483941)

01/20/08

bookshelves: finished

Read in May, 2004

Robert Silverberg (ed.), Legends, vol. 2 (Tor, 1998)

This is water in the desert for fans of fantasy series whose books have a tendency to have a long time between releases. Anne McCaffrey (Pern), George R. R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire), and Terry Goodkind (Sword of Truth) all contribute short novels to this volume in the Legends series, and all are well worth your time.

Goodkind's story, "Debt of Bones," leads off the trilogy, and deals with a time when Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander w...more Robert Silverberg (ed.), Legends, vol. 2 (Tor, 1998)

This is water in the desert for fans of fantasy series whose books have a tendency to have a long time between releases. Anne McCaffrey (Pern), George R. R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire), and Terry Goodkind (Sword of Truth) all contribute short novels to this volume in the Legends series, and all are well worth your time.

Goodkind's story, "Debt of Bones," leads off the trilogy, and deals with a time when Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander was much younger than he is in the Sword of Truth novels. Here, he's pitted against Panis Rahl, and must decide whether to put himself, and the fate of the Midlands, in danger in order to fulfill a debt of bones to the daughter of a deceased sorceress. One has come to expect strong storytelling and easy turning of pages from Goodkind, and he does not disappoint here. Martin's story, "The Hedge Knight," follows. Again taking place some time before the events in the Song of Ice and Fire books, "he Hedge Knight" follows the squire of a newly deceased mercenary, who has a desire to make his name in a tournament against some of the biggest names in the business (including a number of Targaryens, who at the time of this story have not yet been banished; in fact, they play a major part in the story, which should be a pleasant surprise to many Ice and Fire fans). Martin's work on this series is always a pleasure, and once again, the is no disappointment to be found here, though one wonders about the loose end to be found.

The biggest surprise of the bunch, to me, was McCaffrey's "Runner of Pern." I've always shied away from the Pern books, for no real reason. This story is a welcome change of pace from the two that precede it; rather than battles, jousting, and the rest, this is a quiet romantic coming-of-age tale that hits just the right spot, like a lemon ice after a boeuf bourguignon. It's convinced me to go back and try the Pern novels, as McCaffrey's style is simple and engaging. Like the others, she keeps the pages turning.

Definitely a worthwhile piece of work. I shouldn't have to sell those who are already enmeshed in the various series covered here, but others will find it a perfect sampling to see if the three titans covered here are to their tastes. I can almost guarantee they will be. **** ...less

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Wendy

Wendy rated it:

03/29/08

Read in January, 2008

I totally enjoyed this book.

Before each story there is a brief introduction that introduces us to the world that the author has written the story about. The only one that I have already read is Stephen King's Dark Tower. I have only read the first few books in the series but that made Stephen King's story my favorite as we travel with Roland on his journey and encounter what we can only describe as a form of vampire.

I have Card's books on my TBR mountain so his story was a nice introdu...more

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Rhonda

Rhonda rated it:

(review of isbn 0312867875)

12/02/08

bookshelves: fantasy

Another collection where I only read a few of the stories within.

Terry Goodkind's Debt of Bones was interesting.
LOVED George R R Martin's The Hedge Knight. Yay for Dunk and Egg!
McCaffrey's Runner of Pern was no real surprise but certainly not a huge disappointment either.

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Dan

Dan rated it:

10/16/08

I bought this years ago in order to read Little Sisters of Eluria, a short story featuring Roland the Gunslinger from the Dark Tower series. It was years later when the story made its way into Everything's Eventual. I've never read the other stories.

The plot of Little Sisters is fairly straightforward. Roland gets injured fighting some mutants and is taken to a convent so his wounds will be treated. Only, there is much more to the convent than meets the eye.

If all you're looking for ...more

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L marked it as to-read (review of isbn 0312867875)

08/19/08

bookshelves: short-story-collections, to-read

This is a anthology of many of my favorite fantasy writers such as Terry Goodkind, Robert Jordan, Tad Williams, and George R.R Martin. I'm reading this one in between other books so that it will stay on my currently reading list for a while.
I have read most of the novels that these short stories pertain to so I read those short stories first. As for the others I hope they will inspire me to read the novels I haven't read yet like the Pern novels.

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Debora

Debora rated it:

(review of isbn 0312867875)

01/31/08

I liked most of the stories in this book. I bought it mainly because of the previously unpublished "prequel" to the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan titled "New Spring". This book led me to books by other authors of the same genre which I truly enjoyed.

A note of caution...the Stephen King story is quite graphic & I would probably remove it from the book if I could without ruining it. I'm sorry, but I am just not a fan of his books.

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Boyd

Boyd rated it:

(review of isbn 0312867875)

04/30/08

bookshelves: fantasy

Read in January, 2000

I originally got this to read the Robert Jordan prequel to The Wheel of Time series. But after reading 'The Hedge Knight' which is probably the best story in the group. I quickly went to the Bookstore and picked up a few George RR Martin books, and I was very glad I did. I also thought 'Debt of Bones' deserves some mention as well, even thought I was already reading Goodkind at the time. That is a very good story as well.

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Mylissa

Mylissa rated it:

(review of isbn 0765300354)

10/22/08

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in January, 2006

recommends it for: Anyone looking for a new Author to read.

I really enjoyed reading all the different short stories in this book. Stephen King actually has a Dark Tower story in this book named The Little Sisters of Eluria. Also featured are authors such as Terry Goodkind, Orson Scott Card, and Ann MCcaffrey (to name a few). Very good science fiction/ fantasy reads. This book is definetely worth the purchase.

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Cloudcover

Cloudcover rated it:

(review of isbn 0312867875)

04/03/08

This book is a collection of short stories by the masters of fantasy fiction who are currently writing series. If you are looking for another series or looking to start one, this book gives you a glimpse of their writing styles and the worlds they created.

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Ben

Ben rated it:

(review of isbn 0312867875)

03/23/07

bookshelves: fantasy_and_sci-fi

This was a Christmas gift that re-introduced me to short fiction. In particular, "the Hedge Knight" became an instant favorite of mine, although "the Wood Boy" and the Stephen King story also caught my attention.

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Trey

Trey rated it:

(review of isbn 0765300354)

01/03/08

Bunch of short stories by great authors. As usual, some are better than others, but I really enjoyed the book overall. Gave me a great introduction to the world's these famous authors created.

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Rick

Rick rated it:

(review of isbn 0312867875)

02/07/08

Includes a Stephen King short - The Little Sisters of Eluria. It's a Dark Tower story. A must read for a Dark Tower addict; probably won't do much for others.

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Ahughes

Ahughes rated it:

(review of isbn 0312867875)

08/24/07

Read in June, 2007

I bought this for 'The Hedge Knight' which was great! And enjoyed them all - the Jordon short is what got me started on his wheel of time series.

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Lindsay

Lindsay rated it:

07/10/08

bookshelves: 2001, bookcrossing, fantasy, short-stories

Read in February, 2001

I found this to be a nice variety of short stories. I generally prefer novels as you can really get into it but this was good for short bites!

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Donovan

Donovan rated it:

(review of isbn 0312867875)

06/17/07

bookshelves: fiction-fantasy

Read in January, 1999

wonderful collection of fantasy short stories - but you will get the most out of it if you have read previous books by collection authors

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Maryjane

Maryjane rated it:

(review of isbn 0312867875)

05/11/08

I have a lot of anthologies of fantasy and sci fiction, and this one is the best of the best.

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Eddie

Eddie rated it:

(review of isbn 0312867875)

03/31/07

There's some good short stories in here by some very talented writers.

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Mary

Mary rated it:

(review of isbn 0312867875)

09/01/08

bookshelves: sci-fi-and-fantasy

Read in August, 2008

read: "The Hedge Knight" by G R R Martin, excellent as usual

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Meghan

Meghan rated it:

(review of isbn 0765300354)

07/27/08

bookshelves: fantasy-and-sci-fi, short-stories

Read in July, 2008

Meh.

First read in the late 90s somewhere. I think.

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