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Cenotaph Road #1
Cenotaph Road
Vintage paperback
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 19, 2018
100% fun.
I took a break from some heavy reading to enjoy the first book in this fantasy series. Any tabletop rpg player may want to add this to their “appendix N” reading list as the characters, environments, and encounters seemed straight up brewed out of a Classic D&D campaign.
The main character, Lan, is mainly a muscley doof and his whining and inner monologue is pretty pathetic. But this frustration quickly subsides by comments from the always superior spider sidekick, Krek. I honestly almost stopped reading this book midway if it hadn’t been for Krek and after finishing this first book, I’m pretty jacked to see where this series will lead.
This book paired with some 70’s Prog rock = AWESOME. I suggest listening to Camel’s album “The Snow Goose”.
I took a break from some heavy reading to enjoy the first book in this fantasy series. Any tabletop rpg player may want to add this to their “appendix N” reading list as the characters, environments, and encounters seemed straight up brewed out of a Classic D&D campaign.
The main character, Lan, is mainly a muscley doof and his whining and inner monologue is pretty pathetic. But this frustration quickly subsides by comments from the always superior spider sidekick, Krek. I honestly almost stopped reading this book midway if it hadn’t been for Krek and after finishing this first book, I’m pretty jacked to see where this series will lead.
This book paired with some 70’s Prog rock = AWESOME. I suggest listening to Camel’s album “The Snow Goose”.
January 24, 2017
Received copy from Netgalley for a review.
Did not realise this book was so old.And that there are a few in the series with Lan and his sidekick.
Quite a good old read,and enjoyable enough.
Did not realise this book was so old.And that there are a few in the series with Lan and his sidekick.
Quite a good old read,and enjoyable enough.
July 18, 2017
Very good, entertaining Sword and Sorcery adventure. You can almost hear a D&D dungeon master telling you the story. There is an undeniable classic feel to the story that brought a huge smile on my face. The characters are funny, likable and interesting, the worlds they explore though the Cenopath Road served as somewhat generic background for their adventuring, but that's OK since the series comprise of six books and I'm sure the worlds will be fleshed out in the future. Vardeman know's exactly and has mastered the style he's going for; the writing is clean, crisp with superb pacing. There is a great sense of fun throughout the book that is difficult to explain, just read and experience it I guess. Fun factor +++ More D&D than Conan, but solid Sword and Sorcery none the less.
October 17, 2018
A lot of the more interesting things about this booked were drowned by a somewhat uninteresting main character with rather petty character depth. The central magical mechanics of this book are fun to dive into, and the whole parallel worlds system was laid out a lot better than is typical, and was kind of cute. Not an excellent use of time to read unless desperate.
June 1, 2017
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
The story is totally unbelievable with the so called hero totally inept.
This may be a old story but there is no excuse for this sort of rubbish being re-printed.
The story is totally unbelievable with the so called hero totally inept.
This may be a old story but there is no excuse for this sort of rubbish being re-printed.
July 16, 2023
I came across The Cenotaph Road while browsing paperback book lots on eBay. The covers caught my attention, and I decided to head over to Good Reads to see what the consensus was on the series.
After fairly positive reviews, I decided to go all in and buy the entire series for a reasonable $10.
This was my really my first dive into the fantasy realm genre, with my only other exposure being the Seventh Son series, which is more of a historical fiction genre mixed with fantasy. Not knowing what to expect, I started my journey.
Based on reviews, I was ready to be welcomed by a book with a poor main character, lots of spelling errors, and story all over the place making it difficult to follow but a side kick who really saves the book.
Our main character Lan, in my opinion, was a fine main character. I saw no problem with him at all. I enjoy his dialogue, and how the author did not make him an unstoppable killing machine. He has strengths and weaknesses, very akin to a D&D or Skyrim base character. Where Lan is “ranked” higher in one aspect, he will naturally be lower in others.
While on the topic of D&D, other reviews said this book was very much like a D&D quest, and I would have to agree. There are times where you feel like you are witnessing attack rolls in real time. When these events occur, you start to get the itch to break out D&D and start a quest.
As for spelling errors, they are here and there, but never once ruined the book for me, and plays such a little part in the book, it’s almost not worth mentioning.
For the criticism about the book being all over the place and confusing, I hate to admit, there are times where I would have to go back and reread a few sentences to try and make sense of what was said or what was going on. It doesn’t happen enough to ruin the book, but I must admit, it felt like the author either knew what was happening in his head and forgot to put it on paper, or it was omitted for some reason.
Now for the sidekick. Everyone’s favorite part of the story. It’s true, it’s very hard not to love him. The best way to describe him, would be, the gloom and doom mentality of C3P0 from Star Wars, but a giant killing machine, and when in the right state of mind, has no problem flaunting his intelligence and how much superior he is to humans.
Along the way our hero’s also pick up some companions and of course our main villain. The book did not end the way I thought it would, and it definitely leaves you wondering what is going to happen, and how everything is going to come back to bite them.
Right at the end of the story, I believe the last two or three chapters, a new character comes into play, and for me, I have serious questions about him, and his final goal.
Does The Cenotaph Road have its flaws? Sure. But at the end of the day, it’s not enough for me to say it ruined the book in any way. I was drawn in immediately, and couldn’t wait to read what happened next. And now I can’t wait to see what lies ahead. If you’re looking for a fun fantasy book, with that 80s shine, look no further. 5/5.
After fairly positive reviews, I decided to go all in and buy the entire series for a reasonable $10.
This was my really my first dive into the fantasy realm genre, with my only other exposure being the Seventh Son series, which is more of a historical fiction genre mixed with fantasy. Not knowing what to expect, I started my journey.
Based on reviews, I was ready to be welcomed by a book with a poor main character, lots of spelling errors, and story all over the place making it difficult to follow but a side kick who really saves the book.
Our main character Lan, in my opinion, was a fine main character. I saw no problem with him at all. I enjoy his dialogue, and how the author did not make him an unstoppable killing machine. He has strengths and weaknesses, very akin to a D&D or Skyrim base character. Where Lan is “ranked” higher in one aspect, he will naturally be lower in others.
While on the topic of D&D, other reviews said this book was very much like a D&D quest, and I would have to agree. There are times where you feel like you are witnessing attack rolls in real time. When these events occur, you start to get the itch to break out D&D and start a quest.
As for spelling errors, they are here and there, but never once ruined the book for me, and plays such a little part in the book, it’s almost not worth mentioning.
For the criticism about the book being all over the place and confusing, I hate to admit, there are times where I would have to go back and reread a few sentences to try and make sense of what was said or what was going on. It doesn’t happen enough to ruin the book, but I must admit, it felt like the author either knew what was happening in his head and forgot to put it on paper, or it was omitted for some reason.
Now for the sidekick. Everyone’s favorite part of the story. It’s true, it’s very hard not to love him. The best way to describe him, would be, the gloom and doom mentality of C3P0 from Star Wars, but a giant killing machine, and when in the right state of mind, has no problem flaunting his intelligence and how much superior he is to humans.
Along the way our hero’s also pick up some companions and of course our main villain. The book did not end the way I thought it would, and it definitely leaves you wondering what is going to happen, and how everything is going to come back to bite them.
Right at the end of the story, I believe the last two or three chapters, a new character comes into play, and for me, I have serious questions about him, and his final goal.
Does The Cenotaph Road have its flaws? Sure. But at the end of the day, it’s not enough for me to say it ruined the book in any way. I was drawn in immediately, and couldn’t wait to read what happened next. And now I can’t wait to see what lies ahead. If you’re looking for a fun fantasy book, with that 80s shine, look no further. 5/5.
May 24, 2017
And just when I started being hopeful about this genre... Well, you can't always expect to be pleased about things in categories, anyway, so I should have held some of that hope back.
In Cenotaph Road, we meet Lan, a suppposedly skilled swordsman with some kind of innate ability for the arcane. After being framed for the rape and death of his... ummm... OK, I can't call her his lover, the thing is, the woman was a prostitute. In any case, Lan got framed for it, and so had to flee from his home. Trying to escape his pursuers, he entered the Cenotaph Road, which is something like a gateway system between parallel worlds. In one of those worlds, he met and saved a giant spider, Krek, and from then on, they started a weird partnership as they kept on having one adventure right after the other.
Let me say right now, the only reason I actually managed to finish tis book was because of Krek. I'm an insectophobic, but even so, the creature was an amazing character! In fact, if Lan had died somewhere along the way, and Krek kept on having these adventures on his own, I would have been more than happy to keep reading this series.
As it was, though, I had to suffer through Lan's stupidly repeated mistakes. And his thoughts. God, his thoughts were even worse!!! If there was ever a guy whipped at the prospect of a pretty female, it was definitely him! To the point where it made me wanna puke! The dude had issues, I'm telling you! You would think he got the message loud and clear after Zarella stringing him along - really, the woman had made it crystal clear the only thing that could make her heart race was wealth and riches - but noooo, not Lan! No, sir, the idiot had to go and fall in love at first sight with a weak-ass, cowardly, shallow, gold-digging bimbo - AGAIN! Oh, and, yeah, did I mention he hated Inyx, who, by the way, was the ONLY female actually respecting herself enough to fight back and try to be free whenever someone tried to enslave her? Yup, our dear boy Lan freaked at the mere idea that a woman would try and be strong or independent and not a slut - at first, at least, because after Thing #2 was out of the picture (good riddance, I say!), he suddenly saw Inyx's worth and was all too happy to smell the roses...
All in all, not a great read, and I'm very grateful it didn't take long to end. I don't know how much more of this I would have handled. Maybe Krek will end up realizing his true nature and eat up Lan in one of the future books? One can only hope...
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/
In Cenotaph Road, we meet Lan, a suppposedly skilled swordsman with some kind of innate ability for the arcane. After being framed for the rape and death of his... ummm... OK, I can't call her his lover, the thing is, the woman was a prostitute. In any case, Lan got framed for it, and so had to flee from his home. Trying to escape his pursuers, he entered the Cenotaph Road, which is something like a gateway system between parallel worlds. In one of those worlds, he met and saved a giant spider, Krek, and from then on, they started a weird partnership as they kept on having one adventure right after the other.
Let me say right now, the only reason I actually managed to finish tis book was because of Krek. I'm an insectophobic, but even so, the creature was an amazing character! In fact, if Lan had died somewhere along the way, and Krek kept on having these adventures on his own, I would have been more than happy to keep reading this series.
As it was, though, I had to suffer through Lan's stupidly repeated mistakes. And his thoughts. God, his thoughts were even worse!!! If there was ever a guy whipped at the prospect of a pretty female, it was definitely him! To the point where it made me wanna puke! The dude had issues, I'm telling you! You would think he got the message loud and clear after Zarella stringing him along - really, the woman had made it crystal clear the only thing that could make her heart race was wealth and riches - but noooo, not Lan! No, sir, the idiot had to go and fall in love at first sight with a weak-ass, cowardly, shallow, gold-digging bimbo - AGAIN! Oh, and, yeah, did I mention he hated Inyx, who, by the way, was the ONLY female actually respecting herself enough to fight back and try to be free whenever someone tried to enslave her? Yup, our dear boy Lan freaked at the mere idea that a woman would try and be strong or independent and not a slut - at first, at least, because after Thing #2 was out of the picture (good riddance, I say!), he suddenly saw Inyx's worth and was all too happy to smell the roses...
All in all, not a great read, and I'm very grateful it didn't take long to end. I don't know how much more of this I would have handled. Maybe Krek will end up realizing his true nature and eat up Lan in one of the future books? One can only hope...
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/
November 28, 2017
I did not realize how old this story was. I am glad when I see authors republishing older works, especially those from the 1970’s and early ‘80s long before the digital era. I am a fan of the older “pulp” SciFi and Fantasy stories.
I picked up the Kindle edition of this book from Amazon on the recommendation of another reader on Scott-Michael Earle’s Facebook page. The author writes well, but I did not particularly care for the story. I could not get invested in the protagonist finding him stupidly repeating the same mistakes throughout the book.
The only character I liked and cared about was Krek the giant spider. Inyx portrayed as a possible love interest for the protagonist was never fully developed enough for her character for me. I would have been content if Krek alone adventured leaving behind the other characters to solve their own problems.
This book is full of spelling errors and words (although spelled correctly) used in the wrong place. Sometimes I had to reread a part of the story and extrapolate what the author meant, not what he wrote.
I am not reading more of this series. I did not find the story compelling enough to spend more money on this story when there are other books I would much rather buy and read.
I picked up the Kindle edition of this book from Amazon on the recommendation of another reader on Scott-Michael Earle’s Facebook page. The author writes well, but I did not particularly care for the story. I could not get invested in the protagonist finding him stupidly repeating the same mistakes throughout the book.
The only character I liked and cared about was Krek the giant spider. Inyx portrayed as a possible love interest for the protagonist was never fully developed enough for her character for me. I would have been content if Krek alone adventured leaving behind the other characters to solve their own problems.
This book is full of spelling errors and words (although spelled correctly) used in the wrong place. Sometimes I had to reread a part of the story and extrapolate what the author meant, not what he wrote.
I am not reading more of this series. I did not find the story compelling enough to spend more money on this story when there are other books I would much rather buy and read.
August 24, 2017
I Am Disgusted
When I finished this first book it was going to give it 5 stars based on originality - despite the multitude of spelling and grammar errors and the unsatisfactory ending. It ended poorly. Not a cliff hanger exactly but just stopped right in the middle of a scene. So I immediately got the 2nd book of the series. I stopped reading after 3 chapters. First off, the author changes the story and doesn't bother to explain why or transition the reader. Badly done. Then he immediately dives in to such things as pedophilia and incest. I know he is trying to make the bad guy look bad but I do not want to read about pedophiles and incest. I don't. Or orgies and voyeurism and orgasms over murder. What REALLY disturbs me is that there are middle school children reviewing this crap. I am not happy with this book series AT ALL. The author took a good concept, murdered it with bad mechanics and then buried it with pedophilia. I recommend staying away from this series.
When I finished this first book it was going to give it 5 stars based on originality - despite the multitude of spelling and grammar errors and the unsatisfactory ending. It ended poorly. Not a cliff hanger exactly but just stopped right in the middle of a scene. So I immediately got the 2nd book of the series. I stopped reading after 3 chapters. First off, the author changes the story and doesn't bother to explain why or transition the reader. Badly done. Then he immediately dives in to such things as pedophilia and incest. I know he is trying to make the bad guy look bad but I do not want to read about pedophiles and incest. I don't. Or orgies and voyeurism and orgasms over murder. What REALLY disturbs me is that there are middle school children reviewing this crap. I am not happy with this book series AT ALL. The author took a good concept, murdered it with bad mechanics and then buried it with pedophilia. I recommend staying away from this series.
September 24, 2017
A quick read of a fantasy novel that is fun and has unusual characters, like a protagonist sentient spider with serious self-esteem issues. It lacks the depth of Song of Ice and Fire or the Wheel of Time, but it is unique and sometimes that level of depth isn't necessary.
August 23, 2020
Thoroughly satisfying escapism
Never a full moment. Adventure in the vein of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Robert E. Howard. Magic, swordplay, interdimensional travel and a talking spider.
Never a full moment. Adventure in the vein of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Robert E. Howard. Magic, swordplay, interdimensional travel and a talking spider.
April 25, 2023
Some elements of the story are very entertaining, others are extremely frustrating. Characters are very two dimensional but Krek the spider is just so fun. It's a bit like Conan with more fantasy and magic.
August 9, 2017
Misogynistic, shallow drivel. Later books get progressively better, though still seriously lacking in any depth.
March 10, 2017
It's a simply written book, not overly complicated, but still a fairly enjoyable read, IMHO. It features around a man who, finding himself with nothing left in his world worth staying for, sets off on the fabled Cenotaph Road, which will take you to another world! Although, in fairness, this is fairly risky stuff, since there are any number of worlds out there to choose from, and the road itself chooses at random where you'll be going.
August 9, 2013
This review is for all six books in the series.
I read the second book in this series (the Sorcerer's Skull) when I was 12. I don't know if it was the most influential book in my short life at the time--looking back, I kind of hope not--but it was one of those books that showed me that writing stories would be a fun and interesting thing to do. I mean, check this out:
In olden times, the sorcerer Terrill fought and defeated the evil sorcerer Claybore. Terrill couldn't kill Claybore, so he dismembered him instead, scattering his body parts across different worlds. Claybore's skull still retains will and consciousness, and is desperately trying to regather all of his body parts. For most of the series, he is a skull and human torso with cybernetic arms and legs. That's right. He's Skeletor. Cyborg Skeletor.
Standing opposed to him is Lan Martek, a woods guide and hedge wizard who gains great magical power when he replaces his own tongue with Claybore's iron one. He's aided by Inyx, a mighty female barbarian, and Krek, a bipolar, giant spider.
Oh my god! How could this story go so terribly wrong? Well, the rampant misogyny is a huge turn off. There's a ton of continuity errors, as if Vardeman started with a one-book story and then decided to expand it into more books without going back and editing.
The characters are all one-note, cardboard cutouts, except when their personalities change radically to fit the narrative. Some of the plot elements are nonsensical and ravage suspension of disbelieve, such as the inexplicable presence of a labyrinth that is a ripoff of Pacman. No, I'm not kidding.
The worst thing though? The longer the story goes, the more boring it becomes. Lan Martek goes from a schlub to greatest sorcerer ever because he found a few spell books and because he has Claybore's tongue. By the last few books, he's nuking armies without effort and kicking the crap out of Claybore every time he meets him. The final confrontation is depressingly bland. I skimmed the last 300 pages just to get through it.
I read the second book in this series (the Sorcerer's Skull) when I was 12. I don't know if it was the most influential book in my short life at the time--looking back, I kind of hope not--but it was one of those books that showed me that writing stories would be a fun and interesting thing to do. I mean, check this out:
In olden times, the sorcerer Terrill fought and defeated the evil sorcerer Claybore. Terrill couldn't kill Claybore, so he dismembered him instead, scattering his body parts across different worlds. Claybore's skull still retains will and consciousness, and is desperately trying to regather all of his body parts. For most of the series, he is a skull and human torso with cybernetic arms and legs. That's right. He's Skeletor. Cyborg Skeletor.
Standing opposed to him is Lan Martek, a woods guide and hedge wizard who gains great magical power when he replaces his own tongue with Claybore's iron one. He's aided by Inyx, a mighty female barbarian, and Krek, a bipolar, giant spider.
Oh my god! How could this story go so terribly wrong? Well, the rampant misogyny is a huge turn off. There's a ton of continuity errors, as if Vardeman started with a one-book story and then decided to expand it into more books without going back and editing.
The characters are all one-note, cardboard cutouts, except when their personalities change radically to fit the narrative. Some of the plot elements are nonsensical and ravage suspension of disbelieve, such as the inexplicable presence of a labyrinth that is a ripoff of Pacman. No, I'm not kidding.
The worst thing though? The longer the story goes, the more boring it becomes. Lan Martek goes from a schlub to greatest sorcerer ever because he found a few spell books and because he has Claybore's tongue. By the last few books, he's nuking armies without effort and kicking the crap out of Claybore every time he meets him. The final confrontation is depressingly bland. I skimmed the last 300 pages just to get through it.
January 19, 2014
How did this every get published? I'm thinking the publisher lost a bet or was black mailed.
The hero is purported to be a great warrior yet every battle is a struggle for him, and in 9 out of 10 fights he looses his weapons immediately and can't even fight.
In the first chapter, his love interest is raped and murdered, then his half-sister is raped and murdered. Later, his next love interest is raped and he only sees it as an affront to his good name.
Then there's the lazy writing...
In a fantasy story, new, exotic animals are common. In this piece of work, there are rabbit-like and alligator-like animals. *-like?!?! How fucking lazy of an author are we dealing with here?
Then there's the seven year old emotional roller coaster ride of the protagonist. Very tiresome. Or his thick, dim-witlessness. Or his inconsistencies - he hates to kill the guards but can't afford to tie them up and have them escape, then the very next guard he ties up....
The story is basically two scenes repeated over and over. The only thing that kept me reading was the fact that it is short so the end was in sight, AND I like spiders and there's a manic depressive, giant, talking spider. That's it.
Don't waste your time. I'm not going to read anything by this author ever again.
The hero is purported to be a great warrior yet every battle is a struggle for him, and in 9 out of 10 fights he looses his weapons immediately and can't even fight.
In the first chapter, his love interest is raped and murdered, then his half-sister is raped and murdered. Later, his next love interest is raped and he only sees it as an affront to his good name.
Then there's the lazy writing...
In a fantasy story, new, exotic animals are common. In this piece of work, there are rabbit-like and alligator-like animals. *-like?!?! How fucking lazy of an author are we dealing with here?
Then there's the seven year old emotional roller coaster ride of the protagonist. Very tiresome. Or his thick, dim-witlessness. Or his inconsistencies - he hates to kill the guards but can't afford to tie them up and have them escape, then the very next guard he ties up....
The story is basically two scenes repeated over and over. The only thing that kept me reading was the fact that it is short so the end was in sight, AND I like spiders and there's a manic depressive, giant, talking spider. That's it.
Don't waste your time. I'm not going to read anything by this author ever again.
November 16, 2015
I first read part of this series years ago, and then couldn't find the last couple of books. But I really enjoyed the characters that Robert E. Vardeman created in this series.
Reading it again over 10 years later, I find Lan a little too headstrong and Krek so wracked with angst that he often has a hard time functioning. But that his what makes these characters unique and the story interesting to read.
Cenotaph Road is a good fantasy tale and the beginning of a fun series.
I rated this book an 8 out of 10.
Reading it again over 10 years later, I find Lan a little too headstrong and Krek so wracked with angst that he often has a hard time functioning. But that his what makes these characters unique and the story interesting to read.
Cenotaph Road is a good fantasy tale and the beginning of a fun series.
I rated this book an 8 out of 10.
July 8, 2008
This was a giant piece of sucktastitude. I have little good to say about it.
May 4, 2012
Easy read. Interesting enough to hold the attention but not technical. More of a fantasy.
June 4, 2015
1989 grade F
(might have abandoned)
(might have abandoned)
December 21, 2015
Lightweight but enjoyable sub-Zelazny sword and sorcery. Nothing exceptional in terms of plot, but some very fun characters, especially Krek. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
January 25, 2016
Interesting start to a good fantasy series. Recommended
October 23, 2014
Interesting world, but not a great series. Fast moving - OK if you get the entire series cheap.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews