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The Lords of Dûs #4
The Book of Silence
Garth had given the mighty Sword of Bheleu into the Forgotten King's keeping. Now he needed it back, and the King demanded that Garth bring him the Book of Silence in exchange -- but Garth feared that the King would use the Book to bring about an Age of Death.
360 pages, Paperback
First published December 12, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 6, 2022
I enjoyed the hell out of this final volume. I liked Garth's continued struggles with both Bheheu and the Forgotten King. This book satisfied my swords and socery itch. The fights were spectacular and messy, the magic was chaotic and error-prone. The world building was great, and I like the connections to the King in Yellow and Carcosa, which have been referenced by several other authors. And the ending was completely satisfying, which can be difficult to pull off in a fantasy series. This may not be high-brow literature, but it sure did make me happy.
December 31, 2012
It all ends here, and it is--barring a few digressions that occupy a few pages here, a few pages there--a worthy finish to a series that featured many a healthy portion of wicked magicks and some fun and brutal swordplay. Too often I have picked up books purporting to offer "sword and sorcery," only to find myself wading through dull scene after dull scene with nary a sword or spell in sight; not so in this series. The final scene was exciting and surprisingly emotional; Garth stands as one of the more layered protagonists that I have come across in the genre; I am glad to have met him.
I am, honestly, flabbergasted by the anonymity of this series. The recent revival of pulp-style fiction is a clear invitation to re-introduce these books to adherents of the genre, and while there do exist recent re-printings of these books, I had not heard of the series until my partner gifted me a beat-up copy of the 1984 edition of this book. Readers interested in a unique take on the fantasy genre that includes lots of mayhem should seek this series out.
I, for one, am so glad that I both found it and had the opportunity to read through the series over a handful of days. These were fun reads with which to meet the year's end.
I am, honestly, flabbergasted by the anonymity of this series. The recent revival of pulp-style fiction is a clear invitation to re-introduce these books to adherents of the genre, and while there do exist recent re-printings of these books, I had not heard of the series until my partner gifted me a beat-up copy of the 1984 edition of this book. Readers interested in a unique take on the fantasy genre that includes lots of mayhem should seek this series out.
I, for one, am so glad that I both found it and had the opportunity to read through the series over a handful of days. These were fun reads with which to meet the year's end.
May 9, 2013
The Book of Silence is an excellent conclusion to this series which is in so many ways so very typical of sword and sorcery novels, and yet seems fresher (despite not exactly being a recent publication). Of course, as soon as I read the author's notes at the end, I realised that a certain degree of this story's themes and even characterisation was owed to Michael Moorcock. Perhaps more than the author realised even.
I really do recommend this series. It may not appeal to people unused to the fantasy genre, but for those who are familiar, this has a tantalising mix of the familiar and the slightly different -- I can't point immediately to anything that is, on its own, particularly original; possibly the opposite when you think about it all together in the broadest terms -- but Garth is an interesting hero, embodying various tropes and characteristics of both a hero and anti-hero. Suffice it to say that I, a long time fantasy fan, was intrigued and not prone to rolling my eyes as Inevitable Plot Device ABC introduced itself.
I really do recommend this series. It may not appeal to people unused to the fantasy genre, but for those who are familiar, this has a tantalising mix of the familiar and the slightly different -- I can't point immediately to anything that is, on its own, particularly original; possibly the opposite when you think about it all together in the broadest terms -- but Garth is an interesting hero, embodying various tropes and characteristics of both a hero and anti-hero. Suffice it to say that I, a long time fantasy fan, was intrigued and not prone to rolling my eyes as Inevitable Plot Device ABC introduced itself.
January 31, 2019
A very good fantasy series with an interesting storyline and a great main character. Very recommended.
October 13, 2017
And so ends a fantastic story on a not so fantastic note. I most enjoyed Garth's time facing off against the dragon, it was just such a breath of fresh air compared against what the series had been developing into with Garth as such a brooding fellow.
The continuing thorn in both Garth and our the reader's side of the Cult of Aghad stretched quite longer than I feel it was due, and rather sadly in the loss of two otherwise innocent characters for their petty revenge upon Garth.
Garth's time in Ur-Dormulk is one example of the good with the bad. Shandiph and his cohort can rot with the lords of dus and eir, how I hated them even though I can understand their point of view on the matter of the King in Yellow and the Book of Silence. I was most delighted when the ruler of the city gave them a well needed dressing-down in private. Though without their foolishness Garth might never have discovered the Book or the Pallid Mask, so in the end I suppose I can at least forgive their continued interference.
It was nice to learn of why the Forgotten King was tethered to a middle-of-nowhere place like Skellith and to then see him take his leave at last.
I did not expect the result of the Forgotten King's spell to go as it did, but I commend Garth on his resistance, even if in the end it was ultimately futile where the King was concerned - but oh so much more important for the rest of the world. That the end of time should be treated as it was delights me.
I would have hoped for something more of an ending, an epilogue if you will where we see more of the state of the world as it is now, see Garth at last return to his home and his family, see where or what becomes of Frima(and praise Koros for saving her and seemingly ending the last of the cultists of Aghad). If not for that rather blunt conclusion that left me wanting rather more I'd be inclined to up the rating, but just as the second book ended prematurely, so to has this, and so far as I know there is nothing more regarding Garth and his world.
I am saddened by that and can only hope I am wrong. Regardless of the ending, the journey was, by and large, well worth the read from the moment we first met Garth to now. Goodbye, Prince of Ordunin.
The continuing thorn in both Garth and our the reader's side of the Cult of Aghad stretched quite longer than I feel it was due, and rather sadly in the loss of two otherwise innocent characters for their petty revenge upon Garth.
Garth's time in Ur-Dormulk is one example of the good with the bad. Shandiph and his cohort can rot with the lords of dus and eir, how I hated them even though I can understand their point of view on the matter of the King in Yellow and the Book of Silence. I was most delighted when the ruler of the city gave them a well needed dressing-down in private. Though without their foolishness Garth might never have discovered the Book or the Pallid Mask, so in the end I suppose I can at least forgive their continued interference.
It was nice to learn of why the Forgotten King was tethered to a middle-of-nowhere place like Skellith and to then see him take his leave at last.
I did not expect the result of the Forgotten King's spell to go as it did, but I commend Garth on his resistance, even if in the end it was ultimately futile where the King was concerned - but oh so much more important for the rest of the world. That the end of time should be treated as it was delights me.
I would have hoped for something more of an ending, an epilogue if you will where we see more of the state of the world as it is now, see Garth at last return to his home and his family, see where or what becomes of Frima(and praise Koros for saving her and seemingly ending the last of the cultists of Aghad). If not for that rather blunt conclusion that left me wanting rather more I'd be inclined to up the rating, but just as the second book ended prematurely, so to has this, and so far as I know there is nothing more regarding Garth and his world.
I am saddened by that and can only hope I am wrong. Regardless of the ending, the journey was, by and large, well worth the read from the moment we first met Garth to now. Goodbye, Prince of Ordunin.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2020
This is the fourth and final book in the Lords of Dûs series from Lawrence Watt-Evans. After enjoying the last book so much, I was really interested to see how things would be wrapped up in this one. Unfortunately, Watt-Evans slid back in a few ways that took away from my enjoyment of an otherwise good fantasy story.
Once again, Garth is the primary focus. Unlike in The Sword of Bheleu, there isn’t a lot of time spent with other characters, which I think is a mistake. This led to some more problems with pacing. Early on, we spend many chapters following Garth in what proves to be a completely pointless side quest that really doesn’t have any real effect on the rest of the story. This was a missed opportunity to tie things together.
After this, the story does improve. Garth is faced with more internal conflict and balancing his own wants and needs with what might be best for the rest of the world. Overall, it does move towards a satisfying and surprising conclusion as Garth works once again for the Forgotten King’s final quest while also seeking personal revenge on those who have wronged him.
I did enjoy the lore and history of the world that Watt-Evans created. There’s a rich history there that was internally consistent and made sense, which made the world feel much more real. So despite my minor criticisms, it was still a fun read and I would spend more time in the world if given the chance.
Once again, Garth is the primary focus. Unlike in The Sword of Bheleu, there isn’t a lot of time spent with other characters, which I think is a mistake. This led to some more problems with pacing. Early on, we spend many chapters following Garth in what proves to be a completely pointless side quest that really doesn’t have any real effect on the rest of the story. This was a missed opportunity to tie things together.
After this, the story does improve. Garth is faced with more internal conflict and balancing his own wants and needs with what might be best for the rest of the world. Overall, it does move towards a satisfying and surprising conclusion as Garth works once again for the Forgotten King’s final quest while also seeking personal revenge on those who have wronged him.
I did enjoy the lore and history of the world that Watt-Evans created. There’s a rich history there that was internally consistent and made sense, which made the world feel much more real. So despite my minor criticisms, it was still a fun read and I would spend more time in the world if given the chance.
December 25, 2024
now that it's over I feel like I'm going to miss this world.
October 24, 2011
Read it because it was the next book in the series and was too invested to stop reading it.
March 19, 2009
Conclusion of the four-book Garth series ("we're not worthy"). Best of the four, but really depends on reading the others. Some nice pay-off of things set up in earlier books.
April 2, 2014
Very good series. A great ending and rich in development.
January 19, 2016
Strange conclusion.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews