The Sorcerer's Shadow

Oron #2

by David C. Smith

Akram, the wanderer, battles an ageless curse. He must slay the immortal sorceress, Nidyis, or be destroyed by her love.

Genres: Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery

368 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1982

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[mark monday · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars but because it's like Karl Edward Wagner had an even nerdier and hornier younger brother except this younger brother didn't get into drugs & alcohol, he got into the gym, bulked up and then dumbed down, went to college and became a fratboy, wrote a fantasy series that showed all of his older bro's talent at creating dark imagery and menacing atmosphere and dying civilizations, all delivered in classic purple prose with the requisite cynical perspective, but also frequently using nonsensical phrases like "she laughed intricately" which made me laugh intricately, and of course since he's basically a dumbass super-horny fratboy, all the ladies are topless, there's lots of gory slaughters and cluelessly macho guys and sword fights and pirate attacks, rapin' and torturin' and reincarnatin', lots of demons fucking and killing, and a scene where an enigmatic but topless temple priestess mystery lady performs something that can only be called an Orgasm Dance, all of that sitting alongside the awesome haunted imagery and Game of Thrones court intrigue and cool scenes of magic and a creepy island full of creepy gardens and creepy tombs, I guess this younger brother played a lot of Dungeons & Dragons in between time at the gym, and clearly he smoked a lot of weed, and even though I rolled my eyes a lot, I also had a lot of fun, so why not give the kid an extra .5 stars for effort, there you go, I rounded up to 3 stars, pass me the bong and pass me the beer, man isn't Moorcock cool, let's watch some WWE no let's watch some Girls Gone Wild, no let's watch some Heavy Metal that movie's the shit, man.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's quite an upgrade over Oron, from the introductory melange that succinctly and lushly demonstrates life in the port city of Kabai, to the restraint applied to dialog-based scenes that kept them from spiraling into soap-opera intensity. It's clear that Smith is inspired by Robert E Howard and he does that author at least one better with strong character arcs and plot threads that operate independently until they tie together. The main character even appears to be emotionally damaged from his horrific experiences, which is a form of vulnerability that Howard would never indulge.

The writing pulls no punches: sex is as explicit as combat (which is explicit), and in at least one case bears a lot of resemblance to combat. The open social revolt of Kabai has maniacal intensity, with the ordinary citizens going as deranged as the lunatics actively fighting for the throne. Smith has a skill for lush description and it's wonderful to let it wash over you, even if that description is the nightmarish abomination garden of a race of sorcerers or the soul of the betrayed joyously reaching from Hell itself.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book thus far by David C. Smith, although I still have a few more to read. And this is saying something since I've liked everything I've read from him.

[Jason Ray Carney · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, artful novel of sword and sorcery. There are two main plots (1): Therik and Asya, two star-crossed lovers, fight against a brutal regime for their humanity, autonomy, and dignity; and, (2) Akram the wanderer and Nidyis the demon-hauned sorceress, navigate the complexities of an emotional labyrinth of poisonous love, lust, and violence. The world, Attluma, where these dramas unfold, is brutal and sublime, like a Thomas Cole painting of a storm: there is a realistic "historicity" to the nations and dynasties at bloody war with eachother contrasted against a profound cosmic/mythic perspective of the supermundane (eg. reincarnation, sorcery, other dimensions such as hell). Like David C. Smith's other novel *Oron,* this work is driven by a epic vision.

[Jim Kuenzli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great sword and sorcery book. I wish Smith would have continued his career at the time, but I’m glad he is back to writing now. Although his new work is different, it’s a refreshing break from the ridiculous non stop epics out there.

[Susurrusdin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second David C.Smith read after Oron. Rad sword and sorcery fantasy in the vein of the greats. Highly recommend.

[bluetyson]

The Sorcerer's Shadow by David C Smith (1978)