starting with the work of David Gemmell

[Francisco]

hey guys, next year I plan to read more sword&sorcery, I now know a little bit more about Karl Edward Wagner but I'm interested in David Gemmell too, his Drenai series and Troy series are translated to spanish, which is better to start with? and althought they're not translated i have read very good things about his greek series, are this series interested enough?

greetings from Spain

[Charles]

Personally, I think the Drenai series is superior. I like both but there seems more originality in the Drenai series.

[S.wagenaar]

I am ashamed to admit it, but despite having 4 or 5 of his books, including Legend, I have yet to read any! I must fix that!

[Mark]

The troy books are David at his best, you can see how his writing has matured from the drenai series.

[Charles]

Interesting how different people differ. One clear vote for the Troy series, one for the Drenai series. Both are good, though

[Mark]

Mark wrote: "The troy books are David at his best, you can see how his writing has matured from the drenai series."

Charles wrote: "Interesting how different people differ. One clear vote for the Troy series, one for the Drenai series. Both are good, though"

Sorry I wasnt clear in answering the question, what I meant was the Troy books are what David matured into as a writer from his first books.

[Bruce]

I definitely recommend 'Legend' as your first read.

[Periklis, Fafhrd (Emeritus)]

Haven't read any book on his Trojan series but I'd recommend Legend too, if you want to read something similar to Moorcock.

[J.W.]

I also have not read any of his Trojan works. Legend is one that I would love to see made into a movie... Sean Connery would make an awesome Druss.

[Dave]

I also second the recommendation that Legend is the place to start.

[Dan]

Reading Legend, my first Gemmell, right now. Digging it so far.

[[deleted user]]

I know exactly one exception to the rule "When in doubt, read in publication order". This works perfectly fine for Gemmell; you will see his writing improves with each following book.

[T.S.]

I adore "Knights of Dark Renown." This is hands down one of my favorite sword and sorcery books (low magic, adult sword fantasy).

It's stand alone and really worth your time.

Knights of Dark Renown

[Dan]

^Added to the ever growing TBR list. The fact that it's a stand alone novel is good though. I like a book that is an encapsulated story. A long series can be rather daunting at times.

[Dan]

Just finished Legend yesterday and wrote a review for it this morning. Here's my thought's on it:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I liked it quite a bit and look forward to tackling more of Gemmell's work in the near future. Might go with the aforementioned Knights of Dark Renown next.

[Dan]

I agree with those who say Legend is the best place to start with David Gemmell, one of my favourite authors and I think very influential on those who came after him in his writing style.

[Martin]

I only read Legend so far. Didn't seem to have many Sword & Sorcery elements at all.
But I am planning to try Waylander next. Anticipating more from it.

[Dan]

I thought Legend had some elements of S&S as well as high fantasy, really it didn't feel like it quite fit into either genre to be honest though. A bit of both, but also something to itself, I guess military fantasy perhaps? But it didn't exactly come across like Glen Cook's work... I dunno a bit of it all I suppose.

[Adam]

I think Legend was one of the first memorable fantasy books that I read. There were others before it but images of the ageing Druss standing before the Horde still linger in my memory all these years later. Wonderful stuff.