Product Description

Combining the acclaimed trilogy of books, BODYGUARD OF LIGHTNING, LEGION OF THUNDER and WARRIORS OF THE TEMPEST, plus a new short story previously only available in a small press anthology, this is the entire story of Stryke and his band of Orcs. Fantasy's bad guys finally get their own say in this fast moving, action packed, tongue in cheek tale or Orc valour and human treachery.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #144461 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 688 pages

About the Author
Stan Nicholls has been a reviewer and interviewer in the UK for more than 20 years and is a key figure on the genre scene. He writes a regular column for TIME OUT and contributes to both INTERZONE and STARBURST. He is also the author of several children's fantasies.

Customer Reviews

Bog standard heroic fantasy
My problem is that the book is pretending to be something it's not. The blurb on the back cover implies some interesting philosophical thoughts about the status of the perceived brainless monster, the cannon fodder, suggesting that these stories contain a little more intellect and ambition than standard violent fantasy. So it's disappointing when it turns out that that is exactly what they are, with the conceit of Orcs as central characters the only thing to make them stand out from a host of similar stories. Get over that and Orcs is not bad for what it is, but there is a sense of an opportunity missed.

Unusual. All kinds of awesome.
The book does seem to follow a formulaic pattern, with the characters repeatedly having to sneak into enemy territory AGAIN... that theme repeats itself a little two often. Aside from that, a brilliant book, a breath of fresh air, and the only fantasy book other than Terry Pratchet's discworld series i've been able to read all the way through. In fact I scarecely put it down. Few writers can mach this guys originality and imagination. And the action stuff IS AWESOME. I'm not normally into fantasy but this guy rocks.

Such a shame...
The story starts off well enough with a decent, original take on the genre. At times the story is engrossing, but at others the book's a chore to pick up. While most of the characters are likeable and interesting, some are just irritating. The fact that characters either rarely die or die too quickly is a real weak point in this book. The story line progressively expects too much of itself and literally falls apart - loose ends are either tied up poorly, or not at all, and the ending gives the impression that Mr. Nicholls was rushing to start another project.

Very disappointing, but does hold some good humour and parts of it hold your attention. Go for the Warcraft series if you want something with Orcs in.