The Destiny of the Sword

The Seventh Sword: 3

ISBN: 0-345-35293-2 Order from: Amazon.com

The conclusion of a competent but unoriginal fantasy set in a world of gods, swordsman and social upheaval.

Reviewed by David on October 25, 1998

Genre: Fantasy (High Fantasy, Multiple Worlds, Swordfighting)

Synopsis: In The Reluctant Swordsman, the mind of Wallie Smith has been magically transferred to the body of Shonsu, a master swordsman in a world of highly regimented societies, ruled by priests and fighters. In this concluding novel of the trilogy, Wallie has the biggest challenge yet: how to unify the Swordsmen in a great campaign against the superior technological might of the Sorcerers.

Full Review: The peril of the Sorcerers has spurred the normally fractious Swordsmen to unite in a Tryst, a rare crusade against an overwhelming threat. Unfortunately, Wallie, the only swordsman who has any chance of understanding and countering the Sorcerers' technology, has, through accident and ignorance, gained a reputation of strange, and worse yet, cowardly behavior. To the Swordsman, with their rigid ideas about honor and fighting, even Wallie's superb fighting skills are insufficient to inspire trust.

Wallie, while desperately trying to prevent the Swordsmen's massacre, has additional problems of having his friends and apprentices pursue their own ambitions. However, worse yet, it appears that the gods themselves may not intend Wallie to win. It seems only the old priest, Honakura, is on Wallie's side, but even he is hiding the truth from our hero. Or perhaps Wallie is not the hero. Is it possible that he is intended to be a villain?

I had several reservations about this trilogy. Wallie's oath of brotherhood with Nnanji, his student, makes little sense considering how little he knows Nnanji, and how different their morals codes are. The various annoying but rigid rules, the travails of Wallie on the ship, the arbitrariness of gods controlling the shipping, and willing to manipulate some men but not others, and the foretold dance of Wallie and Nnanji seem highly choreographed. Of course, the gods are manipulating everybody, but the feeling of predestination adds more frustration than suspense.

Overall: 5.5; Plot: 5; Characters: 5.5; Style: 5; World-building: 6; Originality: 4;

ISBN: 0-345-35293-2 Order from: Amazon.com