Hammerfall
   C. J. Cherryh
   (Sr. Staff Reviewer - D. H. BROWN)
  2001 Eos/HarperCollins
    ISBN: 0061052604


Marak is a prince & warrior, both strong & shrewd & an expert in the ways of the desert covering his planet. He has dedicated his life to over throwing the mysterious eternal dictator of his world.Now, betrayed by his own father, Marak is exiled to an endless caravan with the rest of the madmen on a suicide mission.

Marak has suffered with visions all his life & when he staggers into his destiny on the other side of his world, he must face the strangers in the towers he has seen in his visions & face one more mission -- to muster warring villagers, priests, the young & the old to follow him on an epic trek before the hammer of their foe falls from the sky above.

Senior Staff Reviewer D. H. BROWN writes:

What can I possibly say about C. J. Cherryh that hasn't already been said by deeper minds than mine? Her imagination & creativity weaves into whole cloth worlds that are truly believable.

Her character development & the dilemmas of their lives are so starkly real that I find myself deeply touched & moved.

A recurring theme in a Cherryh book is always courage; courage to do; courage to be; courage to exist in the face of odds that though only imagined somehow become real.

Marak is a being that when shown his destiny reaches out & grabs it with both hands & refuses to let go. I like that in any character of fiction & with that grip firmly in place, takes with him those around him including an entire world.

Fiction? yeah. Imagination? yeah. Real? Oh, I wish! I'm so glad that Cherryh has once again found herself back on the hard science fiction side of this genre.

So I suggest you not only search out & read Hammerfall but also her far-ranging series The Gene Wars.

More from C. J. Cherryh: Fortress of Dragons; Fortress of Owls; Fortress of Eagles; Fortress in the Eye of Time & many more.
(11/04/01)

David
A RebeccasReads.com Sr. Staff Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
D. H. BROWN is the author of the critically acclaimed HONOR DUE and the Citizens Warrior Series. The son of missionary parents and with the help his Uncle Sam, he has touched base in more than 40 countries.  In 1986 he produced the independent children's film Lessie's Rainbow.  During the late 80s and early 90s, he wrote the book Common Sense and delivered the seminars of the same name for the Community Action Network of Seattle (CAN).  While doing his early Vietnam recovery work, he counseled Veterans and spoke widely to men's groups in Washington state, and was a founder of The Lodge of the Wolf.

D. H. BROWN has worked as a Logistics and Weapons Specialist in Viet Nam; day laborer; Director of Security; Armored Car Driver; Police Officer; Professional Hunting Guide; Trapper; Dog Sledder; Homesteader; Truck Driver; General Contractor; Minister; Editor; Writer; Speaker; Restaurateur; Movie Producer; Antique Restoration Specialist; Personal Care Worker; PC Repair Specialist; Computer Instructor; Webmaster and Web Designer. "I write about what I know."

He lives deep in the Pacific Northwest rainforest with his wife, author and editor Rebecca and Buddy Dog, working on his next book.
Visit him at: www.dhbrownbooks.com