Book 1), Legend (Drenai Tales

David gemmell is the best fantasy fiction writer I have ever read every character jumps to life and the action is incredible. Reading any of gemmell books is a pleasure and putting them down to try to get back to your life is difficult.

I do believe this was how Fantasy ( with a capital "F") was originally envisioned to be...larger than life heroes, graphic mayhem, necromancy, and of course--death at every turn. Top-notch writing, glorious detail, and living, breathing characters that you can get behind (which is great if you're in combat) all situated in a yarn that you wish would never end. One wonders how much more Mr. Gemmell could have accomplished if not for his extremely early departure for other realms.

David Gemmell has been one of my favorite writers since I stumbled upon his book LEGEND over 20 yrs ago. His characters are alway very human . The heroes have flaws, the villains weren't always bad and even though there's sword and sorcery afoot , you can relate in a real way to the characters.?

I picked up this book at the recommendation of a friend and wasn't disappointed. It is truly an epic tale of war, honor, betrayal, love and much more. The only negative comment I could give is that it takes a while for the book to pick up steam. But once it does, it goes full throttle. Barring that, it's a very entertaining read. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Very well written book. Tons of action inside the pages, the story does not hang on any-one particular action scene. The flow is just non-stop. We get some serious questions asked why one would fight, and varied answers with different interpretations. Seeing different points of view in the story was a nice touch and kept things interesting and fresh. I did not like the ending as much as I would have hoped, but that is the only thing I did not like about the story.

Some people dis this book,but I love it.Especially the charaters.David Gemmel was a legend,and his legacy lives on.Had a good mate that did'nt read,Lent him Legend and he's a full on reader now,compare books every time we catch up.

If you enjoy stories about past their prime heroes gearing up for one last adventure, this should fit the bill. The prose is average, the characterizations fair, but the story is good and the pages turn fast. I can't say that it stuck enough of a chord with me to pick up any of David Gemmell's other Druss stories, but maybe one day...

Desperate for my Uhtred fix until Cornwell released his next "Saxon Stories" volume, I picked 'Legend' up as something possibly similar (do not expect any fantasy in the Saxon Series).'Legend' is... OK. Don't regret reading it.Some decent action, some interesting character development. Other characters appear abruptly, do something obvious, and meet their end or go away. But I'm not racing to pick up the sequel. Probably won't.

My first introduction to David Gemmell and to Druss. Entertaining and an easy read but a bit too unbelievable.
I like historical novels and was hoping this might be along those lines even if not based on fact.
It was not, but was a great warfare epic with romance and drama thrown in for good measure.

Solid storytelling. Good characters, a different take on the heroic last stand which made me care about the different characters and what happened to them.

Rushed and deus ex machina ending though.

I have become accustomed of late to deep, rich intricate stories such as those by R.R. Martin and Steven Erikson. To a certain extent it was actually a refreshing break to read a simple, linear, unpretentious book such as this. Sort of like going from watching exclusively deep, foreign films to sitting back and catching a rerun of Batman on TV. This book is mindless fun. I actually chuckled when, after reading the book, I saw that it's sole accolade on the back cover was written by R.A. Salvatore. There are a lot of similarities between their works. For one thing this is easy, accessible reading. Five pages in you know the plot and there is absolutely no thought required. Like Salvatore's works, the characters are completely unmemorable, depthless and generic. You could care less what happens to them except that it advances the storyline. Also like in Salvatore's books, there is absolutely no consequence to anyone's actions. The heroes are all virtually omnipotent, if they do get hurt or even die, they come back several times before then end of the book. There could not be a more simple story. It is the story of a single assault on a single keep with a requisite love interest thrown in for good measure.

This is junk fantasy but it was kinda fun to read. It makes no pretentions. I read it in 3 days while working nights as well. If you are a discerning fantasy reader you may well scorn this book as overly simple. I found it to be a nice sorbet in-between more serious reading. I would not, however, buy any more Gemmell books though. I require a bit more sustenence than this for regular reading. Perfect for a young reader.

Actually published in 1984, Legend now seems archaic with wooden prose sermonizing (often) about death and dying. At one point, we read this: " 'Obey your husband, woman!' he thundered." The "he" is Druss the hero. The "woman" is the heir to an Earlship. What a riot. By 1993 and the publication of The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend, Gemmell has improved somewhat; at least he doesn't write lines like the above. But I wouldn't advise anyone to read any of the Gemmell books written before perhaps 2000. After that, his books seem to be relatively innocuous adventures bouncing between horrifying and glorifying war.

Oh, LOL.

Oh, LOL, oh, LOL, oh LOL.

What the hell was this?

Synopsis: The Nadir (Mongol-type culture hereafter referred to as Chakka-Kahn) are invading the Drenai at Dros Delnoch. The Chakka-Kahn have 500,000 soldiers, the Drenai have 10,000.

200 pages of lead-up lead to 200 pages of hard fighting in which we learn that the Chakka-Kahn have another 4 armies as large as the present one, totaling 2.5 million soldiers, reinforcements will not be coming for the Drenai, and all the good warriors will die, including the Countess of Dros Delnoch.

Just when all is lost--literally the Chakka-Kahn are SECONDS from storming the keep and slaughtering EVERYONE--impossibly, Chief Chakka-Kahn HALTS THE INVASION for some "trouble at home."

WHAT?

DUDE. YOU HAVE ANOTHER TWO MILLION SOLDIERS AT HOME.

Two MILLION.

In what way was it illogical to storm the keep and leave an occupying army of say, a mere 100,000 soldiers, and go home and deal with your "trouble?"

There were a lot of laughable elements in this book, but the ending made me laugh so hard, I almost fell off the treadmill. Because not only do the half-million soldiers just leave with a mere "I'll be back," but the dead countess comes back to life.

Back to life.

After being dead for DAYS.

GAH.

I can't even wrap my head around how I feel about this ending, because I was with the author all the way, until every last soldier was dead. That's what should've happened, thus motivating the kingdom to go attack the shit out of Dros Delnoch and get a triumphant rev

I had heard good things about this book, but sadly, it did not live up to the hype.

This is a tired story with bad guys who only of bad, good guys who only do good and a central hero who is the only one to ever figure things out, etc.

At least, that's what I got out of the first half or so of the book. After that I quit reading it, as I figured my time was better spent doing almost anything else.

For a better read, try Joe Abercrombie, Iain M Banks, Peter F Hamilton, George R R Martin, and a host of others.

Not terrible, cause I finished it, but to call it a cookie cutter action fantasy would be too much praise. Tired simplistic language, shallow plot, poorly developed characters. I wont be reading any more of these.

This is a book I've read over and over again, picking it up every few years for a new read. This isn't the deepest of books as such, but the main and some of the side characters are fascinating, and at times rather touching. The premise is simple: A small but important fort is about to be attacked by a barbarian horde. The fort is undermanned and poorly lead, and the soldiers mainly untrained farmhands sent there to protect their land.
Enter Druss, an aging legendary warrior, staring death in it's face and deciding to have a final go, knowing that he'll most likely meet his demise. And a lazy dandy type of character that turns out to have some depths and unexpected facets. Some bandits, including a woman with a rather dramatic back story. And the main villain is presented in some detail too, and as far as villains go also a character that have some surprising sides to him.
This isn't brilliant storytelling, nor brilliant character development. But we do come to care about the characters, which is the most important aspect of a book for me, and the villain is one that earns our respect along the way too.
Some plot holes and plot solutions are lacking, as one would expect from an author that was fairly young at the time the book was written, and the final parts in particular does have a few magic rabbits too many to make the book a totally satisfying read. But what happens until then, and the way the story plays out and the characters come to life, makes this book a great read, at least for me. First and foremost due to the character Druss I should add. I will also add that certain aspects of the storytelling appears to have been created specifically to emphasize that the character Druss is old and something of an anachronism, which may feel alienating at first in this day and age due to how much the world has changed since this story was written back in the early 1980's.

Possibly the greatest fantasy book written. The feeings that you develop for the characters and the situation they find themselves in is amazing. The entire novel is focussed on the fact they can't win. They won't win. The odds are just too against them.
In comparison with other novels I enjoyed this becasue no characters are spared. Main characters and marginal characters are killed off as plot dictates with no regard to your feelings towards that character. The magic is not so overwhelming that it is the central issue involved in thee storyline and all the characters are almost of scared of being themselves as they are of dying.
The real masterstroke in this book however is the lack of a map. Suddenly you are confronted with having to use your imagination. Are there are places nearby that might be able to help? How far is between places and travelling timeas are issues that you have to retain.
Simply brilliant.

" Legend" was the 1st book I read by David Gemmell & I loved it!!! I bought it for my son who gave it back to me because it wasn't his cup of tea. The main reason I wanted to write a review is to let any new fans know that although the books in this series were published in a certain order it is not the chronological order in which the story goes'. I looked it up & discovered that " Waylander 2" is the U.K. version of " In the realm of the Wolf", they are one & the same book. There are 11 books that complete the Drenai Saga & the chronological order goes' like this. #1: Waylander. #2: In the realm of the Wolf. #3: Hero in the Shadows. # 4: The 1st Chronicle of Druss the Legend. #5: The Legend of Deathwalker. # 6: White Wolf. #7: Legend. # 8: The King beyond the Gate. #9: Quest for lost Heroes. # 10: Winter Warrior. # 11: The swords of Night and Day. If you are a fan of the Sword & Sorcery genre I have zero reservations about recommending this entire Saga to you. I am a huge fan of Robert E. Howard & J.R.R. Tolkien & would describe David Gemmell as a blend of best that these two authors have to offer. When read in the right chronological order the characters become even more endearing to the reader.

According to Wikipedia (without citation), David Gemmell originally began Legend while being tested for cancer. It was a straightforward metaphor: Dros Delnoch represented him, beleaguered by a formidable foe, the Nadir standing in for the cancer. Perhaps the doctor who was able to tell him he did not, after all, have cancer was a crusty old man who felt obliged to keep tending patients because in some way he was the only one to do it.

But that is, of course, just conjecture. The title, Legend, now pertains not only to Druss, renowned hero of past wars, but to the book itself. It is a giant in the genre, a benchmark and milestone for what are now several solid fantasy tropes.

I rate the book highly; I consider it required reading for a fantasy fan. But while it inspired me to read the rest of the first three Drenai novels, there I stopped, and there I'll stay stopped for a little while. One reason was sheer overload. The body count in my reading was growing exponentially, with great battles and villages razed and soldiers, civilians, men, women, children, horses, and anything else writers felt like throwing in dying in their thousands throughout the book(s). In smallish doses I can manage this. I'm more cynical than I'd like to be, but when this sort of thing is unrelenting over several books that I start longing for fluffy puppies and buttercups and a complete absence of epicness and rotting corpses. This isn't to say that David Gemmell's writing is humorless; the characters exchange banter that is genuinely funny. The problem is that - this being war - so many of the characters you laugh with in one chapter are so very, very dead a few pages later. Still, Legend was the beginning of a re-read of Gemmell's books, and - slowly, parceled out over time - I look forward to making my way through the rest of my collection. Interspersed with comfort reads, of course.

Similarly to Abercrombie, David Gemmell's heroic take and grittiness is uniquely identifiable and brilliantly executed. This impressive story is fueled on adrenaline and electric tension, taking its readers on a thrilling journey and unforgettable adventure. Heartbreaking, poignant and soul searching this is an evocative, beautifully written saga by a masterful writer and author who leads the way in fantasy.

LEGEND is the story of Druss. The grizzled veteran who despite his life of fame and fortune, has chosen to retreat into the mountains seeking solitude. His home is Dros Delnoch ~ the only route through the mountains for the great army. Once the stronghold of the Drenai, the fortress of the Dros Delnoch will now be their last battleground. Dross is their last hope...his story remains a LEGEND.

First published in 1984, David Gemmell's first novel remains to this day a firm favorite and indisputable classic, for he is in my mind the King of heroic fantasy. His Drenai saga and other novels will always remain past treasures, which continue to stand proud within a highly competitive and ever increasingly popular genre. Beautifully descriptive and intricately detailed, you can really envisage clearly each bead of sweat trickling down a sweaty brow, the smell of mud encrusted leather and hear the crackling of smoldering flames licking over pink flesh. Gemmell's style is what I concider to be `old-style' fantasy, similarly to JRR Tolkien, with lavish descriptions and exciting, nail-biting drama.

Fast-paced and acutely absorbing this is such a fantastic read, and one that I would highly recommend to all fantasy fans.

(Quote) ~

"...But the Nadir were grim men, and brave. For they neither cried out nor sought to surrender, but stood their ground and died fighting...one by one they fell, until the last of the warriors was swept from the battlements to lie broken on the rocks below."

It killed some time while I wait for some other books to be released, but it's hard to recommend. Three seems like too many stars, but two too few, so I guess 2.5 out of 5 is where I'd put it. It was ... adequate.

The writing, especially the minimal dialogue, seemed really clunky. And the character development was lacking; I never really cared about any of the characters. Even the end of the book, which should have been sad, then happy, was neither for me. I think after reading authors like Brandon Sanderson, Joe Abercrombie, Brent Weeks and Patrick Rothfuss, this one came up short. I'll be hard-pressed to pick up the next books in the series.

All right, I confess, I have an addiction to David Gemmell's fantasies. I also don't understand how more people in the U.S. don't know about him. In some ways he should be the standard of how fantasy is written. He never dissapoints, he includes action, characterization, drama, and romance in lovely doses. (yes, I just said lovely doses). I wish he had lived longer and written more. Still, thirty books are a lot, and I've only read 6, but Legend, his first work (and perhaps most adored) is a gem.

Legend details the defense of Dros Delnoch a walled keep and city on the edge of Drenai lands. The barbarian forces of the Nadir have been marshaled together by the genius of Warlord Ulric and the entire Drenai civilization is threatened. To this defense comes Druss the Deathwalker, a grizzled, axe-wielding veteran who has never been defeated. Is his legend and the help of a new Earl and his love, along with thirty mystic priest-knights be enough to inspire the people of Dros Delnoch to hold back the invasion? I guess you will have to read it to find out.

Druss is a marvel, as well as all the other secondary characters that are tested in this vicious crucible of death and slaughter. The work is the battle of Helm's Deep on steroids and it is insane that a movie has not been done of this story. If you read this and love it, be at peace knowing the author was kind enough to tell many more stories about the Drenai and of Druss himself.

May the Source be with you.

A popular writer in the UK for years, David Gemmell is becoming acclaimed in the US also. Del Rey has been publishing his new works and republishing some of his old works from the 1980's. Legend is one of his early efforts and is not your run of the mill fantasy novel. It is quite engaging and one of the best novels I have read this year.

Druss the Ax is the type of warrior that is a legend in his own time. Druss has been fighting all his life and was instrumental in turning the tide of many battles in the defense of the Drenai people. But Druss is now fighting the one battle he cannot win...he is getting old.

Druss retired to an estate in the mountains to await old age and death. But barbarians from the north once again threaten the Drenai people. The Drenai king is weak and inept and has let his armies dwindle to an inadequate force. Now 250,000 barbarians are marching on the fortress of Dros Delnoch, which is badly undermanned. If this fortress falls, the barbarian hordes will sweep into Drenai and pillage the land. Druss reluctantly comes out of retirement to fight in one last battle to defend Dros Delnoch. Everyone says the battle is hopeless. But Druss has been in thousands of hopeless battles before. Can this hero rise to the occasion one last time to once again be the salvation of his people?

There is very little magic and sorcery in this fantasy novel. The main focus is on the courage and strength of ordinary soldiers asked to perform an extraordinary feat. There will be no sudden magical surprises to turn the tide of battle at the end. Only pluck, grit, luck and vicious hand-to-hand combat will turn the tide of battle at Dros Delnoch. The characters Gemmell creates are earthy, tough and very believable. Prince Valiant looks like a sissy compared to Druss and his compatriots. Druss is a man you would have been proud to know and someone you would risk your life to defend. You know from the start that the good guys here are doomed (10,000 defenders vs. 250,000 barbarians), but the conclusion of the novel is as satisfying as it is unexpected. Bravo, Mr. Gemmell for bringing back the true heroic fantasy novel!

Legend by David Gemmell is an intriguing tale of a hero from the past coming out of retirement to help fight a battle. This is the first book I have read by Gemmell and can honestly say I will be reading more. Gemmell has a straight forward style that is not over the top, but he has a knack for weaving a great believable story. I never post spoilers in my reviews, but there are two things in this book that I didn't see coming. One positive and one negative, I'll let you decide which is which.

The characters are what truly drive this book. While the story is good, the characters are that much better. From Rek and Druss to Bowman and Hogun, they are all believable and all have their flaws that add to the story. Another thing that I found particularly enjoyable was the dialog of the characters. Gemmell has a way of making sure the reader hears different voices in their head as the characters talk. I have been told that character dialect is one of the most difficult things for a writer to do and Gemmell pulls it off with no problems at all. I have read books that are character driven that I have not liked at all, yet with these characters you don't want the book to end.

On top of great characters is a pretty straightforward plot, but done in such a way that the reader doesn't know what to expect. I mentioned before the hero of old returns from retirement to fight in this epic battle. I am not one that enjoys reading about these large scale battles, I think they are over done and can be found in to many books, yet the way Gemmell does it he gives the impression of the large scale battle - without all the fluff. There is a little bit of political intrigue but the meat of the story is the battle, holding the keep from the invading army. I wasn't sure if the book could sustain this battle for as long as it did, but when I finished I could easily see how more could have been written about it and still been fine.

I have a few `complaints' about this book, one I won't mention because it's a spoiler. But the other is simply that the ending felt rushed to me. The entire book is building up to the end of this massive large scale battle, only once you get there - it seems rushed and a little disjointed. It's not to say it's a bad ending, just that I think it could have been done better and still gotten where the author wanted to go. I think part of this may be due to this being the first book Gemmell had published at the time (1984), but it bugged me a little bit.

With all that said, I think if you are a fantasy fan, even a casual fantasy fan at best, you will enjoy this story. I would highly recommend it.

David Gemmell's premiere novel, "Legend," is a stunning debut in the realm of heroic action-fantasy. This is a blood-and-thunder tale of battle, great warriors, blood-red axes, sinister magical forces, and heroism in the face of hopelessness, all cast in the mold of the great Robert E. Howard (creator of Conan). But Gemmell manages to transcend most of the generic heroic fantasy put out today by Howard imitators. "Legend" contains numerous surprises, the largest of which is how human a story it is -- despite the towering, mythic quality of the narrative. Gemmell makes characterization a strong part of his story, so the reader isn't merely waiting for the next big battle sequence to carry them along to the end.
The story is straightforward: the barbarian tribes of Nadir, under the rule of conquest-hungry King Ulric, make a concentrated to push to overthrow the long-standing nation of Drenai. Only a major fortress, Dros Drenloch, stands between the Nadir and a complete sweep across the lands of Drenai. The deciding battle will come at the walls of Dros Drenloch, and the defenders have small-to-zero chance of holding back the barbarian tide. That is until Druss the Legend, the greatest Drenai warrior, strides down from his hills to join the men at Dros Drenloch. But Druss is now an old man, and can even his legendary status and the aid of The Thirty, an order of men with mystical powers, hold back the mad barbarian horde?
The entire book focuses on the build up to and the battle of Dros Drenloch, a sustained piece of action and tension. Gemmell can write raw, ripping action scenes, and his military descriptions ring with accuracy. But he also has a cast of wonderful characters, and manages to make them achingly human and vulnerable, where most other authors would make them larger than life and impossibly invincible, and therefore impossibly distant from the reader. Druss is a great cast in point: a legendary hero, but now he is in his sixties and obviously past his prime. He knows he can die, and knows that he probably will die soon, but tries to do everything in his power to last until the end. The legend aura swirls around him, but the reader comes to know the real person inside the myth. However, the real protagonist of the tale of Rek, who becomes the Earl of Dros Drenloch. Rek is a seemingly average warrior with fears of cowardice, but with a streak of the berserker in him. In his doubts and anxieties, and also in his great romance with the beautiful Virae, the readers find their true connection with the story. Also surprising is the sympathetic portrait Gemmell creates of the "villain," Ulric.
"Legend" is an all-around excellent heroic fantasy. If you love epic battles and tales of grand heroism, you won't find one much better written -- or more poignantly human -- than this one.

To me, like the title of this book, David Gemmell is a legend. Throw him in with Howard and Leiber and Moorcock when writing this sort of stuff.

This is one writer that has never let me down. I have never been disappointed and thought any book was a complete waste of time, or no good. That is an amazing feat, to me.

He is one of the few sword and sorcery writers whose books I have happily reread.

A pity the grim reaper couldn't claim average hack writer x, instead of this gentleman.

Druss, with various sobriquets, is an aging warrior or immense ability and presence. Deathwalker, Captain of the Axe, and Legend.

The Drenai nation has a problem due to lack of political will, in that a neighboring leader has united many warring tribes and amassed an army of amazing size. Ulric is bringing his Nadir horde to conquer the Drenai.

All that stands in the way is Dros Delnoch, a fortress that has never fallen, but is severely undermanned.

Some of the military with sense send a request to Druss to come and help. Druss is happy enough in peace and quiet and no violence, but knows he is becoming an old man, and decides that this might not be too bad a way to go out.

The Drenai hope that he can hold their army together long another, for their competent general to tour the country and raise an army that can come to their aid.

They do have one other hope for help, although they don't know it. A wandering droput named Rek comes to realise that his berserker ability and wandering are leading him towards his destiny as the Earl of Bronze. If he can find the armor to go with it, along with Druss and the other leadership, the Drenai may be able to hold it together long enough.

Heroic fantasy at its finest as the Drenai make their last, desperate stand.

Legend is a war story wrapped thinly in a fantasy shell, make no mistake about it. The places and peoples are fictional, and here and there is a small dose of magic or the supernatural (and most of that coming near the end), but Gemmell's world seems very real - like a past that never existed. The action in this world centers primarily around Rek, a thoughtful rogue, a warrior woman, Virae, and Druss the Legend. Together with a vast assortment of other interesting characters, their task is to defend the Drenai stronghold of Dros Delnoch from the invading Nadir barbarians. The odds are stacked highly against them, but this is how legends are born.
Gemmell's writing style is a little disconcerting at first, as he certainly takes no pleasure in beating around the bush. The pacing is fast - almost rushed - for many of the opening chapters, but in retrospect this is a welcome thing. Other authors such as Robert Jordan would do well to take the David Gemmell approach and forsake any sort of "filler." Don't expect Gemmell to tell you how much decore there is in a room, or what designs are woven into the carpet - he just tells you that you're in a room, and moves on immediately into more important matters. Characters get just as little discription at times, but are brought to life by their actions as the story progresses (though I dare say that too many unimportant characters are introduced during the course of the novel). If Gemmell has a weakness as a writer, it comes only in his ability to create atmosphere. The atmosphere in Legend is basic (but functional), and though the world in which the battles are fought seems real enough, it is given little description.
What Gemmell is exceedingly good at is inspiring the reader through bold deeds and courageous exploits. As one reads Legend, he wonders if the world we live in now would not benefit a great deal from the codes of honor with which most of Gemmell's characters lead their lives. Even the foes of the Drenai, the Nadir, are sympathetic in their own fashion. In fantasy fiction, most authors have a hideously evil villain and the heroes who stand against it, but in Legend the heroes are ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances, and there are no clear-cut villains. This is refreshing.
Legend is supremely quotable, filled with excellent dialogue - both comedic, ironic, and vastly inspirational. The characters are lovable and touchable. Legend is a tale of glory and triumph, even through death, that manages to stand tall in a crowded genre and demand attention. It is a fantastic read.

Finally, a fantasy book that stands alone. I know that the author continued to explore the Drenai world after LEGEND, but it was very refreshing to read a fantasy book that told a complete story in one volume.

Additionally, the book is brief (345 pages), which is a nice change of pace from the massive 1000-page volumes that seem prevalent in the genre (though I don't necessarily mind those).

Gemmell introduces sympathetic characters and thrusts them into action. The world feels complete without being overbearing. The book focuses on one event: a pivotal battle. Details are given of the surrounding world, but they work as backdrop for the more important events on which the story focuses; the defense of a fortress.

The development of characters is good and believable. The book is fast-paced, which if you feel like I do, is sometimes a weakness in fantasy. Gemmell, in contrast to some of his contemporaries, has no problem getting to the point. This results in a work that is a page-turner. This is refreshing in a genre that takes its time (how many pages have Jordan, Goodkind, and Martin filled to tell their tale?).

The overarching mystery, and really the climax of the story, focuses on why these characters fight. I found this very entertaining and you will too. LEGEND gives a wonderful taste of the dishes Gemmell serves, but leaves you to decide whether to order seconds.

I, for one, savored the literary meal prepared by an author that isn't afraid to serve the main course. I recommend this book

I never was a big reader....Playstation 2, Cable TV, listening to cds & the internet was where I spent my downtime. Then I read my first Gemmell novel, "White Wolf", one year ago. My next book was this one, "Legend". Since then I have read every book of his I could get my hands on until I had read them all. This book (and the every book of "Drenai Tales Series") is/was major science fiction/fantasy triumph. I could go on & on about how great Gemmell is, how great the characters are, etc, etc and it would all be true. But the main reason I love his books is that he puts you there, right there in the story. He takes you away from the sick kids, the fight you had with your wife, the bad day at the office, whatever your "ill" of the moment is and transports you into a world of heroic fantasy that seems all too real. It might be the fact he Gemmell touches on so many relevant human traits such as honor, loyalty, honesty, courage, friendship, respect that seem to be lacking in today's fast paced, "me first" society. Reading Gemmell puts me in a world I want to be part of and experience first hand. A world I wish could spill over into our modern one.

Anyway, enough rambling. If you are a Gemmell fan, purchasing this book is pretty much a no brainer and you shouldn't even be reading this. If you are a person who has never read any of Gemmell's work, purchase this book along with every book of the series and save yourself some cash on shipping. Even check out zSHops for some great prices on used copies. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

First off, let me say that this is the first novel I've read by David Gemmell. I must say that I was very impressed. His writing style grabbed my attention on the very first page. I felt as if I was actually in the room! And it only got better after that: engaging characters, great pacing, and brilliantly written action scenes. What more could a fantasy fan want?
Gemmell's characters may not be as developed as those of other authors, but they are vivid just the same. Each one was unique and Gemmell cuts to the heart of their motivations with well written interior monologue and interaction with other characters. They may not be the most three dimensional, realistic, or completely believable characters, but Gemmell puts them out there with such well written passages, it's hard not to like (or hate) them.
Gemmell's pacing is another thing I really liked. This wasn't one of those involved, complex novels like Jordan or Martin write. This was a straightforward, light reading book with the appropriate pacing. In the first couple of pages, we already have a general foreboding of what is to come. After that, Gemmell introduces the main characters in short order and gets them on their way with a minimum of pointless wandering.
And then we get to his battle scenes. Take Salvatore's one on one swordfights and extrapolate that to a battle involving thousands and you'll get the general idea. Sometimes when an author writes a fight scene, they stretch it out with such description that it loses all of its tension and excitement. Gemmell manages to write such scenes with just enough description so that you can tell what's happening, but not so much that you don't feel involved. I hardly breathed for the last fifty pages.
Due to this book, I will now be buying more of Gemmell's books. He is a very enjoyable author (at least, judging by this book) and I can't wait to get to the rest of his stuff. If you're into gritty military fantasy with lots of brutal action, you'll enjoy this immensely.

It was refreshing to make my way through a simple fantasy novel like Legend and not have to juggle 13,000 characters like one has to do with Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Legend works. The plot is effective, comprising a siege scenario with a relative handful of heroes defending the fortress Dros Delnoch against stupendous odds. When it becomes clear that the barbarian chief Ulric plans to take Dros Delnoch, the lord of the keep sends a desperate plea to the veteran warrior Druss the Legend to come aid in its defense. Druss, knowing that it's a lost cause, decides to help out anyway. He arrives and organizes the defense of the city, in time to meet the assault...
The siege begins about halfway through the novel, so there's a lot of buildup beforehand, which serves to heighten the tension. The pacing of the story and the battle descriptions are excellent. Tragic moments, like deaths of main characters, are nearly tear-jerkers, a testament to Gemmell's skill. Characterization is a bit on the weak side; Gemmell fails to make his main characters seem human, they're overly heroic and flawless. Perhaps the later books in the series will mature in that regard, although the sequel The King Beyond the Gate seems to have the same problem so far.
Also, the defenders have the endurance of androids. It's nearly impossible to fight hand-to-hand for even a few hours, in full armor and wielding heavy weapons, without collapsing from exhaustion. But these defenders hold the fortress for weeks, as the relentless hordes keep coming! There are other unrealistic moments.
Overall, Legend is a good read and worth the time for fantasy buffs. There's better fantasy out there (some much better) in the form of multi-volume series, but for a standalone novel Legend works well.

Gemmell's Legend is without a doubt, his masterpiece. Not only does it stand out among his other wonderful fantasy books he's written, but it stands out among other authors' work as well.

This book gives readers many things to think about, including fate, the reason men go on living and what the purpose of all life is. I won't give away anything, but after you read the end and really think about it in terms of the book as a whole, this book will leave you with many parting thoughts and openers for discussion.

The only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the reader's lack of emotional closeness to the characters. Don't get me wrong--I cared about the fates of the defenders, but for some reason for most of the characters I felt this emotional detachment. I wanted to feel close to them, to really care about them, but Gemmell just did not do that for me. It's true that it's better for an author to show than tell, but while I got a sense of what Druss was like through his actions, I still feel like I did not know him all that well. This isn't a good thing, considering he is a main character in this book.

This book is not for younger kids, mostly due to the extreme violence and the darker nature of the book. I'd reccommend this for older teens through adult.

Even if you do not generally like fantasy, you may still like this book. The magic is very low-key; no witches and warlocks running around shooting firebolts out of their hands. In fact, the only magic in this book could be described more as spirituality than actual magic. The fighting system in this book is much more based on reality than most fantasy books I have read.

I liked this book. It's linear, but it's inspirational.

The story is similar to 300 (The Ancient Greek Battle of Thermopylae). A well trained army of half a million is going to attack and ten thousand men have to defend a fortress to hold them off. The impending battle reaches the ears of a 60 year old legend named Druss, who lives as a hermit in the mountains. This battle is his last chance to die a warrior's death; so he joins.

His legend precedes him and he uses his fame and experience to inspire and organize the troops. Well, past his prime, Druss also has to live up to his legendary status and pushes himself to his limits. The middle of the book focuses on the transformation of a bunch of ill equipped farmers into an elite fighting force. What makes this book stand out is that this transformation is believable.

It's a really good book. The battles are exciting and tactical. The characters are memorable. The dialogue is funny, inspirational, and entertaining. There's also a good deal of character development in this book as well.

This is a really good read.

Before there was JRR Tolkien, there was Robert E. Howard who created what would later be called Heroic Fantasy or Sword-and-Sorcery. With the justly-earned popularity of Lord of the Rings, it seems to me that many writers and publishers of fantasy fiction have forsaken the heroic ballads for overly-complex, over-sized, and, endless series. David Gemmell has not forgotten the heart of a good fantasy tale which is simply heroes (or anti-heroes).

This is the story of Druss, the Captain of the Axe, the Deathwalker, the Legend and his defiant stand with the heroes of Dros Delnoch against the massive overwhelming barbarian hordes who vow to conquer the kingdom. It's the classic "few stood against many" theme that when done right makes one's heart soar. Mr. Gemmel defiantly knows how to do it right and then some. The story starts out pleasantly entertaining, but before you know it, it reaches out to grab you by the guts.

Legend was my first of what will be many David Gemmell books and all I can say is what took me so long to give him a try.

The first work of Gemmell that I read was the first book in his Rigante series, The Sword in the Storm. I was thouroughly dissapointed. I found his characters unlikeable and 1-dimensional, and his world-building subpar at best. I vowed to never read another Gemmell work.
I'm glad I decided to not keep that promise to myself.
Legend was great. It was a short, action-packed ride that left me hungry for more. I didn't dislike one of Gemmell's characters. Sure, they aren't as well-developed and real as George RR Martin's huge cast of characters in his Song of Ice and Fire Series(Which any fantasy fan should read), but they work for a book this short. I especially like the albino warrior Serbitar and the Cynical Earl of Bronze, Regnak and of course the Legend himself, Druss.
I have never seen a author handle combat better than Gemmell, and the siege of the fortress Dros Delnoch by the Nadir horde, which lasts nearly half the book, was so well done that it almost made me shiver.
Buy this, read it. Its definately worth it to spend three or four days finishing it. I look forward to reading the second book in the series, which from the preview looks every bit as good as this one.

David Gemmell introduces readers to Druss the Legend in Legend, Book 1 of the Drenai Tales.
In an interesting departure from the way that these types of book series usually go, Legend picks up with Druss as an old, old man. He is a legendary warrior and the veteran of dozens of campaigns. His exploits are known throughout the realm and he is getting ready for one last battle.
Gemmell's writing is very tight and the characters are all fully realized and utilized. His dialogue flows throughout the story and he does a good job fitting the words to the various characters. His battle scenes are among the best I've ever read.
While not high fantasy, it still provides a good romp through a land of swords with just a touch of magic in it. I enjoyed it and I think you will too.

After reading a few fantasy books I think I'm hooked. I've now read some Jordan and the HBO Game of Thrones series got me to read some Martin, although I will admit I like the HBO series much better. I'm not a huge fan of Martin's writing style but I can certainly appreciate his talent and imagination. A friend had me read some David Gemmell and I must say that I'm hooked. I'm now a big fan of Gemmell's work. I've read several of his books and I really like them all, including Legend. I read Gemmell for a fast exciting read. I read him when I want to keep turning the page or when I'm eager for protagonists of a different mold. I love how Gemmell can take a somewhat ordinary person and turn him into a hero...something he did with Druss, Waylander, and many of his other characters. I often wonder how people can give some books one star reviews while I liked them so much. I think it has a lot to do with what you get enjoyment from. Some people can enjoy the little things...while others cannot. To me Gemmell's books, and Legend was no different, is a conglomeration of many little things formed together into a fun and exciting read. I felt that way about McWhirter's Cavalier book as well. I'm not looking for anything heavy or multidimensional when I read a Gemmell book. If I want that I will read Martin or Jordan's later books in the Wheel of Time series. I just want to escape and go for a wild ride with likeable characters, good pacing, and intense action. So far Gemmell has delivered this for me. Plus, I just loved Druss. What a great character.

I generally loath fantasy novels. I picked up Gemmell's recent Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow and enjoyed it immensly for a pretty imaginative and acurate speculation about the forces leading up to the Trojan war. Sort of a mediocre historical novel with touches of fantasy or heroic fiction. So I decide to start reading more of Gemmell and that lead me to the Drenai series.

This is a real solid book with unusually well-rounded characters and exciting action writing. The usual stereotypical fantasy characters and situations are mostly missing (the magic ring! The divine sword! Yet another retread of stock Tolkien characters!). Go figure, I genuinely cared for some of these people and wondered what was coming next.

On the down side, Gemmell does have a weakness for the usual heroic studly male and female players who make love like gods and fight off hundreds of barbarians at a time, etc.. But if you can get beyond these Barbie and GI Joe models, you will find some well drawn charaters and tense narrative. Enjoy!

Yes, I lean more to the epic fantasy such as Martin, Jordan, Hobbs, or Tolkien... but on occasion, I need a dose of mind-numbing action. Gemmell delivers this as well as anyone I've read. The book is a bit unrealistic at times- (Just about every hero who dies manages to take his killer with him to the grave.) There isn't much of a plot. It's not an overly descriptive fantasy setting. -But LEGEND is quite an involving page-turner.
A foreign warlord has united the savage Nadir tribes into a fierce horde, which threatens to conquer the Drenai kingdom. While the Drenai frantically attempt to muster a defense, only one fort stands in the horde's way... Dros Delnoch- a mighty fortress indeed, but they have but a few farmers to protect it with... and Druss the Legend. Will they be able to hold back the never-ending tide of Nadir warriors? You will certainly enjoy finding out!
I'm glad I took the advice of the other reviewers here and gave LEGEND a shot. I will definitely hit some more Gemmell in the future- the man's got talent!

So, here it all begins - and ends. I'd read a few other Drenai Tales before managing to find volume 1 (a freebie on bookmooch.com), and while there wasn't the thrill of discovering Gemmell, my not insignificant expectations were met. This is enjoyable stuff, and part of me wonders why when there are so many clichés. Really, what can anyone do with yet another lost cause besieged city, some heroes, wizards and royal love interests? (Unless, lucky you, you're just starting out on this genre.) Gemmell almost seems to ask this question himself: there is a lot of philosophising in this book as characters continue to question why they are prepared to die for this lost cause - a question they never quite resolve.

For all the speculation and avoidance of hell-spawn enemy vs. last hope of humanity framework (there is mutual respect between foes), the violence that drives the story is utter fantasy. The veteran characters privately seem to acknowledge the futility of war, but the highest glory any one can hope for is to be a better killer than the next man. It's a sport viewpoint: you hate to lose and do all you can to win, but the best opponents are the ones most likely to defeat you. Gemmell takes the licence of fiction to apply this to war - and it's enjoyable as fiction because, as in sport, a loss isn't really a life or death matter.

Again, in hindsight I question why I enjoyed this as much as I did. The women for a start. Virae is such a demeaning stereotype: the ungainly princess just needing the right man to fulfil her. And black widow Caessa who seduces to kill because of childhood trauma - hardly an insightful new concept. Maybe Gemmell is saying, "Sure, it's a cliché, but you can still do it well." As he does with fallen royal-vagabond Bowman - his joking front, of course, hides a dark secret, but as he and Rek tease each other about their looks we do chuckle without needing a laugh track. The friendship between everymen soldiers Gilad and Bregan is a fantasy standard, but charming nonetheless.

Maybe the problem isn't so much yet another writer trying to take us to Conan's world, it's that so many don't quite make it. Gemmell makes it.

If you're a fan of heroic fantasy, then this book - nay, this author - is definitely for you. Legend was David Gemmell's first big hit, and he embarked on a series of entertaining works following the success of this highly-acclaimed novel.

Now, Robert Howard, creator of Conan, was the father of sword & sorcery fantasy; the undisputed king of heroic fantasy literature. Unlike many would-be usurpers of that crown, David Gemmell maintains the rich tradition and standard established by Howard while adding exciting new elements of his own, without jeopardizing the age-old formula.

David Gemmell is as awesome in this type of fantasy as George Martin is with his. While epic fantasy authors like Martin tend to present the characters, settings, and story all on a stage for readers to follow, heroic fantasy authors such as Gemmell will put you behind the eyes of the main character, viewing the harsh realities of the world from the perspective of the protagonist and/or villain.

Legend is a classic example of a harsh man, Druss, living in a harsh world. An old man, summoned from his isolated mountain by desperate and besieged men, hoping that the presence of an old legend would somehow turn the tide of war against the encroaching Nadir army, led by their warlord, Ulric. Unlike most stories, Druss doesn't put on a Super man cape, fly down from his high peak, and put to right every injustice made in the world. Druss must overcome personal issues, such as his advanced age and fear of failure. Surrounded by men younger than him, Druss must once again prove his worth on the battlefield, against an enemy that acknowledges his past deeds yet is nevertheless intent on their violent task ahead, even if it means going toe-to-toe against a grizzly warrior who once knew no equal.

The action is intense, the story flows like butter, and the characters - virtually every single one of them - will forever be ingrained into memory in a story whose title could not be any more fitting.

This book is probably the best I have ever read. The characters are not that well defined, the story is confusing in the begginning, and it jumps from character to character without warning adding to the confusion. The main thing that sticks out in my mind is that Rek and Virae hate each other and then within an hour and some sex they pledge their undying love. But if you like fighting then this is the book for you, it consists of mostly fighting and the author goes into alarming detail. Gemmel includes just the right amount of honor and hopelessness to make this book worthwhile. Despite its earlier flaws this book is more than worth the money it costs and the time it takes to read. I certainly intend to read this again and again. It is almost impossible to tell people about how good this book really is in the thousand word limit that is given us, so if you are considering buying this book, read the other reviews and they should make up your mind. Gemmel is not an International Bestseller for nothing!

Gemmell has said that `Legend' remains his favourite book. 1st published in the U.K. in 1984, it launched the man into a career that has placed him today arguably as the top living British fantasy writer. Spawning numerous sequels and prequels set in the Drenai world. As a first novel, it is an excellent story. Characters are crisp and fresh - the plot simple, but robust. This is, of course, not as mature as his later work, but this is understandable. Gemmell creates worlds which as basic in construct with a bronze-age, or iron-age feel to them, rather than the complex medieval worlds of authors such as George RR Martin, or Tad Williams. Gemmell's Empires and kingdoms have more akin to those of ancient Greece, Rome or Carthage than to Arthurian Legends or medieval Europe. For comparison see his latest `Rigante' works. Once you start with Gemmell you will find you want to come back for more

Druss, "the Legend" is about as close as you will come to finding a replacement for Conan. Druss is the great warrior who has bested many foes with his axe, and the far more dangerous weapon - his cleverness. Druss knows that it's not the size of the army, or its ferocity, but rather a combination of many things. That is why Druss comes out of retirement to defend the walls from the invading army. They are outnumbered, surrounded, and untrained... But it does not matter to Druss, because he knows his time is up on this world, but he wants to put on one last good show. And a grand showing it is to be sure!
Anyone who loves fantasy or just rooting for the underdog should read this. It is written in crisp Gemmell fashion and will leave you as breathless as the people who fall beneath Druss's axe.

Thanks Again Mr. Gemmell.

Relic113

As a recent transplant to the fantasy genre, I bought a bunch of books with interesting covers. This is perhaps not the most scientific way to purchase books, but I fell in love with the Lord of the Rings movies, then the books by JRR Tolkien, and I was hungry to continue the adventures. This series fits the bill perfectly. It is full of heroes, humor, angst, action, and sacrifice. The characters are fully fleshed out. Even the minor characters, the ones you learn to care about despite the fact you know they probably won't survive until the last page, are well-rounded and distinct. Magic is used sparingly, and always to chilling effect. Someone said this series is not great literature. Well, I find most of the books in the "literature" section to be dull as day-old toast. I am proud to be an action-adventure junkie! Legend feeds the need.

Sadly David Gemmell died a short while ago and I find it difficult to review a book that I first read when David was very much alive and only just beginning his trade as a writer of fantasy novels. Admittedly his first offering were acceptable but not great, but he honed his skills and grew to be one of the greatest fantasy writers ever. If you have not read any of his books then now is the time to start, I am sure you will not be disappointed. The only sad thing is that David will not be around to write new books that would bring even more pleasure to his multitude of fans.

Druss, the legend, Captain of the Axe, one of the mightiest warriors who ever lived has chosen to wait for death in a hideaway deep in the mountains. The last stronghold of the Drenai, the mighty fortress of Dros Delnoch is under threat from the Nadir hordes. Many of the Drenai's most famous warriors have gathered there to make a stand against the Nadir who have violated and destroyed all in their path. But even the best warriors the Drenai can muster will be massacred without the help of one man . . .

I kept having doubts that this book was "working" for me for the first quarter or so. I would prefer if it were a bit longer with more detail and more familiarizing with some of the fringe characters and little sub-plots (some were cool and interesting, but always ended abruptly. As soon as I went "all in" I really got into the story. I had a hard time putting this book down for the second half.....BUT
******STOP READING IF YOU HAVEN"T FINISHED THE BOOK YET******

The ending is inexcusably unimaginative, and downright stupid. The three big events that happen right at the end are horribly lame in my opinion - and border on lazy writing.

David Gemmell, in my opinion, was one of the best fantasy writers out there, if not the best. His stories contain fully fleshed out characters, gripping story lines, and excellent real world allegories. This book is no different in those areas than the others he has written.

Druss, an aging warrior far past his prime, is a lonely man living alone in his home in Drenai. He is called upon by the Drenai in their most desperate hour when they are besieged by the most massive army ever assembled. Druss, though old, takes up the call of battle to defend his land and people.

This tale is completely full with physical confrontations, emotional turmoil, and espionage. The language and grammar in Gemmell's books are clean and immaculately written, giving great descriptions of each scene that will leave you telling yourself time and again, "Just one more page."

I highly recommend this book if you like any kind of fantasy writing, or any kind of fiction writing at all. It is one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read, and it will leave you wanting more of Druss, and of Gemmell.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best pieces of fantasy literature that I have ever read. What sets it apart is how it begins: in the winter of the great hero's life.

We meet Druss as an old man. His legends are already written, the bards have sung his glories for over 40 years. Soon, death will be his to taste at last, the life of the Deathwalker will come to an end.

And from there, it only gets better. Instead of growing with the character and his fame, you have it revealed to you through the actions and stories of others, many of whom worship him. Though he is only a man, he must live his life as the title of this book, "Legend".

And that is just a little taste of Druss, to say nothing of the many other excellent characters in this story. Read it, as I doubt any fantasy fans will be disappointed by this masterful piece.

When I picked up this book I thought that it would be yet another book of battle after battle, good against evil, with no real plot whatsoever. I was genuinely surprised when I got caught up in the plot of the book. David Gemmell has a way of bringing the characters to life and letting you feel the joys and pains of the characters, even if only for a little while. Druss the Legend is just that, a legend. He was and is one of the mightiest warriors ever told about in stories. Druss is an old man now, a hermit living in the mountains waiting to die. The Nadir barbarians are advancing on the Drenai people, and the only thing between the two is one six-walled fortress destined to fall. Druss was asked to come down from his mountain and join the Drenai in their hopeless fight.

I remember buying this book back in the mid 80's during it's previous incarnation, when it first came out here in the USA. (it was originally called 'Against the Horde') The original cover was rather dull & lifeless compared to all of the other fancy colorful covers on sci-fi & fantasy books surrounding it at the time. I picked it up by accident & almost put it back down...but stopped to read the back first...something about the poorly painted warrior with the axe caught my attention on the front cover...or maybe it was fate. I read the back & it sounded interesting...an old heroe's last stand against impossible odds...cool!. I purchased it on impulse & started reading it...& was forever changed on how I view & judge fantasy novels. I literally could not put this book down & read it straight through from start to finish. This book will make you want to laugh, cry, & believe in something a lot bigger than yourself. As far as I am concerned this book (Along with King Beyond the Gate, also by Gemmell) establishes Gemmell as the finest writer of fantasy novels EVER. The only drawback to reading Gemmell's books are that once having read his best work, every other fantasy & sci-fi book by another author that you pick up & start reading will more than likely seem like it was written by a pathetic wannabe hack...no kidding.

Ive just finished reading "Legend " which took me three evenings. Honestly, I don't know how I could waste so much time on Stephen King and Anne Rice. Legend is such a monumental book. Superb. One of the best books Ive ever read. Im so glad I read the reviews of it. I hope they put money into the film they are talking of making, with Sean Connery. Seeing the big screen full of half a million Nadir warriors charging at the city walls, with the defenders facing certain death should be mind-blowing, and sharing the experience of hopeless defense, together with the ageing Legend (Connery) hacking away with his axe should be an experience no-one will forget. What a book. Don't let the theme of heroic fantasy put you off, you wont regret reading this.

David Gemmell's Legend is one of my favorite books. not only because it kickstarts the Drenai series, but also....well.....it's amazing. sorry to sound so simple about it, but i have yet to read a book that just sucked me into the pages like this (gemmell has this down to a science). all his books are quick reads....certainly i have finished some of his books in only a few days, but they all have left a lasting impression on me.

what i love most about legend (and all of his books), is the feeling that i relate to the characters....not just heroes, but also the "villains". and indeed, in other Drenai books, gemmell explores some of the villains in new light, often to such success that i start rooting for them to win.
also, he tends to write in a fashion that allows the reader to jump onto the series at any point and not be lost. Legend may be his first published works, but in the time table of the drenai, it is one of the last in the series. sound confusing? it really isnt.

give legend a shot. if you're anything like me, you'll run out and buy every copy of every book he's ever written, and swallow them up like candy.

...Legend is one of the most refreshing books I have read in a good long time (probably since the last time I read it). It is not great literature, and it doesn't try to be. What it is is a grand heroic adventure full of awesome, bloody, inspiring battle scenes, motivational speeches and pep talks to shame BraveHeart, brave warriors, beautiful women (most of whom also happen to be brave warriors), magic, sieges, true love, valor, and all that other good stuff. It is the story of a vast empire, soft due to complacency, that is being threatened by the barbarian hordes basically. All that stands in the way of the main barbarian armies is one fortress, vastly undermanned, and the soldiers there aren't really soldiers at all but farmers volunteering as soldiers. And at fifty to one odds against, their chances of holding the fort until their empire can raise a REAL army aren't looking good. Enter Druss, fat old man and legendary warrior, who has never lost a battle, who has never given up, who has never sacrificed his principles. The main point of this book is, can the defenders hold out long enough, can this living legend fighting with them give them enough hope to survive. The question isn't whether they will win, but rather how long until they lose. Don't look for deep characters or character development here, look for grand heroes and grander villains, who make their point with actions much more than words. But what action! This has quickly become one of my favorite books just to pick up an read. Try it, you'll love it!

Druss is a legendary warrior.
With bad knees, a stiff back, and problems getting out of bed in the morning.
Gemmell was an extremely talented story teller, and you will enjoy this unique book.
He really mixed legendary superhero with being human in a way that is quite unique.
The book has a few rough spots, but they are minor.

From what I hear, the other books in this 'series' are totally unrelated and not even in the same genre.

But if like me you stopped with this book, you got yourself a great story.

This is one of the greatest books you could ever read.It has the usual indominatable hero warrrior "Druss", who steals the show in my opinion, but also has another reluctant hero whom anybody could relate to.Vivid descriptions of battles which leave you with the feeling you just been given a lesson in swordanship.But the book also stirs the soul, there is a letter written to David Gemmell in which a man saw a womman being attacked in a park, and without hesitation he went to her aid and had he not read the book he doesn't know what he would of done.I'm not saying you'll become a fearless axe wielding warrior, but this book does inspire confidence deep inside you.You will be a different person after it.

This was middle of the road for me - I understand that this is one of "those books" that you have to read if you enjoy Fantasy, and more specifically, Heroic Fantasy - let me say that, without spoiling those who have not read, this is a book of three parts - the first is a few chapters of going to battle and getting ready to fight - then the battle takes 85% of the book - and then the epilogue - there is very little of anything as far as storytelling goes - it is one big romp of war - and the end of the battle - huge let down - it felt like the author said, well, I only have 1,000 words to write, so I will end the war and wrap the story - with a 'twist' that made me re-read, because i could not believe that he did what he did - I will maybe read one more Gemmell, but for the most part, he writes well enough to read, but the stories of his taht I have read leave wanting a Story - it is a string of action sequences with no real reason and a slew of people telling stories of the past for backstory - last chance will be Waylander ....

At last! A book that captured my attention and held it through every single page. This review is like the book - short & sweet.
Not a deep book, but deep enough with a few subplots to keep ya guessin'. Who will survive? Who is the next Legend? Just how doomed are they? Who is the traitor? What is his/her motivation? Is the bad guy really all that bad? What fun!
It's the desperation and determination of the doomed characters that immediately earned my respect, and that' exactly what happens to the characters IN the book!
It is a fast paced paced read with excellent battle descriptions. I've been looking for a book like this for the last several years amidst all the epic 26 volume sagas! I lost several hours sleep; I could not put it down!
Read and enjoy!

I know, I know, I will be going against the grain by giving him four stars and not five. I would go with four and a half but I would still be leaning towards a four. Anyway the only real flaw is there is no map in any of his books that I have seen. That may seem trivial to a lot of readers but it really irks me when a map is not included in the fantasy books that I read. To all you fantasy writers, or up and coming fantasy writers, include maps!! These worlds are totally unknown to the reader. It helps when there is a map in front of you that allows you to follow the action. Or maybe it's just me and I'm quibbling over an unimportant part of a novel. Well, unimportant to the writer anyhow.

Shakespeare, not quite. Dickens, not really. Poe, get real. We're talking Gemmell here. Now, I must admit that I am not a avid fantasy book fan. But when a friend suggested "Legend" to me, I took him up on good faith. No book has ever struck me the way Legend does. With it's amazing detail, precise characterization, and wonderful story, Legend is a monument to all that has been written before. From the start, you are sucked into a twisting plot of fantasy with a very realistic feel. Legend is a legend among books, and should become a part of everybody's vocabulary. I laughed, cried, and jumped up and down. Legend. That's all there is too it.

The ending seemed rushed. Some characters and relationships needed more development (i.e., Rek and Virae). It was a shame that there was no real backstory on Nogusha or Ulric to really build the story to a crescendo. Given the depth of the story, the book could have easily added 150 pages. This is funny, because I most often bemoan about books being too long-winded.

That all being said, I still gave it 4 stars. It was an enjoyable read. Gemmell is definitely a talent.

Firstly, if one is going to expect Crime and Punishment, this will disapoint. However, this is one of the best fantasy novels I have ever read, and I have read a lot. The strength of the book rests on great characterizations (most of them through action rather than simple "He was tough"). The character of Druss in this book is such a huge departure from all the Conan-wannabes out there that his sections are worth the price alone. The "villain" of the book, Ulric, is also one of the greatest characters I have read about, he is very realistic rather than the usual cackling maniac. He seems like someone who could unite a mongol-like group and inspire them to great acts of courage. The scene between Ulric and Druss at wall four is so simple, yet very well done, reflecting the fact that these men are warriors, not great thinkers, who have trouble getting what they want to say across. Thankfully, other characters, even minor ones such as a Drenai surgeon and a Nadir engineer outside the main plot arc were also made very real. And on realism, kudos to mister Gemmell for holding back on the magic button. In far too many books, there is a simple magical button that gets pressed by either evil to make life difficult or by good to provide a Deus Ex Machine ending. While "magic" exists in Legend, it seems more about psychics than wizards, with no fireballs appearing and only one semi-undead person. With the lack of magic, Gemmell focuses on making the tale pretty believable, and I can attest that especially his training section of the novel is pretty true to real life behavior. The whole feel of the book is great too. None of these guys asked to be heroes, most of them thought they would be "home by christmas", and yet many of them CHOOSE to stay and fight, although many of them can't explain why. This is a great book, I heartily recommend it for anyone who wants a great read with characters who leap out of the pages as human.

Swashbuckler !!! If you're into heroic fantasy, but like Douglas Fairbanks Jr flick matinees of yore & yonder, you should have a real ball with this early work by David Gemmell. I have known the British edition since 84 & Gemmell has matured A LOT since then, but I love this read ! Is there new or original stuff here ? No ! Does the plot have more holes than a Swiss cheese & still retains its cheesiness ? Yeah ! Is the Grand Finale a cop-out ? I would say so ! Do the characters tend towards cliché ? Can't deny it ! Do I care ? Noo ! Take this book as it is - straightforward & slightly tongue-in-cheek action, very likeable protagonists capable of heroic actions and gallant acts, a noble savage as the villain, cowards with guts - and one humungous wall to defend. Oh yes, and Druss is old `n fat - but we knew that already, didn't we. So don't be a square - this is pure entertainment written with the unerring verve & enthusiasm of youth. If you like swashbucklers, give Legend a shot.
Sparrowhawk

This is not an elaborate highly intricate fantasy. It is a linear story about a battle involving a number of characters. For those who enjoy spending days reading about detailed descriptions of a world, its customs, dress codes, religions, superstitions, histories etc then this may be disappointing.

HOWEVER. If you wish to read a story that focuses on character, ideals, courage, honour, etc then gemmell's work will stir the blood like no other author I have read. And this, his first book, may be simple in composition but like the main protagonist doesn't need to be overworked to blow you away. And of all his works I would argue his Drenai novels are the best.

I have read David Eddings, terry Brooks, Robert Jordan, Tolkein etc. All have created wonderful characters, but they feel like characters from a children's storybook (except george martin's books). The warriors gemmell creates feel like warriors made of granite and steel rather than colourful marshmallows and ribbons.

Warrior fantasy in my opinion hasn't been written by anyone better than Gemmell.

David Gemmell's Legend is the sort of book that makes me glad I read fantasy. It is pure, delicious heroism shaped into the most compact package imaginable. A massive barbarian horde, led by a charismatic and ruthless warlord bent upon the expansion of his people's empire. The other bastions have fallen, the great cities of the north have been brought down, and all that remains is Drenai, a nation grown fat, and resting upon its laurels. The last hero of the age, Druss, The Legend, The Axman, Deathwalker, has been called to defend the wall and lead the ragtag group of fresh recruits, veteran legionaries and mercenary bandits that have been assembled to hold the last fortress between Lord Ulric's horde and the heartlands of Drenai, Dros Delnoch. They have mere weeks to prepare, and must hold for months to allow the training of a new army of sufficient size to defeat the barbarians. It is a suicide mission, with virtually no chance of success.
What follows is one of the most genuine sieges I have ever read, Gemmel traces the training of the recruits, the strategy of the defense, and the execution of the assault with such visceral authenticity that I was left stunned. No character is immortal, and often the bitterness of warfare is made all too clear as good men die. The characters are not deep, but well textured. They do not do enough thinking for us to truly understand them, but their motives are compelling and their personalities realistic. The action is organic and feels real, though at times Gemmell uses the same phrase to describe an action that he did in the previous paragraph, once or twice I thought I had lost my place and read the same part again. Regardless, I found it did not detract much. A theme of the battle of Dros Delnoch was the repetitive nature of the conflict, a grinding war of attrition on a clear battlefield, as the smaller army of the Drenai is slowly worn down, and the inexorable tide of the Nadir Horde slowly gains ground. It is gruesome stuff, near the end, but the ending itself, and the events surrounding it, were some of the best executed surprises I have yet witnessed in fantasy.
David Gemmell's writing isn't stellar, it is good, it is great, even, but it is not the stuff of legends. Still, Legend is well written, inspiratory, and has a straightforward plot. It is a deconstruction (and subsequent reconstruction) of heroism and courage, and certainly the best thing Gemmell ever wrote. It's worth several reads, and a lot of writers nowadays could learn a thing or two from David Gemmell's Legend.

Gemmell is one of my all time favorite authors. His rich attention to detail and wonderfully fleshed out characters pull me in every time. He is a master at the flawed, reluctant hero. I have read everything he ever wrote.

This book will start you down a wonderful adventure in the land of the Drenai and with an author without equal. From the first read of Legend, I have been a fan of David Gemmell. 'Legend' is a tale of courage, despair, and destiny with action and adventure throughout. We are introduced to a great character: The Mighty Druss -deadly in battle and yet a man that lives by a admirable code. He is one of those characters that are not to be forgotten. The story builds from the first page and so your ride begins. No fluffy filler here.

Druss is not the whole story. Another character transforms over time from a drunk and a coward into a warrior and a leader. You will see men prepare for battle and as you enjoy the read, you will learn about the struggles faced in prolonged siege battles. There is more to see with your mind's eye, like a group of 30 mystical yet real warriors as they battle their counterparts who are dark acolytes. But Druss does take center stage and he will inspire the besieged fortress's soldiers as well as it's commanders to stand in the face of insurmountable odds.

'Legend' is part of Gemmel's Drenai series. A great series. I recommend following this book with Gemmel's Waylander, another great character.

I am still very sad I admit because David passed away recently. 'Legend' was his first book. He wrote over thirty books total. IMO, there is not a better author of Heroic fantasy than David Gemmel on bookshelves today.

Before reading this book I wrote fantasy stories that were ... soft. I read "Legend" before Martin hit the scene with his novels of unending darkness and debauchery, and my writing will never be the same because of Gemmell. Perhaps I grew up with books that were too playful and too whimsical, and Gemmell's novels were my first taste of "dark" fantasy. This book was a constant inspiration to me as I wrote my own novels. And I turned to Gemmell's works time and again as I transitioned from a milder style of writing to one that offers up all the turmoil and human resilience found within his pages. Every fantasy fan should have this book on their shelf.

I read my first Gemmel book several years ago and it was Legend. Since then I have read absolutely everything he has done. Legend is a brilliant brilliant book. What makes every Gemmel book are truly inspirational characters who you want to read about. Its not just about magic, fantasy or swords its mainly about people and their relationships and to sound very cheesy the capacity for greatness in the human soul. Well I like it and recommend you read every Drenai book he has written. His other books are good but not quite as good.

This is simply put the single best book I have ever read! It has every element of a good story and is the ultimate can't put down book. If you get this book you will end up devoting all of your time to finishing it. I have shown this book to all of my friends and not one has been dissapointed, whether it be by reading fans or people who never read, they all loved it once they finally opened the pages. David Gemmell was head and shoulders above the rest. Start with this book and you will understand.

I bought this book when it was first published in paperback and have now read it so many times that my copy is falling apart!
For the first time I've found a fantasy author who actually goes to the trouble of building believible characters. His heroes (and heroines) are flawed people living in a flawed world, trying to live by a code of honour even when it is obvious that the world in general does not share this belief. The main characters: Druss, Rek, Orrin et al are all believible and made more so by the fact that it is clear from the narrative that they struggle as much with their own fears and consciences as with their physical enemies, the Nadir.
In an almost unheard of departure from traditional fantasy stories, the author has dispensed with having an 'evil' adversary: it is clear that Ulric wants to bring down the Drenai not out of any evilness on his part, but as the only way to ensure the rise of his own people. His forces take on the mantle of evil simply because they oppose the heroes of the novel.
As for the storyline itself, all I can say is Superb! The waning Drenai Empire is faced by the hordes of Ulric Kahn, founder of a vast barbarian empire, at the legendary fortress of Dros Delnoch. The vastly outnumbered defenders must hold the fortress long enough to give the Drenai nation time to build an army capable of holding Ulric's forces at bay. Aided by a group of mystic warrior-priests and the hero Drus an unknown Drenai leader must defend the fortress to the last.
David Gemmell has excelled in this story of ancient siege warfare and, without a dragon or elf in sight, produced what is probably the greatest fantasy in the last twenty years.

What a classic, this book is absolutely wonderful, I read it through in 2 days! The characters are really well developed, as is the plot. If you are after a fantasy novel that has a classic feel to it, then you cannot go wrong with this book!

David Gemmell has continued in his on-going trend of introducting great characters, making you know and care about them, and then placing them in completely untenable situations. This is epic fantasy at its best. However, be warned that the book does not have a happy ending - when David Gemmell sets up a hopeless scenario, he does not suddenly change the rules. Despite the fact that it is in many ways a tear-jerker, it was still a distinctly worthwhile book that I recommend highly

What a classic, this book is absolutely wonderful, I read it through in 2 days! The characters are really well developed, as is the plot. If you are after a fantasy novel that has a classic feel to it, then you cannot go wrong with this book!

David Gemmell has continued in his on-going trend of introducting great characters, making you know and care about them, and then placing them in completely untenable situations. This is epic fantasy at its best. However, be warned that the book does not have a happy ending - when David Gemmell sets up a hopeless scenario, he does not suddenly change the rules. Despite the fact that it is in many ways a tear-jerker, it was still a distinctly worthwhile book that I recommend highly

If you like the work of Robert E. Howard, especially his original (unedited and longer) Conan stories, you will love the books of David Gemmell. Gemmell is a storyteller; his books make no pretense of grand opera or intricately twisted social/political thriller. They are very entertaining at the least, and gripping, tense, and emotionally involving at their best. His Drenai Saga is my personal favorite (all those books are great, but heroic fantasy is my overall favorite, personal taste), but I like almost all of his books. Legend was the first of his books I read and I was immediately hooked on his vivid, gritty, you-are-there writing style. In their setting, his characters are believable, consistent, and easy to identify with which gives you a real attachment to them. (NOTE: much weaving of the tale at the beginning of the book for greater immersion in the world; you will have read to about page 60 before you find the first mention of Druss the Legend himself, and then on another 16 pages or so - his "meeting" with Dorian, heh heh, classic Gemmell - to shift the focus to Druss) While each book in the series is self contained and enjoyable in itself, reading the other books in the Saga add a great deal to the depth of the series. Each book is staggered in its place in the timeline of the Drenai world, and it is great fun to see the contents of a previous or later book in the series to now be the history, "legends" and myths of the current book you are now reading. It gives the Drenai Saga a cohesiveness that adds greatly to the feel that you are reading about the exploits of real people. Even rank and file soldiers and townspeople, usually generic in most heroic fantasy, often get to add their own 2 cents worth to the dialog adding a lot to your feel for the setting; how often to you get to see the hero's actions reflected upon by the common man - militia who get drafted from their farms to be his army, merchants who have their goods conscripted to protect the town, etc.? You touch many other people's lives in the course of reading just one book, and while some might find that distracting I find it to add a lot of color and depth to the setting. The multiple viewpoints (often from the "enemy" side characters as well) certainly keep the book from getting locked into an easy black/white, good or evil stereotype.
Any way you want to enjoy them, just a good action story or to reflect on the best and worst traits of mankind and what makes a "hero", David Gemmell's "Legend" and the Drenai Saga will not disappoint.

Well I have to say that I loved this book, and that I think that David Gemmel is an excelent writer, I mean the story was captivating the charecters real and the fighting brutal and savage. Well that is at least the way the book goes for about the first 250 pages. Up to that point it is everything that you want a fantasy to be, however after it passes this boudary it seems as if David just has a mental breakdown and calls in some heavy use of Deus Ex Machina, resolving the climax that the whole book lead up to in only a few pages, very very anticlimatic. i think it would have been better to see the Drenari fighting to the last breath sword in hand dieing a honorable death, but instead becasue of civil war in the steppes the Nadir back it up and leave when Dross Delnoch is just about taken. It seems as if Gemmel might have had a problem killing off the charecters that he had created. Other then the ending it was a great book and a worthwhile read, albiet a little disappointing. This author has potential.

I have enjoyed all of David Gemmell's work but this one takes the prize. It contains sorrow, great sacrifice, courage, honor, and some of the best battles every written. It is easy to see the scenes and the people as you read, the characters are ones you will become attached to. If you love fantasy that involves warfare and courage with people making the best of a bad situation and with no magic items to save the day, you will love this book.

Possibly the greatest fantasy book written. The feeings that you develop for the characters and the situation they find themselves in is amazing. The entire novel is focussed on the fact they can't win. They won't win. The odds are just too against them.
In comparison with other novels I enjoyed this becasue no characters are spared. Main characters and marginal characters are killed off as plot dictates with no regard to your feelings towards that character. The magic is not so overwhelming that it is the central issue involved in thee storyline and all the characters are almost of scared of being themselves as they are of dying.
The real masterstroke in this book however is the lack of a map. Suddenly you are confronted with having to use your imagination. Are there are places nearby that might be able to help? How far is between places and travelling timeas are issues that you have to retain.
Simply brilliant.

This was the first book I read by Gemmel, and it hooked me completely. His concepts and portrayal of the world are gripping, as is the action. I've now read all of his stuff and it's no anomaly that this book is so gripping start to finish.

I finished this book in 3 days, which should say something for it.

Great book. Gemmell did a fantastic job of making me care about every single character involved.

There's nothing in this book that will challenge deep intellectuals or anything like that, though there are some pretty profound quotes about leaving the past behind you, and about appreciation of life in general. Not only a fun fantasy book, but an emotionally satisfying one.

Recommended.

When it comes to Heroic Fantasy look no further than Gemmell. He is the king of the genre. This book is particularly good. The heroes are good - the baddies are bad and the plots are simple, well written and heroic. I love all of his books and, if you are a fan of the genre - so will you.

My paperbook copy is now dogeared and torn, but everytime I read it, it just gets better. This is without a doubt the best book I have ever read. The whole story is so carefully woven and planned that the pieces just fall into place. Apparently it took him 10 years to write(it was his first book) and I just have to say thankyou to him. He has changed my outlook and life, and hopefully many others.

This was the first Gemmell book I read. I have since read every one he has written. He is the only author I'm prepared to pay full-price for the hardback as soon as it comes out, and being a less than afluent chap, that's saying something. On the same subject, the reason you won't find his books in secondhand shops is that these books of his are re-read by their owners so often. I won't give a synopsis of the plot, the other reviewers have done that more than adequately. I asked my 60 year old father to read 'Legend': 'I don't think so, isn't really for me',he said. I kept at him and eventually he did read it. Now all I get is 'Any more David Gemmell books, son?'. Tell your friends: what you have heard is true. They're powerful enough to make you cry, they're absorbing, detailed, beliveable, epic, compulsive. Thank you Mr Gemmell, just wish you'd spend less time with your family and more time in the study.

After reading this book, I went out and bought everything that David Gemmell ever wrote, and I buy every new novel he writes. This is a classic tale, full of adventure, and tremendous battles. This is the story of Druss, a man so powerful, even his enemies respect him. Druss is not perfect however, he is a man who sees things only in black or white. You can either be right or wrong, no inbetween. If you like fast paced adventure and terrific writing, pick this one up along with all the Drenai tales.

Well, it's not high literature, as others have mentioned, but it's certainly a great read. In life sometimes you just want a bit of escapism, and Gemmell certainly delivers that. Never boring, always entertaining, in a world where heroes do exist (unlike this world's motley collection of self serving infidels) and no one ever dies without a damn good reason or a decent last line. Swords flashing everywhere and lots of blood, realistic if overblown characters (none are the typical noble and shining knight) and most of all, a plot that keeps you interested and rooting for the defenders. a great quick read

This is not great fiction; it is not even great fantasy... but it IS unqualified, unfettered fun. 1) The hordes from the north are invading; 2) one castle, set in a mountain pass, blocks the way; 3) the castle defenders are totally outnumbered; 4) they are led by an aging but still potent warrior (THE LEGEND); 5) there is NO chance that the castle can hold. C'mon!!! Ya GOTTA love this!! What a great ride.

His style has matured and he has perhaps grown as a writer of some the most magnificent, character rich formula fiction in the business, but Legend is still the best.
Gemmell's subtle blend of detail and character is breathtaking. He is a master story teller who cut his teeth with this novel. Certainly no fan of gritty, realist heroic fantasy should be without this tome on their mantle. A must.

Legend is one of THE fantasy books of the millenium. The story is of epic proportion and the authors descriptions of a huge battle is incredibly realistic and with his characters being so damn likeable the book is one that you cannot put down. My only complaint with this book is that Mr Gemmel tends to turn his characters into superhumans and it spoils it a bit. but there you go.

Ok, I see that there are folks who like dumping on creations that others have made. All I can say is "Where's your book ?" At last count, I had over 4,000 books in my collection. Many authors on many topics, Fantasy is one of my favorite catogories. David Gemmell writes better than all the Aurthorian legend writers combined. His character development from book to book, is better than many do in just 1 book. I'd rank his work with Louis Lamour's westerns, as readable and enjoyable. High praise from someone who thinks Luke Short and Louis Lamour are the best writers in print. David Eddings also is character-centered writer whose works rival Gemmell's, however, his works are a step down from Gemmell. His character assessment is just as good though. I feel pulled along thru these books, as if I was really there, living the story with the character.
What possible higher praise can a reader give ?????

Three stars may be against the trend of reviews here, but it just didn't strike a big chord in me. On the good side, its not trite and it does not ever get boring! The heroes are up against an impossible battle. They do not fail, but they don't win by some wimpy unbelieveable turn of events, either (thank god). I hope to read the other books in the series, but I'm not in a rush to do so (hence the rating). I enjoyed the sweat and perseverence, but couldn't get motivated to support the characters. They all seem to be involved "because its something to do." Gemmell's photo and bio on the back cover was as interesting as the story. I have high hopes for the other books in the series.

THE GOOD: Gemmel is a good writer. He writes what he needs to to create the scene with enough to paint a good visual, but does not over do it. I did not have to spend time reading 3 pages on what a door looked like. The story (for the most part) is basic but good. The characters interacted well and were fleshed out enough to be cared out. I especially liked the antagonist Ulric. As a "bad" guy, he was very likeable.

THE BAD: The plotline is basic (see above reviews for details). There are not many twists here and everything is laid out pretty early. Not necessarily bad, but typically I like a little more to my plotlines.

THE UGLY: THE END!! This is what made this book a 3 star instead of 4 star review. If you buy this book, do yourself a favor and read the last 5 pages first. It is still worth it to go back and read the rest of the book but you should know the end before you prepare youself for something that never happens. I don't want to spoil it so I won't say much. But I will say that I was thoroughly let down.

Ubermonkey says enjoy!

Legend.. What a great novel for an excellent writer, it's one of the best fantasy novels that I've ever read. Basically because it grasped my attention until the end and after reaching the end I wanted to know more about every single detail of the Drenai trilogy. The writer sustained his characters with great amount of honor, love, friendship and high morals that resulted with legendary heroes. I really do recommend this piece of fine literature and I affirm that when you reach the end you will notice a big smile on your face that reflects your pure satisfaction.
I have just ordered Waylander and planning to get all of Gemmell's publishes, he is simply good at what he does. Too sad that he passed away 2 years ago, but he is well remembered by his fine work.

This was one of the best fantasy novels I've ever read. I
never fail to recommend it to friends. The characters are
well developed, and even the "bad" guys are given quite
plausible motivations for what they do. I can't wait for
the movie, featuring Sean Connery as Druss the Legend!

Legend was the first David Gemmell book I ever experienced. It is a truly brilliant example interesting, believable storytelling and the best fantasy novel I had read since I had read Tolkein ( many moons ago!) The idea of the hero Druss, coming out of retirement to fight a grand last battle is a moving one , and Gemmell deals with it like a real master. Since reading Legend, I have been pleasantly surprised to find that Gemmell's books just keep getting better! He is probably the only fantasy writer worth reading today. You won't be disappointed.

A marvelous work. It evokes the same feelings as reading about the real-life battle at Camerone (French Foreign Legion supporting Maximilian's attempt to become Emperor of Mexico). This is the kind of book that makes impressionable lads want to run off and become heroes ;) The few flaws it does have are far outweighed by the glorious battles and attention to character development. I highly recommend this, and have purchased the remainder of the Drenai books sight unseen. If they are even half as good, they will be better than most of the books I have read.

I discovered this book one day when wandering around the library and I decided to try it out... It is a great book, Gemmell takes a flawed human, who grows and changed throughout the book into a hero. I found his characters to be very believable. Anyone who enjoys fantasy should own this book.

having read this book at least a dozen times over a decade it remains one of my favorites.

the largest army ever, led by the greatest general,attacks the greatest fortress defended by the most famous hero - only problem is he's 70

the irrestiable force meets the immovable object.

a master piece. fantastic

This is my second Gemmell book, and I really enjoyed it. It's definitely not one of your softcore fantasy type books. There's plenty of blood, guts, and disembowling to last you a while. I have to read something a little "softer" before I read the next book in the series. This was a great book that I could not put down, and the showdown was very gripping. It was as if you were right there...thank God I wasn't. Plus, Druss is the Man!!!

I have just started reading searously as I am just a teenager, I have read other books before, but this is the first book that has cought my imagination and interest to the fullest extent. Now, frankly I am not a critic and I don't even consider myself well read. From the first moment, I picked up this book I could not put it down, for the first time in my life I felt the power a book holds! I know now that you can't compare it to any movie or dvd. After reading the LEGEND I am sure that I will keep track of all David Gemmell's work. I think David Gemmell is a great writer and shows real talent in his writing as he alone changed my prospective towards books so if you have got some spare time on your hands, I will advise you to give this book a go, maybe it will do for you what it did for me.

First I have to say that I appreciate this novel because it is 343 pages and doesn't need to be at all longer. Gemmell gets in a ton of action and excitement, along with a solid love story. I liked the characters, Rek and Bowman especially and Gemmell handles the character Druss well, without making him over the top. He's just on the wall somewhere kicking butt and taking numbers without the dramatic play by play which was a good idea.

That said, the book also has some things that really turned me off. Here's the spoiler free version: 1.) The love found between the main character and a woman is not believable. He's a player his whole life and then is suddenly hopelessly in love with a woman he just met and didn't even like at first contact. He only thought she was moderately attractive as well, saying she was somewhat "manly." 2.) The book is kind of depressing. It is a long drawn out battle that just gets worse and worse (that's all I can say without giving parts away). Bleaker and bleaker. 3.) The ending is pretty bad.

- Don't read the following paragraph if you haven't read the book -

Ok, so here is the book in a nutshell...a long war at Dros Delnoch is fought between the good guys and an army too huge to ever lose. This is the insurmountable odds we've grown to know and love from the genre. The good guys die one by one until at the end with the exception of 3 characters...THEY'RE ALL DEAD. The bad guys win basically but then to make the story worse, Gemmell throws in that "oh and then the bad guys just up and left 'cause some stuff happened back home." He also throws in some weird ghosts that added virually nothing to the story and the chick that died before just comes back to life to make everyone feel good. Oh and in the prologue he needlessly kills off one of the 3 characters that actually made it through all the misery. It was all so quick and weird, it felt like it could have been anything. So I was disappointed here.

/End Spoilers

So all in all there were plusses and minuses. Lots of action, likable characters but an unrealistic love connection and a thrown together, sketchy ending make this a 3 star book. I WILL read David Gemmell again most likely, he didn't do enough to make me not want to read him again. Hope this helps and I know a lot of people loved the book so that's something to consider as well.

This was one of the first fantasy books I read, and definitely one of the best. Subsequent to reading this one I haven't stopped for 10 years. Its a fantastic representation of high epic fantasy with powerful heroes, great world building, and fantastic prose. Buy it, read it, you won't regret it.

I look at a lot of these one star reviews and get mad that they analyze the book so much. It sounds like one of my english teachers analyzing every little detail to "understand the author's purpose" etc. I dont care about all the details when i'm reading a fantasy. I want the adventure, great heroes, huge battles. Legend gives me all of these. I couldn't put the book down. If you are looking for a fun book to read and not one to write a 10 page paper on an author's technique and look deeply into every little phrase, then read legend. It is just a simple novel. It will keep you reading if you don't take 5 minutes for every page trying to predict plot events. Just read it.

I've never been a big fan of fantasy novels but decided to read this one because it is on the "1001 books you must read before you die" list. After reading it, I would say it was an OK novel with a pretty straight forward storyline about a fortress under siege by a barbarian horde and a retired "lengend" (Druss) who comes to the aid of the Drenai. It includes elements of heroism, magic, valor, love, etc. I am assuming this novel takes place in an alternate reality since Earth is mentioned and the elements of the story are seated in Medieval Europe. I don't think it takes place in a pre-history like the Conan stories. Gemmell also borrowed from other literature like Robin Hood (the character Bowman), the Arthurian legend (Excalibur), and even fairy tales -- the ending was straight out of Sleeping Beauty. There was one aspect of the story that kind of bothered me: The fortress was under siege by a huge hoard of barbarians numbering over 500,000 yet, people were able to leave the fortress on the South side to escape the siege. Wouldn't the invading army have surrounded the entire fortress?? This novel is the first in a series about the Drenai but I doubt if I would seek out others in the series.

Typical of David Gemmells writing this is a no holds barred tale of the fight between good and evil. Druss is a living legend who would rather be at home with his memories than swinging his fabled axe against the hordes. Part of the Drenai series well worth reading

Anyone who doesn't like this book is crazy. Legend is an epic book about a warrior who all guys would love to be. He lives for the battle and fears nothing. Druss makes Conan look like a computer geek. In Legend, Druss is an old man and thinks his days of battle are over. Instead, his greatest battle is still to come as he is summoned to defend the walls of dros delnoch once more. The armies of Ulric are unstoppable, but don't tell Druss that. He aint listening!!!!!!!

Vivid chacters, intense battles, impossible odd's. What more could you ask for in a novel? Well, I want more. Maybe a Druss the Early Years, I can only hope that Mr. Gemmell will keep writing. I've not been disapointed yet.

A few, a small few warriors, must face a hoarde who threaten to swarm over them. They stand in a great keep of seven walls. Each wall has a name and each name is one state of emotion that we feel when we face death. So the defence of the walls, and each wall lost, brings death closer. Central to the story is Druss the Legend, the axe wielding warrior who moulds the defence into a coherent fighting unit and gives them the backbone to stand in the face of certain defeat. This is powerful stuff, and it is a crafted novel that has been well thought out. Very thin on magic and strong on character, a book about human spirit. This book is a classic.

This was the first Gemmell book i ever read, and years later, i still find myself re-reading it on a regular basis. Be forwarned, reading this book will significantly highten your standards when it comes to fantasy and books in general. After reading Gemmell, you will never be able to even look at a Robert Jordan book again.
I have read pretty much every book Gemmell has written, and this remains my favorite, by far. The most epic, awe-inspiring, emotional, entertaining peice of writing that i have ever had the pleasure of reading.

This was the first Gemmell book i read, my dad used to read him a lot and gave this book to me for me to read. I hardly put it down after long nights of all night reading. I knew this was a master piece, the pace is just right the characters are well described and very real to life. The last few chapters you can almost see your self there fighting along side them. This book is a work of art and is one of the best ive read, i have now read all the drenai books at least twice!! these are all great books! Any questions E-mail me!!! plz?

Gemmell does it again and again and again! When he sets scribing to paper sparks fly indeed. This man and his writing is some of the most heart tugging I've ever read, it holds the entirety of humanity, good and bad, in fictional characters that seem to lunge out and into your mind as the story unfolds. Through any flaws anyone might find, they are superficial compared to the heart of the story. This is a definite read my friends.

Rip-roaring read -- was finished in only a few days. The author manages to pack a lot of story into the 300-odd pages. There were some story inconsistencies which detracted a bit from it. However, it is an inspiring and uplifting story.

Disappointing; writing started good in the prologue but contemporary dialogue brought it down some; not enough happening; mediocre to poor characters at best; two antagonists fell in love too soon; not believable; too much introspection on the part of the main character for about 45 pages; too much exposition; too much said that wouldn't have been said by people who lived in that time! And, worse, it was explained in dialogue. Check out how George Martin does it!)

David Gemmell writes in an unique way, refusing to bow down the hero steryotype, instead portraying his heroes, villains and people in a realistic way. So realistic that you would imagine them to be of real-life. War is also portrayed in a realistic way, so much that you feel like you are transported as a witness in medieval battle at a fortress. I highly recommend this book. Prepare to weep, laugh, smile and have your heart soar.

It was a good read, a few times had trouble keeping my attention. But I'd recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy novels, a lot of battle action. If you liked this book, I'd also recommend reading The Demon Warlord of Obsidia. It's a short novel, but very good.

I couldn't finish this novel. The author is a decent author in many ways. The atmosphere was well captured, he initially created a likable and intriguing character, and the general setting could have been engaging.

However, the dialogue and action quickly devolved into the cliche and melodramatic. When the first 'bad guys' are introduced, their few paragraphs are hamfisted, and again, cliche. When our craven hero decides to face down 20 armed men led by a supposedly ruthless and unbelievably cruel killer, their conversation sounds like something that would fit into an early 1800s romance. I couldn't make myself read any more. Not to be insulting to those that did enjoy this novel, but this is more a book I would've enjoyed when I was in middle school or earlier, only to read later and be disappointed.

Legend is a classic tale of a "hopeless cause", which for the most part delivers on the promise of a good-fun (if at times a bit depressing) action/adventure novel. I don't think I'm going to say anything here that hasn't already been mentioned, but I wanted to add some weight to those reviewers giving it a bit more of a critical read and realizing that while entertaining, it does have its flaws.

Starting with the strengths: This is a book with action at its focus, and for the most part the author does a good job of sticking to it. No, there isn't alot of character development or convoluted intrigues, but that isn't the point here. It is about pacing - keeping the action moving along - and the author does this well. Characters are fleshed out just enough to make them easily distinguishable from each other and the dialog is is generally effective and relevant to the current scene. In short, the author does a good job of sweeping you along and making you curious what is going to happen next.

Weak spot: The romance is fairly unbelievable and for me was somewhat distracting. I think the book would have been stronger if there was some longing and sexual tension between the two characters instead of the over-the-top love theme that invades the story occasionally.

The major goof: The last 20 pages or so. I would have given the book 4 stars if not for what is really a stinker of an ending. I can't help but wonder if the author originally wrote the ending that was pointed to the entire novel, but some publisher/reviewer said "the end is too depressing - give it a hollywood happy ending". Suffice it to say that several improbable (and downright silly) things happen in the last 20 pages to give the handful of survivors their happy ending.

I still recommend this book, because 95% of it is a good ride. Just really to bad about the ending...

This was the first book of David Gemmell's that I read. Less that two months later I had devoured everything he had written and was feverishly waiting for him to publish something new. Legend is inspirational, touching, shocking and undeniably brilliant. Here is an author that delivers a tale that will leave you shaken, moved and hungry for more.

I started reading Gemmell with the Rigante series and I thought Gemmell was brilliant. After reading "Legend" I am absolutely spellbound. Gemmell writes heroic fatasy which has spoiled me for everything else. Tons of action, excellent character development, unpredictable plots, heroism, cowardice, love, betrayl. Its all there. If you love fantasy and have not discovered Gemmell yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!!

It's been the first David Gemell novel I read, but surely not the last. It's a great story about men, women, love and war, age and death. I haven't been enchanted that much since the Shannara books by Terry Brooks. The only negative point in my opinion is the end of the story. Why didn't he dare to make an unhappy-end. There was such a dramatic development and suddenly it seems as if the author is frightened by his own courage.

I loved this story. Druss is such a hero, even though at the time of the tale he is getting on. From such a feeling of utter hopelessness comes triumph. It is a master tale with echoes of Genghis Khan in the background. Brilliant and highly recommended

David Burrows

Author of The Prophecy of the Kings

I first read Legend in 1987, and have read it about once a year since. Legend is a fast-paced tale of heroes and villains. It reads like a pulp western novel, but with philosophical undertones. Gemmel writes believable characters and locations, transporting you to exoctic locales with incredible comrades. Once you've read Gemmel, nothing else in the field of fantasy fiction will do.

Legend doesn't have too much depth, but for 300 pages of fast paced action and great heroic fantasy it can't be beat. David Gemmell was the first fantasy author I started reading when I was 13 and I've probably read this book 15 or 20 time since. One of his best and one of my favorite books of all time.

Quite a few writers have developed the epic theme of the "good but unlikely" versus the "evil and powerful" with dynamic and compelling worlds and characters. Within a few pages, Legend seemed to me to plod over the same territory without the promise of adding much that was fresh and engrossing. I usually give an author a good chance to get going, but regretfully could not force myself to go on.

Legend, Legend, Legend. If you EVER read a book. READ Legend. Stirring - you will cheer, you will cry, you will think. Great action, believable characters. Druss is The Legend, but all the characters will be. I do not need a movie, this one is still playing in my soul.

This book was recommended to me by someone when I told him that I was a fan of Glen Cook's "The Black Company" books. I was expecting gritty, compelling, characters with an interesting plot. Instead, I got a bunch of one-dimensional characters and a re-hash of a standard plot. I had to force myself to choke down the first half of this book, and the second half was barely any better. I found no reason to care for these characters or what would happen to them. I couldn't find a reason to root for the "good guys". And I didn't care who died or how.
I realize that this is supposed to be an action book and not a character-driven novel with lots of plot development. But the first half completely lacked action, and the action in the second half of the book was glossed over so as to sound more like a summary than a novel.
Even the "surprises" at the end were only surprises if you hadn't been paying attention throughout the rest of the book. Throughout the entire thing, Gemmell basically said "I'm going to go in one direction throughout the entire book, and then shift direction in the last few pages through use of a completely contrived plot device." Actually, one of the surprises nearly surprised me, not because I didn't see it coming, but because I didn't believe that anyone would be hokey enough to try to throw in BOTH of the "feel-good" endings into one book. But he did. And I found myself audibly groaning while reading it.
I can't believe that so many people here liked this book. It will forever make me skeptical of believing any review I see here ever again. If you like good military fantasy, do not read this book. Check out The Black Company by Glen Cook. Trust me.

What's with all those 5 star reviews, guys? If we want more great authors like Jordan and - especially - Martin, the one thing we have to learn is how to distinguish the daring from the dirt. For instance, why is it that only a few fantasy writers abide one of the first principles of writing: NEVER, EVER switch viewpoint in the middle of a scene. In "Legend", Gemmell lets us in on the thoughts of ALMOST EVERY character that pops up, no matter in whose head we previously were. Horrible.
I confess I quit reading when I hit page 40 or so. Just too many unmotivated plot twists, like Rek and Viraes falling-in-love, and the sudden mutiny of the brigand captain's axeman. Good writing evokes emotion. Gemmell bluntly states "this and that is so-and-so" and expects us to be enthralled. For a romance to work, I need to fall in love with the characters myself - not be told they love each other. And the dialogue... so juvenile... that whole rabbit sequence, what good was that?
Nah, pass on this one. Pass on it big time. It's sad, but since Jordan went astray, we've only got one true fantasy writer: someone who not only knows how to write fantasy, but how to write: George R.R. Martin. Too bad, Gemmell.

This was a difficult book to read. The author had a tendancy to switch between scenes. No space, no line, no star. While this may work for Thomas Pynchon, it just made this book unpleasant to read. Besides this, the characters were a bit flat. I didn't like Druss much at all. I pictured him the entire time as a dwarf. The first half of the book I did not enjoy the plot much at all. Near the second half of the book the author hit his stride and reading was easy and fun. That's why I gave it two stars instead of one.

The end was predictable. Well, predictable except for the way the author pulled solutions for everyone's problems out of his posterior. The stuff at the end just felt like the author lost momentum and made up a way to tie off all the plot lines. Very unsatisfying. I know I won't continue this series.