Fantasy Books

 

Title: Wolf in Shadow

Author: David Gemmell

Summary: Jon Shannow, The Jerusalem Man, lived in a world that had toppled on its axis. Civilization had been replaced by ruthlessness and savagery. Relentless in his quest for peace, Shannow followed a path that led only to bloodshed and sorrow.

Abaddon, the Lord of the Pit, sought to plunge mankind into a new satanic era. His Hellborn army spewed forth from the Plague Lands with an unholy force stemming from human sacrifice. For it was the blood of innocents that fueled the corrupted Sipstrassi Stones of Power--the source of Abaddon's might.

But the Hellborn made a fatal mistake--they took the woman who had stolen Shannow's heart. He would move Heaven and Earth to save her...or he would die trying.

Review: David Gemmell has created a very unusual hero, Jon Shannow, in a whole gone mad...where chaos rules the heart of men and the innocents are killed without mercy. The time is somewhere in the distant future after Armageddon. The world had been destroyed by a tidal wave that swallowed everything and those that survived were fortunate. Now, people are scattered, living constantly in fear without laws and order. Every man is for himself...well more like every man takes whatever he can get for himself. The hope of a better world is too far to think...until a lone stranger whose name is feared throughout the land appears. He is the Jerusalem Man. He's known to many outlaws and murderers to kill without a hint of regret, fast with his pistols like lightning, and a legend...a feared legend to many. Death follows Jon Shannow like a dog trailing its master. Everywhere he goes, he kills those that are murderers and such. Yet he is a religious man, a believer of God. He basically reads his Bible everyday and tries to find sense in a world of madness. He follows the Bible, yet his sense of guilt in killing lingers in his mind. He tries to justify himself but the Bible does say "THOU SHALT NOT KILL", but it also says "AN EYE FOR AN EYE." What's left is confusion. His only hope is to find the ancient city Jerusalem to have his questions answered. He believes he would find peace once he gets there.

David Gemmell has captivated many readers with his profound technique in translating great actions, superb dialogues, and interesting characters into books. His creativity did not fail him in this book. He created a character whose life is filled with pain, loneliness and sorrow. And he worked really well in using this particular character, Jon Shannow, into an apocalyptic background. Through it all, this character continues to seek answers by his only source, the BIBLE. In his conviction, he is always in doubt, understanding his killings were not part of being a peaceful man of God, but he cannot let murderers, tyrants and such rule the lives of innocents. The story is quite simple, no twist or turn, but the story itself is not just black and white. The readers would get more into the story as it flows. At times, one would feel for Jon Shannow because of who he is. He's hated by some, feared by many, and love by no one. It's sort of a future, western type of story David Gemmell has created. It's a worthwhile book to read.

Rating: 9 out of 10