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Book Cover |
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Excerpt |
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The Hellhounds' Prey
Coming down the road was a
naked man. He stumbled as he walked and he screamed, a senseless,
endless screaming that rose and fell, but never broke. Pacing
behind him and to either side of him was a pack of Hellhounds,
black and evil in the night. Some went on four feet; others shambled
erect, their long arms swinging loosely. Their terrible fangs
gleaming white against the blackness of their snouts.
The man and the pack of Hellhounds
came down the road, the screaming never ending. And now there
was another sound, heard as a sort of bass accompaniment to the
terrible screaming—the snuffling of the Hellhounds.
The Hellhounds closed in with
a rush, not knocking the man down, allowing him to stand, but
leaping at him with slashing teeth, then falling back. Half his
face was gone, and blood streamed down across his cheek...
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Synopsis |
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Mark Cornwall, a scholar of
six years, stumbles across a manuscript in an ancient text. He is
observed by both a monk and a rafter goblin, Oliver, taking the
manuscript. The monk informs a mercenary and wants the manuscript, if it
is important. Oliver warns Mark, which sends Mark on the run.
Meanwhile, Gib of the marshes travels to see Sniveley the gnome for his new axe. He
runs across Mark as he is fighting off wolves and they join forces. Soon
Oliver joins the party. Gib's friend, Hal of the Hollow Tree and his
friend raccoon, Coon, also end up tagging along. They come together
because they are all heading into the Wastelands; Gib to return an
ancient axe to the Old Ones and Mark to find the ancient university
referred to in the manuscript.
Along the way, they are trapped at a
witch's house, stuck in the Chaos Beast's castle, and chased by
Hellhounds. Then, just to make matters a little worse, they run across a
man who claims that he is from a different version of the world, one in
which technology, not magic rules.
Enchanted Pilgrimage
is a fantasy story written by Clifford D. Simak. |
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Review |
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Enchanted Pilgrimage is a story filled with
many of the mythical creatures that have come to be expected in a
fantasy novel. Also, the story is always on the move since the
characters are on a quest. But, the story does not move all that fast
and not a whole lot seems to happen.
As I was reading, I found my mind
wandering a lot. The book just wasn't keeping my interest. Sure, a lot
of things happen in the book as they travel across the land, but I found
myself not really involved with the storyline. Maybe this was because
the characters are not developed very well and I didn't bond with the
main character.
I was also disappointed with the ending and found it to
be anticlimactic. Still, the story has some good points, like the twist
with the multiple worlds.
Overall, I say that
Enchanted Pilgrimage is a weak effort
at a fantasy quest.
I rated this book a 5 out of
10. |
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