Lord of the Isles (David Drake)
Encyclopedia
A series of books by author David Drake
. In 1997 Drake began his largest fantasy series, Lord of the Isles, using elements of Sumerian religion and medieval era technology
. The series consists of 9 books broken into two distinct parts, the Lord of the Isles consisting of the first 6 books, and a final trilogy dubbed the Crown of the Isles.
Crown of the Isles trilogy
Featured characters
Other characters
of the book's world, known as the Isles. In the first novel, the character Garric or-Reise discovers that he is, in fact, the direct descendant of the last king to rule the Isles, exactly a millennium ago. Then, as now, the power that fueled all magic
in the world rose precipitously, allowing the use of spells so powerful they shattered the cohesion of nations, driving them apart and in the process killing Garric's ancestor, Carrus, and sinking the island of Yole.
The novels deal with Garric's claim to the throne of the Isles, and attempts to unite them once again. In the process, he and his companions are challenged by foes both physical and supernatural
, which they must overcome. The basic outline of many of the novels deals with the characters being split apart, often taken to parallel universes
or distant periods in time, by some hostile entity or group, which they must then defeat before, or in the process of, re-uniting.
Magic in the series is based on a now-dead language, the Old Script. Its characters are usually drawn using an athame
(made of a variety of substances but excluding iron) and the words spoken aloud. The introduction states that these are actual incantations from the Classical world.
David Drake
David Drake is an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran who has worked as a lawyer, he is now one of the premier authors of the military science fiction subgenre.-Biography:...
. In 1997 Drake began his largest fantasy series, Lord of the Isles, using elements of Sumerian religion and medieval era technology
Medieval technology
Medieval technology refers to the technology used in medieval Europe under Christian rule. After the Renaissance of the 12th century, medieval Europe saw a radical change in the rate of new inventions, innovations in the ways of managing traditional means of production, and economic growth...
. The series consists of 9 books broken into two distinct parts, the Lord of the Isles consisting of the first 6 books, and a final trilogy dubbed the Crown of the Isles.
Novels
Lord of the Isles- Lord of the Isles (1997, ISBN 0-312-85396-3)
- Queen of DemonsQueen of DemonsQueen of Demons is a fantasy novel in the series, Lord of the Isles by author David Drake.-Plot introduction:This book in the series covers approximately 35 days, starting on the second day of the second month and ending on the seventh day of the third month...
(1998, ISBN 0-312-86468-X) - Servant of the DragonServant of the DragonServant of the Dragon is a fantasy novel in the series, Lord of the Isles by author David Drake.-Plot Summary:In the introduction, seven wizards use a mummified reptilian creature to cast a spell to raise Yole from the depths. Meanwhile, the main characters are in Valles, where a magical blue...
(1999, ISBN 0-312-86469-8) - Mistress of the Catacombs (2001, ISBN 0-312-87387-5)
- Goddess of the Ice Realm (2003, ISBN 0-312-87388-3)
- Master of the Cauldron (2004, ISBN 0-312-87496-0)
Crown of the Isles trilogy
- The Fortress of Glass (2006, ISBN 0-7653-1259-X)
- The Mirror of Worlds (2007, ISBN 0-7653-1260-3)
- The Gods ReturnThe Gods ReturnThe Gods Return is the ninth and final book in the Lord of the Isles Saga by David Drake. It was published in 2008 by Tor Books; the third books of the Crown of the Isles...
(2008, ISBN 0-7653-1261-1)
Main characters
- Garric or-Reise
- Sharina os-Reise
- Cashel or-Kenset
- Ilna os-Kenset
- Tenoctris the Wizard (bos-Tandor)
- Liane bos-Benliman
Other characters
Recurring characters- Reise or-Laver (Garric and Sharina's father)
- Lora (Garric and Sharina's mother)
- Katchin or-Keldan (Cashel and Ilna's uncle)
- Kenset or-Keldan (Cashel and Ilna's father)
- Nonnus or-Bran (A quiet hermit close to Sharina)
- King Carus (The ancient king who dwells in Garric's mind)
- Lord Waldron (commander of the Army) bor-Warriman
- Lord Tadai (Lord Chamberlain) bor-Tithain
- Lord Royhas (Lord Chancellor) bor-Bolliman
- Lord Attaper (Commander of the Blood Eagles, the noble-born Praetorian Guard of the series)
- Admiral Zettin (Lord High Admiral)
- Captain Chalcus (ex-pirate, Ilna's lover)
- Lady Merota (orphan noble, Ilna's ward)
- Rasile (cat-woman wizard)
Featured characters
- Asera bos-Gezaman (Procurator)
- Meder bor-Mederman (Wizard)
- The Dragon (lizard-man wizard)
- Goddess of the Ice Realm (half-human hell-bent woman)
- The Hooded One (undead wizard)
Other characters
- Count of Blaise
- Duke of Sandrakkan
- Count of Haft
- Count Lascarg
- Duke of Yole
- Valence III, King of the Isles
- The Shepard (Great God)
- The Lady (Great Goddess)
- The Sister (Great Goddess)
- Duzi (minor god)
General Outline
The books center around the lives of four youths from a small village on one of the islands that make up the archipelagoArchipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
of the book's world, known as the Isles. In the first novel, the character Garric or-Reise discovers that he is, in fact, the direct descendant of the last king to rule the Isles, exactly a millennium ago. Then, as now, the power that fueled all magic
Magic (fantasy)
Magic in fiction is the endowing of fictional characters or objects with magical powers.Such magic often serves as a plot device, the source of magical artifacts and their quests...
in the world rose precipitously, allowing the use of spells so powerful they shattered the cohesion of nations, driving them apart and in the process killing Garric's ancestor, Carrus, and sinking the island of Yole.
The novels deal with Garric's claim to the throne of the Isles, and attempts to unite them once again. In the process, he and his companions are challenged by foes both physical and supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
, which they must overcome. The basic outline of many of the novels deals with the characters being split apart, often taken to parallel universes
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
or distant periods in time, by some hostile entity or group, which they must then defeat before, or in the process of, re-uniting.
Magic in the series is based on a now-dead language, the Old Script. Its characters are usually drawn using an athame
Athame
An Athame or Athamé is a ceremonial dagger, with a double-edged blade and usually a black handle. It is the main ritual implement or magical tool among several used in the religion of Wicca, and is also used in various other neopagan witchcraft traditions. It is variously pronounced or...
(made of a variety of substances but excluding iron) and the words spoken aloud. The introduction states that these are actual incantations from the Classical world.
The Isles
- Atara
- First Atara
- Second Atara
- Third Atara
- Bight—Home isle of the Hairy Men
- Blaise—Powerful isle originally opposed to Garric's rule.
- Bowwkan
- Cordin
- Dalopo
- Gharax
- Haft—Home isle of the four main characters from Barca's Hamlet.
- Kanbesa
- Kepulakecil
- Laut
- Ornifal—Current location of the nominal official government of the Isle's and Liane's home.
- Pandah—Central isle
- Pare
- Pewle—Located outside the Isles proper
- Sandrakkan—Powerful isle originally opposed to Garric's rule.
- Seres
- Shengy—Grows bananas
- Sirimat—Home to man-eating trees
- Tegma—Sunken isle, once home to the Archai, a prehuman insectoid race. Now a breeding ground for seawolves.
- Telut
- Tisamur—Grows pineapples
- Volita
- Yole—Now sunk
- Western continent—Possibly mythical
External links
- The Lord of the Isles series page at Tor BooksTor BooksTor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. The company was founded...