The Novels of Tiger and Del Volume 1: Sword-Dancer Sword-Singer [Paperback]

Tiger and Del in this Sword Dancer series is a tale about two exceptional warriors having no respect for each other except for each other's prowess with the sword. The first book begins with Del hiring Tiger, a living legend among swordsmen, to aid her as a guide in the deserts of the South as she searches for her brother. She is from the wintery North where swords are magically bound to its user. She has sworn to find and free her brother from slavery, and also to kill the slavers. In the course of their adventures animosity and mutual condescension becomes grudging respect, than a deep rooted friendship that evolves into love. Of course there are lots of sword dancing, conventional battles, and confrontations with magic that will have you spinning through the pages and enjoying the thrilling ride.

Jennifer Roberson crafts exciting adventures that just happen to have fully developed main characters who you will grow to know like old friends. This series is different from novels where the emphasis is on either character relationships OR adventure. The stories of Tiger and Del balance both to the satisfaction of all readers. Each novel is told in the voice of Tiger. Some will love him, other readers will find him too full of himself. Yet, he is engaging, and too charming to resist the tales.

I have read the entire series and look forward to rereading in this compilation. If you have read this series this book is a worthy addition for your collection, although I wish it came in hardcover. If this is your first introduction to the series or to the author, Jennifer Roberson, you could not start at a better place.

Meet Tiger. Or rather, the Sandtiger, the most famous, skilled and revered sword-dancer in the south (as he would say it, but then a man must build a reputation.) Tiger exists solely for the sword-dance, and for pretty women, and liquor. And I'm not going to say that all of that changed when he met Del, but some of it did.

Del is an oddity to Tiger, a northern, pale skinned, pale hared woman who wears a sword that exudes magic (not that he gives much credence to magic, but it is one weird sword.) At first he's more than doubtful that she herself is a sword-dancer, but when she hires him to take her across a deadly dessert on a search for her brother who was kidnapped by slavers five years ago; he is forced by circumstances to learn her skill. Her tragic past and his own as well, are part of the package.

This was one of the weirdest fantasy novels I ever read and I mean that in a good way. Generally I hate first person but Tiger's voice is so true and funny and sounds so real that it's a joy to read. From his rather boneheaded observations about women (which do change as the book goes on) to his constant battle with his seemingly invincible and very mean horse, Tiger is the perfect narrator. Also the tense shifts as his self perception does, so when Tiger losses himself the book slides into third person which is an amazing writing tactic I've never seen before. The book (or I should say Books, because this omnibus addition contains the first two of six novels) has everything a good fantasy novel should have. Magic, adventure, tortured heroes who really aren't that heroic, heroines who don't need rescuing, mystery, magical creatures who are rather malicious as well as good ones, even a nice creation of the world myth.

The two novels in this book show a lot in our main characters, Tiger and Del. The more we learn about them the more complicated they become, and the harder it is to let them just live on paper. I LOVED this book (despite the first person, and my rather sketchy history with this authors other works) and ordered the last books before I'd even finished the first.

If you like fantasy, romance (subtle though it may be) adventure, or just swords, then read this book. If not, well, that's your loss.

Five Stars.

The Novels of Tiger and Del, Volume I
The Novels of Tiger and Del, Volume II: Sword-Maker - Sword Breaker
The Novels of Tiger and Del, Volume III (Sword-Dancer Saga)

In the beginning of this very enjoyable, unique series, we meet Sandtiger, a man who was raised as a nameless orphan, a foreigner from an unknown land and a slave within a nomadic desert tribe. He gained his name and begrudged freedom as a boy when he killed a deadly, venomous sandtiger which had been preying upon members of the tribe. Defeating death, and bearing the beast's claw marks as a distinctive scar upon his face, Sandtiger found a willing teacher who took him in and taught him the skills and honor codes of the sword dancer. Driven, he achieved the highest level of mastery, (7th level) in record time, and went on to become a living legend. Much of the story is narrated by Tiger, mixed with third person perspective. Roberson did an admirable job using this fresh technique; it works well.

When he is not hiring out his services as a sword dancer in order to settle disputes or matters of honor, Tiger, who is in his mid-30's, spends his time in cantinas, drinking and womanizing. It is within such an establishment that he is tracked down by young, beautiful Delilah, a fair skinned woman with blonde hair from the far north who carries a sword (unheard of for a female) and claims to be a sword dancer. Despite personality clashes, Delilah hires Tiger as a guide to help her journey across the very large, deadly desert of the region. Del is a driven soul, searching for her lost brother, and for revenge against murderous bandits who took him, and her innocence, years prior.

As the adventure unfolds, Tiger is forced, by circumstances and interactions, to adjust his perspectives and attitudes towards Del, and women in general. It becomes evident that Del is a truly skilled sword dancer, as well as a sword singer who is able, through her song, to call forth a mystical power which is infused within the spirit of her specially forged blade. It also becomes known that Del is quite likely Tiger's equal in the dance, a discovery which follows betrayal and near death at each other's hands. Through it all, we discover that the presence of magic is very disquieting to Tiger, both mentally and physically, every time it is encountered. This leads to ironies.

Through the first of these novels, we experience the hardships and struggles faced by the couple as they fight to fulfill Del's quests and simply stay alive. We are given views into the humorous relationship which Tiger faces on a regular basis with his very spirited, very difficult stallion. We also enjoy the gradual meeting of minds and souls of our two heroes, creating a bond of loyalty between the two, which becomes imperative to Tiger's very existence as he is eventually faced with the threat of an ancient, powerful evil which struggles to control him through his own mystical sword, a sword forged specifically for him during a journey to Del's homeland, a sword which he did not even want.

Over the course of the first four books, Tiger becomes increasingly embroiled in circumstances beyond his control, a victim of prophecy and fate. His love for Del leads him to break oaths, which makes him a target for death, outside the ceremonial circle of the sword dance. This leads to his departure from his beloved home in the southern desert region, searching overseas for the unknown, unconfirmed land of his ancestry, all upon the basis of a stranger's comments. A stranger with similar appearance and large build. This is where the final two novels begin.

Upon their sea voyage, Tiger and Del encounter pirates, slavers, and near drowning. Tiger never learned to swim, having been raised in a desert. As the story progresses, we are introduced to the interesting female captain of the pirate crew, an attractive redhead who desires Del. We also meet the first mate, a mysterious outcast from Tiger's homeland who bears strange blue tattooing upon his shaved head, multiple piercings, and a secretive knowledge of mystical powers. The mate recognizes Tiger's common heritage, and rather than selling their captives into outright slavery, Tiger is ransomed to the matriarch of his homeland as a potential lost heir to the throne. The bounty he was traded for, however, indentures and angers Tiger, but bound by his own codes of honor, he agrees to cooperate with a task she sets before him... for awhile.

Up to this point, I have attempted to offer only the most general of a synopsis, hoping to inspire interest but not to give too much away. The joy and excitement lies within the steps of the journey. From this point, If your interest has not been inspired as of yet, nothing else I say will matter. Assuming that it has, I will only say that Tiger sleeps with death, and we discover interesting things about the first mate and his abilities. Secrets are then gradually revealed about Tiger, himself, secrets he is not pleased at all to know. Intrigue and irony ensue, in large portions, in more ways than magic can account for.

Whenever magic is dealt with in Roberson's Tiger and Del novels, it is always low-key, for the most part. It is not along the lines of Tolkien's wizardry or the magic of elves, it is much more subtle, and I believe, more suited to the stories. (Nothing comes across as "over the top.") I really cannot give any more of the story away without creating a spoiler, but I will say that I was sad to see the saga end. To me, that has always been a measure of a really good book or series. This series has definately been among my favorites to read, and I am somewhat particular about what I will endorse. I hope my effort here has been enlightening and enticing.