- Paperback: 624 pages
- Publisher: Voyager (8 May 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0002247321
- ISBN-13: 978-0002247320
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,394,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Eric Van Lustbader leads off his Pearl series by mixing science fiction and fantasy into an exciting adventure with The Ring of Five Dragons. Although much of the book's mythology is standard fantasy fare, Lustbader creates intriguing and conflicted characters and spins a complex world of religion, magic and technology around them.
The Ring of Five Dragons tells the tale of the people of Kundala, who have suffered for 101 years under the oppression of the alien invaders, the V'ornn. The Kundalan people are treated as slaves by the technologically superior and Nazi-like V'ornn, who seek to dominate them and deplete the planet's resources. But even the V'ornn have masters.
The Gyrgon are mysterious techno-mages who rule the V'ornn and have their own agenda--they want to find the source of the Kundalans' magic. To discover the secret, they must first find the Ring of Five Dragons, which is said to open the Storehouse. It has been written that untold treasures rest in the Storehouse, perhaps including the sacred Pearl. Now only the prophesied Dar Sala-at, who was born at both ends of the cosmos, can save and restore hope to the oppressed Kundalan people.
The Ring of Five Dragons follows the path of many fantasy series, with a prophecy to drive the action and a powerful hero to save the day. However, Lustbader writes rousing action scenes and gives his characters plenty of complex issues to deal with. He nicely switches between the V'ornn intrigue and the struggle of the Dar Sala-at, offering a surprise or two along the way. It is a satisfying read that sets up a good foundation for the rest of the Pearl series including plenty of untied threads to weave together for future adventures. --Kathie Huddleston, Amazon.com
Product Description
A huge new fantasy in the tradition of Frank Herbert’s phenomenal DUNE series
Struggling to survive an existence of enforced slavery on their home planet, the people of Kundala are slowly dying. Their oppressors the V’ornn, a technologically advanced, alien race, have reigned over the Kundalans with unyielding power for more than one hundred years.
Only through the power of the lost, god-given Pearl can the Kundalans be saved from extinction, for within it lies a secret so potent it could tear the entire planet apart.
However, only one man is destined to find and wield the awesome power of the Pearl, his name is Annon, high prince of the alien V’ornn, preordained to become his enemies’ saviour – the fabled and long awaited Dar Sala-at.
To fulfil his destiny he first must die and be reborn, his spirit fused into the body of a young Kundalini girl, Riane. As coexisting spirits in a single body, the two young identities of different gender, culture and race, will not only have to hide the quest for the Pearl from those who would seek to try to snatch such power for themselves, but also resolve deeply ingrained prejudices, for without doing so, the Pearl will never be found, and the Kundalans, and Annon are doomed.
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First Sentence
Sixteen years-a lifetime-later, Bartta, now a small, dark, hunched figure not unlike a lorg, found herself on the same path. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
Sixteen years-a lifetime-later, Bartta, now a small, dark, hunched figure not unlike a lorg, found herself on the same path. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Two weeks ago, beginning a series of business meetings and workshops, I picked up "The Ring of Five Dragons" as a diversion for anticipated gaps in the meetings and the inevitable down time. It's been a while since I've had the time for a "fun" book. This fit the bill perfectly.
A nice mix of fantastic invention, some subtle and some not-so-subtle eastern perspectives, and a nice recipe of characters, I had to spend hours on my return home to finish the story, and am now waiting for some indication of when the "saga" will be continued.
If you are looking for a fun and creative diversion, pick this up. It's long enough to last for a bit and pretty well written.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The planet of Kundala was overrun by the V'orrn on the same day that the male priests rose up in revolt against Mother, their spiritual leader, and caused the Pearl, a sacred artifact to be lost.
Now it is 101 years later, the V'orrn are settled on the planet and the native Kundalans suffer oppression and rape. The prophesies herald a saviour, the Dar Sala-at, who will find the pearl and restore the Kundalans the the Goddess's Miina favour.
Meet Annon, a V'orrn male, son of the regent, who is confused by his sympathies for the Kundalans. Internal conspiracies lead to his father being murdered and him fleeing for his life. To protect him, his spirit is transferred into the body of a Kundalan woman named Riane, who as he/she now slowly discovers is the Dar Sala-at.
The premise is interesting in this novel, and the author certainly creates an interesting and detailed world. We have the Gyrgon, the techomages of the V'orrn, fearsome god-like beings. We meet Thigpen, a Rappa or six footed furry creature who is to guide Riane. Rekk, a V'orrn warrior who has gone renegade to protect his love, the Lady Giyan, who is Annon's mother, but can never tell him. The V'orrn come across as a brutal race on the whole, who freely rape and slaughter the Kundalans. But in all this detail, a little spark gets lost somewhere, making this a book to read, and then maybe forget.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
After writing many novels, Eric Van Lustbader has come out as a closet science fiction writer of outstanding abilities. This book is the first of the series, has a faced pacey plot holding the reader from the first to the last page. The characters originally seems as stereotypes painted in bold brush strokes; as the story line continues they reveal complex changes: villains become heroes and heroes are fatally flawed. All this is revealed against a detailed history of two complex societies.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
masterpiece
Absolutely fantastic coming together of Sci-fi and fantasy!
For me it was my first venture into these waters and i could not put this book down! How can you? Read more
For me it was my first venture into these waters and i could not put this book down! How can you? Read more
Published on 12 May 2010 by Nicky Cowan
An very good and entertaining fantasy taster
I stumbled across the "Pearl Saga" by accident, or rather my husband did (special offers at Morrison's). Read more
Published on 5 July 2007 by The Bookworm
Brillant
i must admit that it takes a bit of time (first 100 pages) but after that the story rolls and takes you with it. when i got it after the first hundred pages i couldnt put it down. Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2005 by Samiel
Not Recommended
When I started this book, I believed that it was promising. It has an interesting protagonist, Annon. However as I continued through the book I found it sorely lacking. Read more
Published on 2 Oct 2002 by "conde90"
Disappointingly weak sci-fi
In a rush at the airport I spotted this recent Lustbader and thought I'd give it a go, being a fan of his earlier work. Read more
Published on 23 Sep 2002 by Dan Smyth
A masterful start to a powerful new fantasy series
I bought this book simply on the basis of having read previous works of Lustbader. The novel starts slowly, starting with the enslavement of the inhabitants of Kundala, a land of... Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2002 by Nirmal (m.nirmal@ieee.org)
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