A review by ianbanks
Legend by David Gemmell

5.0

I can only be objective up to a certain point about this book. I've written about it elsewhere detailing what it means to me (http://stuffianlikes.aussieblogs.com.au/2013/04/01/a-book-ian-likes-legend-by-david-gemmell/) but, essentially, once I get past the cover I'm just a raging fanboy having a nerdgasm.

(Speaking of the cover, I try to match up book covers to the editions that I own but sometimes (like now) Goodreads doesn't come to the party. My copy of Legend is a first edition graced by artwork that the late Mr Gemmell reportedly despised, so I went with the illustration that he considered the "true" first cover.)

Anyway, to the book.

I have a friend who doesn't mind Gemmell but accuses him of writing the same story each time. While this is true to a certain extent, there are at least variations on themes that he tries to explore in each novel, as well as character arcs and settings and ideas that are unique to each book. But it can be said that most Gemmell plots deal with a tired, jaded protagonist (usually male) who discovers that his fire for justice hasn't quite gone out, nor has his need for redemption.

This book is where it all began.

And I love it. From the stone-cold classic prologue (something every fantasy novel needs), through to the meeting of the protagonists, past the assembly of the gifted team, through the forty-something page training montage and into the 150 or so pages of fortress-under-siege goodness that is the climax. It even has an epic funeral

It's a really simple setting and story but it completely works because of the investment you have in the characters. There's a fairly hefty amount of cheese and ham in the delivery but it's all sincerely and honestly done. Some elements of the ending feel a little weak (personally, I love the resolution of the siege) and hackneyed but there is so much else going for it that you can easily forgive it.

Like I said, I find it hard to be objective about this book because I have so much history tied up in it, but it is, at worst, a terrific way to spend a few hours.