Legend by David Gemmell, a review.
The book was written close to forty years ago and to be fair, it stands the test of time. The story is a fairly simple one, an invading force threatens the lands of the Drenai, and the Fortress of Dros Delnoch is all that stands in its path. It is, in my opinion, one of the greatest Heroic fantasy books out there. This is not your Game of Thrones with elaborate plots, dragons, and political scheming that means any supposed ally could prove an enemy at any moment. It is a far simpler tale and, in many ways, a better one. This is about survival, a seemingly insurmountable enemy, and a fortress that has never fallen. It is their great bastion, that the Drenai believe can hold no matter what. But more than that, they have sent out word to the greatest living warrior of the Drenai people, Druss the Slayer. It is this character that much of the story hinges on, a man far past his prime, living alone as he awaits death on a lonely mountainside. This is the first book in the Drenai series, and strangely the book is set at the end of Druss' life, a man that will feature in more of Gemmell's work as time goes on. Druss is a brute, a warrior, a man that sees wrongs and does something about them with no thought of consequence, and whilst his body is failing, he has lost none of his lethality. And that is what this story is largely about, a fortress and a man worn down by age and experience that must hold against an unstoppable enemy. Something that Gemmell was experiencing in his life as he struggled with his own battle with cancer.
It is strange to see how the Drenai treat Druss as he arrives at Dros Delnoch, a man in his sixties, built like a tank, and having no time for any of the nonsense he sees around him. He is here to do one thing, to ensure they live long enough to push the forces of Ulric and the Nadir back, and he will batter them into shape to do it. Amid an array of characters, Druss sits there as an unmoving rock, implacable and resolute, yet he is never without kindness or decency. He is all a warrior should be, yet he does not judge others for their faults as long as they stand when the time comes. As a teenager, I loved the idea of this bunch of desperate defenders holding out against a sea of enemies, fighting for all they are worth, unwilling to give an inch. Over time that has changed, and begin to see the exhaustion that plagues them as they fight to be ready for the Nadir. You see them holding out for the miracle that reinforcements will come and aid them against this unforgiving foe. All know that it will not come, that they stand alone, but they fight regardless, and the old man leads ever at the front, even as age and exhaustion batter down his great strength and unrelenting will. There are other plotlines throughout the book, but most are worth discovering on your own. To speak of them would lessen their impact and your enjoyment of the book.
Gemmell has become synonymous with Heroic fantasy since he began the Drenai saga and only Waylander stands equal to Druss in popularity, in my opinion. This book is the perfect entrance into that world and whilst not perfect, it is a damn good read that shows heroes never truly die and hope is never entirely gone.
Hope you enjoy
I give it 4.5 out of 5. It's one hell of a read.
