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Legend (Drenai Tales, Book 1) Mass Market Paperback – October 1, 1994

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 7,163 ratings

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“David Gemmell tells a tale of very real adventure, the stuff of true epic fantasy.”—R. A. Salvatore

Druss, Captain of the Ax, is the stuff of legends. Tales of his battles are told throughout the land, and the stories expand with each telling. But Druss himself grows older, until finally, the warrior turns his back on glory and retreats to his mountain lair. There he awaits his old enemy: death. 

But far below, the barbarian Nadir hordes are on the march. All that stands between them and the Drenai people is a mighty six-walled fortress, Dros Delnoch—a great citadel that seems destined to fall. If it does, the Nadir will sweep inexorably across the land, killing all who oppose them.

Reluctantly Druss agrees to come down from his mountaintop to lead this last, hopeless fight. Lost causes mean nothing to him—he has fought in such battles a thousand times in a thousand lands. And he is a hero to inspire a new generation of warriors. He is Druss the Legend.

Thus begins David Gemmell’s most celebrated novel—an unrivaled classic of mythic heroism and magnificent adventure. . . .
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“David Gemmell tells a tale of very real adventure, the stuff of true epic fantasy.”—R. A. Salvatore

From the Publisher

David Gemmell is so committed to his work that he's offered to leap naked out of an airplane if it would appeal to readers. We haven't taken him up on the offer. However, David has also acknowledged that three of his major influences were Louis Lamour, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Stan Lee. Tolkien wrote back, Lamour passed away before David had any opportunity to contact him, and Stan Lee lived thousands of miles away from David's British home. One out of three wasn't bad, but it could be improved upon.

We were at the San Diego ComicCon, rustling up new readers, and David had just finished a two-hour continuous signing. A friend of mine spotted a familiar face, so I excused myself and darted away, returning a few moments later to say, "David Gemmell, I'd like you to meet Stan Lee." A tall, ruddy, and normally poised individual, David was struck speechless. Here was the man who, through his Marvel Comics stories, had reinvented the relationship between heroes and villains, forever blurring the barriers between good and evil. Before long the two fantasists were chatting away happily. Stan's wife, Joan, being British, was especially gracious to the London-born Gemmell. And Stan quickly demanded an autographed copy of LEGEND.

David's a dynamic storyteller. His lands live and breathe. His heroes are mighty swordsmen, ax-wielders, and post-apocalyptic adventurers. In their prime they were the best in the business, but in David's tales, they've often passed their prime, so all they really want is peace and quiet. But life (and the author) aren't that kind, and these heroes are forced out of retirement, forced to face bloody hordes of the undead, armies from Hell. Worse, his heroes are generally saddled with young, green heroes. (Nothing drives you crazy more than a cocky kid.) But they overcome, and the cocky kids become heroes, too. This is great reading.
--Steve Saffel, Senior Editor

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Del Rey (October 1, 1994)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 345 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0345379063
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0345379061
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.15 x 0.93 x 6.69 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 7,163 ratings

About the author

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David Gemmell
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David Gemmell was born in London, England, in the summer of 1948. Expelled from school at sixteen, he became a bouncer, working nightclubs in Soho. Born with a silver tongue, Gemmell rarely needed to bounce customers, relying instead on his gift of gab to talk his way out of trouble. This talent eventually led him to jobs as a freelancer for the London Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror, and the Daily Express. His first novel, Legend, was published in 1984 and has remained in print ever since. He became a full-time writer in 1986. His books consistently top the London Times bestseller list.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
7,163 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and epic. They describe it as an entertaining read with vivid characters that are easy to connect with. The writing style is concise and direct, making it a good introduction to the world. Readers appreciate the emotional content, which includes sadness, hope, and thoughtfulness. The book provides a good pace with exciting battles.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

119 customers mention "Story quality"106 positive13 negative

Customers find the story engaging with epic storytelling and period-appropriate language. They appreciate the action-packed narrative with multiple perspectives and descriptive battle scenes that draw them in. The book is described as a masterwork of fantasy, with interesting characters and well-crafted battles.

"...Great stand alone medieval fantasy by David gemell so am quite ecstatic about that also may reread again in a month because of how well written and..." Read more

"...Truly an engrossing heroic fantasy, with skilful development of the characters & the relations between them...." Read more

"...Legend is a fantastic tale of an underdog trying to overcome horrible odds (50 to 1)...." Read more

"...Some may read this as a good fantasy, but for some of you this book will strike a deep abiding sense of "rightness" that is courage, selfless giving..." Read more

97 customers mention "Readability"97 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and well-written. They describe it as an entertaining, refreshing read with interesting characters and fast-paced action. The author's imagination is praised by readers.

"...nearly destroyed and barely legible but am quite pleased with how well loved it is and how early it arrived...." Read more

"...Even if it doesn't for you though, it's still a damn fine read." Read more

"...The Takeaway: "Legend" is a good read for genre fans who enjoy their stories focused on the camaraderie, sacrifice and action that..." Read more

"...All in all it's a good read if you can overlook the predictable elements and allow yourself to simply enjoy the ride." Read more

73 customers mention "Character development"65 positive8 negative

Customers find the characters vibrant and alive. They appreciate the fine heroes and vivid descriptions of the worlds. The men and women portrayed show all the emotions that the human spirit has always had. The author paints his characters and worlds full of color, making you feel part of the stories. The prose flows well and the language the characters use isn't modern day slang. Honor and courage are mentioned frequently and carry weight in the story. Gemmell is one of the best action scene writers they have encountered.

"...Truly an engrossing heroic fantasy, with skilful development of the characters & the relations between them...." Read more

"...deserves 4 or 5 stars, and I believe the fact that he has such unusual characters gives him a solid 5 star rating...." Read more

"...you this book will strike a deep abiding sense of "rightness" that is courage, selfless giving, honour, gallantry, persistent and so much more, all..." Read more

"...The men and women portrayed show every emotion that the human spirit has always had. From beginning to end it holds your attention...." Read more

44 customers mention "Writing quality"40 positive4 negative

Customers find the writing style concise and direct. They describe the book as an easy, enjoyable read with understandable characters. The narration is excellent and the story keeps readers hooked until the end.

"...Legend’ is written in a grounded, unassuming style, an economical prose also used by Gemmell’s hero Louis L’Amour." Read more

"...Others of his books are easier to read, like Morningstar or Waylander. But it all begins with Druss the Legend...." Read more

"...makes great observations about human nature, peppers his conversations with good banter, and at times paints some very clear, borderline poetic,..." Read more

"An epic tale to rival any other. All the requirements to keep you reading and leave you wanting more to a finely written story." Read more

16 customers mention "Emotional content"13 positive3 negative

Customers find the book inspiring. They mention it makes them feel sadness, hope, thoughtfulness, and joy. It's perfect for relaxing and unwinding away from the stresses of real life.

"...This is felt and written in a way that makes one feel sadness and hope as we realize just how close and almost natural it is for all. Loves it." Read more

"...It still stirs my emotions and is a fantastic novel...." Read more

"...Such a heart rending, joyful journey...." Read more

"...The action can be stirring and it does have some emotional punch, but it's all very cheesy; cheap sentimentality and standard action...." Read more

13 customers mention "Content"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's content engaging and insightful. They appreciate Gemmell's rare understanding of men's lives and how to convey that message effectively. The story is described as engrossing and relatable, with depth and emotion. Readers also mention the author makes great observations about human nature.

"...The result is a powerful statement and example of how many men would like to live and translates just as well to modern day life as it does to the..." Read more

"...Gemmell routinely makes great observations about human nature, peppers his conversations with good banter, and at times paints some very clear,..." Read more

"...You are drawn to the characters. There is depth to them and you feel what they feel...." Read more

"...For one thing this is easy, accessible reading. Five pages in you know the plot and there is absolutely no thought required...." Read more

11 customers mention "Pace"11 positive0 negative

Customers like the book's pace. They say it has a good pace with exciting battles and the flow is non-stop.

"...In all, if you know that what you want is fast paced action with great descriptive writing and lovable characters then read this book*. *..." Read more

"...Legend is a refreshing one day read that was fast paced with interesting and colorful characters, and I thoroughly enjoyed it except for one thing:..." Read more

"...The flow is just non-stop. We get some serious questions asked why one would fight, and varied answers with different interpretations...." Read more

"...What a fantastic read. Gripping, fast paced, great plot, incredibly metaphorical. To write about pain in such a way hits home...." Read more

10 customers mention "Style"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's style. They find the scenes descriptive and well-painted, with graphic mayhem and a nice touch of perspective that keeps things interesting. The book is colorful, with clear action and crisp battle scenes.

"...Legend’ is written in a grounded, unassuming style, an economical prose also used by Gemmell’s hero Louis L’Amour." Read more

"...peppers his conversations with good banter, and at times paints some very clear, borderline poetic, action sequences...." Read more

"...above average and the author manages to tell a great tale, does it with style, and makes the book enjoyable...." Read more

"...Seeing different points of view in the story was a nice touch and kept things interesting and fresh...." Read more

Mr Gemmell Is Druss Forming.
5 out of 5 stars
Mr Gemmell Is Druss Forming.
This is the best work from Gemmell, I have read many of his books. This was the most enjoyable for me. A classic. Forget the one star reviews, the people who write them are not try fantasy fans. Sometimes they just want to speak. Try writing something, instead of attempting to slight the work of an awesome fantasy master such as David Gemmell. Shame on you. Please. Sanderson and Martin? Really? Some one's making a fool of someone....
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2024
    Book arrived nearly destroyed and barely legible but am quite pleased with how well loved it is and how early it arrived. Great stand alone medieval fantasy by David gemell so am quite ecstatic about that also may reread again in a month because of how well written and easy to follow the narrative was.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2019
    Against all prior expectations I found myself wholly absorbed by this novel and I could not put it down. The writing was deceptively simple but grew on me more and more with each page turned. Truly an engrossing heroic fantasy, with skilful development of the characters & the relations between them. But I should also add the following about the prose: be warned that parts of it are quite poor, like this example from chapter 7 - even David Eddings never managed this:

    “Druss slipped Snaga from its sheath, his broad hand curling round its black haft. Dorian attacked!
    And died.
    He lay on the ground, head half-severed from his neck. Druss hammered Snaga deep into the earth, cleansing the blade of blood, while Pinar stood in stunned silence.”

    But the novel also contains beautiful Tolkien-esque prose like this first paragraph of chapter 9:

    “The forest had an ageless beauty that touched Druss’ warrior soul. Enchantment hung in the air. Gnarled oaks became silent sentinels in the silver moonlight, majestic, immortal, unyielding. What cared they for man’s wars? A gentle breeze whispered through the interwoven branches above the old man’s head. A shaft of moonlight bathed a fallen log, granting it momentarily an ethereal splendour. A lone badger, caught in the light, shuffled into the undergrowth.”

    During his lifetime Gemmell openly admitted his debut’s literary shortcomings, yet never sought to edit or improve them in any way. Somehow they contribute to the otherworldly awesome underdog quality of the book, further cementing its status as a cult classic.
    Gemmell knows his ‘real human’ history and you can detect its influence throughout the story, just like you can when reading George RR Martin’s high fantasy. ‘Legend’ is written in a grounded, unassuming style, an economical prose also used by Gemmell’s hero Louis L’Amour.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2005
    I have been mulling over whether or not Legend by David Gemmell deserves 4 or 5 stars, and I believe the fact that he has such unusual characters gives him a solid 5 star rating. I look forward to picking up the second installment in David Gemmell's Drenai Tales.

    Legend is a fantastic tale of an underdog trying to overcome horrible odds (50 to 1). The Drenai are a people long considered superior in their part of the world, but over the years they have grown complacent and lazy. The Nadir, under a strong ruler, have come together after many years of internal toil to challenge the superiority of the Drenai. The only thing standing in the way of the Nadir is a single Drenai fortress, that of Delnoch. Manned with few soldiers and many farmers, Delnoch rests its hope on one man, Druss.

    Druss is such an improbable character to be a hero. He is old, his knee is killing him and his shoulder is arthritic. But his legendary status pushes him to muster every bit of strength he has left into training the farmers that man Delnoch and defending it against the Nadir. The question is whether or not the courage he instills in the farmers will be enough.

    Rek, a former soldier, doesn't know what he wants to do with his life. He is uncertain of his fighting skills and afraid of death, but that changes once he rescues a girl from some bandits. With that one decision, he changes his fate, yet is still uncertain and hesitant in many ways.

    Each Legend character questions himself or herself, which allows the reader to appreciate the characters more so for the tasks that loom before them. Who wouldn't want to root for an old man of 60 with a bad knee and a bad shoulder trying to fight against people half his age? I know I did.

    Lastly, if not for anything else, read Legend because of the battle sequences. I was completely enveloped by the utter vastness of their scope and range in depicting each aspect of the battle, from the walls of the fortress to the plans for defense. This book is definitely heavy on the sword side, but there are parts of sorcery that make this book even more enjoyable. All in all, Legend by David Gemmell is one that I highly recommend. Everyone enjoy!
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2012
    Legend is, well, legendary in the rebirth of heroic fantasy. Gemmell had a rare understanding of what it is to be a man and how to convey that in a story. Some people don't get it but many of you will find a deep resonance with the behaviour of the main character, Druss, and of those about him. This is a study of different personalities and how they behave when pushed beyond the edge in extreme stress. The result is a powerful statement and example of how many men would like to live and translates just as well to modern day life as it does to the medieval type land of the Drenai in the book.

    Later, Gemmell went on to examine many aspects of men and how they behave when the chips are down. Others of his books are easier to read, like Morningstar or Waylander. But it all begins with Druss the Legend. Having read all of Gemmell's 20+ books this is still seminal in it's statement of what it means to be a man. Gemmell's experience as a 16yo boy, defending a girl picked on by a gang in a subway train, to his years as a nightclub bouncer and then a journalist all honed his skills and experience to convey this powerful story. Later books continue the theme but this is where it begins. Some may read this as a good fantasy, but for some of you this book will strike a deep abiding sense of "rightness" that is courage, selfless giving, honour, gallantry, persistent and so much more, all rolled into one book. Gemmell had said people told him how this book changed their lives and I can believe that. Even if it doesn't for you though, it's still a damn fine read.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • AwesomeA
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic fantasy
    Reviewed in Canada on December 20, 2024
    David Gemmell is a master and you can't go wrong with his books.
  • Mr. I. Ryan
    5.0 out of 5 stars It’s written by a Legend about a Legend
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 20, 2024
    This is the book that got me hooked on Gemmell.
    The world weary Druss comes out of retirement with his axe the dreaded Snagga to fight once more. Druss is the legend of the ages, a character well rounded with a past you just want to hear more about which Gemmell went back to time and again.
    From the first pages it had me hooked, less sword and sorcery, more axe and blood, with a sprinkling of magic.
    Gemmell writes wonderful characters, heroes, villains and a mixture of both. Jon Shannow, Druss , Waylander are remarkable and always leave you wanting to read more about them.
    Well paced and brilliant descriptive writing.
    Read this 30 years ago and now have it on Kindle, I’ll enjoy this for another 30 years
  • Mr D M Almond
    5.0 out of 5 stars book
    Reviewed in Germany on May 12, 2024
    good story easy to read
  • Vincent
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ok
    Reviewed in France on April 26, 2020
    Produit conforme au descriptif, envoi dans les délais et emballage soigné
  • Kunal Sachdev
    5.0 out of 5 stars Truly a legendary book
    Reviewed in India on March 10, 2019
    A book that has it all- action,romance, drama, heroes, villians.