science fiction

A Call to Arms - Thomas K. Martin Book Review

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Review Summary
This is the third and, unfortunately, final book in the Steve Wilkinson Dreamer series. Steve has just returned to Quarin after killing Belevairn on Earth. Sadly, he was not in time to stop a tank and several trucks of ammunition from being transported to Quarin. He knows that Earth's techologically advanced weapons will decimate the medieval land. He isn't sure what he can do to help, but he knows that he has to try. Steve fulfills part of the prophecy by accidentally killing the Dark Queen with some rocket launchers while he tries to escape her fortress. From there, he immediately sets out to find Erelvar, because he know that he will be leading the resistance, and finds that Erelvar's city has been leveled by the tank or "the Dragon." But, Erelvar and his allies are still ready to fight. Steve uses his knowledge, personality, as well as his power as the Dreamer of prophecy to help save the world of Quarin.

This book is absolutely action packed and is a very fast, easy read. Readers will immediately indentify with Steve and will be cheering him on all the way. Yes, he does have great powers, but he is still a man and he has a man's weaknesses and a great sense of humor. He is just an unassuming, normal kind of guy who still can't really understand how he ended up doing all of this. Steve is the most fully-fleshed out character, but readers will enjoy learning what happened to other characters from A Two-Edged Sword.

Martin has beautifully described the different lands that Steve chances upon and the differences between the character races. I especially enjoyed Steve's interaction with the Olvir (an elvish-type race) and their rituals including the Way of Parting. This ritual enables the dead to come back for a day to say goodbye to their loved ones through the use of a living "host."

My only complaint with the book is that many of the characters displayed hitherto unknown powers near the book. They were very cool powers and not typical magical gifts, but I kind of felt as if Martin were pulling them out randomly to finish the book off. Still, it was a nice ending and sets the trilogy up for another sequel. I am hoping that one day we will get one...


Debbie, Resident Scholar


Detailed literary breakdown of A Call to Arms
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Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 30%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%




Tone of book - very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - part earth & part fantasy world
Inner Struggle Yes
Plotlet: - coping with mental/magical powers
War or Invasion Yes
Major kinds of combat: - magical battles
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - warrior/knight
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - long-lived adults
Profession/status: - mage/magician
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - fire/thunder/weather cntrl - can fly - is very quick
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
Earth setting: - general past
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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