The Ring of Five Dragons: The Pearl Saga Volume One - Softcover

Lustbader, Eric Van

Softcover

ISBN 10: 000648607X ISBN 13: 9780006486077

Publisher: HarperVoyager, 2002

Synopsis

The opening volume in a huge epic fantasy in the tradition of Frank Herbert’s 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 Kundalan 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.

About this title

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

From the Back Cover:

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 Kundalan 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.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperVoyager
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 000648607X
• ISBN 13: 9780006486077
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 600