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Title: Highlander(TM): The Element of Fire by Jason Henderson ISBN: 0-446-60283-3 Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: 01 October, 1995 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.91 (11 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Review by Alistair Kennedy
Comment: The first Highlander novel based on the television series continues the high standards of the tv hit with an exciting mixture of history, drama, and fantasy as well as making for the first pairing of the two Highlanders, Connor & Duncan MacLeod, since the premiere episode.
The biggest attraction of this novel is the pairing up of both screen and television Highlanders and just as the episode "The Gathering" hinted, the world had better watch out when these two guys get together. The fruitful mentor/student relationship glimpsed at in the series is greatly expanded in this novel as Conner takes a still bewildered Duncan under his wing and bestows upon the recently "deceased" Highlander the rules of the Game. The nature of the villian Khordas and his beliefs makes for some good tension between them as the rookie Immortal clashes with Connor over the legitimacy of the Game itself, calling into question the premise and mythology of the series itself. Henderson charecterizations of both Immortals are dead on, however it is Connor's which is the most interesting simply because this novel offers the first real oppurtunity to see the charecter explored in an in-depth manner. Here we see a Connor Macleod as in Highlander III, world-weary and very sure of himself without any of the youthful recklessness of the first or even the second film. Described as the "Elder Highlander" by Henderson, the author protrays him as a pensive and brooding man not as involved in the Game as others Immortals. A gracious bit of continuity is alluded to in the ending of the novel as Connor speaks of his tiredness, a maliase he says other older Immortals have told him will pass him in time; Henderson's attempt at explaining away Connor's lack of pressence in the major Immortal events of the series perhaps? As Connor has charecter development in only three movies (of varying degrees of quality) and one series episode, he remains very much the enigma in the mythology of Highlander both in terms of charecter and continuity. Henderson does indeed opens up the charecter however Connor remains ellusive and mysterious, perhaps buying time for a novel of his own. Despite the inclusion of Connor, Element of Fire is Duncan Macleod's novel and again Henderson shows a good grasp of the charecter with his presentation of Duncan. As both charecters are cut from the same cloth one would think one Highlander would suffer however this
does not happen. Despite being originally a semi-carboncopy of Connor in the series, the charecter of Duncan Macleod is a wholley different entiity and if the success of the series has not proven it, then certainly this novel does. As most Highlander stories, the novel is divided into at least two time peroids (actually three in this case) and the reader gets to see Duncan as the young rookie just learning the ways of the world, however unlike in the series where we fast forward to the wiser more sombre Duncan in the present the novel only flashes forward a few hundred years to see a Duncan who is certainly more sure of himself, however is still not prone to a little assist from his old teacher, and still feels he has more to learn as evidenced by his desicion not to take a pupil in the form of Gabriella. Henderson uses the rookie qualities of Duncan to express the doubt over the legitimacy of the Game as posed by Khordas and enough doubt is left after the end of novel to make the reader wonder.
A major element in the success of every Highlander story is the villian and the maniacal Khordas does not dissapoint. His background is actaully somehting quite original in terms of Highlander and begs the question of what are religios and theological ramifications of immortality both as a concept but also to the spirituality of the individuals of the Immortals. The Macleods are most likely Christian in some sense, how does immortality figure into thier belief systems, do they even believe in God anymore. Alough most of the questions are not answered or addressed directly they none the less are explored in some sense through the villian Khordos who expierences his rebirth and has only his own beliefs to guide him through his ordeal as an immortal. This aspect in itself is facinating all its own however the villiany of the charecter does undercut fuller exploration of the themes as the sheer bloodthirstiness of Khordus takes precendence over his beliefs. However the idea that another band of immortals running around playing thier own "game" is one that seems worht further exploration. His worship of flame is an interesting villian "trademark" (most Highlander villians have to have some "trademark to mark them apart from others) and the novel form allows for some evocative imagery in relation to the flame and the fiery passions of the Khordus.
An excellent novel to start off the series a fine adventure with some thought-provoking ideas thrown in for the fans. What more can one ask for.
A Review by Alistair Stewert Kennedy
Rating: 4
Summary: Slow start, but fascinating
Comment: This book works extremely well if you're a fan of both the original movie and the TV series, as it provides answers to the question of when, precisely, did Duncan and Connor meet and other details about their friendship. The evil Immortal plot is really secondary to that detail, and weak in comparison until the middle third of the book. The writer doesn't give enough detail to developing Khordas as a horrific character until then, and by then, you've decided whether or not to continue with the book. It's worth it, though.
Rating: 3
Summary: Least favorite of the books
Comment: This is my least favorite of the spin-off novels that have been written in the Highlander legend. The book tended to drag in several places -- it could probably have been a lot shorter with no loss of plot.
On the plus side, it did have both Duncan and Connor in it, and an intriguing premise for the bad guy, Khordos, who really believed himself a God, and did not follow the Immortal Rulebook.
On a whole, I would say you should skip this one, unless you're an absolute die-hard fan who just can't find enough Highlander out there to satisfy him/herself -- like me!
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Title: Highlander: White Silence by Ginjer Buchanan ISBN: 0446606340 Publisher: Aspect Pub. Date: 01 February, 1999 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: Highlander(TM): Scimitar by Ashley McConnell ISBN: 0446602841 Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: 01 February, 1996 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: Highlander(TM): Scotland the Brave by Jennifer Roberson ISBN: 0446602868 Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: 01 September, 1996 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: Highlander(TM): The Measure of a Man by Nancy Holder ISBN: 0446604550 Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: 01 May, 1997 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: Highlander(TM): The Path by Rebecca Neason ISBN: 0446604569 Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: 01 August, 1997 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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