I just want to say right now that David Gemmell writes some of the best heroic adventure fiction ever put to ink and paper. I do not read near as much as I used to. Well, I ‘read’ but it is mostly slush, and rereading and reediting. It’s not personal, for my own enjoyment, very often. When I do read something outside the confines of RBE, I’ve usually been trying to catchup on the dozen books I promised reviews on. So far this year, I’ve managed to wade through some of the review titles, a dozen or so graphic novels, and about five or six books of my own choosing. It took me four months to finish my last book (with two small anthologies tossed in during that time); perhaps not so indicative of the book itself, as I am rather busy and probably should not be doing too much of such reading. But I say all this to make this lone observation:

I began my latest book for review on 11/21. I am almost a quarter way through it already – and finding it very difficult to put it down, to not keep reading it in those moments I snatch time for a few pages. It is simply a pleasure to read – and I cannot wait to post its review, as it already has so eloquently defined that which I wish for RBE to do: tell the stories of heroes. For in their telling and in their hearing, we become a bit more heroic ourselves.

The book is by David Gemmell. The literary world – yes, literary! – sorely misses this man. While the creation of the DGLA is a terrific salute to his memory, we must ensure that whatever title wins the Snaga must be worthy of him.I was not fortunate enough to have met Mr. Gemmell, and I regret never being able to sit at his knee. I miss David Gemmell.