The Hour of the Gate (Spellsinger #2)

This isn't so much the second Spellsinger book as the second half of the first one -- it starts minutes after the first book ends, and presents the second half of the quest. While Spellsinger was about the experience of ordinary life in the Wizards' World, Hour of the Gate shows us the extraordinary -- having crossed the Warmlands on their quest to prevent the Plated Folk from conquering the world, the heroes now set off through legendary lands in search of allies in the coming war. What they find is by turns awe-inspiring and terrifying, and Foster shows a great talent for minimal descriptions that evoke strong images. As before, we're primarily seeing Clothahump's mighty deeds through Jon-Tom's eyes, and as such there isn't much actual spellsinging. Nevertheless, this book strongly captures the power and majesty that fantasy worlds can have. As I noted in my review of Spellsinger, though, this is the last time that Foster takes his world seriously. As the series progresses, it shifts from being dark fantasy with a light touch to, by the end, the level of a knock-knock joke. If you're a completist who must read every book in a series, you may not want to get started on this one -- it's too depressing seeing where it goes.

Having delivered there message of impending doom to the mammals of the world, now Jon-tom and his friends seek out the help of the weavers. along the way Jon-tom begins to learn about his new found talent of spellsinging, making magic through music. He also pygmies with that wnat to sacrifice him, a river thats more than it seems, and an elder god from the edge of the universe. A thoourghly enjoyable read, ending in a climactic battle and Jon-Tom's awakening to great power.

I recently decided to rekindle my LOVE for Alan Dean Foster's Spellsinger series and have been blasted back 20 years to when I first read them!! It took me on a wonderful adventure as a teen and has taken me back on that journey again. This is an AWESOME trilogy and I would HIGHLY recommend it to anybody who would enjoy a fun, easy reading series with interesting places that only Foster could paint a picture of in your mind!! You'll find yourself cheering for Jon-Tom and Crying for Talea. I actually called out "Falameezar" when he returned!!! (You'll have to read the book) If you don't have time for all 6 Spellsingers (sorry, I don't consider books 7-8 part of the trilogy) DON'T miss the chance to at least read the 1st (Spellsinger) to meet the characters and this one to enjoy the war, as only Foster could tell!!Believe me, once you read the first 2, you'll want to keep going, to see what other adventures Jon-Tom and Mudge embark on! THEY ARE A BLAST!!!

I have only read the first three books in this series so far, but I do plan to read the rest because I simply love the style. I have heard this series compared to anthony's xanth series, and having read that entire series (yes every single one so far published) I believe that it is a pretty good comparison, if only that Foster's humor is slightly different, as I have said before, I enjoyed this book emensely and the only reason it's not a 5 is that it is a little predictable

Beyond doubt the best of Foster's Spellsinger Series. It brings together some of the most memorable characters you could hope to meet in any Science fiction or fantasy novel and mixes them all together in a story that takes your breath away. Magic and mayhem,fire-breathing marxist dragons and a voyage into the very mouth of hell itself lead you gently (!) toward a finaly that culminates with an almighty war. Journey along with Jon-Tom, Mudge, Talea and others as they are forced to take a journey from which they may not return! Despite being part of the Spellsinger series, this novel could quite possibly be a book unto it own. Enough action and adventure to fill any palatte, this is one book you MUST read.