The Sword of the Spirits

by John Christopher

Book Overview

The fate of Luke--and the civilized world--is at stake in the tumultuous and explosive conclusion to the post-apocalyptic Sword of the Spirits trilogy from the author of The Tripods series. Following... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0020425740
• ISBN13: 9780020425748
• Release Date: October 1989
• Publisher: Simon Pulse
• Length: 212 Pages
• Weight: 0.31 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.2" x 7.1"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Incredible

The first time I read The Sword of the Spirits trilogy, I was maybe twelve. But it left a strong impression on me and I reread the series every couple of years. Luke is a flawed character. He is unable to express his feelings to those he cares about, so he comes across as aloof and uncaring. For him, though, actions speak louder than words and loyalty and honor matter more than anything else. His devotion to Hans is a key example, even when that devotion can cost him personally and politically (i.e. when he elevates Hans to captain). At the same time, anyone who betrays his loyalty drives him to seek revenge, no matter the consequences. There are both Macbeth and Hamlet qualities about him. I appreciate the stark language of the series, and how each one builds substantially off the one before it. Whoever was the editor did an excellent job, as these books contain little fat. Overall, I think this trilogy is a masterpiece and I would like to see it reprinted in the US. It stands head and shoulders above the Tripod trilogy.

Dystopia

The Sword of the Spirits trilogy is definitely one of the most downer dystopia series ever written, especially for a young adult audience. The main character Luke has got to get an award for one of the most flawed protagonists of all time. The blood and death flows almost nonstop after the initial part of the book. A technological society was nearly brought to ruin and now only marginally survives, a superstitious husk of the humanity that once was.Many people criticize the series for the infuriatingly pig-headed ending of it all. I think that's really one of the major points of the book. To think that so many people were killed, so many relationships were destroyed, and so many hopes shattered just so Luke could come to power -- and then he completely squanders it with his paranoia, his pride and his stubbornness in a final book that has got to be one of the most depressing tomes of all time. To think that everything that has been suffered is for naught is infuriating. We like to think (and many novelists do, as well) that suffering and strife will always bring some sort of redemption or good end, but this often simply is not the case. It's like Hamlet but with absolutely none of the nobility, purpose and honor. That's clear the author's point -- see the huge Hamlet reference in the final book.This is the sort of series you want to shred after you finish reading it because it's just so anger-inducing. Not a classic, but it gets 5 stars for the impressions it's left on me.

one of the most thrilling and mind blowing books ever!!

This book is by far the best I have ever read. I read The Prince in Waiting for a school book report and found myself totally intrigued. I then found Sword of the Spirits and decided that I had to read it. This book was even more exciting and ironic than the first! The twisted love story and unexpected betrayal between Blodwen, {Luke's fiancee and daughter of a king} Edmund, {Luke's best friend} and Luke {prince of Winchester} is ironic and entrancing. I found this book hard to put down and it is HIGHLY recommended!!

no happy endings here

This series is perhaps one of the darkest young adult sci-fi stories available. That is probably why it stands out so vividly in my memories from adolescence. At last having achieved Winchester's throne, Luke proceeds to unravel everything he has gained with his frustrating single-mindedness and stubborn pride. The ending so shocked me in its sadness and resignation that I can clearly recall rereading the final chapter over and over. This series, along with certain Robert Cormier novels, taught me that all stories do not end well, and in fact might be more resonant and thought-provoking if they don't. This one stays with you for quite a while.