What do You think about The Forge In The Forest (1989)?
The Forge in the Forest is the sequel to The Anvil of Ice. Moody and atmospheric, The Winter of the World holds up well for a series written in the eighties. Michael Scott Rohan introduces some horror elements in this fantasy and the feel of the novels are generally rather dark The ‘world’ of Winter of the World appears to be an amalgamation of the Ice Age, Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age and, you guessed it, J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth. This novel also evoked a very real sense of vast distance and remoteness, which I really enjoyed. The plot itself contains some rather grandiose and dramatic elements, as well as melodramatic coincidences aplenty, as befits a high fantasy tale.There are one or two so-called tropes here, such as the Duergar (and the dragons of The Anvil of Ice), but these are not prominent elements. The magic element in this series is handled way differently than was the norm at the time. Make no mistake, I LOVE the old-school fantasy stuff. I have no qualms with dragons, elves, and the like, even if I am in the minority. Bring them on, says I. However, it is refreshing to take a break now and then, and read a fantasy that, well, does it somewhat differently. So, as far as that is concerned, Michael Scott Rohan seems to have been slightly ahead of his time. This series is definitely somewhat different.The smithing and metalwork elements that lie at the heart of these novels are what truly make them unique. Add a few very cool characters and one or two genuinely creepy scenes to the mix, as well as some truly barbaric villains, and you have another seriously underrated gem of a series. There are also some philosophical arguments touched upon, concerning the nature of life and immortality, which I found interesting.The novel is written exceptionally well, even wistful. Good pacing and atmosphere, as showcased here, can make a good novel a brilliant novel. So, if high fantasy, or heroic fantasy is your thing, you really, really owe it to yourself to read this series. You will, unfortunately be somewhat lost if you start here. Read The Anvil of Ice first.
—Dirk Grobbelaar
Consistently good story-telling. I, for one, enjoy the stylized manner of speech most of his characters share. It's just . . . well, slap-dashing good. I enjoy the treasure he has delved from Tolkein's Lord of the Rings just as much as in the first book, perhaps even more. Rohan's forever summer forest has at its center the slightly off humming of Tolkien's Old Man Willow, that creature on the Withywindle with his black heart. And, the quest of our doughty seekers had a big surprise for me when they arrived at their goal . . . the evil that lurks just beyond the shores!
—Loraine
I thoroughly enjoyed my reread of The Forge in the Forest. It's been years since I last picked up this series, and whilst I remembered them as being good, they are actually much better than I remembered.The feeling of mythology that MSR brings to all of the Winter of the World novels is amazing. You really feel that this could have been something that happened during the previous ice-age, that there could have been a prior civilisation, now only remembered as echoes in the deepest corners of our psyches.The depth of the storytelling is wonderful, and the mental pictures created are beautiful. This is helped I think by the cover art on the UK editions.I picked up a lot of story that perhaps I hadn't got before, especially the interactions between Ils and Kermorvan, and more of the history of the Duergar race - described by the author in the Appendix as Neanderthals.The Appendices are as interesting as the story. MSR goes into huge detail, fitting the flora and fauna, peoples and smithcraft into the natural history of the earth. I was just hugely impressed by this story, it's not dated one bit and is really well thought out mythology based fantasy. It should be better read and appreciated!
—Kate
