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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN num: 9780786947225
ISBN number: 0786947225
Label: Wizards of the Coast
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 320
Printing Date: April 01, 2008
Publishing house: Wizards of the Coast
Release Date: April 01, 2008
Sale Popularity Level: 232147
Studio: Wizards of the Coast
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Product Description:
Strike the Anvil of Time!
Vanderjack is a mercenary with a troubled past and a sword haunted by ghosts. Hired to rescue a nobleman's daughter from behind enemy lines, the sellsword finds himself a pivotal player in the liberation of Nordmaar from the Red Dragon army.
The Chronicler is charged to use the ancient Anvil of Time to travel back along the river of time and find the lost stories that fell between the pages of the history books of Krynn in this new series created and guided by the creative mind of Tracy Hickman. Together with a group of exciting new voices for the fantasy genre, Tracy Hickamn Presents the Bridges of Time breathes all new life into the venerable Dragonlance world.
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Rated by buyers 
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Having read 132 Dragonlance novels - I'm a collector - I was intrigued by The Sellsword by Cam Banks. I found his writing unique, something I think really adds to this book. Vanderjack, the main character, is well developed and purely human with many strengths, some frailities, and interesting personal and professional struggles. The sword, with it's other earthly attributes is a new twist, and one that I thought worked very well. The other characters were not the typical kender, dwarf, elf, dragon, gorgeous woman types - another big plus - Theodenes and his friend Star added some really interest - he's one of my new favorite characters. Certainly not your typical gnome. :-) A very entertaining read and an unexpected ending. Read it in a day while on vacation- couldn't put it down. Hope to see more Cam Banks in the near future. Well done!
Rated by buyers -
I am currently reading this book and I am loving every page of it. I haven't read an RPG book in a very long time and most of my reading then has been R.A. Salvatore and Elaine Cunningham. With the Sellsword, Cam Banks, has brought me back to the world of Krynn. I feel Cam has picked up right where Margaret and Tracy has left off in terms keeping the interst of the reader with likeable and colorful characters, dragons and ghosts included! I thoroughly enjoy Vanderjack and his humorous responces to unwelcomed situations.
I am sorry to dissapoint, Cam, I don't have anything constructive or negative to say about this novel. I hope to see/read more from you in the near future. I only hope that the subsequent two writers in this series can do as well of a job as you have with The Sellsword.
Tony D.
Rated by buyers 
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My husband and I have been reeading the Dragonlance novels since their earliest beginnings with the trilogies with Hickman & Weis writing groundbreaking fantasy.
But since then, tons of writers have come onto the scene, and the Dragonlance franchise took off like a bat out of hell, forcing us to cpick and choose our Dragonlance novels carefully, since there had been a host of writers we personally didn't care for.
But some we liked.
And newcomer Cam Banks in this debut novel, The Sellsword, Volume One in the Anvil of Time trilogy, is placed somewhere in the middle of the two for us. There was a lot we liked, and didn't like at the same time.
Vanderjack, or the Journeyman, as he is called, something along the lines of a time-travelling mercenary, is an interesting concept for a string of novels, and Cam Banks does a reasonable job at breathing life into this character.
There are a lot of other colorful characters he engages with throutghout the novel, from gnomes to dragons, and Banks seems to derive great pleasure at showcasing his vast knowledge of the Dragonlance world and its environs. And that is important.
But on the other hand, this novel didn't capture the bloody action/adventure type of writing that we like. For a novel filled with everything from pirates to gladiators to Draconian warriors, the action sequences weren't as thrilling as some other authors we've read.
But hey, for a very first time novel, it was adequate. I think it was the overall concept and colorful world-building and characters that eventually won us over. Perhaps with time and practice, Cam Banks shows that he has great potential in becoming a huge sucess in the fantasy field. (We have certainly read much worse!)
We have mixed feelings with the subsequent two books of this trilogy having seaparate writers. But i suppose we will have to see whether or not they can take this concept of the Anvil of Time thing and twist it into one of the most memorable of the tons of other trilogies that the Dragonlance Universe is filled with.
Or at the very least, make it stand out.
Rated by buyers -
I bought The Sellsword a week ago after picking it up at a local Hastings and didn't honestly put it down till I heard 'Happy Trails' over the sound system when they were closing up for the evening. After that I took my time to read the book, instead of quickly devouring it as I do most Dragonlance novels, even though I simply couldn't get enough and constantly found myself hungering for more; like a vapid and starving soul. I enjoyed the book greatly, so much as a matter of fact that I wanted to take every possible moment to enjoy the story that lays printed on it's pages. To be honest, I hadn't enjoyed reading a book this much since I had originally picked up Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's legendary and beloved classics that helped give birth to Dragonlance and a legions of adoring fans. You can easily read the books description or take a peak at the other reviews written about this book and get an fair idea of what it is all about, but none of them truly do it justice and very little of what I can say will change that, but mostly I don't wish to spoil it in the tiniest bit for anyone. What I will tell you that the story of Vanderjack the mercenary is a marvelous one, full of adventure, mystery, humor, a little bit of romance for good measure and is chalked with genuine charm and magic. It was very easy to tell that Cam Banks had set foot and adventured in the lands of Krynn countless times before as I read the Sellsword as there are certainly a lot of devils in the details that other Dragonlance fans are sure to greatly appreciate. Though I can't really describe it, but the novel seemed to be written with a lot of affection; like talking about home and for those kindred souls who have heard the sirens song in their heart and set out search of adventure, like a wanderlust struck Kender in Dragonlance. The sum of the parts is what made me fall in love with The Sellsword and is a worthy read for anyone, especially for fans of the setting; you'll l certainly enjoy it. I finished the book imaging what Cam Banks could write given the opportunity for lengthier novels. I believe, after reading The Sellsword that given a little time he could write a trilogy that would make Wies and Hickman proud.
Rated by buyers -
I have a long history as a Dragonlance fan. I began as a player in the late eighties, and became a DL reader shortly after. I've got quite a few under my belt.
The quality has always been very inconsistent, the range being from true fantasy classic to absolute trash--sometimes reaching both extremes in the same trilogy. In my reading experience, the reason for this has mainly been because a Dragonlance story has to both fit in with the details of the setting (difficult for a series with over a hundred novels, numerous game products, and a fan base that is religious in their attention to, "canon"), and it must adhere to a certain thesis.
All too often, Dragonlance novels either get details wrong, such as the colour of draconians, or they ignore the thesis.
I'm sure some will disagree with me, but Dragonlance has always been about finding faith. Sometimes it's faith in the gods--In Dragonlance, gods take an active role in the lives of mortals. Other times, the quest is for faith in yourself, or in an ideal, or in your friends--whatever the individual quest, it is always about finding faith. The truly great DL novel has to fit into the world of Krynn, be well written, and on some level be a story about finding faith.
Cam Banks has a knowledge of the setting that is beyond comparison. His attention to detail in THE SELLSWORD is amazing. The novel is set in the years immediately after the War Of The Lance, and everything is just right. He knows the history of the world, he knows the obscure nationalities, he knows the monsters, and he knows the key players. I know the world very well myself, and I couldn't find anything that deviated from what is known and accepted about the world or the people on it.
Mr. Banks has also managed to expand certain elements, further enriching the world and opening new doors--the nation of Nordmaar has been brought to life, and fits with what is already known from past novels and game products. Monsters have also been expanded, and without giving anything away, Mr. Banks has found a place for a classic Dungeons & Dragons creature, giving it a unique identity for the world of Krynn.
As to the quality of the writing, I find it a wonderful read. It is his very first published novel and great ability and potential are visible. My one criticism would be that I think Mr. Banks needs to work on his romantic threads. I did not become fully invested in the romantic subplot--it was very subtle, overly so in my opinion. When it resolved, I'm not certain that I believed in the resolution.
Aside from that... Conversations were both engaging and natural, while still being heroic and fantastical. Narration was clear and descriptive, allowing me to get a clear picture without shanghai-ing my imagination--it was a good balance.
Finally, Cam Banks proves he knows DL by keeping the faith. It appeared from the beginning that we had a very un-Dragonlance-like story. By the end, with just the right amount of predictability (enough to make the reader feel smart and still managing to surprise), we see the author's work revealed and see that as fun a shake up as this was, it is still Dragonlance.
I give THE SELLSWORD 4 stars, taking one off for a romance that needed some more attention. It is a wonderful read, and I hope that Cam Banks continues with writing, making frequent returns to The World of Krynn.
Wizards Of The Coast should certainly look to Mr. Banks should they choose to develop more novels or game products.
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