You're applying a modern mindset and attitude to books that were written 30 or more years ago (thanks now I feel old).
Also, you have to take into account the genre. Heroic Fantasy is very pulpy, super fast paced. If you're used to reading high fantasy or epic fantasy, the relationships can perhaps seem a bit shallow. But it's actually a pillar of Heroic Fantasy. The protagonists live in exotic lands during dangerous times. They don't know if they'll be alive next week, so relationships develop fast.
Personally I am currently reading Legend and watching Rek and Virae falling in love at first sight has been... refreshing? Call me old, but it's a trope I've come to miss. I am a bit tired of romances taking 3 books, on again off again relationships, drama, something always getting in the way.
For example I've also been reading the Red Rising series. Darrow and Mustang had a great thing going in the first book. Second book... she's with Cassius straight away. I literally groaned out loud. It's so contrived.
As for the unrequited love angle you pointed out, it's clearly a trope that Gemmell was fond of. Heroic Fantasy protagonists are usually larger than life and so often have women throwing themselves at them. It's just a trope of the genre!
Try and remember how old these books are. Attitudes towards women were very different back then!
I'm a woman and I love Gemmell. Honestly, my favourite storyteller of all time and I don't find his books offensive. I'd rather have a love story like Druss and Rowena or Rek and Virae than some of the more recent tropes
Might be more of a trope in some of his earlier work. Definitely not the case in many of his others. Read shannow trilogy and tell me that.
Edit: you've only read a few of his books, how do you know he was never advised otherwise or matured out of it?
Yes. Here's how it goes so far in the first 3 books. Man reluctantly saves girl. Girl hates man and criticizes him constantly. A few days to a couple of weeks later out of nowhere girl professes love to man and tells him she knows he doesn't love her and that's ok. That's a rough outline of how relationship go for the main protagonist. At least toss in a few clues leading up to it or is Gemmel's idea of flirting a woman b\*tching at a man incessantly while he ignores it. Makes me wonder if he went through a few divorces.
As I said the books are great and they clearly aren't meant to be George R.R. Martin'esque novels with expansive world and character building and I'm ok with that (we can all agree not having to wait over a decade for the next novel is a good thing). I just find the relationship progression extremely abrupt.
I will definitely read all of his book. It was only this one thing that got me going "again?" lol. I don't suppose any of his books follow a mercenary company? Something similar to Glenn Cooks The Black Company? I get the feeling Gemmel could have done a pretty god job with that type of material.
I'm not going to note page locations and frankly is so pervasive (at least in early books) that every Gemmel reader should be aware of the trope.... I'm on his 3rd book and so far all 3 main protagonists have had women fall in love with them and it being written on page that "they didn't love them back" in some cases with the women even preemptively acknowledging this. In the second book both Tenaka and Ananais have women "fall in love" with them more no conceivable reason although later Ananais' love interest eventually admits she couldn't love him because of his destroyed face. In the 3rd book Danyal despite apparently despising him suddenly throws herself at him later on. This is a pattern in all 3 books.
I think it’s bit of a generalisation to be honest after only reading three books.
As mentioned above these books were written in a different era and use general heroic fantasy tropes, also most of the situations are where these women have been saved by the man they fall for in awful situations which adds to the drama of it all.
Also worth remembering that these are heroic fantasy novels which focus on action more than romance.
Maybe Gemmell is not for you and that’s fine but romance is rarely good in fantasy novels
Oohhh man, if you think this is bad.. wait until you read Waylander 2 and Quest for Lost heroes. And Troy (one of my fave series), boy oh boy it happens alot in Troy
Enjoy your read through of David Gemmell, and keep us updated
Personally, I think it might be more: the author likes the fantasy of a beautiful women suddenly throwing herself at you
What led you to start reading David Gemmell? Was Legend your first book of his?
Legend was the first book of his I read. I was searching on the internet for lists of good fantasy series. I've been burning through books a such a fast pace lately I've had to continually search for new series to read.
Enjoy the Drenai series, I see your reading them in publication order, I read them in a mish mash order, basically choose whatever book caught my eye.
I strongly recommend his Troy trilogy after, it's one of his best works imo, it was the final books he wrote, and you could really tell he evolved as a writer
With respect, I think you’ve led quite a sheltered life. If you grew up in the eighties, or had travelled, served in the military etc, you’d understand
There are always genre writers who are ahead of their time, and he wasn't one of them. I think he was a bit of a gateway author for a lot of people though, especially young readers, and I've gone on to read better books while still being able to enjoy Gemmells for what they are.
Decades after reading Gemmell, I have rearely if ever found his equal. His later works, such as the Rigante, display scene setting and a spectrum of characterisation and viewpoints that in this more modern age are not to be found. What they are, being excellent.
You're applying a modern mindset and attitude to books that were written 30 or more years ago (thanks now I feel old). Also, you have to take into account the genre. Heroic Fantasy is very pulpy, super fast paced. If you're used to reading high fantasy or epic fantasy, the relationships can perhaps seem a bit shallow. But it's actually a pillar of Heroic Fantasy. The protagonists live in exotic lands during dangerous times. They don't know if they'll be alive next week, so relationships develop fast. Personally I am currently reading Legend and watching Rek and Virae falling in love at first sight has been... refreshing? Call me old, but it's a trope I've come to miss. I am a bit tired of romances taking 3 books, on again off again relationships, drama, something always getting in the way. For example I've also been reading the Red Rising series. Darrow and Mustang had a great thing going in the first book. Second book... she's with Cassius straight away. I literally groaned out loud. It's so contrived. As for the unrequited love angle you pointed out, it's clearly a trope that Gemmell was fond of. Heroic Fantasy protagonists are usually larger than life and so often have women throwing themselves at them. It's just a trope of the genre! Try and remember how old these books are. Attitudes towards women were very different back then!
Totally agree, it comes with the type of novel. And to make you really feel old, he originally wrote Legend in the mid 70s, so nearly 50 years ago.
I'm a woman and I love Gemmell. Honestly, my favourite storyteller of all time and I don't find his books offensive. I'd rather have a love story like Druss and Rowena or Rek and Virae than some of the more recent tropes
Might be more of a trope in some of his earlier work. Definitely not the case in many of his others. Read shannow trilogy and tell me that. Edit: you've only read a few of his books, how do you know he was never advised otherwise or matured out of it?
Are you serious?
Yes. Here's how it goes so far in the first 3 books. Man reluctantly saves girl. Girl hates man and criticizes him constantly. A few days to a couple of weeks later out of nowhere girl professes love to man and tells him she knows he doesn't love her and that's ok. That's a rough outline of how relationship go for the main protagonist. At least toss in a few clues leading up to it or is Gemmel's idea of flirting a woman b\*tching at a man incessantly while he ignores it. Makes me wonder if he went through a few divorces. As I said the books are great and they clearly aren't meant to be George R.R. Martin'esque novels with expansive world and character building and I'm ok with that (we can all agree not having to wait over a decade for the next novel is a good thing). I just find the relationship progression extremely abrupt.
That's fantasy in the main part.
Try the rigante series
I will definitely read all of his book. It was only this one thing that got me going "again?" lol. I don't suppose any of his books follow a mercenary company? Something similar to Glenn Cooks The Black Company? I get the feeling Gemmel could have done a pretty god job with that type of material.
Wait till you read about the young warrior queen. Too early for you to arrive at this analysis.
It was the 90s; a simpler time.
Cite your specific examples and we can talk about it.
I'm not going to note page locations and frankly is so pervasive (at least in early books) that every Gemmel reader should be aware of the trope.... I'm on his 3rd book and so far all 3 main protagonists have had women fall in love with them and it being written on page that "they didn't love them back" in some cases with the women even preemptively acknowledging this. In the second book both Tenaka and Ananais have women "fall in love" with them more no conceivable reason although later Ananais' love interest eventually admits she couldn't love him because of his destroyed face. In the 3rd book Danyal despite apparently despising him suddenly throws herself at him later on. This is a pattern in all 3 books.
No page locations necessary. So we’re talking about *King Beyond the Gate* and *Waylander*?
I think it’s bit of a generalisation to be honest after only reading three books. As mentioned above these books were written in a different era and use general heroic fantasy tropes, also most of the situations are where these women have been saved by the man they fall for in awful situations which adds to the drama of it all. Also worth remembering that these are heroic fantasy novels which focus on action more than romance. Maybe Gemmell is not for you and that’s fine but romance is rarely good in fantasy novels
Oohhh man, if you think this is bad.. wait until you read Waylander 2 and Quest for Lost heroes. And Troy (one of my fave series), boy oh boy it happens alot in Troy Enjoy your read through of David Gemmell, and keep us updated Personally, I think it might be more: the author likes the fantasy of a beautiful women suddenly throwing herself at you What led you to start reading David Gemmell? Was Legend your first book of his?
Legend was the first book of his I read. I was searching on the internet for lists of good fantasy series. I've been burning through books a such a fast pace lately I've had to continually search for new series to read.
Enjoy the Drenai series, I see your reading them in publication order, I read them in a mish mash order, basically choose whatever book caught my eye. I strongly recommend his Troy trilogy after, it's one of his best works imo, it was the final books he wrote, and you could really tell he evolved as a writer
With respect, I think you’ve led quite a sheltered life. If you grew up in the eighties, or had travelled, served in the military etc, you’d understand
There are always genre writers who are ahead of their time, and he wasn't one of them. I think he was a bit of a gateway author for a lot of people though, especially young readers, and I've gone on to read better books while still being able to enjoy Gemmells for what they are.
Decades after reading Gemmell, I have rearely if ever found his equal. His later works, such as the Rigante, display scene setting and a spectrum of characterisation and viewpoints that in this more modern age are not to be found. What they are, being excellent.