The Cold Commands

A Land Fit for Heroes, Book 2

By: Richard K. Morgan

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 16 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

With The Steel Remains, award-winning science fiction writer Richard K. Morgan turned his talents to sword and sorcery. The result: a genre-busting masterwork hailed as a milestone in contemporary epic fantasy. Now Morgan continues the riveting saga of Ringil Eskiath - Gil, for short - a peerless warrior whose love for other men has made him an outcast and pariah. Only a select few have earned the right to call Gil friend. One is Egar, the Dragonbane, a fierce Majak fighter who comes to respect a heart as savage and loyal as his own. Another is Archeth, the last remaining daughter of an otherworldly race called the Kiriath, who once used their advanced technology to save the world from the dark magic of the Aldrain - only to depart for reasons as mysterious as their arrival. Yet even Egar and Archeth have learned to fear the doom that clings to their friend like a grim shadow... or the curse of a bitter god.

©2011 Richard Morgan (P)2011 Tantor

It's official, I'm hooked --

The Steel Remains was the first Richard K. Morgan book I ever read, and it hooked me from the start. I'm happy to say that The Cold Commands has firmly cemented my new addiction.

Morgan has a gift with prose writing. I mean really, who can resist lines like "the blade tore sideways through the pliant lips of the scabbard, made a blurred arc around and down off his shoulder, was there at guard in front of him, like steel laughter in the light.". Couple that prose with fascinating characterization and intense action, and you've really got a book worth reading.

The Cold Commands is obviously a "second" book, the middle of a trilogy. It is clearly setting up action for the grand finale. Nonetheless, it also has plenty of action and plot in its own right. All three of the main characters expand and develop from their beginnings in The Steel Remains, and we especially see more of what Ringil is becoming -- whether he wants to or not. I won't post spoilers here, but I shuddered at some of the suffering Morgan inflicts on Ringil in this one -- and I can't wait to see how Morgan finishes up the series in the next book!

There is still quite a bit of explicit violence, some moderately explicit sex, and plenty of swearing in this book, so those who were offended by The Steel Remains (TSR) should probably steer clear. But anyone who appreciated TSR should love this volume as well. Also, Simon Vance does just as good as job with The Cold Commands as he did on TSR, so his narration was a joy to listen to and definitely adds to the reading experience. I own both the text and audio versions of both of these books, and each enhances the other.

Oh, finally -- for fans of the Takeshi Kovacs books -- read carefully, and you will find multiple references to Takeshi and his universe. You don't need to catch the references to enjoy the book, but they provide some fun insider entertainment if you do!

I'm so confused.

When did Ringill get magic powers? How does he go from plague to grey places? Eggar getting bored and finding the aldrane seems kind of contrived. A lot of confusion in this book, but I haven't gotten to the third yet so maybe it'll make sense there?

.....Sublimation to Plot Development.....

The story is now hitting its stride. The three main characters from book one are back. Ringil is on a vendetta that he has made personal to take vengeance for his cousin who was taken in slavery in the first book, and Egar the Dragonbane is fending off internal power struggles. It has the feel of a middle novel in that the story is allowed to stretch out its legs. It seems that in this second installment of The Land Fit for Heroes trilogy that the exigencies of plot preclude explicit diversions. They are, at least fewer in number and shorter in length than such scenes were in book one. It is my guess that one of two circumstances conspired to bring this situation about: Either Morgan had finished making his point concerning diversity or the buzz caused by the first book was becoming negative to an uncomfortable degree and concern for the bottom line persuaded both author and publisher to tone down the in-your-face nature of the first volume. We may never know. I, for one, am glad that Morgan seems to have spent more of his efforts on developing the story. It is a better book than the first.

Jack Vance is a fine reader for this book. I appreciate the way his British accent makes the dark underbelly of this story a little easier to hear. As I mentioned in my review for the first book, sometimes, particularly when portraying female voices, I think he is channeling the characters of Monty Python in the Medieval worlds of The Holy Grail or Jabberwocky. He brings some much needed, if unintentional, comic relief to the brutal grimy mercenary world in which the story takes place.

fantastic series

good 2nd book in the series! maybe not quite fulfilling as the 1st. Non the less great series and moving on to the next book

One of the books I judge all others by

This is one of the books I judge all others by. Richard Morgan is one of the few gifted authors that can paint detailed images in your mind. No doubt he's going to be remembered as one of the Grand Masters of Sci-Fi and fantasy.

A Ringing Performance for Richard K. Morgan

When I read or listen to an audiobook, what I look for is how well the story flows, how the world around them is given form and life by it's author. this book will not be an easy book to read or listen to, because of the complexity and writing of the plots how they intercept and break apart.
The Cold-Command was well written; the three main characters had their own issues, pace of performance and plot.
Ringil for the most part is still as confused has he was in book one, going were the tides take him sometimes literally; with all the power he as attain; whatever he is becoming, he still allows himself to be lead by others. A hero and an anti- hero rolled into one.
In this book the myths and legends were explain more clearly, giving the reader a better understanding of that broken world.

Another Great Book from Richard K. Morgan

A thrilling continuation of the Steel Remains! Morgan provides adventure, excitement, suspense, lust, love, and more fantastic character building! Starting book three immediately!

Great tale for grown ups

Read the book first and just listened to it. Even better the second time. Gotta go now so I can start the 3rd book.

Worthwhile

Where does The Cold Commands rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

A very worthy successor to the first book, but the first book is superior.

Would you be willing to try another book from Richard K. Morgan? Why or why not?

I love all of Morgans books. He is a very talented author ta making believable hard-edged anti heroes.

Have you listened to any of Simon Vance’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Simon Vance never does a bad job. This was excellent as always.

Great story but almost too artistically written

Love the characters and the story line, the references to the downfall of a whole society being caused in part by religious fanaticism is fitting for our current world politics. My only complaint is sometimes the story got hard to follow. But maybe it deserves a re-listen.