Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Call number
F LAW
Publication
Zondervan
Description
"ACTION-PACKED ADEVNTURE." --Booklist Scotland, 1095. While his father and brothers follow Pope Urban II's call to win Jerusalem from the infidels, Murdo Ranulfson stays behind to guard his family's interests. But when his home is confiscated by greedy usurpers, Murdo is forced to follow the Crusades himself. Hoping to find his father and redeem his family's land, Murdo sets off on a journey that leads him to the Mediterranean--the heart of civilization now threatened by barbarian hordes--and on to the fabled city of Constantinople and beyond, to the Holy Land. Amidst brutality and ambition, Murdo discovers what he seeks--and obtains a relic that will guide him and his descendants for centuries. Rich in heroism, treachery, and adventure, The Iron Lance begins an epic trilogy of Scottish noble family fighting for its existence and its faith during the age of the Crusades--and of a secret society whose ceremonies will shape history for a millennium. "INTRIGUING . . . STEEPED IN HISTORICAL DETAIL . . ." --Library Journal… (more)
Subjects
Media reviews
knjigainfo.com
Među vizijama daleke prošlosti, škotski advokat iz devetnaestog veka nazire bolno hodočašće jednog od svojih predaka... Godine 1095, papa Urban II objavljuje rat nevernicima. Kraljevi, prinčevi i lordovi iz cele Evrope prihvataju krst i jurišaju da se pridruže krstaškom ratu. Murdo
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Ranulfson je ostavljen na ostrvima Orkni dok se njegov otac i braća pridružuju borbi za oslobađanje Jerusalima. Ali kada mu konfiskuju porodičnu zemlju i posed, Murdo kreće u krstaški rat kako bi našao svog oca. U sred neverovatne brutalnosti i ratne ambicije moćnih lordova, on će naći svetu relikviju koja će ga voditi kroz život, kao što će voditi i njegove potomke u narednim vekovima. Natopljena herojstvom, izdajstvom i zvonkim zvucima bitke, Gvozdeno Koplje započinje epsku trilogiju o škotskoj porodici koja se bori za svoje postojanje i veru tokom vremena koje je obeleženo velikim krstaškim ratovima. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member richardderus
Rating: 2* of five
The Publisher Says: In the year 1095, Pope Urban II declared war on the infidel. Kings, princes, and lords throughout Europe have joined the Crusade. To Murdo Ranulfson has fallen the duty of guarding his family's interests while his father and brothers fight to win Jerusalem. But
In the company of monks and warriors, he journeys far beyond the rolling fields of home, beyond the fabled Constantinople and the brooding walls of Antioch, to the Holy Land and the sword points of the Saracens. There, where blood, suffering, and human evil at its most horrifying are shot through with rays of the miraculous, he obtains the relic that will guide his life and the lives of his descendants for centuries. And there he grows from a callow youth to a man, trading cynicism for faith and selfishness for the heart of a leader.
Steeped in heroism, treachery, and the clamor of battle, The Iron Lance begins a remarkable, masterfully woven epic trilogy of a Scottish noble family fighting for its existence and its faith during the age of the Great Crusades -- and of a secret society that will shape history for a thousand years.
My Review: There was a time when I tried, and tried hard, to be a christian. Something alluring about feeling sure you're protected by a bid daddy who loves you. But the problem for me is, I have this logical outlook on life and I need stuff to make sense, to follow the rules of storytelling. This religion don't do none o' that, and plus it's riddled with exclusionary language, "moral" justifications for rotten stuff like slavery and incest, and so on and so forth.
Horrible.
This novel is a holdover possession from that period of my life. It's competently written, it's about a period of history I find enthralling, and I hated every single eyeblink I spent on it. There's persuasion and then there's bludgeoning. This is the latter. Had I paid the slightest attention, I would have noticed that the book was published by Zondervan...a christian publishing house. A foolish error on my part.
This review is my reminder to myself: Openness to change is good, but don't get carried away. Borrow from the library. That way the crap that offends you can go back with no damage to your pocketbook.
The Publisher Says: In the year 1095, Pope Urban II declared war on the infidel. Kings, princes, and lords throughout Europe have joined the Crusade. To Murdo Ranulfson has fallen the duty of guarding his family's interests while his father and brothers fight to win Jerusalem. But
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when corrupt clergy prove enemies rather than protectors, Murdo must leave his native Scotland in search of his father. In the company of monks and warriors, he journeys far beyond the rolling fields of home, beyond the fabled Constantinople and the brooding walls of Antioch, to the Holy Land and the sword points of the Saracens. There, where blood, suffering, and human evil at its most horrifying are shot through with rays of the miraculous, he obtains the relic that will guide his life and the lives of his descendants for centuries. And there he grows from a callow youth to a man, trading cynicism for faith and selfishness for the heart of a leader.
Steeped in heroism, treachery, and the clamor of battle, The Iron Lance begins a remarkable, masterfully woven epic trilogy of a Scottish noble family fighting for its existence and its faith during the age of the Great Crusades -- and of a secret society that will shape history for a thousand years.
My Review: There was a time when I tried, and tried hard, to be a christian. Something alluring about feeling sure you're protected by a bid daddy who loves you. But the problem for me is, I have this logical outlook on life and I need stuff to make sense, to follow the rules of storytelling. This religion don't do none o' that, and plus it's riddled with exclusionary language, "moral" justifications for rotten stuff like slavery and incest, and so on and so forth.
Horrible.
This novel is a holdover possession from that period of my life. It's competently written, it's about a period of history I find enthralling, and I hated every single eyeblink I spent on it. There's persuasion and then there's bludgeoning. This is the latter. Had I paid the slightest attention, I would have noticed that the book was published by Zondervan...a christian publishing house. A foolish error on my part.
This review is my reminder to myself: Openness to change is good, but don't get carried away. Borrow from the library. That way the crap that offends you can go back with no damage to your pocketbook.
Show Less
LibraryThing member sirfurboy
The Iron Lance is classic Stephen Lawhead. A mix of well researched history and some bare faced fiction. It would be quite wrong to think the medieval world was just as he describes it, but he describes it so well and with such an attention to detail that people might be mistaken for sometimes
This book is the first in a trilogy which itself relies on some plot elements set up in the book "Patrick: Son of Ireland". In this story, Murdo Ranulfson's brothers go to fight in the crusade to free the Holy Land, leaving him (the youngest son) to tend the estates with his mother. However political shifts and a scheming bishop leave him dispossessed and the lad finds himself with no option but to travel to the Holy Land to bring back his father.
But on the way he meets some monks from a curious celtic order - the Cele De. These monks are on a mission from God to bring back the Iron Lance that was used to pierce the side of the crucified Jesus.
The tensions in this book are deliciously drawn, and Lawhead is very good at the writing of action scenes. This leads to a wonderful story with a great conclusion in a convincing historical setting.
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doing just that.This book is the first in a trilogy which itself relies on some plot elements set up in the book "Patrick: Son of Ireland". In this story, Murdo Ranulfson's brothers go to fight in the crusade to free the Holy Land, leaving him (the youngest son) to tend the estates with his mother. However political shifts and a scheming bishop leave him dispossessed and the lad finds himself with no option but to travel to the Holy Land to bring back his father.
But on the way he meets some monks from a curious celtic order - the Cele De. These monks are on a mission from God to bring back the Iron Lance that was used to pierce the side of the crucified Jesus.
The tensions in this book are deliciously drawn, and Lawhead is very good at the writing of action scenes. This leads to a wonderful story with a great conclusion in a convincing historical setting.
Show Less
LibraryThing member aethercowboy
Part Conspiracy, part History, and part Fantasy, The Iron Lance is the first book in Lawhead's Celtic Crusades series, depicting the Crusades through the eyes of a Celtic family (surprise!).
Before reading this novel, my only experience with Lawhead was a heavy-handed Christian science fiction
The story is about a young boy whose elder male relatives head off to fight the Holy War. He's left behind with his mother and the servants. Upon returning one day from a holiday feast at a friend of the family's, his mother and he return to find their homestead pillaged.
This, and a vision of St. Peter leads him to join the Crusades, as well as to search for the Holy Lance.
The story is well written, featuring detailed characters and events. Lawhead has definitely learned a more subtle approach to writing, as I didn't feel particularly bashed over the head by this one.
You may enjoy it if you like historical fiction, historical fantasy, or Crusades-related fiction.
Before reading this novel, my only experience with Lawhead was a heavy-handed Christian science fiction
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novel. Lawhead is much less heavy-handed with the message, though his work is clearly Christian-inspired.The story is about a young boy whose elder male relatives head off to fight the Holy War. He's left behind with his mother and the servants. Upon returning one day from a holiday feast at a friend of the family's, his mother and he return to find their homestead pillaged.
This, and a vision of St. Peter leads him to join the Crusades, as well as to search for the Holy Lance.
The story is well written, featuring detailed characters and events. Lawhead has definitely learned a more subtle approach to writing, as I didn't feel particularly bashed over the head by this one.
You may enjoy it if you like historical fiction, historical fantasy, or Crusades-related fiction.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Neilsantos
By the author of Byzantium, which I liked. Similarly to Byzantium, the Byzantines are much more interesting than the Europeans. It's amusing how all the Westerners are considered "Roman" or "Latin" to the Byzantines, while all the Easterners are considered "Greeks" by the Europeans. I'll try the
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next one. Show Less
LibraryThing member ashooles
Although I enjoyed the story greatly, and I really liked most of the characters, I found parts of this were slightly dull. I've read various Lawhead books and enjoyed them all to an extent. I did enjoy this and I especially like the monk, Emlyn, though, I was expecting a bit more. Nevertheless, I
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enjoyed it enough to continue with the next one. Show Less
Original publication date
1998
ISBN
9780310217824
Series
Celtic Crusades 1