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Original Title:	The Prince in Waiting
ISBN:	0020425732 (ISBN13: 9780020425731)
Edition Language:	English
Series:	The Sword of the Spirits #1

The Prince in Waiting (The Sword of the Spirits #1)

John Christopher

Paperback | Pages: 218 pages

Rating: 3.85 | 863 Users | 57 Reviews

Details Out Of Books The Prince in Waiting (The Sword of the Spirits #1)

Title	:	The Prince in Waiting (The Sword of the Spirits #1)
Author	:	John Christopher
Book Format	:	Paperback
Book Edition	:	Anniversary Edition
Pages	:	Pages: 218 pages
Published	:	October 31st 1989 by Simon Pulse (first published 1970)
Categories	:	Fantasy. Science Fiction. Young Adult. Fiction. Apocalyptic. Post Apocalyptic. Childrens

Interpretation In Favor Of Books The Prince in Waiting (The Sword of the Spirits #1)

This takes me back. I just acquired a replacement copy, and have reread, after many a year (decades). I first read this novel, along with most of Christopher's other great SF novels, when I was in High School (early 70s). After that I re-read this novel many times, but by the 80s (I think), I had moved on. Now, it is great to wallow in nostalgia (which never gets old).

The story: post-global catastrophe, some type of unspecified mass earthquake. The human population has been decimated, and its existence hampered by a fickle climate. The story centres around England and the 'Kingdom of Winchester'. Here, humans live in small cities, ruled by princes, and practise annual, small wars, against each other, for glory. There are mutants aplenty: dwarfs, and others more afflicted. Surrounding them are the 'barbarian' lands, which continually encroach upon the civilised, threatening to dissrail what small steps of progress have been made.

The protagonist is young warrior, Luke, who first gains a measure of glory and notoriety when he wins the City annual, teen, military contest, whose father becomes the ruling prince (killing, with regret, his predecessor), with him as heir designate.

In the pages of this young adult novel Christopher backs more twists and turns than a roller coaster. Luke rises from mediocrity, ascends to glory, and is cast down. All done with a plausible believability.

His rise is all accomplished with the connivance of the "Seers"—a religious order, now dominant (Christians are a small, annoying minority), who publicly condemn science and technology, but who secretly preserve this knowledge and plan to re-introduce when they can. Their stratagem is to use Luke to unite the fractious city-states, produce one kingdom, and restore the old world.

Noble a goal as this is, it comes to nought in this novel. Towards the end of the story Luke's father is treacherously murdered, and Luke himself becomes a fugitive, forced to flee his city in disguise and seek refuge with the Seers.

Exciting as the story is, it is far more. Luke's life reflects the true complexity of human existence: he sees the nature of friendship, endures the pettiness of fawning courtiers, and is betrayed by people (including his step-mother, who attempts to murder him), close to him. Over the course of the trilogy, we see Luke grow increasingly taciturn and grim, increasingly disenchanted with human nature.

I recall, somewhat, the first time I read this novel. I was bewildered. So much packed into so few pages! (Certainly as compared to modern novels, which have 2x the number of pages). So much sadness and pain.

I cannot say that I have read much YA since I was a YA, but I cannot think how a reflection of adult life can be better shown than through Christopher's writings. Recommended.

Rating Out Of Books The Prince in Waiting (The Sword of the Spirits #1)

Ratings: 3.85 From 863 Users | 57 Reviews

Write Up Out Of Books The Prince in Waiting (The Sword of the Spirits #1)

This rating is heavily influenced by nostalgia.When I was a kid I read - and thoroughly enjoyed - the first two books in this series only to discover that our library didn't have book three! For decades now, I've had vaguely fond but unresolved memories of this series. I have now taken out all three books from the local library and can't wait to finally see this story through to its resolution.

Perhaps had I read this when younger or perhaps had I not already read The Tripods Trilogy, I might have enjoyed The Prince in Waiting. As things are, it felt a bit formulaic with nothing particularly new to add either to the genre or the author's oeuvre. The general concept of the universe was intriguing, but it served as background to the story of young boy triumphs rather than as a focus.Last but not least, the female characters are tiresome stereotypes that were dated at the time of

This is the first volume in John Christophers The Sword of the Spirits trilogy, which is aimed at young adults. I count Christophers Tripods trilogy among the best young adult science fiction Ive ever read, so I was interested to see him do fantasy. The story begins with Luke, a young man, visiting a colony of dwarves who work with arms and armour at a great forge. We learn some more about the city where he lives, a medieval-sounding place with a Prince and his captains, wagons on the roads,

From ISawLightningFall.comJohn Christopher made me love the end of the world. When I was a child, someone (Ive forgotten exactly who) gave me a copy of Christophers Tripods Triology, a YA romp through an earth dominated by towering, three-legged, metallic creatures. The mélange of post-apocalyptic survivalism and science fiction completely captivated me, but as the years rolled on I lost track of Christopher. Seems I wasnt the only one. Despite steadily writing under a variety of pseudonyms

This book feels like it's set in the time of King Arthur but it's actually in post-apocalyptic England. The story follows Luke, the son of a warrior, and his coming of age as the world around him starts to change. I was impressed by John Christopher's world building. The characters are very interesting so even though the world feels unknown, it doesn't feel alien. As the story progresses and the author peels back the layers of this world, it becomes a page turner. I can't wait to see what

(Yet another overdue review in which I actually don't remember tons about the book. Sorry.)Really enjoyable young adult book that I should really just find a copy of. Great fantasy-ish setting. (Is it spoilery to note that a 40 year old book that's a trilogy starts out as fantasy and then turns out to be post-apocalyptic scifi?)

It has been 4 years since the men have been let out to fight. King Stephen has, like a coward, hidden behind the walls, building them up brick by brick. By the end of the fourth year they stood up like giants, intimidating for miles around. It cannot last. Luke's father, a captain in the army, as well as many other captains, form a group with the head seer to throw the coward out. King Stephen is finally removed and Luke's father replaced as king. Men and women cheer as the army leaves the city