Prince Ombra

by Roderick MacLeish

Book Overview

The World has found its new hero. The problem? Bentley Ellicott is only a kid. Bentley has secret powers. And he's going to need them. Bentley is a hero - the thousand and first to be exact - in a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0812545508
• Release Date: January 1983
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 379 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.4" x 0.5" x 3.8"

Customer Reviews

Great book

This was just a great book that I read as a young man. I'm 50 now. I find myself looking for books that I read growing up, that have stuck in my mind because of the enjoyment I received reading them. It is well written and has a very immersive storyline.

Prince Ombra: A Thought-Provoking Adventure Story for All Ages, by Annie Haroldsen

Prince Ombra is an amazingly well-written novel that has the ability to capture its audience and keep them reading from the first page to the very end. Roderkick MacLeish's brilliant themes and characterization bring the book to life and make it meaningful to every reader--whether they are young or old. It is well worth the money to buy and time spent on reading this book, because it is full of meaning and intrinsic value which makes it a rare jewel in the literary world. The characterization in Prince Ombra is a major factor in what makes this novel so enticing and enjoyable. The main character is Bentley Ellicott--an eight-year old boy with a life changing secret: he remembers where he came from before coming to earth, and beating within his body is the heart of a thousand previous heroes, including King Arthur and Hector from the Iliad. He knows that with this gift he has been given, he must defeat the essence of evil in the world: Prince Ombra. Because of this great task that he has been faced with, the development that Bentley goes through throughout the novel is stunning and realistic. He must come face to face with his fears and insecurities to save the world, and by doing so, he transforms into a mature and intelligent boy to fulfill his destiny. He is given a friend to help him along the way: Sally Drake. Sally is an interesting character in herself because she doesn't have the ability to speak coherently, and no one can understand her--except Bentley. When we are first introduced to Sally, she is shy and insecure, and is simply scared of everything around her. However, as the novel progresses and as her best friend works at becoming the hero he is destined to be, Sally matures and must face many hardships and trials that are placed upon her. She becomes Bentley's main support in his battle against the evils of the world. This friendship that Sally and Bentley share is full of happiness and realistic struggles that are enjoyable to read about and to learn from. Every character in this novel develops in a stunningly realistic manner, and that makes Prince Ombra even more enjoyable. Multiple types of people are portrayed in this novel, and are changed and shaped by the events that take place. Bentley's father, Richard, must deal with the death of his wife and the apathetic feelings that he finds himself experiencing towards his son. Sally's mother, Ellen, has been through a hard divorce and attempts to let herself love again. Dietrich Kreistein, Bentley's psychologist, must decide whether to believe the seemingly insane claims that Bentley has given him, and must try to help himself overcome past horrors that he has had to face in his life. Every character is beset with realistic challenges and important decisions that they must make, which makes these characters relatable to the reader, and makes the novel even more enjoyable to read. The themes portrayed in Prince Ombra are very deep and evoke many theological questions important

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!

It's been a long time since I read this book, but it has never left me. I was so impressed by it that I keep recommending it to people to read. I think it has one of the most wonderful and intriguing beginnings: It is said-and it is true-that just before we are born,a cavern angel holds his finger to our mouths and whispers, "Hush! Don't tell what you know." This is why we have a cleft on our upper lips and remember nothing of where we came from. Towards the end of the last century-in 1978, to be precise-a smooth-lipped boy appeared in the world. Doesn't that totally make you want to read it??? ;-)

One of the best books I have ever read!

Bentley Ellicott embodies the soul of the child, wanting at the same time to grow up and remain young forever. He has an impossible task ahead of him from square one in his life and he's known it since before he traveled the birth canal to join this mortal coil! I have read the book over 10 times since I found it in 1984, and I never grow tired of it. Every character is so special--from Polly to the misguided Mrs. Tally, to Bentley and Slally, the rememberer. I don't understand why Roderick MacLeish didn't write hundreds of books--I was so disappointed to find that there are basically only two or three. However, even if Prince Ombra were the only one MacLeish ever wrote, he spoke VOLUMES to our hearts as readers and humans. Don't miss this book--keep a copy on your book shelves, give it to your friends AND your enemies. You'll be doing the greatest mitzvah of all--teaching people to love each other, even when all the odds tell you NOT TO. Peace. . .

Unbelievably Good and Under-Advertised

While some ads have likened this book to a cross between J.R.R. Tolkien, H.P. Lovecraft and Piers Anthony I found it to be closer to Ray Bradbury and some Stephen King.Good and Evil have fought many times. Sometimes Good has won and sometimes Evil has. The time is fast approaching for the one-thousandth battle. A young boy will be the champion for Good. He remembers all that has occurred in these battles of the past. To prepare for his own battle he will have to find a teacher. Then he will have to steel himself to face the champion of Evil which will take the form of that which he fears the most.As this secret war develops in a small American town we are given small glimpses of how the town, and the world in general, are being affected by the struggle. Eventually the final conflict occurs. I will not say how the battle goes or what the representative of Evil is, you'll just have to read it.PRINCE OMBRA, while being a tale of Good vs. Evil, is also an interesting look into history. The book makes some very interesting points, including the true nature of Arthur and Excalibur. I have recommended this book to quite a number of people over the years and all who took my advice enjoyed it. It truly is one of the superior fantasy novels.

Interesting Story About the War Between Good & Evil

This book takes place in the late 20th century in a town on the northern coast of America, called Stonehaven. Here a bright, slightly crippled 8-year-old boy (Bentley Ellicott) has been chosen before birth to combat the evil in this world, like so many heroes before him. With him are two friends who will help prepare him for his destiny--Slally Drake, a 7-year-old "mute" girl who is Bentley's rememberer (a person who passes on history to weaken Prince Ombra's power on Earth), and Dr. Dietrich Kreistein, an old German psychologist who teaches Bentley through myths and stories how to defeat Prince Ombra. Out of all the characters in this book, Dr. Kreistein has to be my favorite.As one reviewer on the back of this book wisely put it, Prince Ombra is "a combination of Tolkien and Stephen King". Although I've never read anything by Tolkien, there is a sense of fantasy and magic in this story. As for King, this book reminded me of Needful Things with the intertwining of small-town life. So, if you're a fan of either writer, then I highly recommend this book. It's a very interesting look at the continuous struggle between good and evil--and the overwhelming power of hope.