| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alaundo |
Posted - 30 Apr 2007 : 17:56:25
Well met
This is a Book Club thread for The Gossamer Plain (Book 1 of The Empyrean Odyssey), by Thomas M. Reid. Please discuss chapters 15 - 17 herein: |
| 17 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Starchaserva |
Posted - 08 Dec 2008 : 17:06:26
I enjoyed the book...though there were of course flaws. Basically, I saw it as a run of the mill fantasy novel turned inside out. Instead of following a typical hero's attempt to foil the villain's plot, the main focus of the story is the villain's quest. More often than not, the villain seemingly gets things done with little or no difficulty (or at least, we don't see it) Here, we see all the little twists and turns of Vhok's plans, and how they could unravel at any moment. It would be more interesting if Vhok himself was more interesting. As he is throughout most of this first novel, he comes off as a fairly standard "quick witted and charismatic" kind of character. Nothing other than his status as a cambion makes him any different or gives the reader any more reason to care about him. They try to make him entertaining, but it only comes off half way. The parts with Aliisza are much better, and I more than once wished they were the main focus. |
| Drakul |
Posted - 14 Aug 2007 : 18:56:38
Initiate, can you provide a link?? |
| initiate |
Posted - 14 Aug 2007 : 17:42:35
Drakul: The Prelude of the second Lady Penitent novel is available on WotC's product page for "Storm of the Dead". However, the novel itself is scheduled for release on August 28th, so we don't have much longer to wait.
Seeing this scroll pop to the top of the bookclub again reminds me that I still need to get around to "The Gossamer Plain". I'll probably read it this fall. That way, the release of the second novel will only be around a year away when I finish it.
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| Drakul |
Posted - 14 Aug 2007 : 15:49:15
Is there any way I can get the small bit of the Lady Penitent book 2?? I hear that its in The Gossamer Plain and I need that bit of info to find out what is goin on with my favorite Drow Deity. |
| Crust |
Posted - 22 Jul 2007 : 14:15:01
I enjoyed Gossamar Plain (not as much as the Scions of Arrabar, though), but I grew weary of the constant combat. I felt there was too much of it, and it went into too much detail. Flaming centaurs? Mishik astride a giant fly? Why didn't any efreet simply wish Kaanyr into submission (through some secondary wisher, of course)? It just didn't take for me. |
| Trizzt08 |
Posted - 09 Jul 2007 : 11:11:07
So many great books have come out from WOTC and this is definitely one of best ones. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 02 Jun 2007 : 01:44:57
quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
I was pretty happy to see the twist regarding Pharaun's son.
Me too. It is amazing that he is a central plot point, yet never says one word for himself. |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 02 Jun 2007 : 01:14:28
The Zasian Cyric twist was great, although I must admit I tend to get a wee bit annoyed when everything in the story is turned on its head in the last few pages. Thankfully, I loved the book, so I'm anxious to get the next installment, so in this case the cliffhanger worked.
About Aliisza and how bad she really is . . . I think its easy to forget that she has done some really bad things because in the War of the Spider Queen series, much of her "job" was to keep tabs on Phauraun and his allies, and she didn't do too much that would be considered, well, evil, especially not in comparison to some of the other characters in those stories.
On the other hand, Aliisza was Vhok's right hand woman at Hellgate Keep, and as such was at the head of various strike forces that likely did increadibly horrible things. The fact that she doesn't dwell on the more brutal or shocking things that she likely did isn't an indication that there weren't many, but that they were commonplace to her. Still, I'm glad they showed more of the "everyday" evil that she did instead of the horrors of war, such as it might have been.
Honestly, as far as the angels go, these are beings that live by law and pride themselves on being paragons of good. They could have very easily have said that since Aliisza was evil, and they knew her actions and what was in her heart, that they were going to destroy her. Instead they decided to give her a chance to be redeemed. Is it a slim chance? Oh yeah, but honestly, if that chance is never given, there is no hope whatsoever. Slight hope is better than none.
I was pretty happy to see the twist regarding Pharaun's son. I do wish that we had gotten more of a chance to see his personality however. I do find it interesting that Aliisza was so keen to see her son, but once vengence came back into her mind, she is more than willing to put his physical form in danger to serve herself. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 22 May 2007 : 01:20:36
quote:
Originally posted by khorne
Am I the only one who wanted to hit those angels in the face? Especially when she was judged by those Solar. The way they treated Aliisza just made my hackles stand straight up. And when that Solar called her tainted...I bet he wouldn't call someone with celestial blood tainted. Bloody hypocrits.
I would have felt as you do, most likely, if I wasn't certain that Aliizsa deserved such treatment. The novel makes it pretty clear (to me anyway) that she isn't just a half-fiend seductress--she is also a rapacious bully who doesn't care one bit about how her actions affect others. That's pretty "tainted" no matter what your bloodline is. |
| khorne |
Posted - 21 May 2007 : 12:14:40
Am I the only one who wanted to hit those angels in the face? Especially when she was judged by those Solar. The way they treated Aliisza just made my hackles stand straight up. And when that Solar called her tainted...I bet he wouldn't call someone with celestial blood tainted. Bloody hypocrits.
It's a bit odd. In real life I'm a firm believer in a strong central government, but in every fictional setting I visit, I find myself detesting agents of Law. |
| Damon33 |
Posted - 19 May 2007 : 22:55:24
Wow I really am new here because I was totally unaware of the book club forum. Now that I do know though, yeah I have to really agree here I LOVED Zasian and the way he was portrayed. I think the last chapters of the book also bring the Aliisza character, back to normal shall we say. I was having a hard time with her in the middle of the book to we finally realize what is going on. I still have to say I think Vhok and Aliisza may have been forced a bit into the story based on name recognition. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 18 May 2007 : 23:20:02
quote:
Originally posted by Braveheart
Well, that was probably a masked call by Zasian, to draw the angels to the child. And angels are sooo predictable when it comes to saving an innocent soul...
Yes, that sounds like a possiblity. And yes, Zasian *is* very crafty, and perhaps even quite powerful. |
| Braveheart |
Posted - 18 May 2007 : 15:00:57
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
I have to agree that what Zasian did was amazing...but then again, it seemed to me that much of the plan hinged on sheer luck and on assumptions about what was going to happen to Aliizsa after she got killed. Makes me wonder how Zasian knew an angel would be interested in her and her child...and, for that matter, how he knew that the unborn child would "cry out" somehow for help.
Well, that was probably a masked call by Zasian, to draw the angels to the child. And angels are sooo predictable when it comes to saving an innocent soul...
It's really fascinating how this book turns out to be about deception, deception and again, deception. IMHO it's been long overdue that Cyric get's some credit, after all, he is the god of deception 
And what a cliffhanger at the end... just imagine how powerful Zasian must be to cause so much havoc on Tyr's homeground, that Tauran has to ask Aliisza for help... 
Really looking forward to read more about deceptions!  |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 17 May 2007 : 18:51:04
I have to agree that what Zasian did was amazing...but then again, it seemed to me that much of the plan hinged on sheer luck and on assumptions about what was going to happen to Aliizsa after she got killed. Makes me wonder how Zasian knew an angel would be interested in her and her child...and, for that matter, how he knew that the unborn child would "cry out" somehow for help. |
| Ethriel |
Posted - 16 May 2007 : 17:19:17
Well, Aliisza has mainly been with Kaanyr and she was only with Pharaun once....I wish Kael'd been more of an entity, though, rather than standing around looking at things.
Albeit, the look on Pharaun's face when he finds out he has a part-fiend son would be great to see. Especially when he learns his son is a relatively decent guy....now I want him back even more *sigh*
I also find Kaanyr's plan slightly moronic as it hinges on Aliisza not simply leaving him at best, actively seeking his destruction at worst, after finding out he tossed her and her child to the Celestials. Aliisza's clearly as vicious and cunning as they come and double crossing her like that seems hazardous to a man's health, even if the man is Kaanyr Vhok.
As a whole, I'm very interested in seeing where all this goes. I'm hoping for more with Aliisza and her son, and definitely more with her and Kaanyr. I'm also very surprised we haven't seen Pharaun back again, too, given his popularity and being one of the most interesting villainous characters ever written in the Realms.
And geez, Zasian must be setting records for his order. A few more successes and his God'll practically elect him as a Chosen. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 15 May 2007 : 23:36:42
Ooooh, when Aliizsa's child is revealed, it's quite the shocker (well, sort of...man plus woman often equals baby, and Aliizsa isn't exactly monogamous :)). But I found the passages after Aliizsa's first glimpse of her child to be even more shocking. Aliizsa's child never speaks for himself, but how tragic is it that he's been a pawn in someone else's selfish game before he was even born? That's just terrible.
I enjoyed the scenes in the City of Brass, and I have to admit, Vhok kind of grew on me. It's hilarious to see individuals who are normally powerful and on top of things put totally at a disadvantage. And Val, I think what you said about Zasian still applies...priests of his sort tend not to be portrayed as particularly competent. Vhok and Zasian had some great chemistry, and I found myself thinking they might actually make a great couple! |
| Valaxaxath |
Posted - 14 May 2007 : 03:17:32
Don't have much time to give my 2 cents about the book, but I just ahd to say this as I finished it...
FINALLY! A priest of bane that is competent, not self defeating, clever, and all around cool. Or that was what I thought until the last page. Didn't see that one coming heh. |
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