| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| O Love |
Posted - 25 Mar 2008 : 17:12:57
There will be a new series (trilogy?) called "Abolethic Sovereignty". First book is "Plague of Spells", written by Bruce R. Cordell. Release date is December 2, 2008.
Here is the link to Amazon: Plague of Spells |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 00:31:12
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
My problem with that name was everytime i read Raidon...i saw Raiden from mortal combat doing a finishing move in my head 
Toasty? 
Finish Him!
Now back to topic |
| The Sage |
Posted - 02 Feb 2009 : 22:42:21
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
My problem with that name was everytime i read Raidon...i saw Raiden from mortal combat doing a finishing move in my head
Toasty? |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 02 Feb 2009 : 20:12:09
My problem with that name was everytime i read Raidon...i saw Raiden from mortal combat doing a finishing move in my head |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 02 Feb 2009 : 17:29:02
quote:
Originally posted by Neil Bishop
I haven't picked this one up yet because Stardeep made me feel like I was reading 2001: A Space Odyssey and I don't like "computers" in my Realms.
I agree, that novel felt very sci/fi-ish (more than what I like for the Realms).
quote:
..."Kane" must be one of the most overused names in all fiction.
LOL, I agree with that too... |
| khorne |
Posted - 01 Feb 2009 : 09:56:50
Hmm. Am I the only one who read "apologetic", instead of "abolethic" when I first saw the title of the book? |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 01 Feb 2009 : 06:43:43
Bruce's novels aren't bad reads at all, but I've long felt that there is a difference between a good author and a good shared world author. |
| Neil Bishop |
Posted - 01 Feb 2009 : 05:06:02
I haven't picked this one up yet because Stardeep made me feel like I was reading 2001: A Space Odyssey and I don't like "computers" in my Realms. "Raidon Kane" sounds like a name that I may have created for a character when I was 12. "Raidon" has that sci-fi feel and "Kane" must be one of the most overused names in all fiction. So, did Bruce get this one right or not? So far this thread indicates he did not.... |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 23 Jan 2009 : 22:58:47
Thank for all the opinions you are all sharing. I hope many enjoy this as I won't tell anyone not to read this, but the pages I turned didn't feel Realms-like to me either......
maybe one of you can drop me an email telling me I can start reading the new novels again because the villains are good old fashioned Zhents or a band of orcs than has not morphed into humans |
| Arion Elenim |
Posted - 23 Jan 2009 : 17:46:02
[quote
AgReed. AnD iT loOks lIke whoEver creAted tHe woRd juSt thouGht ranDom capiTaliZion loOks cOol.
[/quote]
Whenever an article is placed in front of a name, it denotes the old world practice of naming someone after what they do or where they are from, in different languages. Prefixes like 'le', 'la', 'mac', etc, are in reference to this, to various languages, French, Gaelic, etc. The articles usually translate to mean 'the', or in the case of 'de la', 'of the' in their respective languages.
A perfect example in fantasy literature would be Morgan LeFey (or Morgana Delafey depending on your translation, which means of course, 'Morgana of the Fairies'). So I don't think that the capitalization in the middle of the name is not arbitrary as you suggest - just an old world send-up of Earthly names.
That said (*makes loud re-shifting noise toward topic*), I'm excited about the Abolethic Sovreignty, for one. I am not sick of the Shades as the primary Faerunian villains as some of my fellow scribes have bemoaned, but I do think a departure into a whole new way of being megalomaniacal would be delicious. |
| Kyrene |
Posted - 23 Jan 2009 : 07:23:12
Dart,
I think you summed up my thoughts on Bruce's writing. He's become a very competent novel writer—or his editors have become stricter—since the early days of Lady of Poison, and I do like his writing nowadays. What he writes about just isn't/doesn't feel Realmsian as far as I'm concerned. I will therefore continue to avoid this trilogy... |
| Dart Ambermoon |
Posted - 23 Jan 2009 : 06:31:43
Ho hum...I´ve just finished reading the book, and I have to say that it isn´t a "bad" novel in itself.
I liked "Lady of Poison" (minus the Aborigine), but didn´t care that much for either "Darkvision" or "Stardeep". Especially "Stardeep" didn´t feel like a FR novel to me at all, and that holds true all the same for "Plague of Spells".
In contrast to Dagnirion I even found the characters quite compelling, from the drug-addicted mage to the little girl, but they also didn´t feel "realmsian" to me. Every charcter is just so...I don´t know...out there? A spellscarred (urgh  ) monk, a spellscarred/plaguetouched/whatchamacalit girl, half-amphibian pirate and a "bound-into-a-pact-with-a-fey-lord mage junkie...all themselves not "bad" characters, but for my personal tastes bad FR-characters.
Same for the plot, that picked up on all the things that really left me growling at the pages of "Stardeep" already. What was that word? Eberrealms? Nails it straight on the head. I really didn´t expect anything different to be honest, but that still didn´t stop me from actually seething with rage at some of the pages.
This novel is just another confirmation of my sentiments towards the New Realms...had they simply done a new gameworld, I would have liked the novel okay. Not grand, but okay. It´d actually be fine adapted to Eberron. But set in what once were the FR it reads like a terrible techno-remix of a song that was brilliant in its original, but has now been reduced to a mockery of itself.
Those who dug "Stardeep" should definitely give it a read IMO, because it explores the same topics after all. Those that didn´t, will probably not like it very much. |
| Ashe Ravenheart |
Posted - 21 Jan 2009 : 18:38:16
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Dagnirion
-They always are. There's plenty of others for perusal, for those looking for novel/sourcebook reviews. Plague of Spells, the FRCG and the FRPG, but the possibility remains that I might ghostwrite, or "invite a guest" who has read other 4e-era books I am not planning on reading.
Now you're giving me ideas...
Ashe, where was it announced that Ed was writing another Elminster novel?
Not so much announced as discussed on Ed's thread when we were hypothesizing Elminster's fate post-Spellplague
Edit: Of course, trying to find the posts is almost impossible for my skills. (Seriously? You search Ed's thread for the keywords 'Elminster' and 'Novel'.  ) |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 21 Jan 2009 : 18:28:50
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Now you're giving me ideas...
-That's what I was hoping to do. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 21 Jan 2009 : 17:26:04
quote:
Originally posted by Dagnirion
-They always are. There's plenty of others for perusal, for those looking for novel/sourcebook reviews. Plague of Spells, the FRCG and the FRPG, but the possibility remains that I might ghostwrite, or "invite a guest" who has read other 4e-era books I am not planning on reading.
Now you're giving me ideas...
Ashe, where was it announced that Ed was writing another Elminster novel? |
| Ashe Ravenheart |
Posted - 21 Jan 2009 : 16:53:38
quote:
Originally posted by Mournblade
<snip>
I now know I can cut all new realms books from my reading list. My reading list is far to long anyway, to start reading about a bad realms.
I wouldn't cut all new Realms books. As in the other thread, the Waterdeep novels are pretty good, and Mr. Kemp is going to do another trilogy based on Erevis' child and (presumably) dealing with Shar's increasing influence. Then, of course, there's also Ed's next Elminster novel and (hopefully, I'm crossing my fingers) more Knights of Myth Drannor books.
So, there's still some good reads there. Remember, just because some of the food on the menu isn't to your liking doesn't mean the restaurant is bad.
That said, I am boycotting all of WotC's gaming supplements. |
| Mournblade |
Posted - 21 Jan 2009 : 16:00:12
quote:
Originally posted by Ayunken-vanzan
Thanks for the interesting review. Nothing catches the spirit of the Eberrealms more than this sentence from Bruce Cordell:
quote:
“History lessons were hard. It was all so dry and … pointless! Everything before the blue fire was irrelevant to how things were today.”
So ... no need for a true Realms fan to bother with 4e realms.
Eberrealms... I am hearing lots of good descriptions of the Frankenstein monster taht has become other people's Forgotten Realms.
Great review above... I now know I can cut all new realms books from my reading list. My reading list is far to long anyway, to start reading about a bad realms.
Hopefully old realms fans will avoid this book. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 21 Jan 2009 : 15:40:36
quote:
Originally posted by Ayunken-vanzan
So ... no need for a true Realms fan to bother with 4e realms.
-Depends what you consider a "true Forgotten Realms fan". |
| Ayunken-vanzan |
Posted - 21 Jan 2009 : 06:06:28
Thanks for the interesting review. Nothing catches the spirit of the Eberrealms more than this sentence from Bruce Cordell:
quote:
“History lessons were hard. It was all so dry and … pointless! Everything before the blue fire was irrelevant to how things were today.”
So ... no need for a true Realms fan to bother with 4e realms. |
| Ashe Ravenheart |
Posted - 21 Jan 2009 : 05:40:07
quote:
Originally posted by Dagnirion
quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
Interesting review. Well done!
-They always are. There's plenty of others for perusal, for those looking for novel/sourcebook reviews. Plague of Spells, the FRCG and the FRPG, but the possibility remains that I might ghostwrite, or "invite a guest" who has read other 4e-era books I am not planning on reading.
I'm an ardent reader of your reviews. Can't say I always agree with them () but I do appreciate them! |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 21 Jan 2009 : 04:35:43
quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
Interesting review. Well done!
-They always are. There's plenty of others for perusal, for those looking for novel/sourcebook reviews. Plague of Spells, the FRCG and the FRPG, but the possibility remains that I might ghostwrite, or "invite a guest" who has read other 4e-era books I am not planning on reading. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 21 Jan 2009 : 03:42:16
Thanks for the fusing Lovecrqft into the realms analogy. If I'd is anything like that I am sure I made the right choice in not spending $2 on this book. I would have considered myself being robbed blind at that price for that. I am not going to tell anyone they should or should not enjoy Lovecraft, but I don't want him in my Realms.
I love Mark Twain, by I do not want to see a Connecticutt Yankee spear in King Azoun's court
I still have the DDT books plus nine other old books to read, so maybe I will take peek after that and see what direction the FR novels are headed.
|
| Ashe Ravenheart |
Posted - 20 Jan 2009 : 23:08:51
quote:
Originally posted by Dagnirion
-Yes, yes I have. You can read my review of Plague of Spells HERE.
Interesting review. Well done! |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 20 Jan 2009 : 19:35:51
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Anyone read this yet? I am really looking for a reason to buy and read it , but....just can't find one. I like Bruce's earlier noveld especially Lady of Poison, but I don't know why....i just cannot get interested in Aboleths.
-Yes, yes I have. You can read my review of Plague of Spells HERE. |
| Christopher_Rowe |
Posted - 20 Jan 2009 : 03:10:51
I read it, and really enjoyed it. Cordell had a lot to juggle--being true to the world and the game that supplied his setting, fusing something like the Lovecraft mythos' horror and cosmic dread to the Forgotten Realms while simultaneously dealing with the Spellplague, and, of course, telling an exciting and fast paced fantasy adventure story--and I think he not only kept all the balls in the air but did so with flair. Compelling characters helped, of course, but I think that his voice is really what carried the book. It's good, I think. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 20 Jan 2009 : 02:24:20
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Anyone read this yet? I am really looking for a reason to buy and read it , but....just can't find one.
In my opinion that's reason enough not to read it.
quote:
Let me paraphrase...."when I reached the Abolethic Sovereignty...I had seen enough of the realms and needed to find a place settle down"
And I think I wanna settle down , back pre-spellplague with the exception of maybe Waterdeep and my handfull of chosen authors.
My sentiments exactly... |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 19 Jan 2009 : 16:17:42
Anyone read this yet? I am really looking for a reason to buy and read it , but....just can't find one. I like Bruce's earlier noveld especially Lady of Poison, but I don't know why....i just cannot get interested in Aboleths.
I actually saw a copy in a secondhand store for $2, picked it up and read a few pages....just wasn't feeling it.
Am I missing something or am I just to stubborn for my own good?
But to sum it up I feel like Magadon near the end of Shadowrealm....
skip if you have not read it........
Let me paraphrase...."when I reached the Abolethic Sovereignty...I had seen enough of the realms and needed to find a place settle down"
And I think I wanna settle down , back pre-spellplague with the exception of maybe Waterdeep and my handfull of chosen authors. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 07 Sep 2008 : 01:14:47
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen
What is the Stardeep reference, please?
The plot involves star elves trying to hold back "Xxiphu" (the, uh, "HQ" of the Abolethic Sovereignty).
And there are brief tidbits about the overall plots of the Sovereignty and a little about their history too. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 07 Sep 2008 : 00:05:23
quote:
Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen
What is the Stardeep reference, please?
The plot involves star elves trying to hold back "Xxiphu" (the, uh, "HQ" of the Abolethic Sovereignty). |
| Jamallo Kreen |
Posted - 06 Sep 2008 : 18:39:07
What is the Stardeep reference, please?
|
| The Sage |
Posted - 05 Sep 2008 : 00:41:52
quote:
Originally posted by Fillow
What is the topic of this opus please ?
Refer to my earlier post:-
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
It seems like it's a direct reference to the Abolethic Sovereignty already mentioned in 4e Realmslore -- from the "Spellplague: The Wailing Years" article over at WotC.
And there's brief references in Cordell's Stardeep novel too.
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