| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| hawkytom |
Posted - 11 Dec 2008 : 02:01:21
I'm looking for some help from those who have actually read through the Double Diamond Triangle Saga.
1). What order did you read the books in?
2). Did you follow one of the reading order 'paths' to get through the series?
3). Did you read both 'paths' simultaneously, or did you go back afterwards?(if at all)
4). Did you read all 9 'books' eventually?
5). Anything to add? Suggestions? Good book? etc...
If your not familiar with the series, I think the general idea is to 'choose your own adventure' type thing, here are some diagrams to hopefully clear things up.
----------1----------
---------/----------
--------2---3--------
-------/------------
------4-------5------
------------/-------
-----------/--------
----------6----------
---------/----------
--------7---8--------
----------/---------
----------9----------
(ok that didn't turn out too well, I can't get the \'s to actually stay...oh well!)
The link below will explain it much better.
http://www.o-love.net/realms/head_dia.html |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 20 Jan 2009 : 12:01:42
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
Anyways, I suggest to whoever has them and has not read them yet to go ahead and read them, cannon or not!! (here's looking at you Wooly
I haven't re-read them in quite a while. Which is kind of strange, because I did like most of the books, and I usually re-read most of the Realms books I've enjoyed at some point.
This must be a sign then  |
| The Sage |
Posted - 19 Jan 2009 : 23:00:45
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
Anyways, I suggest to whoever has them and has not read them yet to go ahead and read them, cannon or not!! (here's looking at you Wooly
I haven't re-read them in quite a while. Which is kind of strange, because I did like most of the books, and I usually re-read most of the Realms books I've enjoyed at some point. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 19 Jan 2009 : 20:24:18
I will tear into my DDTS as soon as I fininsh devouring Elric : The Sleeping Princess. |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 19 Jan 2009 : 18:03:09
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
Anyways, I suggest to whoever has them and has not read them yet to go ahead and read them, cannon or not!! (here's looking at you Wooly)
Oh, I will read them, sooner or later... Right now I'm working my way thru the Dresden Files again, and I'm not sure what I'm reading after those... Maybe the Darksword books, which I recently reacquired, or some of the recently reacquired Stackpole books, or CodeSpell, which is a recent purchase...
That's how I was until recently. Kept putting them off in favor of other novels. Now that I read them, it's like a big weight has been lifted from my shoulders...... ok maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but I won't have to glance at them and say "next time" anymore  |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 19 Jan 2009 : 17:28:49
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
Anyways, I suggest to whoever has them and has not read them yet to go ahead and read them, cannon or not!! (here's looking at you Wooly)
Oh, I will read them, sooner or later... Right now I'm working my way thru the Dresden Files again, and I'm not sure what I'm reading after those... Maybe the Darksword books, which I recently reacquired, or some of the recently reacquired Stackpole books, or CodeSpell, which is a recent purchase... |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 19 Jan 2009 : 17:04:46
Well I've finished reading these now. "The Mercenaries" was my least favorite and hardest to follow, but an afternoon to write a book isn't gonna give much, so no fault to the author here. I agree it should have been called The Pirates.
Overall, I think it was pretty good. Nothing to write home about, but not bad.
I can't see the point in the multiple paths. I read 1 to 9 straight and that seemed to make the most sense. I kept it in the back of my mind about the other possible plot outlines of taking different paths, but to me that seemed like it would of just derived from the story more than anything else.
Anyways, I suggest to whoever has them and has not read them yet to go ahead and read them, cannon or not!! (here's looking at you Wooly) |
| hawkytom |
Posted - 31 Dec 2008 : 11:54:19
I read it all through 1-9 and didn't 'dislike' the series, considering it was a serial-novel it didn't have high expectations. It was pretty good at some points, and not so good at others. Don't really want to get into much details, but there was a nice amount of twists/turns/deceit/betrayal/etc...that has you saying 'WHAT THE HECK is going on here'!!
Very Minor Spoiler:
There was also a lot of deaths! |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 30 Dec 2008 : 00:56:14
-If even. |
| MerrikCale |
Posted - 29 Dec 2008 : 13:15:00
i have read the first seven. quite average really |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 24 Dec 2008 : 11:39:55
I finally started reading these. Gone through books 1 and 2 and halfway through 3 now. Yes, I am going in that order rather than following one of the "Diamond" paths....I can see in which way they are split though, but the books are individually short enough that they can be easily followed reading them straight up 1-9 without confusion or what not. |
| rockyoumonkeys |
Posted - 14 Dec 2008 : 03:35:02
That set is mine. Mark my words. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 12 Dec 2008 : 22:37:04
Heh. I might have to look into this myself. I need to replace some of the worn copies of my own set of DDTS books. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 12 Dec 2008 : 17:20:04
Another set hit eBay this morn, starting at like $10. |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 12 Dec 2008 : 16:59:50
quote:
Originally posted by hawkytom
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
I can't use the Pools Trilogy as an aid to read the DDTS cause I haven't read those yet either...but it sounds like I might need to read those first??? Or is it very irrelevent that I do that???
It's not needed, just makes you more familiar with the characters I mentioned. Although I felt they were all pretty cool characters :D Especially Evaine and her 'companion'.
Ok I won't worry about it too much then  |
| hawkytom |
Posted - 12 Dec 2008 : 14:13:01
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
I can't use the Pools Trilogy as an aid to read the DDTS cause I haven't read those yet either...but it sounds like I might need to read those first??? Or is it very irrelevent that I do that???
It's not needed, just makes you more familiar with the characters I mentioned. Although I felt they were all pretty cool characters :D Especially Evaine and her 'companion'. |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 12 Dec 2008 : 12:05:05
I can't use the Pools Trilogy as an aid to read the DDTS cause I haven't read those yet either...but it sounds like I might need to read those first??? Or is it very irrelevent that I do that??? |
| hawkytom |
Posted - 11 Dec 2008 : 22:07:17
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by hawkytom
I've decided to read them 1-9, so far have read books 1&2 I've been pleasantly surprised!!! A big reason is due to the fact that I'm a fan of the Pools Trilogy/Heroes of Phlan...With references/appearances(even featured) from Kern/Miltiades/Evaine/Listle I've got into it really easy. I missed reading about some of my favorite characters from the first FR series I read, so this was a treat! Thank you James M. Ward!
Ooh... For me, that's a point against the series. I seriously dislike the Pools books, to the point of disliking Phlan, too, since much of the action happened there.
Maybe I'm a little biased and inclined to love the Pools Trilogy because Pool of Radiance was my first Realms book ever. The first time I read it was in like 2nd Grade, and I also played the AD&D computer game on an old B&W Macintosh.
Although when re-reading the series sometime last year I still throughly enjoyed it and it brought back many great memories! :) |
| Brian R. James |
Posted - 11 Dec 2008 : 20:20:00
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Ooh... For me, that's a point against the series. I seriously dislike the Pools books, to the point of disliking Phlan, too, since much of the action happened there.
What the... That's it, no christmas card for you this year Wooly! |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 11 Dec 2008 : 19:40:49
quote:
Originally posted by hawkytom
I've decided to read them 1-9, so far have read books 1&2 I've been pleasantly surprised!!! A big reason is due to the fact that I'm a fan of the Pools Trilogy/Heroes of Phlan...With references/appearances(even featured) from Kern/Miltiades/Evaine/Listle I've got into it really easy. I missed reading about some of my favorite characters from the first FR series I read, so this was a treat! Thank you James M. Ward!
Ooh... For me, that's a point against the series. I seriously dislike the Pools books, to the point of disliking Phlan, too, since much of the action happened there. |
| hawkytom |
Posted - 11 Dec 2008 : 18:02:10
I've decided to read them 1-9, so far have read books 1&2 I've been pleasantly surprised!!! A big reason is due to the fact that I'm a fan of the Pools Trilogy/Heroes of Phlan...With references/appearances(even featured) from Kern/Miltiades/Evaine/Listle I've got into it really easy. I missed reading about some of my favorite characters from the first FR series I read, so this was a treat! Thank you James M. Ward!
I've also previously had the same approach as you Alisttair, but this time I decided between either DDTS or Nobles series (searching through this forum about the Nobles series changed my decision. It looked like generally everybody disliked most of the Nobles series, give or take 1-2 books...so I'll read them later) |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 11 Dec 2008 : 11:38:11
Everytime I finish a novel, I look in my bookcases and first glance at these, which I haven't read, and usually decide to go with something else instead and tell myself "I'll get to these in a bit"....I think that will be my New Year's Revolution - to read the DDTS...probably in orders 1-9...don't feel like reading all 4 paths (maybe in a few years when I am done reading all my FR novels...we'll see). |
| hawkytom |
Posted - 11 Dec 2008 : 07:29:21
ahhhh MTG, lot of fond memories and plenty of money spent(too much!) :D Good times.
Thanks for all the insight on the DDTS novels, I figured that the whole ordeal was a gimmick, but was curious as to everybody else's experience.
The nice thing that I've found so far is that the novels are so short that you get through them SO fast and I actually enjoyed the 1st book, it had a different flavor from the other novels I've read...first book I've read from J. Robert King. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 11 Dec 2008 : 07:08:58
I never really got all that attached to the "Spellfire" CCG myself. I was too involved with M:tG at the time. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 11 Dec 2008 : 06:30:26
I should also mention that I thought the "serial novel" aspect was also a gimmick. The books came out shortly after Stephen King met with some success with his serial novel, The Green Mile. The DDTS differs in that it involves several different authors, but my impression then was that it was another case of TSR trying to copy someone else's formula for success, much like they did with the Spellfire CCG (a game I sank way too much money into!). |
| The Sage |
Posted - 11 Dec 2008 : 05:08:34
1 - I read each as they were released. Reading them in such a fashion really didn't impact that much on my understanding of the story itself. I'm inclined to agree with Wooly about the reading paths being a gimmick of sorts.
2 - No. It's as I said above.
3 - No. As I said in reply to your first question.
4 - I've read them all, but it was quite a while ago.
5 - Most were interesting in their own ways, though Ed's The Mercenaries was pretty much the only one I actually enjoyed. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 11 Dec 2008 : 05:00:13
-Excellent! I expect miracles, and get irrationally angry when my high expectations are not met!
 |
| The Hooded One |
Posted - 11 Dec 2008 : 03:12:43
Heh. Well, Ed was given an afternoon (!) to write the third book (it's called "The Mercenaries" but when Ed was given the plot outline, he said it should have been called "The Pirates"), but he had the luxury of two full days to co-write the ninth book - - which arrived in his hands twice as long as the final wordcount was allowed to be!
Given those circumstances, how good would you expect the writing to be?
love,
THO |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 11 Dec 2008 : 03:05:21
-I have...the fourth one. I read it, and frankly, I didn't find it all that good. Mind you, I don't have any of the others, so there might be some context problems there, but...Yeah, it wasn't that great. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 11 Dec 2008 : 02:56:18
I have all nine of them (in fact, I've sold a second set, and copies of 1-7, and I still have an odd copy or two of #4 wandering about), but I've not read them. I got them several months, maybe a year ago, and I've just not gotten around to it yet. When I do read them, I think I'll just go sequentially.
I didn't even know about the different reading paths thing until recently, and I gotta say, I think it's just a gimmick. |
| scererar |
Posted - 11 Dec 2008 : 02:45:04
these were interesting. I have the first 4. |
