| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| jordanz |
Posted - 31 May 2011 : 05:27:59
Would love this to be the next compilation novel..... |
| 23 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Dennis |
Posted - 17 Jul 2011 : 03:29:26
I think you both will love it. The story proves that intelligence is superior to and more valuable than sheer magical power. It's some sort of a sequel to Agents of Artifice by Ari Marmell, where Tezzeret was defeated by the mindmage and planeswalker Jace Beleren, and now in this book, reinvents himself by turning his very self into a construct made of a certain metal unique to the multiverse of MtG. I'm only in the first quarter yet, and I love every scene I see so far. If you plan to skip Agents of Artifice, that's okay; you won't be missing out a lot. But if you have questions as you read through this great book, I'd be more than glad to offer some answers.
Wooly, since you're not yet familiar with the setting, allow me to tell you some things which you might find helpful as you read the said book. These are somewhat "prerequisite" knowledge:
The Blind Eternities - Think of Feist's Hub of Portals, which gives access to all the existing worlds in the universe. But unlike the Hub, The Blind Eternities are accessible only to Planeswalkers, immortal beings who possess the Spark which allows them to travel the Multiverse at whim. Of all the MtG novels I've read, I believe it's Marmell's that captures it perfectly. Here is its description, taken from page 1, Prologue, of Agents of Artifice:
quote:
Through a place that wasn’t, where time held no meaning, the figure walked.
Winds blew, and they were not winds. Without source, without direction, they tossed the outsider’s hair one way, clothes another. They were the hot gusts of an arid desert, the frigid breath of the whirling blizzard. They bore the perfume of growing things, the rancid tang of death, and scents unknown to any sane world.
The ground rolled, and it was not ground. Shifting grays and black—not a color so much as a lack of color—formed a surface scarcely less treacherous than quicksand. Through it, deep beneath it, high above it in what could hardly be called a sky, snaked rivers of fire, of lightning, of liquid earth and jagged water, of raw mana. Colors unseen by human eyes flew overhead, refusing to congeal, soaring on wings of forgotten truths, borne aloft by stray gusts. Mountains of once and future worlds wept tears of sorrow for realities that never were, unchosen futures that no other would ever mourn.
Chaos. Impossibility. Insanity.
Planeswalkers - They are immortal beings, and not necessarily human wizards all ---some are barbarians, elves, fighters, vampires--- whose Spark (yes, that's capital "S") gives them the ability to "teleport" from one plane/world to another with little use of magic. Some of them ascended to such lofty station by gathering impossibly huge amount of mana to pierce the Veil of the Blind Eternities; while others are simply born with the Spark. Tezzeret, the main character in Test of Metal, is a planeswalker.
Mana - is synonymous to magic. Without it, wizards (with the exception of planeswalkers) would not be able to cast their spells. It's categorized into colors, which in turn tell about their properties. For instance, the black mana is the source of necromantic spells.
The Infinite Consortium - is a mercatile organization that spans several planes. It was founded by the great dragon Nicol Bolas and later taken over by Tezzeret. Upon Tezzeret's defeat in the hands of Jace Beleren, it dissolved, or so did most people think. Very few knew that Tezzeret was the leader, so most members and "lesser" officers continue their business.
I hope you could read the book soon. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 16 Jul 2011 : 15:41:57
I'll look into it, as well... Don't really know anything about MtG, but the premise and promise of a contruct sound intriguing. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 16 Jul 2011 : 11:13:55
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Those who like constructs might find this novel quite interesting. It's about a wizard/artificer, aided by nothing but his incalculable intelligence, who transforms himself into a "breathing" construct. A fascinating story from a NY Times Bestselling Author.
And it's Magic: The Gathering too, which is an universe that usually presents constructs in both unique and intriguing forms.
I'll look into this. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 16 Jul 2011 : 10:05:31
Those who like constructs might find this novel quite interesting. It's about a wizard/artificer, aided by nothing but his incalculable intelligence, who transforms himself into a "breathing" construct. A fascinating story from a NY Times Bestselling Author. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 05 Jul 2011 : 18:32:29
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Not being a devil's advocate here, but I just don't see it as Realmsian. Not that there are no constructs in FR. However, they've always been given too little attetion, and I guess that's because constructs are too steampunk-ish, and there's Eberron for that.
-Asides for the interesting things that Kno brought up above, the stories only need to be involving Constructs. So, a story about an Imaskari magician attempting to make a construct out of Pandorym crystal, the Karsus Golem in the ruins of Karse, battles between the Elves of Aryvandaar and Ilythiir involving the massive war machines that they used during the Crown Wars, the Shadovar using the Shadow Weave to create a Shadow Weave Golem, Szass Tam killing a rival who attempted to assassinate him, and then seeing if he can enchant a Golem body with the soul of that rival, instead of a spirit of an Elemental, most are stories that you'd probably find interesting, that would be relevant to the book. |
| Kno |
Posted - 05 Jul 2011 : 14:48:19
The best stories would be about
Technology of Lantan
Bloodforges of the Utter East
Walking-Statues of Waterdeep
Trobriand
Gemstone Golem trade of Thay
Colossi from the Old Empires
Nimblewrights, Quesars, Maugs and Helmed Horrors
Technology of Halruaa
Vault of the Tomb Tappers
Raumathar with lightning golems or something
Zhent experiments with Magic Golems |
| Dennis |
Posted - 05 Jul 2011 : 06:37:55
Not being a devil's advocate here, but I just don't see it as Realmsian. Not that there are no constructs in FR. However, they've always been given too little attetion, and I guess that's because constructs are too steampunk-ish, and there's Eberron for that. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 05 Jul 2011 : 06:13:46
quote:
Originally posted by Tyrant
For Realms of the Constructs, remember it doesn't only have to be individual constructs. It can also be about the people who make them and why. The two stories I would like to see would be something by Richard Lee Byers about Dorn (before, during, or after the Rage of Dragons trilogy) and something by Paul S Kemp about Brennus Tanthul, who if I recall correctly was into making constructs before he went into divination. The latter of those two would hopefully be set way in the past while his mother was still alive.
Beyond those two, you have assorted living constructs to write about. Perhaps a magic user in one of the old empires experimenting with construct making. Perhaps a dying mage attempting to place his mind inside a construct. Maybe a Lord of Blades esque character who wants to rally constructs to his cause. A story about the statues in Waterdeep could be interesting. Their construction, a past use of them perhaps, or a story detailing when they went crazy due to the Spellplague (maybe even as a lead in into The God Catcher)
-You sold me. Yeah, could be cool.  |
| Dennis |
Posted - 04 Jul 2011 : 06:02:38
I dunno. Constructs? Kinda sound boring to me. They just remind me of Brennus's homunculis (though I must admit at times they were quite funny, albeit irritating), and the planeswalker Karn from Magic: The Gathering, which I'm not particularly fond of. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 04 Jul 2011 : 05:18:08
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Well, I did mention Squch... 
I once designed a specialised silversann that's kind of like Squch in terms of individuality and ambition. It still serves Trobriand, but also takes it duties of researching into new [and often very perverse] pathways of knowledge. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 04 Jul 2011 : 04:48:19
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Garen Thal
As regards constructs, I'd much prefer Realms of Artifice, to 'of the Constructs.'
Including Artifice in the book's title would also help denote content-stories about magical and/or non-mechanical constructs -- in other words, those artificial beings that were forged via combinations of arcane and/or divine application, like golems for example.
Agreed.
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
I have only one request for such an anthology, however. Trobriand and his magnificent construct-creations must feature somewhere in the stories.
Well, I did mention Squch... |
| The Sage |
Posted - 04 Jul 2011 : 02:40:28
quote:
Originally posted by Garen Thal
As regards constructs, I'd much prefer Realms of Artifice, to 'of the Constructs.'
Including Artifice in the book's title would also help denote content-stories about magical and/or non-mechanical constructs -- in other words, those artificial beings that were forged via combinations of arcane and/or divine application, like golems for example.
I have only one request for such an anthology, however. Trobriand and his magnificent construct-creations must feature somewhere in the stories.
|
| Garen Thal |
Posted - 04 Jul 2011 : 01:43:52
I'm not always the biggest fan of the 'Realms of' or 'Realms of the' anthology titles. Sometimes they work, but sometimes, not so much.
In the case of an exploration of Hell, I think an anthology might work--or possibly, one more broadly examining the afterlife of the Realms--but Realms of the Infernal doesn't work as a title for me.
As regards constructs, I'd much prefer Realms of Artifice, to 'of the Constructs.'
That said, the contents would determine whether I'd buy either one--not the title of the collection. |
| Tyrant |
Posted - 03 Jul 2011 : 20:20:14
I would be all for a Realms of the Constructs and a Realms of the Serpent Kingdoms compilation or series.
For Realms of the Constructs, remember it doesn't only have to be individual constructs. It can also be about the people who make them and why. The two stories I would like to see would be something by Richard Lee Byers about Dorn (before, during, or after the Rage of Dragons trilogy) and something by Paul S Kemp about Brennus Tanthul, who if I recall correctly was into making constructs before he went into divination. The latter of those two would hopefully be set way in the past while his mother was still alive.
Beyond those two, you have assorted living constructs to write about. Perhaps a magic user in one of the old empires experimenting with construct making. Perhaps a dying mage attempting to place his mind inside a construct. Maybe a Lord of Blades esque character who wants to rally constructs to his cause. A story about the statues in Waterdeep could be interesting. Their construction, a past use of them perhaps, or a story detailing when they went crazy due to the Spellplague (maybe even as a lead in into The God Catcher)
|
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 03 Jul 2011 : 16:27:24
Oooh, I'd love Realms of the Contructs. Even if you don't do something like repurposed warforged, there are still plenty of unique, intelligent constructs wandering around, like Squch the scaladar, Aragus the free-willed helmed horror, Minder from the comics... I'm sure there are many other free-willed constructs wandering about the Realms.
Of course, I've got an odd fascination with cyborgs and droids, and free-willed constructs come close to the latter category.  |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 03 Jul 2011 : 15:26:10
-I don't know if I'd go for something centered around Constructs. "Sell" it to me! |
| The Sage |
Posted - 03 Jul 2011 : 11:10:59
quote:
Originally posted by Kno
Realms of the Construct
I'll second that. Constructs are some of my favourite creature-types.
...
I will also put in a vote for Realms of the Serpent Kingdoms and/or Realms of the Scalyfolk -- whichever sounds best. |
| Kno |
Posted - 03 Jul 2011 : 10:27:46
Realms of the Construct |
| Tyrant |
Posted - 03 Jul 2011 : 04:14:32
I would buy either Realms of the Infernal or a Realms of the Planes compilation. I would also go for a series based on either idea. |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 03 Jul 2011 : 01:09:11
I'd buy and read those. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 31 May 2011 : 06:55:15
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Planes? Isn't that MtG-ish?
-The Planes and Spelljammers have had a profound impact on Realmspace (the latter, to a much smaller degree). |
| Dennis |
Posted - 31 May 2011 : 06:18:50
Planes? Isn't that MtG-ish?
I second jordanz's suggestion. I prefer it to be pre- and post-Spellplague, with equal treatment to both. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 31 May 2011 : 05:58:22
-I wouldn't go with 'Infernal', specifically, but I could dig a 'Realms of the Planes' anthology, with a bunch of short stories about not just the Abyss, but all of the planes of the Forgotten Realms. The 4e transition altered some stuff in a way that I don't really like, but if writing minimalizing those changes (ie, I don't like the Elemental Chaos, preferring my elemental planes to all be separate, but if it's not central to the story that the Elemental Plane of Earth really isn't it's own plane, but rather, more or a section in the greater Elemental Chaos, that doesn't bother me too much), I could be swayed. The Realms of X anthologies took place all over Abeir-Toril, and at various different times, so there'd be useful and relevant stories set in the past, before the Spellplague, which is the kind of stuff I'd be interested in. |
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