| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ebola |
Posted - 05 Sep 2002 : 21:02:46
Any opinion on lost empires series ? |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| J D Dunsany |
Posted - 14 Jul 2006 : 19:42:50
I thought Lost Library was a bit poor, really - partly for reasons already mentioned by others (fantasy names can sometimes be difficult to get right, but I think Odom falls wide of the mark in this book) and partly because, for some reason, I have a hard time believing in a ranger who is skilled in almost every type of weapon ever and then refuses to use them. I'm not sure whether this was meant to be some sort of defining trait to reveal deep insight into his character, but it just didn't work for me. It also seemed a bit rushed at the end, but then you can say that about a lot of novels.
As to 'Faces of Deception', well, (shameless plug time) I've got a review up on the main Candlekeep site if you want an in-depth analysis, but I actually enjoyed it, despite it having one of the most disappointing endings I've ever read in a novel anywhere.
Have got 'Star of Cursrah' but haven't read it. Still need to get my hands on 'The Nether Scroll'. Have read some of Lynn Abbey's 'M:TG' fiction and really enjoyed it - hope 'The Nether Scroll' is just as good.
Cheers!
JDD |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 08 Jul 2006 : 02:45:57
quote:
Originally posted by Winterfox
W... whiskey tango foxtrot? Are they suffering from a vowel shortage or something?
I think so. By the way, it turns out that Krystarn and crew are from Menzo, although I still feel their nomenclature isn't very consistent with the Realms, even if it is consistent within the novel. |
| Reefy |
Posted - 06 Jul 2006 : 20:45:35
I've read Star of Cursrah and The Nether Scroll. They were both alright, from what I remember, but it's many years since I read them. |
| Winterfox |
Posted - 06 Jul 2006 : 16:58:10
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
--Su'vann'k'tr of House Fla'nvm (not actually in the story, but referred to)
--Captain V'nk'itn
--Sergeant Rr't'frn
How do you pronounce these names without sounding as if your tongue is stuck, and what is with all the apostrophes? 
W... whiskey tango foxtrot? Are they suffering from a vowel shortage or something? I love people who think throwing in apostrophes makes names "exotic" and "fantasy-ish" without considering the linguistic implications. Apostrophes serve a purpose, damn it.
I've read Lost Library, but I don't remember much of it apart from that it didn't make a particularly good impression on me. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 06 Jul 2006 : 02:07:56
quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
Those look more like Dark Sun thri-kreen names to me, actually. But the thri-kreen are insects, and can therefore pronounce multiple apostrophes.
It's been years since I read the book, and it's across the country at the moment, so I can't check, but does it identify which city the drow come from? If they're all from the same family or from a distant city, well, at least the names follow a consistant nomenclature. But you're right, they're pretty darn odd.
Hmmm...I put the book back up stairs, but honestly, I don't recall if it was even mentioned where the lead drow villain came from, and it wasn't mentioned if all the drow under her command were from the same city or not. What we learn is that the female drow (and worshiper of Lolth) is in charge, and all the males underneath her defer to her, calling her Mala, or "honored one"...that doesn't tell us that much, though. If the drow villain, Krystarn, was from Menzoberranzan (as most drow in novels usually are--that's just how it is), I don't remember that. I'll double-check later.
And while this was Mel Odom's first book for the FR setting, according to the blurb in the back, he's published about 40 other novels (at that point), and it's possible he wrote for the Dark Sun setting and some of the nomenclature rubbed off from there. But I don't know this for a fact. |
| Hoondatha |
Posted - 06 Jul 2006 : 01:40:38
Those look more like Dark Sun thri-kreen names to me, actually. But the thri-kreen are insects, and can therefore pronounce multiple apostrophes.
It's been years since I read the book, and it's across the country at the moment, so I can't check, but does it identify which city the drow come from? If they're all from the same family or from a distant city, well, at least the names follow a consistant nomenclature. But you're right, they're pretty darn odd. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 06 Jul 2006 : 00:37:24
I finished Lost Library last night. I was very surprised with how the book ended...in a good way. In my experience, it's actually not too uncommon for the protagonist in these novels to end up getting a totally victory. I don't want to spoil this novel for any potential readers, so I'll just say that by the end of the story, Baylee Arnvold (the hero of the book) does NOT get to have his cake and eat it, too. As should be obvious by looking at the cover, Baylee does indeed find the Lost Library of Cormanthyr, which for him is definitely a victory. However, if you read this book, you'll likely find that things turn out quite the way you expect them too--I have to give this novel props just for that. While the hero doesn't get a total happy ending, he does get an ending that affirms his identity and purpose as a searcher of lost knowledge.
I was also pleased that the book did not go overboard with the "romance" elements of the book--there is a hint that something may occur between Baylee and Cordyan, but we don't see anything too obvious, and the characters stay in character the whole time. Cordyan doesn't totally change her rather stand-offish ways just because she is travelling with a guy she might like. I should also mention that the novel takes the reader to a lot of fun locales--not just Cormanthor, but Waterdeep, a ranger's festival (which I think was somewhere near the Moonsea), the Moonshaes, and even the bottom of the Sea of Swords. Granted, not much time is spent in any one place, but I thought the jumping around to different places was quite fun, and it all made perfect sense in the context of the story.
I think I have only two real complaints: the villains, and some of the nomenclature. As for the villains, I already mentioned that the drow turns out to be a pretty corny and isn't much different from most other drow you've probably read about--what really startled me is the unceremonious manner in which she exited the tale, especially considering all the screentime she was given throughout the book. Folgrim Shallowsoul turns out to be your basic run-of-the-mill lich...he's evil enough, but I didn't think there was anything particularly compelling about him either, which is what I like to see in villains. I *did* entertain the thought that Folgrim Shallowsoul was, in fact, the elf who once owned the library (Faimcir Glitterwing)--after all, we learn that Folgrim was the name he took for himself after becoming a lich and he probably didn't remember his original name. Granted, the baelnorn tells us that Folgrim was once the caretaker of the library who was instructed by Faimcir to look after it for the next several centuries, but how would the baelnorn know the whole story?
As for the names...this can probably be forgiven, since Lost Library was Mel Odom's first FR novel (and it's a little thing compared to how well-written the novel really is), but some of the names are...really weird for the Realms. Luckily, the protagonist as a pretty servicable name, but what about Civva Cthulad? Is he a relative of Cthulhu? ( ). The baelnorn has probably the oddest name I've ever seen for an elf of the FR: Nevft Scoontiphp. I joke not. And finally, the worst names of all...the drow names. Granted, drow have always had odd names, but shouldn't they be roughly pronouncable? I think I'll end on this humorous note:
--Su'vann'k'tr of House Fla'nvm (not actually in the story, but referred to)
--Captain V'nk'itn
--Sergeant Rr't'frn
How do you pronounce these names without sounding as if your tongue is stuck, and what is with all the apostrophes? |
| Gladi |
Posted - 01 Jul 2006 : 21:27:22
Bright day
I liked Faces of Deceptions. Have not read any other. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 24 Jun 2006 : 22:52:36
quote:
Originally posted by scererar
Every realms novel is worth reading, if you are a die hard realms fan. It is just that some are better than others 
My sentiments as well...I try to read every FR novel I can get my hands on, but that doesn't mean I like them all equally. |
| Alaundo |
Posted - 24 Jun 2006 : 09:52:29
quote:
Originally posted by scererar
quote:
Originally posted by Shadovar
The Lost Library of Cormanthyr is certainly a must read for it is well written enough to warrant reading it again after a while.
The Star of Cursrahisn't worth the money to purchase or time to read it, it is certainly not worth reading.
For The Nether Scroll, it is fair enough and okay to read.
Every realms novel is worth reading, if you are a die hard realms fan. It is just that some are better than others
Well met
Well said, scererar, well said 
The Nether Scroll was the least enjoyable for me. I found The Lost Library of Cormanthyr and Faces of Deception to be highly enjoyable, with Star of Cursrah to be well planned and written, and overall an interesting read. |
| scererar |
Posted - 24 Jun 2006 : 07:42:47
quote:
Originally posted by Shadovar
The Lost Library of Cormanthyr is certainly a must read for it is well written enough to warrant reading it again after a while.
The Star of Cursrahisn't worth the money to purchase or time to read it, it is certainly not worth reading.
For The Nether Scroll, it is fair enough and okay to read.
Every realms novel is worth reading, if you are a die hard realms fan. It is just that some are better than others |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 24 Jun 2006 : 05:37:02
quote:
Originally posted by Shadovar
The Star of Cursrahisn't worth the money to purchase or time to read it, it is certainly not worth reading.
I disagree. I quite enjoyed it. |
| Shadovar |
Posted - 24 Jun 2006 : 02:50:00
The Lost Library of Cormanthyr is certainly a must read for it is well written enough to warrant reading it again after a while.
The Star of Cursrahisn't worth the money to purchase or time to read it, it is certainly not worth reading.
For The Nether Scroll, it is fair enough and okay to read. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 24 Jun 2006 : 02:35:35
All right, I've almost halfway through Lost Library as of now. I'm actually finding it hard to put down (I didn't think that would happen!), but I still think the villains (especially the drow) are...kind of corny. Which, I suppose, is to be expected, given that this is kind of an "old school" FR novel and villains (in my experience) were in general less nuanced back then. Some happenings in this book regarding the villains are unintentionally funny--for example, the drow holds her tongue without further question because "knew from experience Shallowsoul brooked no questions", even though she had been asking him questions and expressing doubt for a few pages up to that point, and Shallowsoul simply answered them.
Also, she has some of her men carried around via a bag of holding.
I sure hope it's cozy in there. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 22 Jun 2006 : 21:35:04
quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
And I bought Faces of Deception in a used book store a while back, then saw Denning's name on it, and refused to read it. I don't even know where it's set. Though I did bring it home from grad school one break and my mother, who's a nurse, mis-read the cover as Feces of Deception. I told her she probably wasn't far off...
Some people have absolutely loved that book. I'm not one of them, but to each his own, and all that. |
| Hoondatha |
Posted - 22 Jun 2006 : 20:44:52
I enjoyed Star of Cursrah because it was such a radical departure from most other Realms novels. Not a lot is set in Calimshan, much less its ancient past. It's been a while since I read it so I'm a little hazy on the small details, but the culture, the concurrant storylines, and the plots were really interesting. I especially liked the bit with the king and his subjects at the end of the book, but I won't spoil it.
And I bought Faces of Deception in a used book store a while back, then saw Denning's name on it, and refused to read it. I don't even know where it's set. Though I did bring it home from grad school one break and my mother, who's a nurse, mis-read the cover as Feces of Deception. I told her she probably wasn't far off... |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 22 Jun 2006 : 20:35:52
quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
Lost Library of Cormanthyr - Or as I like to call it: Baylee Arnvold and the Raisers of the Lost Library of Cormanthyr. Now this is how an adventure story should be written. Fast-paced, decent dialogue, and generally the closest I've come to the Indiana Jones movies in written form. Me likey
True. I felt the Ring of Winter novel was much like that, too--if you haven't read it yet, you may want to check it out. |
| Kajehase |
Posted - 22 Jun 2006 : 08:27:59
Faces of Deception - Oh yay, another Troy Denning written book that is basically one drawn out chase-sequence involving a protagonist with the combined common sense of a half-full glass of water.
The Star of Cursrah - Started out well, but for some reason I never managed to really get into it.
Lost Library of Cormanthyr - Or as I like to call it: Baylee Arnvold and the Raiders of the Lost Library of Cormanthyr. Now this is how an adventure story should be written. Fast-paced, decent dialogue, and generally the closest I've come to the Indiana Jones movies in written form. Me likey
The Nether Scroll - Can't get it here. 
Edit: Raisers...raisers?! I meant raiders. |
| scererar |
Posted - 22 Jun 2006 : 03:49:13
I enjoyed them as realms material only. In my opinion, not the best though. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 22 Jun 2006 : 01:47:27
Geez, what an old thread.
I'm reading Lost Library right now. :) I love the story so far, all except for the silly drow villain (Krystarn) who has appeared so far. By the way she is described, she seems to define the term chaotic stupid, by way of corny lines such as "she preferred solitude, even though that meant less potential victims". That's the kind of writing about a villain I would expect in a parody.
Also, I had to laugh when Golsway saw the drow for the first time and thought about how surface drow were rarely seen and/or talked about.
The irony. |
| Kuje |
Posted - 26 Feb 2005 : 16:12:01
quote:
Originally posted by Lord Rad
One question....i'm confused with the timeline of this novel, anyone help? (also, I can't locate the old novel timeline document at WotC, if anyone can point me to it, it would be appreciated).
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=books/fr/fictionlist |
| Lord Rad |
Posted - 26 Feb 2005 : 10:16:09
I'm about half way through The Lost Library of Cormanythyr and I must say it's surprised me. I'm quite enjoying it and wish I hadn't left it so long to read. I hear that Faces of Deceptin isn't so good, but i'm looking forward to reading all others in the series soon anyway. It's a shame that with the release of the Lost Empires of Faerun sourcebook, that WotC didn't continue the Lost Empires novel series too... would have been perfect companions
One question....i'm confused with the timeline of this novel, anyone help? (also, I can't locate the old novel timeline document at WotC, if anyone can point me to it, it would be appreciated). |
| Mythander |
Posted - 23 Jul 2003 : 22:26:42
quote:
Originally posted by Ebola
Any opinion on lost empires series ?
All very good books. I had a hard time putting any of them down. |
| Ebola |
Posted - 09 Sep 2002 : 19:24:49
thanks
i just started with first book and i liked what i read |
| ArcticKnight |
Posted - 05 Sep 2002 : 23:49:36
The Lost Library of Cormanthyr was a good book, i liked the concept and overall story, i once ran a quest based mildly on the "Lost Library" concept that went over well.
Faces of Deception was also a good book, at the time it was a change of pace in typical Realmsian novels.
The Star of Cursrah was good
The Nether Scroll was also good, very intersting, had heard of the Nether Scrolls before the novel but never in any detail...
all in all they are good books, not the best but good. |
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