| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Markustay |
Posted - 02 Oct 2007 : 22:52:56
Okay, I'm re-reading some of my older FR books, hoping to recapture some of the magic that first drew me in.
I've started Once around the Realms, and it's not nearly as 'charming' as it was when I knew less. 
Anyhow, everyone in the novel prays to 'Eo' -- is that a reference to Ao, and if so then why is he being referenced so often?!
So who is this, or why is it mispelled (repeatedly), and if it is merely Ao mispelled why is it that everyone in the Realms prays to this one being?
I understand the novel is supposed to be 'tongue-in-cheek', but this is just plain outright innacuracy. |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| cpthero2 |
Posted - 14 Sep 2020 : 06:36:20
Master Seravin,
Yeah, it really did seem like they were trying to pick the names with the greatest recognition to get people into the game. Sad, sad on that one for sure.
Best regards,
|
| TheIriaeban |
Posted - 05 Jun 2020 : 23:17:58
I actually got my wife to read the original Drizzt trilogy years ago so there are most definitely others that will get a non-D&D person's attention. Sadly, at this point, it was long enough ago that she probably pictures all elves to look like Dobby the House Elf. |
| Seravin |
Posted - 05 Jun 2020 : 00:46:51
I re-read this book for a laugh in the last week; I had forgotten that there are some appearances from:
-Vangey
-Khelben
-Storm
-Drizzt
-Alias
-Dragonbait
Honestly if they scrapped all the real world references I wouldn't hate it. What a weird editorial decision. I imagine this was meant to be a book to get people who don't like D&D to read a FR novel?
|
| Markustay |
Posted - 20 Nov 2014 : 14:04:02
Spellfire I would say is best for intro-purposes (since that is precisely why it was written, with tons of 'cameos').
Once Around the Realms is probably THE WORST book to read first, because you may never read another after it. Entertaining - YES. FR? No... just NO.
On the other hand, it did help me with one conundrum in K-T, and also helped explain a continuity weirdness (not problem - just a 'huh?' moment). That weirdness was that although nearly all lore on Halruaa says they NEVER sell or give-away their airships, I can think of at least three references to them having done so. In that novel it explains how older models are decommissioned, but the 'ship graveyards' aren't watched all that closely (odd, I know), so that entrepreneurial types have been able to fix some up and use/sell them for themselves. Like I said - the books is not great, but it does have its moments. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 20 Nov 2014 : 00:42:06
quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
"Once Around the Realms" isn't the FR Book Department's finest hour. For a proper intro to the Realms, I'd recommend "Cormyr: A Novel", "Spellfire", "Elfshadow", "Elminster: The Making of a Mage" or "Swords of Eveningstar".
-- George Krashos
I would add Azure Bonds to that list. |
| George Krashos |
Posted - 19 Nov 2014 : 23:50:59
"Once Around the Realms" isn't the FR Book Department's finest hour. For a proper intro to the Realms, I'd recommend "Cormyr: A Novel", "Spellfire", "Elfshadow", "Elminster: The Making of a Mage" or "Swords of Eveningstar".
-- George Krashos |
| Ousia |
Posted - 19 Nov 2014 : 16:13:26
I've just finished reading "Once Around the Realms".
I have been reading primarely about Cormyr since I was writing short stories for my family about a family in Cormyr, which was a mirror of my own family. I have tons of Forgotten Realms novelles and sourcebooks, which has not been read yet. Hence I started.... and "Once Around the Realms" seemed like a good place to start.
The quality of the writing is poor, though I was somehow entertained anyway. It served as a appatizer and 2 minutes after I finished the book I have picked up "Shadowdale". I am amused by the Forgotten Realms and the characters of my own stories may now journey into Faerun :-) |
| khorne |
Posted - 15 Nov 2007 : 20:27:36
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
In that case you are prepared for the good parts of once around the Realms. If you get past the Undead mutant ninja elves or whatever it was I will be deeply impressed. And worried.
...
You aren't joking.
It gets worse than that. Trust me. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 15 Nov 2007 : 01:41:20
Even if you ignore all the silliness, you still have to wonder why two basically un-armed gents are able to casualy stroll into Myth Drannor....
Or why a Dwarven captain of a Halruan Skyship (pre-3e!) was hiding his ship from the local mages, but three outsiders were able to locate him within a day just by asking a couple of questions...
not to mention he was the capt of the Minnow and called his under-sized Pterraman friend "little buddy"...
Need we go on? |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 06:08:51
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
In that case you are prepared for the good parts of once around the Realms. If you get past the Undead mutant ninja elves or whatever it was I will be deeply impressed. And worried.
...
You aren't joking.
Nope. And then there is the gnome Gnorm that everyone greets when he gets into the bar.
As for taking it seriously. It was more a case of the silliness and jokes being bad then it being "wrong" to make fun of the Realms. A good Realms parody I would read any-day.
|
| Xysma |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 06:04:14
quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Ed once said to me, "That's a big problem in life: too many people take things so SERIOUSLY. I love it that they care about the Realms so much and obviously love it, but, hey, try to see the laughs and just get carried along with them."
So I have. 
love,
THO
I agree, just not with this particular author. I think of Ed's Spin a Yarn stories as fun and light-hearted, and I love them. "Never a Warpig Born" is one of my all-time favorite stories, I've read it over and over again. I also think Jeff Grubb's work on the Forgotten Realms comics, while not always "serious," stands up to most of the other Realms fiction out there ("Cannibal Girls Won't You Come Out Tonight" comes to mind). I think the thing that spoiled this one for me was all of the RW references, they take the fantasy out of it for me. Fantasy can be fun without being goofy, but it takes a certain kind of writer to pull it off. |
| The Hooded One |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 02:33:29
What? You didn't know they were?
Seriously, this is what I call "deep irony."
You see, El and Khelben ARE both War Wizards . . . or rather, both have impersonated War Wizards successfully several times, over the years, working for Vangey for short periods without said Royal Magician knowing he had two "ringers" under him. They did this to find out EXACTLY what Vangey was up to, and to deftly "steer things" in Cormyr right under his nose. Khelben did it grudgingly (after El convinced him it was the best way to operate without "ruining" Cormyr), and El delighted in doing it.
As you might have guessed, I asked Ed about this very thing after reading "Once Around" (and groaning often, though I had to laugh at a lot of the aside and sly references, and Ed strangely seemed far more amused than upset by it - - in fact, Ed once said to me, "That's a big problem in life: too many people take things so SERIOUSLY. I love it that they care about the Realms so much and obviously love it, but, hey, try to see the laughs and just get carried along with them."
So I have.
love,
THO |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 01:25:12
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Not sure why the author thought that all arch-wizards were members of the Warwizards, though, including Elminster and Khelben. 
He made Elminster and Khelben War Wizards? |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 01:22:06
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
In that case you are prepared for the good parts of once around the Realms. If you get past the Undead mutant ninja elves or whatever it was I will be deeply impressed. And worried.
...
You aren't joking. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 19:14:23
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
In that case you are prepared for the good parts of once around the Realms. If you get past the Undead mutant ninja elves or whatever it was I will be deeply impressed. And worried.
It had it's moments -
Not sure why the author thought that all arch-wizards were members of the Warwizards, though, including Elminster and Khelben.
From the introduction, I get the idea that he basically wrote the story with little or no Realms knowledge, and then merely 'called' people and asked them questions about the setting, so as to tie his story to it. He must of asked "which country has a well-oreganized military?" - after that, EVERY martial character hailed from Cormyr and was an ex-Purple Dragon - even the ones in the Moonsea and Halrua! Something similar must have happened with the War Wizards ("What's a powerful group of Mages in the Realms that stand for good?").
So with VERY little knowledge, he threw together a halfway decent yarn - IF you ignore all the RW references.
So the comics are canon, eh? Cool!
I only have two, but I'm trying to aquire more ATM.
As far as the events of the Double Diamond books go, some of them are easily explainable - even though the real Khelben is dead, Tsarra is masquerading as him, and as long as she continues to do so for at least two years then that part of the series is fine. Also, the death of Helm could have something to do with why the Palidinson worships Torm instead of Tyr in the future (as per the DD novels).
His dead wife is also named incorrectly, but that could just be her middle-name - one that perhaps only Piergeiron knew of.
Everything can be accounted for, if they just put their minds to it.  |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 08:08:43
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
at the reactions.
I know there's no washing my brain after reading, but hey, I got through that prologue and epilogue of Realms of Magic, I can get through this.
In that case you are prepared for the good parts of once around the Realms. If you get past the Undead mutant ninja elves or whatever it was I will be deeply impressed. And worried. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 02:30:50
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
@Rinonalyrna- Read it... you'll NEVER make fun of a RAS novel again.
That's saying something. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 01:54:37
I found electro-shock therapy helps.
The memories are still there, but the excrutiating pain from the treatment dulls them a bit. 
So you liked the beginning, Alaundo? I suppose it was Okay, if you disregard the two Star Trek captains as gate gaurds.
I figure the events 'happened' but not exactly as reported - perhaps that actor-friend of Volo's wrote it all down. He does seem to have a penchant for embellishment.
@Rinonalyrna- Read it... you'll NEVER make fun of a RAS novel again.
|
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 01:05:13
at the reactions.
I know there's no washing my brain after reading, but hey, I got through that prologue and epilogue of Realms of Magic, I can get through this. |
| Chataro |
Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 11:57:01
If once around the realm in non canon, how are they gonna handle the Hlavvin plot? Not to mention the constant reference to events that happened in the book? e.g. elminster and khelben owning Volo a favour? |
| Alaundo |
Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 09:48:29
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
As for Once Around the Realms, you guys are making me want to read it out of sheer curiosity, just to see how bad it is.
Well met
Aye, it was the last FR novel I read in my backlog and I was curious to see if the reputation was valid. Whilst I enjoyed it to start, it rapidly went downhill  |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 08:04:37
Just remember that there is no way going back Rinonalyrna. Once you have read it you will be stuck with the memory (and the aggravation)for the rest of your life. Sort of like the result of having seen Red Sonja. |
| Xysma |
Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 05:12:01
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
As for Once Around the Realms, you guys are making me want to read it out of sheer curiosity, just to see how bad it is.
That would surely be the only reason I would suggest reading it. You can't fully grasp how bad it is unless you've read it. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 09 Nov 2007 : 23:52:05
As for Once Around the Realms, you guys are making me want to read it out of sheer curiosity, just to see how bad it is. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 09 Nov 2007 : 22:54:58
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
quote:
Originally posted by Xysma
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
And it would appear WotC assumes some parts of the "Double Diamond" novels as canon [or at least will be], given the reference in the 'Doppelganger' entry of Monsters of Faerūn. WotC tell us that when the timeline reaches 1377 DR, some form of those novels will become canon.
Was there any mention of events from the Double Diamond Triangle Saga in the GhoTR?
Not that I saw but that doesn't mean much because I've seen a few references to things that aren't referenced in Grand History.
And besides, we were only been given a few brief tidbits about the events occuring in 1377 DR from Grand History -- a more comprehensive coverage may have included the few references from the DD novels, thus making them canon as WotC have suggested.
|
| Kuje |
Posted - 09 Nov 2007 : 22:39:29
quote:
Originally posted by Xysma
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
And it would appear WotC assumes some parts of the "Double Diamond" novels as canon [or at least will be], given the reference in the 'Doppelganger' entry of Monsters of Faerūn. WotC tell us that when the timeline reaches 1377 DR, some form of those novels will become canon.
Was there any mention of events from the Double Diamond Triangle Saga in the GhoTR?
Not that I saw but that doesn't mean much because I've seen a few references to things that aren't referenced in Grand History. |
| Xysma |
Posted - 09 Nov 2007 : 20:07:44
There are quite a few references to the AD&D comics that appear in CoS:W, one of my favorites being Harshnag the Grim from the Grey Hands. |
| Xysma |
Posted - 09 Nov 2007 : 19:59:16
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
And it would appear WotC assumes some parts of the "Double Diamond" novels as canon [or at least will be], given the reference in the 'Doppelganger' entry of Monsters of Faerūn. WotC tell us that when the timeline reaches 1377 DR, some form of those novels will become canon.
Was there any mention of events from the Double Diamond Triangle Saga in the GhoTR? |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 09 Nov 2007 : 11:12:45
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Yes, there was a Jaws refernce, along with refernces to hundreds of other very un-Realmsian things.
Speaking of "FR weirdnesses" - Are the comics considered canon? I know the video games and Double diamond books aren't, yet much of their lore has made it into the canon Realms.
How about the article in Dragon #228 - Gangsters of the Underdark? It's an April issue, but I thought all things in Dragon were considered canon?
Not completely sure about this, but I always thought that the April issues (not just that article)of Dragon was optional in the highest degree and used at own risk.
There were some serious articles in April Dragons, but most of them were obvious jokes. |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 09 Nov 2007 : 06:13:09
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Yes, there was a Jaws refernce, along with refernces to hundreds of other very un-Realmsian things.
Speaking of "FR weirdnesses" - Are the comics considered canon? I know the video games and Double diamond books aren't, yet much of their lore has made it into the canon Realms.
How about the article in Dragon #228 - {i]Gangsters of the Underdark[/i]? It's an April issue, but I thought all things in Dragon were considered canon?
Not completely sure about this, but I always thought that the April issues (not just that article)of Dragon was optional in the highest degree and used at own risk. |
