| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| creyzi4zb12 |
Posted - 25 Oct 2008 : 14:49:06
What's your favorite tragic ending in FR products? Can anybody point why..
I've read
-Death of the Dragon: Coz Tanalasta was killed and she never met with Rowen..awww!!
-Crusades: Coz the Khahans army got destroyed and Batu killed himself
-Avatar: Coz Rinda got lost in Kelemvor's Realm after she died....I never knew what happened to her after she got killed by Malik
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| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| khorne |
Posted - 26 Mar 2009 : 08:18:05
The most recent drow trilogy could certainly be seen as tragic. According to a spirit from Arvandor all those drow not turned into dark elves at the end are eternally damned... |
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 26 Mar 2009 : 00:57:46
quote:
Originally posted by Dagnirion
I finished that one recently...I found it very...anticlimactic. Not necessarily tragic, but...As if I read "all that", just for a "so-sp" ending.
Terribly sorry if the ending didn't work for you--it resonates different ways to different readers, as all endings to all books do. (I guess to each his/her own, eh?)
It was certainly *meant* to be tragic (i.e., that's what I was going for). Whether I achieved it or not, depends--as these things always do--on your own perspective.
We are but poor, poor players, we writers. Entertainers thrive by entertainment, and I'm glad if the rest of the book was "all that" for you. 
Cheers |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 25 Mar 2009 : 13:14:41
quote:
Originally posted by Menelvagor
Then, a rather short time later, Spellplague hits. What would happen to the city? I mean, some Mythals shattered, some were warped. What would it do to the city? Wouldn't it render it kind of obsolete?
I suspect that the city was simply overlooked by the designers... However, in a nod to keeping areas they liked, it's been said that the Sellplague "flowed around" areas of intense magic. I shan't go into all the logical holes presented by this bit. |
| Menelvagor |
Posted - 24 Mar 2009 : 19:56:49
You know, regarding Khelben, I never did get it:
So he resurrects this cool magical elven city, sacrificing his life for it. Okay, fine.
Then, a rather short time later, Spellplague hits. What would happen to the city? I mean, some Mythals shattered, some were warped. What would it do to the city? Wouldn't it render it kind of obsolete?
That would make it a tragic novel.
EDIT: I just realized this as well: As Khelben's reward, he got to go to Arvandor, proving him a true elf, blah, blah, blah. Then, a few years later, it's 4e, and we find out that all the pantheons are the same. So he isn't in Arvandor, is he? He's with all the other guys, since the Seldarine Pantheon is the human one! |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 05 Feb 2009 : 04:02:28
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Ghostwalker....
Walker and Arya not getting to spend their lives together.
Everything about Walker was tragic, the way he was treated as a kid, the way he was brought back and used by Gylther'yel......
even his and Arya making love the only time was bittersweet and tragic.
-I finished that one recently...I found it very...anticlimactic. Not necessarily tragic, but...As if I read "all that", just for a "so-sp" ending. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 24 Jan 2009 : 00:22:28
Ghostwalker....
Walker and Arya not getting to spend their lives together.
Everything about Walker was tragic, the way he was treated as a kid, the way he was brought back and used by Gylther'yel......
even his and Arya making love the only time was bittersweet and tragic. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 24 Jan 2009 : 00:15:05
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Dagnirion
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Indeed, it's hard to forget those last four words. One of the most memorable endings I've read.
-And that was?
The phrase at the end of Ayn Fuuser's post. If you want, we can discuss that book a bit more in person.
Bow Chicka Wow Wow |
| Dart Ambermoon |
Posted - 23 Jan 2009 : 07:45:12
I thought the ending of Crucible was tragic...the last remnants of mortal love being lost in the oppression of adherence to now ruling a Godly domain. Cyric holding a cup with Midnght´s and Kelemvor´s tears, signifying all of this.
And Shadowrealm...on each and every level. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 21 Jan 2009 : 18:30:16
-Sure. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 21 Jan 2009 : 17:30:55
quote:
Originally posted by Dagnirion
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Indeed, it's hard to forget those last four words. One of the most memorable endings I've read.
-And that was?
The phrase at the end of Ayn Fuuser's post. If you want, we can discuss that book a bit more in person. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 20 Jan 2009 : 19:45:44
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Indeed, it's hard to forget those last four words. One of the most memorable endings I've read.
-And that was? |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 20 Jan 2009 : 02:28:42
quote:
Originally posted by Ayn Fuuser
Not to mention the last sentence from the first book of the Knights of Myth Drannor trilogy.
Indeed, it's hard to forget those last four words. One of the most memorable endings I've read. |
| ranger_of_the_unicorn_run |
Posted - 19 Jan 2009 : 00:47:00
I think I thought of Khelben's death as tragic because I was always very interested in the character, but I haven't really read many other novels with him in it. So it was almost like killing the character at the beginning of the story for me, and that made me sad.
I thought The Orc King was tragic mainly because I figured out almost immediately that the prologue and epilogue were placed in the future, and I wasn't aware of the pending time jump at that point. I hate to say it but I also thought that Salvatore's writing style was tragically lacking in that book. But that is a whole other topic that I could derail the thread with if I keep going. |
| Ayn Fuuser |
Posted - 19 Jan 2009 : 00:03:05
Greetings fellow scribes!
Having read a fair bit of FR based novels I would have to say that the Spellfire Trilogy ended in the most tragic manner for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the novels and (spoiler warning) just when I thought Shandra and Narm would make it safe and sound to Silverymoon in order to rendezvous with Alustriel, Shandra ended up simply "burning herself out" through a massive use of Spellfire.
This was followed by Narm afterwards completely falling apart and them having to strap him to his horse after her passing in order to ensure he would not have the oppurtunity to take his own life. And when he did attempt to jump off of that cliff and barely survived the fall, Shandra did appear to him through the power of Mystra and spellfire to tell him that, so long as spellfire existed, Mystra would allow her to visit him from time to time.
I felt like I instantly connected with Narm at that point, and I thought it to be the most depressing ending to any single series of novels that Ed has penned to date.
Not to mention the last sentence from the first book of the Knights of Myth Drannor trilogy.
"And then she died". I was dumbstruck. |
| Ashe Ravenheart |
Posted - 26 Nov 2008 : 19:52:40
Then she shall have it! *passes credit to Rin*
RE: Khelben's death, I felt the same way. It wasn't a tragedy so much as his life-long ambition come to pass. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 26 Nov 2008 : 18:49:45
quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
Hmmm... Dagnirion, I think you struck on a 'catchphrase' that may be taken up. Kinda like how Obama used 'Yes we can'.
-It's nothing new. If anyone 'coined it', Rin did. Give her the credit, not me. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 26 Nov 2008 : 18:48:52
quote:
Originally posted by khorne
I think he was damn lucky to go to Arvandor instead of Mystra, considering Mystra's realm BLEW UP.
-In retrospect, it was definitely a good move on the past of Khelben and his metaphorical "agent". |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 26 Nov 2008 : 18:03:19
Ahem. *Wooly wanders in, dusts off the topic, and sets it in a prominent place in the center of the room* |
| Ashe Ravenheart |
Posted - 26 Nov 2008 : 17:22:15
True, it's not new, but it's definitely something that's resonating right now.  |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 26 Nov 2008 : 15:03:08
quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Not in my Realms.
Hmmm... Dagnirion, I think you struck on a 'catchphrase' that may be taken up. Kinda like how Obama used 'Yes we can'.
Well, it's actually not a new saying.
For that matter, neither is the "Yes, we can" slogan. |
| Ashe Ravenheart |
Posted - 26 Nov 2008 : 15:00:27
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Not in my Realms.
Hmmm... Dagnirion, I think you struck on a 'catchphrase' that may be taken up. Kinda like how Obama used 'Yes we can'. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 26 Nov 2008 : 14:52:28
Not in my Realms. |
| khorne |
Posted - 26 Nov 2008 : 07:59:55
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I also found it ironic that his reward was to be admitted to the 'Elven Afterlife', rather then the human one
I think he was damn lucky to go to Arvandor instead of Mystra, considering Mystra's realm BLEW UP. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 25 Nov 2008 : 18:41:34
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Surprise Khelben! You didn't earn anything - you went to the same place you were going to either way. 
-How does the phrase go? Not in my Realms? |
| Markustay |
Posted - 25 Nov 2008 : 18:24:09
Since Dagnirion has already addressed it, all I need say is "Yeah... that". 
His whole life led up to that moment... and tossing Frostrune into Undermountain was just icing on the cake.
As for RAS's novels - they are so full of constant death that I really don't care enough about any of them to get emotional involved. When the cavern came crashing down on Wulfgar, all I could think of was "why couldn't it have been Drizzt?" 
The fact that he brought Wulfgar back just cheapened the whole thing for me, so how am I supposed to care about the characters after that?
As for WotSQ... don't get me started... there's a very good reason why I usually avoid the 'novel' threads.
quote:
Originally posted by khorne
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Yes, I agree, Khelben was ultimately fulfilling what he was "meant" to do, and was apparently fine with that.
So the sole purpose of his life was to bring back some old elven city?
Yes... minus the Elves who actually lived in the city, mind-you (but I've already beaten that horse to death).
I also found it ironic that his reward was to be admitted to the 'Elven Afterlife', rather then the human one, and then 4e turned around and screwed-the-pouch by saying that their are no different pantheons - the gods are all the same acting under different names.
Surprise Khelben! You didn't earn anything - you went to the same place you were going to either way. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 25 Nov 2008 : 17:15:42
quote:
Originally posted by khorne
So the sole purpose of his life was to bring back some old elven city?
-His true name (Not Truename, as in the magic, true name, as in actual name) is/was Akhelbhen, which is translated as ‘He whom Magic, Duty, and Honor Defines’. From birth, he had metaphorical (and literal) duties to accomplish, very much in the predetermined vein. The ending of Blackstaff culminated in the return of the City of Hope, and the passing of his own spirit. As a reward for living a life of honor and duty, he was afforded a spot in Arvandor. He was finally accepted by the Elves who shunned him during the earlier portions of his life. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 25 Nov 2008 : 16:02:41
quote:
Originally posted by khorne
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Yes, I agree, Khelben was ultimately fulfilling what he was "meant" to do, and was apparently fine with that.
So the sole purpose of his life was to bring back some old elven city?
That's not what I said. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 25 Nov 2008 : 12:17:51
quote:
Originally posted by khorne
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Yes, I agree, Khelben was ultimately fulfilling what he was "meant" to do, and was apparently fine with that.
So the sole purpose of his life was to bring back some old elven city?
Not the sole purpose, no -- he did a lot more than that in his time on Toril.
And he didn't just bring back some old elven city. He cleansed an area poisoned by foul magic, righting an ancient wrong. He gave a lot of people a second chance. And the city itself was a beacon of hope and goodness. |
| khorne |
Posted - 25 Nov 2008 : 09:00:14
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Yes, I agree, Khelben was ultimately fulfilling what he was "meant" to do, and was apparently fine with that.
So the sole purpose of his life was to bring back some old elven city? |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 24 Nov 2008 : 17:18:19
Yes, I agree, Khelben was ultimately fulfilling what he was "meant" to do, and was apparently fine with that. |
