| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
BARDOBARBAROS
Senior Scribe
Greece
581 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Oct 2007 : 17:39:37
|
I want some opinions about these books...I have not read them ....Are they worth buying or not???
|
BARDOBARBAROS DOES NOT KILL.
HE DECAPITATES!!!
"The city changes, but the fools within it remain always the same" (Edwin Odesseiron- Baldur's gate 2) |
|
|
Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 09:55:58
|
You do know that the Band of Four series is not set within the Forgotten Realms?
The are set within the Kingdom of Aglirta. The novels are:
1. The Kingless Land
2. The Vacant Throne
3. A Dragon's Ascension
4. The Dragon's Doom
5. The Silent House (A chronicle of Aglirta)
You'll find more info on the series here.
They are quite a good read, a straigt forward fantasy story told by one of the greatest authors of the genre, IMO. If you can get your hands on those books for a reasonable price and you like to read fantasy outside of the Forgotten Realms, I'd recommand you to get them. These books were actually the once that introduced me to Ed Greenwood's work for the first time. (Edit note: I read them in German though, there called 'Ring der Vier')
Ergdusch |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
Edited by - Ergdusch on 29 Oct 2007 10:05:32 |
 |
|
|
BARDOBARBAROS
Senior Scribe
Greece
581 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 16:28:14
|
| ok .. thank u!! yes i know that is not est within the FAerun |
BARDOBARBAROS DOES NOT KILL.
HE DECAPITATES!!!
"The city changes, but the fools within it remain always the same" (Edwin Odesseiron- Baldur's gate 2) |
|
|
|
The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 19:20:17
|
. . . And I should point out to all interested scribes that Ed has two new non-FR fiction series currently being released.
From Tor Books, DARK WARRIOR RISING (a non-drow "dark elf" novel, possibly Ed's best yet) is out, with a sequel, DARK VENGEANCE, due next year.
From Solaris (Black Library; dist. by Simon & Schuster), DARK LORD, the first of the Falconfar trilogy, is out (sequels to follow, one a year: ARCHWIZARD and then FALCONFAR).
Try 'em. Good fun!
love to all,
THO |
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 23:03:52
|
I've been itching to read the TOR and SOLARIS books ever since Ed first mentioned them here. I purchased them immediately upon release... but I've had other books in my evergrowing stacks that I've had to read.
Hopefully next week. 
|
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 12 Nov 2007 04:18:04 |
|
|
|
MerrikCale
Senior Scribe
USA
947 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 03:30:16
|
quote:
Originally posted by BARDOBARBAROS
I want some opinions about these books...I have not read them ....Are they worth buying or not???
I found them extremely difficult to get through myself. I would stay away. |
When hinges creak in doorless chambers and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls, whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight. |
|
|
|
Karzak
Learned Scribe
196 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 17:20:47
|
| It depends. If you can stand, or even like EG's Realms novels, then you'll probably like those too. The style's similar, and so's the sense of humor. |
|
|
|
Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 20:37:00
|
quote:
Originally posted by Karzak
It depends. If you can stand, or even like EG's Realms novels, then you'll probably like those too. The style's similar, and so's the sense of humor.
I disagree, I enjoy Ed's Realms novels, but did not enjoy the first two of the Band of Four novels nearly as much as his Realms ones. I liked the first better than the second though. I have not read any of the later ones. |
Errant d20 Designer - My Blog (last updated January 06, 2016)
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back. --Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
"Mmm, not the darkness," Myrin murmured. "Don't cast it there." --Erik Scott de Bie, Shadowbane
* My character sheets (PFRPG, 3.5, and AE versions; not viewable in Internet Explorer)
* Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Reference Document (PFRPG OGL Rules)
* The Hypertext d20 SRD (3.5 OGL Rules)
* 3.5 D&D Archives
My game design work:
* Heroes of the Jade Oath (PFRPG, conversion; Rite Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 1: Cantrips & Orisons (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 2: 1st-Level Spells (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Martial Arts Guidebook (forthcoming) (PFRPG, designer; Rite Publishing)
|
|
|
|
MerrikCale
Senior Scribe
USA
947 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 22:01:58
|
quote:
Originally posted by HawkinstheDM
quote:
Originally posted by Karzak
It depends. If you can stand, or even like EG's Realms novels, then you'll probably like those too. The style's similar, and so's the sense of humor.
I disagree, I enjoy Ed's Realms novels, but did not enjoy the first two of the Band of Four novels nearly as much as his Realms ones. I liked the first better than the second though. I have not read any of the later ones.
I agree with you. I have never been a fan of Ed's fiction, but some of his realms book are decent. The band of Four is unreadable its so convuluted |
When hinges creak in doorless chambers and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls, whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight. |
|
|
|
Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2007 : 08:30:28
|
| Seems like the translation into German took some of this convoluted, difficult, 'Ed' Style out... |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
|
|
|
Karzak
Learned Scribe
196 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2007 : 12:16:28
|
quote:
Originally posted by HawkinstheDM
quote:
Originally posted by Karzak
It depends. If you can stand, or even like EG's Realms novels, then you'll probably like those too. The style's similar, and so's the sense of humor.
I disagree, I enjoy Ed's Realms novels, but did not enjoy the first two of the Band of Four novels nearly as much as his Realms ones. I liked the first better than the second though. I have not read any of the later ones.
Hmm, I thought the Realms novels and the BoF books had a lot in common, myself. But oh well.
Edit to disclaim: I've only read one Band of Four book, though. |
Edited by - Karzak on 13 Nov 2007 12:17:35 |
|
|
|
The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2007 : 01:45:37
|
"Convoluted"? Oh, dear. Ed and his editor on that series will be surprised indeed. They both thought the Band of Four books were "straight-ahead, simple swords & sorcery," like the Tor catalogue copy at the time described them.
I read them all and thought the same thing.
Ah, well. Different strokes . . .
love,
THO |
|
|
|
The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2007 : 02:21:22
|
Anyone surprised Ed did a Series that has the Acronym BOF ??? 
Anyone.....at all? |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
|
|
|
|
MerrikCale
Senior Scribe
USA
947 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2007 : 03:57:05
|
quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
"Convoluted"? Oh, dear. Ed and his editor on that series will be surprised indeed. They both thought the Band of Four books were "straight-ahead, simple swords & sorcery," like the Tor catalogue copy at the time described them.
I read them all and thought the same thing.
Ah, well. Different strokes . . .
love,
THO
Really? Straight-ahead compared to what? |
When hinges creak in doorless chambers and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls, whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight. |
|
|
|
Blueblade
Senior Scribe
USA
804 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2007 : 15:13:10
|
Just what the lady said. It's a industry term for a simple, chronological storyline with a minimum of big jumps in location (aside from a brief scene aboard a ship, late in the series, all of the action in these books takes place up and down one river valley) and narrative concentration on a relatively small cast of characters.
Unlike, say, the fantasy series of Jordan or Martin. Or J.V. Jones or Julian May, for that matter. Or many of Ed's Realms books.
Please note that I'm not saying one fictional form is better than the other. Some stories are best told one way, and others another way.
I'm just curious as to why you thought the Band of Four books were convoluted and therefore you didn't like them, MerrikCale, when you expressed a liking for the Watercourse trilogy, which IS really convoluted. Or was it something else you disliked?
BB |
|
|
|
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2007 : 02:16:31
|
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Anyone surprised Ed did a Series that has the Acronym BOF ???
Anyone.....at all?
I...don't get it? |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
|
|
|
MerrikCale
Senior Scribe
USA
947 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2007 : 02:17:20
|
quote:
Originally posted by Blueblade
narrative concentration on a relatively small cast of characters.
and thats where Ed always jumps the shark |
When hinges creak in doorless chambers and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls, whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight. |
|
|
|
The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2007 : 03:17:38
|
Now, now, Red Walker, Ed didn't choose the name for the series or the idea behind it (have four main characters akin to the four base original D&D character classes). That was Brian Thomsen's doing.
For Tor, I believe Mr. Thomsen decides on an idea for a series (the Band of Four or Ed's current now-drow dark elf books), discusses it with Ed, and then Ed writes it.
And MerrikCale, Ed's too old for shark-jumping (bad knees equals poor swimming, and VERY poor leaping out of the water skills). When he and I were both younger, though . . .
love,
THO |
|
|
|
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2007 : 18:41:42
|
quote:
Originally posted by MerrikCale
quote:
Originally posted by Blueblade
narrative concentration on a relatively small cast of characters.
and thats where Ed always jumps the shark
Just out of curiosity, why do you say that? I'm not challenging you, I just want to understand your opinion better. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
|
|
|
Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2007 : 09:09:24
|
| Well, the large character gallery and numerous parallel stories in Eds books is a matter of taste. I can see that it can get a bit convoluted for some peoples preference. For me that is the part that makes me enjoy Eds novels. One gets the opposite situation with fight scenes in many other Realms books; some readers love to picture the flow of the battle whereas I start skipping pages. |
|
|
|
MerrikCale
Senior Scribe
USA
947 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2007 : 03:47:12
|
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by MerrikCale
quote:
Originally posted by Blueblade
narrative concentration on a relatively small cast of characters.
and thats where Ed always jumps the shark
Just out of curiosity, why do you say that? I'm not challenging you, I just want to understand your opinion better.
I have always found Ed puts too many characters in his book and gets bogged down. On a side note, I find his dialogue unnatural and often silly. However, some of his books I have enjoyed notably Elminster in Hell and Stormlight. Others not so much. But the band of Four were unreadable in my opinion based on the above.
And feel free to challenge me at any time. I can take it. Plus, I know I'm in the minority around here anyway when it comes to Ed's abilities as an author of fiction. But let me say, you'll be hard pressed to find anyone in his league as a game designer. IMHO. |
When hinges creak in doorless chambers and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls, whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight. |
Edited by - MerrikCale on 23 Nov 2007 03:49:08 |
|
|
|
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2007 : 01:56:23
|
quote:
Originally posted by MerrikCale
And feel free to challenge me at any time. I can take it.
Understood, but I see no point in trying to convince people to like something they said they don't like. For example, I read the Last Mythal trilogy and disliked it for several reasons. There'd be no point in convincing me that the experience I had with the books was better than it really was, so I wouldn't do that to anyone else.
Thanks for explaining your opinion better, though. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
|
|
|
MerrikCale
Senior Scribe
USA
947 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2007 : 04:12:16
|
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by MerrikCale
And feel free to challenge me at any time. I can take it.
Understood, but I see no point in trying to convince people to like something they said they don't like. For example, I read the Last Mythal trilogy and disliked it for several reasons. There'd be no point in convincing me that the experience I had with the books was better than it really was, so I wouldn't do that to anyone else.
Thanks for explaining your opinion better, though.
I understand. To each his own. And for what its worth, I found the Last Mythal to be average at first with a steady downturn as the series progressed. Realms of the Elves wasn't half bad though |
When hinges creak in doorless chambers and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls, whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight. |
|
|
|
Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3287 Posts |
Posted - 15 May 2009 : 13:45:56
|
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
Well, the large character gallery and numerous parallel stories in Eds books is a matter of taste. I can see that it can get a bit convoluted for some peoples preference. For me that is the part that makes me enjoy Eds novels. One gets the opposite situation with fight scenes in many other Realms books; some readers love to picture the flow of the battle whereas I start skipping pages.
I think thats what I like about Ed's writing. The large cast of characters. 
I have not read The Band of Four yet. I just started reading Falconfar: Darklord and I love it! I also got Dark Warrior Rising, so I look forward to a good read THO.
Sorry about the Thread Necromancy scribes.
Brimstone |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Ed Greenwood "The band of four" series!!!
