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O Love
Acolyte
Germany
49 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Mar 2008 : 11:59:50
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RandomHouse and Amazon released the following cover:
- "Blackstaff Tower": First book in a series called "Ed Greenwood presents Waterdeep" by Steven Schend
Find this and other info on my web page: Forgotten Realms: The Library
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2008 : 12:26:49
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Thanks for brining this to our attention. I think it strange though that they use Eds name in this´even though he did not write it. Is this like the Spiderwar series, where they used RAS's name in order to increase the sales?
Well, just a thought here...
Another thing I am curious about is what timeframe this novel will have. FR 4E only? |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
Edited by - Ergdusch on 09 Mar 2008 12:28:14 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31773 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2008 : 15:30:30
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Here is Steven's original announcement, posted back in late January:-
"BLACKSTAFF TOWER is due out September 2, and it's my second full-length novel. For those fans who care, yes, it takes place in the 4th edition timeframe, so it's in 1479 Dalereckoning. Even with that time shift, there's lots of lore hidden in these pages to fill some backstories of the intervening times. In short, our heroes help the Blackstaff against a conspiracy that claimed the life of her predecessor and could shift the balance of power all over Waterdeep."
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Chosen of Moradin
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1120 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2008 : 15:39:30
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Thanks for the info.  |
Dwarf, DM, husband, and proud of this! :P
twitter: @yuripeixoto
Facebook: yuri.peixoto |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2008 : 00:35:42
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| I rather like that cover. Nice. |
"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) |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2008 : 18:55:46
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Thanks guys, for the info!
I sadly have to admit though that a look at the towers past would have been most intriguing to me as well, if not even more so (but that might be also due to my inner struggle with this 4th Ed. development). |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2008 : 22:36:04
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quote:
Originally posted by Ergdusch
I sadly have to admit though that a look at the towers past would have been most intriguing to me as well, if not even more so (but that might be also due to my inner struggle with this 4th Ed. development).
I agree. But as wistful as I am about wanting more books about the past, I'm trying to be optimistic about the ones that actually are on the way. |
"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) |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2008 : 23:26:47
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I'm starting to get confused...
Is a book set between 1385 and 1479 DR set in the past, or the future? 
Are we in Limbo right now? 
quote:
Originally posted by Ergdusch
Is this like the Spiderwar series, where they used RAS's name in order to increase the sales?
Yes, it is a cheap marketing trick.
Whats sad is that they needn't have stooped to that with a Schend novel...
I guess once they started the mud-slinging campaign against 3e, it opened the floodgates to political campaign-style advertisements and used-car salesman gimmicks. 
Remember when Quality was Job 1?
Oh... wait... that was Ford.  |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31773 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2008 : 23:54:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I'm starting to get confused...
Is a book set between 1385 and 1479 DR set in the past, or the future?
Are we in Limbo right now?
As Steven said, in the reply I quoted above:-
"For those fans who care, yes, it takes place in the 4th edition timeframe, so it's in 1479 Dalereckoning."
Considering what the tale involves, it will likely feature some amount of background lore on the time in-between [1385 DR and 1479 DR], and on Tsarra-as-Khelben. But it sounds like it's placed in the "present" of 1479 DR.
So, when will then be now? Soon. [And I really don't want to go any further with this, otherwise I'll have to start delving into Spaceballs quotes] |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
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malchor7
Seeker
62 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2008 : 15:13:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
quote:
Originally posted by Ergdusch
Is this like the Spiderwar series, where they used RAS's name in order to increase the sales?
Yes, it is a cheap marketing trick.
Whats sad is that they needn't have stooped to that with a Schend novel...
I guess once they started the mud-slinging campaign against 3e, it opened the floodgates to political campaign-style advertisements and used-car salesman gimmicks.
I was under the impression that the WotSQ series was *edited* at least in part by RAS, and that he had some power over the whole thing.
Perhaps this book is edited by Ed?
That seems like a good thing to me! |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2008 : 19:56:20
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| I don't know that it's edited by Ed (err...) so much as based on Ed's ideas for 4E Waterdeep. |
"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) |
Edited by - Rinonalyrna Fathomlin on 12 Mar 2008 19:56:49 |
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Foxhelm
Senior Scribe
Canada
592 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2008 : 20:12:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Ergdusch
Is this like the Spiderwar series, where they used RAS's name in order to increase the sales?
Yes, it is a cheap marketing trick.
Whats sad is that they needn't have stooped to that with a Schend novel...
I guess once they started the mud-slinging campaign against 3e, it opened the floodgates to political campaign-style advertisements and used-car salesman gimmicks.
Remember when Quality was Job 1?
Oh... wait... that was Ford.
[/quote]
Perhaps it's a case where Ed Greenwood himself selected the author or potential authors who works he likes or who he thinks would make the best stories for the realms, then gives them a showcase. A series of quality works introduced to the fans by Ed himself. Perhaps Ed might give a forward to the work before the story begins.
It is possible. |
Ed Greenwood! The Solution... and Cause of all the Realms Problems! |
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darkcrow
Learned Scribe
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2008 : 23:19:08
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In my personal opinion, the book "Blackstaff" was a great read because it had a good storyline, a shocking ending and a whole bunch of big name "Actors". I feel that we liked the book so much that they had no choice but to make a sequel. But where to put it exactly? All the class series have been fulfilled so you can't continue the story on the next class series like Bruce Cordell has done and I don't think they will have any more in the future because they about covered all the classes. But why "Ed Greenwood Presents Waterdeep". I have to admit, I fell for the gimmick at first glance. I thought " Cool, Ed's got a book coming out about Blackstaff Tower. I have a question though. Is this going to be the only book under this series/category?
EDIT: and oh yea, I thought Blackstaff was Elaine Cunningham's baby. If I'm correct, shouldn't it be called "Elaine Cunningham Presents Waterdeep"? |
May Tymora smile upon ye |
Edited by - darkcrow on 13 Mar 2008 03:11:58 |
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Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2008 : 13:39:36
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| once again some beautifull cover art for an FR novel making it not only a good read but nice to look at |
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2008 : 13:43:35
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quote:
Originally posted by darkcrow
Is this going to be the only book under this series/category?
As far as I can tell, not likely.
quote:
EDIT: and oh yea, I thought Blackstaff was Elaine Cunningham's baby. If I'm correct, shouldn't it be called "Elaine Cunningham Presents Waterdeep"?
No--Khelben Blackstaff was Ed Greenwood's creation. |
"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) |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2008 : 14:27:46
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Indeed. And while Elaine has used Khelben as a supporting character, it's Steven Schend who has spent time in Khelben's head. It's kinda like how Elaith Craulnober is an Ed creation, but Elaine is the one who got into his head.
Khelben did appear in fiction before Elaine and Steven, though. He has a brief appearance in Spellfire, and appears quite briefly in The Halfling's Gem. In the first case, we see him as a spellslinger, and in the latter case, he acts the way Chosen should: he steers the characters in the right direction, gives them a bit of an assist, and then lets them go do what they need to do. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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BARDOBARBAROS
Senior Scribe
Greece
581 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2008 : 15:19:17
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| Thanks o-love ...Your web-page is very useful ... |
BARDOBARBAROS DOES NOT KILL.
HE DECAPITATES!!!
"The city changes, but the fools within it remain always the same" (Edwin Odesseiron- Baldur's gate 2) |
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darkcrow
Learned Scribe
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2008 : 03:10:35
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| Thanks for clearing things up for me Rinonalyrna and Wooly. Right now I'm reading Thornhold. Excellent so far! |
May Tymora smile upon ye |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2008 : 08:08:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Indeed. And while Elaine has used Khelben as a supporting character, it's Steven Schend who has spent time in Khelben's head. It's kinda like how Elaith Craulnober is an Ed creation, but Elaine is the one who got into his head.
Khelben did appear in fiction before Elaine and Steven, though. He has a brief appearance in Spellfire, and appears quite briefly in The Halfling's Gem. In the first case, we see him as a spellslinger, and in the latter case, he acts the way Chosen should: he steers the characters in the right direction, gives them a bit of an assist, and then lets them go do what they need to do.
And he also appear in the third of the Avatar-series of books - Waterdeep, where Troy Denning consistently refer to him as "the younger wizard." |
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2008 : 13:44:24
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quote:
Originally posted by darkcrow
Thanks for clearing things up for me Rinonalyrna and Wooly. Right now I'm reading Thornhold. Excellent so far!
You're welcome. And I liked that book, too. |
"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) |
Edited by - Rinonalyrna Fathomlin on 14 Mar 2008 13:45:43 |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2008 : 14:25:09
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Readers interested in seeing more of Khelben should check out Ed's current Knights of Myth Drannor trilogy, for a brief scene in Book 1 (Swords of Eveningstar) and a brief but VERY insightful scene in the forthcoming Book 3 (The Sword Never Sleeps).
For that matter, Ed has written Elaith scenes in Silverfall and (with Elaine) in City of Splendors - - not to mention in about a dozen short stories in the years before TSR bought the Realms. The delightful thing is that Elaine got Elaith exactly "right;" when I read "her" version of Elaith, nothing about it strikes me as jarring or different from Ed's; it just reads to me as if they're both showing us the same real person. I should probably publicly note here that Elaith's "back story" (his elven heritage, time on Evermeet, etc.) is all of Elaine's creation (with Ed's full approval; the MS of Evermeet was run past him for his comments).
Ed has, of course, done the same thing with Blackstaff Tower, and highly recommends it.
love to all,
THO |
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Lady Kazandra
Senior Scribe
Australia
921 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2008 : 05:07:39
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I like it. I wouldn't have minded seeing an actual image of the current incarnation of the Blackstaff however - - kinda like what we saw on the cover of the "Blackstaff" novel for example.
BTW, what is this actually an image of?
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"Once upon a time the plural of 'wizard' was 'war'." -- The Last Continent, by Terry Pratchett |
Edited by - Lady Kazandra on 22 Mar 2008 05:08:39 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2008 : 14:17:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Lady Kazandra
BTW, what is this actually an image of?
An acid trip.  |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31773 Posts |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2008 : 16:04:53
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Maybe it's showing the activation of the defensive magic on the bottom landing of the central circular stair...
They're oddly-shaped, for stairs. Down near the bottom, it looks more like a very long, wide, spinal cord, or maybe a snake skeleton. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2008 : 23:24:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Lady Kazandra
BTW, what is this actually an image of?
An acid trip.
YES! |
"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) |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31773 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2008 : 23:37:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Maybe it's showing the activation of the defensive magic on the bottom landing of the central circular stair...
They're oddly-shaped, for stairs. Down near the bottom, it looks more like a very long, wide, spinal cord, or maybe a snake skeleton.
And now that I've had a closer look at the image itself, there appears to be some unusual patterns and symbols deep within the twirling pillar of energy.
Hmmm... Steven, do you know what the image actually is?
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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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 |
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1715 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2008 : 15:51:21
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Lady Kazandra
BTW, what is this actually an image of?
An acid trip.
YES!
Nope.
It's the view inside as reported by a halfling thief who'd slipped into Blackstaff Tower uninvited. 
Of course, the poor lad was strung out on Cheeese at the time (and yes, that spelling is correct, as fans of the original FR comics will attest).
Steven
who will admit that YES, that is what it COULD look like inside Blackstaff Tower to someone who's unwelcome or unescorted by a Blackstaff......not that it looks the same to all folks, even if they enter at the same time.....
PS: For those fans of DC Comics herein, Blackstaff Tower can take on aspects seen inside Doctor Fate's tower and/or George Perez's incarnation of Olympus (where every surface is subjectively considered a floor, even if visually perpendicular or opposite someone else on another "floor")
PPS: Yes, this is a change in the status quo since the events of BLACKSTAFF...and not because of the Spellplague....
PPSS: Man, have I stretched the limits on what I can say without breaking my NDA...... |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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BlackAce
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
358 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2008 : 16:09:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
PS: For those fans of DC Comics herein, Blackstaff Tower can take on aspects seen inside Doctor Fate's tower and/or George Perez's incarnation of Olympus (where every surface is subjectively considered a floor, even if visually perpendicular or opposite someone else on another "floor")
Oh my gods! Blackstaff Tower's a Cylon basestar! |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31773 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2008 : 00:09:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
PPS: Yes, this is a change in the status quo since the events of BLACKSTAFF...and not because of the Spellplague....
Maybe Tsarra opened/pressed/activated something left behind by the Blackstaff, that she shouldn't have.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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New cover: Blackstaff Tower
