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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Jul 2009 : 02:08:53
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Well met
This is a Book Club thread for City of the Dead (Book 4 of the "Ed Greenwood Presents Waterdeep" series), by Rosemary Jones. Please discuss chapters 26 - 31 herein.
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Edited by - The Sage on 22 Jul 2009 02:09:51
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Gang Falconhand
Seeker
United Kingdom
85 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2009 : 13:36:23
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I loved this book. It's something uncommon in my FR novel archive: a simple, old-fashioned, innocent romp.
I usually like epic swords and sorcery novels, but this was much more personal and small in scale (despite the potential scale of events). The characters were all well-rounded, living individuals.
The only issue I had with the book (and it's a very very slight issue) is that the naming conventions did not seem very Waterdhavian to me (apart from Lord Adarbrent, of course). But I forgot that minor niggle because the book is just so darned much fun. |
"If you have a quality let it define you." |
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Rosemary Jones
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
148 Posts |
Posted - 20 Aug 2009 : 15:57:22
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I did run the names past Ed, who named Lord Adarbrent, of course. I felt like most of this crew was pretty lower middle class and might be following their own Waterdhavian traditions. And, the Carvers overall are a bit different from other families :)
Regards,
Rosemary |
Rosemary Jones
www.rosemaryjones.com |
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gomez
Learned Scribe
Netherlands
254 Posts |
Posted - 21 Aug 2009 : 20:19:11
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I liked this book a lot. The characters were not overpowering, though I am unsure how powerful you need to be to animate stone... Gustin didn't seem very powerful, but lettign a statue walks doesn't sound trivial. I liked Sophrea. I think she should have gone and become a seamstress though. It would have been a bit more unexpected.
One thing bothered me in this book though, and that is the way the Blackstaff (and in fact, every person in Waterdeep with any interest in preventing undead armies marching the street) was presented.
I mean, seriously, nobody thought about following the undead when they walked about for most of a tenday? There are 100+ wizards and no-one bothered to get down to where these undead came from by following them? It is not like they are easy to miss. Even if all divination spells fail, you have mundane ways to track. And the Blackstaff not knowing about the Dead End gate sounds rather far fetched.
My theory would be that the Blackstaff knew what was going on and simply deemed it not worth the trouble to interfere. Otherwise, it does not make a lot of sense. Nor does the Carvers dutifully fixing the gate every day and not bother to put someone on guard at night, even after the gate is torn doen several nigths in a row.
I would have put someone on watch after the first time someone opened the gate, just in case.
I also was a bit dissapointed that the ugly, oily, fat guy was the bad guy. It would be nice to have an adventure where it is the other way around. I want an ugly, oily, fat guy to be the hero in a future book, please.
Other than those issues, I really liked this book.
Oh, and was Gustin's guide a Volo guide?
Gomez |
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Rosemary Jones
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
148 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2009 : 20:10:32
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<<Oh, and was Gustin's guide a Volo guide?>>
Definitely it's a Volo guide! Good catch!
Well, the rest is the author's decision and I do think about things like what is the Blackstaff doing, and according to other books about that particular year in Waterdeep, the Blackstaff and some of the bigger players in Waterdeep are pretty busy and might not feel a bunch of undead harassing one rich merchant is that big of a deal. That there is a wider threat to Waterdeep may have escaped them.
The Blackstaff and the other Waterdeep authorities are probably working around the edges of the novel -- they are certainly issuing statements to the "press" of Waterdeep that everyone should stay calm and not worry about this. Remember Sophraea and her family aren't traveling in those circles and are not exactly aware of what is going on elsewhere.
Anyway, good thoughts on your part Gomez! And the ugly, oily, fat guy might show up as a hero in a another book :)
Best,
Rosemary
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Rosemary Jones
www.rosemaryjones.com |
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Tremaine
Seeker
United Kingdom
86 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2009 : 20:55:32
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just finished the novel it was a very enjoyable fun little tale like I posted somewhere else one of my favourite scenes in the novel was how Gustin got his guide book
Volponia crystal bell is cool I liked how she can summon people/items with it by ringing it just how many magic trinkets has she got? will we see more of her in the future? maybe in a short story ;-)
loved the little history of Algozata and how justice was doled out to her very clever to get a corpse or statue to end the curse I thought lord Adarbrent was going to sacrifice himself until I read that
little question at the early stages of the novel Sophrea kept thinking she was hearing someone weep in the graveyard but never find out what it was, was this the statue at the start I did think the statue would have had a slightly bigger part to play
slightly off topic here if anyone wants to read about an ugly anti hero I recommend Joe Abercrombie maybe you could get him to write a realm novel hehe
thank you for listening/reading to my rambles and take care all  |
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Rosemary Jones
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
148 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2010 : 22:45:19
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Thanks for all the nice comments Tremaine. I do have have a longer story on how Gustin acquired his guidebook and maybe WOTC will publish it some day.
As for Volponia, I'd love to write more about her early adventures. I have a feeling that her room is stuffed full of useful items acquired during a long, long life of adventuring. Perhaps if somebody was running a Waterdeep adventure, Volponia's room would be a great place to acquire a few items of interest -- if you can avoid be caught by her or the rest of the Carver family!! Or, if you are very nice indeed, she might just lend you something -- especially if she thought it would help the family or the city.
The weeping woman was not the statue but rather Lord Ardabrent's lost love. |
Rosemary Jones
www.rosemaryjones.com |
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danbuter
Seeker
USA
74 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jan 2010 : 18:08:31
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I really liked the book. The Carvers were a nice addition to Waterdeep. I do think Stunk got off easy, considering what an evil jerk he was.
The characters were well done, though I was surprised the Carvers had a sahuagin and an illithid working for them. |
Nothing beats the gray box!
Dan |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2010 : 19:20:13
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I like tales of "little" people doing what they must to take care of themselves without appealing to some greater power. Even as she got deeper into it Sopherea always felt it was her problem(her families) and she was the one to fix it.
The Topiary drgaon was great!(as was The little Briar guy) Really insipred work with that Rosemary.
And I cannot help but wonder, which long dead god's ghost that was helping to strengthen the walls that Sopherea's vision allowed her to see. |
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
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City of the Dead -- Chapters 26 - 31
