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Dart Ambermoon
Learned Scribe
Germany
253 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Apr 2010 : 02:06:39
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Just finished this anthology and was curious as to fellow scribesī thoughts about it. I have to say that I thought "Realms of the Dead" was full of bright gems, with only a few less sparkly pieces thrown into the mix and has, along with Mel Odomīs last outing, rekindled my faith in the novel line after I was pretty disappointed by the last two "Wilds" and Bruce Cordellīs novels I had read before the anthology. Many stories gave me the old Ravenloft flair, but were yet true to the Realms (and mostly unmarred by pre/post Spellplague emphasis in their feeling).
A little breakdown (Iīll try to keep it major spoiler free):
Pieces (Richard Lee Byers)
And another fantabulastic glimpse into Szass Tamīs Thay by the master of Dark Fantasy himself. The characters that were awesome in the trilogy are still awesome and the new ones are very, very intriguing (especially the lead cleric), the atmosphere is dark and just dripping with dreadful suspense and Richardīs use of undead is still creepy. A cool plot full of intrigue and shades of grey (which would work perfectly as an adventure hook for PCīs btw) and the desperation of those opposing Tam is tangible. Very crisp, atmospheric writing style once again. Great start to the anthology and hereīs looking forward to the forthcoming trilogy. (Canīt wait to see how Richard will present Chessenta. Gah, I want it now!)
Soul Steel (Lisa Smedman)
I am not the biggest fan of Lisa Smedmanīs FR fiction work...to phrase it rather mildly, but in my opionion "Soul Steel" is the best fiction Lisa has written for the Realms by a long shot. Interesting characters and a twisty, nifty plot with an almost classical Realmsian moral dilemma, while leaving a lot of possible continuations open. Good story.
The Resurrection Agent (Erin M. Evans)
Awesome story! Awesome setting! And uberawesome (if this term may be excused) main character! This story has everything a good horror/fantasy story needs. Old Enemies, suspense, sacrifice. Extremely good flow to the story. As "God Catcher" is next on my to-read pile, Erin has definitely wet my appetite for more of her work. I loved this one.
Wandering Stones (Bruce Cordell)
If I was really interested in the post-spellplague Realms, I probably would have dug the story, since I have always liked historical FR stories...but since I am not, this story did not really connect with me and, I have to admit, did nothing to spark an interest in anything it thematised. Itīs an okay story, but it didnīt grip me, and I felt the "undead" theme was missed by this one, the ghosts seemed to be more backdrop than marrow of the story.
The Bone Bird (Jaleigh Johnson)
Ah...picking up steam again. Jaleigh Johnson continues to impress with a tale that also has a Ravenloft flair and gives a very interesting look into questions of faith for a Chauntean cleric and where faithīs strengths lie. (And presents another really nifty hook for DMs). Fine story, loved the Bone Bird image and has a great supporting character in the innkeeper (screaming to be used as NPC).
Feast of the Moon (Christopher Rowe)
And straight into questions of faith for a very different kind, as we segue from Chauntea to Malar. Creepy story, with tinges of Conan-esque flair in some spots. Nasty undead. It didnīt quite hook me like some others did, but the writing and visualization was crisp, therefore Iīll be interested to see what Mr. Rowe can do with a whole FR novel.
A prayer for Brother Robert
Ravenloft! That was my first feeling when the story started. Bit of a classical ghost story right there. This is a really fun piece reads like an "old school" FR short story, meaning it reminded me a lot of the older "Realms..." anthologies, and I mean that in an entirely good way. The story segues from comical to frightening and back, then starts to feel very "real" with the womanīs motivations and then builds to a good finale. A bit like "Frighteners" in a FR short story. Like it very much.
The King in Copper (Richard Baker)
Good tie-in story to Richīs "Blades of the Moonsea" trilogy, shedding some more light on the lich Aesperus, the King in Copper, and also some of the local families and how they are tied into the liches past. Although I would have personally like to gather some more details on the lichīs past and deeds, it was (again) a good story, especially if youīve read the novel(s). Also nice to see to which length besieged/occupied (or just plain power-hungry) lords will go to reatain power.
Dusty Bones (Rosemary Jones)
"Break it down! Stop - Carvertime..."
All right, after loving Rosemaryīs last novel to death and seeing (as I had hoped) her short story deal with Waterdeepīs own clan of awesome, the Carver family, I couldnīt really see this one going wrong. And it didnīt. Fun little gem of a story right there, focussing on the City of the Deadīs pacifistic and ascethic son Leaplow (*cough*), the Carver (and City of the Dead) history, an insidious plot against the family (gasp!), and how different some undead really are. I laughed a tear ot two. More Carver mayhem, pretty please.
The many murders of Manshoon (Ed Greenwood)
It is Ed Greenwood, and that says most of it already. Not a typical short story in the way it is presented (just as his novels are not always typical novels in form), rather a smorgasboard of singular scenes linked together by an overplot. Chock full of Realmslore, answering some long asked questions to open up new ones, as always it felt too short (but then I think a thousand page novel woud still feel too short wher this manīs involved. Great characterization of characters in single situations and little words and action is just a gift the man has got. If you like Edīs writing style, youīll like the story, as simple as that.
A body in a bag (Eric Scott de Bie)
And another author, whose story I was looking forward to after his prior Realms work.
Thoughts while beginning to read:
Ooh, completely new characters and surrounding...wait...a humorous story? Following straight after the latest Carver madness a humorous story? Way to go to raise the bar as high as possible, dear editor...now letīs see...
What can I say? This story is beyond fantastic. I emphasized with the poor Tiefling right from the start (having backflashs and humming Smashing Pumpkins songs in between bouts of laughter), thought the characters were hilariously funny, shot coke out of my nose twice (!), "huzzah"-ed at the Militades reference (I just love Eric for those references) and thoroughly enjoyed every single word of it.
Give the man a damn trilogy or two already, Wizards!
Iruladoon (R.S. Salvatore)
Started out very, very nicely...and then it simply lost me along the way. I liked most of the characters (though "Roundabout" felt like an awful name only somebody like Steven Erikson could make work), but I had no clue where this was going plotwise. It took me several re-reads to understand who the ghost was supposed to be and I honestly have no clue what to make of the whole thing. Unless itīs only a teaser for upcoming novels or an answer to what has become of some of the characters due to the Spellplague/time jump, I simply donīt "get" this story.
So, all in all, a great collection of short stories that I would absolutely recommend to any FR fan or even old school Ravenloft fan. DMs find some nifty hooks and players (especially for Clerics) some great ideas. I especially liked the lack of spellscarred protagonists/villains in the anthology, respectively the lack of focus on these things (allowing the undead to "shine" in most stories. Really great character studies in most of the stories and very, very creative ideas in some of them. Great stuff for my tastes!
Fellow scribes?
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~ In Finder I trust, for danger I lust ~ |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3287 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2010 : 02:26:01
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I enjoyed this novel.
God Catcher is good... |
"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 |
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
4598 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2010 : 08:18:46
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Thanks for the review, DA! Glad you enjoyed the anthology. 
I'm glad too that I got the chance to write a humorous story to go in these pages. It's a style I don't explore all that much, but this was the story that just had to be written. Gotta follow that muse, y'know?
Cheers |
Erik Scott de Bie
'Tis easier to destroy than to create.
Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars" |
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jornan
Learned Scribe
Canada
256 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2010 : 23:36:30
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I quite enjoyed this novel too.
All of the stories were great in their own ways for sure. With the exception of The Wandering Stones. This didn't even feel like it was a Realms story in the least. Maybe that is because it was an Abeir story. I'm trying to enjoy the changes to the setting, but this did nothing to get me interested in Abeir.
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Rosemary Jones
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
148 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2010 : 03:11:57
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Thanks for the compliments! Couldn't resist a trip back to the graveyard when I got the invitation for Realms of the Dead.
If you like Mr. de Bie's story (I did, a lot!), you should also check out his "Racing Lights" in the Apex anthology Close Encounters of the Urban Kind. It's very sweet and very funny.
Regards,
Rosemary |
Rosemary Jones
www.rosemaryjones.com |
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Jaleigh J.
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
139 Posts |
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Realms Of The Dead
