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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
 Posted - 31 Dec 2009 : 21:58:42
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| I have a new blog entry up at richardleebyers.com. It's my thoughts on the new Sherlock Holmes movie and the new Dracula sequel by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2010 : 01:38:15
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On THE CAPTIVE FLAME
First, I would like to express my sincerest thanks for writing this wonderful novel!
From the prologue alone I knew this was going to fascinate me. I did not expect Brimstone to show up. He made a good "entrance," though. It somehow felt at the start as if it's a fusion between the Haunted Lands and the Year of Rogue Dragons. The excitement and the promise of more surprises were already palpable in the prologue and the first 2 chapters....
The story is well-developed, and each chapter provides highlights to the core of the story and its main characters. I did not feel as though every chapter is "forced" to be knit together and thereby creates a sense of "incoherence" (as with the case of some FR novels). On the contrary, every chapter connects well to each other.
Now, on the setting. I must say I am not a Chessanta fan, and I am glad that although most of the events happen in that realm, some important ones occur in Murghôm, Tymanther, Threskel, and Shadowfell! The mix of these colorful realms in the story was really great, and YOUR literary prowess makes it easy for me to visualize them...although I would have appreciated it more had there been a map of Chessenta at least...
I must say the characters (as only you can describe and flesh them out) are the most interesting part of the book. I like Aoth since the HAUNTED LANDS, and he is still the same... (good?) prudent, complex, and easy to like. I honestly did not expect that Jhesrhi hailed from Luthcheq, Chessenta's capital. Did you provide any hint in the HL about it? If so, it totally escaped my notice. Anyway, I like the fact you did not suddenly make Aoth and Jhesrhi overly powerful, like what you did to Malark in the HL. The dragon characters are somewhat too powerful for me. And somehow I am surprised that there is no human or lich involved who is as powerful as any of the zulkirs...Maybe in the next book there will be, from High Imaskara? Also, I find it strange that a dragonborn is a paladin, though I should say he is quite interesting, albeit irritating sometimes. Well, honestly, I find most paladins are. (What with all the crap about righteousness?! =)) I wonder if Torm will also make a halfling paladin? =)
Overall, this is a wonderful book that should be devoured by all FR and even non-FR readers. I give it an 8/10. It may not be as grand as Unclean or any of the HL books, but it's so much worth my time and money! Again, Richard, thanks for this treat!
Is November the final date for the next book's release? Can WotC move it to an earlier one?
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2010 : 02:37:03
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Hi, dennis. Very glad you're enjoying it.
I'm afraid that November date is firm. But on the plus side, this trilogy is coming out faster than my previous trilogies. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2010 : 03:39:36
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Yes, that's what I like also about the release dates. Compared to the HL, this new series is coming out faster.
Anyway, I have a few questions about the book...but I won't post them YET unless you allow me since I'll be giving out more spoilers, and I think I already gave a lot in my previous post, and I am sure SOME who visit this section of the forum HAVE NOT YET READ the book...
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Every beginning has an end. |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2010 : 14:30:09
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Hi, dennis.
It's ultimately not up to me what you post. It's up to our hosts. But I suspect that questions incorporating spoilers are okay as long as you put a big, prominent spoiler warning at the start of your message. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2010 : 16:33:45
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Richard,
Ok. So to anyone else who happens to read this post, be reminded that the questions below include spoilers of the novel The Captive Flame. =)
First, I really find it difficult to believe that mere enchanted chains can imprison a dragon as powerful as Tchazzar, unless the chains are made of shadow and cast by Telamont himselt (as in what he used in Shadowrealm). So, was Tchazzar's strenght greatly diminished to the extent that such chains managed to bind him? If so, why was he so enervated? And what enchantments were fused with the chains? Elven? Netherese?
Second, you briefly mentioned the Netherese when Jhesri and Gaedynn fought the shadar-aki. Will you be using the Shadovar or their agent in the following novels? Or are the Shadovar exclusively "Paul's material" now?
Third, Gaedynn's last words somehow befuddled me. "What have we don?" Did he feel/ have a hunch that Tchazzar's release will spell doom to the Brotherhood or Chessenta?
Fourth, almost all the eastern lands are at war, will Thay and Aglarond join the fray? |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2010 : 16:50:05
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| Also, I find Brimstone's disappearance in the rest of the chapters rather odd. I mean, as far as I can remember, I have never read a novel where a significant character in the prologue was NOT mentioned at all in the rest of the book. Or, was the vampire who caught Cera and Aoth Brimstone? |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2010 : 21:43:56
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Hi, dennis.
Mostly, I will respectfully decline to answer questions about what's still to come in Books 2 and 3. I don't want to spoil any surprises. But I don't suppose it will do any harm to tell you the Shadovar won't appear. That's not because they're Paul's exclusive property now (or if they are, nobody's told me.) It's because Netheril is a long way off.
To my mind, few things would undermine the perceived reality of a quasi-medieval world more than treating distance like it meant as little as it does in our world. In other words, a citizen of Waterdeep (for example) who'd visited Murghom would be seen as a veritable Marco Polo by his peers. Many residents of Waterdeep would never even have heard of Murghom. Many would never have traveled more than a day's walk from their homes.
Tchazzar had been weakened by the Spellplague when the Sseelrigoth captured him, and Sseelrigoth kept him weak through all the years since by draining his strength on a regular basis. The bonds were infused with some sort of power Shadowfell magic. I honestly didn't bother to work out exactly what would be.
When Aoth and Cera spy on the conclave of dragons in astral form, it is indeed Brimstone they see there.
Gaedynn's final thought in the book does indicate a premonition that Tchazzar's return may not be a wonderful thing for all concerned. Stay tuned to find out if he's right. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2010 : 23:17:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
Hi, dennis.
Tchazzar had been weakened by the Spellplague when the Sseelrigoth captured him, and Sseelrigoth kept him weak through all the years since by draining his strength on a regular basis. The bonds were infused with some sort of power Shadowfell magic. I honestly didn't bother to work out exactly what would be.
Oh, I thought Tchazzar ventured to Threskel BEFORE the SP to save Chessenta from the coming cataclysm. So I excluded SP as one of the possible reasons of his weakened state.
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Every beginning has an end. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2010 : 23:28:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
Hi, dennis.
Gaedynn's final thought in the book does indicate a premonition that Tchazzar's return may not be a wonderful thing for all concerned. Stay tuned to find out if he's right.
Surely I will! And I hope our bookstores will have copies of book 2 on the very same month of its release... =) |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 01 Aug 2010 : 00:04:10
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| In case anyone is wondering, I'll be at Gen Con this year. If you would like to get a book signed, berate me for my sins against literature, or whatever, I'm doing a number of panels in the Writer's Symposium programming track. So that's a good place to hunt me down. |
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Fortem
Acolyte
1 Posts |
Posted - 03 Aug 2010 : 11:10:49
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Not sure if it belongs here but...
Does anyone have a list of the undead creatures mentioned in Undead/Unclean/Unholy. I found it a tad bit difficult to keep my usual pen and paper ready while walking to and from the bus |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 03 Aug 2010 : 14:57:59
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| Well, I can remember vampires, lich(es), an atropal scion, entropic reaper, dream vestige, and ghost off the top of my head (and surely there were some skeleton and zombie mooks in Tam's armies). |
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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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2010 : 23:18:57
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Hi Richard, I re-read The Black Bouquet and have to say again: well done!
Yes ok, there are some minor logical questionmarks but I think it is the best "Rogues"-novel and could also well run as a "Cities"-novel. Anyways, I liked the characters and side characters very much, I liked the description of Oeble, I loved the many details you put in, which create realms- and city-atmosphere and I think this is really a novel that makes one want to pick up character sheet and dice and run a city adventure in Oeble.
No questions, just wanted to shower some praise upon thee! 
I wonder why this book is so seldom mentioned among FR novels...? |
"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2010 : 05:30:21
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Hi, skychrome.
It's nice to hear that the book holds up on a rereading. I had a lot of fun writing that one.
My guess is that the novel is "so seldom mentioned" because it's a standalone and the protagonist never appeared in any other story. It's big, epic stories and recurring characters that loom large in the memories of many fans. I actually had hopes of bringing that particular protagonist back in another novel, but it was not to be. |
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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2010 : 15:36:10
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| Hi Richard, it is a shame it was not meant to be, but that's the way it is. Anyways great novel and I hope to read more from you in this kind of style with detailed descriptions of NPCs, streets, buildings, items, landscapes, scents, sounds etc that really make the difference between realms novels and GOOD realms novels that make one feel being right there. |
"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
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Ruul
Seeker
USA
64 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2010 : 16:17:04
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| Just got a Barnes & Noble update that the Year of the Rogue Dragons omnibus is coming out in October. Love the cover! |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2010 : 22:00:16
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| Hi, Ruul. Thanks for mentioning that. I knew it was due out in October, but I hadn't seen the cover until now. I agree, it looks good. |
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Icelander
Master of Realmslore
1864 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2010 : 02:54:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
To my mind, few things would undermine the perceived reality of a quasi-medieval world more than treating distance like it meant as little as it does in our world. In other words, a citizen of Waterdeep (for example) who'd visited Murghom would be seen as a veritable Marco Polo by his peers. Many residents of Waterdeep would never even have heard of Murghom. Many would never have traveled more than a day's walk from their homes.
To be fair, the Realms are quasi-medieval only in some very superficial aspects. And those aspects which are anything like our world are far more early Renaissance* than anything during the medieval period.
More pertinent to this point, though, is the fact that to a powerful mage (which I understand many Shadovar to be in 3.0e/3.5e and don't expect to have changed much), distance means less than in our world. With divination spells and teleportation available to him, distance is almost irrelevant. There are simply events he is aware of and chooses to get involved in and events which he is either unaware of or ignores.
*For example, plate harness, which the popular imagination links with knights, didn't really exist during the medieval period. It only appeared at the very end at by the time it was at all common, the Renaissance was already in full swing. |
Za uspiekh nashevo beznadiozhnovo diela!
Forgotten Realms fans, please sign a petition to re-release the FR Interactive Atlas
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Edited by - Icelander on 27 Aug 2010 02:54:50 |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2010 : 04:57:19
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Icelander: Naturally, I'm aware of the existence of teleport spells and such. But I don't think it refutes my point. Few people in the Realms command such power, and those who do don't routinely use it to move trade goods or military units around. That means Waterdeep and Murghôm really are isolated from one another in most ways that matter.
Similarly, it might be hard for a mage in Waterdeep to learn very much about Murghôm if divination was his primary source of information. How would he know what questions to ask or what to look at in his crystal ball? Why would he even be interested in Murghôm?
Anyway, if you've read my stuff, you know that I'm not suggesting that nobody knows what's over the next hill. I'm currently writing about characters who live in the East. know a heck of a lot about it, and have some general knowledge of all Faerûn. But I still think that if you write a Realms novel that suggests that distance means as little as it does in our world, you're doing it wrong. You're throwing away one of the elements that makes a world like the Realms interesting to begin with. |
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Icelander
Master of Realmslore
1864 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2010 : 05:57:00
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It is true, Richard, that inhabitants of Waterdeep have little reason to be concerned with Murghôm. And I admit that since I have not read The Captive Flame, I don't know whether the Shadovar should be concerned with Threskel, for example. But this has little to do with distance, per se.
One presumes that powerful priests routinely commune with extraplanar servitors and powerful wizards routinely divine things that are likely to be of interest to them. That is, the focus of their attention is not limited by geographical concerns, but instead with what their magic reveals as being related to their goals and interests.
This particularly applies to the Shadovar, at least in 3e. Anywhere there were Netherese ruins, survivors, descendents with pure blood or just powerful and useful magic to claim, one could expect that they could get involved. Given that their agents would travel either by flight or teleportation, distance is all but irrelevant for them.
Faerûn is honey-combed with gates, as well, which have the effect of making geography far more complex than in our world. To someone who knows about even a few of these gates, a destination 1000 miles away may be more convenient than one 50 miles away. Distance, in that case, is extremely relative.
Finally, I think that the idea that those who had access to magical means of transport would not use it for trade to be somewhat odd. If it is profitable* to travel for almost a year to a distant place, paying mercenaries all that time to guard your goods, it is also profitable to bring goods through gates and/or teleport them. Even with any risks that may be involved in that.**
Which is probably we there are many mentions of the use of gates and teleportation for trade in the Realms in previous Realmslore.
I think that thinking about the Realms as quasi-medieval is doing them a grave disservice. They are a far more cosmopolitan, complex and strange place than our world ever was. To name a few examples of how cosmopolitan, some ladies from Waterdeep travel to the Border Kingdoms at least once a year***, simply for amusement, perishable goods from all around the world are available in many large cities, some of them through a trading house which specialises in teleporting foodstuffs and curiousities to market (Aurora's Whole Realms), and travel is cheap enough to make it profitable to ship such mundane items as drinking mugs several kingdoms.
While the Realms are not our modern world either, the ease of travel and transport ensure that it is less anachronistic for the elite to think in 'modern' terms about a shrinking world where even far events may affect their trading than it is for many people to have an insular, quasi-medieval worldview.
*And it is, from examples such as Dabron Sashestar and his trip to Sossal, Maztica and the existence of the Golden Way to Shou.
**In D&D game rules, they are insignificant compared to the potential profits, but if there is any desire for consistency in the game world, a GM would have to change that in his world.
***If you look at the distances involved, this would have been unthinkable before the 19th century in our world.
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Za uspiekh nashevo beznadiozhnovo diela!
Forgotten Realms fans, please sign a petition to re-release the FR Interactive Atlas
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2010 : 17:52:32
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Icelander, I see the element of truth in what you're saying, although I think it's less true of the post-Spellplague Realms that it was of the era before.
I guess that for me, this largely comes down to a question of what makes for effective storytelling. I think that for a fantasy author, there's a risk in making magic look too common and mundane. You can fail to engage the reader's sense of wonder. I like stories where magic seems miraculous and amazing, and I try to take that approach while still being true to the spirt of the Realms (where I absolutely do recognize that magic is far more common than it might be in a universe of my own creation.)
I might also mention that for a novelist, there's a specific problem with the idea that teleportation magic is as common and easy as hopping on an airplane in our world. If you postulate that and follow through on the logical implications, then why should your characters ever undertake one of those dangerous cross-country treks that are such a staple of fantasy? |
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Icelander
Master of Realmslore
1864 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2010 : 23:20:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
Icelander, I see the element of truth in what you're saying, although I think it's less true of the post-Spellplague Realms that it was of the era before.
That sounds likely enough.
quote:
Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
I guess that for me, this largely comes down to a question of what makes for effective storytelling. I think that for a fantasy author, there's a risk in making magic look too common and mundane. You can fail to engage the reader's sense of wonder. I like stories where magic seems miraculous and amazing, and I try to take that approach while still being true to the spirt of the Realms (where I absolutely do recognize that magic is far more common than it might be in a universe of my own creation.)
That's a pickle, no doubt, but 'common' and 'mundane' need not be in direct conflict. In the Myth Drannor that Elminster visited, for example, magic is ubiquitous, but it is still wondrous.
Not to mention that sometimes, less is more. If we want magic to be rare and mysterious, have the protagonists be someone who could plausibly be unfamiliar with it. And avoid Realms-shaking events, which would logically have movers-and-shakers involved on both sides with titannic magic at their command.
Have the shepherd boy save the inkeeper's daughter from a troll instead of having a cast of genasi, half-golems, dragons and archmages face off for the fate of the world. Again.
quote:
Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
I might also mention that for a novelist, there's a specific problem with the idea that teleportation magic is as common and easy as hopping on an airplane in our world. If you postulate that and follow through on the logical implications, then why should your characters ever undertake one of those dangerous cross-country treks that are such a staple of fantasy?
Sounds like the problem of cell phones with writing a suspense story in the modern world.
Fortunately for Realms-writers, many normal people, faced with normal problems, don't have access to powerful magic. So when you write about them, cross-country treks are not precluded at all.
But when someone like Khelben, Laeral or Alustriel are involved, or even just someone who is expected to face comparable dangers, it usually makes little sense to have them spend tendays to months on trekking to the site of the adventure. It's about as artificial a solution to a perceived problem as having people in a world with cell phones and Internet try to commit suicide* because of something they didn't know and the other party having to travel over a continent instead of, you know, Tweet them?
*Stephanie Meyer, I'm looking at you! You hurt Logic. Hurt him BAD. Why do you hate Logic, Stephanie Meyer? |
Za uspiekh nashevo beznadiozhnovo diela!
Forgotten Realms fans, please sign a petition to re-release the FR Interactive Atlas
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2010 : 00:14:00
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| Icelander, what I'm taking from your posts is that if a writer tries to tell a big story in the Realms, and he doesn't portray extremely powerful magic used as frequently and as easily as it is used in a high-level D&D campaign, then in your opinion, he's not being true to the source material. If that is what you mean, you and I are just going to have to disagree on that one. Although maybe not totally. Again, if you read my stuff, you've seen that I write about lots of powerful magic, teleportation included. I just don't portray like it's as easy as hopping on a bus. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2010 : 11:09:59
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Hi, Richard!
I read your post/good news in the novels section. It's not just good, it's great news! I say WotC made the right decision in offering you to write more awesome novels.
I hope you can answer these:
In the trilogy following Brotherhood of the Griffon, is Aoth still the main protagonist? Are you bringing them back to Thay? |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2010 : 11:27:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
Again, if you read my stuff, you've seen that I write about lots of powerful magic, teleportation included. I just don't portray like it's as easy as hopping on a bus.
And being your fan, I totally agree! If it is just so easy, Szass Tam wouldn't have to wait for decades to overthrow the other zulkirs, would he? (And 'tis only one of the many examples that elucidate your point.)
Anywy, Icelander, I think you should care to read Richard's stuff to really understand his point.
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Every beginning has an end. |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2010 : 15:00:27
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| Hi, dennis. Thanks for your good wishes. The new books will feature characters from the Brotherhood of the Griffon. Unfortunately, that's all I can say about them right now. I'll provide more info when I can. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2010 : 19:39:47
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Thanks, Richard. I really hope you could return to Thay. There's no novel set in Thay after Unholy. Even the ones that are yet to be released. (But maybe Christopher's upcoming book is.)
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Every beginning has an end. |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2010 : 21:06:08
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| Gee, dennis, you really want to make it tough on my poor sellswords. You realize, they're not exactly welcome in Thay. Which is not to say that they may not end up back there eventually. |
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Lord of Bones
Seeker
United Kingdom
78 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2010 : 22:04:00
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Richard, as a long time Realms reader and fan of your works, I can honestly say I'm thrilled that you're writing another series of novels set in Faerun.
Like Dennis, I think that any sojourn the Brotherhood may make to Thay would be wonderful. Obviously I have no idea how far ahead your books are planned, or whether they're already written in their entirety, but if the accord between Lauzoril (who may or may not have died in Unholy) and the Simbul (as written in the Simbul's Gift by Lynn Abbey), could finally be touched upon, you would be making me a very happy reader. I know it's a lot to ask, but there was Thayvian lore started up in that story that was never again mentioned. I think it'd be fantastic to see it finally resolved, and I will even send you a copy of that novel if you were so inclined to heed my request.
Thank you Richard, for so many wonderful stories, and I can't wait for these next ones! |
Come watch the Gentleman's Guide to Gaming!
http://www.youtube.com/user/clackclickbang
On my channel I review and dissect role-playing games with great gusto. Please do take a look and let me know what you think. |
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Questions for Richard Lee Byers
