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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Dec 2005 : 07:08:11
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I was reading all of the novels as they came out, for a long time (except for the Maztica trilogy). A couple of years ago, I got bored with Realms fiction, and became very selective with the Realms novels I bought. Now I'm having to go back and try to track down the ones I missed...  |
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J D Dunsany
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
180 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2005 : 18:31:36
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quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
Yeah, its funny you mention that Sage. I know now I look at all the FR books out and think about how I will fit them all in, and back them I remember reading Darkwalker on Moonshae and The Crystal Shard and wondering when another book would finally come out. And trust me, reading the old Greyhawk novels was not really a consolation . . .
I have picked up some of the old Greyhawk novels - Gary Gygax's 'Saga of Old City' is looking plaintively at me as I write - but haven't actually read them yet. Are you saying I shouldn't bother?
This leads me on to another (admittedly off-)topic. I've been buying Eberron novels (it's kind of an impulse thing really as I don't even possess the official campaign setting) and was wondering which one I should start with. (Of course, it may well not matter...) Any Eberron reader out there who can give me a pointer?
Moving back on topic, though, I'm enjoying 'Master of Chains' quite a lot. (Approximately 80 pages in and they seem to have flown by.) The cover artwork is terribly impressive, too.
Love,
JDD |
"How content that young woman looks, don't you think? How content, and yet how flammable." - Lemony Snicket, The Unauthorized Autobiography |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2005 : 18:55:22
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Oh, I'll not disuade anyone from reading anything that might catch their fancy, but your desire to read it might be affected by wheather you mind people being referred to by their old first edition title/level names (so that you know what level they are), and if you can deal with a bugbear using the phrase, "tough turds."
I know I don't expect bugbears to give Shakespearean soliliquies, but I guess that phrase really made me stop and think, "Why am I reading this instead of rereading Tolkien?" |
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DragonReader
Senior Scribe
USA
371 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2005 : 19:25:06
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quote:
Originally posted by J D Dunsany
This leads me on to another (admittedly off-)topic. I've been buying Eberron novels (it's kind of an impulse thing really as I don't even possess the official campaign setting) and was wondering which one I should start with. (Of course, it may well not matter...) Any Eberron reader out there who can give me a pointer?
Admittedly I have only read 2 Eberron novels so far but I would highly recommend both.
The Orb of Xoriat (By Edward Bolme) is a stand-alone novel so you can read it at anytime.
The Binding Stone (By Don Bassingthwaite) is the first book in the Dragon Below trilogy (the second will be out in March 2006).
Neither book requires much background in Eberron. I am not a gamer so I also do not own the campaign setting but found I could understand them quite well. You can also read up on a little Eberron history online and that will be more than enough.
Back on topic. I am way behind in reading FR novels. I have only read about 40 (mostly RAS and Elaine Cunningham) but have about 10 more on my shelf and will soon be reading Paul Kemp's Ervis Cale trilogy. |
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J D Dunsany
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
180 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2005 : 21:35:01
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Thanks, DragonReader. Your advice is much appreciated. Approaching a new setting can be a bit daunting, so it's nice to know that the Eberron guys have made it a bit easier for me. I think I'll start with 'Orb of Xoriat'. I have this weird thing where (generally) I won't start reading a trilogy until I know I have all three books safely tucked away in the cupboard. (For that reason, I haven't even started the Erevis Cale trilogy yet, although it's fairly high up on my 'to read' list - 'Shadow's Witness' was very well-written - and there are some terribly effective (not to mention terrifying) moments in the first chapter or so that had the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.)
Oh, and, KnightErrantJR, your last post made me laugh... I think I see where you're coming from with that previous comment. At least 'tough turds' has a certain alliterative quality, but the phrase as a whole tends to... well, 'reek' a bit, I suppose. :)
Thanks again!
JDD |
"How content that young woman looks, don't you think? How content, and yet how flammable." - Lemony Snicket, The Unauthorized Autobiography |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
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J D Dunsany
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
180 Posts |
Posted - 07 Dec 2005 : 00:07:10
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Apologies, Sage. I'll try to keep on-topic in future!
Speaking of which, I'm really enjoying 'Master of Chains'. Feeling sorry for Ryder right about now (page 157 for those keeping count) and Liam's not faring much better.
Think I'll sneak along to the 'Master of Chains' thread and do a bit of posting there... |
"How content that young woman looks, don't you think? How content, and yet how flammable." - Lemony Snicket, The Unauthorized Autobiography |
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Beezy
Learned Scribe
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 08 Dec 2005 : 00:08:58
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| I have been sick since Thanksgiving so I managed to finish Shadow's Witness, and then read The Shadow Stone, The Shattered Mask, and alittle over half of Black Wolf. The Sembia books are all really good so far, Shadow's Witness was really good and Black Wolf so far is just as good. The Shattered Mask wasn't bad but not quite as good as these other two. |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 10 Dec 2005 : 01:09:57
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| Honestly, Shattered Mask was one of my favorites in the Sembia series. |
"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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Beezy
Learned Scribe
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2005 : 07:13:09
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| Shattered Mask was really good, I just like book 2 and 4 better so far. Shattered Mask did not center on Lady Uskevern as much as I thought it would because it was mroe about Thamalon and her together but you did find out alot of her histroy and it was really interesting. I mainly disliked the villian but I won't get much more into it to avoid spoilers. I just got started on book 5 this morning. So far the Sembia series has been excellent. I am trying to finish up the Sembia series before christmas because I am probally getting a bunch of FR novels for christmas because I didn't know what else to put on my list. |
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J D Dunsany
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
180 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2005 : 15:30:57
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Yes, I'd agree with the comments about Shattered Mask. What was quite fun about it was how Thamalon and Shamur's relationship was transformed during the course of the novel. The ending was pretty impressive too with the shaking bridge. I love unusual settings for battles and that one's pretty ingenious.
But, the best of the Sembia novels for me was 'Black Wolf'. |
"How content that young woman looks, don't you think? How content, and yet how flammable." - Lemony Snicket, The Unauthorized Autobiography |
Edited by - J D Dunsany on 11 Dec 2005 17:03:22 |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2005 : 18:17:09
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| *grins* I actually thought the villain in Shattered Mask was pretty well done (even memorable). The villain in this series that I really hated (in a bad way) was Ciredor from Tazi's book. Ugh! |
"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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J D Dunsany
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
180 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2005 : 19:36:22
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| The one minor gripe I suppose I could have is the number of nefarious wizards who pop up in the series. There are rather a lot of them! |
"How content that young woman looks, don't you think? How content, and yet how flammable." - Lemony Snicket, The Unauthorized Autobiography |
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Beezy
Learned Scribe
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2005 : 23:16:57
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| Did the villian from the shattered Mask ever succesfully kill anyone? They made him out to be so powerful and then he never accomplished anything if I remember right. I didn't liek his familair either |
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J D Dunsany
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
180 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2005 : 23:35:23
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| Didn't he kill the Uskevren family mage? It was during one of Talbot's performances at the theatre, iirc. (But it's been a while since I've read it!) |
"How content that young woman looks, don't you think? How content, and yet how flammable." - Lemony Snicket, The Unauthorized Autobiography |
Edited by - J D Dunsany on 11 Dec 2005 23:36:21 |
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J D Dunsany
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
180 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2005 : 23:47:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
*grins* I actually thought the villain in Shattered Mask was pretty well done (even memorable). The villain in this series that I really hated (in a bad way) was Ciredor from Tazi's book. Ugh!
You see, I get Ciredor confused with the guy from Heirs of Prophecy. What was it about him you didn't like exactly? He comes across as a bit of a lech, I suppose, but then so does the wizard from Heirs... (Nice use of the thorns on the staff though, to be fair.)
Ciredor's devotion to [spoiler] made sense up to a point. I particularly liked the way that this all tied in with the general plot of the book. Once you find out his allegiance, it all makes sense.
Of the two villains, though, I'd have to say the wizard from Heirs... is by far the most pathetic. Particularly at the end!
Yours,
JDD |
"How content that young woman looks, don't you think? How content, and yet how flammable." - Lemony Snicket, The Unauthorized Autobiography |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 12 Dec 2005 : 01:12:58
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| The thing about Ciredor I really didn't like was his tendency to spout exposition at regular intervals. It made him seem a bit too self-aborbed to me. |
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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Beezy
Learned Scribe
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 12 Dec 2005 : 07:29:04
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I am only about 50 pages into Heirs so far, so I have not had the pleasure/displeasure of hating the villain yet. He was just re-introduced right before I had to set the book down, I have finals on Tuesday I should be preparing for instead.
I guess the main thing I disliked about the wizard villian in the shattered mask is he did not really use any combat magic to try and kill anyone, excluding the Uskevern mage. He would summon a few things and go hide out, and all the creatures he summoned seemed to be easily dispatched. Behirs getting killed in one shot my Shamur etc. He just seemed to weak or incompetent. |
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J D Dunsany
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
180 Posts |
Posted - 12 Dec 2005 : 18:27:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
The thing about Ciredor I really didn't like was his tendency to spout exposition at regular intervals. It made him seem a bit too self-aborbed to me.
Fair enough. But then that does seem to be a common character flaw with wizards - probably because their education makes them arrogant and they want to show off all the time.
As I've already mentioned, I actually quite liked Ciredor's 'plan' - it was clever and made sense (up to a point) and was also, as far as I can recall, quite satisfyingly unpleasant - if that's not a contradiction in terms. There was a real visceral (I'm using that word too much today, but then I have started Macbeth with my year 9s) threat to Tazi and her friends - this is the book that starts off with a particularly horrible murder of one of Tazi's elven acquaintances iirc.
All this talk is making me want to reread these books. Does anybody do that, btw? I'm concentrating so much on getting through the great piles of unread FR novels in the cupboard, but do people on this list reread their FR books and, if so, why and which?
Yours wonderingly,
JDD |
"How content that young woman looks, don't you think? How content, and yet how flammable." - Lemony Snicket, The Unauthorized Autobiography |
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J D Dunsany
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
180 Posts |
Posted - 12 Dec 2005 : 18:58:13
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quote:
Originally posted by Beezy
I am only about 50 pages into Heirs so far, so I have not had the pleasure/displeasure of hating the villain yet. He was just re-introduced right before I had to set the book down, I have finals on Tuesday I should be preparing for instead.
I guess the main thing I disliked about the wizard villian in the shattered mask is he did not really use any combat magic to try and kill anyone, excluding the Uskevern mage. He would summon a few things and go hide out, and all the creatures he summoned seemed to be easily dispatched. Behirs getting killed in one shot my Shamur etc. He just seemed to weak or incompetent.
Good luck with your finals on Tuesday, Beezy. I'm up to my eyes in marking tests right now. (Or at least I should be... ) Plus I've got a parents' evening on Wednesday, so I know life can be a tad hectic sometimes.
I take your point about the mage from Shattered Mask (a Tallender, wasn't he? Or did I make that up?) - if RLB had had him use combat at the end, though, you can bet some fan or other would have had a go at him for being unoriginal. Behirs are meant to be reasonably tough though, aren't they? (I really will have to reread this series!)
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"How content that young woman looks, don't you think? How content, and yet how flammable." - Lemony Snicket, The Unauthorized Autobiography |
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Beezy
Learned Scribe
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 13 Dec 2005 : 00:35:49
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I don't play the campaign but from what i understand behirs ares suppose to be fairly tough, not something that can be easily killed with one melee blow.
I used to read my novels multiple times when I was younger and had no means to purchase new ones. I read Spellfire three times, and then Finders stone trilogy, Icewind Dale trilogy, The dark elf trilogy, and legacy and starless night all twice. But now I have such a huge stack of unread novels that I read the new material. I have like 20 novels left to finish all the paperback FR releases and I will probally read some of them over again that I read like ten years ago, like the avatar trilogy, pools trilogy, and I don't remember much of the twilight giants so probally that too. |
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Thelonius
Senior Scribe
Spain
730 Posts |
Posted - 15 Dec 2005 : 20:43:50
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Just finished reading The Dream Spheres, and I must say I've found it the most interesting Songs and Swords novel (maybe only bested by Elfshadow). The mixing of Bronwyn and Ebenezer in the plot, though they are no important chars here, makes it more interesting, the face off between her and Elaith is a interesting part of the history. The details of the advancement between Danilo and Arilyn's is very interesting because the new aspects of them both shown there. And awesome novel, indeed.
The Summoning is waiting. |
"If you are to truly understand, then you will need the contrast, not adherence to a single ideal." - Kreia
"I THINK I JUST HAD ANOTHER NEAR-RINCEWIND EXPERIENCE"- Discworld's Death frustrated after Rincewind scapes his grasp... again.
"I am death, come for thee" - Nimbul, from Baldur's Gate I just before being badly spanked
Sapientia sola libertas est |
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Beezy
Learned Scribe
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 15 Dec 2005 : 21:21:07
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| I need to read the Songs and swords series again before the release of the next book. It has been many years since I last read them and I need to refresh my memory and they are great novels |
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Thelonius
Senior Scribe
Spain
730 Posts |
Posted - 15 Dec 2005 : 21:52:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Beezy
I need to read the Songs and swords series again before the release of the next book. It has been many years since I last read them and I need to refresh my memory and they are great novels
In fact I am gonna read them again as soon as a finish reading The Summoning. Only the novel Daughter of the Drow has hooked me so strongly. Elaine Cunnigham has a very personal and really beautiful way of writing, thing that I am sure I am not the only one to notice... |
"If you are to truly understand, then you will need the contrast, not adherence to a single ideal." - Kreia
"I THINK I JUST HAD ANOTHER NEAR-RINCEWIND EXPERIENCE"- Discworld's Death frustrated after Rincewind scapes his grasp... again.
"I am death, come for thee" - Nimbul, from Baldur's Gate I just before being badly spanked
Sapientia sola libertas est |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 17 Dec 2005 : 21:34:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
The thing about Ciredor I really didn't like was his tendency to spout exposition at regular intervals. It made him seem a bit too self-aborbed to me.
That's exactly what I disliked about him. Having him talk about his plans to himself seemed REALLY corny to me, and a clumsy way of imparting information to the reader. And overall, he struck me as kind of an idiot. |
"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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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 18 Dec 2005 : 00:19:53
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| I was looking over my 2 book cases, full of forgotten realms novels, including some of the not so great ones. I am down about 8 books, funny how marriage, 2 kids, and work all play into things and limit the reading time. Ever since I first picked up spellfire back in I think 1988, I have been hooked and on a mission to gather all of the realms lore that I can. |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 18 Dec 2005 : 02:33:01
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| Heck, work alone greatly limits time. I love finally having a full-time job, but I can no longer plow through novels like I used to. |
"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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Beezy
Learned Scribe
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 18 Dec 2005 : 07:42:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
The thing about Ciredor I really didn't like was his tendency to spout exposition at regular intervals. It made him seem a bit too self-aborbed to me.
That's exactly what I disliked about him. Having him talk about his plans to himself seemed REALLY corny to me, and a clumsy way of imparting information to the reader. And overall, he struck me as kind of an idiot.
I am anout a third of the way through this novel so far and I see what you mean. The way he talks to himself reminds me of some cartoons when the villians talk to themselves to explain thier plan to the audience |
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Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
Posted - 18 Dec 2005 : 13:34:56
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Well against all advice, I went to read Sword Play (Netheril Trilogy #1). Started off quick good but seemed to cop-out and head into the planes for the most part (quite a good scene, even so).
I was disappointed in not seeing more of Netheril, especially the enclaves, but i'm hoping that this changes for the next book. |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 18 Dec 2005 : 21:20:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Beezy
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
The thing about Ciredor I really didn't like was his tendency to spout exposition at regular intervals. It made him seem a bit too self-aborbed to me.
That's exactly what I disliked about him. Having him talk about his plans to himself seemed REALLY corny to me, and a clumsy way of imparting information to the reader. And overall, he struck me as kind of an idiot.
I am anout a third of the way through this novel so far and I see what you mean. The way he talks to himself reminds me of some cartoons when the villians talk to themselves to explain thier plan to the audience
 Yeah, or they explain it to their minions, who would presumably already know the plan. That may be acceptable in a cartoon meant for little kids, but I expect better from an FR author who is writing a serious story. |
"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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How up to date are you with reading FR novels?
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