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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Aug 2007 : 08:24:15
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Done with Promise of the Witch-King.... Salvatore however has his little own Realms in some minor ways!
......and on we go with Sellswords III - Road of the Patriach.
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"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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J D Dunsany
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
180 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2007 : 11:11:08
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Finished 'Hand of Fire', while on holiday. While it's a more focused read than 'Crown...', I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed by the ending, while, at the same time, recognising that it was probably the most acceptable way to end the Spellfire series as far as Shandril's impact on the rest of Faerun is concerned. Ah, well...
'Realms of the Elves' up next. |
"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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Theophilus
Learned Scribe
Australia
143 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2007 : 11:44:13
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Well, I've only got back into RP'ing this year after a 13+ year break (and even then I had only read very few FR novels, mostly DL) and I've recently finished "Red Magic" and "Unclean". Sort of matched them by general topic and found the contrast interesting.
Nowhere near most of the titles you guys are talking about though - will catch up eventually though :) |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2007 : 23:32:18
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quote:
Originally posted by J D Dunsany
Finished 'Hand of Fire', while on holiday. While it's a more focused read than 'Crown...', I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed by the ending, while, at the same time, recognising that it was probably the most acceptable way to end the Spellfire series as far as Shandril's impact on the rest of Faerun is concerned. Ah, well...
See, I really liked the ending (I too felt it fitting), and didn't care for the "meat" of the story. I just felt the book was, overall, too repetitive. |
"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 - 21 Aug 2007 : 11:05:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by J D Dunsany
Finished 'Hand of Fire', while on holiday. While it's a more focused read than 'Crown...', I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed by the ending, while, at the same time, recognising that it was probably the most acceptable way to end the Spellfire series as far as Shandril's impact on the rest of Faerun is concerned. Ah, well...
See, I really liked the ending (I too felt it fitting), and didn't care for the "meat" of the story. I just felt the book was, overall, too repetitive.
Mild SPOILER warning...
Yes, I'd agree with you, although I do think confining most of the action to the caravan at least keeps the focus fairly tight. I guess that's probably why I found it a more satisfying read than 'Crown...' As to the ending, well, it seemed to me that it reduced not just this novel but the whole series to the status of a rather long, albeit entertaining, 'shaggy dog' story. There are some wonderful cameos from characters like Khelben, Alustriel, Mirt etc, but I was left a little deflated at the end. As you say, it is 'fitting' in one sense, but, imho, too downbeat in tone to round off a trilogy in which the reader has invested so much time. And there's nothing really 'upbeat' to offset it either. Not, I should hasten to add, that there's anything intrinsically wrong in that, but Shandril and Narm are such well-realised characters, it just seems a shame that their story ends the way it does.
Right-o. Back to work.
Bye for now!
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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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2007 : 06:16:40
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OK, I was in the local book store yesterday. I am getting way behind in my novels. I did pick up road of the patriarch and the 2nd and 3rd books of the year of rogue dragons trilogy. Lots of others to choose from One thing I did notice, is the art has changed dramatically, from the TSR days. Some excellent, others not so much |
Edited by - scererar on 28 Aug 2007 06:18:51 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2007 : 06:36:34
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yes, the cover Art. differing from a mage's use of "the Art" which has also changed a bit over the years |
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Xysma
Master of Realmslore
USA
1089 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2007 : 18:54:36
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| Speaking of cover art, I am looking at All Shadows Fled and it is IMO just awful. Look closely, it's James Spader with bad hair, an eyepatch, and acid washed jeans (I'm not kidding, go look). Anyway, that's what I am reading now. Great book, horrible cover, but an excellent book. |
War to slay, not to fight long and glorious.
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2007 : 22:55:29
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So today, I show up at the friendly neighborhood Borders to get my copies of Shadowstorm and Storm of the Dead. I find Storm of the Dead right in the Forgotten Realms section of the fantasy books, but I don't see Shadowstorm.
My first thought is that maybe the release date was changed. After all, I thought it was a bit odd that two major trilogies would both come out with their second installments on the same day. So I go to the information counter, and ask one of the friendly associates.
She looks it up, and confirms that Shadowstorm did indeed come out this week, and that they got five copies of it in, and they should all still be in the store. Hm . . .
So we look in the FR isle, the Fantasy/Sci Fi general area under "K," and on the "New Releases" table for paperbacks. Finally, she says she has no idea where the five copies of the book are. Bother. Oddly enough, they got five copies of Shadowstorm, but about 10 copies of Storm of the Dead.
Ah well. She is going to give me a call if they ever manage to find the books. When she asked if I knew what the book looked like, I said "its got a big old picture of Mephistophiles on the cover," to which she simply said, "oh, pretty."
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2007 : 00:08:16
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J.D. Dunsany: Perfectly well-put. By the way, I do recommend the Knights of Myth Drannor books if you haven't read them yet.
Picked up Shadowstorm and Storm of the Dead today--I decided I'm going to read Shadowstorm first. |
"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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Renzokuken
Acolyte
USA
38 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2007 : 00:58:48
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
J.D. Dunsany: Perfectly well-put. By the way, I do recommend the Knights of Myth Drannor books if you haven't read them yet.
Picked up Shadowstorm and Storm of the Dead today--I decided I'm going to read Shadowstorm first.
Good choice!  |
Currently reading: Dark Elf Trilogy (FR) |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2007 : 01:35:43
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No kidding! |
"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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initiate
Learned Scribe
Canada
102 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2007 : 05:08:36
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin Wrote:
Picked up Shadowstorm and Storm of the Dead today. I've decided I'm going to read Shadowstorm first.
I am deeply envious! I probably won't see either of these tomes for a couple months yet. I'm getting "Dragonfire" from the library; [now that I'm becoming so fond of Ed's newer writing I shall almost certainly buy "The Sword Never Sleeps"], but shall have to wait months for these two middle volumes. Looking forward to both of them very much. I'll most likely cave in and tune in to some spoilers for "Storm of the Dead", which I consider a more "event driven" read. "Shadowstorm", though, that I shall save for a time when I can savour every page..
Anyway, I'm very behind in my novel reading, as I've been devouring a lot of nonrealms material. My next Realms book will be "Swords of Dragonfire", sometime next month.
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2007 : 17:55:09
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quote:
Originally posted by initiate
I am deeply envious! I probably won't see either of these tomes for a couple months yet.
Come on, pick up Shadowstorm and read it. You know you want 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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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5699 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2007 : 17:56:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by initiate
I am deeply envious! I probably won't see either of these tomes for a couple months yet.
Come on, pick up Shadowstorm and read it. You know you want to...
Well met
Aye, and ye pick up thy quill and head to Book Club scrolls yonder, my dear Rinonalyrna |
Alaundo
Candlekeep Forums Head Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
An Introduction to Candlekeep - by Ed Greenwood
The Candlekeep Compendium - Tomes of Realmslore penned by Scribes of Candlekeep
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2007 : 17:58:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by initiate
I am deeply envious! I probably won't see either of these tomes for a couple months yet.
Come on, pick up Shadowstorm and read it. You know you want to...
Well met
Aye, and ye pick up thy quill and head to Book Club scrolls yonder, my dear Rinonalyrna
*grins* Will do, Alaundo, will do. I just want to read a bit more first before telling everyone my opinion. |
"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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Theophilus
Learned Scribe
Australia
143 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2007 : 11:29:05
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| Just finished "Pools of Darkness" and "The Night Parade". Enjoyed "The Night Parade" which I found to be a gritty, emotional, dark novel. "Pools of Darkness" was one of the worst FR novels I've read to date. Anyone have any thoughts on these novels? |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2007 : 13:24:10
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quote:
Originally posted by Theophilus
Just finished "Pools of Darkness" and "The Night Parade". Enjoyed "The Night Parade" which I found to be a gritty, emotional, dark novel. "Pools of Darkness" was one of the worst FR novels I've read to date. Anyone have any thoughts on these novels?
The Night Parade is my favorite non- Greenwood realms-book and the one that defined Calimport for me personally. I have nothing bad to say about that book.
As for Pools of Darkness; I stopped that series after Pool of Radiance, which I did not like. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36968 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2007 : 14:20:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Theophilus
Just finished "Pools of Darkness" and "The Night Parade". Enjoyed "The Night Parade" which I found to be a gritty, emotional, dark novel. "Pools of Darkness" was one of the worst FR novels I've read to date. Anyone have any thoughts on these novels?
I enjoyed both books when they came out... But, as I read more Realms novels, my liking of those books began to seriously diminish. I've not read either in years. And the first two Pools novels are the reason I've never read the third one. In fact, my dislike of the novels has extended out to the city they were set in: I now can't stand the city of Phlan, because it reminds me of the books. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2007 : 16:22:15
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| I also read both when they were first released. I enjoyed them both. |
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Theophilus
Learned Scribe
Australia
143 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2007 : 10:59:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Theophilus
Just finished "Pools of Darkness" and "The Night Parade". Enjoyed "The Night Parade" which I found to be a gritty, emotional, dark novel. "Pools of Darkness" was one of the worst FR novels I've read to date. Anyone have any thoughts on these novels?
I enjoyed both books when they came out... But, as I read more Realms novels, my liking of those books began to seriously diminish. I've not read either in years. And the first two Pools novels are the reason I've never read the third one. In fact, my dislike of the novels has extended out to the city they were set in: I now can't stand the city of Phlan, because it reminds me of the books.
Well I can understand how you feel but I wouldn't give up on Phlan - it has a lot of potential in its location. I'm going to muster my courage and read "Pool of Twilight" - I can't imagine how it could be worse...can you actually get a worse character than a skeleton warrior called Captain Brittle??? |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2007 : 17:01:34
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| You could get an over protective tiger familiar that can change into a wild barbarian, with a large sword. They are good novels for their time in the realms. Remember, these were written a ways back and the writing style and feel of realms novels has changed a lot over the last 20 + years. |
Edited by - scererar on 02 Sep 2007 17:03:35 |
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Theophilus
Learned Scribe
Australia
143 Posts |
Posted - 03 Sep 2007 : 09:50:22
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quote:
Originally posted by scererar
You could get an over protective tiger familiar that can change into a wild barbarian, with a large sword. They are good novels for their time in the realms. Remember, these were written a ways back and the writing style and feel of realms novels has changed a lot over the last 20 + years.
I've only read the really old FR novels (aside from "Unclean") so I'll take your word for it. And I'm not fond of giant cats anyway (sorry Drizzt fans!) |
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Theophilus
Learned Scribe
Australia
143 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2007 : 10:21:30
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Well I'm still reading :) Just finished "The Ring of Winter" and "Night Masks". I thought "The Ring of Winter" was a reasonable novel - typical quest plot, entertaining characters, setting. Lugg and Byrt were interesting :)
"Night Masks" - I didn't really enjoy this novel, which followed on from my mild dissapointment with the first 2 instalments in that series. My main beef with the novel/series is the guaranteed success of the good characters despite any odds...sort of like Salvatore's main character. |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2007 : 16:59:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Theophilus
Well I'm still reading :) Just finished "The Ring of Winter" and "Night Masks". I thought "The Ring of Winter" was a reasonable novel - typical quest plot, entertaining characters, setting. Lugg and Byrt were interesting :)
I especially liked the jungle setting. :) Jungles are beautiful but dangerous places, and underused as novel settings.
quote:
"Night Masks" - I didn't really enjoy this novel, which followed on from my mild dissapointment with the first 2 instalments in that series. My main beef with the novel/series is the guaranteed success of the good characters despite any odds...sort of like Salvatore's main character.
Overall, I did not enjoy the Cleric Quintet as a series. Too much focus on combat over dialogue, and yes, as certain overpowered main character. |
"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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Theophilus
Learned Scribe
Australia
143 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2007 : 11:43:02
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quote:
"Night Masks" - I didn't really enjoy this novel, which followed on from my mild dissapointment with the first 2 instalments in that series. My main beef with the novel/series is the guaranteed success of the good characters despite any odds...sort of like Salvatore's main character.
quote:
Overall, I did not enjoy the Cleric Quintet as a series. Too much focus on combat over dialogue, and yes, as certain overpowered main character.
Did you get a feeling that the series was possibly representative of the author's own spiritual experience? Perhaps its reading too much into the novel but I saw alot of Christian imagery/ideas in this series - eg. Cadderly walking on the lake, Cadderly's growing realisation of his faith through experience, guilt/justice themes, even "Castle Trinity" as his final destination, the fall of Rufo etc - any thoughts? |
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sirreus
Learned Scribe
USA
118 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2007 : 14:45:46
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great thought. i noticed that many times. i never have a problem with well written battle scenes. the imagery was great.  |
"The measure of an undisciplined mind, is that the intellect allows emotion to challenge the observed truth" Richard Baker |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2007 : 18:53:13
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quote:
Originally posted by Theophilus
Did you get a feeling that the series was possibly representative of the author's own spiritual experience? Perhaps its reading too much into the novel but I saw alot of Christian imagery/ideas in this series - eg. Cadderly walking on the lake, Cadderly's growing realisation of his faith through experience, guilt/justice themes, even "Castle Trinity" as his final destination, the fall of Rufo etc - any thoughts?
What you suggest is possible. It's funny--I was raised Christian in a mainly Christian country, yet I didn't immediately think of the Christian God when I learned about "Castle Trinity" (hard to believe, isn't it?). However, Cadderly does start off as agnostic (sort of), and gradually becomes more religious. I thought it was silly, though, how quickly he comes into immense power (as you mentioned before) and how Rufo seems to be the punching bag of the series, and there just to make Cadderly look better. I thought it was interesting how the supposed "heroes" often treated Rufo--certainly not in a very "Christian" or even goodly manner (making fun of him, punching him--and this was before he fell). |
"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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Theophilus
Learned Scribe
Australia
143 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2007 : 10:00:55
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quote:
What you suggest is possible. It's funny--I was raised Christian in a mainly Christian country, yet I didn't immediately think of the Christian God when I learned about "Castle Trinity" (hard to believe, isn't it?). However, Cadderly does start off as agnostic (sort of), and gradually becomes more religious. I thought it was silly, though, how quickly he comes into immense power (as you mentioned before) and how Rufo seems to be the punching bag of the series, and there just to make Cadderly look better. I thought it was interesting how the supposed "heroes" often treated Rufo--certainly not in a very "Christian" or even goodly manner (making fun of him, punching him--and this was before he fell).
Thanks - some really good points there - I'll read the rest of the series and see if I still have that feeling about the series - I wonder if anyone has asked the author about this before? (Its probably totally reading too much into the series though!) |
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How up to date are you with reading FR novels?
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