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fmacdonald
Acolyte
Canada
33 Posts |
 Posted - 05 Oct 2006 : 22:13:02
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I was just wondering whether or not the pool of radiance, pool of darkness, pool of twilight series was worth reading. I am very hesitant to read anything based on a computer game, but I found a copy of pool of radiance for $0.35 in the cheap rack at a used book store, it was in decent condition, so for the sake of completeness, I bought it.
I loved the baldur's gate games, but I am wondering if the books would be worth my time.
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2006 : 22:18:28
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Your going to get mixed reviews on both. I liked the Pools trilogy but not the fourth one because the original trilogy didn't have that many issues between the computer game and the module. The fourth book, was eh.
The BG's novels are alright. But as most will say, they are no where near what the games are like. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
Edited by - Kuje on 05 Oct 2006 22:18:45 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31777 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2006 : 01:30:58
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I've never really been a fan of the Pools trilogy (or the fourth book -- Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor). I think that, part of the reason why I feel this way, is because I've only ever read them all once, so any particular opinions I have on the books themselves stems from my reading them oh, so long ago. Perhaps, if I re-read them today, my opinions may change...
That being said, I did enjoy Pool of Radiance moreso than the other two books in the trilogy -- but then, that's probably because I liked the character of Shal Bal (even though I developed a strong tendency to call her "Shalla Bal").
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2006 : 01:42:46
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
-- but then, that's probably because I liked the character of Shal Bal (even though I developed a strong tendency to call her "Shalla Bal").
I know . . . I kept waiting for someone named Norin to show up . . . and I caught myself making that mental slip often when reading her name.
I had a hard time with the first book when Tyranthraxus mentioned that his host body was lawful good . . . just broke the "fourth wall" for me and made it hard to get into. |
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Beirnadri Magranth
Senior Scribe
USA
720 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2006 : 04:15:42
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| I thought the Baldur's Gate one book was alright. It's a very light read and I've been told by friends that tend to powergame rather than Roleplay that it was interesting to see plot connections that you missed in the games. |
"You came here to be a martyr in a great big bang of glory... instead you will die with a whimper."
::moussaoui tries to interrupt::
"You will never get a chance to speak again and that's an appropriate ending."
-Judge Brinkema |
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Kalin Agrivar
Senior Scribe
Canada
956 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2006 : 14:18:00
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I agree with everyone's assessment of the 2nd and 3rd Pools novels (and that 4th "sequel") but I think the first novel ( Pools of Radiance ) deserves mention
IMHO except for possibly The Crystal Shard there is no other Realms novel that comes as close as Pools of Radiance in depicting what it is like to role play an adventure in D&D...how the heroes meet, how their adventures get harder and more advanced as the story evolves, dividing treasure, being big heroes in the end, etc. The hero’s classes are obvious and accurate and there is even "in-story" explanation of dual-classing
I have lent my copy (which is really beat up now  ) to over a dozen friends I was teaching/training how to role play and play D&D
Pools of Radiance is not the best written Realms novel nor the most complicated...but it may have the best grasp on the RPG experience in the Realms...
P.S. and before anyone says "of course it does, it is based of a video game" that really doesn't hold water...
if you have the Pools of Radiance module, played that ancient video game then you know the novel follows the "rail" of the adventure but that is about it...the three characters are totally original to the novel and if you look at the RPG Forgotten Realms materials the heroes (and what they accomplished) are either never really mentioned or are just referred to as just "nameless heroes"
I wish the Baldure's Gate series would have been as "rich" as Pools of Radiance
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Kalin Xorell El'Agrivar
- High Mage of the Arcane Assembly
- Lore Keeper of the Vault of Ancestors
- 3rd Son of the Lord of the Stand |
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fmacdonald
Acolyte
Canada
33 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2006 : 20:21:31
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| Thanks for the insight, I'll pick up the first two as well. |
www.myspace.com/deathsheadmusic - If you have a myspace account and are into this "heavy metal" and "punk rock" thing the kids are listening to now, check out my band. |
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maransreth
Learned Scribe
Australia
157 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2006 : 22:41:41
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I definitely would NOT recommend Baldur's Gate, at least the first novel. I never read the second one. I think Philip Athans should keep working as an editor, instead of a writer was my initial impression.
When Athans wrote one of the novels for the City of the Spider Queen novels I was very hesitant about it, and was fair with the novel. I have also read the first novel of his trilogy and am unsure if I want to get the rest. |
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Beirnadri Magranth
Senior Scribe
USA
720 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2006 : 04:22:15
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Athan's book in the war of the spider queen series was on of my favorites.
i liked the simplicity in writing style of bgI because that was the feel of the game. The plot was very local and refreshingly non-Realms-shaking. |
"You came here to be a martyr in a great big bang of glory... instead you will die with a whimper."
::moussaoui tries to interrupt::
"You will never get a chance to speak again and that's an appropriate ending."
-Judge Brinkema |
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Dart Ambermoon
Learned Scribe
Germany
253 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2006 : 04:48:44
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| I liked the "old-school"-feel to the Pools-Trilogy (discounting the 4th one here). And the basic plot idea of Pool of Darkness? Pure Gold... |
~ In Finder I trust, for danger I lust ~ |
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Pool of ... and baldur's gate Series
