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old man
Acolyte
6 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Oct 2006 : 23:59:35
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I picked it up last night, and finished this morning (I had the day off.) Anyone want to talk about it yet?
Mod Edit: Added the spoiler tag.
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Edited by - Kuje on 26 Oct 2006 00:06:53
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hammer of Moradin
Senior Scribe
USA
758 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2006 : 08:50:06
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The transition at the end was different. I didn't expect that turn of location and events. I did not expect any major character changes from Entreri, however I like that he is a bit more introspective.
Jarlaxle is a good character in that he always gives you what you want from him - the unexpected.
I'm surprised to say that I even liked Athrogate since it makes him out to be more than just a crazed dwarf. He now has some background that doesn't answer all of the questions about him, but it does develop the character more. Now, if he would only get rid of that Bwahahahahahahahahahaha! |
"Hurling himself upon his enemies, he terrified them with slaughter!"
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium
Candlekeep proverb: If a thing is said often enough, fools aplenty will believe it to be true. |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2006 : 21:11:33
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| I'll probably pick this book up soon, but I am NOT looking forward to reading those "bwahahas"... |
"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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Eremite
Learned Scribe
Singapore
182 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 09:54:41
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I didn't enjoy this one, I have to admit. I read it over the course of a single day but the plot was terribly laboured, like a badly-written D&D adventure where the DM realises that he has screwed up but desperately tries to keep it working but ultimately does not succeed. "Contrived" and "illogical" are two other words that spring to mind.
Athrogate reminds me of the ewoks in Return of the Jedi and the gungans in The Phantom Menace: neither of these are good memories. The incessant rhyming and the "bwahahahas" would make George Lucas proud. And what's with Athrogate as the name for a dwarf? FR has a fairly solid canon for naming characters but RAS often seems to pull out something that's just plain odd. Then again, that's been the case in most of his books (and he has probably improved since he completely destroyed the verisimilitude of the Bloodstone Lands with the names he chose in that product).
As for positives, I liked his depiction of Kane. I think he captured perfectly what a high-level monk is like. And, of course, he writes combat scenes as well if not better than anyone else writing fantasy today.
Anyway, I'm sorry I didn't wait for the significantly cheaper paperback version of this one.
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 31 Oct 2006 : 02:22:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Eremite
I didn't enjoy this one, I have to admit. I read it over the course of a single day but the plot was terribly laboured, like a badly-written D&D adventure where the DM realises that he has screwed up but desperately tries to keep it working but ultimately does not succeed. "Contrived" and "illogical" are two other words that spring to mind.
That's not a good sign. What you described is more or less what happened in the last book (IMO). |
"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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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2006 : 17:24:50
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OK, I really have to hand it to RAS this time--he wrote a really good story. I have about 50 pages left to go with this book, and so far Road of the Patriarch has been nothing but entertaining and a page-turner for me. Number one, the fights scenes aren't gratuitous, and so far they seem to have a point to them (that is, it's not just "we ran into a bunch of goblins and we had to kill them). Number two, the issues RAS tackles in this book are actually important and relevant to the reader. One major theme of this book is "How to powerful people get their power, and then how do they justify that power?" Personally, I think that topic is waaaay more interesting than yet another book asking "Should Drizzt and Catti-brie be a couple? Should they have babies?" for the umpteenth time.
Lastly, it doesn't seem like RAS dropped the ball or pull the rug out from under the story like he did with Promise of the Witch-King. This novel is a definitely an improvement over the last one. |
"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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ArcticKnight
Learned Scribe
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - 08 Nov 2006 : 00:26:40
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| I enjoyed reading about Artemis and Jarl however I felt the story just needed more. I realize that not all books can be realms shaking events but it just seemed like i was reading "a day in the life of..." while i enjoyed the 3 books, I would have liked there to be a little more content but the more i reflect on the series and the presumed future books, I suspect this was His "Spine of the World" book for Artemis, a story that needed to be told to get to another point, even if its not going to be the most popular of reads.... |
"The man who does not read has little advantage over the man who cannot read."
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 08 Nov 2006 : 00:50:09
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quote:
Originally posted by ArcticKnight
I enjoyed reading about Artemis and Jarl however I felt the story just needed more. I realize that not all books can be realms shaking events but it just seemed like i was reading "a day in the life of..." while i enjoyed the 3 books, I would have liked there to be a little more content...
Really? I think the amount of *story* in this novel far surpasses that which was in PotWK. |
"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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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 08 Nov 2006 : 06:54:23
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| If this is like Spine of the World I will definately have to read it. That was, I think, the most overlooked and one of the best books that RAS has written to date, at least to my sensibilities. |
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5696 Posts |
Posted - 08 Nov 2006 : 08:21:00
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quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
If this is like Spine of the World I will definately have to read it. That was, I think, the most overlooked and one of the best books that RAS has written to date, at least to my sensibilities.
Well met
I certainly agree with ye there, KnightErrantJR. I still often talk about the tome to others even today. I'm actually waiting for the paperback edition of Road of the Patriarch (simple because I bought the rerelease of Servant of the Shard in paperback and thus followed suit with Promise of the Witch-King due to WotC's odd decision to omit a hardcover of book 1  ...I wonder how many other hardcover sales they have lost to similar OCD collectors\readers of this particular trilogy  ) |
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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Lameth
Learned Scribe
Germany
196 Posts |
Posted - 08 Nov 2006 : 16:14:43
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 08 Nov 2006 : 21:29:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Lameth
Why isn`t there a thread in the Book Club about RotP?
I was wondering the same thing.
KEJR: RotP got me to actually like Athrogate (the obnoxious dwarf) and feel sympathy for him. That should say something about this novel. I definitely recommend it. |
"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
5696 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2006 : 08:13:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Lameth
Why isn`t there a thread in the Book Club about RotP?
Well met
I tend not to include hardcovers in the Book Club, for fear of many readers waiting for the paperback release. The book club has waned a little of late too, sadly  I did put a poll out for Ed's Swords of Eveningstar but participation was still a little low, unfortunately. |
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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Lameth
Learned Scribe
Germany
196 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2006 : 16:43:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
quote:
Originally posted by Lameth
Why isn`t there a thread in the Book Club about RotP?
Well met
I tend not to include hardcovers in the Book Club, for fear of many readers waiting for the paperback release. The book club has waned a little of late too, sadly I did put a poll out for Ed's Swords of Eveningstar but participation was still a little low, unfortunately.
Isn`t Swords of Eveningstar a hardcover too? |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2006 : 17:26:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Lameth
Isn`t Swords of Eveningstar a hardcover too?
Yes it is. |
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 |
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5696 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2006 : 23:27:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Lameth
Isn`t Swords of Eveningstar a hardcover too?
Well met
Indeed, and this is why a poll was run to see the level of interest. Many members of the forum were stating their excitement of the release of the novel so I wanted to check who would also be interested in participating in the Book Club before I featured the novel.
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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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mavericace
Seeker
USA
84 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 07:21:23
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| it seamed like the last part of the book had little to do with the 1st and 2nd parts IMO. i think the book could have ended after the gang was droped off in memnonn. overall a decent book but not my favorite by R.A.Salvatore. |
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Lameth
Learned Scribe
Germany
196 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 19:09:34
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| I like the story so far. But it could be because Jarlaxle and Entreri are favorite characters to me. |
Edited by - Lameth on 20 Nov 2006 21:33:03 |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 19:51:09
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quote:
Originally posted by mavericace
it seamed like the last part of the book had little to do with the 1st and 2nd parts IMO.
I actually think that final part of the book continues the theme of how people justify their power, and it makes a nice finale, especially if the book is really about Entreri more than anything else. |
"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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mavericace
Seeker
USA
84 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2006 : 03:49:28
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| Very true about continuing the theme of the book (a theme i did enjoy) I just felt like Salvatore could have tied that last part in better with the other 2 by going into more detail about the reasons behind Entreri's wanting to go to his old home town. I understand that the flute was playing with his emotions but I just wish the reader was informed a bit more about his reasoning. |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2006 : 22:57:01
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Fair enough.  In the end, I think what the flute did was make Entreri more receptive to the emotions he always felt but was holding back. |
"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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mavericace
Seeker
USA
84 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2006 : 04:47:49
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| Agreed, Entreri is a complex man and the parts in the book where he remembered his past did a good job of filling out his character and leting the reader know why he is the way he is. |
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Lameth
Learned Scribe
Germany
196 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2006 : 21:35:57
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At the first time I read about the bad Selune temple I thought WTF is going on. Why can they hord that many treasures and nobody (specialy other Selune temples) did something against it? Why are they so cruel?
But I think that`s how the world works.
And they needed that kick in the ass :-) |
Edited by - Lameth on 20 Nov 2006 21:36:36 |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2006 : 01:16:43
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| I DID wonder why Selune didn't take away their spells. If the priests were getting spells from a different deity, who was it? |
"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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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2006 : 01:20:18
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| As did I. That whole thing just, made me blink and took me aback. I could see many deities with temples like that but Selune just was a bit of a stretch.... |
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 21 Nov 2006 01:24:27 |
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mavericace
Seeker
USA
84 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2006 : 04:41:38
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| I too felt that part of the book about the Selune Temple was odd. I guess the Priests were just getting spells from another God like Rinonalyrna said. It would have just made more sense if he would have used another God. |
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darkcrow
Learned Scribe
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2006 : 09:32:57
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| I loved this book. Well the whole trilogy really. I love Jarlaxle and Artemis. And seeing them side by side was just absolutly wonderful for me. I see that many of you are wondering why the turn of events at the end of the book. When Calihye trys to kill Artemis, it opened up a wound in his heart and all these bad memorys start flooding him. So what better way to heal a wounded heart than to seek vengance on the one who created it from the very beginning. And for the Selune priests gone bad still having magic granted to them by a goodly Goddess, Well you have to keep in mind that all the Gods see things at a bigger scale and sometimes they let things happen for the "Greater Good". But thats just my opinion..... |
May Tymora smile upon ye |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2006 : 00:09:34
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Not trying to start an argument here, but I just don't buy Selune allowing her priests to do...what they did, all for some vague sense of "the greater good". What greater good? All I saw was misery and suffering as a result of their actions. Those priests didn't seem overly concerned with following Selune's dogma!
I don't know, as I see it Selune would have stripped them of their spells. |
"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) |
Edited by - Rinonalyrna Fathomlin on 24 Nov 2006 00:10:20 |
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mavericace
Seeker
USA
84 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2006 : 01:47:15
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I agree with you Rinonalyrna. I could see if it were a more nuetural god or something but Selune is a good god. Also those priests were doint evil for decades without any greater good being done it wasnt if it was something that just began.
I do understand Artemis's reason for retuning to his homeland I just wish that the reader would have been a bit better informed.
None of this means I didnt like the book, I did like it but I wouldnt give it a 10 out of 10. |
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darkcrow
Learned Scribe
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2006 : 19:49:05
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| It's not that I don't agree with you Rinonalyrna Fathomlin. To us humans it dosen't make sense why a Chaoticly Good aligned Goddess like Selune would let such corruption go unnoticed. You would think Selune would not grant them any priestly spells if not vengfully destroying them herself. But that's not the case in this story. For some Godly reason none of that happened. Instead they continued to steal the innocence of young girls and from the rest of the poor they stoled there very last copper. I'm trying to think of something, anything that can be called "The Reasoning of Selune". I don't want to think one of my Favorite authors made a boo boo. It COULD be a subconscious relationship refering to the dealing of Christianity and Selune Temple corruption. See, Christianity is seen as a Good aligned religion and sometime bad things happen inside the church. Like the things that happened in this book. Thats just my opinion. Lets think that if this never happened, that Artemis would never exsist. |
May Tymora smile upon ye |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2006 : 00:05:01
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quote:
Originally posted by darkcrow
Instead they continued to steal the innocence of young girls and from the rest of the poor they stoled there very last copper.
Instead of calling it "stealing innocence", I would call it rape, since that's basically what it was (and many of these girls were underage).
I know you aren't trying to argue with me or anything, but...I find it very hard to believe Selune would allow this to go on for decades and not do anything, especially when women were being exploited (as I see it, Selune's religion is very much about the sacred feminine). |
"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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Road of the Patriarch (Spoilers!)
