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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Jan 2007 : 16:03:32
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Poll Question:
I figured I'd split this year up in two halves to make sure all novels can be fitted into the poll (which wasn't possible in 2004 or 1005).
Might I suggest that anyone who votes also make a top-3-list, so that a novel that's everyone's second favourite doesn't miss out on recognition as well.
Oh...and if anyone want to comment on the books here, please stick to commenting on what was good with the book you voted for. There are other threads more suited for giving critique - in this one we only allow gushing praise
And finally, to avoid misunderstandings, I've only included novels originally published in July 2006 to December 2006 - so re-issues or paperback publications of novels published in hardback before are not included.
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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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Lameth
Learned Scribe
Germany
196 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jan 2007 : 16:32:12
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SHADOWBRED!!!!!
RULES!!!!! |
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Reefy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
892 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jan 2007 : 22:21:35
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| As I've only read one of those, my sole vote has to go to Blackstaff, but frankly it would take something special to top it anyway. |
Life is either daring adventure or nothing. |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jan 2007 : 23:50:16
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| Haven't read them all yet, but I feel confident giving my vote to SoE. |
"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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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2007 : 01:41:03
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Shadowbred/ Blackstaff/ Swords of Eveningstar
Very close call for my favorite, but if I must, it would be Shadowbred |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2007 : 02:13:21
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
I've chosen two as my primary favorite -- Swords of Eveningstar and Blackstaff.
This was an easy one for me. 
Those are the only ones on the list that I've read.  |
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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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2007 : 02:16:25
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Well, I haven't read Bloodwalk or Lies of Light.
I'd rather keep my opinions about Road of the Patriach and Shadowbred to myself for the time being.
Darkvision I've only just recently finished. And Frostfell has yet to be released here.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
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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imis999
Acolyte
USA
30 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2007 : 03:49:29
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1. Darkvision - added new material for Imaskar, which intrigues me.
2. Shadowbred
3. Blackstaff |
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ode904
Learned Scribe
Finland
193 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2007 : 05:47:26
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Oh I can't vote on this, I have only one of those, Road of the Patriarch. It was a good book, only thing I should mention about, is that it had ''two endings''. The first was some 100 pages before the end of the book. A good book nonetheless.
*already waiting for next Drizzt novel* |
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Koushiro
Acolyte
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2007 : 08:54:03
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| Most the FR books that came out the later half of the year where pretty good, though my cvote is going to have to go to bloodwalk just because it was a rather dark novel, and you dont see to many of those in the realms. |
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Lysan Lurraxol
Acolyte
United Kingdom
33 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2007 : 09:03:07
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| I had to vote Blackstaff, I got bored with Bloodwalk, and though I loved Darkvision, Frostfell and Shadowbred, I didn't think they compared with Blackstaff. |
http://lysan.livejournal.com
"Come join me in the dark..." |
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Bluenose
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2007 : 11:34:21
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| A very tough choice from my viewpoint. I haven't read all of them since I'm not willing to pay for hardbacks, but I liked all the others on your list. In the end it's Blackstaff for me, but it's a very close thing. I can't remember another time when so many good FR books came out in one year, let alone half. |
These, in the day when heaven was falling,
The hour when earth's foundations fled,
Followed their mercenary calling
And took their wages and are dead.
Their shoulders held the sky suspended;
They stood, and earth's foundations stay;
What God abandoned, these defended,
And saved the sum of things for pay. |
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Conlon
Learned Scribe
Canada
132 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2007 : 11:59:20
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The second half of the year was quite strong.
Blackstaff was an excellent book and it recieved my nod for "best".
The runners-up for me are Bloodwalk and Frostfell. Both really different Realms books. The authors made this a difficult choice! Well done! |
My hopes are ashes, my dreams are dust. All my intentions mean nothing unless they are followed by action. |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2007 : 12:48:15
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Well Kaje, where are the options 'can't decide!' and 'havn't read any of them yet'???
I would have to choose the latter!  |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2007 : 12:59:10
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| Well, I am far behind in my Realms reading, so this vote could change; but I will have to say Blackstaff. |
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Delzounblood
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
578 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2007 : 14:15:28
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Shadowbred Paul S Kemp all the way
Delz
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I'm Back! |
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Marc
Senior Scribe
658 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2007 : 15:35:39
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| It's hard to say, I'm torn between Blackstaff and Shadowbred, Lies of Light is in the third place |
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Longtime Lurker
Seeker
51 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jan 2007 : 17:03:45
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My top three, as requested:
3. Shadowbred: Paul Kemp is a very good writer, and this is the cutting edge of the changing Realms, right now - type of novel of the three. I await the rest of the trilogy, and expect every Kemp novel to be at least solid entertainment.
2. Blackstaff: Long awaited subject matter. A little first ovel roughness in spots, but Steven Schend knows and loves the Realms, and it shows. A Realms fan's feast.
Number 1: Swords of Eveningstar. Ed Greenwood's latest is head and shoulders above the rest in storytelling skill, good fun yarn [I will re-read this one over and over], and in bringing the Realms alive. The Realms creator is the Real Deal, as good as any fantasy novel on the bookstore shelves, and a lot better than most.
I expect sequels to all three, so bring 'em on!!! |
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Blueblade
Senior Scribe
USA
804 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2007 : 20:45:21
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My "top" three, as requested, are the same as Longtime Lurker's, above. I now expect Kemp novels to be good, Blackstaff was better than I'm afraid it would be (no slur on Mr. Schend, just that as a topic, Khelben could have turned into a spellhurling free-for-all VERY easily), and Ed's first Knights book was solid gold.
Just think what our Realms bookshelves would be if he'd been writing one like this every year from 1987 on. Aaaagh! We'd have almost twenty read and re-read classics! |
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Lady Kazandra
Senior Scribe
Australia
921 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2007 : 01:11:24
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
I've chosen two as my primary favorite -- Swords of Eveningstar and Blackstaff.
This was an easy one for me.
The same goes, almost, for me.
Blackstaff wins by a slim margin - - for two reasons. 1) Because it marks Steven Schend's return to FR fiction and 2) Because of Laeral.
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"Once upon a time the plural of 'wizard' was 'war'." -- The Last Continent, by Terry Pratchett |
Edited by - Lady Kazandra on 21 Jan 2007 01:11:52 |
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MerrikCale
Senior Scribe
USA
947 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2007 : 02:04:20
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| frostfell got my vote narrowly over Bloodwalk. I think they are both very underappreciated |
When hinges creak in doorless chambers and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls, whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2007 : 06:34:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Lady Kazandra
2) Because of Laeral.
I knew there was a reason I liked you, Lady K.  |
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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yargarth
Seeker
USA
58 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2007 : 21:51:41
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| Wow i have only read one of those and it was an okay book |
"You take a step, then another. That's the journey. But to take a step with your eyes open is not a journey at all, it's a remaking of your own mind."
-Orson Scott Card
Ender in Exile |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2007 : 22:33:20
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quote:
Originally posted by MerrikCale
frostfell got my vote narrowly over Bloodwalk. I think they are both very underappreciated
I'll probably read those two after reading Vanity's Brood. |
"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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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2007 : 07:42:59
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My three favourites are the top three - although I've thought that all the FR novels I read last year were very good to excellent. Just started 'Darkvision' and finding it most satsfying.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Chosen of Moradin
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1120 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2007 : 14:10:49
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| Blackstaff stay with my vote. |
Dwarf, DM, husband, and proud of this! :P
twitter: @yuripeixoto
Facebook: yuri.peixoto |
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GRYPHON
Senior Scribe
USA
527 Posts |
Posted - 26 May 2008 : 14:41:23
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| Blackstaff... |
'Everyone dies...I only choose the time and place for a few.' --Eric Destler |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 26 May 2008 : 16:20:08
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quote:
Originally posted by Ergdusch
Well Kaje, where are the options 'can't decide!' and 'havn't read any of them yet'???
I would have to choose the latter!
By now I have read 4 of the books and I chose Shadowbred! Great story.
Second runner up is Frostfell. |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
Edited by - Ergdusch on 26 May 2008 16:21:04 |
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Dart Ambermoon
Learned Scribe
Germany
253 Posts |
Posted - 26 May 2008 : 18:34:35
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| Swords of Eveningstar was great, as was Shadowbred, but for me Blackstaff trumps them all. Semmemon and Ashemmi...Žnuff said. |
~ In Finder I trust, for danger I lust ~ |
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BARDOBARBAROS
Senior Scribe
Greece
581 Posts |
Posted - 26 May 2008 : 21:48:34
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| swords of eveningstar |
BARDOBARBAROS DOES NOT KILL.
HE DECAPITATES!!!
"The city changes, but the fools within it remain always the same" (Edwin Odesseiron- Baldur's gate 2) |
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Topic |
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Best novel for the 2nd half of 2006
