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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5695 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 22:37:55
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Well met
Having had the honor and opportunity to read Unclean (The Haunded Lands, book 1) by Richard Lee Byers ahead of release, I thought I'd share a brief review of sorts with my fellow Realms fans. Note that I haven't included any particulars or spoilers herein.
My hopes were high for this book. Firstly, RLB is one of my favorite authors and his books have never failed to impress me. Secondly, Thay is one of the most intriguing and dark areas of the Realms for me and it never gets enough coverage in novels, in my opinion. This novel sure remedied that! The story jumps straight in and paints a fantastic, detailed image of Thay. For the first number of chapters it is just as good as reading a sourcebook on the nation. For those who are not familiar with Thay, all will be laid out clearly here in the way of the land, the rulers, Zulkir's and general feel of the place. Those who are familiar with Thay will love this even moreso! RLB certainly brings Thay to life in this book and the dark and oppressive atmosphere is very well depicted.
The characters are very colorful. Some, of course, you'll know from existing Realmslore. Zulkir's and Red Wizards appear in abundance and the additional characters of the story are varied and interesting (and some, quite disturbing!). The story is full of mystery and intrigue and contains all the scheming and backstabbing you'd expect from Thay, and is the perfect opening novel to the trilogy. Needless to say, I'm very excited to see what happens in the next book. I was left feeling very fulfilled, and somewhat (pleasantly) exhausted from this book.
This is Thay at it's darkest and most disturbing! Some of the scenes will haunt me for some time yet.
I'm sure that Realms fans will thoroughly enjoy this. I hope to see many of you join in the Book Club for "Unclean" and look forward to hearing of your thoughts.
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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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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 23:00:41
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Dark and disturbing? I can't resist reading it, then, even if I might end up "shaken" by it later. And of course, I always have high hopes when it comes to RLB's work (I mean that). |
"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
31727 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 23:18:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
Those who are familiar with Thay will love this even moreso!
I'm glad to hear that -- Thay is one of my favorite areas of the eastern Realms, so seeing it as the focus for a trilogy is something I've been really looking forward to.
And I'm also happy to hear there's plenty of focus on the Zulkirs.
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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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Victor_ograygor
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1073 Posts |
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Pasta Fzoul
Seeker
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2007 : 01:25:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
I'm sure that Realms fans will thoroughly enjoy this. I hope to see many of you join in the Book Club for "Unclean" and look forward to hearing of your thoughts.
I don't believe I've ever actually purchased a FR novel upon its release date, but Unclean is definitely going to be the first exception - I've been looking forward to this one since it was announced! |
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MerrikCale
Senior Scribe
USA
947 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2007 : 02:10:51
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| I agree about RLB, his novels never fail for me |
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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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2007 : 02:40:41
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Alaundo, the check is in the mail!
Seriously, thanks for the kind words, and thanks to all the rest of you who expressed enthusiasm for my stuff. I truly do appreciate it. |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2007 : 08:50:58
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Hi Alaundo!
First - you talk about a trilogy? As I recall, Will not 4 books be realeased in that series?
second - any idea when the release date for 'Unclean' is for all those of us that are not such priviliged as you?
Thanks, Ergdusch |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5695 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2007 : 08:56:04
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Well met
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
And I'm also happy to hear there's plenty of focus on the Zulkirs.
Oh indeed, you'll find some very interesting events indeed, Sage. I was quite shocked and astounded in a good few places.
quote:
Originally posted by Victor_ograygor
Thanks Alaundo, you really got me hocked, great review.
I simply had to share some thoughts with you all. It wasn't easy to review the book without pumping out spoilers, however  There are so many elements I wanted to talk about.
quote:
Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
Alaundo, the check is in the mail!
Seriously, thanks for the kind words, and thanks to all the rest of you who expressed enthusiasm for my stuff. I truly do appreciate it.
The pleasure is all mine. The book has certainly kick-started the trilogy and is one that will surely stick in my mind. I'll definately be reading the book again, and also before the release of book 2, just as a refresher of course  |
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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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2007 : 15:47:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Ergdusch
Hi Alaundo!
First - you talk about a trilogy? As I recall, Will not 4 books be realeased in that series?
Thanks, Ergdusch
It's a trilogy as far as I knew but the "fourth" book should be a anthology of short stories which ties in with the events in the trilogy but it's a stand alone book. |
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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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2007 : 17:16:55
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You're right, Kuje. The fourth book will be Realms of the Undead, and it'll be a tie-in anthology.
Erg: Unclean is an April release. |
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MerrikCale
Senior Scribe
USA
947 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2007 : 23:44:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
You're right, Kuje. The fourth book will be Realms of the Undead, and it'll be a tie-in anthology.
Erg: Unclean is an April release.
Usually, the "Realms of the...." comes out in the middle of the series, will that be true here? Do you know any of the authors? |
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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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 23 Feb 2007 : 00:53:56
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I don't know when Realms of the Undead is coming out. I have a vague impression that the anthologies usually happen between Novels 2 and 3 of the trilogy, so we might see it in the second half of '08 or early in '09.
I also don't know who'll contribute stories besides (I assume) me. I don't expect to have anything to do with editing it. I had nothing to do with editing Realms of the Dragons 1 and 2, which is probably just as well since I have no experience as an editor. But I trust it'll include many of the mainstays of FR fiction. |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 23 Feb 2007 : 02:06:30
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| Richard, I just wanted to mention that between the short story that you did in Realms of the Dragons, the one you did in Realms of Elves, the various short stories you did for Dragon Magazine, and Queen of the Depths, you did an amazing job of framing the Year of Rogue Dragons books. I know some of that was happenstance, but I hope you get the chance to similarly "frame" this series as well. I'm definately looking forward the series. |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 23 Feb 2007 : 05:11:18
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Knight: I'm glad you liked that. I thought it worked pretty well myself. I'm going to try to produce some extra stories that relate to The Haunted Land, although I don't know if you'll see as many. As you note, it was luck that enabled me to publish as many additional pieces as I did.
Also glad to hear you're looking forward to the new trilogy. |
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initiate
Learned Scribe
Canada
102 Posts |
Posted - 23 Feb 2007 : 05:36:47
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Just a humble acolyte adding my voice to the chorus of anticipation for "Unclean" and "The Haunted Land". Beyond the fact that I greatly enjoyed Mr. Byers's "Year of Rogue Dragons", it will be intriguing to see Thay from the "inside". (All the characters shown in the sample chapter up over at Wizards are Thayvians, and politically significant Thayvians at that.)
I know that every Realms novel must, by high decree, have its sword swinging and spell slinging action sequences, and those in "The Year of Rogue Dragons" were truly gripping, at times even awe-inspiring. Yet I hope that we'll get to see some of Szass Tam's "behind the scenes" political maneuvering. He can already be seen at work in the sample chapter, but the deeper into his machinations we're allowed the better!
This might be entirely my imagination, but I'm wondering if WotC might be going to greater lengths than usual to promote "Unclean". I've heard of at least one other case within the last month in which an advance reading copy of the book was sent to a fantasy novel reviewer. Perhaps Wizards does this all the time and I don't notice? Or perhaps they are broadening their marketing strategy with regards to FR fiction. Such would be a welcome turn indeed.
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wwwwwww
Learned Scribe
116 Posts |
Posted - 23 Feb 2007 : 16:33:10
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| I haven't purchased many FR books lately, but I've been looking forward to this one. I've always liked RLB, and I have a feeling this might be his best trilogy yet. I'm quite anxious to get my hands on the 1st book. |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 24 Feb 2007 : 21:38:37
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Yes, there's another "Realms of" anthology (not counting Elaine's Best) to see release before Realms of the Undead.
love,
THO |
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nbnmare
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
205 Posts |
Posted - 24 Feb 2007 : 22:46:58
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Presumbably that would be Realms of War, which will tie-in with the Twilight War trilogy?
EDIT: Incidentally, given WotC's obsession with the drow, I'm somewhat amazed they didn't jump on the excuse to create a Realms of the Drow anthology to tie-in with either the War of the Spider Queen, nor with the Lady Penitent. |
Edited by - nbnmare on 24 Feb 2007 22:57:03 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31727 Posts |
Posted - 24 Feb 2007 : 23:57:37
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Yes, there's another "Realms of" anthology (not counting Elaine's Best) to see release before Realms of the Undead.
love,
THO
Hehe...
This still makes me laugh -- for reasons which will become obvious soon enough! 
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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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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 22:19:17
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quote:
Originally posted by nbnmare
EDIT: Incidentally, given WotC's obsession with the drow, I'm somewhat amazed they didn't jump on the excuse to create a Realms of the Drow anthology to tie-in with either the War of the Spider Queen, nor with the Lady Penitent.
Well, they've already had a Realms of the Underdark. Not that Underdark has to equal drow, but the stories in that book were mostly drow-focused. |
"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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MerrikCale
Senior Scribe
USA
947 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 01:10:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by nbnmare
EDIT: Incidentally, given WotC's obsession with the drow, I'm somewhat amazed they didn't jump on the excuse to create a Realms of the Drow anthology to tie-in with either the War of the Spider Queen, nor with the Lady Penitent.
Well, they've already had a Realms of the Underdark. Not that Underdark has to equal drow, but the stories in that book were mostly drow-focused.
True, but it was punlished quite some time ago. I wonder if the WOTC authors are all "drowed out" |
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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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5695 Posts |
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Victor_ograygor
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1073 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 13:04:19
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Ahhh.. I walked down to my book store exited like a little child. I just wanted to buy the book after I reading Alaundo great review of Unclean, and he said that he will have it in the 16 mats . I Was shocked!  .... Now I am waiting, still exited
Hey Alaundo/ Richard Lee Byers which of the Zulkir's do we hear of?
Lets have a little more
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Victor Ograygor The Assassin and Candel keeps cellar master
Everything I need to know about life I learned from killing smart people.
Links related to Forgotten Realms
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9571
Adventuring / Mercenary Companies / Orders / The chosen from official sources
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11047
Priests in Forgotten Realms.
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9609&whichpage=1 |
Edited by - Victor_ograygor on 26 Feb 2007 13:05:42 |
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Daviot
Senior Scribe
USA
372 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 14:44:30
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| After having the pleasure of reading the sample chapter over at Wizards, it's definitely something I shall be looking forward to. I certainly hope it to be as Alaundo's generically non-spoiler blurb indicated. |
One usually has far more to fear from the soft-spoken wizard with a blade and well-worn boots than from the boisterous one in the ivory tower.
My Tabletop Writing CV. |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 19:40:56
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| Victor: I'm reluctant to tell very much about the trilogy for fear of spoiling the surprises, but I guess it won't do any harm to say that all the zulkirs wander through at one point or another. |
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Victor_ograygor
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1073 Posts |
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Thente Thunderspells
Seeker
USA
65 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2007 : 17:15:43
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I just wanted to say that I'm definitely looking forward to this trilogy! I have enjoyed all of RLB's stuff up to this point and Alaundo's review has got me excited for this one too
The only problem with trilogy's is that you have to wait so LONG for books 2 & 3 to come out ^_^ |
The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.
- Shakespeare |
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Damon33
Acolyte
14 Posts |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 15 Mar 2007 : 20:19:07
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| Thanks, Damon, I'm glad you liked it. |
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Xysma
Master of Realmslore
USA
1089 Posts |
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Unclean (The Haunted Lands, #1) - A brief review
