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Theophilus
Learned Scribe
Australia
143 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Sep 2007 : 10:11:30
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
>>Theophilus: At the risk of annoying you, I'm even going to pass on answering that >>question. Sotty about that, but I really do think keeping my mouth shut about...well, >>damn near everything, really...is the way to maximize your enjoyment of the trilogy.
Ah, but Richard, speculation is half the fun (maybe even 3/4's <g>). We wouldn't want hints (or at least I wouldn't). In the end, you throw ideas out there, and sometimes someone comes up with something you had never thought of..... like Theophilus just brought up about Tam not necessarily being Tam..... very interesting idea! It couldn't be ORDINARY compulsion magic if he were instead being controlled, but I can see someone using his phylactery somehow to steal his body and confine his "essence" (reluctant to say soul with undead... though it would seem the most appropriate word). In fact, it would be very similar to how I've thought old Velsharoon attained his divinity (using Mellifleur's phylactery). Whether it were Vel or Larloch, both would be or should be capable of this... and both had recent interaction. Plots within Plots, very nice.
I was thinking of something else that might entertain you Sleyvas - remember that Malark killed a guardsman - if he didn't dispose of the body satisfactorily then Szass may have access to the guardsman's body and his memories - wouldn't it be ironic if he met his fate as a result of this? |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 04 Sep 2007 : 17:09:02
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<<I was thinking of something else that might entertain you Sleyvas - remember that Malark <<killed a guardsman - if he didn't dispose of the body satisfactorily then Szass may have <<access to the guardsman's body and his memories - wouldn't it be ironic if he met his <<fate as a result of this?
Hmmm, intrigued but I must confess I don't recall the killing of the guardsman... nor what memory he might have that would threaten Malark. Was the guardsman old and remembered Malark, such that Tam might start wondering how old the man is? If that's the case, then yes it would be interesting. I want to see what happens with Malark in particular. Too often the long-lived folk of the realms are wizards. Its interesting to see someone else. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Theophilus
Learned Scribe
Australia
143 Posts |
Posted - 05 Sep 2007 : 11:01:37
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
<<I was thinking of something else that might entertain you Sleyvas - remember that Malark <<killed a guardsman - if he didn't dispose of the body satisfactorily then Szass may have <<access to the guardsman's body and his memories - wouldn't it be ironic if he met his <<fate as a result of this?
Hmmm, intrigued but I must confess I don't recall the killing of the guardsman... nor what memory he might have that would threaten Malark. Was the guardsman old and remembered Malark, such that Tam might start wondering how old the man is? If that's the case, then yes it would be interesting. I want to see what happens with Malark in particular. Too often the long-lived folk of the realms are wizards. Its interesting to see someone else.
Spoiler alert!
Well Malark told him quite a lot actually - that he was an apostate monk of the Order of the Long Death, that he was under the effect of some anti-aging magic philter, that he worked for Flass - and it seems that the book just has Malark killing him and leaving the body in the lane - I at least think it would be interesting to see what Szass could do with that information. |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2007 : 01:21:12
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Richard,
Excellent book. A damn fine read. I have to admit I was not real fired up about a trilogy of Red Wizards, but seeing as how it was you writing it, I gave it a fair chance. I am glad I did, I was facinated and drawn into your story. I cannnot wait for the next installment. |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2007 : 04:31:06
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| Red: Glad you liked it. |
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Galaeron
Acolyte
Egypt
2 Posts |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 22:30:06
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I really enjoyed the novel, especially that characters were so diverse. Heroic, mysterious, ambitious, selfish, arrogant - old Szass was rightly EPIC.
I believe the rest of the Zulkirs will lose, because they are not really united at heart. They are so fragile because they lack old Tam's ambition - Szass Tam can forsee further beyond. He stands alone though not of ignorance, but of strong will and absolute cunning.
Undead disgust me yet I'd follow Szass because he can LEAD. |
"Shade is here to stay." ~Lord Shadow |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2008 : 18:15:12
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I also enjoyed it, though it's taken me half of forever to actually sit down and *read* it. But now all these mentions of Thay in civil war make a lot more sense. :)
One question I haven't seen asked, though, is how the upcoming 4e transition is affecting novel lines. I noticed that at least one (the "Realms of...") book and maybe the one before it as well are published after the 4e change-over. Is WotC letting the existing story lines naturally conclude even if they're published after the change?
I sure hope so, because I'd hate to see such a promising start ruined that way. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Theophilus
Learned Scribe
Australia
143 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2008 : 21:55:13
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quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
I also enjoyed it, though it's taken me half of forever to actually sit down and *read* it. But now all these mentions of Thay in civil war make a lot more sense. :)
One question I haven't seen asked, though, is how the upcoming 4e transition is affecting novel lines. I noticed that at least one (the "Realms of...") book and maybe the one before it as well are published after the 4e change-over. Is WotC letting the existing story lines naturally conclude even if they're published after the change?
I sure hope so, because I'd hate to see such a promising start ruined that way.
Hoondatha - I asked this earlier in the thread  |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2008 : 22:28:04
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| Hoondatha: Glad you enjoyed it. As Theophilus says, I'm keeping my mouth shut about what comes next, and that includes the time frame of the overall trilogy, because I don't want to spoil any of the surprises. But I will say that the trilogy is going to unfold as it was conceived from the start. So, while you may or may not like it (obviously, I hope you will!), you don't have to worry that I had one story in mind, and then had to make big, illogical, dramatically ineffective changes part way through to fit the company game plan. |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2008 : 05:46:51
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| That's actually all I was hoping for. Good to hear. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Tremaine
Seeker
United Kingdom
86 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2010 : 12:00:43
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i went out and brought this novel after reading the tale about Mirrior and Bareris
in realms of the dead as as I really enjoyed it.
finished reading Unclean was brilliant read
the only slight bit of disappointment I had was that I didn't get to see mirror earlier and had to wait towards the latter stage of the novel as I think his a great character amongst many in the novel, I had hoped to see more of him but I guess he will have more screen time of him hopefully in the second book?
Malark's another great character can't wait to find more about him particular liked chapter 5 where he cornered the old legionnaire
can i ask a stupid Question about Aoth and Brightwing, can all riders and mounts talk to each other or is because she and Aoth are connected because she a Familiar?
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jul 2010 : 07:47:59
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After reading this book, I told myself, "Finally, another Realms magnum opus!" Thanks, Richard! I really had fun reading this last year, and sorry that I found time to comment on it just now. (I already finished the trilogy last year  )
This is one of the few books that I reread, for I very rarely do such thing. As Stephen King puts it, "I don't reread books because life is short. But I have a few exceptions."
You handled well the job of altering Thay in its physical and political forms. Have I mentioned Thay is one of my favorite realms? Anyway, I also like how you present Szass Tam. I think you did your research pretty well, for I did not notice anything he did in this book that was so far from his character as seen in "Red Magic," "Red Ambition," and some previously published novels and short stories where he made cameo roles.
Moreover, I like it that you chose a wizard and a bard to be the stars in this book. I am not a fighter fan, and don't think there's a chance I will be. (God, I have not even read even a single Drizzt novel, or RAS novel for that matter.) Their development as believable characters is one of this book's greatest strengths.
Continue writing! You're damn best at it!
I voted for you in the poll for FR favorite author. Didn't take me long to decide. Your works are instant classics.
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Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 29 Jul 2010 07:53:00 |
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Unclean: Chapters 12 - 15 & Epilogue
