Greyhawk novels

[Clumsy Bob]

Hi, I am inteested in reading some of the recent Greyhawk novels such as Temple of Elemental Evil, Against the Giants etc.
Basically are they any good? or not worth the cover price.

cheers

Bob

 

[johnsemlak]

Well, in a word, probably not. They're main value is for nostalgia of the old modules.

The ones by Paul Kidd are OK (I'm mainly referring to the Decsent into the Depths of the Earth), though he has a very different take on the modules than was intended. The people and places are basically as written in the modules, but the reason the hero (Justicar, IIRC) goes down into the depths is rather different and invented, IMO.

Also, note that Paul Kidds novels focus around one hero, Justicar, and a few companions such as a pixie, a good hellhound, etc. Not a traditional party of adventureers.

Paul Kidd also wrote Queen of the Demonweb Pits, White Plume Mountain, and I believe Temple of Elemental Evil

Against the Giants was wriiten by another person, I forget the name. I actually liked it somewhat, though the writing was pretty bad. Basically, it was an attempt to put a real D&D adventure into book form. The characters are a standard D&D party, and the attack each of the Giant lairs, and the details are very close to the modules (I really appreciated the author's attempt to do this). However, the writing sometimes came out like an 14 year old describing their character action. ("I memorized plenty of ... spells today" or "We've been Rangers for 20 years") Also, the author tries to cram all three modules into one short novel, and by the time you get to the FIre Giant lair things are very rushed.

BTW, I would love to have Against the Giants done as a trilogy by a top-notch author, but I suppose that's just me.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

They're pretty much your typical gaming fiction -- cheap quick novels, OK for a bit of light entertainment, especially for some D&D nostalgia, but definitely not real high quality writing.

Like johnsemlak said, though, the Paul Kidd ones (White Plume, Descent, and Demonweb) are a lot of fun because of his unique characters and sense of humor. Those are the ones I'd recommend reading if you read any.

 

[diaglo]

but avoid the Rose Estes ones.

oh wait, that's too nostalgic.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Paul Kidd also wrote Queen of the Demonweb Pits, White Plume Mountain, and I believe Temple of Elemental Evil

"Temple..." was written by someone else, I don't remember his name off hand, I haven't read it but it has gotten some pretty rotten reviews.

Paul Kidd's novels are decent, formula fantasy novels. I enjoyed them for what they were. Avoid the others, especially the ones Rue Emmerson wrote (Giants & Keep on the Boarderlands). They are awful, nothing new, original at all. As John said before, they sound as if a 14 year old was describing the action. Nothing against 14 year olds, but a published author should know better (and so should her editor...).

And I'll second Diaglo on avoiding the Rose Estes novels.

 

[Orius]

And I'll second Diaglo on avoiding the Rose Estes novels.

I'll third him on that. God, those books were awful, although they're hardly recent.

 

[CrusaderX]

The Paul Kidd books are very fun reads, and they get my recommendation. They're not great literature by any means, but they're light and entertaining and don't take themselves too seriously, which is quite refreshing. And Escalla rocks!

But whatever you do, stay far, far away from the Keep on the Borderlands novel. The module it's based on wasn't originally set in Greyhawk, but beyond that, it's a remarkably awful book. Simply dismal.

 

[Alaric_Prympax]

As everyone has said the Paul Kidd novels are OK.

Temple of Elemental Evil was written by Thomas Reid, I enjoyed it though others here on the boards did not. Everyone has different tastes.

Against the Giants and Keep on the Boarder Lands were written by Ru Emmerson. AtG was written like the modules though the 2nd and 3rd were quickly gone through, too quickly IMO. Also MO of the book was that it was bland. KotBL I read half way and put it down so you can guess MO on that one, I really need to pick it up and finish it, the second half might be better then the first half.

Tomb of Horrors was written by Keith Strom, I think that's how you spell his name. I bought it but because I never finished KotBL I haven't read it so I can't say if it good or bad.

I hope that helps.

 

[johnsemlak]

the second half [of Against the Giants novel] might be better then the first half.

No, it isn't. IMO

 

[Hypersmurf]

And I'll second Diaglo on avoiding the Rose Estes novels.

You know, I actually enjoy the Gygax novels.

The fact that the first Rose Estes one (Master Wolf) was originally Greyhawk Adventures 3 (following the first two Gygax Greyhawk novels) tricked me into reading it.

And that's a few hours of my life I'm never getting back.

It rather annoyed me when they renumbered it book one...

-Hyp.