If I like D&D and LotR....

[rowport]

Oh, Eve Forward's Villains by Necessity is the Evil D&D party saves the world from being destroyed by metaphysical goodness absorbing the world because all the other evil creatures and villains are gone.

The party includes: A druid (neutral balance, like old style nutty true neutral alignments), An assassin (single classed, like 1st ed), a halfling thief, a Black Knight (anti-paladin was a class in an old Dragon magazine, reprinted in Best of Dragon, for 1st ed), An (not-quite-Drow but *come on*) evil cannibal sorceress, and a centaur (guess who's the spy for the good guys?).

A pretty good novel, marred only by the author's need to put in an in-joke about not-Smurfs (in another book, she feels compelled to put in a Pink Floyd joke, of all things). Has a great pun that I won't spoil here, made by the Assassin character (the protagonist) and has a magical duel that goes pretty much like you would expect a magical duel to go, by D&D rules.

Particle-

This book sounds entertaining to me-- I am a big fan of grey morality characters (like in Paul Kemp's books-- go read them! Now!). I cannot quite tell from your post if it is played for laughs or straight action, though; which is it?

EDIT: Holy Cow! Never mind! I just checked prices on Amazon for used copies-- SHEESH! I hope the book is fine art for the prices being charged there... STARTING at $33 for used softcovers..!

 

[Particle_Man]

Really? I had no idea it was that expensive. It wasn't when I bought it but maybe there was only one softcover printing or something. Anyhow, it has humour (and kitsch) in it, but is more of a straight action quest story (not quite "heroic" quest, given the nature of the beast).

 

[Mycanid]

There is no American JRR.

Bye
Thanee

Got THAT right.

I would have to second the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn books by Tad Williams, though. Very well written - I think his best stuff so far.

I enjoyed David Eddings Belgariad 5 book series when I was younger, especially the characters going on and on was geat.

You have tried the Earthsea trilogy by Ursula K. LeGuin too, yes?

 

[Asmo]

I enjoyed David Eddings Belgariad 5 book series when I was younger, especially the characters going on and on was geat.

I´m 43 and I still enjoy Eddings and the story of Belgarion and his friends. These books
is not written for young people, particulary. In my mind this is truly a classic.

Asmo

 

[Joshua Randall]

has a magical duel that goes pretty much like you would expect a magical duel to go, by D&D rules.

You mean whomever wins initiative obliterates the other guy?

 

[Mycanid]

I´m 43 and I still enjoy Eddings and the story of Belgarion and his friends. These books
is not written for young people, particulary. In my mind this is truly a classic.

Asmo

Apologies my good sir, I didn't mean to give that impression ... I only meant to say that the only time I read them was WHEN I was younger ... not that I do not enjoy them now I'm an old fogey or what not.

Although to be honest I have not read them since then....

 

[Klaus]

Find an anthology book titled "A Dragon-Lover's Treasury of the Fantastic", compiled by Margaret Weis. Among others, it features "The George Business" and "Sir Dragon and the George". This way you can sample several authors and then go after the ones you like best.

 

[Particle_Man]

You mean whomever wins initiative obliterates the other guy?

Nah, not high level stuff. Besides, as written, the author generously let the spells effectively counter-spell each other, and the wizards were evenly matched. We only got to know what the spells were because of their evocative names.

I mean the magical duel where people start with their high level spells, then work through their mid-level spells, and finally are reduced to casting the dinky little cantrips because they have nothing else to cast.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

When I think of an "American JRR" I think Robert Jordan. Martin killed off the "fellowship" way too early in the series lol.

If Tolkien wrote like Jordan, the Fellowship would have been stuck in Lothlorien for the last three novels.

 

[Asmo]

If Tolkien wrote like Jordan, the Fellowship would have been stuck in Lothlorien for the last three novels.

Asmo