D&D General I'm reading the Forgotten Realms Novels- #202 The Howling Delve by Jaleigh Johnson (Dungeons 2)

[Zardnaar]

Prince was supposed to be the roughly same length as the other Realms books at the time--100,000 words, according to my contract--but I wrote long and my editor successfully petitioned for me to be allowed extra pages. With the color map at the front, which ran in the first few printings, and the spot illos throughout, this made Prince something of a prestige paperback release in the Realms line. I still had to tighten the end of the story--I wrote really long--but I greatly appreciated having the extra pages.

Glad you enjoyed it!

Cheers,
Jim Lowder

I liked it as well, think my copy is on the shelf.

Edit just looked and can't find it. Books are a mess though and getting faded from sunlight.

 

[Goonalan]

Oh I like the Malaugrym, they seem suitably chaotic and at the same time hierarchical and structured; also malevolent and crazy in their obsession to off Elminster.

It's possibly odder (to me) that I don't remember ever seeing the monster in action anywhere in an official product (I bought a lot of 2e/3e modules)- that's not to say I know them all of them off by heart, I may just not be remembering. I had to look these guys up (as I've said) I thought at first it was some sort of Decapus/Rast(-like) creature that I was seeing.

I'm less keen on the fact that the book so far- 'Cloak of Shadows' seems to be following a very similar path to the last one, sorta... but I'm only just over a 100 pages in so, lots to go still.

Cheers Goonalan

 

[Goonalan]

Oh, and I've probably asked this before- and then forgotten the answer.

How do I go about setting up a Signature for my posts.

Just in case by Signature I mean the box at the bottom with text in it which will automatically appear every time I post- apologies, I am not good with computers, or indeed the correct nomenclature for computer-related-stuff.

I'm a subscriber here, can I get a Signature?
I think I had one previously...

Any advice?

Cheers goonalan

 

[JLowder]

The issue is the buying of the books- I looked at different ways to do this (there was another thread here prior to this one asking people to suggest the correct order to read the books)- reading all of them in publication order, reading them as a sort of time line of the Realms, but the difficulty has (and will) always be getting hold of the books.

eBay is a good starting place. The site bookfinder.com is a good used book search aggregator. You can sometimes find good deals there.

As the Realms series stretches on, many of the titles will become harder to find. The TSR books in the late 80s and early 90s went through multiple printings and sold over (some well over) 100,000 copies each. Many of the late Realms series releases from Wizards only went through one, relatively small printing. This has nothing to do with the quality of the books, but rather speaks to the differences between the bookselling market in the early 1990s and the last ten or so years, as well as the way the publisher perceived the fiction as part of their overall publishing plan.

Bob Salvatore's Drizzt books don't follow this model, of course. They are a thing unto themselves, with their own rules.

Cheers,
Jim Lowder

 

[Goonalan]

eBay is a good starting place. The site bookfinder.com is a good used book search aggregator. You can sometimes find good deals there.

As the Realms series stretches on, many of the titles will become harder to find. The TSR books in the late 80s and early 90s went through multiple printings and sold over (some well over) 100,000 copies each. Many of the late Realms series releases from Wizards only went through one, relatively small printing. This has nothing to do with the quality of the books, but rather speaks to the differences between the bookselling market in the early 1990s and the last ten or so years, as well as the way the publisher perceived the fiction as part of their overall publishing plan.

Bob Salvatore's Drizzt books don't follow this model, of course. They are a thing unto themselves, with their own rules.

Cheers,
Jim Lowder

I'm trying to buy as many as I can, while I can- when I get paid at the end of each month I have a splurge and attempt to pick the next however many. I got 30+ for Christmas from a variety of family & friends.

Ebay has indeed been the best place to look, 2/3 come from there, the other 1/3 from a mix of amazon, abe and others. I'll check out bookfinder.

Here's the list of what I've got ready to read, although there are maybe another 20-30 that have not made it on to this list yet-

Reading List

And keep in mind I've only been at this for maybe five months, I've managed to pick up maybe 150 of them so far, often I just search the above places for 'forgotten realms' and it's very obvious that there are very much fewer copies of the later novels then the older stuff.

Anyone with books to spare (that are on the list above, and I'm wanting)- feel free to donate, I'll pay your postage (at least), feel free to get in touch- pretty please.

Cheers Goonalan

 

[Goonalan]

#044 Cloak of Shadows by Ed Greenwood (Shadow of the Avatar 2)
Read 12/1/20 to 16/1/20



Book 2- and more of the same, it's crazy good and yet crazy not quite so good in places- the rest of it is just crazy. It's all over the place(s) at times, and yet... it's a day or so after I finished this one and I still can't really decide how much I liked it. It's hard to grasp, at times... what happened?

So, the deal is- more of the same, the Time of Troubles- gods on Toril and magic is wild. Although it needs to be said that the Avatar series did a different thing with the broken magic set-back, in this series it is hardly broken at all, in the first Avatar series you cast Detect Magic and inadvertently open a portal to the Netherparts (you get my drift). It's also the same four(-ish) heroes- Sharn, the two Harper Ranger guys (cheeky chappies both of 'em) and Elminster (being faked, mostly, in this one by Selune- she's wearing the millennial mage, sorta). So, more of that again- and some more solo Elminster (in flying head form, but also in other shapes and sizes), in fact there's a lot of Elminster in this one for a book that doesn't have the name Elminster on the cover. But that's okay.

Sex is in still, as is a bit of lewdness, accompanied by the itchy red rash of innuendo- like in the last novel- that kind of thing is significant, I think, it's like Greenwood is ignoring the house style/rules (only slightly) and getting away with it. It's my Realms... maybe. But I've not read enough of the other books yet to truly tell- there's even a behind closed doors sex scene in this one... with Khelben Blackstaff & Laeral Silverstaff (fret not, they're married- and to each other). It seems the ladies can't resist an Archmage...

So, to the plot (such as it is)- at heart of it are the Malaugrym, the bad guys, terrifyingly fierce shape-changers, and flame hot mages to boot (the best of them). They live in the Shadow Castle, on the Shadow Plane, possibly on Shadow Street (but not the sunny side) etc. They all hate Elminster, and the Chosen, and humans in general, and the Forgotten Realms, oh... and each other. The Malaugrym have a few issues to work through, it seems. The big prize for them, during the Time of Troubles, is to kill El (and any other Chosen) and then... take over the WORLD (or similar).

The Malaugrym are great, not particularly because of their terrifying magics and powers, but because they're (mostly) all arrogant moustache twirling villains as depicted in early black-and-white movies (even the females), and also Illithid-like crazy and Drow-like cruel.

The Malaugrym attack our heroes (repeatedly) in the Realms, eventually kill the false Elminster, and then the good guys (now with a ghostly Selune) take the fight to the Shadow Castle.

The section in which our heroes camp out with Amdramnar is just glorious, the fact that he takes them in and the heroes get to party in the Malaugrym's backyard is also tres chic.

And yet...

And yet...

I keep getting this itch in my brain, a nagging doubt- there's so much going on here, we skip about and go visit with dozens of different folk, there are sections when the story gambols on and (very nicely) the tension builds, but then we're off again- and the quality control isn't always turned to max, or else the new thing we investigate, while interesting, kinda just deflects or defuses the tense bit that is still going on elsewhere.

It's frustrating, it's all about Elminster (women love him, guys look up to him, and gods turn up to remind him how great he is), and yet there's this other story with these cool heroes, and equally cool villains (who we repeatedly get to party with in their creepy lair). And, of course, El turns up (every now and then) to save the heroes, while he's also elsewhere saving the rest of the world.

You might be thinking by now that I don't like Elminster- but that's not it, I like Elminster plenty but like high level play in D&D (any edition, pretty much) if there's a 20th Level Wizard in the party then pretty much the rest of the guys are just there to carry the bags.

This one, perhaps this series (I've not finished it yet), is a funny-shaped piece of the jigsaw.

Read.

 

[Goonalan]

#045 All Shadows Fled by Ed Greenwood (Shadow of the Avatar 3)
Read 16/1/20 to 19/1/20



Book 3- and, of course, it's more of the same... although tbh this one stays on a fairly narrow, and straightforward plot/adventure for quite a while, it's not until the end that it seems to chop and change the narratives a lot more.

In this series there have been three (sorta) plots going on- the Zhentarim (and others) attack on the various Dales, the Malaugrym's attempt to destroy the Chosen ones and in particular Elminster, and lastly (and seemingly least importantly) the Time of Troubles.

The fact that there are these three things going on (and a few other bits), overlapping (only very slightly though) and jumping about a lot, makes all of the novels in this series seem a little light in places- certainly not intense as some of the others that do a lot more heavy-lifting.

The issue with the Time of Troubles here is that it gets lost, shoved in to the background- if you've not read the initial Avatar series (or at least the first three of them) then there are times when you're going to be a little confused by the action. Events in the initial Avatar series are explained away very quickly here (as if the reader already knows what has been going on). One minute Elminster is with us- the next he's gone, dead- and all and sundry (from the common folk to gods (sorry goddesses)) are in mourning.

Both of the other stories- the Zhent attacks, and their network of petty tyrant leaders is a fascinating expose of their mindset and the way they go about things- again, all good. The same goes for perhaps the more interesting story- the Malaugrym in the Shadow Castle, the shape-changing nasty bastard's desire to off Elminster and take over the Realms. Glorious- and yet, both tales are lessened somewhat by the swooping and swapping between them.

Which is a shame.

There are also bags and bags of good guys in this series to get to know, and to remember who they are- easily a dozen significant (in action) heroes, perhaps nearer twenty.

This novel is the conclusion of the trilogy, and in places a gripping read- the final attacks of the Zhents on the Dales is glorious in places, evocative in its explicit depiction of the terrors of mass combat, armies clashing and the finality and loneliness of death and dying. Very good.

And yet their story seems to just peter out... they're beat, the war is over- now for the Malaugrym.

It's the same again for the Shadowmasters, the things they get up to are glorious, and nasty, and leaves the reader wanting more- or better still a single novel (or two) that is about the Realms folk battling the shadow-dwellers, without the intrusion of the Zhent.

In conclusion Elminster shows up and that's all he wrote... which, again is a little deflating. If you've read the initial Avatar series (which you'll need to have done to make this book/trilogy make perfect sense) then you already know that El is alive and well, and will be back.

Therefore the final showdown, and El's arrival- is... unsurprising.

There are some great little vignette's here also- Storm's trip to Sembia, the Malaugrym in the Tower of Mortoth (and in the Realms in general), the 'honourable' Red Wizard- all of these are fantastic, particularly Storm's journey.

So, two great stories- mashed together, at times, the only significant overlap being the presence of the heroes stood in the middle (in particular Shar and the pair of cheeky/chirpy Harpers & Selune).

There's a lot of love, and lust- as usual.

It's great, then just good, and then why are we here... and doing this- it's never bad, just not as coherent as perhaps it could have been.

Did Ed Greenwood have to make changes, so that his trilogy could sit easily alongside the initial Avatar series? It seems that way.

Read.

 

[Goonalan]

#046 The Legacy by RA Salvatore (Legacy of the Drow 1)
Read 19/1/20 to 23/1/20



And we're back in Salvatore land, and all is... well.

It's not great, like some of the previous Drizzt books, but it does the job- and flies by given half the chance, I had three goes at reading this one- the first two attempts got interrupted (work- gah!), the last- well, suddenly, it was the end of the book.

Lloth, and in particular, Vierna (Drizzt's favourite sister) is gunning for Drizzt, the ultimo sacrifice to the eight-legged her-nastyness. Also in tow are Jarlaxle, who I like more and more every time I encounter him; and Entreri who... well, same again- I do love me some super-villains with (bad/cool) attitude. Point of fact Vierna (High Priest of Eight-Legged Grave-Machine) is the least bad ass of the bad guy squad.

Then on the other hand there's the roll call of good guys- Bruenor (of the Battlehammer), Catti, Wulf, a little bit of Regis (and his Mask wearing friend) and of course the Drow's faithful feline- Guenhwyvar. So, the gangs all here- there's even a comedy Dwarf, the Battlerager Pwent is back.

However it starts badly, I have to say, the Drizzt - Catti - Wulfy triangle is back in force. For three folk that swear that they love each other, and will give their lives to save the others- they don't ever get around to chatting with each other about, y'know- stuff, like feelings. The love tryst seems strange and strained- Catti sort out who and what you want, and if its Wulfy then have a word and tell him how it is (it's the whatever year it is in Dale Reckoning, and women have rights too). Drizzt you do all the inner turmoil shizz- get around to figuring out that you're 'maybe' thing with Catti is not making things any easier- for anyone- again, perhaps a little tete-a-tete to relieve the tension. Lastly, Wulfy- you're a bit of a dick, have a word with yourself.

So, the Drow are coming and Entreri has been hired to lead the charge, his price another showdown with the scimitar-prince (actually we get three showdowns between the pair). There's some nice underdark to enjoy, and lovely bit of hot-Dwarf action, and of course the Drow-squad to admire in full in all their hand crossbow-wielding fury.

Lots and lots of fighting.

Lots and lots.

And lots.

Which is why it was so easy (and quick) to read, on reflection.

All the way to the end which MASSIVE SPOILER culminates in some dark times ahead for a majority of the good guys and the bad.

Wulfy gets stoned (to death) although I'd have a hefty wedge on it, whatever the odds, that the big guy is coming back- no body = no fatality, it's the way here.

Obviously all the of other good guys think Wulfy's dead, and are all to a greater or lesser degree left broken by the loss.

For the Drow team- Vierna's gone to Lloth, Entreri is presumed dead- so, not dead at all then, while Jarlaxle has a broken leg, and is still telling jokes- and smirking in his stupid hat. I love that Drow.

If the other books in this series are as good as this one (which just to remind you, I said at the start isn't great- not quite) then this is still going to be the third or fourth best series that I have read so far. Salvatore's five-some are already very well established, and for a variety of reasons sympathetic (sometimes with shades of annoying) but all of them regardless interesting folk.

There's also the odd thing in that they just seem like an adventuring party that I have encountered before, and I get that they're all to some degree stereotypes, but they are perhaps 'the stereotype' from whence it all began (or if not began, then received a hefty leg-up).

Read.

 

[Zardnaar]

#046 The Legacy by RA Salvatore (Legacy of the Drow 1)
Read 19/1/20 to 23/1/20

View attachment 117752

And we're back in Salvatore land, and all is... well.

It's not great, like some of the previous Drizzt books, but it does the job- and flies by given half the chance, I had three goes at reading this one- the first two attempts got interrupted (work- gah!), the last- well, suddenly, it was the end of the book.

Lloth, and in particular, Vierna (Drizzt's favourite sister) is gunning for Drizzt, the ultimo sacrifice to the eight-legged her-nastyness. Also in tow are Jarlaxle, who I like more and more every time I encounter him; and Entreri who... well, same again- I do love me some super-villains with (bad/cool) attitude. Point of fact Vierna (High Priest of Eight-Legged Grave-Machine) is the least bad ass of the bad guy squad.

Then on the other hand there's the roll call of good guys- Bruenor (of the Battlehammer), Catti, Wulf, a little bit of Regis (and his Mask wearing friend) and of course the Drow's faithful feline- Guenhwyvar. So, the gangs all here- there's even a comedy Dwarf, the Battlerager Pwent is back.

However it starts badly, I have to say, the Drizzt - Catti - Wulfy triangle is back in force. For three folk that swear that they love each other, and will give their lives to save the others- they don't ever get around to chatting with each other about, y'know- stuff, like feelings. The love tryst seems strange and strained- Catti sort out who and what you want, and if its Wulfy then have a word and tell him how it is (it's the whatever year it is in Dale Reckoning, and women have rights too). Drizzt you do all the inner turmoil shizz- get around to figuring out that you're 'maybe' thing with Catti is not making things any easier- for anyone- again, perhaps a little tete-a-tete to relieve the tension. Lastly, Wulfy- you're a bit of a dick, have a word with yourself.

So, the Drow are coming and Entreri has been hired to lead the charge, his price another showdown with the scimitar-prince (actually we get three showdowns between the pair). There's some nice underdark to enjoy, and lovely bit of hot-Dwarf action, and of course the Drow-squad to admire in full in all their hand crossbow-wielding fury.

Lots and lots of fighting.

Lots and lots.

And lots.

Which is why it was so easy (and quick) to read, on reflection.

All the way to the end which MASSIVE SPOILER culminates in some dark times ahead for a majority of the good guys and the bad.

Wulfy gets stoned (to death) although I'd have a hefty wedge on it, whatever the odds, that the big guy is coming back- no body = no fatality, it's the way here.

Obviously all the of other good guys think Wulfy's dead, and are all to a greater or lesser degree left broken by the loss.

For the Drow team- Vierna's gone to Lloth, Entreri is presumed dead- so, not dead at all then, while Jarlaxle has a broken leg, and is still telling jokes- and smirking in his stupid hat. I love that Drow.

If the other books in this series are as good as this one (which just to remind you, I said at the start isn't great- not quite) then this is still going to be the third or fourth best series that I have read so far. Salvatore's five-some are already very well established, and for a variety of reasons sympathetic (sometimes with shades of annoying) but all of them regardless interesting folk.

There's also the odd thing in that they just seem like an adventuring party that I have encountered before, and I get that they're all to some degree stereotypes, but they are perhaps 'the stereotype' from whence it all began (or if not began, then received a hefty leg-up).

Read.

The Drizzt books were decent once upon a time.

I liked the 90s ones for the most part. Last great Drizzt book IMHO was The Silent Blade.

 

[tglassy]

I like most of Drizzt books. There are certainly a few trilogies that weren't up to snuff. Some a little too convenient, some were just forgettable, and there's always so much Drow politics. The most recent ones are almost more of that than of Drizzt. But for every mediocre book, there's a couple really good ones.

And Jarlaxle has become one of my favorite characters in just about any setting. He even did a few books with just Jarlaxle and Entreri, and I loved every minute of those.