Grasping for the Wind

Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition

Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition (Forgotten Realms, Eberron, and all D&D based games included) comes out today in some places, tomorrow in others, but for those of you unfamiliar with the whole Dungeons and Dragons thing, here is a post worth reading by Jeff Grubb, one of the minds behind the whole game, who relates the publishing history of D&D.

Book Review: Obsidian Ridge by Jess Lebow

* Genre: Sword and Sorcery, Media Tie-In, Forgotten Realms
* ISBN: 0786947853
* ISBN-13: 9780786947850
* Format: Mass Market Paperback, 313pp
* Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
* Pub. Date: April 2008
* Series: Forgotten Realms Citadels Series, #2

In a writing style throwback to the adventure stories of Robert Howard and others of his generation of sword and sorcery writers – light on dialogue, big on action - Jess Lebow has brought some of the adventure back to the Forgotten Realms campaign setting in his latest novel, Obsidian Ridge. Foregoing character introspections (except to a limited extent) Lebow allows the action to drive his narrative. It is much like the early Ed Greenwood, when he first began writing media tie in novels for his Forgotten Realms campaign setting.

Obsidian Ridge tells the story of three primary heroes. The Claw is the king’s assassin, whose bladed gauntlets remind me of nothing less than Wolverine. And the Claw uses them to equal effect. Mariko is the king’s daughter, but she is also a budding spellcaster and damsel in distress. Korox, King of Erlkazar - a newly formed nation that broke off from Tethyr - is forced to make a decision about whether or not to give up his daughter to the arch magus Xeries, master of a floating mountain in the sky called the Obsidian Ridge. Twisted in body and mind, Xeries threatens to destroy all of Erlkazar if he does not receive Mariko for his payment. But there are other forces at work. The criminal underworld of Lhorbauth – capital of Erlkazar – has captured Mariko and holds her for ransom from a desperate king. The king and the Claw must find Mariko, all the while wondering whether or not to turn over Mariko to the evil Xeries.

As you can see from the synopsis in the previous paragraph, there is a lot of potential for action in the story, and Lebow leverages it to the hilt. The story is light on dialogue, and instead moves from action sequence to battle scene, from battle scene to fight scene, with a dose of mystery thrown into the mix rather than conversation to move the narrative forward. The identity of the Claw, and the king of the underworld both remain a significant mystery for a large part of the story, although the astute reader will guess their identities quickly.

Although it is action that drives the plot, there is some time given over to introspection. Korox especially wrestles with what it means to be king. But Lebow’s skill is not in getting us to emotionally connect with the characters, rather it is in giving us heroes that we cannot help but cheer for. Reading Obsidian Ridge was like watching a football game in which you know nothing of the players except their names. As you watch, the announcers give you little tidbits of information about the players, and you appreciate them, but that isn’t why you tuned in. You tuned in because you needed something to cheer for, to watch one team beat another. In Obsidian Ridge you want to watch the team of Korox, Mariko, and the Claw beat Xeries and the criminal underworld. What you learn of their characters in the meantime is interesting, but is not why you choose to read the book.

The novel has flaws. It is a simple plot, and Lebow uses deus ex machina a few times. The Claw and Mariko get out of a few scrapes a bit too fortuitously and this can seem a little contrived. When the plot tries to zig or zag, it is usually pretty obvious where the author is going, and when a surprise does occur, it is because the reader had little foreshadowing and so had no reason to expect it.

If you enjoy dialogue as part of the story, Lebow uses only what he must. The story is mostly told through a description of events as they unfold. Characterization is simplified and the motivations of the characters are not in any way complex – except for Korox. He alone really struggles with himself.

I don’t think that this novel makes a good entry point for new Realms readers. It explains little of the Realms mythos, and in fact only has a very few mentions of the standard races and denizens of the realms. Even those are usually part human, part something else. A little prior knowledge of the Realms would stand the reader in good stead for understanding the Realms story Lebow has written. The book could have been placed in another setting other than the Realms and still have been essentially the same story. I do recommend it for all Realms readers to add to their collection. It is not a stand out novel, but neither is it mediocre, and so it fits snuggle into that area of fiction that is best classified as an enjoyable read.

In Obsidian Ridge Jess Lebow took a difficult topic - it is part of the Forgotten Realms The Citadels series, where the writers try to write a story about fortresses and castles - and made an interesting story of it. It has inescapable dungeons, a love story, truly evil villains, battle and fight scenes, and a hero who uses gauntlets as weapons. What more could you ask for from a sword and sorcery novel?

Snippet from Paul Kemp's Shadowrealm

Paul S. Kemp has posted a little scene from his latest Forgotten Realms novel Shadowrealm at his livejournal. Shadowrealm is currently slated for publication in December of 2008, and will conclude the Twilight War trilogy.

Featured on Red Room

My interview with Rosemary Jones, author of the Forgotten Realms novel Crypt of the Moaning Diamond has been featured on the homepage of Red Room.com!

Redroom is:

... the online home of the world’s greatest writers. Through original, author-generated content, we offer a trustworthy and creative social network unlike any other. Here, you can connect with your favorite authors, access current industry news, and comment on engaging features. By fostering true community between authors and readers, Red Room showcases esteemed writers and inspires the next generation. We also give back to the community we aim to nurture with our commitment to the Causes We Support.

Thanks to Rosemary for posting a link to our interview at Red Room, and to Red Room for thinking it worthy enough to put on their homepage!

Sword, Sorcery, and Small White Dogs: An Interview with Rosemary Jones

Rosemary Jones (Myspace, Blog) is the author of the Forgotten Realms novel Crypt of the Moaning Diamond as well as several short stories. she answered a few of my questions about shared world fiction, humor in fantasy, and children's books.

GFTW: How would you describe Crypt of the Moaning Diamond to someone who hasn’t heard of it before?

Rosemary Jones: An old-fashioned swashbuckling sword-and-sorcery story full of monsters, magic, mayhem, and treasure set in the Forgotten Realms that does not fear to make humorous use of a small dog.

GFTW: Why are music and the ability to sing (or lack thereof) so prevalent throughout your novel?

RJ: That’s my day job creeping in. I work for an opera company writing press release, program notes, web content, and other items. I love music. But I’m can’t sing at all! And I’m surrounded by people who are enormously gifted at music. So I started thinking about what would it be like if you were a child of a great singer, as my heroine is, and you couldn’t sing.

GFTW: Since you write in a shared world, I have to ask this question. What is your response to those folks who deride shared worlds as bad fiction?

RJ: I would never make blanket statements about any genre because somebody is going to come along and blow you away with their talent. I think it depends on the writer and the risks that they and their publisher are willing to take. Neil Gaiman took a dopey D.C. comics character, the Sandman, and changed the way people regarded comics and won a World Fantasy Award. J.K. Rowling took the British school series genre, where each book deals with the next year in a boarding school, and turned it into an international phenomenon by tweaking that formula in all sorts of wonderful ways. But in both cases, those writers also worked very hard to make their characters real even though the hero might be an immortal god or a boy wizard. And, quite obviously in both cases, there was somebody at their publishing houses saying “Well this is different but let’s take a chance.”

One thing that can be problematic in writing shared world fiction or any type of genre fiction is the idea that you have to sound a certain way, that there is only one “voice” as it were for that type of fiction. I think that’s when writers can end up sounding forced or awkward, and readers can be very quick to pick up on that. I tried to keep the facts right (the way that the world works), stay in my own voice to tell the story, and make the characters as real as I could. When a friend read this, the first thing she said, “Is it really OK to have your adventurers out trying to raise money to repair the barn? Shouldn’t they be trying to save the world? Isn’t that what they do in fantasy?” And I told her that my characters have much smaller and, to them, more pressing problems than saving the world. Luckily, my editor at Wizards was very supportive of what I tried to do with this story. Which meant that the novel that resulted is, for better or worse, definitely Rosemary Jones’s style of storytelling.

GFTW: Why is humor such an important part of a story?

RJ: That’s just the way I write. And what I like to read. I enjoy fiction where the humor isn’t forced, where it comes more out of the relationships of the characters. Pip Granger does this beautifully in a series of mysteries that starts with Not All Tarts are Apple. Life just is a mixture of funny and serious, and it seems natural to write that way.

Terry Pratchett is another master of mixing funny and serious, especially in his later books. Read Jingo or Small Gods or Feet of Clay. Wonderful characters, terrific humor, and some serious thinking about war, religion, and freedom. Making Money, his latest book and yet another fantasy with humorous use of a small dog, is also a pretty good lesson in real-world economics and the types of speculation that is driving the stock market news today. In fact, I was a bit dismayed when I realized a dog was a major part of his latest book—his writing is so fantastic, I don’t like to go too near a “Pratchett-type” plot or characters. I definitely don’t wax as philosophical as he does either.

But as Elaine Cunningham said in a forum, you eventually do cross paths with other writers when you writing in the high fantasy world. Dwarves are dwarves are dwarves, as it were. Again, it becomes a matter of voice and trying to stay as true to yourself as possible.

GFTW: What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a novel?

RJ: Letting go at the end. I’m never totally satisfied. When you’re working on a deadline, you do reach a moment where you have to print out the pages, burn the CD, and ship it off to the editor. I’ve actually ripped open the box to make another note on the page at the post office. This is also true of nonfiction for me. Shipping it off is the hardest part.

GFTW: You write both short stories and novels. How do you approach writing novels versus writing short fiction?

RJ: Much more detailed outlines. Short stories tend to flow out of a single sentence, the opening or the closing line. Crypt also started with one idea: how would sappers operate in the Forgotten Realms? And that idea really started with me reading about medieval sappers, i.e. the men who had the job of breaking down the walls of a besieged castle. Then a lot of other things from life got layered into the outline, like not being able to get out the door without spilling my breakfast down my shirt or wondering why everyone that I see wandering outside in Seattle is walking a small dog or how family members don’t always look like each other but definitely are similar in underlying ways. My outline for a short story might be just one or two sentences jotted in a notebook. My outline for Crypt was 35 pages!

GFTW: To what extent are you constrained by the pre-existing world of Faerûn in your writing and how and when are you able to forge new territory in the Forgotten Realms setting?

RJ: What constraint? I had a whole huge world to play in and somebody else had already drawn the maps! I find owning complete encyclopedias explaining where stuff is and how it works is a terrific safety net and a great source of ideas. Some shared worlds might be harder to write in, but Faerûn seems to act more like historical fiction. If you’re writing about the Napoleonic wars, you have to put Waterloo in the right place on the right day. But if you’re writing about what’s happening in a corner of Denmark on the same day as Waterloo, you don’t need to worry so much about “the facts that everyone knows.” My story takes place in a year, 1276 DR, and a corner of Faerûn, the ruins of Tsurlagol, that nobody else had written about much. So the story and the characters are all mine but I hope the novel makes sense to somebody who likes this setting as well as to somebody who knows nothing about the Forgotten Realms.

As it was, the constraints came more out of the perimeters I set on myself: the action would all happen underground since the theme of this series was Dungeons and the time period would be less than two days in my characters’ lives. But the constraints also led to some creative solutions (I think) that made it a more interesting story.

GFTW: You have mentioned that you used to play role playing games quite often. What is your favorite role playing game memory?

RJ: In college, I was in one of those long-running D&D campaigns fueled by chips and dip. The kind where everything seems sensible and heroic at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. in the morning. I wanted to get that rushed, light-headed feeling into the action of this book. And another friend, who works in the gaming industry, was my sounding board. He contributed several ideas based on his campaigns and even the title treasure!

GFTW: Your characters create a great deal of humor through their interpersonal relationships. Are any of these based on personal experiences?

RJ: Partially that college D&D campaign. We were a very creative and slightly silly group. We used to drive our DM nuts because we wouldn’t always act the way that he thought we should. And we were very lucky in our dice rolls. So, more than once, when we really should have been dead, we beat the odds and got out. So I had the idea in the back of my head that the luck would play an important role in this book.

GFTW: In addition to writing fiction, you also write nonfiction, including reference materials for collecting children’s books. Where did your interest in children’s fiction come from?

RJ: A longtime passion is early 20th-century illustrated children’s books. I love the work of illustrators like Kay Nielsen or Edmund Dulac. That’s what I collect. But I also read and acquire a lot of fantasy and science fiction written for children or young adults. Both new books, like Kenneth Oppel or Philip Reeve, and older works, like Alexander Key or Andre Norton or E. Nesbit. As far as fantasy and science fiction are concerned, I find that the line between children’s books and adult books blurs quite quickly. Jules Verne, another favorite author, sold to both audiences from the beginning and his works attract great illustrators. Look at the illustrations that N.C. Wyeth created for Mysterious Island in 1918 or what the Dillons drew for a more recent version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, you’ll see a wonderful blend of art and fiction.

GFTW: Any plans for a novel or series outside of the Forgotten Realms?

RJ: Right now, I’m playing around with a novel based on Greek mythology. It’s my ten-year project; as in every time I’m between projects, I go back and tweak the ideas or write another scene for a writer’s group that I’m in. And I’ve been fiddling with a short story idea that keeps growing longer and longer about a guy trapped in a rocket in an asteroid field. The latter may turn into a novel outline if I’m not careful.

GFTW: Any parting thoughts for your readers or those who might be considering delving into the Realms?

RJ: Buy a big bookcase! There are a lot of great books out there. And very many different voices. If my style doesn’t suit your tastes, try someone else. Don’t ever judge the whole series like this based on just one author.

Crypt of the Moaning Diamond Bookplate

If you enjoyed my review of Crypt of the Moaning Diamond enough to get you own copy of this debut novel, or if you bought one all on your own, Rosemary Jones has a special offer for you.

With the help of an artist friend, Rosemary Jones has created a bookplate for Crypt of the Moaning Diamond. This sticks nicely to inside cover and it also reassures readers that the fate of the small white dog is less perilous than it may appear. The author, however, does not guarantee the longevity of kobolds, bugbears, or orcs of any size. For your own author-signed bookplate, just e-mail an address to rosemarynovels@aol.com.

Devil's Due to Publish Worlds of D&D

Looks like Devil's Due Publishing is going to anthologize some of the best short stories from Wizards of the Coast role-playing worlds. Eberron, Ravenloft, Dragonlance, and Forgotten Realms will all be included in the 48 page monthly comic.

Said James Lowder, the chief editor:

Each issue of Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons will feature two stories from Wizards of the Coast's bestselling fantasy settings, including the Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Ravenloft, and Eberron," Lowder said. Issues 1 and 2 will adapt R.A. Salvatore's "Dark Mirror," starring the Forgotten Realms' most famous drow, Drizzt Do'Urden, with a script by Nick Schley (Abiding Perdition, "Red Lotus") and art by Rafael Kayanan (Conan, Star Wars, Spider-Man), and Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's "The Legacy," featuring the world of Krynn's most infamous wizard, Raistlin Majere, with a script by Neil Kleid (Brownsville, Ninety Candles, X-Men Unlimited), and art by Javier Sanchez Aranda (Hellina).

Future issues of Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons will feature a wide array of iconic characters, including the arch-wizard Elminster, the vampire Strahd von Zarovich, and the death knight Lord Soth," according to Lowder. "Writers will include authors familiar to comics readers, as well as fans of fantasy fiction and role-playing games: Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood, Richard Knaak, Elaine Cunningham, P.N. Elrod, Monte Cook, Keith Baker, and Stan Brown, many of them scripting the adaptations of their own short stories.

This is going to be awesome. I hope they put them into TPB's as well, since I don't subscribe to comics usually.

A Year of Reading 2008

This is a continually updated list of all the books I have read in the year 2008. Links are to reviews I have written for some of these books. You can also look at my list for 2007.

January February March April May June
July August September October November December

January

Series 65: Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam Manual by Kaplan Financial
The Prodigal Troll by Charles Coleman Finlay
Instant Knowledge by the editors at mental_floss
The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes
In The Beginning by the editors at mental_floss
Eberron: Bound by Iron by Edward Bolme
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Bash Down the Door and Slice Open the Badguy edited by W. H. Horner
Hunter's Run by George R. R. Martin, Gardner Dozois and Daniel Abraham
A Bit of Madness by Emmanuel Civiello and Thomas Mosdi
Goblin Hero by Jim C. Hines
The Shadow and Night by Chris Walley
Dragon Outcast by E. E. Knight

February

Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse edited by John Joseph Adams
Breach the Hull edited by Mike McPhail
Confessor by Terry Goodkind
Blood Ties by Pamela Freeman
Sojourn Volume 6: The Bezerker's Tale by Ian Edgington and Greg Land
Forgotten Realms: Neversfall by Ed Gentry
Infoquake by David Louis Edelman
The Golden Cord by Paul Genesse
Grimspace by Ann Aguirre

March

The Death of the Necromancer by Martha Wells
Madhouse by Rob Thurman
The Dead Guy Interviews by Michael Stusser
The Hidden City by Michelle West
Klassic Koalas: Ancient Aboriginal Tales in New Retellings by Lee Barwood
Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
Growingold with B. C. by Johnny Hart

April

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Small Favor by Jim Butcher
Heroes Adrift by Moira J. Moore
Misspelled edited by Jule E. Czerneda
Flash Fiction Online, April 2008 edited by Jake Freivald
Rolling Thunder by John Varley
Empress by Karen Miller
Phytosphere by Scott Mackay
Goblin War by Jim C. Hines
Return of the Sword edited by Jason M. Waltz

May

Shadowmarch by Tad Williams
Forgotten Realms: Obsidian Ridge by Jess Lebow
Iron Man: Beneath the Armor by Andy Mangels
The Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt
Bloodheir by Brian Ruckley
The Martian General's Daughter by Theodore Judson
The Four Forges by Jenna Rhodes
Midnight Never Come by Marie Brennan

June

A Darkness Forged in Fire by Chris Evans
Wizards edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois

July

August

September

October

November

December

January February March April May June
July August September October November December

A Year of Reading 2007

The Year is Done! I hope you had a great one and have high hopes for 2008. Below is a list of all the books I read in 2007 (I like to keep track because I am just that hyper-organized). The final five have reviews written that I just haven't posted because every review deserves a suitable amount of time at the top of the blog. You will see them in January of 2008.

January February March April May June
July August September October November December

January

Tuf Voyaging by George R. R. Martin
Condensed Knowledge by the editors at mental_floss
Crown of Stars by Kate Elliott
In the Ruins by Kate Elliott
Gifts by Ursula K. Le Guin
Changing Planes by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clarke
Monks and Mystics by Mindy and Brandon Withrow
Outposts: Journeys to the Surviving Relics of the British Empire by Simon Winchester
Dying of the Light by George R. R. Martin
Life@Work by John Maxwell
The Children of Men by P.D. James
Forgotten Realms: Frostfell by Mark Sehestedt
The Druids by Peter Berresford Ellis

February

The Magic of Recluce by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
Forgotten Realms: Sacrifice of the Widow by Lisa Smedman
Dragon Champion by E. E. Knight
Forgotten Realms: Double Diamond Triangle Saga by Various Authors
Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky
Forbidden Knowledge by the editors at mental_floss

March

Three Blind Mice and Other Stories by Agatha Christie
Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories by Agatha Christie
Rome 2006 by Rick Steves
Supplement to the Italian Dictionary by Bruno Munari
Keats and Italy by Various Authors
The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers
Teacher Man by Frank McCourt
Night by Elie Wiesel
Dachshunds for Dummies by Eve Adamson
Legend by David Gemmell
Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe by James M. Ward

April

Forgotten Realms: Depths of Madness by Erik Scott de Bie
The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories by Agatha Christie
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Shakespeare's Kings by John Julius Norwich
On Becoming a Leader by Warren Bennis
The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain
Black Gate: Issue 10 Spring 2007 by John O'Neill (ed.) and Howard Andrew Jones (ed.)
Forgotten Realms - Unclean: The Haunted Lands, Book I by Richard Lee Byers

May

Dragon Avenger by E. E. Knight
Eldest by Christopher Paolini
Scatterbrained by the editors at Mental_Floss
The Prestige by Christopher Priest
Real Estate Finance for Investment Properties by Steve Berges
The Clerk's Tale by Margaret Frazer
The Bastard's Tale by Margaret Frazer
The Hunter's Tale by Margaret Frazer
Forgotten Realms - The Gossamer Plain: The Empyrean Odyssey Book 1 by Thomas M. Reid
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The King's Buccaneer by Raymond E. Fiest
The King Beyond the Gate by David Gemmell
The Unhandsome Prince by John Moore
A Fate Worse than Dragons by John Moore
Maskerade by Terry Pratchett
The Truth by Terry Pratchett
Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett

June

Interesting Times by Terry Pratchett
The Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
The Restorer by Sharon Hinck
Another Fine Myth/Myth Conceptions by Robert Asprin
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Father of Dragons by L. B. Graham

July

Black History Through Blue Eyes: The Debt the World Owes to Africa by James Seymour
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Forgotten Realms: Scream of Stone, The Watercourse Trilogy Book III by Philip Athans
The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees
Dangerous Visions edited by Harlan Ellison
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
The Widow's Tale by Margaret Frazer
A Rhyming History of Britain by James Muirden, David Eccles (Illustrator)

August

More Than A Hobby by David Green
Real Estate Investment Trusts: Structure, Performance, and Investment Opportunities by Su Han Chan, John Erickson, Ko Wang
Tipperary: A Novel by Frank Delaney
Explorer's House: National Geographic and the World It Made by Robert M. Poole
Forgotten Realms: The Howling Delve by Jaleigh Johnson
A Life Well Spent: The Eternal Rewards of Investing Yourself and Your Money in Your Family by Russ Crosson
Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
The Telling by Ursula K. Le Guin

September

Black Gate Issue #11 by John O'Neill (ed.)
The Surrogates by Robert Venditti, Brett Weldele
Shadowstorm by Paul S. Kemp
Forgotten Realms: Swords of Dragonfire by Ed Greenwood
Forgotten Realms: Shadowstorm by Paul S. Kemp
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Honored Enemy by Raymond E. Feist and William R. Fortschen
Murder in LaMut by Raymond E. Feist and Joel Rosenberg
Forgotten Realms: Storm of the Dead by Lisa Smedman
The Elephant and the Dragon: The Rise of India and China and What it Means for All of Us by Robyn Meredith
The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller
Union of Renegades by Tracy Falbe
Winterbirth by Brian Ruckley

October

Wind Follower by Carole McDonnell
The Sagittarius Command by R. M. Meluch
The Summoner by Gail Z. Martin
Making Money by Terry Pratchett
Crystal Rain by Tobias Buckell
Goblin Quest by Jim C. Hines

November

Scarlet by Stephen R. Lawhead
The Princes of the Golden Cage by Nathalie Mallet
Green Rider by Kristen Britain
The Phoenix Unchained by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory
Forgotten Realms: Stardeep by Bruce Cordell
The Awakened Mage by Karen Miller
Forgotten Realms: The Orc King by R. A. Salvatore
Ragamuffin by Tobias Buckell
A Prayer for the Damned by Peter Tremayne
The Blue Haired Bombshell by John Zakour
Hedge Hunters by Katherine Burton
Sails and Sorcery: Tales of Nautical Fantasy edited by W. H. Horner
Shimmer, The Pirate Issue edited by John Joseph Adams

December

Eberron: The Orb of Xoriat by Edward Bolme
Sojourn: The Sorcerer's Tale by Ian Edgington and Greg Land
Across the Face of the World by Russell Kirkpatrick
Forgotten Realms: Crypt of the Moaning Diamond by Rosemary Jones
Fellowship Fantastic by Martin H. Greenberg and Kerrie Hughes
Genetopia by Keith Brooke
The Tales of the Last War edited by Mark Sehestedt
Bad A** Faeries edited by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
Robin Hood and the Beasts of Sherwood by Clayton Emery
Tides by Scott Mackay
Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet

January February March April May June
July August September October November December

Book Reviews by Title

These are the my book reviews, categorized alphabetically by the title. (Click here for categorization by author.) "The" doesn't count towards the title.

You can also subscribe to an RSS feed of my reviews at librarything.

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

A

A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
A Rhyming History of Britain by James Muirden (author) and David Eccles (illustrator)
Across the Face of the World by Russell Kirkpatrick
Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
Are Women Human? by Dorothy Sayers
Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet
The Awakened Mage by Karen Miller

B

Bad-A** Faeries edited by Danielle Ackley-McPhail (et al.)
Badger's Moon by Peter Tremayne
Bash Down the Door and Slice Open the Badguy edited by W. H. Horner
Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
Beyond the Summerland by L. B. Graham
Breach the Hull edited by Mike McPhail
A Bit of Madness by Emmanuel Civiello and Thomas Mosdi
Black Gate: Issue #11 edited by John O'Neill
Black History Through Blue Eyes: The Debt the World Owes to Africa by James Seymour
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Bloodheir by Brain Ruckley
Blood Ties by Pamela Freedman
The Blue-Haired Bombshell by John Zakour

C

The Children of Men by P. D. James
The Clerk's Tale by Margaret Frazer
Confessor by Terry Goodkind
The Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt
The Crown of Stars Series by Kate Elliott
Crystal Rain by Tobias Buckell
Condensed Knowledge by the editors of mental_floss

D

Dangerous Visions edited by Harlan Ellison
The Dead Guy Interviews by Michael Stusser
The Death of the Necromancer by Martha Wells
Dragon Champion by E. E. Knight
Dragon Outcast
The Druids by Peter Berresford Ellis
Dying of the Light by George R. R. Martin

E

Eberron: Bound by Iron by Edward Bolme
Eberron: The Orb of Xoriat by Edward Bolme
Eberron: The Tales of the Last War by Mark Sehestedt
The Elephant and the Dragon: The Rise of India and China and What it Means for All of Us by Robyn Meredith
Empress by Karen Miller
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Explorer's House: National Geographic and the World It Made by Robert M. Poole

F

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
Fellowship Fantastic by Martin H. Greenberg and Kerrie Hughes
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Flash Fiction Online, April 2008 edited by Jake Freivald
Forgotten Realms: The City of Splendors by Elaine Cunningham and Ed Greenwood
Forgotten Realms: Crypt of the Moaning Diamond by Rosemary Jones
Forgotten Realms: The Gossamer Plain by Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms: The Howling Delve by Jaleigh Johnson
Forgotten Realms: Obsidian Ridge by Jess Lebow
Forgotten Realms: The Orc King by R. A. Salvatore
Forgotten Realms: Road of the Patriarch by R. A . Salvatore
Forgotten Realms: Shadowstorm by Paul S. Kemp
Forgotten Realms: Stardeep by Bruce Cordell
Forgotten Realms: Swords of Dragonfire by Ed Greenwood
Forgotten Realms: Unclean by Richard Lee Byers

G

Genetopia by Keith Brooke
The Gift of Pain by Paul Brand and Philip Yancey
Glory Road by Robert Heinlein
Green Rider by Kristen Britain
Goblin Hero by Jim C. Hines
Goblin Quest by Jim C. Hines
Goblin War by Jim C. Hines
The Golden Cord by Paul Genesse
Grimspace by Ann Aguirre
Growingold with B.C. by Johnny Hart

H

Hedge Hunters by Katherine Burton
Henry V (Classical Comics Edition) by William Shakespeare
Heroes Adrift by Moira J. Moore
The Hidden City by Michelle West
Honored Enemy by Raymond E. Feist and William R. Fortschen
Hood by Stephen Lawhead
Hunter's Run by George R. R. Martin, Gardner Dozois, and Daniel Abraham

I

Infoquake by David Louis Edelman
The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain
The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller
Iron Man: Beneath the Armor by Andy Mangels

J

J. R. R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter
The Junior Books by Dave Ramsey

K

Klasssic Koalas: Ancient Aboriginal Tales in New Retellings by Lee Barwood
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
The Know-It-All by A. J. Jacobs

L

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
Legend by David Gemmell
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
Life@Work by John C. Maxwell

M

Madhouse by Rob Thurman
Magician by Raymond E. Feist
The Magic of Recluce by L. E. Moedesitt Jr.
Making Money by Terry Pratchett
Master of Souls by Peter Tremayne
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Midnight Never Come by Marie Brennan
Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe by James M. Ward
Misspelled edited by Julie E. Czerneda
Monks and Mystics by Mindy and Brandon Withrow
Moon Gate by David Weldon and William Proctor
More Than A Hobby by David Green
The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson
Murder in LaMut by Raymond E. Feist and Joel Rosenberg

N

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Night by Elie Wiesel
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

O

On Becoming A Leader by Warren Bennis
Outposts: Journeys to the Surviving Relics of the British Empire by Simon Winchester
Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky

P

Phantom by Terry Goodkind
The Pendragon Cycle by Stephen Lawhead
The Phoenix Unchained by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory
Phytosphere by Scott Mackay
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
The Prestige by Christopher Priest
The Princes of the Golden Cage by Nathalie Mallet
The Prodigal Troll by Charles Coleman Finlay

Q

R

Ragamuffin by Tobias Buckell
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
The Restorer by Sharon Hinck
Return of the Sword edited by Jason M. Waltz
The Rick Steves' Travel Guide Series by Rick Steves
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Robin Hood and the Beasts of Sherwood by Clayton Emery
Rolling Thunder by John Varley

S

The Sagittarius Command by R. M. Meluch
Sails and Sorcery: Tales of Nautical Fantasy edited by W. H. Horner
Scarlet by Stephen Lawhead
Shadow in the Deep by L. B. Graham
The Shadow and Night by Chris Walley
Shadowmarch by Tad Williams
Shakespeare's Kings by John Julius Norwich
Shimmer, The Pirate Issue edited by John Joseph Adams
Small Favor by Jim Butcher
Smoke in the Wind by Peter Tremayne
Sojourn: The Bezerker's Tale by Ian Edgington and Greg Land
Sojourn: The Sorcerer's Tale by Ian Edgington and Greg Land
The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes
The Summoner by Gail Z. Martin
The Surrogates, Vol. 1 by Robert Venditti

T

Teacher Man by Frank McCourt
Thud! by Terry Pratchett
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Tides by Scott Mackay
Tipperary: A Novel by Frank Delaney
The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
The Truth by Terry Pratchett

U

Union of Renegades by Tracy Falbe

V

W

Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse edited by John Joseph Adams
Wind Follower by Carole McDonnell
Winterbirth by Brian Ruckley

X

Y

Z

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Book Review: Crypt of the Moaning Diamond by Rosemary Jones

* Genre: Fantasy, Shared World Fiction
* ISBN: 0786947144
* ISBN-13: 9780786947140
* Format: Mass Market Paperback, 320pp
* Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
* Pub. Date: November 2007
* Series: Dungeons Series

What happens when an writer who works for an opera company turns to writing fantasy? Does the story take on qualities of the epic? Do people take forever to die? Or does everyone just walk around singing loudly and wearing funny costumes? If these are questions you have asked yourself (or even if they aren’t) you ought to turn your attention to Crypt of the Moaning Diamond by Rosemary Jones. An opera writer and first time novelist, Jones has created a dungeon delving story both humorous and out of the ordinary set in the Forgotten Realms mythos.

Ivy is the leader of the Siegebreakers, a small band of sappers who hire themselves out to armies needing to have walls come a’tumblin down. Ivy’s crew consists of a 300 year old dwarf who loves dogs, the dog Wiggles, two sisters with very different mothers, and a goat footed thief. Additionally, they have a tag along, a Procampurian knight whose rigid sense of honor provides a great deal of humor to the pragmatic Siegebreakers. When the group falls into a vast and ancient crypt during one of their siege breaking attempts, they are forced to find a way out. But it isn’t all that simple. The crypt is vast, and a crazy wizard is down there with them, in search of a treasure with a great deal of power. In the meantime, the water level is rising beneath their feet, even as the heroes move deeper into the ground.

Unlike the other stories in the Dungeons series, Crypt of the Moaning Diamond is humorous rather than serious. In fact, it reminds me a lot of Jim C. Hines’ Goblin Quest in that way. The humor is different though. Where Hines chose a strange character and made him into a hero, thereby providing humor at the ridiculousness of the situation, Jones’ humor is more relational. Ivy and Sanval (the Procampurian gentleman) flirt with each other, albeit unconsciously. Since Ivy chooses to be pragmatic and dresses comfortably, whereas Sanval is all spit and polish with a strong sense of honor, the attraction of polar opposites provides great humor. The two sisters in the Siegebreakers fight like family always does, yet step to the plate when the protection of each other is needed. And then there is Wiggles, the bone loving white ball of fluff, who sees undead as a snack. Add to that love poetry writing bugbears (“a good thump-thump beat is necessary” apparently) and you can’t help but snicker each time you turn the page.

Jones also never lets up on the action. Moving through the crypt, the Siegebreakers encounter enemy after enemy, all with the knowledge that if they don’t hurry, they’ll drown in the rising water. This pacing keeps the novel interesting and never bogging down in detail. Her battle scenes are innovative, often finding unusual or pragmatic solutions where other authors tend to over do it in order to add to the “epic” nature of the narrative. (i.e. it is easier to break a trap than try to solve it.)

Jones would do well to vary her word choices a little bit. In a battle scene where one character is wielding a shovel, she kept repeating the word “shovel” to describe the weapon. If she had tried a little harder, she could have found other words to use in her sentences. In the span of two pages (pages 74 and 75) she used the word “shovel” 8 times when it would have been possible to use “weapon” or “makeshift bludgeon” in its place. In a fight scene, an author ought to use synonyms more often, since the reader’s reading pace often picks up at such points, and the overuse of a word becomes more obvious. This detracted from some of the action scenes.

Since each of the novels in the Forgotten Realms: Dungeons Series is a stand alone novel, it is relatively easy for the reader to pick up this novel. Add to that the fact that Rosemary Jones doesn’t rely heavily on the mythos of the Forgotten Realms, except to give setting and background to her story and any reader can easily enjoy it, even if he or she rarely read novels in shared world fiction. Of all the debut Forgotten Realms authors that have come out in recent years, I think I enjoyed Rosemary’s writing the best. She reminds me a lot of Elaine Cunningham in writing technique. Both writers create relationships between their characters, as well as writing sword and sorcery action, and those relationships make the novels all the more fun to read, as the reader becomes invested in the people he or she is reading about.

So in answer to the opening questions, I would say that yes, a writer with a familiarity with opera has some knowledge of the epic, and that when such a writer turns to fantasy, she is able to bring that knowledge into her story. There was some loud singing in Crypt of the Moaning Diamond but it wasn’t pretty and the characters weren’t wearing funny costumes. But Jones understands narrative, and knows how to make a story interesting, skills she seems to have refined as a writer surrounded by music. I think Rosemary Jones is an excellent addition to the cadre of Wizards of the Coast writers, and I hope she continues to write stories like Crypt of the Moaning Diamond for the Forgotten Realms.

The Tiefling and the Gnome

This is a great little animation on one of the major changes in the Dungeons and Dragons Fourth Edition. Quite funny. Favorite character: The badger.

HT: Bruce Cordell

Book Review: The Orc King by R. A. Salvatore

* Genre: Fantasy, Shared World Fiction, Sword and Sorcery
* ISBN: 0786943408
* ISBN-13: 9780786943401
* Format: Hardcover, 346pp
* Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
* Pub. Date: September 2007
* Series: Forgotten Realms Transitions Series, #1

Picking up where The Two Swords left off, The Orc King continues the adventures of Drizzt Do’Urden and the Companions of the Hall. King Obould Many-arrows seeks to create a kingdom of orcs, at peace with its neighbors, a thing unheard of in Faerun. Tosun Armgo continues to seek to be a new Drizzt, a dark elf of good character while fighting off the advances of Khaizid’hea the evil sentient sword. And Wulfgar, recently widowed sets out to find his lost daughter Colson.

R.A. Salvatore has been writing in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for 20 years. Widely acclaimed for his creation of the dark elf Drizzt, he brought shared world fiction into the mainstream of genre fiction. (If such a thing can be said, it does seem like an oxymoron in some ways.) His novels are sold all over the world, and Drizzt is almost as recognizable a character as Gollum or Captain Kirk.

But (and remember this but comes from an amateur) for all his accomplishments, it seems that Salvatore cannot get out of a writing rut, when comes to his characters. The Sellswords Trilogy was received poorly, by even his most loyal readers (I among them) as it did little with its potential. With the return to the story of Drizzt, Bruenor, Catti-brie, Wulfgar and Regis, the hope of many of his fans would be that his creativity would sparkle once again. But The Orc King didn’t. Oh, it has the classic Salvatore elements. The Orc King has the great fight scenes both personal and on a larger scale that first drew his fans in. His continues the tradition of Drizzt’s introspections at the beginning of each section, setting up the stage for the following chapters. But what he does not do—and this is where the novel fails—is create a new behaviors for his characters or really make them grow.

In The Orc King, Wulfgar is still the introspective former captive of Errtu. Salvatore had already destroyed all that had made Wulfgar a great character to begin with. His had aged from a brave and intrepid youth into a simpering self-pitying character (for all his protestations otherwise). Wulfgar again leaves the Companions of the Hall, the very people who can help him, and sets off on his own, certain that this is the right course. He was just as certain a few books ago, and that certainty left him a wino that had lost Aegis-fang. I have always been of the opinion that this character development was one of Salvatore’s poorest choices in his writing. The Orc King continues Wulfgar’s lack of growth, to moving beyond the events of his past to happiness in his future. Wulfgar, as the reader will find out, always thinks the grass is greener somewhere else, and for some reason Salvatore won’t change that part of his character. Perhaps the next novel will show a change, as Wulfgar does move to greener pastures, but I don’t hold my breath.

The behavior of Bruenor is also odd. This odd dwarf king, who befriended a dark elf in the very first Drizzt novel, can’t seem to get over his prejudice of orcs. Now, I don’t know about you, but that seems odd to me. Obviously, Bruenor’s prejudice is necessary for the story, but it seems out of character for someone who not only saved a dark elf, but befriended him. Always Salvatore has made it clear that the “goodly” races fear dark elves more than any other of the “evil” races. Yet Bruenor can’t see good in an orc. This just seems out of character. Salvatore does try to explain it away by having Bruenor seem to be deluding himself in hope that Obould’s goal of a peaceful kingdom is not true but I just don’t buy it as a reader who has devoured all the Drizzt novels. It seems out of character.

All right, enough vitriol. Yes, the two characters were either annoying as in the case of Wulfgar, or out of character as in Bruenor, but this is not the whole of the novel. Salvatore is continued to address the themes of prejudice. Once, he did it on the personal level with Bruenor and Drizzt, now he is dealing with it at the community level. Dwarves and orcs have always despised one another, but in The Orc King, an intelligent orc sees the need for peace between the two races, so that both may flourish. (There are hints of ongoing conflicts in the world today.) This is an excellent theme to write about in a shared-world filled with so many races. Salvatore’s choice of using Drizzt and his companions, who had so eagerly slain orcs in previous novels, to help King Obould realize his dream is appropriate.

And of course, Salvatore continues his trademark battle and fight scenes descriptions. Of the many fantasy authors I have read, few hold a candle to Salvatore’s depictions. He so well describes the actions of the characters, and sets up the setting beforehand, that is almost impossible for the reader not to visualize the events as if they were happening in front of our eyes. For that alone, any Salvatore novel is worth the small amount of time it takes to read. I may not like some characterization or some plot, but each fight or battle scenes rouses my spirit afresh. Undeniably, Salvatore has a gift for pacing his novels, always knowing just when the reader needs some good old-fashioned hacking and slashing.

The Orc King is, for all its faults, still a great read. Drizzt Do’Urden is a hero of righteousness and truth, and no reader can help but root for he and his team. Salvatore’s novels are always exciting. This novel being the first in a trilogy called Transitions, the reader can expect (I hope) to see some significant changes to the Silver Marches and to the way that orcs at least are characterized in future novels. I hope that Salvatore really puts his characters through the wringer in this trilogy and makes them into better people than they already are. I am looking forward to the next novel. It appears that Wizards of the Coast and Ed Greenwood have big changes in store for the Forgotten Realms with the new 4th edition, and Salvatore is giving us intimations of that, perhaps is even now writing the novels that will help change the face of Faerun forever. Don’t read this novel for your first foray into the Forgotten Realms, but fans will enjoy, though probably not love this one. It is no Sojourn or The Crystal Shard, but it is fun to read and is a welcome return to the Drizzt legend for all Salvatore’s readers.

Character Flaws and Ideology: An Interview with Bruce Cordell

Bruce Cordell, Game Designer for Wizards of the Coast and Forgotten Realms author, answered a few of my questions about his latest novel Stardeep (my review) and spoke on the need for characters who are flawed in fantasy fiction.

Grasping for the Wind: Tell us a little about how you came became a Dungeons and Dragons fan, and the path you took to becoming a game and novel writer.

Bruce Cordell: During a late '70s Boy Scouts summer camp, I stumbled upon the older scouts huddled around a lantern-lit picnic table playing a wondrous game. The DM described how an ogre was eating dwarves like a cartoon cat eats a fish, then throwing each denuded skeleton behind him into a large pile. The PCs studied this tableau from hiding, worried that they were next. It was beyond anything I had ever imagined I could interact with. I was instantly hooked on D&D.

On the novel side, I've been a reader since I was old enough to pick up books my Mom bought home every two weeks from the library--science fiction and fantasy novels all. The idea of becoming a writer struck me in high school, and that's when I began writing short stories. Like most writers, I have a folder filled with unpublished short stories, many of them with politely worded rejection letters.

Anyway, it was D&D that turned out to be the key for me writing novels. Years of kind editorial advice prepared me to be a writer with a modicum of knowledge of the craft. Now, continued editorial advice continues to sharpen my pen, or so I hope. So I've been lucky in a lot of ways.

GFTW: What prompted you to do work for your local humane society, and blog so often about science related issues?

BC: I have a soft spot in my heart for animals. Unlike people, they can never be their own advocates. I can hardly bear to read a story or watch a television show with an animal in it, for fear it'll turn out badly for the creature in question. My wife is the same, and when she worked at the Humane Society a few years ago, it was easier than ever for me to become involved.

On science, well I have a degree in biology, and in fact thought I'd be a scientist studying longevity and aging, not a writer. Despite enjoying writing and story design, I also still really love science, and fantasize about going back to school to get a degree in physics or rocketry, or refreshing my biotech skills. In the meantime, I read science magazines and listen to science podcasts like a fiend.

GFTW: You have written several novels for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, but tell us a little about your latest, Stardeep.

BC: Stardeep tells many stories, including the little-known history of the Keepers of the Cerulean Sign and their long-standing pledge to protect Faerun from a threat few realize it once faced, and could again. One of the underlying themes of the book looks at the value sacrifice for something you deem more important than yourself--another is how strongly held beliefs can sometimes sway your ability to discern actual truth. These themes only became apparent to me after I finished writing. Mainly, I wanted to write a story about Kiril and how she got to be a foul-mouthed, alcoholic elf with a blade whose power seems matched only by its self-importance.

GFTW: In Stardeep, Kiril Duskmorn (a character who also appears in Darkvision) is the primary character. Why did you choose to delve more deeply into this character?

BC: She's a flawed character, more flawed than she originally seemed in Darkvision. I wanted to show everyone exactly what she had gone through, and how she reacted to that crisis, and what steps she was finally willing to take to atone for her past. And, if once all was said and done, she could really change.

GFTW: In Stardeep, your villain is only misguided, not truly evil, although his actions have evil consequences. Why did you avoid the standard good/bad dichotomy of other fantasies?

BC: While fantasy gives us sharply defined Evil and Good, we all know reality rarely works like that. Well-meaning folks who decide to do 'whatever it takes' to achieve their ends sometimes blind themselves by adopting dogma of their own creation or someone else's. Once a policy is set in stone without recourse for self-correction or external balance, such folks can step across the line and become threats as large or larger than what they claim to oppose. I'm not saying I don't have stories that rely on Evil (far from it), but when I can throw in a character or two whose ideological fervor oversteps their ability to weigh options, I will do so, because, really, one man's flawed character who ultimately fails to find redemption is another man's villain :-).

GFTW: Almost all of your stories and novels have an element of martial arts in them. Why is this?

BC: I've been studying Muay Thai and jujutsu for several years as much to maintain fitness as out of a desire to make fight scenes in my stories are as realistic as possible. I've also taken some Jeet Kune Do, which uses swords--I may take up that more for future characters who rely less on martial arts and more on swordplay.

GFTW: Do you find it difficult write female characters like Kiril?

BC: In broad ways, no, not really. In certain aspects, yes. But I think the female perspective in a book with multiple characters is vital for story balance, so I'll always brave potential difficulties. Thankfully, I have a female editor who will tell me if I've gone completely off the rails on a female character's POV.

GFTW: Most of your novels are written in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, although as an employee of Wizards, you have the opportunity to work in any of their worlds. Why choose to write in the Forgotten Realms setting?

BC: Well, at first it was chance. Now that I've established myself in the Realms, it would be hard to switch to another shared-world. I've grown to really care for the place and become invested in it, not only on the novel side, but also the game-design side. So, in the medium-term you'll find my future novels remain set in Faerun.

GFTW: You usually tackle parts of the Forgotten Realms that other authors overlook. Is this a conscious choice, or is it just that you write about these areas in your game designs and so are familiar with the material?

BC: A conscious choice--I can do more with areas that have seen little previous ink. Of course, being a game designer, I am also in a good place to use my own inventions (the specifics of Deep Imaskar and vengeance takers, for instance), to flesh out my stories.

GFTW: What is your response to those critical of novels set in shared-world settings?

BC: Well, a long while back I read some stinker shared-world stories, so I can understand some criticism. But I'd say, hey, that was 20 years ago. Try some novels being written by new authors and old authors who've grown in their craft. Paul Kemp springs to mind as a fine example. I'd say, try one of the latest Paul Kemp novels and see what you think of shared world novels. Well, probably first I would say try Stardeep and judge it on its own merits, and look, I have a copy right here on my book shelf . . . :-)

GFTW: What can you tell us about your sequel to Stardeep and the continuing adventures of Kiril Duskmorn?

BC: Well, it is too early to say much, but I can say I have a trilogy of books coming out that picks up a few of the story lines and characters of Stardeep, potentially including Kiril in some guise. Stardeep thus serves as a prequel, but one actually written in correct chronological order.

GFTW: Without violating any non-disclosure agreements, what can you tell us about the effect that the 4th edition of D&D will have on the Forgotten Realms?

BC: Like the rest of the game, 4th edition rules will breath fresh life into the various character classes, as well as provide new characters options. 4th edition realms will be more about players as heroes facing big threats, not ungodly powerful good-guy NPCs facing threats.

GFTW: Thanks for taking the time to do this interview. I look forward to your next novel.

BC: Thanks John, I enjoyed our talk, thanks for the opportunity :-)

Book Review: Stardeep by Bruce R. Cordell

Genre: Fantasy, Shared-World Fiction
ISBN: 0786943386
ISBN-13: 9780786943388
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 320pp
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Pub. Date: October 2007
Series: Dungeons Series

Kiril Duskmorn, who first appeared was in Darkvision, has returned. Bruce Cordell, Forgotten Realms author and Wizards of the Coast game scribe, has written Stardeep, a novel that delves into the Dungeon at the heart of the drunken star elf. Compelled by a love lost, and a self-righteous sentient sword, Kiril must return to the Dungeon of the Traitor to fulfill her role as a Keeper of the Cerulean Sign. Once a star elf, the Traitor gave himself to an evil, primeval influence and has since been confined and magically bound in a pocket dimension, guarded by magical and mundane guards. But when the traitor influences one of his guardians, it is up to Kiril and Raidon a half-Shou, half star elf with a desire to know his mother’s past, to stop him.

Bruce Cordell has always been able to reach into the lesser know areas of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, and give us a story about characters and powers rarely seen. Drawing on his own expertise as a campaign setting writer, he weaves a tale that adds depth and breadth to the Forgotten Realms history. The star elves are a secretive an little known race, making a few minor appearances in more recent novels, but in Stardeep more of their history is explored, especially the enigma of the Blade Cerulean, Kiril’s sentient sword.

The novel is an addition to the Dungeons series. A set of four stand-alone novels, the narratives center around a dungeon of some sort. Cordell’s dungeon is Stardeep, the prison of the Traitor, the only name he is ever called in the book. Cordell has two primary characters, Kiril and Raidon. Whereas Kiril seeks to fulfill duty long abandoned, Raidon is seeking his mother, a star elf. A martial artist, his skill is in his hand fighting, which is quite vividly depicted and well described by Cordell. It is rare that a martial artist is a major character in a fantasy novel, as most readers prefer the sword slinging hero, but Raidon’s fight scenes make a compelling case for why they should appear not just in Asian themed fantasies.

Cordell does have some supporting characters as well. A thief and a sorcerer, I think that one of the great failures of this novel is that they are not really developed, and exist only to add magic and thieving skills to Raidon and Kiril’s skill set. Cordell tends to over focus on his primary characters, while only using the support characters as cannon fodder, or to cast the odd magical spell. This is somewhat rectified in the case of he thief, Gage, as he does provide a small plot development, although all it really provides is a way for Cordell to introduce knowledge the primary characters couldn’t have otherwise gained. Adrik, the sorcerer, has one excellently written scene near the end of the novel, but otherwise provides little color to the novel, and could have been forgone entirely.

But for all the lack of character depth in the support characters, the two primary ones are much deeper. Kiril is a torn and broken woman, always questioning herself. Raidon is a sympathetic and noble hero whose concern for the welfare of others drives him on. Cordell puts both these characters through unique torments out which each becomes stronger.

The best part of the novel is Telarian, the supposed villain. In a misguided attempt to help, the diviner causes a great deal more trouble than he realizes. This is a good example of how the ends don’t always justify the means. Cordell really plumbs the depth of what that means, and how a misguided attempt at doing good can do so much harm to so many. To tell you more would ruin the novel, but in this one, our heroes and villains, while identifiable, all have bits of good and bits of darkness in them. It’s a yin and yang fantasy. In its style, content, characterization and all other elements, the entire novel shows that there is a little bit of good in everything (actions, words, deeds) as well as a little bit of bad.

Yet, as with most Forgotten Realms stand alone novels, this is a sword and sorcery novel. The non stop action is what drives the narrative, and Cordell provides detail of the Forgotten Realms world that only a setting writer can give. The text is chock full of fight scenes and magic battles, and the ending has a couple of pretty surprising twists.

Forgotten Realms fans will enjoy Stardeep. Those who love novels with elves will drool over this one. I recommend this as a good shared-world novel. It has fun action, unique characters, and a setting little explored, even by other Forgotten Realms authors. And if you enjoy it, Cordell has announced that this is not the end of Stardeep's characters. His next novel will continue their stories. I for one am looking forward to it.

Cup O'Links III

Lots of interesting things in my Google Reader last week. I was away at a conference, so didn't have a whole lot of time to post or read, sorry about that. I've got a review of Crystal Rain by Tobias Buckell coming soon, as well as several DAW releases. I've also got Nathalie Mallet's Princes of the Golden Cage in the queue. While your waiting for my dazzling insights, you can check out this other great stuff.

For you writers, Mental Floss has a humorous look at Writer's Block in two volumes. Volume I and Volume II

Pat has an interview with Katherine Kurtz.

Fantasy Book Critic has an interview with R.A. Salvatore. That is really cool. I've been a Salvatore fan for forever. Robert is really fortunate.

FBC also has David Craddock's heartfelt memoir to Robert Jordan.

Joe Abercrombie is holding a contest for three unbound proofs of Last Argument of Kings.

Paul S. Kemp has some interesting thoughts on the first novel and the learning curve.

And check out this compendium of pictures of beautiful libraries. I'm green with envy.

and on a more personal note, my wife remembers our first "non-date".

Shadowbred Test Drive

Paul S. Kemp has posted the first five chapters of Shadowbred, first book in the Twilight War Trilogy, on his website.

If you haven't read much Forgotten Realms in the past, this is a good (and free!) way to get an introduction. Or, you can try out the first five chapters of Twilight Falling, book one of the Erevis Cale trilogy.

You'll be hooked, I promise you.

R.A. Salvatore on the Role of the Writer in Video Games

I knew my job as a novelist, as I said before. I invite you the reader to adventure along with my characters on some epic quest. In a video game such as the one I'm now working on with 38 Studios, that job changes profoundly, because the most important character in this adventure will be, has to be, the one you, the player, creates.

R.A. Salvatore, best-selling author and creator of Drizzt, wrote an interesting article on the role of the writer in video games and how online games like EverQuest or Ultima have changed fantasy.

Shadowscribe: An Interview with Paul S. Kemp

As promised, here is my interview with New York Times Bestselling author Paul S. Kemp. He was a really nice guy (funny too) and I hope that if you enjoy the interview, you will go out and buy Paul's well-wrought books, if you haven't done so already.

Grasping for the Wind: Let's start of with a personal question. What does that S. stand for in your name? And does it have any special significance? Why include it on the covers of your books?

Paul S. Kemp: It stands for shizzle, as in fo’ shizzle, which is my middle name. I understand my parents toyed with Paul F. Kemp, with the F standing for Flava Flav but they instead went with fo’ shizzle. Good thing for Flav and Public Enemy, really.

It is also possible that it actually stands for “Svante,” which was my grandfather’s middle name. It’s Finnish in origin, as am I and the whole Kemp line (Sisu, bitches! :-)). I use it because there are at least two other authors out there named Paul Kemp – one writes naval history; one writes horror – and I wanted to set myself apart from them in online searches, library database searches, etc.

GFTW: You've mentioned before on your blog that you are a lawyer as well as a writer, and the father of two young boys. How do you manage to juggle the demands of a full-time job, raising a family, and meeting writing deadlines?

PSK: You know, life is complicated for all of us. But we all make time for the things we love and the things we must do. I must work as a lawyer, and I love my family and writing. So I just make time for all three, the same way all of us juggle our various priorities.

As a practical matter, I tend to write on my lunch hour, weekends, evenings, vacations. I’m fortunate in that my work as a lawyer rarely bleeds into my weekends or evenings (that was not the case with some other legal jobs I’ve held). And my wife is both patient and supportive of my writing. All in all, things seems to be working out pretty well.

GFTW: Several months ago, the blogosphere was lit up by your defense of shared world fiction. You gave an impassioned defense of shared world fiction. Why did you choose to write your novels in the Forgotten Realms setting, rather than Dragonlance, Magic, Warhammer, or any of the other shared worlds out there?

PSK: That’s an easy one – I like the Realms. I enjoy its history, its personalities, its idiosyncrasies, its breadth. I’ve always found the Realms to be a setting in which I can tell exactly the story I want to tell. It’s a good fit for me.

There are a lot of good stories being written in the Realms and those who knock it because it’s tie-in have probably read few, if any, of them. In an effort to break through the conventional wisdom of “tie-in/shared world books suck,” I’ve been making a concerted effort to get my novels reviewed by sites that ordinarily do not do a lot of reviews of shared world/tie-in fiction (e.g., Fantasybookspot.com, Graeme’s Fantasy Review, Mania.com, etc.). Those sites have been ballsy enough to ignore the conventional wisdom and so far, so good.

GFTW: To what extent are you constrained by the pre-existing world of Faerûn in your writing and how and when are you able to forge new territory in the Forgotten Realms setting?

PSK: I have not bumped up against much in the way of constraints, by and large. I’ve always been free to tell the story I wanted to tell. There are some constraints imposed by shared world writing – the rules of magic are what they are, and I could not kill of this monarch or that, wipe out a city, or anything of that nature. But I’ve found them pretty loose boundaries.

As for charting new territory, that happens in literally every novel (and is true for all writers in FR). The Realms is detailed, but it’s not so detailed that a writer cannot develop his or her own take on this or that – from something as small as the religious practices of the holy knights of a particular god, to a scheme whereby servants of one god steal the entire temple of a rival god and transport it across the land (that was fun to write).

GFTW: Where you surprised when Erevis Cale became so popular after the publication of Shadow's Witness? Had you planned to continue writing about Erevis, or did Wizards of the Coast ask you to continue to write about this character?

PSK: I was and still am surprised. I really have the best fans. Whatever popularity Cale has is and was driven by readers recommending my work to others. I consider that the best compliment I could ever receive and am grateful for the enthusiasm. Word of mouth is priceless to a writer. Blogs and online communities are just an amplified form of the same thing and I really like the blogs/sites (like this one) that have a “reader to reader” feel to them. It’s a cool time to be a writer and reader of speculative fiction.

And yes, I had planned to write more of Cale, so I laid a lot of the seeds of future stories in Shadow’s Witness. When my editor asked me to do a Cale Trilogy, I was obviously delighted. Things have snowballed since then.

GFTW: Erevis Cale is a true anti-hero, using any and all methods to achieve his goal, while maintaining his own moral compass. Why did you choose to write an anti-hero, when much of the fantasy genre focuses on the true hero whose moral compass and methods always fall on the side of right or truth?

PSK: I’ve always been fascinated with the anti-hero archetype (Elric is my favorite literary embodiment). The anti-hero embodies the struggles we all face everyday but he does so in a heightened context. He also serves as the perfect vessel with which to toy around with the nature of good and evil. The anti-hero flirts constantly with redemption on the one hand, and transgression on the other. It creates a lot of drama and is a lot of fun to write.

GFTW: You have killed off major characters in your writing. Was it a difficult decision for you to do so?

PSK: Not really. I make all choices based on what I think will serve the story best. If that means a major character needs to die, he or she dies. I just try to make it memorable. :-)

GFTW: Why do you write? Is their some aim or big idea that you want your readers to draw from the adventures of Erevis Cale?

PSK: I write because I enjoy it. It’s fun. And I want readers who read my work to have fun. While I think my word does address some larger, more philosophical themes here and there, I am not interested in beating the readers over the head with it. I’m interested in the readers getting emotionally invested in the characters, the story, then enjoying the ride. I suppose a reader could consider the larger themes on a re-read, but I want that first experience to consist of rapid page turning and an accelerated heartbeat. :-)

GFTW: Your new novel, Shadowstorm, continues the story begun in Shadowbred, wherein Erevis Cale returns to a Sembia and Selgaunt teetering on the edge of civil war. It has been said that this series will be a Realms shattering event. What effect did this have on your story and how you approached writing it, as opposed to your previous books?

PSK: Good question. Prior to The Twilight War (of which Shadowbred and Shadowstorm are books one and two, respectively), I would have characterized my Erevis Cale stories as almost entirely character-driven, meaning the scope was small, not epic. But The Twilight War features events more akin to epic fantasy than pure sword and sorcery. The difficulty with those kinds of stories is that the events can sometimes outrun/overshadow the characters. I very much wanted to avoid that in The Twilight War, wanted readers talking about my characters, not merely the big things that happen. So I tried to marry small, personal, sharp motivations for my protagonists and antagonists to the larger elements of a sweeping plot. Readers will have to tell me if it succeeds.

GFTW: Was it difficult to take over and write about characters not of your own devising, as in Resurrection, or the character of Tamlin from the Sembia series, who plays a large role in The Twilight War Trilogy?

PSK: Resurrection was difficult, because I was inheriting characters who’d been developed previously by not one author, but five, each with their own slightly different take. With the exception of Halisstra, none of them ever really felt mine, so that made it that much more difficult to get into their heads. I was happy with the end result, though (and particularly with Halisstra, though she seems to engender quite a split of feeling among the fans). Tamlin and the other Uskevren are not quite as difficult because they aren’t the product of so many different hands. Plus, I was involved in the Sembia project right out of the gate. Not so with War of the Spider Queen and Resurrection.

GFTW: Any plans for a novel or series outside of the Forgotten Realms?

PSK: Yes. I poke away as time allows at a dark fantasy novel set in a world of my own creation. I’ve also published a few non-shared world short stories (most recently in the anthology Sails and Sorcery from Fantasist Enterprises) and I’ve been in discussions with an editor of a very, very big shared world line. I cannot say much more about it now but I hope it comes to pass. If it does, I’ll blare it across the internet. :-)

GFTW: Do you have any plans to write about characters other than Erevis Cale and his friends in the Forgotten Realms setting?

PSK: The short answer is yes, but the long answer is a bit more complicated. I’ve been torn about it for a while, now, to be candid. There’s a good deal of benefit for both fans and me in connecting new stories to old, in sticking with old friends. But developing new characters is fun and fresh and full of life (kinda like a Mentos :-)).

So I’ve decided recently that perhaps the best approach for me is not to revisit with the same characters again and again, but to connect the story of new characters to the story of the old characters. You’ll see some of that starting to blossom by the end of The Twilight War and I hope to carry it on in my next trilogy in the Realms.

GFTW: Any parting thoughts for your readers or those who might be considering delving into the Realms?

PSK: Sure. Consider giving the Realms a try. It’s a line fat with quality sword and sorcery fiction. If you want to try a sample for free, come over to my website. I’ve got the first five chapters of Twilight Falling, book one of The Erevis Cale Trilogy, available for free as pdf downloads (and I also hope to offer the first five chapters of Shadowbred, book one of The Twilight War, soon). Take them for a test drive. Here’s the link:

http://home.earthlink.net/~paulskemp/paulskempshomepage/id21.html

You can also drop by my blog, where a whole community of interesting people discuss a variety of matters, both personal and professional. Here’s the link for that:

http://paulskemp.livejournal.com/

Hope to see you all there. Thanks again, John.

Also by Paul S. Kemp:

The Erevis Cale Trilogy

Contains Short Stories by Paul S. Kemp

Forgotten Realms: Stardeep

Genre: Forgotten Realms, Fantasy
ISBN: 0786943386
Pub. Date: October 30, 2007
Series: Dungeons Ser.
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 320pp
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast

Bruce Cordell just announced that the website for his latest Forgotten Realms novel, Stardeep, has gone live at Stardeep.net.

All Kiril Duskmourn does is run away--from guilt, from her past, and from her responsibilities. But she can't run any longer. She lost everything stopping the Traitor from loosing his unholy revolution, and now the bindings on his cell are weakening. She alone holds the key to his release or continued imprisonment. But does she still have the strength of will and arm to make the right choice?

Stay Tuned....

...for an interview with Forgotten Realms and New York Times Bestselling Author Paul S. Kemp. He has graciously offered to do an interview. I've sent the questions and am just waiting for his responses. As soon as I have them, it will be posted.

Book Review: Shadowstorm by Paul S. Kemp

Genre: Forgotten Realms, Fantasy
ISBN: 0786943041
Pub. Date: August 2007
Series: Twilight War Series
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 352pp
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast

A storm is brewing in the country of Sembia. Erevis Cale must use the powers of Mask to stop it. Civil War is tearing apart the merchant kingdom, and Tamlin, the Hulorn of Selgaunt has made a deal with the last of the Netherese, the Shadovar. Into this turmoil comes the Shadowstorm.

Paul S. Kemp’s second book in the Twilight War Trilogy, Shadowstorm continues where Shadowbred left off. Erevis Cale, Drasik Riven, and Magadon continue their quest through the planes. Magadon wars within himself over his human and devil natures, and Erevis defies the very god who gives him power. Meanwhile, Tamlin, feckless son and poor leader know oversees the defense of Selgaunt from the Overmistress’ forces with the aide of the Shade Rivalen.

Kemp has once again created a story filled with human characters, surrounded by great events that threaten to change the Forgotten Realms forever. Tamlin is being drawn ever closer to the worship of Shar through the machinations of Rivalen, and his child-like reasoning is as petty as any child who doesn’t get what he wants. Unfortunately, Tamlin’s tantrum will have lasting consequences that his naiveté cannot foresee. Erevis Cale, weary and torn, tries to do right, but must use the dark forces of shadow to do it. Both of these characters had been explored before in previous books. The newest inner conflict Kemp develops in this book is that of Magadon. After an encounter with his fiendish father, Magadon is no longer able to keep a boundary between his devil and human natures, and the inability to control his duality threatens to destroy the upright and righteous person Magadon has always been.

Kemp uses a couple of first person sections to explore the depth of Magadon’s duality, as well as the usual third-person that Wizards of the Coast requires of its authors. The first person perspective is interesting, and allows Kemp to give his character a great deal of depth. Knowing the thoughts and actions allows the reader to identify more completely with the character’s struggles, drawing us into the story whether we will or no.

Shadowstorm reveals why Paul S. Kemp’s name is synonymous with the Forgotten Realms. His characters have motivations that any reader can relate to and have shown that shared world fiction is just as poignant and valuable as the latest New York Times Bestseller. His exploration of the anti-hero is something our culture is deeply fascinated with, and Kemp does it well. Erevis Cale is the dark knight of our dreams, powerful and mysterious. Each character's suffering humanizes the sword and sorcery of the setting, and makes the Forgotten Realms a very real place. I highly recommend you read Shadowbred and Shadowstorm, as well as the final book in the series, Shadowrealm.

Read my interview with Paul S. Kemp here.

Book Review: Swords of Dragonfire by Ed Greenwood

Genre: Fantasy
ISBN: 0786943394
Pub. Date: August 2007
Format: Hardcover, 352pp
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
See an interview with the author here.

Although I generally don’t like reviewing the second book in a trilogy, (middle books often seem to just be filler) I just had to write about Ed Greenwood’s latest contribution to the Forgotten Realms, Swords of Dragonfire.

The novel continues the early exploits of the Knights of Myth Drannor, some of Greenwood’s more interesting characters. A roaming band of adventurers, loyal to the crown of Cormyr, the Knights are perhaps some of the most successful bunglers in the history of the Forgotten Realms. Florin Falconhand and his friends had appeared as wise and worldly wise adventurers in previous Greenwood books, but their history had never been fully explored. The Knights of Myth Drannor series is Greenwood’s story of their humble beginnings as callow youths in love with the spirit of adventure, who know nothing of its atrocities.

Swords of Dragonfire continues where Swords of Eveningstar left off. Having gained the approval of Queen Filfaeril and King Azoun, the Knights believe that they are set up for life. Little do they know that good adventurers are always feared, and that The Crown is determined to have them become some other country’s problem. But, being the Knights of Myth Drannor, Florin and friends are soon caught up in a web of intrigue aimed at killing the weary Court Wizard Vangerdahast, and the entire royal family.

Greenwood has never been the best of novel writers. He tries to write archaically, using wherefore instead of therefore, and constructing sentences to make them seem part of an older age or courtlier. But in Swords of Dragonfire, he has written one of the most protracted, most complicated, most fascinating fight scenes I have ever seen in print. Taking up at least 50 pages of the 352 page novel, the fight at the Oldcoats Inn takes several chapters, and appearance of no less than Vangerdahast, Khelben Blackstaff, Manshoon of the Zhentarim, and Elminster to bring an end to it.

What Greenwood does well, is weave an intricate plot. Instead of writing a novel from one perspective, or following around a band of adventurers, Swords of Dragonfire is told as a series of vignettes following a great number of characters as they plot against Cormyr, seek to save it, or simply try to preserve the status quo. Each conspirator doesn’t know of the other’s plots, and the entire novel culminates in what is quaintly known as the Disaster of the Season. Many people don’t like the vignette style of Greenwood, as it requires a great number of characters to follow which can sometimes be confusing. (I managed to confuse Old Ghost and Horaundoon a time or two.) But this is sword and sorcery at the next level. Greenwood doesn’t spend a lot of time in soul-searching, or angst ridden characters. He simply details a great fight scene, which by my count had no less than five different groups duking it out in one small inn. Thereafter follows an excellent chase scene in the bowels of Azoun’s place in Suzail, which has the pace and feel of a Dungeon Master playing games with you.

I recommend this book highly for the protracted fight scenes alone. You will need to read Swords of Eveningstar first in order to get the back story, but Swords of Dragonfire is worth it.

Branding for Writers

Elaine Cunningham has interesting thoughts on the necessity of branding for writers. I don't wholly agree with her assessment. I think branding is important and helpful for a writer, but that any truly good writer can write in a multiple number of genres or styles and still be respected and read in all those areas. I enjoy Cunningham's books, and will read the majority of her books, because she is a good writer. I may avoid her paranormal romance, but that is only because as a man, romances have no appeal. This does not mean they are well-written.

I have found that even when an author is branded, I still wander over to other books or things they have written. If I enjoy an author enough, I will work to find their other works. I have read fiction written by branded non-fiction authors, and non-fiction by branded fiction authors.

That being said, branding is a good and useful thing. I'm not sure Cunningham is as unbranded as she says, nor that her Forgotten Realms books are a sub-set of FR readers. She simply hasn't come out with an FR book in several years that has new material and so she might be feeling down about her "brandedness."

Bruce Cordell on Elves

Bruce Cordell tells a little about elves and the upcoming fourth edition.

Book Review: The Howling Delve by Jaleigh Johnson

Genre: Fantasy, Shared World, Forgotten Realms
Pub. Date: July 2007
Series: The Dungeons Series
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 311pp
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast

In The Howling Delve, a part of the Forgotten Realms Dungeon’s series, Jaleigh Johnson’s story has, unlike Erik Scott De Bie’s Depths of Madness, did not rely entirely on the dungeon as the setting. Set in Amn in the Year of Lightning Storms, The Howling Delve’s plot revolves around two protagonists. The first is a nobleman’s son who seeks revenge for the overthrow of his family. The other is a fire elementalist who once lived on the streets of Amn, who seeks something unknown even to her.

Although this is Johnson’s first foray into novel writing, she has experience writing short stories as well. One of her stories can be found in the recently published Sails and Sorcery: Nautical Tales of Fantasy published by Fantasist Enterprises. One of her short stories also appeared in Realms of the Dragons II from Wizards of the Coast.

Johnson’s first novel effort has, in this reviewer’s opinion, been a success. Although initially the book had a difficult beginning it finally ended strongly with a well written chase through the tunnels of the Howling Delve. The tortured beginning comes from the choice Johnson made in skipping around in time for the first seven or so chapters. The reader does not actually reach the Year of Lightning Storms (1374 DR) until about the eighth chapter. This is in part because of the decision of Johnson to have two protagonists whose interwoven stories needed separate back stories and histories. While the writing is excellent, this reviewer found himself wondering when the meat of the story was to be reached. When it came, it was worth the wait.

The interwoven plot of the two heroes parallels and describes the other. Although Johnson does resort to making that obvious, even to the point of having a character directly state it rather than allowing the reader to get the subtlety on his own, the plot is weaved interestingly enough to hold the reader’s attention. The plot follows a logical pattern filled with interesting characters and some surprising twists.

Rather than delve too deeply into the psyches of the characters, Johnson has given them simple motivations and then allowed the characters to react using situational ethics. The lack of character depth is not a detraction but rather an attraction to the story. The Howling Delve is truly a sword and sorcery style fantasy. The protagonists are not particularly deep, but their motivations are pure, and they are, ultimately, good.

Of the two Forgotten Realms: Dungeons books currently for sale, this is the best of them. Johnson has created characters using some of the lesser explored areas of the Forgotten Realms setting (i.e. elementalists, a priest of Dumathoin, and the Shadow Thieves) and given them appeal. This reviewer hopes to see some the stories of the characters from The Howling Delve continued in follow up novels.

Paul S. Kemp interview at Mania Books

Mania Books has an excellent interview with Paul S. Kemp. I'm eagerly anticipating my copy of Shadowstorm coming in the mail. What will Erevis Cale do next, I wonder?

Ed Greenwood on Swords of Dragonfire

Book Review: The Gossamer Plain by Thomas M. Reid

What happens when the alu-fiend Aliisza gets a conscience? Will she turn to good? Will the justice of Tyr change a creature half-human, half-demon? Interesting questions, especially when you consider that demons are, by their nature wholly evil. Such a plot allows for discussions on the nature of good and evil, and how choices affect our lives.

Thomas M. Reid, best selling author of Insurrection, returns to the character he created for that story in his new series The Empyrean Odyssey. The first book in the trilogy, The Gossamer Plain, was released this month by Wizards of the Coast as part of the Forgotten Realms shared world.

The story follows Aliisza and her cambion lover Kaanyr Vhok on two separate journeys. Kaanyr’s takes him through the plane of Fire, assisted by a half dragon and a priest of Bane. Aliisza, meanwhile, must go on a journey through her soul as she finds herself trapped on Tyr’s (the god of Justice in the Forgotten Realms) home plane.

This novel is mostly lead in for the two books that follow. Kaanyr’s journey, while filled with a lot of action, develops the character only a little (he’s chaotic evil, I think) and leaves the priest of Bane in the background, although their camaraderie is interesting given their selfish natures. The half-dragon’s quest is known early on, and while it differs from Vhok’s, it is useful as a major plot changing device in the story.

The best part of the story is Aliisza. A tool for her lover’s plans, she finds herself being used by the astral deva, Tauran. Although he claims he is helping her, Aliisza feels he is using her. The debates about good and evil, especially the comment on page 229 about how the good we do is still done selfishly, make for some deeper reading than is usually found in a sword and sorcery novel.

Not to worry though, as there is still plenty of action. Some of the plot twists are surprising, although I was disappointed by one at the end.

This is not, however, Reid’s best work. Although good escapism, not a lot really happens, and by the end of the novel, I was wondering when the story would really develop. I can only assume it is in book 2 of The Empyrean Odyssey. If you like Forgotten Realms or want to continue the story of Aliisza and Kaanyr Vhok then you might enjoy this book. However, if you are new to the Realms, this is not a good book to begin with. It is written more for Forgotten Realms fans with a working knowledge of the shared world, and who read Insurrection.

Book Review: Unclean by Richard Lee Byers

What happens when a young bard returns home to find the lover he left gone? What would you do if you saw your entire regiment slaughtered by the undead? If an undead lich made a grab for control of your country, even if that country is the notoriously self-serving Thay?

It is these questions that Richard Lee Byers’ new Forgotten Realms book, Unclean: The Haunted Lands Book 1, attempts to answer. Byers continues to show his writing prowess in the shared world arena, by tackling a difficult topic in the Forgotten Realms world, the undead. Traditionally seen as evil through and through, represented usually as vampires or zombies, skeletons, ghosts and ghouls, Byers has developed the character of these, added to their ranks new creatures and moved beyond the hack/slash utility of the traditional monsters.

The story follows two characters. Braeris is a bard of Thay, just returned from making his fortune, only to find his true love has sold herself as a slave to pay her father’s debts. Aoth is a griffon rider with magical ability serving in the army of one of the tharchions of Thay. He is the sole survivor of the first attack of the army of undead that appears out of the Sunrise Mountains. The story moves between these two characters as they pursue separate quests that will eventually lead them to each other. Braeris seeks his lost love, whose haunting words can be found on the blurb on the back cover, and Aoth seeks to serve his tharchion (a selfish and stupid person) while also attempting to destroy the army of undead. Meanwhile, Szass Tam, lich and zulkir of Thay, seeks to use the events to his own advantage.

The story is an excellent sword and sorcery romp. Byers is one of the better authors in the Forgotten Realms and his experience in writing horror fiction for other publishers serves him well here. Who better to delve into the intricacies of the minds of the undead than a horror writer? The plot is fast-paced and rarely sits still. There is an excellent build-up of events that lead to a climax that, while expected, doesn’t fail to excite. This is the first book in a trilogy so the ending, while good, doesn’t complete the story, and the reader will anticipate the future books eagerly.

Byers does have one major flaw in his writing. He lacks the ability to make the love story subplots truly empathetic. What I mean is the love plots in the book that concern both Braeris and Aoth seem tacked on. Although the love interests do play important roles in the story, especially for Braeris, the reader will find himself unable to truly feel that the character finds it important. While it might move the plot along for a time, the love stories simply lack any real emotion, and at least one of the characters about face in emotion seems a little unreal, although perhaps explicable in context (which I won’t give here for fear of ruining the plot.)

Ultimately, if you are a Forgotten Realms fan, you will enjoy this book. If you are a fan of the recent trend in vampire and undead novels in the fantasy mainstream, you will enjoy the book. If you are looking for a quick sword and sorcery romp for a little escapism, this would be a good book for you. If you are looking for any depth, shy away from this one. But hey, who doesn’t need a good sword and sorcery romp now and again? I know I do, and this is a good place for it.

For an interview with Richard Byers about the book and shared world fiction, click here.

Byers Interview

FantasyBookSpot has a good interview with Richard Lee Byers, author of Forgotten Realms Series' The Year of Rogue Dragons and The Haunted Lands.

His comment about shared world fiction I thought was spot on.

"And finally, there are people who think that shared-world fiction is inherently a lesser beast than non-franchise work. Which I've always found curious, because I've noticed that if you do something like retell the story of King Arthur or the Trojan War and do it with reasonable craft, the same people will mostly think that's commendable. But if you do a story set in the Forgotten Realms, where, although you didn't make up the setting, you at least made up the plot and characters, they consider it an inferior creation. I don't follow the logic. As you can probably guess, I think that stories are good or bad depending on how good a job the author did, not on whether they're shared-world pieces or not."

Book Reviews by Author

These are my book reviews, categorized alphabetically by the author's last name. (Categorization by title is available here.)

You can also subscribe to an RSS feed of my reviews at librarything.

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

A

Abercrombie, Joe The Blade Itself; Before They Are Hanged
Abraham, Daniel Hunter's Run
Ackley-McPhail, Danielle (et al.) Bad-A** Faeries
Adams, John Joseph Shimmer, The Pirate Issue; Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse
Aguirre, Ann Grimspace
Alcorn, Randy The Treasure Principle

B

Barnes, Jonathan The Somnambulist
Barwood, Lee Klassic Koalas: Ancient Aboriginal Tales in New Retellings
Beah, Ishmael A Long Way Gone
Bennis, Warren On Becoming A Leader
Bolme, Edward Eberron: The Orb of Xoriat; Eberron: Bound by Iron
Brand, Paul The Gift of Pain
Brennan, Marie Midnight Never Come
Britain, Kristen Green Rider
Brooke, Keith Genetopia
Bryson, Bill The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid; The Mother Tongue
Buckell, Tobias Crystal Rain; Ragamuffin
Burton, Katherine Hedge Hunters
Butcher, Jim Small Favor
Byers, Richard Lee Forgotten Realms: Unclean

C

Carpenter, Humphrey J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography
Chapman, Gary The Five Love Languages
Civiello, Emmanuel, A Bit of Madness
Cordell, Bruce Forgotten Realms: Stardeep
Cunningham, Elaine Forgotten Realms: The City of Splendors
Czerneda, Julie E. (ed.) Misspelled

D

Delaney, Frank Tipperary: A Novel
Dozois, Gardner Hunter's Run

E

Edelman, David Louis Infoquake
Edgington, Ian Sojourn: The Sorcerer's Tale; Sojourn: The Bezerker's Tale
Edwards, Kim The Memory Keeper's Daughter
Elliott, Kate The Crown of Stars Series
Ellis, Peter Berresford (see also Peter Tremayne) The Druids
Ellison, Harlan Dangerous Visions
Emery, Clayton Robin Hood and the Beasts of Sherwood

F

Falbe, Tracy Union of Renegades
Feist, Raymond E. Magician; Honored Enemy; Murder in LaMut
Finlay, Charles Coleman The Prodigal Troll
Forstchen, William R. Honored Enemy
Frank, Pat Alas, Babylon
Frazer, Margaret The Clerk's Tale
Freedman, Pamela Blood Ties
Freivald, Jake Falsh Fiction Online, April 2008

G

Gemmell, David Legend
Genesse, Paul The Golden Cord
Goodkind, Terry Phantom; Confessor
Graham, L.B. Shadow in the Deep; Beyond the Summerland
Green, David More Than A Hobby
Greenberg, Martin H. Fellowship Fantastic
Greenwood, Ed Forgotten Realms: The City of Splendors; Forgotten Realms: Swords of Dragonfire

H

Hart, Johnny Growingold with B.C.
Heinlein, Robert A. Glory Road
Hinck, Sharon The Restorer
Hines, Jim C. Goblin Quest; Goblin Hero; Goblin War
Horner, W. H. (ed.) Sails and Sorcery: Tales of Nautical Fantasy; Bash Down the Door and Slice Open the BadGuy
Hughes, Kerrie Fellowship Fantastic
Hunt, Stephen The Court of the Air

I

J

Jacobs, A.J. The Know-It-All
James, P.D. The Children of Men
Johnson, Jaleigh Forgotten Realms: The Howling Delve
Jones, Rosemary Forgotten Realms: Crypt of the Moaning Diamond
Jordan, Robert Knife of Dreams

K

Kemp, Paul S. Forgotten Realms: Shadowstorm
Kirkpatrick, Russell Across the Face of the World
Knight, E. E. Dragon Champion; Dragon Outcast

L

Lackey, Mercedes The Phoenix Unchained
Land, Greg Sojourn: The Sorcerer's Tale; Sojourn: The Bezerker's Tale
Lansky, Aaron Outwitting History
Lawhead, Stephen Hood; Scarlet; The Pendragon Cycle
Lebow, Jess Forgotten Realms: Obsidian Ridge
Le Guin, Ursula K. The Left Hand of Darkness

M

Mackay, Scott Tides; Phytosphere
Mallet, Nathalie The Princes of the Golden Cage
Mallory, James The Phoenix Unchained
Mangels, Andy Iron Man: Beneath the Armor
Martin, Gail Z. The Summoner
Martin, George R.R. Dying of the Light; Hunter's Run
Maxwell, John C. Life@Work
McCarthy, Cormac The Road
McCourt, Frank Teacher Man
McDonnell, Carole Wind Follower
McPhail, Mike (ed.) Breach the Hull
Meluch, R.M. The Sagittarius Command
Mental_floss Condensed Knowledge
Meredith, Robyn The Elephant and the Dragon: The Rise of India and China and What it Means for All of Us
Miller, Karen The Innocent Mage; The Awakened Mage; Empress
Moedesitt Jr., L.E. The Magic of Recluce
Moore, Moira J. Heroes Adrift
Mosdi, Thomas A Bit of Madness
Muirden, James & Eccles, David (Illustrator) A Rhyming History of Britain

N

Norwich, John Julius Shakespeare's Kings

O

O'Neill, John (ed.) Black Gate: Issue #11
Overstreet, Jeffrey Auralia's Colors

P

Paolini, Christopher Eragon
Poole, Robert M. Explorer's House: National Geographic and the World It Made
Pratchett, Terry Thud!; The Truth; Making Money
Priest, Christopher The Prestige
Proctor, William Moon Gate

Q

R

Ramsey, Dave The Junior Books
Reid, Thomas M. Forgotten Realms: The Gossamer Plain
Rivers, Francine Redeeming Love
Rosenberg, Joel Murder in LaMut
Rothfuss, Patrick The Name of the Wind
Ruckley, Brian Winterbirth; Bloodheir

S

Salvatore, R.A. Forgotten Realms: Road of the Patriarch; Forgotten Realms: The Orc King
Sayers, Dorothy Are Women Human?
Schlosser, Eric Fast Food Nation
Sehestedt, Mark (ed.) The Tales of the Last War
Setterfield, Diane The Thirteenth Tale
Seymour, James Black History Through Blue Eyes: The Debt the World Owes to Africa
Shakespeare, William Henry V (Classical Comics Edition)
Smith, Alexander McCall The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
Snyder, Maria V. Poison Study
Steves, Rick The Rick Steves' Travel Guide Series
Stusser, Michael The Dead Guy Interviews

T

Thurman, Rob Madhouse
Tremayne, Peter (see also Peter Ellis) Badger's Moon; Master of Souls; Smoke in the Wind
Twain, Mark The Innocents Abroad

U

V

Varley, John Rolling Thunder
Venditti, Robert The Surrogates, Vol. 1

W

Walley, Chris The Shadow and Night
Waltz, Jason M. (ed.) Return of the Sword
Ward, James M. Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe
Weldon, David Moon Gate
Wells, Martha The Death of the Necromancer
West, Michelle The Hidden City
Wiesel, Elie Night
Williams, Tad Shadowmarch
Winchester, Simon Outposts: Journeys to the Surviving Relics of the British Empire
Withrow, Mindy and Brandon Monks and Mystics

X

Y

Yancey, Philip The Gift of Pain

Z

Zakour, John The Blue-Haired Bombshell

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Book Review: The City of Splendors by Ed Greenwood and Elaine Cunningham

I just finished Ed Greenwood's new book, The City of Splendors. Written in collaboration with Elaine Cunningham (another great Forgotten Realms author) this book is very different from publisher Wizards of the Coast's usual fare. In fact, it's even unusual for the Forgotten Realms, and that's saying something.

The story almost seems to have no main character, no central conflict, and no central motivation. The story revolves around many characters who live their lives in Waterdeep, also known as the City of Splendors due to its astonishing beauty and variety. The interconnectedness of the central characters and the way that they interact with each other and the city that surrounds them (both the actual city and its citizens) is so cleverly written that the reader is never sure just what might happen next.

As with any sword and sorcery novel, there is the usual blood-letting, magic-hurling, rescuing damsels in distress sort of plot line, but there is a subtlety to it that I don't normally expect as well. In particular, I can recall to mind a chapter in which a mob overruns the area of the city where the dead are buried. Of course, in a fantasy the dead come to life and will hurt you and does in this story, but it is the subtle building up to the outbreak of the riot that Greenwood and Cunningham do so well.

The mob doesn't just break out and provide a convenient way for the author to kill off a few characters and give the hero a chance to rescue a heroine. Although this does happen, the preceeding chapters build to a tension so high that a mob must break out, there is nothing else that could happen, given the circumstances. Comman artisans are calling wanted the Masked (and unknown) Lords of the city to reveal who they are, so that their decisions can be weighted and measured against the desires of the people. A character called Dyre calls for a New Day. Soon the New Day is on everyones lips and they begin to voice their discontent with their life, blaming the Lords of Waterdeep for all their ills (real or imagined) chapter by chapter the tension slowly vuilds until naught else could happen but a riot. I applaud Greenwood and Cunningham on their understanding of the common man and the motivations of the mob.

A surprising novel, unexpected and arresting in a way that no sword and sorcery novel has been before. A city of splendors that lives and breathes on the hopes and ambitions of its citizenry, is Waterdeep.