Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Agazol 01-03-08, 06:00 PM	Has anyone cut their teeth on this fan novel? http://www.candlekeep.com/campaign/logs/log-fate.htm The Fates Guide has gotten a pretty interesting reception over at CandleKeep. The author went to great lengths, even designing a cover and back page with a blurb similar to a real WotC novel. I am up to about page 100 and find that it starts pretty rocky, but then gets really quite good around Chapter 4. Anyone else take a look at this? I thought it was an impressive effort. In the author's own words: The tome tells of the momentous events that began in the Firesteap Mountain in the Year of The Bent Blade, 1376 by Dale Reckoning. The tale centers on Ehric Graimen, a young man of the mountains, knowledgeable both in wilderness lore and the arcane arts. He is accustomed to dealing with various tribes of humanoids (Orcs and Ogres) that live in the region, but when a new menace rises, the sorcerer finds his skills are poorly suited for what he must do to survive. The scribe who captured these events on paper does not want to reveal too much but adds this… "It was the nature of the men and women (and monsters) that made me want to tell this tale. The events themselves were noteworthy to be sure, but in researching the main participants, I found I was compelled to tell more than the outcome of battles, the new lines drawn on the maps, and the final tally of the dead. And so you will find in these pages the thoughts and feelings of those most involved in the drama that so recently unfolded in the south. I want any scholar about to take up this tome to know that this research did at times require the use of the Necromantic Arts. You are forewarned."
Lord Karsus 01-03-08, 08:01 PM	-Nope.
Dark Wizard 01-03-08, 10:35 PM	Has anyone cut their teeth on this fan novel? Never heard of it. I am up to about page 100 and find that it starts pretty rocky, but then gets really quite good around Chapter 4. Anyone else take a look at this? I thought it was an impressive effort. Definite applause to the author for finishing such a project. Shows a lot of positive things about his determination, organization, and all that good writing stuff. However, I've heard one editor comment something like this "The book gets good around chapter 4? That goodness should have been on page 1." Writing is tough.
Agazol 01-03-08, 10:57 PM	Indeed writing a full length book is no small feat - indeed the goodness should start on page 1, but I doubt the author of the Fates Guide had an editor.\ I am generally enthusiastic about it, I like user generated content. A vibrant fan fiction scene could be a good way to find talented writers, etc. I have been wondering why there is no "open source" campaign world for DnD. FR is a "shared fiction" world, and Greyhawk was "living fiction" but there was no real democratically developed game world. That is a topic for another thread. A long thread about the book can be seen here: http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10386&whichpage=1 I am sure the author would appreciate any comments there, he seems to respond to critics fairly frequently.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 01-04-08, 01:48 PM	Being a regular on Candlekeep, I'm aware of this novel, but I haven't started reading it yet.
Another Gnome 01-05-08, 07:54 AM	However, I've heard one editor comment something like this "The book gets good around chapter 4? That goodness should have been on page 1." Writing is tough. Lord of the Rings gets good after chapter 9 and takes 146 pages to get there. Editing is tough too. All that work just so someone else can get all the credit... no wonder they're bitter. :D
Agazol 01-05-08, 05:34 PM	Agreed, the job of an editor is a thankless one! Lord of the Rings gets good after chapter 9 and takes 146 pages to get there. Editing is tough too. All that work just so someone else can get all the credit... no wonder they're bitter. :D
Dark Wizard 01-05-08, 07:48 PM	Lord of the Rings gets good after chapter 9 and takes 146 pages to get there. I think the bland start is one of the many things his critics point out. Editing is tough too. All that work just so someone else can get all the credit... no wonder they're bitter. :D Certainly for some it is why they are how they are, but I think the 'negativity' of editors is sometimes a good trait in moderate doses, keeps writers on their toes.