Orc King; who is going to buy the hardback? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Orc King; who is going to buy the hardback? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
delewobmesid
09-25-07, 02:30 PM At Gencon, it was announced that novels would be integrated with module design; The first Novel we were told to 'watch' was 'Orc King'.

Is anyone planning on buying the hardback or paperback of Orc King? Have any other 'integrations' been announced?
WolfStar76
09-25-07, 03:04 PM I've had the impression, thus far, that The Orc King will be a place to learn of the changes that are coming to Forgotten Realms as it leaps forward in its new timeline.

Now, that could be WAY off base, as I can't even clearly point to where I've heard that (and there's been so much rumor and speculation that it's hard to sift fact from rumor regardless).

That said, my curiosity is piqued enough to grab that book (I've been following the series anyhow tho, so take that with a grain of salt).
wombat7477
09-25-07, 07:15 PM My wife found it for me at the public library today. Haven't started reading yet.
ToddMorgan
09-26-07, 09:58 AM I've started reading it and wow, are there going to be some changes if this is what the future holds for FR. No spoilers of course, but yeah, this makes LFR a whole lot more interesting.
Sieylianna
09-26-07, 05:25 PM I find that most game novels are really bad. Painfully bad.

Ed
wombat7477
09-26-07, 08:22 PM I've only read the prologue and Drizz't's 'thoughts' at the beginning of chapter 1... but yeah... things are definitely different
delewobmesid
09-27-07, 02:41 PM I like the play options that will likely open up from the setting selected for the LFR world. It should be both familar and new at the same time.
Butterface
09-27-07, 06:13 PM I'll buy it in hardback - I can't wait for the paperback, and I watch the boards here enough so that if I don't get it in hardback it's just going to get spoiled anyway. :P
True_Atlantean
10-02-07, 06:11 AM My wife found it for me at the public library today. Haven't started reading yet.

This is deifnately one way to go. Hardcovers are a little out of my price range, so the library is my option. Working there does help too. :D
Butterface
10-03-07, 07:43 PM While a good read, this book doesn't reveal nearly as much of 4E forgotten realms as they'd have you think. The 4E spoilers are pretty much taken care of in the first chapter (the one they already released for free). ;)
jhorred
10-03-07, 08:50 PM I did and I bought the Gwenhwyvar figure too..... :D
mmockus
10-03-07, 10:44 PM Bought it, got is signed by the author tonight, now I just ned to find the time to read it.
Keith53
10-03-07, 10:49 PM I just bought the "Orc King" tonight. Looking at the first chapter (not the prelude), the book is set in 1372, immediately after the book The Two Swords, and picks up the story Salvatore was describing there. Frankly, I will be very surprised if all three books really advance much insight about the overall changes to the Forgotten Realms, other than what you could have guessed from the Hunter Trilogy. Yes, there is teaser info in the Prelude, but knowing that realms that were heavily dependent upon magic were heavily impacted by the spellplague seems fairly straightforward. My guess is the three novels in this series will be completed just before, or just as the spell plague breaks loose, but, hey, that is my guess based he is starting in 1372 and has three books, and 1374-1375 is when things really get interesting.

Personally I think "Blackstaff" (based in 1374) has more intriguing hints. YMMV.

Keith
pedr
10-04-07, 02:20 AM I bought it and started reading it yesterday.

As a newcomer to the Realms, it is somewhat confusing - and moreso than I'd expected: I've read the first few chapters and it appears to expect prior knowledge of the personalities and histories of some of the major characters who are part of Drizzt's 'party'. That's slightly frustrating, but I'm finding it reasonably entertaining. It'll be a shame if it ends before any of the major changes, with the next installment not coming out until after the new FRCS book (presumably) explains all of those changes in detail. I'm hoping that at least it will help me get a 'flavour' of the Realms before I start playing/judging LFR.

However: does anyone know of any good sources (preferably web-based or cheap paperback novels available on amazon!) which would be better background reading? Does anyone know of a 'primer' which would help me quickly get up to speed about who the major characters in The Ork King actually are?
Keith53
10-04-07, 07:11 AM However: does anyone know of any good sources (preferably web-based or cheap paperback novels available on amazon!) which would be better background reading? Does anyone know of a 'primer' which would help me quickly get up to speed about who the major characters in The Ork King actually are?

Unfortunately most of the FR books tend to assume readers have been avidly reading the series and have knowledge of events and characters from before.

I don't know of a primer. Robert Salvatore first created/used these characters in his novel, the Cystral Shard, published in 1988 as I recall, part of the Icewall Dale Trilogy. It introduces the characters to us. In his Paths of Darkness series, he divides the group up and puts them in dark and depressing peril. In the Hunters Blade Trilogy, he reunites them and they face the orc threat, and each face their mortality. The Dark Elf Trilogy gives the back story of Drizzt. Maybe there is a website somewhere.

If you want a better feel of the Realms, I would recommend: The City of Splendors: A Waterdeep Novel, The Swords of Eveningstar, Red Magic, and Spell Fire...that would be a nice cross section.

Keith

Keith
catsclaw
10-04-07, 03:01 PM I read the Orc King a couple days ago, and I liked it. I didn't think you needed to know much about the backstories of the characters (although it did help I had read the R. A. Salvatore short story in Realms of the Elves beforehand; I'd recommend reading it first). As people have noted, if you're only reading to prepare for Living Realms, you get everything you need from the Prologue.

As of three weeks ago, I hadn't read any Forgotten Realms novels, and I decided to catch up and read them. I've subsequently discovered this list (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Forgotten_Realms_novels), and it appears there are over 200 of them. Obviously, this is going to take a while.

So now I'm 11 books in. If you're just trying to catch up for Living Realms, avoid anything written before 2002. I'd highly recommend the Anthologies, since you usually get a smattering of flavor from a number of different regions and authors. I'd avoid anything with Drizzt (I don't think he'll play a major role in Living Realms) but if you really want a taste of the Underdark I'm quite enjoying the War of the Spider Queen series (lots of drow, but no Drizzt). From what I've read so far, Blackstaff does have some major implications for the Realms, although if you're not an expert you'll miss most of the shout-outs to Realms Lore. I haven't read any of The Year of Rogue Dragons or The Last Mythal yet, but both detail major happenings with dragons and elves, so if those interest you they might also be profitable.

That's enough to keep anyone busy until they announce which regions are which, and then you'll have a better sense what's worth reading for more depth on the regions you're interested in.
Keith53
10-07-07, 01:45 PM I completed the Orc King novel a couple of days ago. While a good story, I doubt I would consider it a "must read" for playing LFR. Certainly the story line of Drizzt, Cattie-Brie, Wulfgar, Regis, and Bruenor is advanced. Certainly the Orc Kingdom of Many Arrows, established in the Hunter's Blade Trilogy, is secured. Yes, the Prelude has a teaser of Drizzt a 100 years into the future, which seems to imply that character has assured continuation.

While some have argued that the Prelude means that LFR and the Forgotten Realms timeline must be set 100 years past 1385 DR (i.e, in 1485 or later), I reject that argument. The Prelude does not have that feel for me. I think the 10 year jump (1375 to 1385 DR) next year will allow authors with stories underway to close them out before the Spellplague, with new stories starting after the Spellplague is totally defined. Certainly there are no guarantees, but WotC and TSR before them have been careful to advance the timeline year for year. If they were to jump a longer period, that is a lot of missing backstory. I don't see WotC doing that just for the convenience of a clean slate for LFR. That puts more value to LFR than I think is warranted. Hopefully at some point, the great Chris will speak and all will be known by all. :-)

Keith
Keith53
10-27-07, 05:31 PM Still catching up on FR novels, but so far:

The Twilight War Trilogy (by Paul Kemp) and The Lady Penitent Trilogy by Lisa Smedman seem driven by the shift of FR to 4E, i.e., the changes that the story designers decided needed to be made (cleaning up problems).

Keith
Mind Flayer Monk
10-30-07, 04:18 AM The horrid quality of paper they use on the hardbacks drove me away. Gonna wait on this one, but good marketing ideas.
catsclaw
10-31-07, 03:15 PM The horrid quality of paper they use on the hardbacks drove me away.Um, do you have a specific gripe with the quality of the paper, or are you just confused by the ragged edge?

If the edge, you should know that's a specific style. It's called a "deckle edge", it mimics hand-bound books, and it's usually a mark of better quality. Costs extra as well. I prefer it in hardback books, since it prevents the pages from sticking together, but I know some people don't like it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
delewobmesid 09-25-07, 02:30 PM	At Gencon, it was announced that novels would be integrated with module design; The first Novel we were told to 'watch' was 'Orc King'. Is anyone planning on buying the hardback or paperback of Orc King? Have any other 'integrations' been announced?
WolfStar76 09-25-07, 03:04 PM	I've had the impression, thus far, that The Orc King will be a place to learn of the changes that are coming to Forgotten Realms as it leaps forward in its new timeline. Now, that could be WAY off base, as I can't even clearly point to where I've heard that (and there's been so much rumor and speculation that it's hard to sift fact from rumor regardless). That said, my curiosity is piqued enough to grab that book (I've been following the series anyhow tho, so take that with a grain of salt).
wombat7477 09-25-07, 07:15 PM	My wife found it for me at the public library today. Haven't started reading yet.
ToddMorgan 09-26-07, 09:58 AM	I've started reading it and wow, are there going to be some changes if this is what the future holds for FR. No spoilers of course, but yeah, this makes LFR a whole lot more interesting.
Sieylianna 09-26-07, 05:25 PM	I find that most game novels are really bad. Painfully bad. Ed
wombat7477 09-26-07, 08:22 PM	I've only read the prologue and Drizz't's 'thoughts' at the beginning of chapter 1... but yeah... things are definitely different
delewobmesid 09-27-07, 02:41 PM	I like the play options that will likely open up from the setting selected for the LFR world. It should be both familar and new at the same time.
Butterface 09-27-07, 06:13 PM	I'll buy it in hardback - I can't wait for the paperback, and I watch the boards here enough so that if I don't get it in hardback it's just going to get spoiled anyway. :P
True_Atlantean 10-02-07, 06:11 AM	My wife found it for me at the public library today. Haven't started reading yet. This is deifnately one way to go. Hardcovers are a little out of my price range, so the library is my option. Working there does help too. :D
Butterface 10-03-07, 07:43 PM	While a good read, this book doesn't reveal nearly as much of 4E forgotten realms as they'd have you think. The 4E spoilers are pretty much taken care of in the first chapter (the one they already released for free). ;)
jhorred 10-03-07, 08:50 PM	I did and I bought the Gwenhwyvar figure too..... :D
mmockus 10-03-07, 10:44 PM	Bought it, got is signed by the author tonight, now I just ned to find the time to read it.
Keith53 10-03-07, 10:49 PM	I just bought the "Orc King" tonight. Looking at the first chapter (not the prelude), the book is set in 1372, immediately after the book The Two Swords, and picks up the story Salvatore was describing there. Frankly, I will be very surprised if all three books really advance much insight about the overall changes to the Forgotten Realms, other than what you could have guessed from the Hunter Trilogy. Yes, there is teaser info in the Prelude, but knowing that realms that were heavily dependent upon magic were heavily impacted by the spellplague seems fairly straightforward. My guess is the three novels in this series will be completed just before, or just as the spell plague breaks loose, but, hey, that is my guess based he is starting in 1372 and has three books, and 1374-1375 is when things really get interesting. Personally I think "Blackstaff" (based in 1374) has more intriguing hints. YMMV. Keith
pedr 10-04-07, 02:20 AM	I bought it and started reading it yesterday. As a newcomer to the Realms, it is somewhat confusing - and moreso than I'd expected: I've read the first few chapters and it appears to expect prior knowledge of the personalities and histories of some of the major characters who are part of Drizzt's 'party'. That's slightly frustrating, but I'm finding it reasonably entertaining. It'll be a shame if it ends before any of the major changes, with the next installment not coming out until after the new FRCS book (presumably) explains all of those changes in detail. I'm hoping that at least it will help me get a 'flavour' of the Realms before I start playing/judging LFR. However: does anyone know of any good sources (preferably web-based or cheap paperback novels available on amazon!) which would be better background reading? Does anyone know of a 'primer' which would help me quickly get up to speed about who the major characters in The Ork King actually are?
Keith53 10-04-07, 07:11 AM	However: does anyone know of any good sources (preferably web-based or cheap paperback novels available on amazon!) which would be better background reading? Does anyone know of a 'primer' which would help me quickly get up to speed about who the major characters in The Ork King actually are? Unfortunately most of the FR books tend to assume readers have been avidly reading the series and have knowledge of events and characters from before. I don't know of a primer. Robert Salvatore first created/used these characters in his novel, the Cystral Shard, published in 1988 as I recall, part of the Icewall Dale Trilogy. It introduces the characters to us. In his Paths of Darkness series, he divides the group up and puts them in dark and depressing peril. In the Hunters Blade Trilogy, he reunites them and they face the orc threat, and each face their mortality. The Dark Elf Trilogy gives the back story of Drizzt. Maybe there is a website somewhere. If you want a better feel of the Realms, I would recommend: The City of Splendors: A Waterdeep Novel, The Swords of Eveningstar, Red Magic, and Spell Fire...that would be a nice cross section. Keith Keith
catsclaw 10-04-07, 03:01 PM	I read the Orc King a couple days ago, and I liked it. I didn't think you needed to know much about the backstories of the characters (although it did help I had read the R. A. Salvatore short story in Realms of the Elves beforehand; I'd recommend reading it first). As people have noted, if you're only reading to prepare for Living Realms, you get everything you need from the Prologue. As of three weeks ago, I hadn't read any Forgotten Realms novels, and I decided to catch up and read them. I've subsequently discovered this list (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Forgotten_Realms_novels), and it appears there are over 200 of them. Obviously, this is going to take a while. So now I'm 11 books in. If you're just trying to catch up for Living Realms, avoid anything written before 2002. I'd highly recommend the Anthologies, since you usually get a smattering of flavor from a number of different regions and authors. I'd avoid anything with Drizzt (I don't think he'll play a major role in Living Realms) but if you really want a taste of the Underdark I'm quite enjoying the War of the Spider Queen series (lots of drow, but no Drizzt). From what I've read so far, Blackstaff does have some major implications for the Realms, although if you're not an expert you'll miss most of the shout-outs to Realms Lore. I haven't read any of The Year of Rogue Dragons or The Last Mythal yet, but both detail major happenings with dragons and elves, so if those interest you they might also be profitable. That's enough to keep anyone busy until they announce which regions are which, and then you'll have a better sense what's worth reading for more depth on the regions you're interested in.
Keith53 10-07-07, 01:45 PM	I completed the Orc King novel a couple of days ago. While a good story, I doubt I would consider it a "must read" for playing LFR. Certainly the story line of Drizzt, Cattie-Brie, Wulfgar, Regis, and Bruenor is advanced. Certainly the Orc Kingdom of Many Arrows, established in the Hunter's Blade Trilogy, is secured. Yes, the Prelude has a teaser of Drizzt a 100 years into the future, which seems to imply that character has assured continuation. While some have argued that the Prelude means that LFR and the Forgotten Realms timeline must be set 100 years past 1385 DR (i.e, in 1485 or later), I reject that argument. The Prelude does not have that feel for me. I think the 10 year jump (1375 to 1385 DR) next year will allow authors with stories underway to close them out before the Spellplague, with new stories starting after the Spellplague is totally defined. Certainly there are no guarantees, but WotC and TSR before them have been careful to advance the timeline year for year. If they were to jump a longer period, that is a lot of missing backstory. I don't see WotC doing that just for the convenience of a clean slate for LFR. That puts more value to LFR than I think is warranted. Hopefully at some point, the great Chris will speak and all will be known by all. :-) Keith
Keith53 10-27-07, 05:31 PM	Still catching up on FR novels, but so far: The Twilight War Trilogy (by Paul Kemp) and The Lady Penitent Trilogy by Lisa Smedman seem driven by the shift of FR to 4E, i.e., the changes that the story designers decided needed to be made (cleaning up problems). Keith
Mind Flayer Monk 10-30-07, 04:18 AM	The horrid quality of paper they use on the hardbacks drove me away. Gonna wait on this one, but good marketing ideas.
catsclaw 10-31-07, 03:15 PM	The horrid quality of paper they use on the hardbacks drove me away.Um, do you have a specific gripe with the quality of the paper, or are you just confused by the ragged edge? If the edge, you should know that's a specific style. It's called a "deckle edge", it mimics hand-bound books, and it's usually a mark of better quality. Costs extra as well. I prefer it in hardback books, since it prevents the pages from sticking together, but I know some people don't like it.