On June 1st we have the last book for Bassingwaithe's Legacy of Dhakaan trilogy. Don is a very talented writer; his first trilogy, the Dragon Below trilogy, is an excellent series, and I am quite eager to see how he ends the Legacy of Dhakaan.
On August 3rd, we have Paul Criley releasing Taint of the Black Brigade, evidently the second in the Chronicles of Abraxis Wren. The first book would be The Night of Long Shadows, one of the books in the very strong Inquisitives series. This is another book I'm looking forward to, as Abraxis Wren is an entertaining character. I find myself appreciating Long Shadows more and more as I re-read it, and I look forward to seeing Wren solve more mysteries, and banter with his assistant.
On October 5th, His Infernal Bovinity, Keith Baker, releases The Fading Dream, the last book in the wonderful Thorn of Breland series. For those not in the know, Thorn is a Dark Lantern, an agent of Breland's intelligence service, which makes this series kind of like James Bond in Eberron, with magic. As with Bassingwaithe, I am eagerly looking forward to seeing how Baker ends the Thorn of Breland series.
Finally, on December 7th, Tim Waggoner releases Lady Ruin. Now, I have to admit that I was not that big a fan of Waggoner's previous series, the Blade of the Flame. I just couldn't get into it; I didn't really like the main character, and I felt the setting was far too generic, and lacking the feel and many of the elements of Eberron. However, I'm still looking forward to Lady Ruin, because Waggoner is still a skilled writer; I recall his action scenes generally being well-done and enjoyable.
So, we have a promising-looking book released every two months. I'm excited. Discuss!
Also, I believe Mr.Baker mentioned in another thread that the books weren't selling as well as hoped...
I don't know expectations or full numbers, but I know they can be hard to find. As I see it, the main thing is that sales today are what will drive WotC to decide whether or not to continue supporting Eberron in the future. So thanks to all of you who are continuing to support the setting!
As a side note, while The Dreaming Dark is now out of print, I've discovered that TDD and Thorn books are all available on Kindle (and for other ereaders, I hope).
At full price - profoundly irritating for those of us who've already bought them but would rather read books on our iPhones these days...
Certainly. But given that The Dreaming Dark books are out of print these days, I'm glad to have them available in any form.
....though I lent out some of the Inquisitive books, and Tales of the Last War.....really hope i'll get them back......
But yeah. The only reason I haven't pre-ordered them all as well is that I don't know when I'll be moving out of my current digs.
It's kinda funny. I don't think I've heard a single bad thing about any of the Eberron books I've lent out, 'cause they're good (Sure, the lack of criticism may be because i lend out the good series, but still.). I mean, the Heirs of Ash trilogy is one of my favorite series ever (Sorry, Keith; the banter in HoA is just too good to pass up. "The devils of that forsaken place [Khyber] only wish they had my sense of style." Anything Gerith says. Zed. 'Nuff said.), so I can only guess that they're not bestsellers because, for whatever reason, they don't get enough exposure. I mean, I haven't touched Salvatore in years, but I re-read the good Eberron series (Dreaming Dark, Binding Stone, Heirs of Ash, Inquisitives) at least once a year, if not more. But, look at all the press Salvatore and Ed Whats-his-face get. I don't get it.
The established fanbase has something to do with it, I'm sure. Plus, Realms books are canon whereas Eberron books are explicitly not (even if some of us treat them as if they were), which means the difference between a required and a casual purchase for a lot of fans.
Also, Salvatore and Greenwood's books are sold more in big chain stores, while Eberron books are mostly bought by gamers from game stores or the internet (at least judging by the woeful selection available at my local Chapters locations - they never even stocked Dragon War in hardcover, and the only Eberron books they currently have on the shelves are two copies of The Left Hand of Death, which I assume they still have because the only person in Edmonton who bought a copy was me).
Also, Salvatore and Greenwood's books are sold more in big chain stores, while Eberron books are mostly bought by gamers from game stores or the internet...
This is a big thing. FR books simply have wider distribution - no doubt because of that established fan base, which means the stores are more comfortable stocking the books. But when the books aren't ON the shelves, the only people who are ever going to buy them are the people who already know about them. Powells - the big bookstore in Portland - has a small Eberron selection, but as an example the only book of mine they have is Son of Khyber... when it would be more useful for them to have Queen of Stone.
It's frustrating for me as a writer, but there's not much for it.
Much moreso than an entire trilogy about a dark elf doing nothing but killing orcs. (And, point of fact, I used to very much enjoy the Drizz't saga. But the Hunter's Blades trilogy turned me off from it for good. Nothing happened in that trilogy that meant anything, and it made me feel like I wasted whatever portion of my life I spent reading it.)
That being said, I'm extremely happy with the return of Abraxis Wren. The Nigh of Longshadows was the best book in the Inquisitive series in my opinion, and I am heartened at Paul Criley's return to Eberron.
(That being said, I have something of a distaste for Mr. Waggoner, because of his use of the Faux Action Girl Trope, wherein the deadly female assassin is introduced as being emminently skilled, but does nothing of value throughout the book and at the end of it is reduced to a victim by a one-armed, zero-handed vampire when it wraps it's only, handless, gripless arm around her shoulders. And to top it off, when she returns in the next book as a deadly female assassin vampire, which should make her much more of a threat, she's outclassed in one fight, her vampire weakness for running water instantly incapacitating her. Bleh.)
Another one here who didn't like Tim Wagonner's books very much. His books are a little "generic" to my taste.
I'm starting to read James Wyatt trilogy, begining with Storm Dragon. Are they any good?
Anyway, it seems that Eberron novels are starting to flow again (finally!).
Admittedly, the moment psi-forged came out of the Mournland I almost thought Eberron as a whole had jumped the shark. This is what I probably never recovered from when starting book 2. (I mean really, if you have Warforged and you have Inspired and want psi-forged then take A insert experiments done by B and produce C. Do not just have them randomly appear and say, "Hey, these guys are new and weird!")
Anyway, good day Eberron-ites. Happy Gaming too!
Which is which is, of course, up to the readers. ;)
Jumping the shark would be if WotC produced a new sourcebook and suddenly stated what caused the Mourning. Which we know will never happen.
I'd be leery of drawing too close to WoW, as WOTC still gets a lot of flak for making "WoW on paper!" and similar crap.
Zohar, I agree that Waggoner's books were rather generic. Concerning the Draconic Prophecies trilogy, I think that it's not the best series, but it's at least solid enough. I have other series I like better.
AvonRekas, I agree entirely with your appraisal and troping of Waggoner's books. I'm hoping that his book coming out in December is stronger. I also agree with you on really losing Salvatore after the random orc-killing series. I had started to lose it with the Paths of Darkness quartet, but yeah, the Hunter's Blade trilogy just turned me off.
Oh what the hell. Salvatore's trilogies get Wikipedia pages, but no Eberron novels do? That's crap.
Maybe Turbine could be convinced to produce an Eberron setting book/novels of sorts that will appeal to the combined markets of Eberron (D&D) fans and DDO gamers. The way Blizzard have done with world of warcraft.
Turbine probably doesn't have the rights to do novels. Even if they did you are assuming DDO gamers will bring in a large market which I doubt. World of Warcraft and DDO are very different. Warcraft slowly built the fan base with a series of games. World of Warcraft has a significantly larger player base than DDO.
While I've never played DDO, I don't think it brings Eberron alive like World of Warcraft does for its world. In DDO you are limited to Xen'drik I believe. You have warforged but are missing shifters, kalashtar, and changeling. Without being able to explore the entire world, Eberron doesn't feel as big and interesting as the World of Warcraft.
The success of the FR books probably has more to do with timing than anything else. The Dragonlance books hit the big time and carried the FR books with them. Author and character recognition continue to carry that line.
The fact they appeared in a rulebook (along with the rest of the material MoE contained) is why I was concerned about the future quality of Eberron. If they appeared in a novel then that would be fine because it is not canon. I dislike them for the implementation issue, so when they appeared in a series I was reading I was immediately turned off.
Happy Gaming!
The Night of Long Shadows was my favourite out of all the Inquisitives books, I now need to track dig up my copy to read it again.
The Night of Long Shadows was my second-best resource when I started a game in Sharn (After the Sharn sourcebook, of course). I shamelessly lifted NPCs and events from the book to add color to the game. (Like the female dwarven watch guard sitting behind the desk of a garrison.)
As a one-time Eberron novelist (and ongoing Eberron DDI-contributor), I'd like to be able to say that no one Eberron author (especially not a freelancer) can make Eberron jump the shark. Because the novels aren't synced with the source material or even one another, each novel or series/trilogy is sort of its own triumph or failure.
Which is which is, of course, up to the readers. ;)
Jumping the shark would be if WotC produced a new sourcebook and suddenly stated what caused the Mourning. Which we know will never happen.
Oh hey! Jeff! After I went back and read The Night of Long Shadows I started reading the other books in the Inquisitive series (I had only read the first two before), and I've just started reading The Darkwood Mask. So far I'm enjoying it just as much as The Night of Long Shadows!
I finished Tyranny of Ghosts (well, the entire series) last week or so, and I'm happy to say that I am quite satisfied with it. Good job Mr. Bassingthwaite! Everybody, feel free to share your impressions.
Next, Taint of the Black Brigade! When it comes out in August, of course.
The kick in the pants for me, though, is buying books. Our family is an avid patron of the local library, and I can order in any Eberron novel. I suppose shelling out the dough would help the setting to continue though.
And I must admit that I rob plot ideas from the few novels I've read and put them in my games.
I have to agree with you; Queen of Stone was wonderful for giving me an idea about Droaam. Similarly, The Darkwood Mask brought Korth alive for me, The Night of Long Shadows, City of Towers, and the third book of the Binding Stone trilogy gave me wonderful stuff for Sharn, and so on. If you want to get an idea about Darguun, read the Heirs of Dhakaan trilogy.
Heirs of Dhakaan is easily my favourite series so far - it really helps you understand Darguun in my opinion. Ive just started reading the Lanternlight novels (the only Eberron books ive not read) and so far they are also excellent !
I have to say that one thing I love about Eberron is that goblins aren't simply the raiders just over the hill ready to attack the town at level 1. They have history and depth and... honor. I love that.
Bah. Anyways. Concerning Darguun, one of the things I envisioned when I first read of the Kech Sharaat was the PCs looking on a massive army of iron-disciplined and highly-trained goblinoids practicing with a tactical fusion of Macadonian-style phalanx and post-Marian reform-style infantry; blocks of hobbo pike to anchor the line and ward off cavalry, with hobbo legionaries (maybe bugbear?) throwing pila before the charge, and screened by goblin skirmishers. This military machine would, of course, be preparing to conquer the world. Never had an idea of how to get to there, or where to go from there, though.....
The kick in the pants for me, though, is buying books. Our family is an avid patron of the local library, and I can order in any Eberron novel. I suppose shelling out the dough would help the setting to continue though.
Times being what they are, I understand your reluctance... but it's true, right now the novels are simplest tool to prove to WotC that there is a continuing audience for the setting and a reason to produce more material for it. Eberron novels aren't always well-publicized and many bookstores don't carry them; anything you can do to draw light to them helps the setting.
While many books (like The Dreaming Dark) are out of print, I know all of my novels are out on Kindle; I haven't checked Don's or the others, but I'd think that the most successful series would be out there.
The kick in the pants for me, though, is buying books. Our family is an avid patron of the local library, and I can order in any Eberron novel. I suppose shelling out the dough would help the setting to continue though.
Times being what they are, I understand your reluctance... but it's true, right now the novels are simplest tool to prove to WotC that there is a continuing audience for the setting and a reason to produce more material for it. Eberron novels aren't always well-publicized and many bookstores don't carry them; anything you can do to draw light to them helps the setting.
While many books (like The Dreaming Dark) are out of print, I know all of my novels are out on Kindle; I haven't checked Don's or the others, but I'd think that the most successful series would be out there.
Hey Keith keep writing them novels i for one will keep on buying them ! You can't get enough Eberron
The kick in the pants for me, though, is buying books. Our family is an avid patron of the local library, and I can order in any Eberron novel. I suppose shelling out the dough would help the setting to continue though.
Times being what they are, I understand your reluctance... but it's true, right now the novels are simplest tool to prove to WotC that there is a continuing audience for the setting and a reason to produce more material for it. Eberron novels aren't always well-publicized and many bookstores don't carry them; anything you can do to draw light to them helps the setting.
While many books (like The Dreaming Dark) are out of print, I know all of my novels are out on Kindle; I haven't checked Don's or the others, but I'd think that the most successful series would be out there.
Well I'm thinking of getting the Dragon Below series. Keep it up with the Thorn series. I'm really enjoying them, and will certainly buy the next one.
Keep it up with the Thorn series. I'm really enjoying them, and will certainly buy the next one.
Thanks! I'm not sure what will happen after The Fading Dream; I imagine sales will be the determining factor.
Or you could just do the Eberron A-Team.
And cuz gadgets are fun.
Now I just have to convince my wife that I really do read enough to warrant one.
(and it's got a color screen, unlike the Kindle)Wish I had one...
BTW Keith (if you see this any time soon), I'm definitely looking forward to The Fading Dream! And, I can't wait to see what you're working on once Thorn's trilogy is finished.
Death Comes Easy. They nixed it. Didn't bother me a bit. I hated the main character.
True, the character definitely wasn't one of my favs of the Eberron world, but I would have liked to see how things may have wrapped up. Oh well.
BTW Keith (if you see this any time soon), I'm definitely looking forward to The Fading Dream! And, I can't wait to see what you're working on once Thorn's trilogy is finished.
Thanks! Honestly, *I* don't know what I'm doing next. I'd love to do more with any of the characters I've already developed, but I don't know what opportunities there may be. As I said, I imagine at the end it will come down to sales - if the numbers are good they'll hopefully want more!
And Juanpierre, you might want to Spoiler-Tag that last sentence... ;)
And Juanpierre, you might want to Spoiler-Tag that last sentence... ;)
Deleted it. Sorry.
So it's been made clear that settings are only getting 2 sourcebooks. And it appears that most of the official creative energy for Eberron is being directed towards novels. Are there any plans for more adventures in 4e? I ran the Seekers of the Ashen Crown and Khyber's Harvest, and enjoyed them both. I'm making up my own stuff now, but I always like trying to fit published adventures into my campaign. And it's nice to get some new Eberron specific content.
So it's been made clear that settings are only getting 2 sourcebooks. And it appears that most of the official creative energy for Eberron is being directed towards novels. Are there any plans for more adventures in 4e? I ran the Seekers of the Ashen Crown and Khyber's Harvest, and enjoyed them both. I'm making up my own stuff now, but I always like trying to fit published adventures into my campaign. And it's nice to get some new Eberron specific content.
I doubt there will be in print form, but there may be for DDI, as they are still producing Eberron content for DDI. We'll see!
Concerning the Dreaming Dark trilogy, I find that my appreciation for it grows with each re-reading, as i take note of the complexities.
Next, we have Mr. Baker's The Fading Dream, last in the Thorn of Breland series!
Just bought The Binding Stone and The Gates of Night. They'll be waiting on my Kindle when it arrives on Thursday.
Thanks for picking these up, Juanpierre. A lot of Eberron books aren't being carried by bookstores, and of course many of the original series are out of print. The Kindle editions are a way for WotC to see that there is still interest in the setting.
I'm happy to say that I finished Mr. Criley's Taint of the Black Brigade, and it was quite good. I think I will have to re-read it a few more times to get the full enjoyment out of it. Congrats, Paul!
Next, we have Mr. Baker's The Fading Dream, last in the Thorn of Breland series!
Thanks Ogiwan. Glad you liked it. :-)