Big fan of Khelben through many years. Just finished the novel - feared the End as I had seen a spoiler.. I see the novel as an 'advanced' novel as it requires a certain amount of knowledge of The Realms, geography and characters. Most excellent if you ask me. Very sad at the expense at the end though..
I'm not too fond of the 4th ed. storyline and I find that Elminsters role in the book was too limited and thet the end was a bit forced and quick. Oh well, I'm off to re-read the Avatar trilogy for the second time in some 20 years..
Have a nice day.
I was wondering though, with this thread are you looking for discussion of the novel? Steven Schend's other novels? The novels that were preparing (fairly obviously in some cases) for the edition transition?
All of the above are good topics, I am just not sure which you might be interested in.
The novel itself is very actionpaced and gripped me entirely from the explosion near The Tower. I loved reading it, but thought that it was too fast covering the last bit of the story..
(sadly)
I think I would be a little unhappy if such titanic events were overpaced, although my experience with Mr Schend's other works suggests he usually writes very well indeed. I really hope that this is the case with this one too.
As far as Realms authors ability to change the world, so to speak, I'd say it was kinda half and half. Certainly WotC gives them parameters to work within for plotlines and such, major events and such, but how they choose to get there in the details are probably left to them. So my take on what we've been told by various authors is that they do have some ability to shape, but its limited by the outline of what WotC wants to happen in the novel.
I think I would be a little unhappy if such titanic events were overpaced, although my experience with Mr Schend's other works suggests he usually writes very well indeed. I really hope that this is the case with this one too.
Hasn't he only written one before Blackstaff and that was Blackstaffs Tower?
I'd have to agree, the end did feel very rushed compared to the rest of the novel. While it was a good read, the conclusion was less than satisfactory as I don't really see him just up and abandoning his wife and children just to rebirth some dead civilization. Had the urgency of stopping the Killing Storm once and for all been played up more, I think the ending would have made much more sense in terms of Khelben's character and nature.
I'm divided about your answer as part of me wants the novel and thereby the history of The Realms to be perfect, but the lack of information regarding this Killing Storm is disturbing and therefore the sacrifice is deemed rasch (sp?). Khelben is one of my favorite characters of The Realms so I might be a bit picky.. And what old civilization? It's a bit quick and easy if you ask me.
As far as Realms authors ability to change the world, so to speak, I'd say it was kinda half and half. Certainly WotC gives them parameters to work within for plotlines and such, major events and such, but how they choose to get there in the details are probably left to them. So my take on what we've been told by various authors is that they do have some ability to shape, but its limited by the outline of what WotC wants to happen in the novel.
Sounds very Company-like and un-Realms to me..
Hasn't he only written one before Blackstaff and that was Blackstaffs Tower?
And a short story in Realms of the Deep.
And a short story in Realms of the Deep.
About Khelben?
I've just been down to cellar - finding my Avatar trilogy plus the two concerning Cyric and the Shadows of the Avatar trilogy. First one is from 1991. Damn I'm old....
And a short story in Realms of the Deep.
About Khelben?
I've just been down to cellar - finding my Avatar trilogy plus the two concerning Cyric and the Shadows of the Avatar trilogy. First one is from 1991. Damn I'm old....
1991? The Avatar trilogy came out before then didnt it? I remember reading those in high school, and I was out of there by 1991. And im jelous man, you still have em! I lost my copies a while back, need to check around on eBay or something to see if I can find them, Id like to read them again. Ive had a buch of people telling me that they were crap, but I remember them being pretty good, Id like to read them again and see if theyre as good as I remember them to be.
You could always ask Steven Schend at Candlekeep.com if you have questions regarding the novel.
-- George Krashos
I agree the novel glosses over certain parts of the lore. I guess the obscure parts are not intended to confuse but to give a nod to other little nuggets of realmslore found in sourcebooks.
I think the characterisation of Khelben was excellent in this novel. I was a bit let down he wasn't the main focus in all chapters, but came to like Reagar, that Oghmanite rogue that chases Tsarra and Khelben through out the book too. His struggles against seemingly impossible odds were comical and sometimes daring.
I could have preferred some more vision in some action sequences, the scene in a tower against several baddy mages was pretty good though. But all in all I think the novel did a good job by pacing Tsarra's story with her flashbacks of Khelbens past.
I'd have to agree, the end did feel very rushed compared to the rest of the novel.
Well, I would have real trouble to just name a single one of the hundred-something FR-novels I have read that didn't feel rushed at the end.
It almost like they were "Hm, so now I have told 80% of the story in the first 270 pages, let's pack the rest into the last 30 pages"
Books 1&2 of trilogies being an exception, however the last book of a trilogy always feels even more rushed ("Good, now that I have told 80% in the first 870 pages, let's pack the rest into the last 30")
1991? The Avatar trilogy came out before then didnt it? I remember reading those in high school, and I was out of there by 1991. And im jelous man, you still have em! I lost my copies a while back, need to check around on eBay or something to see if I can find them, Id like to read them again. Ive had a buch of people telling me that they were crap, but I remember them being pretty good, Id like to read them again and see if theyre as good as I remember them to be.
If memory serves.... The Shadowdale book first addition is from 1991. I was astonished of the quality they're in. They've been in a box i the cellar for som 10 years. They were the first books I read about The Realms. In my opinion the author is definately not Tolkien quality but has a great imagination and a grasp for detail that makes up for his literate shortcomings. I'm some 50 pages into the first book now and it's hard to put down. Definately worthy of its epic contents!
-Khelben
I agree the novel glosses over certain parts of the lore. I guess the obscure parts are not intended to confuse but to give a nod to other little nuggets of realmslore found in sourcebooks.
I think the characterisation of Khelben was excellent in this novel. I was a bit let down he wasn't the main focus in all chapters, but came to like Reagar, that Oghmanite rogue that chases Tsarra and Khelben through out the book too. His struggles against seemingly impossible odds were comical and sometimes daring.
I could have preferred some more vision in some action sequences, the scene in a tower against several baddy mages was pretty good though. But all in all I think the novel did a good job by pacing Tsarra's story with her flashbacks of Khelbens past.
The flashbacks works and are an excellent way to get to know the old Blackstaff. Very useful information and a chapter regarding the Killing Storm (not fond of the name) would be well deserved since it costs an Archmages life. The characters were great and it's always good to meet the complicated hero such as Reagar. Which book tells the stort of Khelbens wife and the Crown that possessed her?
It almost like they were "Hm, so now I have told 80% of the story in the first 270 pages, let's pack the rest into the last 30 pages"
Books 1&2 of trilogies being an exception, however the last book of a trilogy always feels even more rushed ("Good, now that I have told 80% in the first 870 pages, let's pack the rest into the last 30")
Excactly! I was some 60 pages from the end and thought 'How the Hell are they going to pull that off??'. I mean it was a gathering of the most powerful mortals of Faerun.. Bummer.
-Khelben
I'm divided about your answer as part of me wants the novel and thereby the history of The Realms to be perfect, but the lack of information regarding this Killing Storm is disturbing and therefore the sacrifice is deemed rasch (sp?). Khelben is one of my favorite characters of The Realms so I might be a bit picky.. And what old civilization? It's a bit quick and easy if you ask me.
There's a considerable amount of information on the Killing Storm throughout Realmslore actually. Well, not necessarily considerable, but enough so that you know what it was, what it did, and who likely did it. Lost Empires of Faerun from 3.5e is a pretty good source for information on it, as is BRJ's TGHotR. As to what old civilization, Miyeiritar, or however that's spelled, which the Killing Storm pretty much wiped out until it was finally contained by the last survivors of the aforementioned Miyeiritar.
Sounds very Company-like and un-Realms to me..
I'd suspect its par for the course with most settings with novels written about them.
By the by, that quote in the previous post was from Mirtek, not me...
;)
1991? The Avatar trilogy came out before then didnt it? I remember reading those in high school, and I was out of there by 1991. And im jelous man, you still have em! I lost my copies a while back, need to check around on eBay or something to see if I can find them, Id like to read them again. Ive had a buch of people telling me that they were crap, but I remember them being pretty good, Id like to read them again and see if theyre as good as I remember them to be.
If memory serves.... The Shadowdale book first addition is from 1991. I was astonished of the quality they're in. They've been in a box i the cellar for som 10 years. They were the first books I read about The Realms. In my opinion the author is definately not Tolkien quality but has a great imagination and a grasp for detail that makes up for his literate shortcomings. I'm some 50 pages into the first book now and it's hard to put down. Definately worthy of its epic contents!
-Khelben
According to the FR wiki it was orginally released in 1989, I no longer have those novles unfortunatly, so I cant check, but that does sound closer to what I was thinking, I would of still been in high school at that time, and I know I read those in high school. Although the wiki could be wrong, but that does sound right to me. forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Avatar_se...
There's a considerable amount of information on the Killing Storm throughout Realmslore actually. Well, not necessarily considerable, but enough so that you know what it was, what it did, and who likely did it. Lost Empires of Faerun from 3.5e is a pretty good source for information on it, as is BRJ's TGHotR. As to what old civilization, Miyeiritar, or however that's spelled, which the Killing Storm pretty much wiped out until it was finally contained by the last survivors of the aforementioned Miyeiritar.
Thx for the info. I do have a lot of books on the Realms but this one has eluded me. But I do feel very strongly that it should have included the history in the novel, since it's there that an Archmage gives his life for it. The novel is still good but did glance over certain topics. Unfortunately.
According to the FR wiki it was orginally released in 1989, I no longer have those novles unfortunatly, so I cant check, but that does sound closer to what I was thinking, I would of still been in high school at that time, and I know I read those in high school. Although the wiki could be wrong, but that does sound right to me. forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Avatar_se...
I looked again in the first book and you're right!
Shadowdale, Tantras and Waterdeep is from 1989.
Prince of Lies is from 1993
Shadows of Doom, Cloak of Shadows and All Shadows Fled is from 1995.
Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad is from 1998.
-Khelben