Hmm, do you have a link?
The excerpt is on the D&D Homepage. Looks to be an excellent novel. I'll be picking it up at Barnes & Noble, methinks.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/frnovel/240257400
I didn't click the Homepage link the first time, and then all I could see was the PHB2 advertisement over and over until I cleaned my cache. I figured others might have the same problem, or might just be too lazy to search the main page.
The word 'Shadow' is in the title, and I am simply not kewl enough for anything shadowy. :P
Seems in the distant past it was almost always Bane, then it became Cyric (or drow) and now it is Shades/Shar.
Makes the novels seem a bit too similar, or at least gives the impression that all evil is associated with one "flavour-of-the-month" powergroup.
Would be nice to see some use for Malar, Auril, Garagos, Talona, The Twisted Rune, Knights of the Shield etc ...
Would be nice to see some use for Malar, Auril, Garagos, Talona, The Twisted Rune, Knights of the Shield etc ...
-Usually, the "lesser known", "not as important" trilogies and stand-alone novels do.
Rino..., aren't you a lucky winner of an author-signed copy of "Downshadow"?
Yes I am, I just got it.:D
-RW
There was a Downshadow contest?
-RW
Yes, but it was sponsored by the author of the novel on his blog, not WotC.
Yes, but it was sponsored by the author of the novel on his blog, not WotC.
Ah, cool. I don't pass by his blog much, so I'd not seen anything about it.
-RW
@all: Here's a link to a site on my blog with the companion story, the sample chapter, and an Amazon link. This is also my designated discussion zone: http://eriksdb.livejournal.com/191211.html
@casual-observer: Thank you for the kind words, and I'm glad you liked it. Let me know what you think of the book as well, if you end up reading it.
@MT: That's sad (dismissing a novel because it happens to have the word "shadow" in it also knocks out Paul Kemp's glorious work), but if you really feel that way, there's nothing I can do about it. I let my writing speak for itself.
@T7S: Nope, nothing to do with Shar, Shades, Cyric, drow, Bane, or any flavors of the month (indeed a couple of those are mentioned, because it's a Realms novel, but it's not about any of those things and none of them are antagonists). The Big Bads of the novel are independent citizens after their own goals, and there's a certain grayness to them that makes it sometimes hard to tag them as villains (I do that a lot in my writing). I really don't mess around with the affairs of the gods in this book--heck, the main character's god is an amalgam of several pre-4e gods--and stay far away from Shar in particular.
@all: Yes, Lyrna is one of the lucky winners of the contest I held a few weeks ago to give away 4 free copies of the book. For those who would like signed copies, I'm always open to buying and sending them along (for the appropriate reimbursement, of course--I'm a young starving author); see this page: http://eriksdb.livejournal.com/191902.html
Cheers
@MT: That's sad (dismissing a novel because it happens to have the word "shadow" in it also knocks out Paul Kemp's glorious work), but if you really feel that way, there's nothing I can do about it. I let my writing speak for itself.
I greatly enjoyed Paul's first trilogy, and am saddened that I cannot bring myself to read the second.
I've also enjoyed your novels in the past as well.
I just can't get past the whole "everything is about Shar" thing FR is going through right now. 'Shadow' has become just another buzz-word, and I deplore that mind-set.
Nothing personal - just ask Brian James how 'Twitter' makes my eye twitch. :P
I'm well-aware that I'm missing-out on some great novels - I happen to win Swordmage, and couldn't believe how much I enjoyed a 4e book. Perhaps some day I will find my way back, but for right now, it's still "too soon".
I just can't get past the whole "everything is about Shar" thing FR is going through right now. 'Shadow' has become just another buzz-word, and I deplore that mind-set.
I suppose it might seem that way. I prefer not to accept the premise of the argument.
To me, shadow is just a common word in a LOT of fantasy (Realmsian and not), and it's taken on more meaning than it originally had (light blocked). "Shadows twisting about him" and all that--shadow is pretty much another sort of magic, basically. Granted, it's probably better not to overuse the term shadow, but one shouldn't assume that because a book uses a particular word that it's going for a particular effect.
The title is more of a funny coincidence with me than any intention, to be honest. "Downshadow" happens to be the name of the place where I set the novel (at least part of it), and my MC happens to be named Shadowbane in honor of the 3.5 Shadowbane Inquisitor (which he essentially is). I'm not doing anything with the shades, though of course they're a significant force, so it's not like I pretend they're not there.
Anyway. I respect your opinion and position. You need to read what you like. Life's too short.
Cheers
Anyway. I respect your opinion and position. You need to read what you like. Life's too short.
Cheers
C'mon now... you're supposed to hit him with the thinking stick and tell him not to assume... it's bad for his health and always leads to folly.
;)
I'm trying to come-up with an analogy that works, and its not really easy without turning to food yet again (the curse of a fat man).
I used to love Honey Mustard. Anytime I had Chicken Fingers (those poor chickens!) I had to have tons and TONS of honey-mustard. My brother-in-law was a chef, and used to make me a big bowl of it whenever he came over and cooked for us.
One night I ran out of chicken fingers before I ran out of Honey Mustard... so I sat there with a spoon and ate a huge bowl of it.
I vomitted all night long. I'm still not sure if I just happen to get sick that night, or if my Bro-in-law was trying poison me (just kidding), but I had Honey Mstard pouring out of my nostrils all night.
I can't even get near the stuff now - if I catch a wiff of it, I turn green.
Thats kinda like how I feel about 'shadow' stuff. Not nearly as severe as that, and a lot has to do with 4e in general (not the authors who write in it), but that's the gist of it.
Erik is an excellent writer and I highly recommend his books to anyone.
BTW - WHERE is Downshadow?
You know how my heart starts to race when I hear about FR geography..,. I go 'Coa-coa for Coa-Coa Puffs"!
-RW
Or are you mixing it up with Skullport?
Skullport makes more sense, to me, because it was a settlement. Undermountain was actually a major geographic area!
So there's no more Undermountain?
Or are you mixing it up with Skullport?
Skullport makes more sense, to me, because it was a settlement. Undermountain was actually a major geographic area!
MT,
Undermountain is still under Waterdeep in all its glory so dont worry. Concider Downshadow as a buffer between the two locations, it contains the lower sewers of Waterdeep and the Uppermost level of Undermountain.
Thank you for that answer, Strife026.
You know, I had always imagined something was there, and the few brief glimpses that Waterdeep novels have given us of The Warrens made me think that there was a whole 'undercity' that folks above were unaware of (and not Skullport - I imagined something very much like this Downshadow).
You know what... that has just made me very interested in this novel - I think I may get it after all. Its sounds pretty cool now.
Despite the fact that 'Shadow' is in the title, and despite the fact that it's 4e, and despite the fact that it is about Waterdeep (one of my least-favorite FR locales).
Thanks again for the info.
-RW
Nightbelow. :D
'Downshadow' reminds me of Down Syndrome, and I just get this very weird picture in my head of a challenged Shade....
Keith
'Downshadow' reminds me of Down Syndrome, and I just get this very weird picture in my head of a challenged Shade....
Heh. Maybe in the sequel?
Sorry, wasn't implying it''s all gone. But it's not the Undermountain of old. As Downshadow expands, more and more of Undermountain goes, though at the moment, only the uppermost reaches are gone. Adventurers strike out from Downshadow into Undermountain tackling the lingering traps.
RW has it pretty well, though he makes it sound a little more civilized than I intended it.
Over the past century, penniless adventurers in Waterdeep who cannot afford the housing (or who are too scarred or warped by magic) have steadily moved into the upper halls (think the first, maybe second level) of Undermountain and more or less pacified it doing what they do best. It's still extremely dangerous--think Skullport except without all the infrastructure. The monsters are hardly gone, and the inhabitants of Downshadow live a skulking and generally short existence.
It's rough, ruthless, and lawless (the watch/guard only comes down rarely and only in force)--not to mention haunted by a vigilante with a silver burning sword.
(Ok, had to throw that in there. ;) )
I thought Erik helped fill out more about the feel of Downshadow (the locale) in his novel. I think you will see LFR adventures in Waterdeep will often venture into Downshadow. The first was Dark Secrets of Downshadow, WATE1-2.
Keith
I saw that adventure noted somewhere, Keith, and was quite pleased with the concept. I'm glad to hear subsequent adventures might follow suit!
If you're looking to bounce ideas off each other or I can support your design in some way, by all means, drop me a line: erikscottdebie AT yahoo.com
Cheers
Hmmmm... beginning to sound a little like the X-Men's Morlocks, and New Yorks 'Undercity'.
Not that that's a bad thing... I just hope the 'plaguescarred' isn't what the whole thing revolves around. As one aspect its cool, but I'd hate the level of derivation an entire community of 'mutants' would invoke (also used in Futurama, amongst other sources).
Also, was I corrrect? Was this an out-growth of The warrens that were mentioned in some novels? I found it very intersting (I think it was in Blackstaff Tower) that Gnomes claim the Undercity is actually older then Waterdeep itself.
So yes, there is a higher percentage of spellscarred who live in DS than in the city above (because spellscars aren't always easy to conceal, like if you're half merged with a wagon wheel, for instance), but they're still just a small subset of downshadowers.
Neither is the population all that big--and constantly in flux as downshadowers kill each other or fall prey to the monsters and/or traps, or folk from above get exiled to the deeps (that's a common punishment the Watch inflicts, the way they've always done). It's still mostly a place for adventure like when it was just Undermountain--you're just more likely to find intelligent folk there (who will mug you for your gear).
Now that I think of it, there is a bit of a morlocks feel to it, but the folk aren't generally unified (except in instances where they work together for mutual benefit--and plan on double-crossing each other at the first opportunity), and people don't go live there because they want to be with others of their own kind--they live there because they have no other choice for financial, aesthetic, or legal reasons.
Better to think of Downshadow as a slum--a particularly dangerous one. It's a literal "underworld" in which all sorts of shady deals are done all the time, murders are commonplace, and people go to lay (really) low from the law. They climb up into the city at night to steal or otherwise work their illegal activities. (Though rarely do they go up there to take people and eat them, ala Time Machine. Not that there aren't downshadowers who do that.) They're used by parents as a warning story to keep misbehaving children in line.
As for your intriguing query about the Warrens, no, Downshadow isn't strictly an outgrowth of the Warrens . . . though I suspect the growth of the Warrens did influence Downshadow, and the two do connect in places (and DS is, generally, speaking, deeper than the Warrens). Not that many dwarves, halflings, and gnomes live in Downshadow, because they have the Warrens (which is a far better choice).
Also the Warrens are indeed mentioned in the novel, as well as the halfling-exclusive broadsheets (which are major business for the wee folk in Waterdeep).
Cheers
I would like to know more about Rath's background. Why is he so filled with loathing for himself and his race? I'm also a bit curious about what his class might be, in 4th edition terms. He seems like he might be a multiclassed monk/fighter or monk/rogue- though I suppose he could be an avenger. Of course, he is a villain, so maybe he would just be statted out in NPC/monster stats.
I'm very curious about the true nature and ultimate fate of Myrinn. The story seemed to imply that she is somehow linked to the death of Mystra and the creation of the spellplague. Of course, much of this was insinuated by Fayne, who seems to be nearly incapable of opening her mouth without telling a lie.
Speaking of Fayne, I have to say, I think her character was one of the most vividly portrayed out of all those presented in the story. The whole time I was reading the book, it seemed to me there was something naggingly familiar about this vain, conniving, spiteful, petty woman who's only pleasure in life is spreading slander and lies and ruining other peoples lives.
Then it dawned on me... wait a second, I used to date this B**** :D
I finished this book, yesterday, and greatly enjoyed it. The ending of the book clearly demands a sequel, which I'll be looking forward to in the future.
Well thank you sir, I'm glad you enjoyed. And I'm hoping to write a sequel (or a sequel trilogy) in the future--now's just a question of getting WotC on board with that. Downshadow doing well (i.e., sales, good reviews, lots of word on the street, heck, even letters to WotC) will all help in that regard.
I thought making a follower of Beshaba the primary villain added an interesting element to the book, as opposed to the usual choices of Bane, Cyric or Shar.
Thanks, I'm glad you liked that. The luck deities have always been my favorites in the Realms, and I thought having Fayne and her patron be sworn to Beshaba was not only cool but also very appropriate, considering Fayne's *job* (i.e. professional scandalizer).
Did you catch the bit about who her patron *used to* serve?
I would like to know more about Rath's background. Why is he so filled with loathing for himself and his race?
Good questions, and I definitely want to explore them in the future. Rath was originally a throw-away character in my planning, but he soon became very significant as I wrote (I attribute this to raging bad-assery). There are hints in the novel--I kept it all very subtle, as fundamentally this isn't Rath's book.
As for his abilities . . . well, we don't yet have the monk mechanics, so I think it would be best to class him as an aerialist rogue with some impressive unarmed skills. And then when he draws his sword . . . well, I won't spoil it for those who haven't read.
I'm very curious about the true nature and ultimate fate of Myrin.
Who knows? This is something I would want to explore in a sequel as well. There are subtle hints, again, like when Myrin's fighting the lich woman Avaereene (anyone got a 3.5 CoS sourcebook? hint hint), or when Fayne's patron tells her a story about Halaster as connected to Myrin (her new target). As an amnesiac, Myrin could basically have *any* sort of past . . . and hers is considerably darker than one might imagine.
(No shades though--thought I should let you know, MT and LK!)
Speaking of Fayne, I have to say, I think her character was one of the most vividly portrayed out of all those presented in the story. The whole time I was reading the book, it seemed to me there was something naggingly familiar about this vain, conniving, spiteful, petty woman who's only pleasure in life is spreading slander and lies and ruining other peoples lives.
Then it dawned on me... wait a second, I used to date this B****
You nailed Fayne quite well (much like . . . whoops! Almost a spoiler). That was exactly the effect I was going for. All of my characters have a number of inspiration/influences, and none of Fayne's are what you'd call nice girls.
Did you catch the bit about who her patron *used to* serve?
I did indeed. Another mystery which deserves to be explored in a sequel ( are you listening, WOTC? ;) ). Theres a lot of great story here, still waiting to be unravelled, and I hope you get a deal for some follow-up books.
I did indeed. Another mystery which deserves to be explored in a sequel ( are you listening, WOTC? ). Theres a lot of great story here, still waiting to be unravelled, and I hope you get a deal for some follow-up books.
Thanks for the kind words. One can always hope!
In the meantime, I'm just hoping that Downshadow does well (continues to do well!). The more people read it, enjoy it, talk about it, write reviews of it, the more likely we are to see more about these characters in the future.
Cheers
read it at work, just dont tell anyone
Psst, and you get to see the next goddess of magic to be. ;)
And if you'd indulge me in a bit of honesty here:
Do me a favor and please restrain the impulse to bash other writers/books in the Realms. These people are my colleagues and fellow writers, and a number of them I count as close friends. You may not like their work (I won't even claim to like all their stuff!), but please, insults like that are unnecessary. Let's focus on the positive--what books do we like, which authors do we want to see more of, and what the Realms needs moving forward in the novel field (i.e., what Realms novels do we want to see?).
Plus, I'd rather we talk about *my* work. :D
Cheers
P.S. And I wrote five novels as a teenager, I'll have you know. I won't claim they were *good* but only one was really horrid. ;)
-RW
I read this really horrible novel once. Hmm. Now what was it called again? "Depths of Predictableness"... "Ducks of Madness"...Well, i'm sure it's not important. You don't by any chance like that author do you? ;) :P
Jerk.
Good to see you, btw, RW.
Cheers
P.S. Oh, and RW's not serious. He just likes to poke me occasionally.
Sounds to me someone is 'borrowing from Runequest and their stupid-cool Chaos Ducks.
