Just a little teaser for the upcoming Elminster MUST Die novel.
We will get some sort of FREE REALMSLORE EVERY FRIDAY!
I don't know how long it will last but it's a step in the right direction!
On a more serious note, I appreciate the teasers, and I'm looking forward to the book - more for the nuggets of Wailing Years lore and answers it might provide, rather than the actual story (which should be interesting, don't get me wrong).
It's to restore her to her rightful glory as the new Mystra!
But still, at the cost of the Seven Ghosts of Cormyr? Is that really worth it!? Noway man.
And any way, The Srinshee will be the new Mystra!
Never heard about them until reading the sample in Circle of Skulls...
The Simbul needs to be restored to her full glory and powers. Then may her enemies fear her restored fury!
Maiming beloved characters, and stories where you watch someone die slowly of disease or madness, this just doesn't feel like the Realms. Honestly, I would rather have had them all die, with no explanation, than get something like this. Even if it is Ed doing the writing.
It's really hard not to see this entire situation with Elminster, the Simbul and Storm as being artificially forced. Because we all know it is.
Maiming beloved characters, and stories where you watch someone die slowly of disease or madness, this just doesn't feel like the Realms. Honestly, I would rather have had them all die, with no explanation, than get something like this. Even if it is Ed doing the writing.
I dont quite follow you, who the hey was maimed?
I dont quite follow you, who the hey was maimed?
Alassra spendsmost of her time insane and shapechanged. She is a prisoner of her mind, and whenever she is returned to humanity again she knows that before long it will end and she will lose herself... again.
El goes crazy every time he uses Magic, at all. And suffers emotionally with Alassra's exile.
Storm has no ability to sing, can only weave illusions as her last remaining recourse to Magic, and has to spend her life trailing around behind El so he can be with Alassra... even though she would rather he be with her instead.
Looking at the Merriam-Webster definition of the word "maim" I see that it can be defined as "to mutilate, disfigure, or wound seriously". Yup. Seems like maiming to me.
Why should I want to play a game in a world where heroes are "rewarded" with madness, eternal emotional torment, and crippling diseases?
This is Call of Cthulu game stuff, not Forgotten Realms.
I dont quite follow you, who the hey was maimed?
Alassra spendsmost of her time insane and shapechanged. She is a prisoner of her mind, and whenever she is returned to humanity again she knows that before long it will end and she will lose herself... again.
El goes crazy every time he uses Magic, at all. And suffers emotionally with Alassra's exile.
Storm has no ability to sing, can only weave illusions as her last remaining recourse to Magic, and has to spend her life trailing around behind El so he can be with Alassra... even though she would rather he be with her instead.
Looking at the Merriam-Webster definition of the word "maim" I see that it can be defined as "to mutilate, disfigure, or wound seriously". Yup. Seems like maiming to me.
Interesting. Although, isn't this always the direction Ed wanted to go in with Elminster? I always got the impression when Ed spoke about Elminster that events were just getting to much for him, that he - as a result of his immortality and power - was having to endure one thing after another. That his "gifts" were more of a "curse" than a blessing, and that no matter what happened things could only end badly for him in the end. Ed has - again and again - described Elminster as on the verge of insanity (if not already insane). It always felt like, at least to me, that it was just a matter of time until the right straw came along to break the camel's back.
What I find interesting is what has happened to all the other characters around him.
We shall see how this turns out, and although I don't purchase Realms novels I must say I am greatly intrigued!
I actually suspect that Elminster might actually die in the end in some heroic fashion. I can see him finally embracing death at long last, as he leaves the world in the hands of those he believes will carry on his work. A passing of the torch, so to speak, and the ending of his torment.
I actually suspect that Elminster might actually die in the end in some heroic fashion. I can see him finally embracing death at long last, as he leaves the world in the hands of those he believes will carry on his work. A passing of the torch, so to speak, and the ending of his torment.
Well, hopefully. That might make it a little better. Let's hope he has started worshipping Selune or some other deity, so when he dies he won't be placed in the Wall of the Faithless.
I actually suspect that Elminster might actually die in the end in some heroic fashion. I can see him finally embracing death at long last, as he leaves the world in the hands of those he believes will carry on his work. A passing of the torch, so to speak, and the ending of his torment.
Who knows, maybe he and Alassra will be raised together to become the new Deity of Magic, she would be its strength, and he would be its wisdom. Probably just a false hope for wish fulfillment though.
He seemed to be pushing on, in the sample, because nobody in the New Era was interested in anything other than themselves (I really hope that this isn't a piece of subtextual allegory... otherwise I would have to worry for Ed more than I already do). He doesn't feel like he can set his burdens aside, though he dearly wants to, and concentrate on Alassra. The same seems to be true for Storm.
For me, and perhaps just for me, I would like to see Alassra rise to take Mystra's place, to be set among the heavens where she can beat Cyric back to the stone-age (Dawn War?) and stand as a Neutral (let's face it, she was as bad as she was good) Goddess of Magic in the tradition of Mystra 2.0. Leaving the Old Mage (who I still think of as "Uncle Weirdbeard" from an earlier El novel) and Storm to set aside their cares and either retire and live in peace together, or to pass into death and rest in Alassra's care, alongside so many of the people they have loved and lost.
Now that would be an End that would be worthy of the name,..
... in my opinion ;).
Who knows, maybe he and Alassra will be raised together to become the new Deity of Magic, she would be its strength, and he would be its wisdom. Probably just a false hope for wish fulfillment though.
He seemed to be pushing on, in the sample, because nobody in the New Era was interested in anything other than themselves (I really hope that this isn't a piece of subtextual allegory... otherwise I would have to worry for Ed more than I already do). He doesn't feel like he can set his burdens aside, though he dearly wants to, and concentrate on Alassra. The same seems to be true for Storm.
For me, and perhaps just for me, I would like to see Alassra rise to take Mystra's place, to be set among the heavens where she can beat Cyric back to the stone-age (Dawn War?) and stand as a Neutral (let's face it, she was as bad as she was good) Goddess of Magic in the tradition of Mystra 2.0. Leaving the Old Mage (who I still think of as "Uncle Weirdbeard" from an earlier El novel) and Storm to set aside their cares and either retire and live in peace together, or to pass into death and rest in Alassra's care, alongside so many of the people they have loved and lost.
Now that would be an End that would be worthy of the name,..
... in my opinion ;).
If this took place, it would be a major step in the right direction. I'd probably drop my personal ban on buying books.
Still, though... for me, I'd be happier if Elminster, Storm and the Simbul did something that turned the clock back to the 1350s.
Still, though... for me, I'd be happier if Elminster, Storm and the Simbul did something that turned the clock back to the 1350s.
That just gave me an incandescently wonderful idea. What if they did? What if (now that FR has been out for 2 years and the introductory period is likely over) they split the timelines? They stop the moment where Cyric killed Mystra...
We would be back in 1385 with no spellplague, 80% (about 25) of my favourite Realms personalities would be alive... and then they could just maintain the two lines. Forgotten Realms: The Legacy of Blue Flame for 14XX and Forgotten Realms for 1385+... No setting either era aside, both would continue, nothing would truly be lost...
...it would never happen, but dear heavens the idea is a joyful one to consider.
I'm wanting an emergent god/goddess of magic too. Here's hoping these last few of the Chosen are meant to make it happen.
According to Ed via THO at candlekeep most Chosen go mad, or the spellfire within burns them out.
Ed also didn't want to write novels about the Chosen, but TSR asked him to. He wanted to write novels with them in the background.
El in Shadows of Doom when he got his magic back called it his doom...
After reading Shadow's of the Avatar and the Elminster Series this last year,(espescially El in Myth Drannor, and the Temptation of Elminster.) I view this as natural character development. Mystra died, her Chosen will have negative things happen to them. It would have seem more contrived if El, Storm or the Simbul survived unscathed.
YMMV...
Mr_Miscellany / 18DELTA-
Yes, that's what I'm talking about. It was never a question of if, but when. No matter what happened, things would have gotten much darker for Elminster as time progressed. With the death of Mystra things definitely would have seem contrived if her Chosen were not severely impacted in some way.
I don't really anticipate things to carry forward on such a dark note for Elminster and the other Chosen. As heroes, they need challenges to struggle against in order to eventually overcome them. Personal scars from battles both won and lost is what gives good characters depth and makes them interesting.
I'm not even a fan of Elminster and the Chosen, but this turn of events for them has peaked my interest. I'm not sure if it will cause me to break my ban on not buying Realms novels... but who knows?
Iluvrien / Jorunhast -
I don't think things will end on quite that note. If I had to guess, it would be that Elminster dies to help raise a new individual to god(dess) of magic. It might be the Simbul. A new Dweomerheart would be constructed, and the Simbul would use her new divine power to elevate Elminster to be the new Magister - replacing Azuth. Those left behind would be made whole in some way. All of them would move forward carrying the scars (both emotional and mental) from the ordeal.
That's just a random guess though.
EDIT: I should also clarify and say that the above is the most positive guess I can make upon the potential outcome. However, it wouldn't surprise me if Ed didn't go -MUCH- darker than that, because I think it's a direction he has been wanting to go in for awhile but has been constrained for various reasons.
We'll see. I am personally hoping for a darker direction, helping set the tone and mood of the 4E Realms: a place in desperate need of heroes.
Mr_Miscellany / 18DELTA-
Yes, that's what I'm talking about. It was never a question of if, but when. No matter what happened, things would have gotten much darker for Elminster as time progressed. With the death of Mystra things definitely would have seem contrived if her Chosen were not severely impacted in some way.
I don't really anticipate things to carry forward on such a dark note for Elminster and the other Chosen. As heroes, they need challenges to struggle against in order to eventually overcome them. Personal scars from battles both won and lost is what gives good characters depth and makes them interesting.
I'm not even a fan of Elminster and the Chosen, but this turn of events for them has peaked my interest. I'm not sure if it will cause me to break my ban on not buying Realms novels... but who knows?
And so, yet again, the non-fan gets a novel that the fan does not want. :P
Iluvrien / Jorunhast -
I don't think things will end on quite that note. If I had to guess, it would be that Elminster dies to help raise a new individual to god(dess) of magic. It might be the Simbul. A new Dweomerheart would be constructed, and the Simbul would use her new divine power to elevate Elminster to be the new Magister - replacing Azuth. Those left behind would be made whole in some way. All of them would move forward carrying the scars (both emotional and mental) from the ordeal.
That's just a random guess though.
EDIT: I should also clarify and say that the above is the most positive guess I can make upon the potential outcome. However, it wouldn't surprise me if Ed didn't go -MUCH- darker than that, because I think it's a direction he has been wanting to go in for awhile but has been constrained for various reasons.
We'll see. I am personally hoping for a darker direction, helping set the tone and mood of the 4E Realms: a place in desperate need of heroes.
#1) Elminster will not die in the novel. There's a reason he survived the Spellplague, same as the reason Drizzt survived the spellplague. And it's the same reason Sherlock Holmes did not die at Reichenbach Falls and why Superman/Captain America/Batman/etc. never are truly killed off. Because he sells books.
#2) I also would love to see a new god/dess of magic, but I don't think they are going to go in that direction. Since the weave is destroyed, what do they need a god of magic for?
#1) Elminster will not die in the novel. There's a reason he survived the Spellplague, same as the reason Drizzt survived the spellplague. And it's the same reason Sherlock Holmes did not die at Reichenbach Falls and why Superman/Captain America/Batman/etc. never are truly killed off. Because he sells books.#2) I also would love to see a new god/dess of magic, but I don't think they are going to go in that direction. Since the weave is destroyed, what do they need a god of magic for?
Isn't it somewhat cruel to keep him alive? 
I can easily be persuaded to your argument, certainly. Although I would be disappointed if he didn't die or something.
My ideal ending: Elminster is confronted with a difficult choice. Sacrificing himself in some suitably heroic fashion for a worthy cause, and going out in a fitting manner for the character. However, the choice would be difficult in that he would know that the world needed him more than ever, and that by making that choice he's effectively taking away one more individual who might be capable of stopping Toril from falling into an even darker age. Ultimately, of course, he would decide to sacrifice himself determining the world will have to find a way on its own - that he's done all he can conceivably do - and that it's going to take someone stronger than him to push back the growing tide of darkness. (Enter the players.)
As for your second point, well the Realms could use a god(dess) of magic for the same reason it can use a god of tyranny, of murder, and destruction. Magic is a prevalent and pervasive force in the Realms. It would make sense that people would want to worship it for various reasons.
Ultimately, of course, he would decide to sacrifice himself determining the world will have to find a way on its own - that he's done all he can conceivably do - and that it's going to take someone stronger than him to push back the growing tide of darkness. (Enter the players.)
Why would they? I mean really. After seeing that the greatest reward that you can hope for for centuries in the service of the good of the Realms is a fitting death. I mean this isn't Dulce et Decorum Est, if the tide of darkness is so strong that I know that whatever I do, I will only buy a tiny amount of time for a small area before it is overrun, as soon as I stop watching it, by a greater peril... how is this fun?
For me this doesn't feel like a Dark Setting, it feels hopeless.
For me this doesn't feel like a Dark Setting, it feels hopeless.
Indeed it does, really if I was Elminster I think I would of offed myself by now! But El still struggles foward, and appreantly still working on saving the Realms, most people would of given up by now, but not good ol Elminster. Im really excited about this novel, I cant wait to find out what all happens, I mean yeah it seems like El, Storm, and the Simbul are pretty much screwed, but they may be able to turn it around. Maybe consuming the 7 Ghosts of Cormyr will cure the Simbul, and El knows that spell to get him a new body, so who knows whats going to happen, I really hope it doesnt end in a cliffhanger.
so who knows whats going to happen, I really hope it doesnt end in a cliffhanger.
I suspect it might, after all, isn't it the first book in a trilogy? Or are you saying that you hope that the trilogy won't end on a cliffhanger?
so who knows whats going to happen, I really hope it doesnt end in a cliffhanger.
I suspect it might, after all, isn't it the first book in a trilogy? Or are you saying that you hope that the trilogy won't end on a cliffhanger?
Im not sure if its part of a trilogy or not. I know Ed has like a 6 book deal with WotC, but I dont know if theyre stand alone novels, or connected together. The other Elminster novels were pretty much self contained stories. I mean you could read them in order, but the end didnt really leaving you hanging until the next book, and you could read any one of them without reading all the others, and still get whats going on. I hope the new one follows suite, but yeah I have a sneaking suscpicion that it will be a cliffhanger, it sounds like a lot going on just for one book. If it is part of a trilogy, and the trilogy ends in a cliffhanger, I just might lose it!
It's called The Sage of Shadowdale Book #1 Elminster MUST Die...
Ed's pretty much finished with book #2 of the series.
Ultimately, of course, he would decide to sacrifice himself determining the world will have to find a way on its own - that he's done all he can conceivably do - and that it's going to take someone stronger than him to push back the growing tide of darkness. (Enter the players.)
Why would they? I mean really. After seeing that the greatest reward that you can hope for for centuries in the service of the good of the Realms is a fitting death. I mean this isn't Dulce et Decorum Est, if the tide of darkness is so strong that I know that whatever I do, I will only buy a tiny amount of time for a small area before it is overrun, as soon as I stop watching it, by a greater peril... how is this fun?For me this doesn't feel like a Dark Setting, it feels hopeless.
Why do people, in real life, do selfless acts of kindness and charity - to the point of putting themselves in mortal danger - without anticipating a reward in return? It's what separates the individual who runs into a burning building to save someones life from an individual who finds themselves only capable of standing on the side of the street watching the scene unfold in horror. The first individual gives no thought to reward, no thought to the danger they're putting themselves into, their primary focus is on the individual who needs help - and they help because it's the right thing to do.
In D&D that's what separates a good aligned character from a neutral / unaligned character. The willingness to sacrifice for the greater good without reward, even at ones own personal expense. A good aligned character immediately springs into action. A neutral / unaligned character might want to help, but might stand back for several moments to size up the odds and contemplate the pro's and con's of taking action.
Elminster -ALWAYS- knew that his end would not be a good one. He was either going to be murdered by an enemy (the best he could hope for) or go insane. Those were the two possibilities that existed for him. We know from Ed that Elminster has been on the train to crazy town for awhile now.
In my mind previous editions of FR were basically some type of Renaissance Era. There was a great deal of enlightenment, trade, and sophistication. After the Spellplague, the world was plunged into a Dark Age where a lot of those traits were lost. One of the best things that can be hoped for is a return to a new "Golden Age" or Renaissance. Yet, of course, even during the old Renaissance things weren't peachy.
I always see the Realms in some type of Yin-Yang type struggle. Light over Darkness, Good over Evil, the Common over the Entitled, etc. Neither side can be completely destroyed, only have their momentum slowed and potentially reversed for a time. So in the Renaissance Era of the Realms Good had the momentum. Now the tables are turned, and evil has the momentum. The tables will eventually turn again, but of course both sides always expect - once they have the momentum - that the other side will finally be vanquished / under their heel. They will anticipate their ultimate success, but their success is never ultimate, complete, or absolute.
It in many ways mirrors the struggle between the planes - where good and evil are defined absolutes. Where there are beings which are the physical embodiment of both.
So, yeah. I wouldn't call it hopeless unless you wanted a complete and total victory. That doesn't mean the tide of darkness can't be pushed back for a time and held in check, allowing for a new Golden Age to develop. It just means that someday, eventually, the pendulum will swing back toward the other side and the Golden Age will come to an end.
Well, if you're gonna kill Elminster, why not milk it and do it in 6 books instead of one? Alot more profits will be made.
Pretty much...;)
I hope the novel will be packed with examples of the new arcane system on Toril. How does the Sage of Shadowdale manipulate high magic? How does at-will casting effect El and the Sisters? I expect some great examples of this.
We know from Ed that Elminster has been on the train to crazy town for awhile now.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MLp7YNTznE
...Yeah I'll go smack myself with a fish now.
How about:
Elminster Must Die AGAIN!
Elminster Must Be Disinitegrated And Scattered To The Winds
Die, Elminster, Die!
RIP, Elminster
Dead Wizards Don't Cast Spells
Dead Sage Walking
...Yeah I'll go smack myself with a fish now.
Here you go.
BUT, you have to look at this from a Marketing perspective (since Hasbro is looking to make money, not art). Elminster/Drizzt are their big Forgotten Realms sellers. This is why, even when nothing else was certain about the Spellplague/time jump, it was made clear that they both survived to the new age. Without both of these characters, they would have lost more of the old fans than they did with the changes made.
Second, Elminster being evil is wonderfully speculative fiction, much like Harry Potter fans like to debate whether Snape was evil or not and the various outlooks of characters from Lord of the Rings or whether Rand will survive the Last Battle. However, it is speculative. Has Elminster done questionable things in the past? Yes. Will he do questionable things in the future? Yes. But, in the end, he's a Hero of the Realms, looking to make the world better for others after he's gone.
Now, this all isn't to say that it could happen that at the end of Elminster Must Die!, El will slip the surly bonds of Faerûn and pass into the afterlife (where he'll probably end up in the wall of the Faithless since his goddess is dead - but that's another thread). After all, Khelben died at the end of Blackstaff and passed the title/job onto another; meaning the Sage of Shadowdale could be someone new for the other five books. And, hey, Hasbro's been taking a page or two from DC/Marvel with killing off characters, destroying worlds and crossovers (Abyssalplague). So, maybe El will die and get transported back in time to Netheril and have to fight his way forward to present day and reclaim the mantle of the Bat -er, Sage of Shadowdale. Or maybe he'll make a deal with Asmodeus and 'forget' that he and the Simbul were ever a couple, thus preventing the Spellplague. Or he might even get killed by a magic missile and it transported him to fixed point in space and time, preventing his death so he could return later.
Anyway, enough rambling.
Oh good lord, those events were bad enough in comics, the Realms doesn't need to introduce equally insipid ideas above and beyond those we've already had to endure...
Prior behavior is the best predictor of future behavior.
..flashbacks or something more?
I will know tomorrow.
Hmmm, now to contrive a plot to travel to the US and steal the book from you...
Curses!
The Simbul has a copy, along with some others. Been discussing it at candlekeep.
The new Realmslore snippet from EMD mentions both Mirt and Alusair in the present active tense...
Well, Alusair ...
... is a ghost.
The Simbul has a copy, along with some others. Been discussing it at candlekeep.
I rushed out to pick up a copy at my local bookstore... only to find that they didn't have it and they weren't sure when they would get it in... so I ordered it online.
I see from the Content Calendar that Free Realmslore Fridays have come to an end... what a surprise... or, in fact not.
"What? You mean that this wasn't an honest intention to make more Realmslore available to fans and was just a promotional tool for the book? Say it ain't so!"
*rolls eyes*
Elminster's Great Great Grandaughter is in it.
The 'real' Manshoon got capped a while back... they're all fakes at this point. 8k gold plate of a villain. Sad really.
WHAT!?
Heh. If Delta's lil' spoiler is true, that' s pretty funny.
Gotta leave a cliffhanger, so one HAS to buy the next novel.
all hail ELminster and lets all dance at the return of the goddess......
now I gotta get back to the boook.
I do love spoilers., but reading up to the point and afterwards is still fun.
For you other two...
uh, Silversword... maybe spoiler that? it's at the end of the book after all.
Dont roll your eyes at me!
Sorry, I didnt even think about it, I figured everyone already read Delta's spoiler, I mean everybody read it right? Is there really anybody out there that was like oh a spoiler, I dont want to read that!
If I ruined the book for any one I humbly ask for forgiveness.
ShowShe speaks to Storm(in her mind that is) asking where is Elminster. Storm doesn't sense the Weave. So maybe Mystra will be Weaveless this time around. Could be Shar mucking around with them.
And is their a comment from a high up at WotC saying that the Elmister must Die series are fully canon?
If memory serves, everything Ed writes (even on places like CK) unless contradicted by Wizards is canon... so a book written at the behest of Wizards will most certainly be canon.
ShowShe speaks to Storm(in her mind that is) asking where is Elminster. Storm doesn't sense the Weave. So maybe Mystra will be Weaveless this time around. Could be Shar mucking around with them.
Oh well, saves me some money I guess. Hope you get rabies from a chipmunk or something though.
Is there really anybody out there that was like oh a spoiler, I dont want to read that!
Yep. Me.
This thread is about the free sample of the book, not the book itself...
meh, the journey was more fun than being the spoiles
Is there really anybody out there that was like oh a spoiler, I dont want to read that!
Yep. Me.
This thread is about the free sample of the book, not the book itself...
Well this thread kinda turned into a discussion of the book. If you want to start another thread about the book go for it.
Is there really anybody out there that was like oh a spoiler, I dont want to read that!
Yep. Me.
This thread is about the free sample of the book, not the book itself...
Thanks alot man for ruining the book for me.
meh, the journey was more fun than being the spoiles
Well I am sorry, I'll try to watch my big mouth, I was just excited by Delta's revalations. I'll keep my mouth shut about the next Elminster book, I swear!
I find this dead not dead game a bit annoying... and disrespectful to fans to a certain extent. Is it me who is a bit too touchy?
That depends. Do you consider the fans that cried and wailed at the Spellplague 'touchy'. Because I know that not being a fan of killing off a lot of my favorite characters, I like what Ed's doing.
Well this thread kinda turned into a discussion of the book. If you want to start another thread about the book go for it.
My beef wasn't with the fact that it turned into a discussion of the book. My problem was that in a thread that was originally about discussing the pre-release material, you got un-sblocked spoilers about the end of the book. It wasn't your actions that concerned me 18D, you sblocked your spoilers.
Silversword and sfdragon, I would make a plea for more sblocks if such a situation arises again, please guys? Thanks.
I also think that WotC is starting to back track on some of the changes they made to the setting for the 4E Realms. See some of the Spoilers for what I am talking about. Plus a new Realms book on Neverwinter for next year. I could be wrong.
Typical Ed Greenwood novel. A bunch of characters with all sorts of plots going on at the same time. Plus a favorite of mine was in it. Manshoon. The Vampiric Clone of him, but still it's Manshoon.
I really enjoyed the Haunted Wing of the Palace. Seems like a fun place to run PC's around in.
M, V,A, E
their first letters in their names
it had many of my favorites
M, V,A, E
their first letters in their names
I think I got most of them figgerd out, is the E for Elminster? Please tell me Eilistraee makes an appreance!
THankfully no...
Tell the punk spoil-boy nothing I say... make him suffer in his ignorance.
Hell yeah! I totally agree! If you want to know go read the book like everybody else!
Hey wait a minute, IM punk spoil-boy aint I?
No. Of course, still just hearsay :P
you should go read the last question I asked Ed Greenwood about the Symbul.....
Linky?
Have you read it yet JD? I still havnt got a copy yet, In the process of looking for another house, thats gonna suck up all my available funds, and then some.
No. And my funds will definitely not head in that direction until I hear some rave reviews...which I doubt will appear.
The "Eliminster Must Die" title had my panties in a bunch the moment I heard it.
! Did I say that out loud? Anyway, yeah, SF, please post a link--it may spur my interest.
I finished it recently and quite liked it. Good read, even if parts of it, yes, were rather depressing with the changes wrought by 4E. Some really fun characters.
Should've gone to GenCon, Silversword, I got my copy free *and* signed by Ed.
And you can both bite me!!! Bejebuz bite you, now I HAVE to buy this
thing--and I only read half a page of quotes. 
So thanks. Just
thanks. 
welcome.. Yet the Kindle e-book version is $14.27.
Given that publishers are now setting the prices for kindle e-books, how can I interpret this as anything other than publisher greed? The kindle version, unlike the paperback, won't have any printing costs, no warehousing costs, no shipping costs to sellers... e-books should certainly cost less than a paperback.
WTF is up with this, seriously?
They get rich, while we see no enrichment with the product they are peddling.
My, man, welcome to the new FR. All apart of the Wizards marketing scheme.
They get rich, while we see no enrichment with the product they are peddling.
You don't need to buy it. Just walk into a local Chapters/Indigo/Borders and read it there. It might take a few trips, but really, the novels published nowadays are not worth more than 10 dollars or deserve more than 1 quick read through (much unlike Elaine's books).
Ans I still havnt read this one yet so I dont really have an opinion if its worth it or not, but I definitely plan on picking it up, once I get my finances in order. I really like Ed's books, Im not saying hes got the best righting style in the world, but he always fits in so much Realmslore and Realmspeech in there that it makes it worth it in my opinion. Really makes the Realms come to life I think.
But I cannot understand how any publisher could feel justified in charging more for an e-book than a paperback version. It's just pure greed IMO, as in this case the e-book is almost TWICE the cost of the upcoming paperback. With an e-book, you can't transfer it or sell it to a used book shop, or even give it to a library. But the publisher rakes in all that money, and they don't pay for printing, shipping to sellers, or even warehouse costs. It's just greed.