Edited by Phil Athans
-When I first read in the back of some book that there was going to be a Realms of War anthology, I was a little perplexed. ‘War’ is a pretty broad subject. But, then again, so is ‘Valor’, and ‘The Underdark’, and ‘The Arcane’. Picking up the book, the cover was pretty cool looking, I’ll admit. All of the Twilight War-related covers are.
-The first short story, “Continuum”, by Paul Kemp, is one of the best pieces of Forgotten Realms literature that there is. Honestly. This story explained one of the nagging problems that has existed since Telamont Tanthul/Lord Shadow was reintroduced in the Return of the Archwizards trilogy- Where is his wife? The one that he went through such pains to marry, in the Netheril: Empire of Magic box set. Her absence was one of the main driving points in the ‘Telamont Tanthul is not Lord Shadow’ conspiracy theories. The way in which she died- “[I want] to be the instrument of your downfall”- coupled with the ending- Discovering things was his gift? Pure genius. Honestly, I was less interested in the story with Varra than I was the “sideplot” with Rivalen, his mother, and Brennus. It’s just too bad that the FRCG “ruined” things, since we know that Prince Rivalen is still among the living and doing just fine. The climax that this short story alluded to- Brennus and/or Lord Shadow vs. Rivalen- would have been spectacular.
-“Weasel’s Run”, the story by Lisa Smedman, I enjoyed. When I first began reading it, I was getting the sense that this was going to be one of those stories that I trudged through, for the sake of having finished reading it. But, as I got deeper into the story, this really wasn’t the case. It was a good story, a good protagonist in Weasel, a good antagonist, in The Beast, and a good ending. It was also a good depiction on how actual events get transformed into myths, even in the Forgotten Realms.
-“The Last Paladin of Ilmater”, by Susan Morris, I didn’t like too much. The plot was decent, but the characters, and character selection seemed a bit too much like something from someone’s D&D campaign. A fighter? Check. A rogue? Check. A spellcaster? Check. While I have nothing against “balanced parties” in literature, it felt a little artificial to me. The story did have an interesting ending, towards the end, though.
-“Black Arrow”, by Bruce Cordell, I enjoyed. It was also very refreshing for a Bruce Cordell story, with his…”weird” take on Realmslore, every so often. This story was “gritty”. This story was “dirty”. It was very good, though. In a world where the majority of novels revolve around people like Drizzt, or Elminster, or other NPCs that are created for novels, it’s nice to see a deep story about low-level individuals. The protagonists were well written. The ending was a very nice touch. It’s a good reminder about the realities of things like war, even in a fantasy world, like the Forgotten Realms.
-“Too Many Princes”, by Ed Greenwood, was one of my least favorite stories in this book. To be honest, when I lost interest, I began skimming, rather than reading. Ever since I “discovered” that it was “OK” to not like Ed Greenwood’s fiction, his writing has appealed less and less to me.
-“The Siege of Zerith Hold”, by Jess Lebow, was a decent story. The major problem I had with it was that it was too bland. It seemed like a half-hearted attempt to Realmsify the Battle at Helmsdeep, from the Lord of the Rings. If the short story by Bruce Cordell wasn’t included in this anthology, I think I would have liked this story a bit more. But, Bruce’s story is included, and is a basic tale of a bunch of regular Joes fighting against Goblinoid enemies, so this story seems redundant.
-“Mercy’s Reward”, by Mark Sehestedt, was a decent story. I enjoyed it. I like the Tuigan, I like the Tuigan Horde Invasion, and I like the Utter East, so there was plenty for me to enjoy. I don’t like the Eastern Lythari too much, but, eh. In Frostfell, where they were introduced, nothing egregious happened, so my dislike of them is something minor. Getting back to the Tuigan, though, I really think that there could be an anthology about them on their own. Realms of the Horde. Something to that effect. That would have been a cool book of short stories.
-“Redemption”, by Elaine Cunningham, I enjoyed a lot. But, that’s typical of any Elaine Cunningham literature. The story had so many great elements. The Wealdath, and allusions to Myth Rhynn, was a great touch. Elaith willing to use necromancy, an Elven taboo, shows just how far he’s fallen, and yet, how noble he still is. I find stories in which others ‘taint’ themselves for the good of others to be very interesting. And, as always, I enjoy all of the inner monologues when Elaith runs into Arilyn, about how, in some other world somewhere, Arilyn could have been his daughter. It just makes me a bit sad, though, to know that, this story definitely had some “build up” to Elaine’s final novel, Reclamation, that we all know, was not meant to be.
-“Changing Tides”, by Mel Odom, was a decent story. I didn’t particularly love it, but I didn’t dislike it, either. I enjoyed the lore to be glimmered from the Sea Elves, at any rate. I never read the Threat from the Sea books, so the built up to it was slightly lost on me. Though, should I choose to, this is an obvious gateway. Though, personally, I think that prequels are more provocative as prequels, and not introductions.
-“Chase in the Dark”, by Jaleigh Johnson, I didn’t enjoy too much. It was just one of those things, I guess. The story didn’t call out to me, the characters didn’t call out to me, nothing, really. It seems that Jaleigh’s literature has that effect on me. Others like Jaleigh’s literature, though, so that’s fine. Everyone has their own tastes.
-“Bones and Stones”, by R.A. Salvatore, I didn’t like too much, either. Again, we have more ‘preaching’ by R.A. Salvatore, to redefine what we are supposed to think about Orcs. This story, The Orc King, they both reek of it. Orcs are Orcs. Orcs are fantasy vermin. That’s how it’s always been. Now, that’s not to say that there can’t be good Orcs. My problem, however, is that, in this story, Salvatore is depicting Joe Average the Orc. It’s not an Ondonti Orc. It’s not an Orc intellectual. It’s supposed to be Gnurk the average Orc. I’m sorry, but the average Orc just isn’t like this.
-So, out of a possible Five Beholders, I give Realms of War Four Beholders.
Honestly, I was less interested in the story with Varra than I was the “sideplot” with Rivalen, his mother, and Brennus. It’s just too bad that the FRCG “ruined” things, since we know that Prince Rivalen is still among the living and doing just fine. The climax that this short story alluded to- Brennus and/or Lord Shadow vs. Rivalen- would have been spectacular.
Yeah, I liked it better when we didn't know whether or not Rivalen would come out of things alive (or alive and well off). Who knows, though, maybe Mr. Kemp will still surprise us.
Yeah, I liked it better when we didn't know whether or not Rivalen would come out of things alive (or alive and well off). Who knows, though, maybe Mr. Kemp will still surprise us.
-That is true. He could die, and then, some time in the in-between, be brought back to life. Or replaced.
My point of concern with Ed Greenwood's story is that in the end too many folk appear and take the plot out of the protagonists hands. Before that, the The Name of the Rose feel was quite good.
LK, if you want to get a better taste of Ed, try Shadows of Doom. While his adventurous heroes (Sharantyr) still wipe the floor with the Zhentarim, his style is "quite cool".
LK, if you want to get a better taste of Ed, try Shadows of Doom. While his adventurous heroes (Sharantyr) still wipe the floor with the Zhentarim, his style is "quite cool".
One thing I should say about that. I have just finished SoD and the "rolling battle" at the end reminded me of the one at the end of (I think) Swords of Dragonfire except that the latter manages, skilfully I would say, to avoid battle fatigue in the reader. The former gets a little "And this happened and this happend and this happened" for a few pages. Apart from that, very minor, complaint I found SoD to be an extremely enjoyable book and am in the process of ordering the next.
LK, if you want to get a better taste of Ed, try Shadows of Doom. While his adventurous heroes (Sharantyr) still wipe the floor with the Zhentarim, his style is "quite cool".
-I've read most of his novels, as, I've always seen his literature as "required reading". It's not until recently, however, that I've gotten the notion in my head that it's okay to not like his writing, what, with all of the Ed Greenwood fanatics that run about.
-I've read most of his novels, as, I've always seen his literature as "required reading". It's not until recently, however, that I've gotten the notion in my head that it's okay to not like his writing, what, with all of the Ed Greenwood fanatics that run about.
Well, yes and no. Never "considered" it as required reading, since his stories either revolve around heroic adventurers or Cormyr royalty folk or the high'n mighty of the Realms. The latter two I do not use in my games and heroic fantasy - i.e. Shadows of Doom or the Spellfire trilogy is Realms-style entertainment. Or, in other words, the adventures of a group of heroes - akin to my PCs - clad in a novel. You do get much more insight into certain FR regions, people, organizations et al, of course, since Ed is the grandfather of the setting and knows each and everyone in there AND has a tale to tell about them. Still - and dare I say it - required reading for me means lorebooks on the game/adventure/campaign at hand, with some general "fluff" around that (timeline, cosmology, movers'n shakers) - as I consider myself something of a traditionalist (i.e. using existing lore and not throwing in warforged or the like because they are "cool"). Novels give me ideas and flesh out some details.
Well, yes and no. Never "considered" it as required reading, since his stories either revolve around heroic adventurers or Cormyr royalty folk or the high'n mighty of the Realms.
-It's more of a notion championed by the (as I sometimes think of it) "Greenwood Faction". Not that I have anything against him, but, as I said, I don't appreciate his literature. As a game designer, he creates excellent stuff. As a novel writer, I don't appreciate his writing style. Hell, I'm sure he'd be the first to criticize his own stuff. I know, with my own writing endeavors, I am my harshest critic.
I'm a big fan of his novels, though. I find them fun reads (and usually funny, too).
Interesting review though... I'm half-tempted to give it a look over, if I can get over my general aversion to anthologies.
Interesting review though... I'm half-tempted to give it a look over, if I can get over my general aversion to anthologies.
-Oh, you definitely should. This one is, by far, the best general short story collection regarding the Forgotten Realms. Usually, there's a few mediocre stories in them, a few bad ones, and maybe one or two really good ones, but this collection, there's a bunch of really good ones. I think it's certainly worth the $7.99.
-Oh, you definitely should. This one is, by far, the best general short story collection regarding the Forgotten Realms. Usually, there's a few mediocre stories in them, a few bad ones, and maybe one or two really good ones, but this collection, there's a bunch of really good ones. I think it's certainly worth the $7.99.
I'll echo that! Give it a go Stigger! (And if you like it, put Realms of the Elves on the "to be bought" - list too.)
-Paul Kemp's story is my fav in this book!
18DELTA
At least one awesome story and none that are awful? That's an anthology worth owning and reading. (And though it's a bit off-topic, the Elves anthology is good, too.)
Kemp's story is in his wheelhouse, so it had to be good, and their are no real "groaners" in the book at all.
At least one awesome story and none that are awful? That's an anthology worth owning and reading.
-Indeed, though some will be better or worse, of course, based on likes and perception and stuff.