Re: SJ Reviews: The Novels

>From:    Thatotherguy <spellj@??????????.com>
>  > I think 3&4 stand up to most other 'game world' fiction. But yes, the
>>  ratings are in regards to Spelljammer.
>
>3?  The only one I ever touched and I couldn't even force myself
>through it (and I've forced my way through a lot).  For instance you
>love the overblown and untouchable villain (half orc, half troll,
>regenerates faster than a troll, immune to everything under the sun,
>yada, yada, yada) while I couldn't think of a more pathetically
>amateurish character.  The point heroes and arch villains is they
>manage to overcome when someone would have failed or died.  He didn't
>have anything to overcome nor any way to die.

Without giving away too much of the plot, the last sentence and the
comment that Vorr was 'immune to everything under the sun' are
patently untrue given several events in the book.

Why do I like Vorr? One, he's a believable villain intellectually. he
thinks, has plans, and doesn't see himself as the 'villain'. Most of
the scro side of the story is told from Vorr's viewpoint, and it is
remarkably more sympathetic then the Elven view, generally told
through Admiral Cirathorn's view. Vorr's background is provided, his
desires, his needs. The cloak is completely irrelevant to him (the
narrative reason he is magic resistant) , and it is nice to see not
the 'highest guys' in charge of the scro hunt for the cloak (the Lich
and Admiral Halker) but the 'Number One' charged with accomplishing
tasks.

Look, it's a good book IMO, but it's not literature. It is good as
typical current fantasy fiction like Wheel of Time, Terry Brook's
stuff, or RA Salvatore's stuff. I don't think it is as good as Elaine
Cunningham's best work (no, Cloakmaster Cycle #4 isn't one of her
best) or any of Lynn Abbey's work.

You don't have to like it, I doubt we have similar literary tastes.
Some folks may find the reviews helpful.
--
"We sleep safely in our beds, only because rough men stand guard in
the night, ready to visit violence upon those who would do us harm."
H.G. Wells.

Paul Westermeyer,  westermeyer.3@???.edu
Phd Candidate, History, Ohio State University
Instructor, Humanities, Columbus State Community College