Re: SJ Reviews: The Novels (spoilers!)

I just finished rereading this novel, so my opinions are fresh:)

Spoilers below!!!!











> From: Blackmaer [mailto:cslundy@?????????.net]
> I'm surprised that you gave "The Radiant Dragon" such a high rating,
> personally, I didn't like that one at all.  She pretty much axed Estriss
> and Gomja out of the story right away, which, incidently, may be one of
> the reasons that Hectate Kir was written out right away in the next book.

Estriss was gone at the end of the 2nd book, she just brought him back to
clear things up and then removed him again.  Gomja should have remained, I
agree. 

> I found it odd that the Imprial Fleet would only send a Swan Ship on such
> an important mission instead of a Man-O-War.

A swanship can land, which a Man-O-War cannot.  A swanship is a good
medium-sized vessel, and it seemed appropriate to the mission, to my mind.
Men-O-War are needed for the direct war effort, after all. :)

I thought it was interesting that the Man-O-War, which many consider _the_
iconic Spelljammer vessel, was never used by the portagonists in any
Cloakmaster Saga novel.  A pity, actually.
I know the Hammership Probe descriptions in the second novel were very
inspiring to me. 

> I also didn't understand
> what would have compelled anyone in the Imperial Fleet to make Teldin a
> captain over obviously more experienced officers. 

Valuss Leafbower thought making Teldin the swanship's 'captain' would
convince him that the elves were on his side.  He states catagorically tht
the position was unique to the ship, and was not a position within the IEN
itself. 

> OK, start thinking like a Fleet Officer.  Why in the world would you even
> let Rozloom on board?  Let alone not make him a prime suspect in all of
> the goings-on? 

Rozloom was rescued along with the dracons, Teldin, and Hectate Kir from the
illithid man-o-war.  After that the ship never sets down anywhere that he
could be removed from the ship.  

> In the beginning, when they encountered the first MOW in RealmSpace that
> was illithid controlled, why didn't they try to rescue the Imperial Fleet
> officers?  

Who is 'they'?  I think the Trumpeter's crew did so, as best they could. 

> Instead they just mowed them down like so many orcs.  And when
> they encountered the MOW in WinterSpace filled with witchlight mauauders,
> why didn't they torch that ship, instead of letting it drift away?

Good point, actually.  

> I thought that Estriss would have been a little more grief stricken over
> learning the fate of Alfred Silverhorn, perhaps his only friend, yet he
> seemed to just shrug it off.  After all, Estriss was fond
> enough of him to give him "the Probe."

Aelfred's death in book 3 was one of the few sections I didn't like in that
book.  But you are right, Estress didn't respond to that well. 

> Why did Teldin mourn the orcs of Armistice, and Pearl too, but he didn't
> mourn the elves on the 3rd MOW that came in to try to save the crew of the
> Trumpeter?  Those elves didn't do anything except try to rescue the
> Trumpeter, and Pearl just destroyed the ship and killed it's crew like it
> was nothing?  And Teldin didn't care about them?  But oh, those poor, poor
> orcs that are trying to kill me?  Too bad for them, huh?

Celestial Nightpearl is a general flaw in the book.  She's clearly evil, but
written sympathetically.  And she usually curses by Baphomet (sp?) which
further confuses things.  I thought the destruction of that third Man-O-War
was gratuitous and unnecassary, and it clearly established her as evil.  I'm
not certain teldin saw that, he was busy at the time. Regardless, he may
well have challenged her on it.  Her death was obviously required, she had
too much knowledge of the Spelljammer, but it removed an interesting
character. And likely removed the question of the third Man-O-War.  She paid
for her evil, issue closed. 

The basic contempt for elves shown in books 3 & 4 is a problem, I find it
follows a general turn towards making 'good' races, classes, and gods
unlikeable in D&D (paladins, gods like Torm, elves, ect).  My feelings on
the subject delve to far into real world politics to express here, but I'll
note I blame it on the Sixties. 

I do think Elaine Cunningham's work is more nuanced then that, however.
_Teldin_ may equate the elves with the scro, but he's obviously biased,
indeed I'd say he starts the book a racist.  His attitude towards elves
isn't surprising, when you consider what happened to him in book three.  And
it changes by the end of the book.   



 
-- 
"...How shall a man judge what to do in such times?!"
"As he has ever judged," said Aragorn "Good and evil have not changed since yesteryear..."
J.R.R. Tolkien, _The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers_

Paul Westermeyer,  westermeyer@????????.net