Re: SJ Reviews: The Novels

In <URL:news:local.spelljam> on Fri 24 Feb, Paul Westermeyer wrote:
> I just finished rereading this novel, so my opinions are fresh:)
[snip]

> 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.   

I'm afraid that these books put me off almost all of TSR's
fantasy works, and I am a voracious of fantasy (and SF), having
read more than a thousand, maybe more than a couple of thousand.

Attitudes to other races is a bit of a sticky point in fantasy,
the heroes often seeming more liberal than most of their
societies, and 'adventurers' (and most SJs) sharing in this
liberal attitude.

As for the business of making 'good' unlikable, I personally
would put that down to post-modernism, and relativism, which can
usefully spice up some fantasy games, nature vs. nurture, etc,
(Estriss being a good example) but should not be allowed to
undermine whatever the DM (and hopefully the players) regard as
the basic underpinnings.

-- 
Dreamer
dreamer@??????.?????.??.uk
http://www.romsys.demon.co.uk/