…
Series: Narnia
Title: The Magician’s Nephew (Book 1)
Author: C. S. Lewis
ISBN: 0-00-671667-9
Format: Paperback 171 Pages
Overall Concept 7
Execution 6
Title: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (Book 2)
Author: C. S. Lewis
ISBN: 0-00-671663-6
Format: Paperback 171 Pages
Overall Concept 7
Execution 7
Despite the fact that I am a lover of fantasy, have been reading fantasy since I was 11 (or younger), and have read a lot of the ‘standard’ fantasy series, I have several I still need to read (Narnia, Earthsea, Oz, Wonderland). What finally forced my hand to read the Narnia series was the fact that this past Christmas the most recent movie rendition of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe was released.
Being a bit of a stickler for reading books in their ‘proscribed’ order, I couldn’t read The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe without first reading The Magician’s Nephew, as both chronologically and by the box set I have, The Magician’s Nephew is book one.
I had heard many years ago that the order that the books were written is not the one that is normally associated to the box sets, and, in the case of The Magician’s Nephew, it shows. You can tell by the fact that the story isn’t as well laid out and seems a patchwork book, as compared to The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, that this was written sometime later and as an intended prologue to explain some pieces of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (i.e. the lamppost in the middle of the woods and the magic of the wardrobe).
The overall premise of the first novel is that a boy and girl of preteen age are magically transported to magic places and the adventures that ensue, both in those places and back home, because of their travels and interactions with a very nasty witch. This book is nicely written as a fanciful escape from the doldrums of life and has a few morals to impart along the way.
The second book follows the adventures of four siblings that begin their adventures in an English countryside manor during WWII and upon entering a magical wardrobe are plunged into an epic battle between good (Aslan the Lion) and evil (the Ice Queen). As with the first book this is a good fanciful tale with morals interspersed. However, it has often been said that this story is allegorical to the crucifixion of Christ, and having recently read the New Testament of the Bible, I can readily see how this assertion could be made. Mr. C. S. Lewis emphatically denied this claim, but I don’t see why, as he told the story in a beautiful way that can easily be captured by children (a benevolent lion being tortured and slain by a evil witch to save the life of a misguided boy is more digestible to children than Christ being crucified for the sins of the world).
I am quite glad to have read these two books, and most certainly intend to complete the series. I would whole heartedly suggest to anyone who is willing to read Harry Potter or Tolkien, that they should take the time to digest these novels as well.
To quickly touch base on the movie that came out this past Christmas season, I must say I wasn’t all that impressed by it. The visual effects were quite stunning and the movie painted a pretty picture, but it just didn’t seem to capture the overall fanciful nature of the story and too often took liberties with the story (adding or removing scenes). Frankly, I am more a fan of the 1978 cartoon version of the story, as it is seems to hold closer to what I perceive when I read the book(s). My wife has said that she feels the same way about the BBC production that came out recently. Perhaps it could be said that the movie tried too hard and focused away from the spirit of the story in order to be visually spectacular.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
...
Series: Left Behind
Title: Left Behind (Book 1)
Author: Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
ISBN: 0-8423-2912-9
Format: Oversized Paperback 468 Pages
Overall Concept 8
Execution 8
This is the first book I’ve read that has a lot of religious concepts/issues that wasn’t a horror novel, although this book does have horrible aspects to it, in terms of murder and mass hysteria.
The overall premise of this book, and the other 11 books in this series, is that the Rapture, as outlined in the Bible, is occurring at this time in history and what exactly would that mean to people in North America today.
The Rapture is essentially the idea that just before the End of Days as outlined in the Gospels and the Book of Revelations, half of all the people on the planet would be taken directly to the kingdom of God and that the other half would have to choose their side, between God and the Antichrist, and live through the end of the world.
The authors have done a good job with the realistic depiction of what would happen if half of all people, doctors/caregivers, drivers, pilots, etc., were to mysteriously vanish and what total chaos would ensue for those left behind. They have also done a good job of choosing protagonists that are non-believing or non-practicing Christians and how they learn the truth of the situation and the Word of God.
The fact that Tim LaHaye is one of the foremost experts on Biblical prophecy and the Book of Revelation, is quite evident as the story he paints and his choice of interpretation is very believable.
Had you have told me, as little as 2 years ago, that I would not only read this book but look forward to the next, I would have ridiculed you. Now here I am recommending this book to Christians, as an entertaining way to understand what the Rapture could mean, and to non-Christians, as a entertaining read.
Series: Left Behind
Title: Left Behind (Book 1)
Author: Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
ISBN: 0-8423-2912-9
Format: Oversized Paperback 468 Pages
Overall Concept 8
Execution 8
This is the first book I’ve read that has a lot of religious concepts/issues that wasn’t a horror novel, although this book does have horrible aspects to it, in terms of murder and mass hysteria.
The overall premise of this book, and the other 11 books in this series, is that the Rapture, as outlined in the Bible, is occurring at this time in history and what exactly would that mean to people in North America today.
The Rapture is essentially the idea that just before the End of Days as outlined in the Gospels and the Book of Revelations, half of all the people on the planet would be taken directly to the kingdom of God and that the other half would have to choose their side, between God and the Antichrist, and live through the end of the world.
The authors have done a good job with the realistic depiction of what would happen if half of all people, doctors/caregivers, drivers, pilots, etc., were to mysteriously vanish and what total chaos would ensue for those left behind. They have also done a good job of choosing protagonists that are non-believing or non-practicing Christians and how they learn the truth of the situation and the Word of God.
The fact that Tim LaHaye is one of the foremost experts on Biblical prophecy and the Book of Revelation, is quite evident as the story he paints and his choice of interpretation is very believable.
Had you have told me, as little as 2 years ago, that I would not only read this book but look forward to the next, I would have ridiculed you. Now here I am recommending this book to Christians, as an entertaining way to understand what the Rapture could mean, and to non-Christians, as a entertaining read.
...
Series: Tom Clancy’s Net Force
Title: Net Force (Book 1)
Author: Created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik
ISBN: 0-425-16172-2
Format: Paperback 372 Pages
Overall Concept 8
Execution 6
Title: Hidden Agendas (Book 2)
Author: Created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik
ISBN: 0-425-17139-6
Format: Paperback 366 Pages
Overall Concept 8
Execution 5
Being a fan of Tom Clancy’s novels (despite only having currently read Without Remorse and no others), I was intrigued when he put his name to this concept. What further intrigued me was it was a spy thriller series with an emphasis on technology. Being a person who both works and hobbies with technology this seems a natural set of books to at least give a chance.
The overall premise of this series is that in the near future the FBI ends up having a division (Net Force) that is solely responsible for investigating and dealing with ‘techno crime and/or terrorism’. With it being the near future, the technology is based enough on current technology to be plausible yet advanced enough to allow the authors a fair amount of creative license.
In the first book the head of Net Force is assassinated and the assistant director must step in and find his killer while avoiding being killed himself. This first book does a good job of introducing and fleshing out the main characters and the organization as a whole.
The 2nd book deals with a criminal mastermind and his minions that are attempting to discredit Net Force while simultaneously manipulating the stock market to amass vast fortunes. This book is a seamless continuation from the first book and does a good job of trying to further humanize the characters and events.
My first caveat to the reader of this series is that neither of the two listed authors actually writes the books, but are the co-creators and overseers of the series. I am rather disappointed not to be able, so far, to find out who the ghost writers are for these books, as I would like to see what other materials they have written in an effort to ascertain if it is the series concept which is ‘weak’ or if it is their particular writing styles.
My second caveat is that although the premise is to be a tech based thriller series, the way in which the tech is handled is minimal and has quickly been turned into a literary device that doesn’t force the authors to have an actual working knowledge of modern or soon to be tech.
All in all these novels are entertaining enough to read but not good enough to be considered more than they are, the modern equivalent to the ‘penny dreadful’ of the Victorian era.
I would recommend these books to fans of ‘mental bubble gum’ like Mack Bolan novels or people looking for a quick entertaining read without concerns for realism or depth. But true fans of Tom Clancy or techno-thrillers might be best to fill their wants from other shelves.
Series: Tom Clancy’s Net Force
Title: Net Force (Book 1)
Author: Created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik
ISBN: 0-425-16172-2
Format: Paperback 372 Pages
Overall Concept 8
Execution 6
Title: Hidden Agendas (Book 2)
Author: Created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik
ISBN: 0-425-17139-6
Format: Paperback 366 Pages
Overall Concept 8
Execution 5
Being a fan of Tom Clancy’s novels (despite only having currently read Without Remorse and no others), I was intrigued when he put his name to this concept. What further intrigued me was it was a spy thriller series with an emphasis on technology. Being a person who both works and hobbies with technology this seems a natural set of books to at least give a chance.
The overall premise of this series is that in the near future the FBI ends up having a division (Net Force) that is solely responsible for investigating and dealing with ‘techno crime and/or terrorism’. With it being the near future, the technology is based enough on current technology to be plausible yet advanced enough to allow the authors a fair amount of creative license.
In the first book the head of Net Force is assassinated and the assistant director must step in and find his killer while avoiding being killed himself. This first book does a good job of introducing and fleshing out the main characters and the organization as a whole.
The 2nd book deals with a criminal mastermind and his minions that are attempting to discredit Net Force while simultaneously manipulating the stock market to amass vast fortunes. This book is a seamless continuation from the first book and does a good job of trying to further humanize the characters and events.
My first caveat to the reader of this series is that neither of the two listed authors actually writes the books, but are the co-creators and overseers of the series. I am rather disappointed not to be able, so far, to find out who the ghost writers are for these books, as I would like to see what other materials they have written in an effort to ascertain if it is the series concept which is ‘weak’ or if it is their particular writing styles.
My second caveat is that although the premise is to be a tech based thriller series, the way in which the tech is handled is minimal and has quickly been turned into a literary device that doesn’t force the authors to have an actual working knowledge of modern or soon to be tech.
All in all these novels are entertaining enough to read but not good enough to be considered more than they are, the modern equivalent to the ‘penny dreadful’ of the Victorian era.
I would recommend these books to fans of ‘mental bubble gum’ like Mack Bolan novels or people looking for a quick entertaining read without concerns for realism or depth. But true fans of Tom Clancy or techno-thrillers might be best to fill their wants from other shelves.
Monday, August 21, 2006
…
Title: Candide
Author: Voltaire
ISBN: 0-14-044004-6
Format: Paperback 144 Pages
Overall Concept 8
Execution 5
This book was one of two, the other being The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton, that were given to me as a wedding gift from one of my best friends, and since this is to be the 10th anniversary year of my wedding, I felt it was high time I actually read it.
This book was written in the mid 1700’s and has the general premise of trying to dissuade the young naïve protagonist from his ‘belief’ that "everything is for the best" and that he lives in “the best of all possible worlds”. It achieves this by taking the protagonist through greater and greater incidents of pain, suffering and strife, all the while forcing him to argue the veracity of his claim of how what is happening is "for the best".
Despite the age of the book, and the fact it was originally written in French and has been translated into English, I wasn’t having great difficulty with either the diction or the general style of the novel. However, the incredibly dry wit of the piece was oft lost on me and as such I didn’t fully appreciate why it is considered a classic of literature. I think I am somewhat ‘jaded’ by the modern world and therefore cannot fully immerse myself into the age in which the novel occurs. Perhaps if someone were to write an adequate modernization of the novel, I could better understand the overall gist and nuances of the text.
I do not begrudge my friend for the novel, as I am glad that he has allowed me to broaden my reading horizons. I just hope he’ll forgive the fact that I am not cultured in classic literature enough and am perhaps a little to obtuse to appreciate the novel to the same extent he does.
Perhaps, should I pick the book up later in life, I can find future joy in the words of Monsieur Voltaire.
Title: Candide
Author: Voltaire
ISBN: 0-14-044004-6
Format: Paperback 144 Pages
Overall Concept 8
Execution 5
This book was one of two, the other being The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton, that were given to me as a wedding gift from one of my best friends, and since this is to be the 10th anniversary year of my wedding, I felt it was high time I actually read it.
This book was written in the mid 1700’s and has the general premise of trying to dissuade the young naïve protagonist from his ‘belief’ that "everything is for the best" and that he lives in “the best of all possible worlds”. It achieves this by taking the protagonist through greater and greater incidents of pain, suffering and strife, all the while forcing him to argue the veracity of his claim of how what is happening is "for the best".
Despite the age of the book, and the fact it was originally written in French and has been translated into English, I wasn’t having great difficulty with either the diction or the general style of the novel. However, the incredibly dry wit of the piece was oft lost on me and as such I didn’t fully appreciate why it is considered a classic of literature. I think I am somewhat ‘jaded’ by the modern world and therefore cannot fully immerse myself into the age in which the novel occurs. Perhaps if someone were to write an adequate modernization of the novel, I could better understand the overall gist and nuances of the text.
I do not begrudge my friend for the novel, as I am glad that he has allowed me to broaden my reading horizons. I just hope he’ll forgive the fact that I am not cultured in classic literature enough and am perhaps a little to obtuse to appreciate the novel to the same extent he does.
Perhaps, should I pick the book up later in life, I can find future joy in the words of Monsieur Voltaire.
…
Title: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Author: J. K. Rowling
ISBN: 1-55192-756-x
Format: Hardcover 607 Pages
Overall Concept 7
Execution 8
This is the sixth, and penultimate, book in the Harry Potter series and continues the tale of the orphan boy trying to get through his private school education while dealing with the larger issue of a homicidal megalomaniac, who he is magically tied to, trying to take over the world.
In this book Harry is no longer the petulant punk that he was in book five, but he is becoming the responsible man, capable of accepting his fate, that he will need to be to finally confront his nemesis Voldemort.
This book is more about Voldemort and who he was, is and can be, how Harry comes to learn these details and what he’ll begin to do once he understands them.
Really this book is an excellent lead up to the next, which will be the last in the series and the one where Voldemort and Harry come to their final encounter.
My only concern with this novel it that it appears that Ms. Rowling might fall into the trap of having Snape actually be a major villain of the series, and should she do this I will be most disappointed. Personally, I think she will be better off if she uses Snape as an example of the moral that life if full of very hard choices, sometimes seemingly beyond one’s control.
I enjoyed this book more than I enjoyed the last and because of such I am most certainly looking forward to seeing how Ms. Rowling ends the series, not to mention just how large of a book it will take her to wrap it all up.
I most certainly would recommend this book to anyone who has read the others in the series, and I would recommend that anyone who likes a good tale of fantasy pick up the entire series.
Title: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Author: J. K. Rowling
ISBN: 1-55192-756-x
Format: Hardcover 607 Pages
Overall Concept 7
Execution 8
This is the sixth, and penultimate, book in the Harry Potter series and continues the tale of the orphan boy trying to get through his private school education while dealing with the larger issue of a homicidal megalomaniac, who he is magically tied to, trying to take over the world.
In this book Harry is no longer the petulant punk that he was in book five, but he is becoming the responsible man, capable of accepting his fate, that he will need to be to finally confront his nemesis Voldemort.
This book is more about Voldemort and who he was, is and can be, how Harry comes to learn these details and what he’ll begin to do once he understands them.
Really this book is an excellent lead up to the next, which will be the last in the series and the one where Voldemort and Harry come to their final encounter.
My only concern with this novel it that it appears that Ms. Rowling might fall into the trap of having Snape actually be a major villain of the series, and should she do this I will be most disappointed. Personally, I think she will be better off if she uses Snape as an example of the moral that life if full of very hard choices, sometimes seemingly beyond one’s control.
I enjoyed this book more than I enjoyed the last and because of such I am most certainly looking forward to seeing how Ms. Rowling ends the series, not to mention just how large of a book it will take her to wrap it all up.
I most certainly would recommend this book to anyone who has read the others in the series, and I would recommend that anyone who likes a good tale of fantasy pick up the entire series.
...
Title: The DaVinci Code
Author: Dan Brown
ISBN: 0-385-50420-9
Format: Hardcover 454 Pages
Overall Concept 8
Execution 7
CAVEAT: I hate to have to spell this out, but this is a work of fiction and as such all of the ‘history’ of this book should be taken with both a question as to its authenticity and with the understanding that it has most likely been altered to best suit the needs of the author and the story he wishes to tell, despite any claims he may make to the contrary.
This is the 2nd novel with our intrepid Harvard History Professor, Robert Langdon. In this tale of history (gone wrong) our protagonist is called to a murder scene by the French police while on lecture in the city of Paris. It seems that a man he was to have met with that evening has been murdered in the Louvre and has been positioned in a way similar to Leonardo’s Vitruvian Man. This incident quickly escalates to one where Robert is on the run from the French authorities and, with the aid of a French cryptographer, on the chase to find what the Holy Grail is and where precisely to find it.
Angels and Demons, Brown’s first novel with Robert Langdon, is not only a better read but a more plausible story. Also, it would seem that Mr. Brown is rather formulaic in his writing style and therefore The DaVinci Code seems stale, after having read Angels and Demons.
With regards to the heresy this book is presenting to the world, I will say two things. Firstly, see my CAVEAT above and secondly this is not the first time this idea has been brought forward and dismissed or forgotten. If anything I think Mr. Brown is a brilliant marketer as by making the Church take a stand against his novel he has received a significant amount of free press and that has generated a lot of sales. I also believe that the way Mr. Brown is presenting the information, from a Harvard professor and with a lecture type air to it, it is being leant a great deal of versimilitude. And this versimilitude is only aiding in people becoming blind to the fact that this is a work of fiction and should be treated as such.
As with Angels and Demons, I would heartily suggest this to any one who takes entertainment out of the concepts of a good mystery, conspiracies and/or anachronistic history lessons. But for any devout Catholics or Christians, the big historical reveal of this novel needs to be assumed to be quite fanciful.
Title: The DaVinci Code
Author: Dan Brown
ISBN: 0-385-50420-9
Format: Hardcover 454 Pages
Overall Concept 8
Execution 7
CAVEAT: I hate to have to spell this out, but this is a work of fiction and as such all of the ‘history’ of this book should be taken with both a question as to its authenticity and with the understanding that it has most likely been altered to best suit the needs of the author and the story he wishes to tell, despite any claims he may make to the contrary.
This is the 2nd novel with our intrepid Harvard History Professor, Robert Langdon. In this tale of history (gone wrong) our protagonist is called to a murder scene by the French police while on lecture in the city of Paris. It seems that a man he was to have met with that evening has been murdered in the Louvre and has been positioned in a way similar to Leonardo’s Vitruvian Man. This incident quickly escalates to one where Robert is on the run from the French authorities and, with the aid of a French cryptographer, on the chase to find what the Holy Grail is and where precisely to find it.
Angels and Demons, Brown’s first novel with Robert Langdon, is not only a better read but a more plausible story. Also, it would seem that Mr. Brown is rather formulaic in his writing style and therefore The DaVinci Code seems stale, after having read Angels and Demons.
With regards to the heresy this book is presenting to the world, I will say two things. Firstly, see my CAVEAT above and secondly this is not the first time this idea has been brought forward and dismissed or forgotten. If anything I think Mr. Brown is a brilliant marketer as by making the Church take a stand against his novel he has received a significant amount of free press and that has generated a lot of sales. I also believe that the way Mr. Brown is presenting the information, from a Harvard professor and with a lecture type air to it, it is being leant a great deal of versimilitude. And this versimilitude is only aiding in people becoming blind to the fact that this is a work of fiction and should be treated as such.
As with Angels and Demons, I would heartily suggest this to any one who takes entertainment out of the concepts of a good mystery, conspiracies and/or anachronistic history lessons. But for any devout Catholics or Christians, the big historical reveal of this novel needs to be assumed to be quite fanciful.
...
Title: Angels and Demons
Author: Dan Brown
ISBN: 0-7434-8622-6
Format: Hardcover 569 Pages
Overall Concept 9
Execution 8
This is the first novel staring the intrepid Harvard Professor Robert Langdon. In it, Robert, a historian with a specialty in Symbology and Religious Iconography, is approached by the head of CERN, the world's largest particle physics laboratory, to investigate the death of one of their head scientists who was killed in his locked apartment with a ambigram of the word Illuminati seared into his chest. Robert then spends the next 24 hours to keep ahead of the criminal, and his accomplices, who is planning to use some specific research of the initial victim to level the Vatican with an anti-matter bomb. All this is occurring during the time that the Catholic Church is electing a new pope.
I must admit that I was intrigued into reading this book because it is the first novel with the protagonist of the other bestseller by Brown, The Davinci Code, and that I tend to be a bit of a stickler when it comes to reading books in chronological order. But I was further intrigued by the fact that this was a modern murder mystery with its roots, and ultimately clues, in the details of common and not so common history.
First off, I hate to have to spell this out, but this is a work of fiction and as such all of the ‘history’ of this book should be taken with both a question as to its authenticity and with the understanding that it has most likely been altered to best suit the needs of the author and the story he wishes to tell.
If one can keep this above point in mind during the reading of this novel, it is a very entertaining and rewarding read, with many twists and turns that take you by surprise. It will be hard pressed for someone to ascertain the identity of the villain long before the final reveal.
My only other concern with this novel is the accelerated timeline and how much the protagonist is capable of accomplishing within a 24 hour timeframe. Fortunately, the entirety of the activity occurs within the city of Rome and the Vatican proper, so it doesn’t come off as completely impossible, just improbable.
I would heartily suggest this to any one who takes entertainment out of the concepts of a good mystery, conspiracies and/or anachronistic history lessons.
Title: Angels and Demons
Author: Dan Brown
ISBN: 0-7434-8622-6
Format: Hardcover 569 Pages
Overall Concept 9
Execution 8
This is the first novel staring the intrepid Harvard Professor Robert Langdon. In it, Robert, a historian with a specialty in Symbology and Religious Iconography, is approached by the head of CERN, the world's largest particle physics laboratory, to investigate the death of one of their head scientists who was killed in his locked apartment with a ambigram of the word Illuminati seared into his chest. Robert then spends the next 24 hours to keep ahead of the criminal, and his accomplices, who is planning to use some specific research of the initial victim to level the Vatican with an anti-matter bomb. All this is occurring during the time that the Catholic Church is electing a new pope.
I must admit that I was intrigued into reading this book because it is the first novel with the protagonist of the other bestseller by Brown, The Davinci Code, and that I tend to be a bit of a stickler when it comes to reading books in chronological order. But I was further intrigued by the fact that this was a modern murder mystery with its roots, and ultimately clues, in the details of common and not so common history.
First off, I hate to have to spell this out, but this is a work of fiction and as such all of the ‘history’ of this book should be taken with both a question as to its authenticity and with the understanding that it has most likely been altered to best suit the needs of the author and the story he wishes to tell.
If one can keep this above point in mind during the reading of this novel, it is a very entertaining and rewarding read, with many twists and turns that take you by surprise. It will be hard pressed for someone to ascertain the identity of the villain long before the final reveal.
My only other concern with this novel is the accelerated timeline and how much the protagonist is capable of accomplishing within a 24 hour timeframe. Fortunately, the entirety of the activity occurs within the city of Rome and the Vatican proper, so it doesn’t come off as completely impossible, just improbable.
I would heartily suggest this to any one who takes entertainment out of the concepts of a good mystery, conspiracies and/or anachronistic history lessons.
...
Series: R. A. Salvatore’s War of the Spider Queen
Title: Dissolution (Book I)
Author: Richard Lee Byers
ISBN: 0-7869-2714-3
Format: Hardcover 344 Pages
Title: Insurrection (Book II)
Author: Thomas M. Reid
ISBN: 0-7869-2786-0
Format: Hardcover 338 Pages
Title: Condemnation (Book III)
Author: Richard Baker
ISBN: 0-7869-28-24-7
Format: Hardcover 344 Pages
Title: Extinction (Book IV)
Author: Lisa Smedman
ISBN: 0-7869-2989-8
Format: Hardcover 344 Pages
Title: Annihilation (Book V)
Author: Philip Athans
ISBN: 0-7869-3237-6
Format: Hardcover 342 Pages
Title: Resurrection (Book VI)
Author: Paul S. Kemp
ISBN: 0-7869-3640-1
Format: Hardcover 343 Pages
Overall Concept 9
Execution 6
This is a six book series that is situated in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game by Wizards of the Coast. The general premise of this series is that Lloth, the god of the Drow (evil elves), has shut herself off from her priestesses and followers, and what kind of impact that holds for her ‘children’.
The first book deals with the jewel of the underdark, Menzoberranzan and how the loss of Lloth impacts the power struggles and day to day life of those in this city.
The 2nd book follows the ‘protagonists’ of the story and their traveling to the next closest city of the Drow in an attempt to discern if the issue is isolated or universal.
The 3rd – 6th books continue on the journey and the various external people that impact on the ‘antagonists’ journey to find their goddess and how they help or hinder for the reasons of their own.
I have put the term ‘antagonists’ in quotes as the heroes of this story are all members of the evil race of the Drow and as such are neither good or lawful, so for some readers it might be distasteful to see how callous and selfish they are during their mission.
Each book has a short prologue that deals with Lloth and what she is doing during the time of the book in question. These were rather well done as they were written in a dreamlike or allegorical method and were such that I was finding myself looking forward to these prologues of every book.
These novels were written by six different authors, despite their being one continuing tale of six primary characters. I found that this cooperative story telling method was both a good and bad thing. It was bad as the differing styles and tones of the authors were quite apparent and nearly distracting from the story, but was good as if the story was only written by one of these authors, I most likely would not have continued it, as not all the authors were to my liking.
Overall I found the concept of what was being set forth by this series to be an excellent idea with lots of opportunity for engaging stories, but I found the overall final product to be rather lacking to the point of finding myself saying “for such a huge concept, they didn’t seem to go very far with it”.
I would suggest to any lovers of the Drow or of the Forgotten Realms, that this would be a worthwhile series to borrow or loan from the library, but not anything one would or should invest their personal monies into.
Series: R. A. Salvatore’s War of the Spider Queen
Title: Dissolution (Book I)
Author: Richard Lee Byers
ISBN: 0-7869-2714-3
Format: Hardcover 344 Pages
Title: Insurrection (Book II)
Author: Thomas M. Reid
ISBN: 0-7869-2786-0
Format: Hardcover 338 Pages
Title: Condemnation (Book III)
Author: Richard Baker
ISBN: 0-7869-28-24-7
Format: Hardcover 344 Pages
Title: Extinction (Book IV)
Author: Lisa Smedman
ISBN: 0-7869-2989-8
Format: Hardcover 344 Pages
Title: Annihilation (Book V)
Author: Philip Athans
ISBN: 0-7869-3237-6
Format: Hardcover 342 Pages
Title: Resurrection (Book VI)
Author: Paul S. Kemp
ISBN: 0-7869-3640-1
Format: Hardcover 343 Pages
Overall Concept 9
Execution 6
This is a six book series that is situated in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game by Wizards of the Coast. The general premise of this series is that Lloth, the god of the Drow (evil elves), has shut herself off from her priestesses and followers, and what kind of impact that holds for her ‘children’.
The first book deals with the jewel of the underdark, Menzoberranzan and how the loss of Lloth impacts the power struggles and day to day life of those in this city.
The 2nd book follows the ‘protagonists’ of the story and their traveling to the next closest city of the Drow in an attempt to discern if the issue is isolated or universal.
The 3rd – 6th books continue on the journey and the various external people that impact on the ‘antagonists’ journey to find their goddess and how they help or hinder for the reasons of their own.
I have put the term ‘antagonists’ in quotes as the heroes of this story are all members of the evil race of the Drow and as such are neither good or lawful, so for some readers it might be distasteful to see how callous and selfish they are during their mission.
Each book has a short prologue that deals with Lloth and what she is doing during the time of the book in question. These were rather well done as they were written in a dreamlike or allegorical method and were such that I was finding myself looking forward to these prologues of every book.
These novels were written by six different authors, despite their being one continuing tale of six primary characters. I found that this cooperative story telling method was both a good and bad thing. It was bad as the differing styles and tones of the authors were quite apparent and nearly distracting from the story, but was good as if the story was only written by one of these authors, I most likely would not have continued it, as not all the authors were to my liking.
Overall I found the concept of what was being set forth by this series to be an excellent idea with lots of opportunity for engaging stories, but I found the overall final product to be rather lacking to the point of finding myself saying “for such a huge concept, they didn’t seem to go very far with it”.
I would suggest to any lovers of the Drow or of the Forgotten Realms, that this would be a worthwhile series to borrow or loan from the library, but not anything one would or should invest their personal monies into.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
...
Well I have been a rather naughty blogger, having neglected updating this site in over a year and a half. Hence, I will be making several updates over the coming days, in order to add all the books (and perhaps some comics) I've read since my last update.
Title: The Bible – New Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition
Author: Various
ISBN: 0-88834-021-4
Format: Softcover 1344 pages
Since I am neither a prophet, a biblical scholar nor an enlightened one, I will not be so presumptuous as to attempt to critique The Bible. However, I will say that this was a very good book to have read, mostly because of how it affirms my belief that despite the age of the human race, we are still the same mentally/emotionally as we were in the beginning.
I was also quite impressed to fully appreciate how much of the nomaclature of The Bible has made its way into daily parlance, and we just don't realize what it is we are quoting/paraphasing and what truly it means or pays reference to.
Having adopted (returned) to the Catholic faith this past Easter, I can now begin to fully appreciate how much of an impact the word of God has on our daily lives and how much teachings, guidance, courage, compassion and understanding we can recieve from The Bible.
I will admit that I took a full year to read this, which is partially why I haven't been updating this blog very often, and that despite how long I took to read it, I am certain I will need to reread this book again and again to fully BEGIN to appreciate what it has to offer mankind.
Well I have been a rather naughty blogger, having neglected updating this site in over a year and a half. Hence, I will be making several updates over the coming days, in order to add all the books (and perhaps some comics) I've read since my last update.
Title: The Bible – New Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition
Author: Various
ISBN: 0-88834-021-4
Format: Softcover 1344 pages
Since I am neither a prophet, a biblical scholar nor an enlightened one, I will not be so presumptuous as to attempt to critique The Bible. However, I will say that this was a very good book to have read, mostly because of how it affirms my belief that despite the age of the human race, we are still the same mentally/emotionally as we were in the beginning.
I was also quite impressed to fully appreciate how much of the nomaclature of The Bible has made its way into daily parlance, and we just don't realize what it is we are quoting/paraphasing and what truly it means or pays reference to.
Having adopted (returned) to the Catholic faith this past Easter, I can now begin to fully appreciate how much of an impact the word of God has on our daily lives and how much teachings, guidance, courage, compassion and understanding we can recieve from The Bible.
I will admit that I took a full year to read this, which is partially why I haven't been updating this blog very often, and that despite how long I took to read it, I am certain I will need to reread this book again and again to fully BEGIN to appreciate what it has to offer mankind.
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