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Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Jul 2003 : 19:20:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Malanthius
Now my interest is piqued, what all books have been written by Miss Veronica?
Mal.
No Malanthius. Only The Crimson Gold is by Voronica, this first book is by Edward Bolme, a new FR author. |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
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Voronica Whitney-Robinson
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2003 : 14:46:21
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So as not to get off topic from Edward's book, I'll answer (sort of) some of these questions on the GenCon thread in the Welcome forum, since it's where I still am for a few more hours and Peter Archer gave me permission to mention the next book of mine while I was here. |
V.
A friend will help you move.
A real friend will help you move a body...
Visit http://www.voronica.com to see what else I've been up to. |
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Malanthius
Learned Scribe
144 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jul 2003 : 01:20:00
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Just started reading it myself, it seems interesting enough so far, the forward with gileam and tiamat was quite excellent i thought...
Mal. |
"Oh, Do stop whining, It's not the End of the World. It's just the end of Your's." |
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Strahd Von Zarovich
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
135 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jul 2003 : 00:24:09
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The start of the book with the battle between the gods is most probably the best part of the book. It all goes downhill from there.
I totally agree with RAD that the dialogue is THE main thing that lets this book down. There was a couple of pages when the word "Hon" was used in just about every sentance.
Strahd Von Zarovich |
Strahd Von Zarovich
Alaundo and I invite fans of everything D&D to join us!
http://www.worldsofdnd.com |
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Edward Bolme
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jul 2003 : 17:46:48
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Well, it's always interesting to hear people's reactions. One previous post spoke of how shallow the characters were, and I just got a private communication about how deep they were.
Yes, I use dialog to help differentiate the characters. I personally get tired of books where everyone, from the king to the beggar, speaks the same. You'll notice, Strahd, that "hon" is used by only one character. It's her cliche. I've seen people with much worse repetition of cliches; once, while in Vancouver, BC, a gas station attendant began and ended every sentence with "eh?" It was truly amazing.
Aside from that, Kehrsyn's dialog is meant to be uneducated street talk; for some people it sounds American, but it's just poor usage. Trying to create an Untheric streetslang just ended up sounding really bad or really alien.
The High Untheric is there for a reason. And the match... AAARRRGGH! Sorry about that. Slipped by both myself and my editor.
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Edward Bolme
http://www.bolme.com/books.htm |
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Malanthius
Learned Scribe
144 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jul 2003 : 21:01:40
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Mr. Bolme,
Your really shouldn't worry about a lot of the criticisms you see here, as you may have guessed, its impossible to please everyone all the time. Also, it's a rare author indeed that takes time to answer some of these comments. Thank You.
Malanthius. |
"Oh, Do stop whining, It's not the End of the World. It's just the end of Your's." |
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Mythander
Learned Scribe
USA
121 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jul 2003 : 21:16:57
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I have to second that. It is a brave man that will face the critics and this place has the most critical of the Realms. |
Wow! That has no saving throw written all over it. |
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Edward Bolme
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jul 2003 : 21:28:52
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Thanks, Malanthius and Mythander, for the support.
Yes, I learned long ago that generally speaking, the people who post to forums (mailing lists, etc.) are those who are upset. It's just curious that while the tone of this thread has tended toward the negative, the one on wizards.com has been overwhelmingly positive. C'est la vie.
Nevertheless, I endeavor to respond to criticisms. I find that taking time to answer questions or explain my intent can have a positive impact on everyone. |
Edward Bolme
http://www.bolme.com/books.htm |
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Mythander
Learned Scribe
USA
121 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jul 2003 : 22:26:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Edward Bolme
Yes, I learned long ago that generally speaking, the people who post to forums (mailing lists, etc.) are those who are upset. It's just curious that while the tone of this thread has tended toward the negative, the one on wizards.com has been overwhelmingly positive. C'est la vie.
What do you expect? we live in a library I for one, found you book to be a good read. |
Wow! That has no saving throw written all over it. |
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jul 2003 : 04:11:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Edward Bolme
Yes, I learned long ago that generally speaking, the people who post to forums (mailing lists, etc.) are those who are upset. It's just curious that while the tone of this thread has tended toward the negative, the one on wizards.com has been overwhelmingly positive. C'est la vie.
Hmm, you may be right. I think regardless of the forum, when it comes to roleplaying messageboards, I've quickly seen two things:
1. If you complain, even intelligently about something, some quickly will label you a troll, whiner, etc.
2. If you are too verbose or excited about something you do like, some will quickly accuse of being a fanboy, sycophant, etc.
I think your C'est la vie attitude is the best one to have. Good luck in your future writings. |
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Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jul 2003 : 17:02:21
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Well i just finished The Alabaster Staff last night. I must say that It picked up after a lull around the middle.
It DOES fit well as a rogues book, there are a few nice twists, especially near the end which kept me hurtling through the latter 1/3 of the novel.
As mentioned previously, the dialog is the downside of the novel. I can see what you wanted to do by it, Edward, and I dont blame you at all. As you say, many novels have all manner of folk using the same dialog, I just felt that in this case it was TOO extreme.
Anyway, any plans you wish to share for your next FR novel? |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5692 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jul 2003 : 17:39:32
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Well Met
Locked up in the deeper chambers of Candlekeep is none other than the famed scribe of the Realms...Edward Bolme, he who brought you the said tome entitled The Alabaster Staff. Before we let him back out the gates of Candlekeep, he will be interrogated, interviewed on his work on the Realms.
If you have a question for Edward on his novel, then please send it over to me so that I may prepare the interview.
Hurry now, we can only restrain him for so long |
Alaundo
Candlekeep Forums Head Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
An Introduction to Candlekeep - by Ed Greenwood
The Candlekeep Compendium - Tomes of Realmslore penned by Scribes of Candlekeep
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Edward Bolme
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jul 2003 : 20:27:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Rad
Anyway, any plans you wish to share for your next FR novel?
No plans as yet, although a short story should appear next year. I'm pitching for the Eberron setting. |
Edward Bolme
http://www.bolme.com/books.htm |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3563 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2008 : 23:42:01
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I am about six chapters in and enjoying it so far. Too bad about the match, but honest mistakes happen!!
I like the appearance of so many factions...the Zhents, a thieves guild, red wizards and followers of Tiamat. Being the first time I have come across Tiamat worshipers in a novel I am looking forward to seeing how the author handles them!! |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3563 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2008 : 04:37:59
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Spoilers ahead!
About halfway through, still enjoyable. Now we have a schism within the Tiamatan church, which severs the churches allianace with the Furifaxians by butchering their safehouse and stealing the staff.
Kehrsyn is fairly interesting and it is interesting to see that she may be getting a chance to take control of her life back by working for Massedar. |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Icelander
Master of Realmslore
1864 Posts |
Posted - 11 Aug 2008 : 09:20:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Edward Bolme
Well, it's always interesting to hear people's reactions. One previous post spoke of how shallow the characters were, and I just got a private communication about how deep they were.
Well, I was pleasantly surprised in that I enjoyed the book. I picked it up just because it dealt with Unther during the war and my group of PCs are going there in our game*, but it turned out far better than I initially thought.
*They are actually going to be running the blockade in order to sell food, weapons and Thayvian magical items to the most desperate factions in town. Needless to say, the novel was almost tailor-made to serve as a supplement for my game, especially since we're in Alturiak of DR 1373 and I expect the PCs to visit Thay first to buy cheap grain and magic to sell.
And yes, some of the PCs are a bit morally challenged, but in general, they're a nice bunch of people. They just figure that doing business with Unther and incidentally helping them resist an unprovoked invasion absolutely can be squared with their consciences. Especially since their shipping company is waist-deep in short-term debt to dangerous loan-snarks. 
quote:
Originally posted by Edward Bolme
Yes, I use dialog to help differentiate the characters. I personally get tired of books where everyone, from the king to the beggar, speaks the same. You'll notice, Strahd, that "hon" is used by only one character. It's her cliche. I've seen people with much worse repetition of cliches; once, while in Vancouver, BC, a gas station attendant began and ended every sentence with "eh?" It was truly amazing.
The different diction of the characters was a plus to me. The High Untheric speech was an effective characterisation bit, it conveyed both charm and subtle condescension on the part of the former High Priest. I can't say I liked Khersyn's or the sorceress' street slang, but you can't please everyone.
quote:
Originally posted by Edward Bolme
Aside from that, Kehrsyn's dialog is meant to be uneducated street talk; for some people it sounds American, but it's just poor usage. Trying to create an Untheric streetslang just ended up sounding really bad or really alien.
I think I'd have liked alien and new instead of the jarring Americanisation of her slang.
But overall, nice work with at least trying to differentiate character speech patterns. That's more than a host of fantasy authors do. 
quote:
Originally posted by Edward Bolme
The High Untheric is there for a reason. And the match... AAARRRGGH! Sorry about that. Slipped by both myself and my editor.
*shrug*
You said sorry. Good enough for me. |
Za uspiekh nashevo beznadiozhnovo diela!
Forgotten Realms fans, please sign a petition to re-release the FR Interactive Atlas
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The Alabastar Staff
