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Monday, February 3, 2025

Review: The Madness of the Executioner by Ed Greenwood

 I try to keep up with Ed, the insanely imaginative and wonderful creator of the Forgotten Realms. If not contradicted by Wizards of the Coast, or whoever may own the rights to the Realms, Ed's word is lore. So it's nice that in the drought of fiction from WotC, Ed has been releasing some short stories on Patreon. These also have YouTube equivalents that are narrated by Ed himself. While I don't really care for the appearance of the producer in these videos, I do appreciate him getting Ed out there to a broader and easily accesible audience. And that is what we have today.

I previously reviewed Ed's Patreon "Golden Simril Gifts" he wrote with another. This time around is a story partially inspired by Fritz Leiber's "The Sadness of the Executioner," the aptly named "The Madness of the Executioner." The stories aren't really similar besides the title, though I myself have a story that was greatly inspired in form from Leiber's story. Ed Greenwood was apparently friends with Leiber (he told me in the comments for this video), so this seems a fitting Realms tribute.


The story itself is rather short and so therefore simple. It revolves really only around four characters and a business ran by alhoons in their meddling with illithid tadpoles (and mayhaps eating them). It has a cameo from a longtime Realms favorite too, Manshoon.

I can highly recommend it as a bit of a vignette. Ed is such a lovely person and his narrations are phenomenal. I wish I had such charisma and charm. Give it a listen, it's an Exceptional, chilling and weird story.

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You can track my current progress here.



Monday, January 27, 2025

News: ANOTHER Forgotten Realms Novel is Coming

 The Fallbacks: Dealing with Dragons is a sequel to Bound for Ruin that released early in 2024. This is set to be released on July 29, 2025. Since the publication of Bound for Ruin there have been no more Forgotten Realms novels (unless I missed something from R. A. Salvatore, may be on purpose at this point) there was the publication of a new Spelljammer novel (only the seventh!) and another Ravenloft novel was announced and is set to be released in May. Dealing with Dragons will continue the adventures from the first book, which I found ok, you can read my thoughts here.



From Penguin Random House:

The Fallbacks return for another adventure in Dungeons & Dragons’ Forgotten Realms!

The Fallbacks might not be Faerun’s first choice for saving the day, but if the money’s right they’ll get the job done. In this ragtag band of adventurers, each member plays a vital role: Tess the disciplined elven thief; Anson the courageous fighter; Lark the cunning bard; Baldric the wily cleric; Cazrin the inquisitive wizard; and Uggie, their pet monster who eats garbage. Squint a little and they’re the heroes Faerun needs.

Fresh off a harrowing journey into the infinite dungeon of Undermountain and the defeat of a powerful undead lich (with the help of a giant hungry worm or two), the adventurers are now a proven and dedicated team, ready for a new adventure which will take them to strange new realms.

While it is not the return to the novel line of old and seems to follow a different style I find less evocative, I have hopes it leads to something more. Be sure to return around release for my thoughts.

Monday, January 20, 2025

2024 State of the Realms - Goal Update and Some Plans

I recently posted a video on my YouTube channel talk about the Forgotten Realms in 2024 and all the reading I got done for the year. I also briefly mentioned some goals and ideas for 2025. I want to briefly cover more of that here.

In 2025 I would like to finish three series I began in 2024: the Sellswords trilogy, the Moonshae trilogy, and The Harpers series. I have two left in the trilogies and five left in The Harpers. I would also like to begin another series by Ed Greenwood, and maybe finish it, The Knights of Myth Drannor. Now that I have finished the five books of the Elminster series (by my reckoning, though there are more), I need a certain dose of Greenwood. I also would like to read Tymora's Luck to get my Grubb and Novak fix (along with Finder's Bane in The Harpers). Time allowing, I would like to read more Elaine Cunningham. Last year I read all five of the Songs & Swords and fell in love. This year I am thinking I may read Starlight and Shadows.

Others I have on my mind are the two Unbroken Chain books by Jaleigh Johnson and Crypt of the Moaning Diamond by Rosemary Jones. Also, since I read the Pools trilogy last year, I think maybe adding that extra Pools book by Carrie Bebris to the list. Let me know what you are thinking of reading, maybe we could read something together.

For this blog I would like to continue with at least one post a month. I would like to reach two and I would love to fall in love with it enough and find the time (I'm balancing a few jobs, an MA, and other projects) to post more on games, tabletop, history, and other fun things.

Amarast, my friends.

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You can track my current progress here.



Monday, January 6, 2025

Review: Pool of Radiance by James M. Ward and Jane Cooper Hong

 No one masters a sword. The sword masters the man, and a cleric of Tyr serves no master but Tyr.



Pool of Radiance is a classic and early Forgotten Realms novel by James M. Ward (who passed away last year, around the time I read this) and Jane Cooper Hong. It was published in 1989 as 

a tie-in to the 1998 gold box video game of the same name. It is book one in The Pools trilogy that is also called The Heroes of Phlan. Maybe the first video game tie in, the other would be Azure Bonds by Novak and Grubb (1988) tied into The Curse of the Azure Bonds (1989, the game a sequel to the novel and the Pool of Radiance game). Pool of Radiance is also based off the module Ruins of Adventure of which Ward was a writer for. 


Important note: this was my 100th Forgotten Realms fiction read. I decided to make this the milestone read after the recent passing of one of co-authors, Jim Ward


While the story is known for Phlan on the Moonsea, it starts to the south, in Cormyr. Shal is looking for a spell ingredient, an herb called Wa. According to her master, Great Ranthor, it is a component for a dust for incendiary spells. She doesn’t succeed in mastering burning hands except by burning her hands. We learn a little of her training and the patience of her master, Ranthor.


Then scrying a crystal ball, Denlor, a friend of Ranthor’s and fellow mage, calls for aid against the monsters besetting him in Phlan. This doesn’t go to plan.


The characters are of course Shal Bal of Cormyr, mageling of a family of sellswords. Cerulean is her steed and familiar, there is some humor involved with this character. He can speak telepathically to her, run swifter than natural horses, never tires and can also turn invisible. Her story involves a physical transformation that is important to the theme of being comfortable with your own skin and I think while straightforward it is still well done. She’s about 19 years old in the story.


And Tarl Desanea is another of the main trio. He’s a cleric of Tyr, god of justice. A year older than Shal, we meet him second. He is with clerics traveling south from the Dragonspine Mountains along the Stojanow River. He travels with Brothers Anton and Donal and 9 others. Until recently he served his church at a temple in Vaasa. They are to deliver a relic, the Hammer of Tyr to a temple in Phlan. He undergoes a coming-of-age ritual dealing with swords and the clergy. 


Ren o’ the Blade is the last, a thief of some experience and also a ranger. He waits tables in Phlan for the proprietor named Sot at the Laughing Goblin Inn, and hasn’t actually thieved for a year, not since the death of his girl, Tempest. This was because they got mixed up in some gems and ioun stones claimed by assassins. He’s had dozens of odd jobs since leaving Waterdeep. He is six and half feet tall and quiet. I believe he is the one on the cover. His introduction is the shortest but also tells us about the young adventurers looking for a name and money by clearing the ruins for the council of Phlan. 


Of course there is the bronze dragon, Tyranthraxus who graces the cover. We learn even that Phlan had been leveled 50 years prior to events by dragons. The ruins in Old Phlan are now the dwelling of vile creatures and the river has been ichorized in the area. A certain pool of radiance comes into play too but is not evident from the start. 


Quarrel is a good use of a half-orc character, and Cadorna is not a half-bad villain, though he isn’t the main one. 


This story has orcs (the pig-shouted variety), zombies, skeletons, wraiths, a vampire, giants frogs, hobgoblins, kobolds, gnolls . It also has a hammer that works like a boomerang. There is a reversed trope, some tough women catcalling men patrons and workers. 


We get a nice layout of Phlan, a map would have been great. The location feels liminal, civilization and the wilds right next to each other. Of course it’s up to the heroes to adventure into dangerous wilderness to tame it some but also to gain gold and experience, which are sometimes on-in-the-same. This is rather explicit, the nice part of town with humans being Civilized Phlan and the ruined part called the ruins, how apt. We get some vague ideas of the Moonsea area, which I’ve only really seen Zhentil Keep and Hillsfar so far, but Thentia is also mentioned here. 


The vibe is different than other Realms novels. While there are place names and locals, there are generally curses to “gods”, and magical items are very generic sounding. It feels more like D&D generally, particularly with all the names spells, than Forgotten Realms specifically. This seems like a bad thing, and it can be at some angles, but it also makes it an easy introduction to the Realms. Many other novels are overwhelming and they feel like you’re missing something even if they’re first in a series or standalone. This goes away as you become more familiar, but you don’t really have that problem here. 


It is also set in 1340 DR, which is considerably earlier than most tales, Azure Bonds being set in 1357 DR for example, and the rest are generally sequential. (Note, the story was originally set around 1357-1358 DR but did not incorporate Time of Troubles of material so had to be moved back to fit into lore). The protagonists are all very young, just around 20. This makes it rather young adult and easy to approach, sort of like the Dragonlance Chronicles. 

(It’s not as epic, and the party doesn’t form right away, more like a modern epic fantasy that each POV is introduced before they be one together, and the third person narration is obviously omniscient. I think it works better than Dragonlance Chronicles and I personally would recommend young readers start here over the Chronicles. Though it’s still noticeable adult but essentially a lite version (like the Chronciles). This honestly made me feel like a kid again more than Dragonlance did, and I read both as an adult. I don’t think that’s just my Realms bias either. Heck, I felt something similar reading Saga of Old City just not in its sequel, Artifact of Evil.)


Maybe the friendship comes too quickly and too smoothly, and there is some angst in the form of a minor love triangle. The protagonists are also exceptionally capable and we don’t worry much for them after this becomes evident. Not my favorite tropes and this isn’t the highest literature but they did not bother me here. The pacing is done well and dialogue and character development exciting. It’s campy but a good example of how they can be worth your time. Not that this is for everyone, mind. 


Also, it could have used better editing for sure; Ferran Martinez is an odd fantasy name; all the evil creatures are evil, don't expect nuance; and even those in poverty seem to be angles in a negative light. Regardless, I found it an Exceptional reading experience.


“Apart from their magic, the three probably make up the most physically powerful trio I have ever seen.”



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You can track my current progress here.