Kevin's Watch

Cool! I just pulled my ominbus version of the first 3 volumes out of the attic, and reread the first 60 pages, to make sure it wasn't crap. I was beginning to get nervous with half a dozen people taking my advice. I'm glad Beorn liked it. After reaquainting myself with this story, I'm going to have to reread the whole thing myself, and get those last three books I've never read.

It jumps into the adventure very, very fast. 40 pages in. Kind of like LFB. But the writing and characterization are nowhere near as good as Donaldson! I just wanted to warn everyone. But it shouldn't come as a surprise, because I've never read anyone as good as Donaldson when it comes to characterization.

But what I do like about it is the tone, the style of the author. Even though they aren't nearly as realistic as Donaldson's, these characters are still badass in their own right. Maybe they aren't painted in as much detail, but they're cool. I love Slovotsky, Karl, and Ahira.

I assume Beorn read The Sleeping Dragon (the first volume), and not the omnibus trilogy. Tell him he has to post his thoughts! I'd love to hear them.

Malik23 wrote:I assume Beorn read The Sleeping Dragon (the first volume), and not the omnibus trilogy.

uh-oh, no.
He read the omnibus trilogy published under the series title, The Guardians of the Flame. It begins with The Sleeping Dragon, so I assume that's OK?
Like I used to be before the Watch and role playing came into my life, he is a very dedicated reader. He finished the 700+ page omnibus in the one day, even though he went to school and had homework.

Malik23 wrote:Tell him he has to post his thoughts! I'd love to hear them.

*sigh*

Like my own desire to have him post in the JKR forum. He has those Harry Potter books memorized. But, getting him to do so is like pulling teeth. I guess he just isn't ready yet. If he makes more comments to me verbally, I'll do my best to share them.

Malik23 wrote:

He finished the 700+ page omnibus in the one day, even though he went to school and had homework.

*grin of pride*

That's typical for him, if a book grabs his fancy. The Erickson Malazan novels take him about two days each, I would say. The two Esselmont he finished in an afternoon each...

Malik23 wrote: It jumps into the adventure very, very fast. 40 pages in. Kind of like LFB. But the writing and characterization are nowhere near as good as Donaldson! I just wanted to warn everyone.

Does he make up for it with good sex scenes? Cuz that can cover a lot of flaws. A lot.

Malik23 wrote:

Farm Ur-Ted wrote:
Does he make up for it with good sex scenes? Cuz that can cover a lot of flaws. A lot.

There is quite a bit of sexuality in the book. Some of it is playful . . . some of it violent. But you could say that about Donaldson, too.

The violence seems more brutal than Donaldson. It tends to make this "fantasy" world a lot more serious, a lot more real. Something I forgot about until rereading . . . I like how the characters are in conflict with their previous selves, and their new "characters." It adds a bit of much needed complexity in the character department. You won't see characters agonizing over whether they are real, or if their world is real, but they do endure some angst over what kind of people they should be.

OK, I'll stop giving stuff away, and shut up now.

Menolly wrote:Just an FYI for Malik.

Beorn returned Guardians of the Flame to me last night, with this statement as he handed it to me, "There better be more of these!" I told him that I was told yes, there are more in the series.

He just PM'd me from school, asking for the author's name so he can see if his school library has them. I guess he's a bit impatient for the local library to reserve them for me...

Thanks. You seem to have initiated another firm fan to the series.

The cover looks familiar but I cant remember if I read this book or not. I think I might purchase a used one because the idea and plot sounds like something I would enjoy.

I put in a purchase order at the library for Guardians of the Flame: The Heroes, with The Heir Apparent and The Warrior Lives as alternative titles. My library has none of these, although they have a few later books in the series. I'll also try ILLiad in a few days, see which comes in first...

I just picked up the Omnibus at the library last night, and didn't have a chance to read any yet. I'll keep you posted.

SoulBiter wrote:

Menolly wrote:Just an FYI for Malik.

Beorn returned Guardians of the Flame to me last night, with this statement as he handed it to me, "There better be more of these!" I told him that I was told yes, there are more in the series.

He just PM'd me from school, asking for the author's name so he can see if his school library has them. I guess he's a bit impatient for the local library to reserve them for me...

Thanks. You seem to have initiated another firm fan to the series.

The cover looks familiar but I cant remember if I read this book or not. I think I might purchase a used one because the idea and plot sounds like something I would enjoy.

Very good book, at least up until the end of the third book, then it drifts a lot.

Just started The Sleeping Dragon. Oh, I think I'm going to like it. From p.2 (huge spoiler):

Spoiler

Probably the olive tone of her skin was natural coloration. Maybe not. Of course, there was a way to tell. Trouble was, Karl had never had the chance to check her for bikini marks.

Can't wait to find out!

Farm Ur-Ted wrote:Just started The Sleeping Dragon. Oh, I think I'm going to like it. From p.2 (huge spoiler):

Can't wait to find out!

Really? So far I'm a few chapters in, and the writing is actually distracting me from the story. I'll probably give it another chance, but if it doesn't improve by the end of the first book then I probably won't read any further.

Just a head's up (and I am kicking myself now for blowing 20 bucks on a used book), but you can get the first 3 Guardians books for 5 bucks from baen.com as an e-book. I may have to do it anyway, the hardback I'm reading is pretty grody.

Farm Ur-Ted wrote:Just a head's up (and I am kicking myself now for blowing 20 bucks on a used book), but you can get the first 3 Guardians books for 5 bucks from baen.com as an e-book. I may have to do it anyway, the hardback I'm reading is pretty grody.

Wonder if we crashed the site by all rushing over to Baen...webscription.net is down...

Wyldewode wrote: So far I'm a few chapters in, and the writing is actually distracting me from the story. I'll probably give it another chance, but if it doesn't improve by the end of the first book then I probably won't read any further.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Don't feel like you have to go easy on it. I didn't write it, so you won't hurt my feelings! What is it about the writing that bothers you?

The writing is very "sparse." He tells only enough to move the story forward. So it moves very fast (often a good thing), but it doesn't have the beautiful, dense prose of a Donaldson book (sometimes a bad thing).

A lot of the characters are smartasses. I like that. Some people don't.

However, I'm currently in the middle of the 2nd book, and loving it all over again.

Have you reached Pandathaway, yet? That's where the story really takes off.

If you make it to the end, I predict you'll want to see what happens next. The end of the first book is the "game changer" that elevates this story beyond its gimmicky premise, and shapes the rest of the series into something much larger.

I'm in Pandathaway, and I gotta say, I really like this book! I like the duality of the characters, and the way that they get confused about who they really are (especially at crucial moments). It goes beyond the typical D&D-style adventure in that respect. And I like the way that the character interactions of the college students is so realistic with regard to who is jealous of who. Good stuff!

[Split from Heroic Fantasy topic. Left Malik's initial post over there, because at least half of it was relating to other things, but the relevant section is quoted by Menolly at the start of this topic.]

I'm going to look out for these. Thanks, Malik.

Malik23 wrote: If you make it to the end, I predict you'll want to see what happens next. The end of the first book is the "game changer" that elevates this story beyond its gimmicky premise, and shapes the rest of the series into something much larger.

Haven't gotten to the end, yet (almost), but I've got a prediction or two:

Spoiler

I have a feeling that they're going to get through the Gate (or to it) and find out that the Prof has told them a big ole lie about his intentions. He's probably a wannabe Dark Lord or something like that who needs to get into the fantasy world.

(Thanks for the split, Murrin.)

Interesting prediction. I won't tell you if you're right or wrong. But it will be fun to talk about after you finish.

I'm going to look out for these. Thanks, Malik.

Cool! Another joining in the fun!

Malik23 wrote:Interesting prediction. I won't tell you if you're right or wrong. But it will be fun to talk about after you finish.

Spoiler

Well, the thing is that Prof. Deighton really was a total dick to just send them all off to that world without giving them any sort of warning or choice in the matter-you know that James Michael/Ahira would have jumped at the chance to go in the least (if he could jump-D'oh!). Andy-Andy had never even played D&D before he translated her, for crying out loud. Thanks to him, Jason was whacked right out of the gate, and the two women were gang-raped. I just gotta think that the dude has a major dark side. And he said in his letter "I could be the greatest wizard, the most powerful user of magic that this world has ever known..." That doesn't sound good to me. I wonder if the group will figure out what's what before they let him in.