Elaine Cunningham is one of the more popular writers in the world of the Forgotten Realms, being responsible for characters as diverse as Arilyn Moonblade, Danilo Thann, Liriel Baenrae and Elaith Craulnober (well, writing about him, since he was actually created by Realms Creator Ed Greenwood). And now, many of her stories from other books and Dragon Magazine are collected into this volume.
This book contains 15 writings from Elaine Cunningham. I can't call them all stories since one of them (Elminster's Jest) reveals the punchline of a song that appeared partially in one of her books. Others are culled from other "Realms" books.
The First, The Knights of Samular attempts to close up plot holes that were left open at the end of the last Harper book, Thornhold. At the time she wrote it, it was intended to be a new core book that would leave plot threads for other writers to use and explore, but by the time it was published, it had turned into the last Harpers book, leaving many readers confused.
In "The Bargain", Arilyn and Danilo travel to Tethyr, where they will attempt to save the Lord from assassination by the Guilds. Danilo wants to bargain to join a guild so he can have the Lord's ear. But he doesn't get his chance until Arilyn is attacked by a young assassin from the assassin's guild. Can they save him from his folly and still get to join the Guild?
"Elminster's Jest" provides the punchline to a song told in one of her earlier books, and yes, it is funny.
"The More Things Change" takes a look at the early life of Elaith Craulnober, and how he went from an Elven Lord of Evermeet to being a Crime Lord in Waterdeep.
In "The Direct Approach", Liriel Baenrae meets a Female Barbarian from the Far North and long ago in a tavern in Skullport. Hoping to get instruction in the same system of magic that the Barbarian's foe is using, she tries to help the woman get the Shaman she is chasing. But can she abandon the oblique approach of the Drow for the more direct approach of a barbarian?
"Secrets of the Blood, Secrets of the Sea" tells about the creation of the Sahuagin race by a wizard, and how the Malenti, a type of Sahuagin who looks entirely like a Sea Elf, came to be as well.
In "The Great Hunt", Arilyn and Elaith Craulnobur are defending elves from a party of Malar-worshippers. As they try to protect the elves, Arilyn is wounded. But can she save a Malarite who is not quite so comitted as the others?
"Speaking with the Dead" has Arilyn and Danilo defending Elaith Craulnobur from a charge of murder when Bentley Mirrorshield, the gnomish proprietor of the Friendly Arm Inn is killed with Elaith's Dagger and he indicates Elaith as his killer. But is Elaith really to blame, or is he being framed?
"Stolen Dreams" retells the above story from the perspective of Sophie, a female barmaid who is actually the daughter of a noble of Waterdeep, set to be retrieved by Arilyn and Danilo.
"Fire is Fire" tells the story of a Fire Mage called upon by Khelben Arunsun, the Blackstaff, to defend the city during an attack on it by the Sahuagin. But as he gleefully runs towards the combat, he will come to change his feelings about the whole thing. His tale is contrasted with that of a young Sahuagin warrior who hopes to kill the mage and overrun the city.
"Possessions" tells the story of Farrah Noor, a character from the Halruaa trilogy and reveals her eventual fate and that of her house. Can she survive the death of her wizardly master, to whom she was blood bound?
"A Little Knowledge" tells the story of a Wizard who can see all possibilities at once with his magic, and is thus a little mad with it. His only friend is a flawed Jordaini, or counselor, who should have been destroyed at birth, but was saved by a soft-hearted midwife. When another mage comes seeking to steal the ability to see all the outcomes, will the Diviner fight him for it, or will he be happier not knowing?
"Games of Chance" is another Elaith Craulnober story, and shows one of his many criminal enterprises- a casino. But when he runs into a man who can make a device to shift magic the way he wants, can Elaith use his device to change his fate where it concerns his family Moonblade?
"Tribute" tells the story of a famous Waterdhavian landmark, and of how two sisters ended the tribute paid to Dragons by the people who lived in the area at the time. Can a human somehow outwit a dragon?
"Answered Prayers", the last story in the volume, revisits the character of Liriel Baenrae, who has become a priestess of Mystra. with Fyodor, her previous companion, dead, she now travels with a Star Elf and an elflike Lythari. But when a hunter wants to make her Lythari friend into a pelt to adorn him, Liriel must use his own trophies against him to save her friend.
These are all excellent stories, and add a lot to the character and mystery of the Realms. Some stories, especially the ones about her more famous and loved characters, are interesting, and flesh out their travels together, or like the last story about Liriel, answer questions that went unanswered in the series, like "Will she ever try and resurrect Fyodor?"
But the stories that are about minor characters are also excellent, and reveal a depth of writing skill that might seem surprising to people who know her as a soccer mom. Through her, and her characters, readers will come to know the people of the Realms, and be entranced by the seemingly endless possibilities of characters and adventures in this shared world.
I've often enjoyed Elaine Cunningham's work. Her complex, intriguing characters hold my interest, and considering that the Forgotten Realms novels are a tie-in with the Dungeons and Dragons games, its almost startling how quickly you can get drawn in to the stories she crafts. Highly recommended.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment