The Curse of Garnel Ironheart


Dungeon Magazine General Discussion


I know this is a bit off the topic for Dungeon messageboard, but there's a great new book out called the Curse of Garnel Ironheart. It is written by a Canadian Medical Doctor who grew up playing D&D. When his parents were leaving their house they returned all his stuff from his childhood to him and he found all his old D&D notes. He decided to write about the campaign he and his friends explored in the D&D setting. The book is not a Wizards of the Coast product, and he has changed some minor things around but the roots are still deeply entrenched. He even gives credit to Gary Gygax and all the creators of D&D at the start. The book is amazing and brings back the gritty flavour of the D&D campaigns of old. Pick it up if you can.


Paul, there's actually a Book Review thread in the main Paizo messageboard. I'll check this book out. After the absolute joke that was made of the Descent Into the Depths of the Earth and the Queen of the Demonweb Pits books, a good, gritty adventure book would be very welcome.


Thanks for the tip, Aberdies; didn't even know it was there. I find most WOC books fluff, whose best quality is their cover art. This guy is totally unfettered by the copyright crap.


I don't mind some fantasy fluff here and there. I know that WoTC needs books that will sell on a mass scale and maybe mesh with some related products, but those older modules are absolute classics. When you talk about Descent Into the Depths of the Earth, you can see the half-smile and starry gaze of us thirty-something geeks who remember that adventure so fondly from the 80's. I've had the module since I was 13, and it's become something of a D&D icon for me.

Then the book comes out, and I am assaulted by the idea of a quipping, thong-wearing fairie, a talking hell hound pelt, and a beaver, a frigging BEAVER, Paul, fighting the infamous, reclusive lich that spawned my screen name. I was more than angry, I was disappointed. Something sacred had been violated. Someone just lent me the new Tomb of Horrors book, which was written by a different author. I think I'm looking forward to reading your book more.


I am just about finished it now, Aberdies, and I must say it maintained it's quality. Being a true blue Robert E Howard fan, I am not much for relationship material in fantasy settings and the lifestyles of elves but this adds a little flavour to this book.
I read the above series you are talking about and I gave up on WOC books. Dungeon Mag gives a better read every month than that drivel. The only series I liked where the original Dragonlance Chronicles, the first two dark elf series(if another Drizzt series comes out I am going to scream), the Pool of Radiance series and the Avatar trilogy. But then again they were the originals. Try the Sword of Shannara series by Terry Brooks, Freitz Leiber's Fafherd and Grey Mouser and the original Conan By Howard if you haven't already. This Rage series coming out by WOC is not bad and I think City of Ravens was an amazing book (all about a human thief in the underdark). Anyway feel free to give me some input on new material to read. Always looking.


I concur on all points. Although I favor the Twins Dragonlance books over the originals - they hang together better I think. Speaking as a Tolkien-Lovecraft-Asimov-Bloch-Leiber-Moorcock fan myself I did at least enjoy the title of "Elminister In Hell."

Or maybe that's the Douglas Adams influence....

I personally would love to rewrite my old party's exploits in "Master of the Desert Nomads" and "the Temple of Death" or any number of other adventures but alas that which is meant to feed the masses is rarely ever cake these days - unless of corse you count cheese-cake.

Say Cheese.

The mostly harmless,
GGG

PS Thanks for the suggested reading material.


Myself, I really enjoyed both the first two dark elf series as well as. though read MUCH later, the pool of radience series (though I only read the first two).
I think they were some of the first FR books to come out.
Though for high fantasy, no one comes close to Robert E. Howard.
if you're looking for some GREAT conan, pick up a copy of "The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian". It's the totally unedited, untouched (as in L. Sprague Decamp/Linda Carter) collection of Howard's stories presented in chronologicaly WRITTEN order, not per Conan's age. Also has the most complete history of the Hyborian age, firstsubmitted drafts, untitled synopsis's and other goodies.
The best and purest collection of Conan i've ever seen.


I got that one too, Tony Ranger, although I wish they were written in chronological order rather than the order in which Howard wrote them. I remember those books that L Sprague and Carter wrote and I had the whole collection, 1-12 and the Flame Knife besides. I think that's where my love affair with fantasy took off. If you are into fantasy art, check out Frank Frazetta's website, the master. He did the illustration for most of those covers.

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