Although, your aversion to first-person narrative is weird, I can somehow relate, as there is something that I really can't stand to read, and that is a novel written in the present tense. There are a few books that I'd really like to read but just can't as they are written like that. One that I can remember off the top of my head, as an example would be Polar City Blues by Katherine Kerr.
Katharine's a friend of mine. I'll admit I haven read that much present tense stuff myself and I asked her why she chose that for the story. She explained that present tense was very much in fashion with the old detective stories and she was wanting to pick up some of that flavor for her story, despite it being set in a future SF universe.
Once I started reading more screenplays, however, present tense became very comfortable for me, though you don't see it too often in the SF/fantasy fields. Michael Cassutt uses it for his section of Inside Straight, the first book of the latest Wild Cards trilogy.
First person is pretty regular, and I've used both that and first person epistolary. The oddest, I think, is stream of consciousness, but depending on the story, that can be quite appropriate as well.
About the only form of writing I find off-putting is second person, though as that's generally only used for horoscopes and choose-your-own-adventure novels, it's not as common.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Although, your aversion to first-person narrative is weird, I can somehow relate, as there is something that I really can't stand to read, and that is a novel written in the present tense. There are a few books that I'd really like to read but just can't as they are written like that. One that I can remember off the top of my head, as an example would be Polar City Blues by Katherine Kerr.
The best 'present tense' I've read was in David Drake's 'But Loyal to His Own'. Drake slips to present tense when the guards come in to arrest/shoot Joachim and Worzer. It stays in present tense from the moment the doors slide open until Joachim's pistol jams. Reading the tense switch always made my 'mind's movie screen' show it in slow motion, then lurch back to normal speed as Worzer goes for the dropped rifle.
"It has been three fifths of a second since Joachim drew his pistol." That will always stick in my head.
I enjoyed this book. Trying to get the new roomie to read more (and smoke less). Going to lend her my copy.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I really enjoyed the book but I have a question for Dave Gross...
** spoiler omitted **
Speculation:
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I really enjoyed the book but I have a question for Dave Gross...
** spoiler omitted **
Speculation:
** spoiler omitted **
Further speculation:
Contributor
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I really enjoyed the book but I have a question for Dave Gross...
** spoiler omitted **
Speculation:
** spoiler omitted **
I prefer not to spoil mysteries with a pronouncement on the "facts," but I like Matthew's answer. Nine times out of ten, a clever reader is going to give you a more interesting interpretation than my plain statement of intent could offer.
Thought the book was a little slow getting started but once I got into it read very well.
I have one question though.
** spoiler omitted ** It would go great in the next one based in Ustalav
Check out Kobold Quarterly #14 for the answer to your spoiler.
How long has it been since I insisted that everyone must read this book ASAP? I'm sure it's been too long.
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Contributor
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Maybe I have never listened to a audio book before so i have no idea if i would like them or not.
Whether I like a particular audio book depends a great deal on the talents of the reader. If you ever try one, I strongly encourage you to listen to the sample audio first. Sometimes, as at audible.com, you can sample different readers of the same book. Amazing the difference it makes.
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Whether I like a particular audio book depends a great deal on the talents of the reader. If you ever try one, I strongly encourage you to listen to the sample audio first. Sometimes, as at audible.com, you can sample different readers of the same book. Amazing the difference it makes.
Maybe I have never listened to a audio book before so i have no idea if i would like them or not.
I concur with this; A Narrator can make a huge difference with a Novel.
As an example, Terry Pratchett's novels are normally read by Nigel Planer, who does an excellent job as a narrator, but a few time the novels are read by someone else. The other narrators are not as good and make it hard for me to complete listening to the novel.
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** spoiler omitted **
Answers
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It is hours after I should've gone to bed (thankfully I don't have to work tomorrow ... today), and I just finished reading the novel in one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed it (though I have a critique or two), and I truly hope to see more of these characters in future novels.
Thank you much for an enjoyable read!
You're very welcome. Thank you for the nice comments.
I can't find my copy after a short search, but I believe James Sutter's Prince of Wolves article in Kobold Quarterly includes some game description of riffle scrolls. If you like them, there's something for you in the next novel, too.
Lazaro has put his finger on one of the two rationales I had in mind for Radovan's use of the riffle scroll. For the other, you'll want to pay attention to clues dropped in Prince of Wolves and future adventures of Radovan and the Count, the next of which is on target for next summer.
Very good. The first couple of times I tried, Amazon apparently hadn't opened reviews on it.
Silly question here, but has anyone else ended up stuck with a version of the book that repeated 60-80 pages at a later point in the book? The copy I actually bought went from page 208 back to 160-240 or so; and the only other available copy had a similar 'jump'. Paizo might want to talk to the people printing these books and warn them about this.
I'll try and get another, hopefully properly printed copy when new copies get to the local (Southeast PA) stores.
Silly question here, but has anyone else ended up stuck with a version of the book that repeated 60-80 pages at a later point in the book? The copy I actually bought went from page 208 back to 160-240 or so; and the only other available copy had a similar 'jump'. Paizo might want to talk to the people printing these books and warn them about this.
I'll try and get another, hopefully properly printed copy when new copies get to the local (Southeast PA) stores.
Unfortunately it is quite common in the printing industry. It will always happen in 8 or 16 page sections.
Silly question here, but has anyone else ended up stuck with a version of the book that repeated 60-80 pages at a later point in the book? The copy I actually bought went from page 208 back to 160-240 or so; and the only other available copy had a similar 'jump'. Paizo might want to talk to the people printing these books and warn them about this.
I'll try and get another, hopefully properly printed copy when new copies get to the local (Southeast PA) stores.
Take it to where you bought it, they should be able to get you a replacement copy for free. As Justin said, it happens with a certain amount of any printed book because of how books are put together.
Take it to where you bought it, they should be able to get you a replacement copy for free. As Justin said, it happens with a certain amount of any printed book because of how books are put together.Silly question here, but has anyone else ended up stuck with a version of the book that repeated 60-80 pages at a later point in the book? The copy I actually bought went from page 208 back to 160-240 or so; and the only other available copy had a similar 'jump'. Paizo might want to talk to the people printing these books and warn them about this.
I'll try and get another, hopefully properly printed copy when new copies get to the local (Southeast PA) stores.
I did take it back there. Unfortunately, the only other copy they had in stock was similarly messed up, so I wound up having to get another book entirely. As they told me, 'better luck next time'.
I did take it back there. Unfortunately, the only other copy they had in stock was similarly messed up, so I wound up having to get another book entirely. As they told me, 'better luck next time'.Take it to where you bought it, they should be able to get you a replacement copy for free. As Justin said, it happens with a certain amount of any printed book because of how books are put together.Silly question here, but has anyone else ended up stuck with a version of the book that repeated 60-80 pages at a later point in the book? The copy I actually bought went from page 208 back to 160-240 or so; and the only other available copy had a similar 'jump'. Paizo might want to talk to the people printing these books and warn them about this.
I'll try and get another, hopefully properly printed copy when new copies get to the local (Southeast PA) stores.
Also when it does happen it usually happens in groups (thus it is not uncommon for all or most of the books at one store to be the same). I used to work in a bookstore and I remember one time we got 15 or 20 copies of a hardcover Star Trek book where the last 32 pages were missing and filled with pages about halfway through the book. Can you say unhappy trekkies.:)
I mean "they should be able to contact their distributor and get a replacement copy, for free, which they can give you in exchange for your misprinted one."
Any store that sells you a defective product and then tells you "better luck next time," well, they need lessons in shmustomer shmervice.
Chief Technical Officer
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I mean "they should be able to contact their distributor and get a replacement copy, for free, which they can give you in exchange for your misprinted one."
Any store that sells you a defective product and then tells you "better luck next time," well, they need lessons in shmustomer shmervice.
And if the bookstore isn't willing to make it right, contact customer.service@paizo.com, and we'll make sure you're taken care of.
I mean "they should be able to contact their distributor and get a replacement copy, for free, which they can give you in exchange for your misprinted one."
Any store that sells you a defective product and then tells you "better luck next time," well, they need lessons in shmustomer shmervice.
Unfortunately, with regular bookstores, that means waiting for Ingrams, which means waiting for the second coming, and with comic book stories, that means waiting for Diamond, which is like waiting for the second coming and hoping that this time He brings pizza.
Giving a refund or store credit is about the best solution.
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I mean "they should be able to contact their distributor and get a replacement copy, for free, which they can give you in exchange for your misprinted one."
Any store that sells you a defective product and then tells you "better luck next time," well, they need lessons in shmustomer shmervice.
Unfortunately, with regular bookstores, that means waiting for Ingrams, which means waiting for the second coming, and with comic book stories, that means waiting for Diamond, which is like waiting for the second coming and hoping that this time He brings pizza.
Giving a refund or store credit is about the best solution.
Yup, for non-comic items Diamond is known to take 3-4 months to reply to the store with if they are getting a replacement, or if they are are getting refunded. Then if a replacement is sent out, it takes another 2-3 months before they actually include it. (in my experience as a comic shop employee)
And if the bookstore isn't willing to make it right, contact customer.service@paizo.com, and we'll make sure you're taken care of.I mean "they should be able to contact their distributor and get a replacement copy, for free, which they can give you in exchange for your misprinted one."
Any store that sells you a defective product and then tells you "better luck next time," well, they need lessons in shmustomer shmervice.
Thanks, but it wouldn't feel right to me to do that now that everything has been settled. I do wish that this bookstore in question (Borders) would stock a few more Paizo/Pahfinder books than just the hardcovers. And that when you ordered the non-HC books through them, that they'd take a little more care in mailing them.
Thanks, but it wouldn't feel right to me to do that now that everything has been settled. I do wish that this bookstore in question (Borders) would stock a few more Paizo/Pahfinder books than just the hardcovers. And that when you ordered the non-HC books through them, that they'd take a little more care in mailing them.
Seriously, though, we're all in favor of you finishing the book!
I guess you could always just email Dave and ask him what happens in that section... I'm sure he wouldn't mind. :)
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Just finished my copy of the book, bought it last month (16th). I must admit the opening page was great & was oooo cool, the 1st chapter really dulled my excitement for the story, but after awhile I was like I can't put this down!!
Just yesterday, while fighting a not serious but still annoying head/throat cold I must have read like 8 chapters. I can't wait till the AP that involved Ustalav! Being that Ravenloft was my favorite D&D setting, I really got behind the setting.
While I'm kinda ehh he's ok with Jeggare (not much of nobles or reading about nobles) I did like Radovan & I did like Ezra.
Overall I thought the story was a great start for Pf Tales novels, thanks Paizo for putting out a line of novels!!
Audiobook :) Definately David Tennant :)
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Today i was in the PX at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. This was on the shelves (along with Kobold Quarterly in the magazine section). I thought that was pretty cool. I didn't buy it because I already have a copy, but nontheless, very cool to see it avilible here where I wouldn't really have figured on it being.
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As I put in my review, I found this in the RPG-based fantasy section of the Borders in Town Square on Las Vegas Boulevard, and it was very exciting to see Pathfinder Tales on the shelf right next to all the other RPG-based fiction!
(cue sweetly horrid Barry Manilow music)
...looks like we maaade it...
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Contributor
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While I've been busy with Radovan and the count on the far side of Golarion, sometimes I pine for the mists of Ustalav.
Fortunately, I get to visit haunts old and new in a Carrion Crown playtest. Check out the spoiler-free notes on the discussion board of my new author page. You don't have to join Facebook to view it, but I hope you stick around to participate in the discussions.
Now, back to Tian Xia.
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Contributor
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On the off chance that you are local to Edmonton and haven't yet seen an invitation, please join us for tomorrow's reading of Prince of Wolves and Winter Witch at Indigo South (1837 99 Street Northwest). The readings begin at 2:00 pm, followed by Q&A. After that, it's carousing at Earl's a few blocks south.
I picked it up at Books a million friday and spent saturday reading it. Really enjoyed it.
thanks
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Contributor
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I picked it up at Books a million friday and spent saturday reading it. Really enjoyed it.
Thanks for picking it up. I'm glad you enjoyed it! Hope you like the continuing adventures of Radovan and Jeggare. The next new one will be a story of one of the Count's earlier expeditions to Sargava in Wayfinder.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 6
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Dave Gross makes one of the Wired GeekDad gift guides:
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2010/12/2010giftguide5/
Just finished my copy of the book, bought it last month (16th). I must admit the opening page was great & was oooo cool, the 1st chapter really dulled my excitement for the story, but after awhile I was like I can't put this down!!
Just yesterday, while fighting a not serious but still annoying head/throat cold I must have read like 8 chapters. I can't wait till the AP that involved Ustalav! Being that Ravenloft was my favorite D&D setting, I really got behind the setting.
While I'm kinda ehh he's ok with Jeggare (not much of nobles or reading about nobles) I did like Radovan & I did like Ezra.
** spoiler omitted **
Overall I thought the story was a great start for Pf Tales novels, thanks Paizo for putting out a line of novels!!
** spoiler omitted **
I finally got a properly-printed copy, read it and love it. Nice to find a piece of AD&, ahem, I mean Pathfinder fiction where it's not the end of the world at stake. Sorry but man did that plot get overused at WOTC for Forgotten Realms. Great work and I'm already looking forward to the next book with Radovan and Coutn Varian Jeggare.
And for my answer to Haldir:
I kind of figured that Azra's dual faith is because she's
As for Radovan and his, ahem, "condition", I'd love to know more about that. He's no common tiefling, that's for sure.
But I did feel sorry for poor Malena, having her heart broken like that. Poor lonely werewolf!
Bought the book and couldn't read it because there were duplicate pages and also some missing pages too. But what i did read was ok. To bad for me i guess.
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Director of Brand Strategy
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If you take the book back to where you purchased it, they should swap it out for a good copy. Sometimes there are isolated printing errors in a print run, but the retailer can send the defective item back to us. If you got it from paizo.com, let customer service know and they'll get you taken care of.
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Whether I like a particular audio book depends a great deal on the talents of the reader. If you ever try one, I strongly encourage you to listen to the sample audio first. Sometimes, as at audible.com, you can sample different readers of the same book. Amazing the difference it makes.
Maybe I have never listened to a audio book before so i have no idea if i would like them or not.
Apparently I missed your reply.... months ago. :)
I may, though I like to read. As I often will stop and go back and reread something. Like if the plot in the book alludes to something that was hinted at earlier I like to go back and read that earlier section. That and I tend to read pretty fast. Typically a full novel takes me only a couple of days to read.
Already posted a review, but I wanted to second it and say that this was a extremely fun read. Looking forward to the next Radovan and Count Jeggare novel! Keep up the great work Dave!
Cheers!