First steps into a new world...
After realising the other day that outside of the games industry I'm only qualified to flip burgers I've decided to start trying to expand my skill set a tad, beginning with some web design. Hell, I'm never going to be an MySQL, PHP or Java programmer but I can do the graphics, Flash and HTML and with a bit of CSS, DHTML, XHTML and Javascript knowledge I'm hoping that I'll be at least passable.
Anyway, I started reading The Halfling's Gem by R.A. Salvatore. It's not great writing but I don't hate it.
I'm about five chapters in and I'm starting to get into the story a bit, now. Overall I'd describe it kindly as utilitarian. The characters are distinctive if a bit two-dimensional. Drizzt D'Ourden is a bit of a Mary-Sue aswell being consumately brilliant at just about everything.
The dialogue isn't too eye-watering, though I'm really not sure what accent the yokels are supposed to have. When they utter things like, 'What're yer for?' It doesn't sound quite 'west country', but it doesn't sound quite 'hill-billy' either.
However, by far my biggest problem with it thus far is the almost total lack of description or scene-setting. Every page is crammed with action and conversation and a dozen different characters doing a dozen different side-quests, but precious little description beyond the bare essentials. If the characters are on a river, he states simply that they are 'on a river'. Overlooking a valley he simply states that there is a forest and some cottages. No time is given to mood and atmosphere. Smells, colours, weather, light quality. Anything. At one point Drizzt and his barbarian mate take on a banshee and steal a fantastic magical mask that will make Drizzt look like an elf. The mask is not described at all. He simply finds the 'mask' in the Banshee's treasure pile.
In another chapter he has an exchange between one of the protagonists and the main villain for three pages before - in the last sentence - letting on that they are on board a ship.
So, the verdict on R.A. Salvatore thus far? Vastly over-rated but mildly entertaining anyway.
Talking of second-rate fantasy, I've been watching 'Legend of the Seeker' which is based on Terry Goodkind's 'Sword of Truth' books. I wonder if Mr Goodkind has ever come across the concept of cliche? I accept a certain amount of cliche in a fantasy setting but this takes the biscuit. Still, it's good mood-setting for my new D&D campaign which after two misfires will hopefully, finally start tonight!
Anyway, I started reading The Halfling's Gem by R.A. Salvatore. It's not great writing but I don't hate it.
I'm about five chapters in and I'm starting to get into the story a bit, now. Overall I'd describe it kindly as utilitarian. The characters are distinctive if a bit two-dimensional. Drizzt D'Ourden is a bit of a Mary-Sue aswell being consumately brilliant at just about everything.
The dialogue isn't too eye-watering, though I'm really not sure what accent the yokels are supposed to have. When they utter things like, 'What're yer for?' It doesn't sound quite 'west country', but it doesn't sound quite 'hill-billy' either.
However, by far my biggest problem with it thus far is the almost total lack of description or scene-setting. Every page is crammed with action and conversation and a dozen different characters doing a dozen different side-quests, but precious little description beyond the bare essentials. If the characters are on a river, he states simply that they are 'on a river'. Overlooking a valley he simply states that there is a forest and some cottages. No time is given to mood and atmosphere. Smells, colours, weather, light quality. Anything. At one point Drizzt and his barbarian mate take on a banshee and steal a fantastic magical mask that will make Drizzt look like an elf. The mask is not described at all. He simply finds the 'mask' in the Banshee's treasure pile.
In another chapter he has an exchange between one of the protagonists and the main villain for three pages before - in the last sentence - letting on that they are on board a ship.
So, the verdict on R.A. Salvatore thus far? Vastly over-rated but mildly entertaining anyway.
Talking of second-rate fantasy, I've been watching 'Legend of the Seeker' which is based on Terry Goodkind's 'Sword of Truth' books. I wonder if Mr Goodkind has ever come across the concept of cliche? I accept a certain amount of cliche in a fantasy setting but this takes the biscuit. Still, it's good mood-setting for my new D&D campaign which after two misfires will hopefully, finally start tonight!