|
|
Post by Scott on Mar 1, 2017 7:37:32 GMT -5
I started this today. I'm not a big fan of the modern day hero transported to another reality, but the writing is strong, I like the style.
|
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 1, 2017 8:46:20 GMT -5
The modern hero transported into another reality used to be a very common theme, and seems to have fallen out of fashion. I'm not a big fan of that, either, as a plot device. But this book is an entertaining read. I mostly enjoyed it because I was imagining the influence it had on EGG and D&D while reading it... the D&D troll is straight out of this book! Also, this is where the elves of Caer Sidi from Q1 come from...
|
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Mar 1, 2017 9:12:21 GMT -5
I think this, Vance, and Lieber are the most direct influences on EGG's style. Some passages would mesh perfectly with Gary's descriptive text.
|
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Mar 1, 2017 11:31:04 GMT -5
I think the story is a reminder that not everything came from Tolkien. It really bothers people's narratives that Tolkien is a storyteller whose use of real ideas is not imaginary whole cloth but rather a specific way of putting already known things. Specifically "3H3L" not only lends D&D a way of putting a lot of things (align, trolls, gnomes, etc) but it also was influential in roleplaying by the back in time as a different person. The fact that Anderson was also influential in the creation of the Society for Creative Anachronism also can't be undervalued. I actually don't really like SCA and renaissance festivals because they've been defined a certain way and they're stuck but in the Anderson era they seemed livelier.
|
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 2, 2017 8:28:45 GMT -5
Another one worth checking out by Anderson, as far as fantasy influence goes, is THE BROKEN SWORD.
I have THE HIGH CRUSADE in a stack of paperbacks I mean to read, as well. I've read some of the TIME PATROL stories and enjoyed those, but they're more sf than fantasy (but more of the "modern man transported into a different reality" theme).
|
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Mar 2, 2017 13:40:21 GMT -5
Is Hugi the father of all Scottish dwarves?
|
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Mar 2, 2017 15:37:22 GMT -5
Is Hugi the father of all Scottish dwarves? I think he is the source. Certain words like "mikkel" and "dinna" are definitely Northern English/Scottish. My grandmother had a heavy Irish accent and my friend's grandparents had heavy Scottish so I know those terms. Although, my distaste for people playing dwarves like Shrek has really reached total intolerance levels!  |
|
