Baldurs Gate Novels: Anyone read them?

CerebroDragon · 12-04-2003, 10:44 AM

I remember vaguely before the full game actually came out and my AD&D circle of friends were all excited and whispery, that a free comic was given out or something for pre-release marketing. Unfortunately, I can't find the one I had anymore, nor can I remember the contents that well either!
Which got me thinking further about the novels...

I haven't actually ran into them in shops or seen any around, so I was just wondering if any of the folks on here have read any and what their general impressions of the quality of writing were.
Does it do justice to this great game and more importantly, does it relate to the game plot at all and contain any of the great NPC's?
Hmm I wonder really on second thought if anyone do justice to this game in the written form?

Somehow I doubt it...
I recall reading a thread on the favourite/not so favourites where someone derided the novels a little, but otherwise I know nothing really about them!

Regardless of what the general opinion is, if I see any in second hand stores, I'll be willing to give one a shot, as I'm on one hell of a Baldurian nostalgia trip at the moment.
I'm up to Cloakwood with my evil-ish party now, but won't begin to tackle it until I pick up Safana and do both the Ulcaster and perhaps Gullykin and Firewine bridge areas. That way, the only area left other than Ulgoth's Beard and the city itself shall be the area that I didn't quite conquer last time around - the dreaded Durlag's Tower! [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img]

Kivan and Viconia have been having nice little dark exchanges...and I had to laugh once when poor ol' Vic was killed by an Anhkeg. "May Viconia's soul rot in hell", spouted Kivan viciously. Strangely enough, he doesn't say it whenever Shar-Teel dies and she's chatoic evil not neutral evil! So I'm guessing its a drow/elf repressed conflict thing.

Sadly, its the main reason why I have to let him go...can't have him killing my cleric on the battlefield!

Anyway, thats all for now!

P.S: @SixofSpades
If you read this SixofSpades, just thought I'd give a big Minscian thumbs up on your website. Very nice indeed and entertaining to read, adds alot to the nostalgia for me. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

RoSs_bg2_rox · 12-04-2003, 12:14 PM

I have read them both. Id say there an O.K read. They are very short (we're talkin 200 and something pages for each) and they arent really that complex. They follow the story line pretty well with a few bits added in (theres an amusing yet annoying one that happens to Minsc) but Im not really sure if I'd recommend them to you. It also depends how much of a reader you are, if your a hardcore reader ( I dont know reads a lot etc.) then you may not enjoy them that much, the end of the second one is [s]shit[/s] I wouldnt reall say they are worth the money for buying but I would say that if you have a library near you then go and pick them up from there or get them from a second hand book store like you suggested.

Xen · 12-04-2003, 02:56 PM

I only read the ToB part...

Dar'tanian · 12-04-2003, 04:16 PM

Unfortunately I have read all three of them

Sythe · 12-04-2003, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dar'tanian:
Unfortunately I have read all three of them

Tell us why you disliked it.

SixOfSpades · 12-04-2003, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CerebroDragon:
.... just thought I'd give a big Minscian thumbs up on your website.

Thanks for the kudos, but....I didn't know Minsc could read websites?

CerebroDragon · 12-04-2003, 08:39 PM

Yep, c'mon mr Dar'Tanian, some substantiated opinion on the matter would be good.

Thanks for the info Ross.

I'm an incredibly slow reader, but have still enjoyed and amassed a fairly healthy fantasy collection over the years. Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms in particular have quite the special high school place in my memory and yet I'm still reading them! Albeit, rather slowly.

Just started the Avatar trilogy recently in fact...thus I'm guessing that i'd get something out the BG stuff.

So who wrote the BG novels? Did he/she have anything to do with the game? Perhaps I'll do a net search or something...

Cheers,
Cerebrodragon

CerebroDragon · 12-04-2003, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SixOfSpades:

quote:
Originally posted by CerebroDragon:
.... just thought I'd give a big Minscian thumbs up on your website.

Thanks for the kudos, but....I didn't know Minsc could read websites? [/QUOTE]Tee hee! I guess I meant to imply Minscian enthusiasm for the cause of your website.

Perhaps I should have given an Edwinian salute instead! [img]graemlins/magic.gif[/img]

Or should that be Elminster-an, since Edwin is quite articulate about not having a pointy hat.

RoSs_bg2_rox · 12-05-2003, 12:04 PM

it was phillip pullman

Imrahil · 12-05-2003, 10:24 PM

The books are really dull, IMO. They follow the basic plot, no sidequests, no interesting NPC's. Imagine playing the games as a dim-witted Human Fighter with no imagination with just Imoen, Jaheira, & Khalid (especially if you know what happens to Khalid). Do no side-quests, get no special items, and leave out the banter. Then you'll get a pretty good idea of what the books are like.

If you've read the Dragonlance books or Avatar books, you'll likely be very disappointed with the Baldur's Gate books.

- Imrahil

12-04-2003, 10:44 AM	#1
CerebroDragon Red Wizard of Thay Join Date: March 2, 2003 Location: Ballarat, Australia. Age: 46 Posts: 878	I remember vaguely before the full game actually came out and my AD&D circle of friends were all excited and whispery, that a free comic was given out or something for pre-release marketing. Unfortunately, I can't find the one I had anymore, nor can I remember the contents that well either! Which got me thinking further about the novels... I haven't actually ran into them in shops or seen any around, so I was just wondering if any of the folks on here have read any and what their general impressions of the quality of writing were. Does it do justice to this great game and more importantly, does it relate to the game plot at all and contain any of the great NPC's? Hmm I wonder really on second thought if anyone do justice to this game in the written form? Somehow I doubt it... I recall reading a thread on the favourite/not so favourites where someone derided the novels a little, but otherwise I know nothing really about them! Regardless of what the general opinion is, if I see any in second hand stores, I'll be willing to give one a shot, as I'm on one hell of a Baldurian nostalgia trip at the moment. I'm up to Cloakwood with my evil-ish party now, but won't begin to tackle it until I pick up Safana and do both the Ulcaster and perhaps Gullykin and Firewine bridge areas. That way, the only area left other than Ulgoth's Beard and the city itself shall be the area that I didn't quite conquer last time around - the dreaded Durlag's Tower! [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img] Kivan and Viconia have been having nice little dark exchanges...and I had to laugh once when poor ol' Vic was killed by an Anhkeg. "May Viconia's soul rot in hell", spouted Kivan viciously. Strangely enough, he doesn't say it whenever Shar-Teel dies and she's chatoic evil not neutral evil! So I'm guessing its a drow/elf repressed conflict thing. Sadly, its the main reason why I have to let him go...can't have him killing my cleric on the battlefield! Anyway, thats all for now! P.S: @SixofSpades If you read this SixofSpades, just thought I'd give a big Minscian thumbs up on your website. Very nice indeed and entertaining to read, adds alot to the nostalgia for me. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] __________________ Diddledy High, Diddledy Low, Come Brave Blood Sheep, You've a goodly way to go. - Brilhasti Ap Tarj

12-04-2003, 12:14 PM	#2
RoSs_bg2_rox Zartan Join Date: May 20, 2003 Location: Near Aberdeen, Scotland Age: 36 Posts: 5,225	I have read them both. Id say there an O.K read. They are very short (we're talkin 200 and something pages for each) and they arent really that complex. They follow the story line pretty well with a few bits added in (theres an amusing yet annoying one that happens to Minsc) but Im not really sure if I'd recommend them to you. It also depends how much of a reader you are, if your a hardcore reader ( I dont know reads a lot etc.) then you may not enjoy them that much, the end of the second one is [s]shit[/s] I wouldnt reall say they are worth the money for buying but I would say that if you have a library near you then go and pick them up from there or get them from a second hand book store like you suggested. __________________ [img]\"http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/ladyzekke/dragonwater2.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

12-04-2003, 04:16 PM	#4
Dar'tanian Red Wizard of Thay Join Date: October 26, 2002 Location: USA Age: 35 Posts: 858	Unfortunately I have read all three of them __________________ I\'m back boys...

12-04-2003, 08:39 PM	#7
CerebroDragon Red Wizard of Thay Join Date: March 2, 2003 Location: Ballarat, Australia. Age: 46 Posts: 878	Yep, c'mon mr Dar'Tanian, some substantiated opinion on the matter would be good. Thanks for the info Ross. I'm an incredibly slow reader, but have still enjoyed and amassed a fairly healthy fantasy collection over the years. Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms in particular have quite the special high school place in my memory and yet I'm still reading them! Albeit, rather slowly. Just started the Avatar trilogy recently in fact...thus I'm guessing that i'd get something out the BG stuff. So who wrote the BG novels? Did he/she have anything to do with the game? Perhaps I'll do a net search or something... Cheers, Cerebrodragon __________________ Diddledy High, Diddledy Low, Come Brave Blood Sheep, You've a goodly way to go. - Brilhasti Ap Tarj

12-05-2003, 12:04 PM	#9
RoSs_bg2_rox Zartan Join Date: May 20, 2003 Location: Near Aberdeen, Scotland Age: 36 Posts: 5,225	it was phillip pullman __________________ [img]\"http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/ladyzekke/dragonwater2.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

12-04-2003, 02:56 PM	#3
Xen Symbol of Moradin Join Date: June 5, 2002 Location: Slovenia,Ljubljana Age: 37 Posts: 8,554	I only read the ToB part...

12-05-2003, 10:24 PM	#10
Imrahil Elminster Join Date: November 4, 2001 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 469	The books are really dull, IMO. They follow the basic plot, no sidequests, no interesting NPC's. Imagine playing the games as a dim-witted Human Fighter with no imagination with just Imoen, Jaheira, & Khalid (especially if you know what happens to Khalid). Do no side-quests, get no special items, and leave out the banter. Then you'll get a pretty good idea of what the books are like. If you've read the Dragonlance books or Avatar books, you'll likely be very disappointed with the Baldur's Gate books. - Imrahil

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