Pool of Radiance (Forgotten Realms) [Mass Market Paperback]

James M. Ward (Author), Jane Cooper Hong (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 23, 1989

book

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 31 pages
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (December 23, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0880387351
• ISBN-13: 978-0880387354
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 3.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #555,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A dynamic epic of extraordinary detail., May 15, 1998

By 

L A Spillane-Larke - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pool of Radiance (Forgotten Realms) (Mass Market Paperback)

"Pool of Radiance" by James M. Ward and Jane Cooper Hong is the first fantasy adventure book I've ever read. We've all seen the fantasy movies like "The Neverending Story" and "The Dark Crystal," but I've never actually read books like this. I was very surprised at the way Ward's and Hong's words painted vivid pictures in my mind. This is what I liked most about the book. It wasn't drawn out and boring like many other descriptive books, but full of action. Their words were fast paced so the action "scenes" were fluid in my mind. Most of the action takes place in battles in which a band of three warriors, Shal, Ren, and Tarl, fight their way to Tyranthraxus. The book takes place in another world; a world that you and me does not exist. But Ward and Hong bring this other world to life through the median of thier own use of the descriptive style of writing. Whether it's a forest, a town, a tavern brawl, or a castle dungeon, the journey comes alive and one will experience it with all five senses.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book with a solid story, although somewhat hard to believe at times..., July 13, 2006

By 

J. Wells "Doppelganger" (Tampa Bay, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pool of Radiance (Forgotten Realms) (Mass Market Paperback)

First i'd like to say this is a really good book that was just a bit hard to swallow at times. It was an enjoyable and easy read, with good character development. The story was good and the characters were likable!

My only complaint (no spoilers, don't worry) is that the character Shal's magic goes from apprentice level to SUPER WIZARD POWERS ridiculously fast. That seemed hard to believe being that at the beginning of the book she was just a novice apprentice. By the middle of the book she was taking on a... well, just read the book and you'll see what I mean.

Still it was an overall fun and enjoyable read, and I would recommend it. I just think it could have been a bit more believable in spots.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I loved it, but you might not, August 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Pool of Radiance (Forgotten Realms) (Mass Market Paperback)

I REALLY loved this book, it was the first forgotten realms book I ever read. I was playing the computer game on my commodore 64 and I wanted to read the book that went along with it. I was 10 years old I think, and I had never read a book that I thought was so good. Unfortunately, it is just that, a book for people, particularly younger people, who want a light fast read. The plot is relatively simple so that if you accidentally skip a chapter, you don't miss much. It is a great read if you run a Forgotten Realms AD&D campaign in the moonsea.

Bottom line... It's not a work of literary genius, but the plot is entertaining.