Customer Reviews

Runes of Autumn

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The introduction begins with murder, like all mystery novels. The next 150 pages focus on the town's catchpole (police guy), as he unravels what happened. More murders happen. Rafik puts together clues, and sends away for his old army buddy for help. These pages are slow, full of logical deduction and eliminated alternatives. A huge contrast to normal D&D novels, with their tons of sorcery and mindless violence.

By page two hundred and twenty, the main characters put everything together, having figured out the lair of the creature(s) responsible, and set out to deal with it. At this point the story picks up and is genuinely suspenseful with action, as the initial two third of novel pays off.

Oddly after reading the novel, I don't know what the "Runes of Autumn" are. A better title might have been "The Amulet and the Plactogram." Doesn't sound as cool, but it actually describes the book.

Is the novel worth buying? Personally, I give the average TSR dungeons and dragons novel two stars, with a few exceptions (The Legend of Huma, Elaine Cunningham's works, Dragonlance by Weis&Hickman, Simon Hawke's work in the Dark Sun setting). The Runes of Autumn reminded me more of Tad William's epic the Dragonbone Chair than D&D, but it didn't have the oopmh to push above the average mass market non-D&D fantasy. The problem is Elmore keeps switching perspectives between characters, and doesn't develop emotions and personalities (or his fantasy town setting) enough.

If you enjoy traditional fantasy novels and love mysteries, you should absolutely buy. If you don't like mysteries, pass. Personally, I like fantasy and can tolerate mystery and I rate it three and a half stars. This novel was average for a mass market fantasy; the mystery sets it apart from the rest of it's genre.

This was a well-written and enjoyable read, with excellent development of both characters and relationships, with a well thought-out adventure and plot. Though subtle traces of Tolkien and Dungeons and Dragons can be found in the telling, the book is much less mired down by the limits of formulaic fantasy than the majority of Wizards of the Coast and TSR books. It's an upright fantasy story, of an adult mentality but not sleazy in the least, and would serve as a better movie plot than alot of the made-for-TV bandwagon jumpers we've seen pop up on the screen in the last few years.

J. Lyon Layden
The Other Side of Yore

I really enjoyed this Fantasy book. It's got alot of suspence and a GREAT read!