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Forgotten Realms: Elminster #1
Elminster: The Making of a Mage
From the back cover: It is the time before Myth Drannor, when the Heartlands are home to barbarians, and wicked dragons rule the skies. In these ancient days, Elminster is but a shepherd boy, dreaming of adventure and heroics. When a dragon-riding magelord sweeps down upon him, though, the boy is thrust into a world of harsh realities, corrupt rulers and evil sorcerers.
331 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 30, 1992
About the author
Ed Greenwood
359 books835 followersEd Greenwood is the creator of the Forgotten Realms fantasy world, which became the setting for his home D&D game in 1975. Play still continues in this long-running campaign, and Ed also keeps busy producing Realmslore for various TSR publications.
Ed has published over two hundred articles in Dragon magazine and Polyhedron newszine, is a lifetime charter member of the Role Playing Game Associaton (RPGA) network, has written over thirty books and modules for TSR, and been Gen Con Game Fair guest of honor several times.
In addition to all these activities, Ed works as a library clerk and has edited over a dozen small press magazines.
Invented the character Elminster from the popular Forgotten Realms RPG series. Currently resides in an old farmhouse in the countryside of Ontario, Canada.
Ed has published over two hundred articles in Dragon magazine and Polyhedron newszine, is a lifetime charter member of the Role Playing Game Associaton (RPGA) network, has written over thirty books and modules for TSR, and been Gen Con Game Fair guest of honor several times.
In addition to all these activities, Ed works as a library clerk and has edited over a dozen small press magazines.
Invented the character Elminster from the popular Forgotten Realms RPG series. Currently resides in an old farmhouse in the countryside of Ontario, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
May 2, 2021
This was an OK action-fantasy story. The plot revolves around a young man whose village and family are destroyed by a mage riding a dragon. Shortly after the youth, Elminster, is urged by a knight to become an outlaw and a thief. The knight's reasoning was this lifestyle would make Elminster a good sword handler, give him the ability to fight and defend himself, and give him the ability to be smart in split-second decision making. The story is a revenge story as Elminster is determined to destroy mages and evil wizards that destroyed his life in the beginning.
I thought overall the story seemed rushed and awkwardly progressed from one obstacle/subplot to the next. This prevented the story having any depth and the story was surface level the entire time. I learned there are four more books in the Elminster saga but I think my journey ends here. I would recommend it if you're looking for a basic and quick paced read. Thanks!
I thought overall the story seemed rushed and awkwardly progressed from one obstacle/subplot to the next. This prevented the story having any depth and the story was surface level the entire time. I learned there are four more books in the Elminster saga but I think my journey ends here. I would recommend it if you're looking for a basic and quick paced read. Thanks!
February 10, 2017
Seriously, why did I ever read this rubbish?
17 May 2012
You have seriously got to be kidding, a bad novelist has turned a bad novel about a seriously annoying character into a franchise. When I ran a search for this book on Goodreads I discovered that there is a whole series of books about this Elminster character, including: Elminster in Hell, Elminster's Daughter (what, he actually got laid, I though this mighty super magician was above love), Elminster Must Die (and I bet you he doesn't) among others. Seriously, either Ed Greenwood has way too much time on his hands, or people will simply read anything. Personally I think it is the second answer since Greenwood can pretty much get away with writing rubbish.
Now, don't get me wrong, I actually think Greenwood has writing talent, and imagination, it is just that his talent tends not to flow on to writing novels. This particular novel was very bad and very boring. In fact I paid probably $1.00 for the novel, and gave it away as soon as I finished it (I would have burnt it, but under no circumstances would I ever burn a book, even one as bad as this, though newspapers don't count).
Ed Greenwood was initially a writer for TSR, the company that developed and marketed the first ever roleplaying game, Dungeons and Dragons. I actually quite liked the world of the Forgotten Realms. While it did lack in realism in parts I still found it quite well constructed. This was Ed Greenwood's brainchild, and the world he created was truly full of adventure. It is still a very popular game world and does form the backbone of many of the Dungeons and Dragons products that are released today. While Gary Gygax's World of Greyhawk still exists, it simply did not seem to enjoy the popularity that The Forgotten Realms did. Greyhawk tended to be more medieval where as The Realms had a much more Renaissance feel to it.
However there were a few things that did annoy me. First of all there was a very strong distinction between good and evil. The kingdoms ruled by a good king (such as Cormyr) were good and the king was good. He would treat his subjects well and despite the land being ruled by a monarchy, people enjoyed freedom (particularly merchants). This was never the case (and still isn't the case) in our real world. Some have critised other authors for being too idealistic in the worlds, however not much criticism has been levelled against Dungeons and Dragons products for similar things. As for evil, they are truly evil, but I have never viewed the world as ever being black and white. In a way it can be considered civilised and barbaric, but even then that is a misnomer because it depends on one's point of view. Just because somebody lives in a nice apartment with all of the Mod-cons does not necessarily mean that they are civilised, and just because they live in a mud hut beside a river in a jungle and survive off the produce of the land does not necessarily mean they are barbaric.
The other aspect I do not like is Elminster, pure and simple. If I could give one word as to why I do not like him it is this: Gandalf. Seriously, it is very, very clear that Elminster has been modelled on Gandalf. In fact, as we explore the world of the Forgotten Realms we discovered that there is a circle of powerful mages that seem to be a direct copy of the Istari of Middle Earth. The difference is that the Istari are not wizards simply because they are not human. They are spiritual beings that have been sent to Middle Earth as helpers for the people living there. In a way they are a bulwark against the power of Sauron. There is no Sauron in the Forgotten Realms, but there are these wonderfully powerful and fantastic, almost immortal, wizards that live there. I sort of did like it, but in a way, I never liked Elminster.
Elminster lives in a region called the Dalelands, a forested region of the Forgotten Realms made up of a collection of farming communities in large clearings known as The Dales. There is no connection between them, and in a way they are all independent communities (there is no concept of democracy or a republic in the Forgotten Realms, which is very disappointing since Republics have been in existence for a very long time – in fact I have never seen the word republic used in conjuction with the Forgotten Realms, despite it having been a part of our vocabulary, since at least Plato). However, I hated Elminster so much that I created a Daleland called Darkdale that existed in a cavern underneath Shadowdale (where Elminster lives) and made it a complete opposite of Shadowdale, right down to the powerful, evil, undead sorcerer that lived there. Needless to say, Greenwood never actually took my idea up.
17 May 2012
You have seriously got to be kidding, a bad novelist has turned a bad novel about a seriously annoying character into a franchise. When I ran a search for this book on Goodreads I discovered that there is a whole series of books about this Elminster character, including: Elminster in Hell, Elminster's Daughter (what, he actually got laid, I though this mighty super magician was above love), Elminster Must Die (and I bet you he doesn't) among others. Seriously, either Ed Greenwood has way too much time on his hands, or people will simply read anything. Personally I think it is the second answer since Greenwood can pretty much get away with writing rubbish.
Now, don't get me wrong, I actually think Greenwood has writing talent, and imagination, it is just that his talent tends not to flow on to writing novels. This particular novel was very bad and very boring. In fact I paid probably $1.00 for the novel, and gave it away as soon as I finished it (I would have burnt it, but under no circumstances would I ever burn a book, even one as bad as this, though newspapers don't count).
Ed Greenwood was initially a writer for TSR, the company that developed and marketed the first ever roleplaying game, Dungeons and Dragons. I actually quite liked the world of the Forgotten Realms. While it did lack in realism in parts I still found it quite well constructed. This was Ed Greenwood's brainchild, and the world he created was truly full of adventure. It is still a very popular game world and does form the backbone of many of the Dungeons and Dragons products that are released today. While Gary Gygax's World of Greyhawk still exists, it simply did not seem to enjoy the popularity that The Forgotten Realms did. Greyhawk tended to be more medieval where as The Realms had a much more Renaissance feel to it.
However there were a few things that did annoy me. First of all there was a very strong distinction between good and evil. The kingdoms ruled by a good king (such as Cormyr) were good and the king was good. He would treat his subjects well and despite the land being ruled by a monarchy, people enjoyed freedom (particularly merchants). This was never the case (and still isn't the case) in our real world. Some have critised other authors for being too idealistic in the worlds, however not much criticism has been levelled against Dungeons and Dragons products for similar things. As for evil, they are truly evil, but I have never viewed the world as ever being black and white. In a way it can be considered civilised and barbaric, but even then that is a misnomer because it depends on one's point of view. Just because somebody lives in a nice apartment with all of the Mod-cons does not necessarily mean that they are civilised, and just because they live in a mud hut beside a river in a jungle and survive off the produce of the land does not necessarily mean they are barbaric.
The other aspect I do not like is Elminster, pure and simple. If I could give one word as to why I do not like him it is this: Gandalf. Seriously, it is very, very clear that Elminster has been modelled on Gandalf. In fact, as we explore the world of the Forgotten Realms we discovered that there is a circle of powerful mages that seem to be a direct copy of the Istari of Middle Earth. The difference is that the Istari are not wizards simply because they are not human. They are spiritual beings that have been sent to Middle Earth as helpers for the people living there. In a way they are a bulwark against the power of Sauron. There is no Sauron in the Forgotten Realms, but there are these wonderfully powerful and fantastic, almost immortal, wizards that live there. I sort of did like it, but in a way, I never liked Elminster.
Elminster lives in a region called the Dalelands, a forested region of the Forgotten Realms made up of a collection of farming communities in large clearings known as The Dales. There is no connection between them, and in a way they are all independent communities (there is no concept of democracy or a republic in the Forgotten Realms, which is very disappointing since Republics have been in existence for a very long time – in fact I have never seen the word republic used in conjuction with the Forgotten Realms, despite it having been a part of our vocabulary, since at least Plato). However, I hated Elminster so much that I created a Daleland called Darkdale that existed in a cavern underneath Shadowdale (where Elminster lives) and made it a complete opposite of Shadowdale, right down to the powerful, evil, undead sorcerer that lived there. Needless to say, Greenwood never actually took my idea up.
May 10, 2011
5/10/11: UPDATE: Despite having nothing other than Elminster and SkyMall magazine to read during takeoff and landing I officially, disgustedly, completely gave up on Elminster on page 133; wherein Elminster gets turned into a girl and is SO totally diggin' the boobs, man. I wanted to puke. Fortunately, SkyMall offers a variety of products to help with that.
5/09/11: Sixty pages into this book, my darling, dear, precious, sweet husband asked me, "Why are you reading a D&D book**?"
::blink, blink::
What???? The Fuck????
Apparently, though I am mighty in the ways of Geek, I am so uninitiated in the ways of Nerd that it was heretofore unknown to me that Ed Greenwood wrote The Forgotten Realms for TSR, Inc., which vast corporation produces the D&D franchise. Along with learning these vital isn't-everybody-born-just-knowing-this-stuff facts, I also discovered that my husband is a black belt Nerd. Awesome!
At this point, of course, it is much to late to protest that it is a Bad Book, that it is Written Very Poorly, that I find it Profoundly Stupid - because I was caught reading it rather than caught pitching it disgustedly against the wall. I can provide evidence to all of the above and may yet*, but the fact remains that I am STILL READING THE DAMNED THING. This is because I am in a Foreign Land and have read every other English-language book immediately available and what else am I supposed to do when soaking in a jacuzzi while sipping a screwdriver? Just sit there?!?
*Elminster is a boy who is left Alone In The World when a naughty magelord kills his entire village to get back at his father, who is secretly a prince. Elminster swears revenge. Ho-hum. (Go listen to Another End of The Empire by Tim Pratt right now. Seriously, it's mandatory: http://podcastle.org/2010/01/26/podca... ) I offer the following quotes:
"Thieves? Ah, such an ugly word...look upon them as the most honest sort of merchant." (Seriously?)
"The movement made her low-cut silken bodice slide, smooth and cool, across Elminster's arm. He hastily transferred his tankard out of the way, feeling a stirring in him." (Look, when I get hot and bothered, there's no "stirring" about it. I feel the blood rushing out of my head and into my ____, which leaves me feeling wuzzly and adventurous. So WTF is this "stirring" of which male authors so fondly write? Can any-male-one please explain?)
"What gods should I worship?"
"A man must find out for himself - or should. Only fools obey the nearest priest."
"What do priests do, then?"
Farel shrugged. "A lot of chanting and angry shouting and sticking swords into people who worship other gods." (Okay, maybe this one has a point. But still!)
**In point of fact, I was reading this book because JFi sent it to me in a box. That's what we do, we send boxes. And then we read books. It's brilliant. Beware, JFi - I may yet dupe you into reading Trekkie slash-fic.
5/09/11: Sixty pages into this book, my darling, dear, precious, sweet husband asked me, "Why are you reading a D&D book**?"
::blink, blink::
What???? The Fuck????
Apparently, though I am mighty in the ways of Geek, I am so uninitiated in the ways of Nerd that it was heretofore unknown to me that Ed Greenwood wrote The Forgotten Realms for TSR, Inc., which vast corporation produces the D&D franchise. Along with learning these vital isn't-everybody-born-just-knowing-this-stuff facts, I also discovered that my husband is a black belt Nerd. Awesome!
At this point, of course, it is much to late to protest that it is a Bad Book, that it is Written Very Poorly, that I find it Profoundly Stupid - because I was caught reading it rather than caught pitching it disgustedly against the wall. I can provide evidence to all of the above and may yet*, but the fact remains that I am STILL READING THE DAMNED THING. This is because I am in a Foreign Land and have read every other English-language book immediately available and what else am I supposed to do when soaking in a jacuzzi while sipping a screwdriver? Just sit there?!?
*Elminster is a boy who is left Alone In The World when a naughty magelord kills his entire village to get back at his father, who is secretly a prince. Elminster swears revenge. Ho-hum. (Go listen to Another End of The Empire by Tim Pratt right now. Seriously, it's mandatory: http://podcastle.org/2010/01/26/podca... ) I offer the following quotes:
"Thieves? Ah, such an ugly word...look upon them as the most honest sort of merchant." (Seriously?)
"The movement made her low-cut silken bodice slide, smooth and cool, across Elminster's arm. He hastily transferred his tankard out of the way, feeling a stirring in him." (Look, when I get hot and bothered, there's no "stirring" about it. I feel the blood rushing out of my head and into my ____, which leaves me feeling wuzzly and adventurous. So WTF is this "stirring" of which male authors so fondly write? Can any-male-one please explain?)
"What gods should I worship?"
"A man must find out for himself - or should. Only fools obey the nearest priest."
"What do priests do, then?"
Farel shrugged. "A lot of chanting and angry shouting and sticking swords into people who worship other gods." (Okay, maybe this one has a point. But still!)
**In point of fact, I was reading this book because JFi sent it to me in a box. That's what we do, we send boxes. And then we read books. It's brilliant. Beware, JFi - I may yet dupe you into reading Trekkie slash-fic.
January 2, 2020
Not the greatest novel to finish off 2019 with, but at least it was a step above Greenwood's prior books. A very small step, that is. The first 100 pages were exceedingly painful, with Greenwood's trademark unnecessarily wordy prose, characters so flat they may as well have been crushed by bulletin boards, and action scenes that are, quite simply, a mess. The story became marginally interesting once Elminster finally set off to learn magic and pursue his destiny, oddly transformed into a woman. You know, because women are just naturally more emotional and in tune with natural flows and stuff, so it will help him get a "feel" for magic. (S)he wastes no time in getting all weepy, as apparently Greenwood thinks women invariably do.
This was an opportunity to tell an epic story about the roots of greatness and mastery of magic, but little Elminster is mostly just a boring kid driven by revenge. After his parents and village are summarily destroyed by a dragon-riding magelord while Elminster is off tending sheep or whatever, the revenge-fuelled boy falls in with some good and noble rebels, then drifts off to be a good and noble thief in the big city, then goes off to learn the flow of magic and eventually how to become an unstoppable killing magic machine. There is a faint plotline of restoring freedom to the people who are kept oppressed by the vicious magelords behind the throne to which Elminster has a legitimate claim, but repeatedly Elminster's primary goal of personal revenge is made clear. He says stuff like "I am so tired of killing", then shoots a fireball down a guy's throat to explode him into tiny bits. Of course he wins the day with his one-dimensional good guy friends and the one-dimensional bad guys are all mercilessly murdered, because that's how you get to be the premier mage of the Realms.
I'm still not sure in just what way the story got better after those first 100 pages, but it was sufficiently tolerable to plow through the book without active dislike, but it remained dull throughout. As I read the Forgotten Realms books in publication order, I have a whole trilogy penned by Greenwood coming up shortly, and I sincerely hope that this minor improvement in his writing will sustain me through those next books.
This was an opportunity to tell an epic story about the roots of greatness and mastery of magic, but little Elminster is mostly just a boring kid driven by revenge. After his parents and village are summarily destroyed by a dragon-riding magelord while Elminster is off tending sheep or whatever, the revenge-fuelled boy falls in with some good and noble rebels, then drifts off to be a good and noble thief in the big city, then goes off to learn the flow of magic and eventually how to become an unstoppable killing magic machine. There is a faint plotline of restoring freedom to the people who are kept oppressed by the vicious magelords behind the throne to which Elminster has a legitimate claim, but repeatedly Elminster's primary goal of personal revenge is made clear. He says stuff like "I am so tired of killing", then shoots a fireball down a guy's throat to explode him into tiny bits. Of course he wins the day with his one-dimensional good guy friends and the one-dimensional bad guys are all mercilessly murdered, because that's how you get to be the premier mage of the Realms.
I'm still not sure in just what way the story got better after those first 100 pages, but it was sufficiently tolerable to plow through the book without active dislike, but it remained dull throughout. As I read the Forgotten Realms books in publication order, I have a whole trilogy penned by Greenwood coming up shortly, and I sincerely hope that this minor improvement in his writing will sustain me through those next books.
December 15, 2018
Ho there, wanderer, stay thy course a moment to indulge an old man.
These were the first words of Elminster, the very first time I've met him in "Baldur's Gate". Despite buying that game roughly 20 yers ago, I remember that moment as if it happened... well, no, not yesterday, but just a couple of years ago. I've got my curiousity peaked instantly, as Elminster had a very unique appearence and had a thorough voiceover - a feat that had been quite rare in the games produced in 1998. Lots of time have passed, but my interest in a character remained, and somehow I'm celebrating those 20 years by reading a novel about that dude.
I've read a lot of bad and negative reviews about this book here, and though in some cases I can concur or at least see the reason behind those words, it is sad that most of the negativity seemed to be excessive and unfounded, and sometimes even deliberate. Yes, Ed Greenwood might not be an amalgam of Shakespeare and Hemingway, but that doesn't make him "a bad writer". The pacing was ok, dialogs might have been better, but still they were decent enough, and complaining that Elminster gets everything too easy is bordering absurd. Guy literally got killed once or twice, had his feathers roughed at every second page, lost everything more than once - yes, that is DEFINITELY an easy life. Oh, and he's a deity's Chosen. It basically means, that aforementioned deity constantly challenges him and throws tasks for him to do and so on and on and on.
Of course it isn't a literary masterpiece. Still, it's a decent book. And though odds-on I won't remember much about this book in a few years' time, it was a fun, light, quick read and you just can't expect anything more from a book, based on a boardgame. While I feel that 7/10 would have been the optimal rating, I won't round it up to 4* this time. I liked the book, but not too much, and 3* seems like a fair rating this time.
These were the first words of Elminster, the very first time I've met him in "Baldur's Gate". Despite buying that game roughly 20 yers ago, I remember that moment as if it happened... well, no, not yesterday, but just a couple of years ago. I've got my curiousity peaked instantly, as Elminster had a very unique appearence and had a thorough voiceover - a feat that had been quite rare in the games produced in 1998. Lots of time have passed, but my interest in a character remained, and somehow I'm celebrating those 20 years by reading a novel about that dude.
I've read a lot of bad and negative reviews about this book here, and though in some cases I can concur or at least see the reason behind those words, it is sad that most of the negativity seemed to be excessive and unfounded, and sometimes even deliberate. Yes, Ed Greenwood might not be an amalgam of Shakespeare and Hemingway, but that doesn't make him "a bad writer". The pacing was ok, dialogs might have been better, but still they were decent enough, and complaining that Elminster gets everything too easy is bordering absurd. Guy literally got killed once or twice, had his feathers roughed at every second page, lost everything more than once - yes, that is DEFINITELY an easy life. Oh, and he's a deity's Chosen. It basically means, that aforementioned deity constantly challenges him and throws tasks for him to do and so on and on and on.
Of course it isn't a literary masterpiece. Still, it's a decent book. And though odds-on I won't remember much about this book in a few years' time, it was a fun, light, quick read and you just can't expect anything more from a book, based on a boardgame. While I feel that 7/10 would have been the optimal rating, I won't round it up to 4* this time. I liked the book, but not too much, and 3* seems like a fair rating this time.
January 10, 2016
I first read this book several years ago and liked it. Now, older and maybe more cynical, I didn't enjoy it quite as much. Some of it has to do with the writing style where I feel like I'm missing out on information. I've always liked Elminster even if he is the ultimate Gary-Stu. I liked the look into his formative years as it helps to understand the mystery that is Elminster, and yet I think he's better as a side character. One who's mysterious and powerful, who pops in when he's needed.
April 21, 2010
Ed Greenwood has done it again.
Flat characters, uninspired dialogue, unbelievably boring plot. It doesn't help that the hero is the greatest Gary Stu in the Forgotten Realms universe, who will make it unscathed in the end. There's no tension - or anything else worth speaking of, really.
Plot summary: Elminster goes from place to place, gains levels and... that's it.
D&D fiction at its worst. Pass!
Flat characters, uninspired dialogue, unbelievably boring plot. It doesn't help that the hero is the greatest Gary Stu in the Forgotten Realms universe, who will make it unscathed in the end. There's no tension - or anything else worth speaking of, really.
Plot summary: Elminster goes from place to place, gains levels and... that's it.
D&D fiction at its worst. Pass!
April 3, 2023
Who knows the Forgotten Realms more than the creator? Ed Greenwood manages to distill the events of an entire trilogy's worth of epic fantasy into a single book. Elminster of Shadow has long been the ultimate quest-giver in the Realms, being a sage on everything but also slightly mad. Reading his origins is a fun deconstruction of classic fantasy tropes as he is a hidden prince as well as farm boy who needs to retake his homeland from the sinister Mage Lords. Along the way, he becomes both lover as well as apprentice to the goddess of magic, Mystra.
Some people have criticized Elminster as a Gary Stu over the years, do to the over-the-top nature of his adventures but I actually appreciate the more interesting story of self-realization that he undergoes. Mystra forces Elminster to live a life as a rogue, priest, and even woman to help give him a perspective on the varieties of lives in the Realms. While he wants to overthrow the Mage Lords, by the time he finally confronts them, he's mostly let vengeance leave his heart. We also get why Mystra wants so many Chosen, magic tends to attract power-hungry lunatics and this turns the public off it.
Some people have criticized Elminster as a Gary Stu over the years, do to the over-the-top nature of his adventures but I actually appreciate the more interesting story of self-realization that he undergoes. Mystra forces Elminster to live a life as a rogue, priest, and even woman to help give him a perspective on the varieties of lives in the Realms. While he wants to overthrow the Mage Lords, by the time he finally confronts them, he's mostly let vengeance leave his heart. We also get why Mystra wants so many Chosen, magic tends to attract power-hungry lunatics and this turns the public off it.
February 19, 2008
This was an interesting, if somewhat disjointedly and hastily written, edited and thought out book. It could be a lot better and the author admits as much: He had a very tight deadline, and the publisher wanted the character to advance through a number of character classes (fighter, thief, cleric, and mage) so he could be the ultimate polymath. The author thought that the demands were over the top, so he said, well, why not have him be a woman as well!
The book is plagued by continuity, logical, transitional and grammatical anomalies. If the main character magically changes genders, stick with the female pronoun, gadnabit! And if your character is going to build an innkeeper a new cesspit for payment...have him do it! And if you are describing a fight scene with magic, use transitory phrases so we know what on earth is going on...the character might appear out of nowhere, because he used a teleport spell, but the characters name shouldn't just magically appear on the page of the book...its too confusing.
I hope that the next book in the series is significantly better than this...otherwise I am going to be upset.
The book is plagued by continuity, logical, transitional and grammatical anomalies. If the main character magically changes genders, stick with the female pronoun, gadnabit! And if your character is going to build an innkeeper a new cesspit for payment...have him do it! And if you are describing a fight scene with magic, use transitory phrases so we know what on earth is going on...the character might appear out of nowhere, because he used a teleport spell, but the characters name shouldn't just magically appear on the page of the book...its too confusing.
I hope that the next book in the series is significantly better than this...otherwise I am going to be upset.
April 12, 2020
I've always liked a good origin story. Give me a famous and powerful character that I like, then tell me that in this book I get to see how they came up the way they did, and I'm usually well on board. This one tells the tale of probably the most famous character of one of my favourite roleplaying settings.
The early parts work the best for me, where Elminster tries his best to manage as a bandit and then a thief, but funnily enough the story starts to fall a little flat once all the magic comes into play. Too many flimsy magical duels, too many deus ex machinae, to keep my interest in full. Prose is a little flat also.
Maybe it's because I always liked fighter/thief as the best class.
The early parts work the best for me, where Elminster tries his best to manage as a bandit and then a thief, but funnily enough the story starts to fall a little flat once all the magic comes into play. Too many flimsy magical duels, too many deus ex machinae, to keep my interest in full. Prose is a little flat also.
Maybe it's because I always liked fighter/thief as the best class.
January 7, 2021
This one took a lot longer than I thought. The letters in my edition of the book were tiny and even though there was only 330ish pages, my reading was very slow.
The book definitely was not what I expected it to be plot wise.
The humble upbringing of a young wizard apprentice I thought this would be was definitely a lot more action packed and not humble at all. And that was not a bad thing!
I liked how the book was organized in smaller chapters and had even some illustrations before each more meaningful plot course change. The interesting character quotes from the world of Forgotten Realms were cool as well. Some, I even wanted to write down.
Some parts of the plot screamed to be a summary of D&D party adventures because of the grand schemes and high fun factor for the characters and the reader.
The ending was rather ambitious and I really liked that!
The book definitely was not what I expected it to be plot wise.
The humble upbringing of a young wizard apprentice I thought this would be was definitely a lot more action packed and not humble at all. And that was not a bad thing!
I liked how the book was organized in smaller chapters and had even some illustrations before each more meaningful plot course change. The interesting character quotes from the world of Forgotten Realms were cool as well. Some, I even wanted to write down.
Some parts of the plot screamed to be a summary of D&D party adventures because of the grand schemes and high fun factor for the characters and the reader.
The ending was rather ambitious and I really liked that!
March 31, 2013
Elminster is Ed Greenwood's D&D character, and it shows. He can do no wrong and is absolutely pure of heart and every god or goddess favors him and delights in the goodness of his soul. First, this blessed immortal-to-be becomes the finest warrior ever seen, then the best thief, then the most devout cleric, moving finally to become the supreme mage in all the land and Mystra's Chosen. Naturally enough, he's also the king of the land, but his great humility requires he give it up to pursue his craft. Gag me. And the attempts at humor are cartoonish. Greenwood should have had a better writer, and with more distance and less love of the character, write this.
January 14, 2019
Made at least three attempts before DNF. Tellathon, lacking tension, or any story spine I could cling to. Starts too early in Elminster's timeline. Overly interested in world building and not enough attention to a story goal. This is strike three plus, so ED and I part ways, at least in the fiction department.
February 11, 2021
Hey mister!
Elminster...
άρχισα να διαβάζω forgotten realms στο γυμνάσιο και ο κόσμος του γκρινγουντ ήταν μεγάλη έμπνευση για εμένα. ήθελα ότι εκανε αυτός και ο λαβκραφτ να το κάνω με την ψυχοπλάνη μου και ακόμα τους έχω σε ιδιαίτερη θέση στην καρδιά μου! αλλά τόσα χρόνια, συνειδητά, δεν είχα διαβάσει γκρίνγουντ. φοβόμουν, όπως με τον λαβκραφτ και τον λούκας, ότι η πένα κάποιου με όραμα είναι πολύ πιο αδύναμη από το όραμά του. και αυτό δν είναι κακό! κάποιοι έχουν απλά μία πολιορκία από ιδέες αλλά στο τεχνικό κομμάτι δεν μπορούν να το εκτελέσουν τόσο καλά, κάποιοι έχουν μια πολύ μεγάλη εικόνα στο νου τους και τα μικρότερα κομμάτια του ψηφιδωτού είναι κόπος και μόχθος να τα επιτεύξουν...
οποτε, με φόβο καρδιάς, είπα να διαβάσω τον άνθρωπο που με είχε εμπνεύσει τόσα χρόνια πριν και ακόμα τον έχω σε μια ξεχωριστή θέση στην καρδιά μου
και τι άλλο θα διάβαζα από αυτό τον δημιουργό, αν όχι τον ελμίνστερ του (όπως λέω για εμένα η λενόρ μου)
το βιβλίο είναι για δύο αστέρια, μια τυπική περιπέτεια φαντασίας που έχει πολλές επιρροές και κάνει φόρο τιμής σε πολλές πένες: όσο είναι στρατιώτης μου θύμισε χάουαρντ, όσο ειναι ληστής μου θύμισε λάιμπερ, τα εδάφια στην αρχή κάθε κεφαλαίου μου θύμισαν ντάνσανυ, η εποχή που ήταν μάγος μου θύμισε τόλκιν... αλλά εκτίμησα την ειλικρίνεια και την ψυχή του ήρωα, απόλαυσα πολλά σημεία και ειδικά τα κεφάλαια που ήταν γυναίκα
ένα αστέρι το δίνω μόνο και μόνο γιατί είναι ο πατέρας του Φέρουν που ίσως και να είναι ο αγαπημένος μου φανταστικός κόσμος
δυστυχώς ρε γμτ... θα ήθελα να του δώσω πεντάστερα
θα διαβάσω φυσικά και τα υπόλοιπα, έχω πει ότι θα διαβάσω όλα τα forgotten realms στην ζωή μου -είναι κάτι σαν προσκύνημα- και ευελπιστώ, να αγγίξω μία μέρα με το lc τον όγκο κειμένων που έχουν τα βασίλεια...
με αγάπη και εκτίμηση λοιπόν, ο ελμίνστερ και ο ντριτζτ θα είναι πάντα στην καρδιά μου!
υγ ο κακός λεγόταν Μπελαούρ... πόσο αστείο/καρμικό/τυχαίο/μοιραίο/τραγελαφικό είναι αυτο;
Elminster...
άρχισα να διαβάζω forgotten realms στο γυμνάσιο και ο κόσμος του γκρινγουντ ήταν μεγάλη έμπνευση για εμένα. ήθελα ότι εκανε αυτός και ο λαβκραφτ να το κάνω με την ψυχοπλάνη μου και ακόμα τους έχω σε ιδιαίτερη θέση στην καρδιά μου! αλλά τόσα χρόνια, συνειδητά, δεν είχα διαβάσει γκρίνγουντ. φοβόμουν, όπως με τον λαβκραφτ και τον λούκας, ότι η πένα κάποιου με όραμα είναι πολύ πιο αδύναμη από το όραμά του. και αυτό δν είναι κακό! κάποιοι έχουν απλά μία πολιορκία από ιδέες αλλά στο τεχνικό κομμάτι δεν μπορούν να το εκτελέσουν τόσο καλά, κάποιοι έχουν μια πολύ μεγάλη εικόνα στο νου τους και τα μικρότερα κομμάτια του ψηφιδωτού είναι κόπος και μόχθος να τα επιτεύξουν...
οποτε, με φόβο καρδιάς, είπα να διαβάσω τον άνθρωπο που με είχε εμπνεύσει τόσα χρόνια πριν και ακόμα τον έχω σε μια ξεχωριστή θέση στην καρδιά μου
και τι άλλο θα διάβαζα από αυτό τον δημιουργό, αν όχι τον ελμίνστερ του (όπως λέω για εμένα η λενόρ μου)
το βιβλίο είναι για δύο αστέρια, μια τυπική περιπέτεια φαντασίας που έχει πολλές επιρροές και κάνει φόρο τιμής σε πολλές πένες: όσο είναι στρατιώτης μου θύμισε χάουαρντ, όσο ειναι ληστής μου θύμισε λάιμπερ, τα εδάφια στην αρχή κάθε κεφαλαίου μου θύμισαν ντάνσανυ, η εποχή που ήταν μάγος μου θύμισε τόλκιν... αλλά εκτίμησα την ειλικρίνεια και την ψυχή του ήρωα, απόλαυσα πολλά σημεία και ειδικά τα κεφάλαια που ήταν γυναίκα
ένα αστέρι το δίνω μόνο και μόνο γιατί είναι ο πατέρας του Φέρουν που ίσως και να είναι ο αγαπημένος μου φανταστικός κόσμος
δυστυχώς ρε γμτ... θα ήθελα να του δώσω πεντάστερα
θα διαβάσω φυσικά και τα υπόλοιπα, έχω πει ότι θα διαβάσω όλα τα forgotten realms στην ζωή μου -είναι κάτι σαν προσκύνημα- και ευελπιστώ, να αγγίξω μία μέρα με το lc τον όγκο κειμένων που έχουν τα βασίλεια...
με αγάπη και εκτίμηση λοιπόν, ο ελμίνστερ και ο ντριτζτ θα είναι πάντα στην καρδιά μου!
υγ ο κακός λεγόταν Μπελαούρ... πόσο αστείο/καρμικό/τυχαίο/μοιραίο/τραγελαφικό είναι αυτο;
May 16, 2012
Disappointing isn't quite the word. I think anti-climatic is more appropriate, but only if you are familar with Elminster from other Realms novels. It is my understanding that Greenwood was under tight deadlines for this book, and sadly it shows. Here was have the origins of one of the most powerful spellcasters in all the realms, and page after page I was sitting there wondering what was going on, and what I was continuing to read. Alas, I am a dedicated Realms fan and wanted to know more about the great Elminster so I pressed on.
The novel picks up at the end (after he goes through being a woman), but it isn't much of a consolation prize. There are several events in the book which seem like they could really pick up the plot, but again you get the feeling of being rushed. I was left to wonder why things were happening or where the heck something came from. I suggest just skipping this book if you are to read any more the Elminster series and just know he is a really powerful spellcaster. How he got there really doesn't matter.
The novel picks up at the end (after he goes through being a woman), but it isn't much of a consolation prize. There are several events in the book which seem like they could really pick up the plot, but again you get the feeling of being rushed. I was left to wonder why things were happening or where the heck something came from. I suggest just skipping this book if you are to read any more the Elminster series and just know he is a really powerful spellcaster. How he got there really doesn't matter.
August 11, 2011
A definitive piece of Forgotten Realms literature, and the wondrous beginnings of one of the greatest characters the realms have ever produced.
April 13, 2016
Behold, Elminster. One of the greatest mages in all of Faerun. Watch as he repeatedly pleads, "Mystra, aid me..." as he eats shit before looses consciousness.
October 9, 2012
Finally finished. Took me long enough.
It has been a fleeting debate wether I should rate this book 2 or 3 stars. Although I found moments in this story enjoyable, it was riddled with confusing descriptions of scenes that I just didn't feel like going over again. The drive to finish this book and get it over with was just too strong.
I've played D&D in the Realms a long long time ago, but as a new player, it was the same to me as any other setting would have been. So, possibly my unfamiliarity with the Realms had a little to do with my difficulty getting through this story. Although, wanting to become more familiar with the setting is one of the reasons I read this book.
The second volume of Elminster's saga sits on my shelf with an unbroken spine. There may be a time where I decide to learn more of El's perils, but for now it will remain in its place. The first book did not compel me enough to immediately trudge onward in this journey.
For me, the book was just "OK."
It has been a fleeting debate wether I should rate this book 2 or 3 stars. Although I found moments in this story enjoyable, it was riddled with confusing descriptions of scenes that I just didn't feel like going over again. The drive to finish this book and get it over with was just too strong.
I've played D&D in the Realms a long long time ago, but as a new player, it was the same to me as any other setting would have been. So, possibly my unfamiliarity with the Realms had a little to do with my difficulty getting through this story. Although, wanting to become more familiar with the setting is one of the reasons I read this book.
The second volume of Elminster's saga sits on my shelf with an unbroken spine. There may be a time where I decide to learn more of El's perils, but for now it will remain in its place. The first book did not compel me enough to immediately trudge onward in this journey.
For me, the book was just "OK."
December 9, 2014
Honestly I enjoyed Elminster. I've been curious about the character since I played Baldur's Gate back when that PC game first came out and the character showed up but I never made the time to read his books. I enjoyed about 75% of the book. Every part of the book was strong but by the end I felt as though the story was dragging a bit and I was more than happy to reach the ending. The journey was great but I felt that some parts were quickly rushed through while others were given a lot of time. If the book had more detail it would have been better as a whole. Each stage of Elminster's journey was interesting but due to the lack of detail in some sections I couldn't help but want to wrap things up.
Overall I'd say if you're interested in Forgotten Realms or D&D literature then don't pass this book up.
Overall I'd say if you're interested in Forgotten Realms or D&D literature then don't pass this book up.
December 27, 2016
I gave this book the good old college try, but I couldn't finish it. I got about half way and then skimmed the rest. First off I found the names to be a bit much, like they were ripped out of a fantasy name generator. The writing was full of unnecessary descriptive words in some sections, and not enough description in others. Then El was turned into a woman and I kind of lost it. I tried to push past it but only read a few more chapters before I began to skim. At times I felt like the author was using every trope known to man. It also felt like I was reading a DND campaign, and I have learned I would much rather be playing through one. I have also learned that high fantasy really isn't my thing. Give me urban fantasy any day. So maybe it's not the books fault, it's just not my cup of tea. I might try to come back to this genre in the future, but I'll give it some breathing room first.
January 13, 2020
Elminster is the legend of a young man whose village is asundered and parents killed by ruthless magelords. He begins a quest for revenge, but the more he learns on his travels as he grows, the more he realizes that his quest might just be what the land of Athalantar needs: emancipation from power-hungry overlords. But will El, one with sworn hatred of sorcery, have what it takes to bring down those who can raze an entire village with but a few words?
Along the way, El finds himself humbled yet open to the trials set before him: trials to prove his character and his worth while discovering the true necessities to see his mission through. Making allies and friends throughout his endeavours, they, too, are brought to prove their character for a goal that may as yet prove to be the destruction of them all.
It is a classic hero tale.
Along the way, El finds himself humbled yet open to the trials set before him: trials to prove his character and his worth while discovering the true necessities to see his mission through. Making allies and friends throughout his endeavours, they, too, are brought to prove their character for a goal that may as yet prove to be the destruction of them all.
It is a classic hero tale.
February 20, 2016
You never expect a D&D novel to be high literature, but this is bad even by their standards.
Follows Elminster as he starts on his path to being the greatest mage in the whole Forgotten Realms, and that is where it lets itself down. For all of the danger he finds himself in, you KNOW he's going to come out of it.
Any sense of suspense is non-existent as he goes from one quest to the next (usually with someone helping him along - on his own he's pretty useless).
The dialogue is pretty dire and characters (main and background) are standard D&D stereotypes. No-one is fleshed out very well.
Follows Elminster as he starts on his path to being the greatest mage in the whole Forgotten Realms, and that is where it lets itself down. For all of the danger he finds himself in, you KNOW he's going to come out of it.
Any sense of suspense is non-existent as he goes from one quest to the next (usually with someone helping him along - on his own he's pretty useless).
The dialogue is pretty dire and characters (main and background) are standard D&D stereotypes. No-one is fleshed out very well.
June 27, 2017
Yeah
Always wanted to read Dungeons and Dragons lore. Need the back stories for my own general knowledge and campaigns. This one had a lot of misspellings, not sure why. Still enjoyed the story and off I go to read the next in this series.
Always wanted to read Dungeons and Dragons lore. Need the back stories for my own general knowledge and campaigns. This one had a lot of misspellings, not sure why. Still enjoyed the story and off I go to read the next in this series.
May 10, 2018
A very enjoyable read, which reads like a hard R high fantasy bildungsroman, marred only slightly by a supporting character who is a (literal) deux ex machina, but that doesn't divert from the likability of the protagonists (or the book). The author shows a good deal of interest in his character's relationships, which most fantasy authors tend to lazily render as stock portraits. Stylistically, Greenwood reads like a far more developed Chris Claremont - the roman a clef elements / highly emotional heroes, the romance, the bonds of friendship, the ultra decadent antagonists (who get sharply funny dialogue), underlying kinkiness, et al. - but what became narrative weaknesses for Claremont, Greenwood has instead turned into strengths.
July 25, 2018
Γενικά, μου άρεσε. Το βιβλίο περιγράφει τη ζωή του μάγου Έλμινστερ σε μικρή ηλικία από την ημέρα του θανάτου των γονιών του μέχρι τη στιγμή που έγινε ένας από τους μεγαλύτερους μάγους του Φέρουν, καθώς και όλη την πορεία που ακολούθησε μεταξύ. Υπήρξε φυγάς, κλέφτης και ιέρεια (ναι, ιέρεια, και όχι ιερέας!) μέχρι να γίνει ένας δυνατός μάγος, ικανός να πάρει την εκδίκηση του.
Γενικά, ο τρόπος γραφής του Greenwood μου ξένισε λίγο. Προσπερνούσε περιγραφές που, φυσιολογικά, θα σε έκαναν να καταλάβεις τι γινόταν, αν και μπορούσε να καταλάβεις τι έγινε, έχοντας στο νου ότι το βιβλίο μιλά για μάγους! Προσωπικά δεν πιστεύω ότι ο Έλμινστερ, ως χαρακτήρας, αναπτύχθηκε πολύ, ωστόσο μπορεί αυτό να συμβαίνει στα επόμενα βιβλία της σειράς. (τα οποία και σίγουρα θα διαβάσω!)
Γενικά, ο τρόπος γραφής του Greenwood μου ξένισε λίγο. Προσπερνούσε περιγραφές που, φυσιολογικά, θα σε έκαναν να καταλάβεις τι γινόταν, αν και μπορούσε να καταλάβεις τι έγινε, έχοντας στο νου ότι το βιβλίο μιλά για μάγους! Προσωπικά δεν πιστεύω ότι ο Έλμινστερ, ως χαρακτήρας, αναπτύχθηκε πολύ, ωστόσο μπορεί αυτό να συμβαίνει στα επόμενα βιβλία της σειράς. (τα οποία και σίγουρα θα διαβάσω!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2023
The Making of a Mage traces the backstory of Elminster, a well-known character in the Dungeons & Dragons (Forgotten Realms) universe. The novel is told as a series of snapshots in his past, looking at how he spent time as a thief before being trained in magic by the elves and (then) a powerful sorceress until he became a great mage himself—strong enough to take down those who subjected his kingdom. For Elminster is also a prince.
This book moved at a blistering pace. In each snapshot, there are a lot of characters without introduction or backstory, making me wonder if the author was referencing characters familiar to those who play the roleplaying game. They weren't to me, so I felt lost part of the time. I was also confused by the way the magic system worked (though I also enjoyed it)—apparently every wizard knows different spells, and has finite ability to use them in a given situation (I guess they can run out like arrows can). Interesting but mystifying at times. Overall, it's not bad, but could have used more character development.
This book moved at a blistering pace. In each snapshot, there are a lot of characters without introduction or backstory, making me wonder if the author was referencing characters familiar to those who play the roleplaying game. They weren't to me, so I felt lost part of the time. I was also confused by the way the magic system worked (though I also enjoyed it)—apparently every wizard knows different spells, and has finite ability to use them in a given situation (I guess they can run out like arrows can). Interesting but mystifying at times. Overall, it's not bad, but could have used more character development.
November 12, 2018
The Story of Elminster starts out a bit cliche' but turns to an incredibly unique and interesting origin story for the legendary D&D Character. I play D&D and was always a fan of Elminster but I never really knew his origin so when I saw this book at a used book store I had to get it. If you've played D&D before then this book will make definetly make you feel like you're reading a campaign you might have played with epic mage battles, dragons, beholders, mindflayers, and party wipe outs. The story is at bit slow at times but once it gets into the meat of the excitement, it really gets moving and I found it hard to put the book down at times. However like I said because it gets slow going to get into that excitement I actually did find it hard to pick up the book after taking a break sometimes as the writing came off as unnecessary with long descriptions of where they were and expressions or how they were speaking to one another. I would very much highly reccomend this book to any D&D gamer or anyone who's looking for an book about epic magic battles.
March 20, 2021
What a grand adventure! This was history for the Realms, and I absolutely loved it. It wasn't perfect, but wow, do I enjoy Elminster, and appreciate him even more now with his adventure as Eladar and Elmara; Brigand, Thief, Priest(ess?), Mage, and Prince, not to mention .
February 28, 2024
Great read and I got to learn more about the universes of Dungeons & Dragons, Forgotten Realms, D&D. It's cool that it also had old English language in the story too in the book. I can't wait to explore and learn more about Dungeons & Dragons universe.
May 21, 2017
One of my all time favourite books. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
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