[Emma Copeland]

40 years isn't that long, especially given the longevity of species in TES; people do talk about Jagar Tharn (Jauffre drops a ref) and the Nerevarine (who has left for Akavir, prayers unanswered). Talking about the WitW probably makes peoples heads hurt. I hope that rallying the cities of Cyrodiil and being the hero of a great battle will be enough to get the CoC at least referenced in the book.

Even discounting that Keyes also has the CoC = Sheogorath aspect to work with. Becoming a god won't get you forgotten in a hurry; look at Tiber Septim.

Yeah, the lore could really go so many ways at this point, too many unanswered questions... is the CoC REALLY Sheogorath in some metaphysical sense? How did this new Emporer get in such a high and powerful position? Where is the CoC now? What happens to the Blades?

Edit: And don't even get me started on the Nerevarine... so many possibilites..

[Krista Belle Davis]

Maybe I'm just grasping at straws here, but has anyone else noticed a possible connection between the events of the book/Umbriel and the Landfall mentioned in the Loveletter from the 5th Era?

[Alexandra Ryan]

QFT

Gracias amigo.

So Keyes is very formulaic? I mean, that's what the whole thing sounds like: archetypes. It supposedly sells, but it's very bland and uninspired. "Sorry, your princess is in another castle." And even the "spunky, willful-but-immature" female lead character thing has been so done to death, it's almost as bad as the helpless constantly-getting-kidnapped type.

Yes and no. Reading Keyes, it's a given that the characters will not be the same people they were when they started because he understands that extreme scenarios (such as giant necro-cities flying around) will change the people involved simply by virtue of their own extremity. What isn't a given is how. For example, how will Glim deal with the fact that, obviously, his childhood friend Annaig is going on a real adventure, not some mishap in a slum? Will his dedication to her hold up or will he leave her to die?

[Everardo Montano]

Finally read the rest. I didn't care for it at all. Just another adventure novel for me. But, what disappoints me most is that the writing isn't even good. It's not engaging at all. I wasn't expecting much when it came to TES content, but I at least hoped that the writing would be entertaining. Oh well. At least my opinions are valid now that I've read the rest.

[Amy Masters]

Finally read the rest. I didn't care for it at all. Just another adventure novel for me. But, what disappoints me most is that the writing isn't even good. It's not engaging at all. I wasn't expecting much when it came to TES content, but I at least hoped that the writing would be entertaining. Oh well. At least my opinions are valid now that I've read the rest.

I feel like the only guy who'se waiting for the full release. Oh well, pity about that. This next question isn't about TESV but about the second novel: does it look like that will be a direct sequel or another independent book? (Please no spoilers)

[Nathan Barker]

I wonder if they got Keyes to write for them again

[Jessica Thomson]

I feel like the only guy who'se waiting for the full release. Oh well, pity about that.

I'll be reading the book as well, but only because it's about TES. I want to see where it goes, even though I'm almost certain I won't like it. What we received was an excerpt, I know. I'm well aware of that. But as an excerpt we are supposed to be excited and drawn into the story. I was neither. I kept reading because it's a TES book and I'm a fan and I'd like to see where it goes. But like I said, I don't expect anything good. The man's writing just isn't very polished. There are several sentences that simply don't even make sense, and it makes me wonder how it got past his editors.

[Connie Thomas]

Oh sorry reds, I misheard what you said, I thought "read the rest of it" meant you got a reviewer copy off ebay. Whoops

[Rude Gurl]

Oh sorry reds, I misheard what you said, I thought "read the rest of it" meant you got a reviewer copy off ebay. Whoops

Oh, well I misunderstood you as well, then. I thought you were bashing me because I'm disliking it before reading the entire thing. Nope, just the excerpt.

[Angela Woods]

Oh, well I misunderstood you as well, then. I thought you were bashing me because I'm disliking it before reading the entire thing. Nope, just the excerpt.

:facepalm:
Sorry. Whoops.

Anyways... So who wants to know what kind of skeletons are in Attrebus' closet?

[Sista Sila]

Anyways... So who wants to know what kind of skeletons are in Attrebus' closet?

I think Keyes will continue the story into the second novel, the way that he wrote "The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone".

I can't imagine what skeletons they would be, unless he's descended from a rival of the Septims or something. Maybe elven blood? Or Titus could have been a bandit chief.

I think we'll be told more about Attrebus' father as well, during the novel. I wonder if Titus was a young man when he took over the Empire. I can picture events in Tamriel growing more anarchic after the Oblivion Crisis, until finally Titus decides to try to restore an empire even if it's a smaller one.

[BRIANNA]

I think Keyes will continue the story into the second novel, the way that he wrote "The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone".

I can't imagine what skeletons they would be, unless he's descended from a rival of the Septims or something. Maybe elven blood? Or Titus could have been a bandit chief.

I think we'll be told more about Attrebus' father as well, during the novel. I wonder if Titus was a young man when he took over the Empire. I can picture events in Tamriel growing more anarchic after the Oblivion Crisis, until finally Titus decides to try to restore an empire even if it's a smaller one.

I think any skeletons may be related to daddy, something like the bandit chief or whatever. and the elven blood thing may only be a problem for Nords and redguards.

[Melung Chan]

It'd be interesting to find out what the Elder Council has to say in this new empire, or else what happened to them.

I actually like the excerpt so far. It shows that Keyes knows the world he's writing about quite well. I also like that the characters use potions and stuff like that, you don't usually get that in a fantasy novel (at least, not in the ones I read).
And well, I can remember many protagonists that I didn't really like from the start, but that later grew on me. I guess it'll be the same with Annaig.
Looking forward to the release.

[john page]

I get the feeling the Elder Council at the end of the Oblivion Crisis was more interested in running for cover and seeing to their estates than in stepping up to the moment, but I could be wrong. I get the impression that by the time Titus shows up, the former empire doesn't have real leaders in charge.

I think Annaig will grow up during the two Keyes novels. Glim probably won't be around much past the first chapter, since Keyes has a habit of killing off minor characters (though he surprised me at least once in "The Kingdoms" by killing off characters that were likeable and relatively important to the plot). It could be something as simple as Glim deciding to stay in his Lilmoth backwater. (I don't dislike the character, I'm just predicting what will play out.)

[Kaley X]

Wait, two novels? What kind of story needs two 300+ pages to tell?

You know what else I realized that irks me? In Arena, in Daggerfall, in Morrowind, in Oblivion (well, sort of), there's just one person beating the odds and whooping ass. One dude/dudette unraveling mysteries, navigating the world, growing more powerful, and ultimately wreaking some sort of momentous havoc that's got long-lasting repercussions.

But in the novel, you've got a band of immature miscreants out to purposefully save the world/have an adventure. They aren't going to be dungeon crawling for loot to sell in order to buy Cure Disease potions. They aren't going to be talking with NPCs, joining factions, and rising through ranks. They aren't going to traipse about the landscape gathering ingredients and killing cliff-racers. They aren't doing anything TES-like.

[/silly]

[Marnesia Steele]

Did anyone post the similarities to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092067/yet?

Rather to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116629/ I think.

[Nice one]

But in the novel, you've got a band of immature miscreants out to purposefully save the world/have an adventure. They aren't going to be dungeon crawling for loot to sell in order to buy Cure Disease potions. They aren't going to be talking with NPCs, joining factions, and rising through ranks. They aren't going to traipse about the landscape gathering ingredients and killing cliff-racers. They aren't doing anything TES-like.

We only know about two of the characters from the novel, only one of which is looking for adventure. Glim very well not even be a main character and perhaps may not make it past the first few chapters, if that. We know very little about Prince Attrebus, and even less about the mage and the spy mentioned in the synopsis. I highly doubt every single one of them are miscreants purposefully looking to save the world or have an adventure. :rolleyes: Chances are the multiple characters exist to show various viewpoints of the events of the novel. One character can't see all sides of the situation.

Anyway, nowhere did Bethesda ever say the novel/s were going to be exactly like the games. Dungeon crawling for loot, joining factions and rising through the ranks, traipsing about the landscape gathering ingredients, so on and so forth, that's all fine and good for a game, but not very good story material unless it's relevant to the story being told. Precisely why direct video game to film/novel adaptations tend not to work. Gameplay does not translate well into actual story content for a film OR literature. The novels are merely stories told within the Elder Scrolls universe, that's it. And that's how it should be.

[joeK]

We only know about two of the characters from the novel, only one of which is looking for adventure. Glim very well not even be a main character and perhaps may not make it past the first few chapters, if that. We know very little about Prince Attrebus, and even less about the mage and the spy mentioned in the synopsis. I highly doubt every single one of them are miscreants purposefully looking to save the world or have an adventure. :rolleyes: Chances are the multiple characters exist to show various viewpoints of the events of the novel. One character can't see all sides of the situation.

Anyway, nowhere did Bethesda ever say the novel/s were going to be exactly like the games. Dungeon crawling for loot, joining factions and rising through the ranks, traipsing about the landscape gathering ingredients, so on and so forth, that's all fine and good for a game, but not very good story material unless it's relevant to the story being told. Precisely why direct video game to film/novel adaptations tend not to work. Gameplay does not translate well into actual story content for a film OR literature. The novels are merely stories told within the Elder Scrolls universe, that's it. And that's how it should be.

This entire post is QFT.

[Mr.Broom30]

We only know about two of the characters from the novel, only one of which is looking for adventure. Glim very well not even be a main character and perhaps may not make it past the first few chapters, if that. We know very little about Prince Attrebus, and even less about the mage and the spy mentioned in the synopsis. I highly doubt every single one of them are miscreants purposefully looking to save the world or have an adventure. :rolleyes: Chances are the multiple characters exist to show various viewpoints of the events of the novel. One character can't see all sides of the situation.

Anyway, nowhere did Bethesda ever say the novel/s were going to be exactly like the games. Dungeon crawling for loot, joining factions and rising through the ranks, traipsing about the landscape gathering ingredients, so on and so forth, that's all fine and good for a game, but not very good story material unless it's relevant to the story being told. Precisely why direct video game to film/novel adaptations tend not to work. Gameplay does not translate well into actual story content for a film OR literature. The novels are merely stories told within the Elder Scrolls universe, that's it. And that's how it should be.

I think you need your sarcasm-o-meter and joke-o-meter re-calibrated. I was just being a bit silly - didn't translate too well via a purely text message, it seems.

[Milagros Osorio]

I think you need your sarcasm-o-meter and joke-o-meter re-calibrated. I was just being a bit silly - didn't translate too well via a purely text message, it seems.

Unfortunately it rarely does. Humans use quite a bit of tonal and gestural communication.

[Carlitos Avila]

I think you need your sarcasm-o-meter and joke-o-meter re-calibrated. I was just being a bit silly - didn't translate too well via a purely text message, it seems.

That, and the fact that so many posts here have the same tone you had didn't help much either. :shrug: I apologize anyway for not taking note of the sarcasm, though.

[Calum Campbell]

Sarcasam in type, how do you do that?

I hate Nintendo.
I love Kayne West.

On one of those, I was being sarcastic, which one was it people?
Oh, and staying on topic...I cant wait till I can get my hands on this book. It's nice to see they did it right, not making it cliche, and from what I read, it sounds pretty informative on (Possible) next game.

[Cool Man Sam]

Martin's sacrifice?

Gah! No love for the CoC?! Martin would have been a stain in the ruined chapel of Akatosh but not for the intrepid champion.

The CoC was operating largely behind the scenes, and was also operating as a member of the blades - an organization that's understated when not being downright secretive. It makes sense that Martin would be the one getting most of the glory and recognition - but I'm sure the history books do mention the CoC just as they talk about the PCs from the previous games.

Wait, two novels? What kind of story needs two 300+ pages to tell?

I believe two novels were initially announce, or maybe it was three.

They aren't going to be dungeon crawling for loot to sell in order to buy Cure Disease potions. They aren't going to be talking with NPCs, joining factions, and rising through ranks. They aren't going to traipse about the landscape gathering ingredients and killing cliff-racers. They aren't doing anything TES-like.

I think you need your sarcasm-o-meter and joke-o-meter re-calibrated. I was just being a bit silly - didn't translate too well via a purely text message, it seems.

You didn't go far enough.

What sort of TES heroes are they? I expect them to be clearing out dungeons and then making repeated loot hauls back to down to sell their stuff, preferably by min/maxing the merchants! Next you'll tell me they don't use console commands when they magically stick to random objects.

:hehe:



I haven't read the excerpt yet and I've got a large pile of books in my queue right now so it's unlikely I'll get to it in the near future. I've always avoiding video game books in the past even when they did have an interesting author behind them - while TES is a more flexible setting than most it's still not something that enthuses me. Now a book of TES short stories, more like those found in the games, would interest me.

[Catharine Krupinski]

Now a book of TES short stories, more like those found in the games, would interest me.

That's funny, cos we suggested that when the books were first announced, and Princess Stomper said nobody would want to buy a collection of TES short stories.

[koumba]

Princess Stomper said nobody would want to buy a collection of TES short stories.

:o

My wallet would become lighter in a heartbeat. Especially if they packaged the 36 Lessons in a nice-looking volume with some Kirkbridean artwork. I would pay through the nose for that.