<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: To be or not to be again... How to live and die noble?
Review: After reading to original six Dragonlance books this one was somewhat different. Jeff Grubb adds a lot of humour in his book, which doesn't exactly make it more credible. Just think of it as a nice book and pray Jeff doesn't start writing about the real Herous of the Lance. The story is of course about Fewmaster Toede who is being ressurected after being killed by a dragon (Read Dragonlance: Tales Volume 2 "Kender, Gnomes and Gully Dwarves" The Disastrous Hunt for further information) as part of a bet between two of hells most evil spawns (OK that's not entirely true). Toede must try to live noble although being of an evil alignment... is this possible if you have the urge to kill every nice little figure you can get your eyes on?? Worth reading but only if you are a very devoted Dragonlance fan or someone who has never before read anything about Dragonlance.
Rating: 
Summary: Funniest DL book there is!
Review: Sometimes DL can get a little heavy handed (which is part of their appeal), so I usually re-read "Toede" whenever I need a laugh. I can just picture him, eyes wide in disbelief, mouthing "berry picking," and absentmindedly calling the scholar "Bunny Snot." Sticks with the Krynn mythology, but gives a very funny change of pace.
Rating:
Summary: VERY ORIGINAL: A CHERISHED BREAK FROM THE NORMAL
Review: THE STORYLINE: a cruel, pompous, hideous hobgoblin named Toede is chosen as the subject of an experiment. Two monsters from the Abyss (like Hell) wish to know the meaning of true nobility, whether one can be noble and still be evil. They bring him back to life, and watch what happens.I agree with that rude person's review at least in that I would also have appreciated a story of Lord Toede's first life before he was ressurected: but hey, that can still be done. I believe this book was misunderstood. It is much different from most DragonLance books. It flees the normal barriers of writing and creates an entirely new approach. In all, this book was simply very fun to read. It was not a deep tale of woe or the legend of a valiant hero- it was an enjoyable piece of literature. It was a relief from the basic book. It involves the reader and leaves him/her refreshed. I can see Jeff Grubb laughing and enjoying himself with this book. My only warning: keep your mind open- you have nothing to loose by reading this book. Savour something different, aimless, pointless, and FUN.
Rating:
Summary: VERY ORIGINAL: A CHERISHED BREAK FROM THE NORMAL
Review: THE STORYLINE: a cruel, pompous, hideous hobgoblin named Toede is chosen as the subject of an experiment. Two monsters from the Abyss (like Hell) wish to know the meaning of true nobility, whether one can be noble and still be evil. They bring him back to life, and watch what happens. I agree with that rude person's review at least in that I would also have appreciated a story of Lord Toede's first life before he was ressurected: but hey, that can still be done. I believe this book was misunderstood. It is much different from most DragonLance books. It flees the normal barriers of writing and creates an entirely new approach. In all, this book was simply very fun to read. It was not a deep tale of woe or the legend of a valiant hero- it was an enjoyable piece of literature. It was a relief from the basic book. It involves the reader and leaves him/her refreshed. I can see Jeff Grubb laughing and enjoying himself with this book. My only warning: keep your mind open- you have nothing to loose by reading this book. Savour something different, aimless, pointless, and FUN.
Rating:
Summary: Stands alone as the best comedic fantasy novel from TSR
Review: This book actually made me chuckle out loud, which is saying a lot for a fantasy novel. I don't mean to say that many authors haven't used humor to good effect in Forgotten Realms and Dragon Lance novels. They have, but never as effectivley as Jeff Grubb. Jeff pokes fun at the afterlife by having two middle-management minions of hell gamble with Toede's fate. The bet: If given a second chance, could an evil guy like Toede become selfless and noble. A "second chance" turns into a third and fourth and so on as Toede continuously reverts to his greedy, conniving self with hysterically fatal results. Does he eventually lift himself above his evil ways? I won't spoil the ending. Don't be disappointed that the book doesn't spend the multitude of pages it would take to describe Toede's life prior to his "first" death, like the other novels in the Dragon Lance Villains series. That's missing the point of the story Jeff wrote here. Besides do we really care what Toede was doing before now. Personally I don't think the character had that much appeal until Jeff wrote this story about him anyway.
Rating:
Summary: Stands alone as the best comedic fantasy novel from TSR
Review: This book is fast becoming my favorite non Chronicles/Legends book. Very funny account of Lord Toede's lives. Very enjoyable reading,my favorite part is when Toade offers his own discriptions of the Heroes of the Lance. Please read if possible
Rating:
Summary: Stooges-esque
Review: When I first found this book about two months ago, I had no idea what to expect. I figured that this novel would be about a vicious, depraved, and ignoble hobgoblin named Toede who is forced into an experiment by two middle-managers in the Abyss. I was correct, but what I did not expect was to be rolling on the floor, howling with malevolent glee, with everyone staring at me as if I were quite mad. Jeff Grobb (spelling?) spins a wondrous tale of high adventure and high jinks, chronicling Lord Toede's struggles againts treacherous allies, old friends, and a nasty disposition. Yes, Jeff weaves a hilarious tale, but he proves his mettle as an author and projects a deeper meaning into a tale originally meant to be a farce.
Rating:
Summary: Stooges-esque
Review: When I first found this book about two months ago, I had no idea what to expect. I figured that this novel would be about a vicious, depraved, and ignoble hobgoblin named Toede who is forced into an experiment by two middle-managers in the Abyss. I was correct, but what I did not expect was to be rolling on the floor, howling with malevolent glee, with everyone staring at me as if I were quite mad. Jeff Grobb (spelling?) spins a wondrous tale of high adventure and high jinks, chronicling Lord Toede's struggles againts treacherous allies, old friends, and a nasty disposition. Yes, Jeff weaves a hilarious tale, but he proves his mettle as an author and projects a deeper meaning into a tale originally meant to be a farce.
Rating:
Summary: You mean that there's a good Dragonlance novel?
Review: With an exception to the original twins chronicle, most Dragonlance novels are good books to read for the purposes of pointlessly killing time, to be doorstops, shredder material for your cat's litter box etc. Lord Toede however is one of the best Dragonlance books AND one of the best D&D books I've ever read. Instead of inundating the reader with a bunch of mandatory fight scenes, maudlin and thinly created characters or pointless plot twists that you neither care about nor like, Lord Toede does something different.
It makes you laugh. A lot. The main character is a fat egotistical hobgoblin and the author develops the story from that point. This is a really great book. A great deal of fun, lots of humor and makes you realize how weak so many other D&D novels are and how they rely on so many redundant themes and images.
A REALLY GREAT CHRISTMAS ITEM TOO! Send it to that special gamer in yoru life. They'll appreciate it.
<< 1 >>
| 
