tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post7283462274187631111..comments2024-03-29T07:35:51.362+00:00Comments on Fabled Lands: "The Gifts of the Magi" (a Yuletide adventure set in Legend)Dave Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-65587521585765807142020-12-21T08:17:12.086+00:002020-12-21T08:17:12.086+00:00What did you think of The Conclave (https://www.am...What did you think of The Conclave (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DV7XMX5 ) and The Mage of Dust & Bone (http://fabledlands.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Mage%20of%20Dust%20and%20Bone )? The former is only a novella and the latter will never get completed now, but that's what a fantasy novel by me might look like.<br /><br />The Knight of the Fields is much better. Oliver ran the story as a short campaign, so I'd experienced it as a character before I did as a reader. I keep trying to convince him to self-publish but no luck so far.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-75043145830972705132020-12-21T01:52:13.291+00:002020-12-21T01:52:13.291+00:00I'm not sure I'd agree on on that Legend n...I'm not sure I'd agree on on that Legend novel; I may not share all of your favourites, but your writing is definitely a favourite of mine!<br /><br />I'd also be very interested in that Knight of the Fields novel if Oliver ever decided to self publish. Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03848530930786042468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-7738012003430533472020-12-19T13:03:04.210+00:002020-12-19T13:03:04.210+00:00Hmm, to be honest, if you don't find Peake'...Hmm, to be honest, if you don't find Peake's characters compelling then I have a feeling you wouldn't like any Legend novel I wrote. Oliver Johnson's book The Knight of the Fields is much better than any fantasy story I could ever manage anyway, but unfortunately he hasn't been able to find a publisher for it.<br /><br />In light of what you said about Gormenghast, best ignore that list. Here are some alternatives that I can also recommend and that I think you'll enjoy more. With only a two-week break it's better to avoid any duds!<br /><br />Lord of Light (Roger Zelazny)<br />Mythago Wood (Robert Holdstock)<br />Black Leopard, Red Wolf (Marlon James)<br />Midwinter (John Buchan)<br /><br />Also Moorcock's The Bull & the Spear trilogy (second Corum cycle) were quite a big influence on Legend so you might like those. But it's very difficult to pick what will appeal to somebody else, so maybe use the Look Inside feature on Amazon and try the first chapter before you take my word for any of these!Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-48490188235586956052020-12-19T11:11:04.747+00:002020-12-19T11:11:04.747+00:00Thank you - I will look into those over my two wee...Thank you - I will look into those over my two week break; though not a Mervyn Peake fan either, not a single relatable character in over 1000 dreary pages (sorry - I know that's churlish). Have you ever thought about writing a novel set in Legend? Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03848530930786042468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-50454208260947634862020-12-18T10:26:30.242+00:002020-12-18T10:26:30.242+00:00Gormenghast is my favourite, but that might be too...Gormenghast is my favourite, but that might be too low fantasy, ie no magic at all. I enjoyed Barry Unsworth's novel Morality Play, Paul Anderson's The Broken Sword, Dunsany's The King of Elfland's Daughter, and Gene Wolfe's Severian books. Nearest to the feel of Legend, despite my grumbles about it, might be Kazuo Ishiguro's The Buried Giant. Oh, and Gawain & the Green Knight, obviously.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-76259845568054677872020-12-18T08:58:59.090+00:002020-12-18T08:58:59.090+00:00Well its whetted my appetite for low fantasy adven...Well its whetted my appetite for low fantasy adventure. I don't suppose you can suggest any literary works that might keep the wolf from the door until wr are lucky enough to get the next installment from Legend (i'd just ask that you don't suggest Jack Vance) Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03848530930786042468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-9008359970189961792020-12-15T05:39:59.342+00:002020-12-15T05:39:59.342+00:00Hah bravo Steve that’s what my PC would have done ...Hah bravo Steve that’s what my PC would have done too! I hope Clovis kept a little aside for a celebratory drink though :-) Nigelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13008412474153353926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-19765704429639710102020-12-14T16:22:17.729+00:002020-12-14T16:22:17.729+00:00Well, when you discover a stash of smuggled booze ...Well, when you discover a stash of smuggled booze and other stuff that you've been told to destroy, and you happen to have a lit torch in your hand, the next move is obvious. Yes, we sort-of knew it was under the church but we hadn't expected it all to burn quite so well.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01573796377340185481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-42065974031764248932020-12-14T15:57:12.955+00:002020-12-14T15:57:12.955+00:00Take it away, Clovis the Dark!Take it away, Clovis the Dark!Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-53925764887854034082020-12-14T15:00:42.125+00:002020-12-14T15:00:42.125+00:00Sounds intriguing, Steve! Do tell!Sounds intriguing, Steve! Do tell!Raymond Holthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12841160189667944214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-74014956298498063082020-12-14T14:38:29.425+00:002020-12-14T14:38:29.425+00:00No mention of the pyromaniacal solution to the smu...No mention of the pyromaniacal solution to the smuggling that led to a fiery church finale?Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01573796377340185481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-75922495170379390662020-12-13T11:13:15.165+00:002020-12-13T11:13:15.165+00:00I should be thanking you and all the blog regulars...I should be thanking you and all the blog regulars, Nigel, as our discussions in the comments here are a very enjoyable part of my life and particularly so in the enforced isolation of 2020. Back in March I made the decision to avoid Facebook and Twitter, which are like loud parties where everybody's talking but you only hear snatches of what the others are saying. Here we can have fun, thought-provoking, civilized chats about things we care about. <br /><br />I expect 2021 to bring its own problems for us all (especially in Britain) but hopefully the good will outweigh the bad.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-71359292319695546652020-12-13T09:56:32.302+00:002020-12-13T09:56:32.302+00:00Dave (and Tim) thanks for delivering the Xmas fun ...Dave (and Tim) thanks for delivering the Xmas fun and joy yet again. I really do look forward to your Yuletide scenarios all year. It’s now firmly part of my Xmas tradition too.<br /><br />Whilst it’s a little early I have in recent years adopted the practice as the year draws to a close of expressing some gratitude to those people who have made the year better. Don’t worry I haven’t joined a self-improvement/MLM cult. :-) <br /><br />Given the events of 2020 it feels a little self-indulgent to be bemoaning my own circumstances but this year has been (and even in its dying days stubbornly continues to be) a really tough one. It has often felt like the bad days have outnumbered the good. <br /><br />One bright point of enjoyment this year has been this blog Dave, and of course your Jewelspider Patreon work. So I just wanted to say a sincere and heartfelt thank you for your informative, inspiring and enjoyable content and “conversation” (if that description can stretch to comments on a blog). <br /><br />I hope you, Roz and your family and friends have as merry a Xmas as UK COVID constraints permit and may 2021 be better for us all.<br /><br />Cheers<br />Nigel<br />Nigelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13008412474153353926noreply@blogger.com