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by Alex Ziebart 
Feb 22nd 2009 at 3:00PM
One of the Warcraft novels I've actively been looking forward to is Arthas, Rise of the Lich King. It's set to be released to the world on April 21, 2009 but BlizzPlanet.com has gotten its hands on a few bound galleys of the book early. Some of them are being given away, but he's also reading one on his own and has gifted us with a quick review.The review makes the book sound incredible, though perhaps a bit too cluttered. The novel is roughly 300 pages in length (I believe) and the first 100 pages covers his childhood from the arrival of the Stormwind refugees in Lordaeron to the beginning of Warcraft III. That covers about fourteen years, and that's potentially a lot of territory to cover!
Still, if it's pulled off well, it has a lot of room to be incredibly awesome. BlizzPlanet says we'll see some interaction between Young Varian Wrynn and Young Arthas, which should be really, really cool. I'd love to see what Varian is like in the hands of a capable author. There will also be a deeper look into the love triangle between Kael'thas, Jaina, and Arthas.
I strongly recommend checking out the review over on BlizzPlanet if you're at all interested in this novel, or even if you're not. He hasn't finished the book, so take is more of a review preview. It made me very excited for the book, so hopefully it'll do the same for you.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Lore, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
RetPallyJil Feb 22nd 2009 6:40PM
Ok, entered.
Enjoy! :D
Ugkul Feb 22nd 2009 6:55PM
I quite liked Lord of the Clans, but felt Rise of the Horde was rushed. I don't despise Richard Knaak but felt the trilogy he did was pretty blah.
Bossy Feb 22nd 2009 7:07PM
I found "The cycle of hatred" very good in the first part.
The atmosphere describing the bar and the corruption of some guys to the demon side was excellent. The places described were so good I visited them in game. I could feel the places that book described. Very good part.
In the second part the story became a little blurred as Jaina Proudmoore would make some incrdedible moves in "transferring few hundred animals" and other very odd stuff.
I don't like the Lord of the Clans. Too many up and downs.
The little story of Cris Metzen in "For blood and Honor" is VERY well written and a great story. Made me love my paladin even more.
As for the comics: I found the original Warcraft story about Varian blending very well with the actual game situation. I hope the same goes for "The ashbringer" in the expected WotLK expansion.
But indeed the overall quality of some DragonLance books is better than what I read until now. Warcraft Lore deserves the best writers.
Decrusher Feb 22nd 2009 8:53PM
Meh. War of the Ancients is still the best.
Varkelen Feb 22nd 2009 9:41PM
Out of licensed books, I found alot of the Warhammer 40k novels to be good so far.
Really like Dan Abnett's Eisenhorn and Ravenor books. Kinda refreshing actually from the usually cruddy job most licensed books are.
Authors are just too afraid to kill off/maim their beloved characters in a licensed book, often moreso than an original book.
/my two cents.
Drakensteel Feb 22nd 2009 10:45PM
So much knaak hate :( I suppose I can understand it, though I honestly liked most of his books (day of the dragon I loved, trilogy i liked, night of the dragon....well it was readable.
Tides of Darkness and Beyond the Dark Portal...well they filled in the official story but I admitiadlly I would suggest finding a nice summary.
Cycle of Hatred I think is utter garbage. About = to the previous 2, but with far less relevance.
Lord of the Clans was great, even for an alliance lover like myself. Rise of the Horde I think was pretty good but it didnt really appeal to me.
On a different note, none of them hold a candle to (many) of the warhammer 40k books :)
RetPallyJil Feb 23rd 2009 1:38AM
Knaak's Dragonlance books are terrific, in my opinion.
David Whyld Feb 23rd 2009 2:15AM
I haven't read the books but a friend of mine has and says they're all pretty dire. He reckons they're written in the same vein as the Forgotten Realms/Dragonlance books - i.e. written really fast by people who only have a passing knowledge of the source material, full of over the top characters and fifth rate dialogue. The publishers are probably aware the end product is likely to be bad but know that with such a large fanbase going to buy it anyway, quality doesn't matter.
I'd love to see a Warcraft novel written for an adult audience by an adult author. *That* would be something worth reading.
RetPallyJil Feb 23rd 2009 6:02AM
Then you and your friend are dolts :)
TSR/Wizards of the Coast has kept virtually the same stable of writers for Dragonlance books since the first series of books took off.
In 1984.
I would say 25 years is plenty of time to be familiar with the setting.
So do us a favor and shut up unless you know what you're talking about.
Ozymandias Feb 23rd 2009 2:14PM
He's right though. All those pulp books ARE pretty bad litteracy-wise. Doesn't mean you can't enjoy them but you have to admit they are the book equivalent of a Big Mac and nothing more.
Of course it'd be nice to see a real fantasy author tackle on the Warcraft universe. The setting has a lot of potential: a huge cast of characters to develop, many races, clans, groups to throw against each other, and an immensely vast world. It could be great. But sadly I doubt that's Blizzard's aim.
As for the Arthas novel, I'll probably pick it up, read it in half a day and forget all about it in the other half.
After all both Christie Golden and Richard Knaak aren't much more than glorified fan fiction writers.
Ugkul Feb 23rd 2009 4:33AM
Agreed that Game Workshop's WH and WH40k novels are quite good, though lately it's been hit and miss. Abnett's stuff is pretty consistently good though, particularly his Gaunt Ghost's series. I've also quite enjoyed the humour of the Gotrek and Felix books.
Some FR novels are also quite enjoyable, such as Douglas Nile's Waterdeep series and Greenwood's Cormyr.
Ugkul Feb 23rd 2009 4:41AM
Oops meant the Moonshae trilogy.
skreeran Feb 23rd 2009 10:07AM
Hmm... What about Micky Neilson? I loved Unbroken. Do you think he could pull off a full fledged novel?
Medievaldragon Feb 23rd 2009 10:56PM
I don't know if Neilson has plans for a book, but I do know Chris Metzen wrote a story for Warcraft Legends Vol. 4 (I think that's the volume) about Jim Raynor.
Kellix Mar 30th 2009 5:49PM
I have read all the books and their entertaining, and I agree some can be bad. Knakk is not the hottest. I like Christine Golden, she actually sounds like she knows her grammar. lol . Knakks are just confusing at times. I think they should make Christine Golden the permenent writer and put knakk out to pasture.