A&A The Official Michael A. Stackpole Discussion Thread

I've only read Rogue Squadron and Wedge's Gamble, and I really enjoyed both books, but am I the only one that has a problem with his dialogue? It just grates me that none of his characters seem to use contractions on a regular basis. 90% of the time, when people speak, they say "it's" or "I'm" or "wouldn't" rather than the longer alternatives. This affects some of the heavier scenes in his novels, making them come across a bit wooden. It's his one major weakness, I have to say.

I think his plotting is outstanding, however, so don't hate me.

 

It's his one major weakness, I have to say.

I think his plotting is outstanding, however, so don't hate me.


It is his one major weakness...

and

Do not hate me.

Do not you mean?

 

This sucks, I just started reading LotR, so I have to wait at least 2 weeks before I can start on The Grand Crusade. Guy Gavriel Kay's (heir to Tolkein)'s new book just came out too, so I might have to read that first as well.

Too many good books!

 

I finally managed to get a book by Mike Stackpole that wasn't a Star Wars one, the Dark Glory War from an independant Sci-Fi shop. Really enjoying reading it! I suppose those gibberkins are based a little on Shistavanens and those Temeryices are based on giant deinnoychus.

 

Well if you liked the Dark Glory War, you will be glad to know that there are 3 more books left to read in the "Dragon Crown Saga". They are sort of hard to find in bookshops, but you shouldn't have a problem with Amazon. I can't recommend them enough, really awesome books, if you ask me.

D

 

Does anyone know when Secret Atlas will be out?

 

I must say that Stackpole is my FAVORITE SW author. I, Jedi brought me into the EU, like many other people. Loved Dark Tide. Its my favorite duology and ranks just behind Traitor and ties with The Final Prophecy as my favorite paperback(s). I echo OWK's comments about Elegos. He was my favorite non-human character. Now *sniff* he's dead. I still choke up on occasion whenever i reread Ruin.

PS When did mike say his new trilogy would be out?

 

In his last webpage update in December, Mike stated that he had just begun work on the Secret Atlas, the first of his new fantasy trilogy. I don't believe an official release date has been set, but if the book is completed in the same timeframe as the DragonCrown books were, it will probably hit stores sometime in November or December.

On a sidenote I finally got around to reading the Grand Crusade, and I was more than pleased with the way things wrapped up. It's kind of sad to say goodbye to Crow and company, but then again it's also nice to see a good thing end while it's still good.

 

Does every second fantasy book have to have dragon in its title? Or the ubiquitous elfs, dwarfs and human combo?

When I find a fantasy book that's creative without them, I'd be happy to read my first one.

 

When I find a fantasy book that's creative without them, I'd be happy to read my first one.

There're plenty of them. Without even leaving MAS's ouvre, you've got EYES OF SILVER and TALION: REVENANT with nary a dwarf nor an elf in sight.

 

I would say that the DragonCrown books had their share of unique elements, among them no dwarves, a unique take on elves, gun powder and firearms, and beings more powerful than dragons with the Oromise. Not quite as different as Talion from other titles, but that book stands alone as one of the best stand-alone fantasy novels I've ever read.

 

Good to hear, Mastadge. I'll check them out sometime.

I can't recall which author or series (Wheel of Time?), but read a review I thought was direct plagurism from LOTR. There was a Mountains of Mist and Mount Dhoom (instead of Misty Mountains and Mount Doom). I was shocked such a thing could be published and not sued over . . .

I know fanatsy books are all sword and magic and dragons, but dragons put me off. They're too ubiquitous in books, and so is the essential magic sword. I just like creativity, if I can find one. Aside from LOTR, the only fanatsy book I have is The Black Lion.

 

Excellence you have obviously never read Sword of Shannara then. Swap a ring for a sword and change some charachters names and I charge you to find a difference.

As for Stackpole some of his books are good but in regards to Starwars the problems I had with his work were a)bad dialouge (It gets kind of painful sometimes "wink"). 2) Some obvious telegraphing of whats going to happen you know before you turn the page and his favouritism towards Corran Horn who seems to be the best of everything and is always right and pure! Do not get me wrong he is an interesting charachter but would it hurt to have him lose a fighter battle once in a while or get but whipped in a saber fight.
Onslaught and Ruin for me show Stackpole at his best and worst. I thought Onslaught was a brilliant book and wished it had been longer. Ruin on the other hand felt rushed incredibly predicatble with Stackpoles obvious favouritism of Corran (who can never be wrong) sreaming out at me.

 

I'll take the opposite stance, there. Onslaught, to me, showed very clearly that it was rushed. The dialogue was stiff and nothing like his usual great scene-ending liners. It was just mundane with what he's put out. I didn't find anything special with his double sabers; it lasted barely a page or so.

Ruin was much better. Proper surprises, better dialogue, and a credible climax and standoff. It was my first NJO book, not that I knew what was going with anything back then.

So what's Sword of Shanara like? I'll find some reviews . . . Whicj I just did. So many are saying it's a "LOTR ripoff".

EDIT: Sithstars! It's an entire series. I'll have to work out what comes first in what order . . .

 

IMO, Sword of Shannara is pretty good. It has a much better pacing than LOTR, and, from my perspective, the Sword did not seem like the One Ring, except maybe for the talisman in it. It reminded me more of Anduril, Aragorn's blade.

Terry Brooks has some really good original works. Elfstones of Shannara is really good, as is Wishsong. Although I have not read heritage of Shannara, i've heard really good things about it. His newest book, Jarka Ruus, borrows some elements from Elfstones, his previous Voyage of the Jerle Shannara Trilogy (good, but the last book was a bit of a disappointment), and some new ideas. It's also shorter than some of his other works.

Order of Shannara Series:

First King of Shannara
Sword...
Elfstones....
Wishsong....
Scions...
Druid...
Elf Queen...
Talismans...
Voyage of the Jerle Shannara: Illse Witch
" " Antrax
" " Morgawr
High Druid of Shannara: Jarka Ruus
" " Tanequil (Aug. 31)

I don't mind if fantasy books use elves and dwarves-they're my two favorite fantasy species especially on Brooks and Salvatore's stories. If you want something really original (and equally amazing), read Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.

As a side note, according to the author's page in Grand Crusade, it says that Mike has already or is close to finishing Secret Atlas. Most likely it will be in November.

 

Martin's books, from what I've seen at Amazon, are close to or over 1000 pages! It's like reading nearly a trilogy at a time.

But the constant themes of incest and rape doesn't bother readers? Does sex have to come in every package these day?

 

After reading all three of his ASoIaF novels, I will say that Martin can be very brutal. If you think about it, the Middle Ages (which Martin borrows heavily from) were a very brutal time. There was rape, incest, and decapitations galore. Although I'm not sure if the "f" word existed then. Martin is very honest about things like this happening, sometimes a little too honest. He makes you care about the characters, and he not afraid to have lead a few of them to the headsman.

Back to Stackpole, who did you all think underwent the biggest change in Grand Crusade?

 

I would say that Resolute changed the most during the last chapter of the DragonCrown War Cycle, if for no other reason than we got to see a lot more of him then in the other books.

His character growth was especially accentuated by his own questioning of himself, and what it meant to be a warrior for an entire lifetime, even after war has ended. I liked the fact that he had finally "grown up" at the end of the book, but was still not a character who reached his full potential. If Stackpole ever returns to this world, Resolute should carry the story.

 

I agree, Resolute should be the standard-bearer. It'd be interesting to see him training the new Norrington and the Hawkins twins. I would very much like to see what the Oromise look like, since they are creatures of water and earth. I would also like to see the powers of a full-grown Kerrigan Reese.

BTW, I also think Kerrigan underwent a major change. He became much more focused, tougher, smarter, and thinner. He unmasked Clytrine and even stood up to the magisters of Vilwan. Ezekiel, perhaps you can help me with a question relating to the Dragoncrown fragments. I know fortress Draconis had a blue stone, a ruby, and a yellow stone while Vorquellyn had a diamond. Who had the others?

 

The dragons perhaps? I'm not too sure. I agree with your thoughts completely on seeing the Oromise, Elegos. Few fantasy authors strive to create beings more powerful than dragons, and Stackpole left obvious room there for new conflict for future books.

If new DragonCrown books are ever given the greenlight, I'd love to see a first person narrative from the perspective of Resolute. While the main three books of the Cycle were more than entertaining, I think Stackpole's greatest stories reside in the first person perspective (I, Jedi, Talion, and the Dark Glory War.)

I know Stackpole has drawn some criticism for the main characters of these books being remarkably similar, as at times Corran, Tarrant, and Nolan seem almost interchangeable, but I don't think such a book about Resolute would share this problem. He is a unique protagonist, and any first person telling of his future adventures could be a blessing for fans as well as Stackpole himself.

 

i just got a question about stackpole's main characters being similar. I've heard he admited this on is website. is there a link to the page if that's true?

wolf

 

His website is www.stormwolf.com, but I'm not exactly sure if that particular comment is on there now. I believe I recall mastadge talking of that quote in another thread, so perhaps he could offer a citation.

 

I've noticed other character similarities as well. For example, there are Isard and Clytrine, both evil women with horrible tempers. Who could forget the sleazeballs of DCW and SW: Scrainwood & Borsk.

 

Does anyone know who's publishing A Secret Atlas? I can't find any information on it anywhere.