Rating: 
Summary: Does Nothing to Bring the D&D Adventure to Life
Review: ...I didn't expect much, but I at least hoped this book would answer some of the mysteries in the original module, or provide one possible explanation for what was going on. What was that temple under the Hill Giant Steading, for example? ....Unfortunately, this book provides less detail and explanation than the modules themselves. Not one single question from the old D&D modules is answered in this book, and much of the good stuff in the modules is left out. They only visit three rooms out of each of the last two modules, for example. .....Many have pointed out that this reads like a bad module, not a book. All the dialogue are lines like "I have memorized 3 beneath notice and two reveal spells today," or "Remember, as a Paladin, I have the ability to detect evil," etc. It stops just short of using terms like hit points and saving throws. The wizard was the worst character for this - it was like listening to a teenage D&D player tell you what move he is making next.
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.... If you were looking for a good strategy on how the giants' places should have been assaulted - forget it! Apparently, you can walk right in the front door (past the guards) of every one of them. What are the chances that every single guard in all three modules is asleep when they run into them?
.... Beyond that, the whole thing was too hokey and sweet. The adventurers were so pure and kind that you thought they were going to lead the giants in some kind of rehab support group instead of kill them. Would anyone really have a 5-minute conference in the middle of an enemy dungeon about whether it is OK to kill torturers while they sleep? All the human kings, princes and army guys that they dealt with were totally legit and honest. Rowan, the female ranger and the Berserker had a little depth. Some day, I would like to see a D&D story with flawed heroes, a Dirty Dozen kind of group. Not here. ....Also, I thought it was cheap the way the wizard basically assured that the heroes could detect everything, but everything they did was invisible and inaudible and wiped from the giants' memories. ....The Paladin was basically a pacifist. He wouldn't kill a mosquito if it was carrying the next plague. .... And was anyone else annoyed by whom Rowan latches onto at the end? She flirted with the young guy Lhors for the whole book, what happened to that?
Rating:
Summary: Does Nothing to Bring the D&D Adventure to Life
Review: ...I didn't expect much, but I at least hoped this book would answer some of the mysteries in the original module, or provide one possible explanation for what was going on. What was that temple under the Hill Giant Steading, for example? ....Unfortunately, this book provides less detail and explanation than the modules themselves. Not one single question from the old D&D modules is answered in this book, and much of the good stuff in the modules is left out. They only visit three rooms out of each of the last two modules, for example. .....Many have pointed out that this reads like a bad module, not a book. All the dialogue are lines like "I have memorized 3 beneath notice and two reveal spells today," or "Remember, as a Paladin, I have the ability to detect evil," etc. It stops just short of using terms like hit points and saving throws. The wizard was the worst character for this - it was like listening to a teenage D&D player tell you what move he is making next.
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.... If you were looking for a good strategy on how the giants' places should have been assaulted - forget it! Apparently, you can walk right in the front door (past the guards) of every one of them. What are the chances that every single guard in all three modules is asleep when they run into them?
.... Beyond that, the whole thing was too hokey and sweet. The adventurers were so pure and kind that you thought they were going to lead the giants in some kind of rehab support group instead of kill them. Would anyone really have a 5-minute conference in the middle of an enemy dungeon about whether it is OK to kill torturers while they sleep? All the human kings, princes and army guys that they dealt with were totally legit and honest. Rowan, the female ranger and the Berserker had a little depth. Some day, I would like to see a D&D story with flawed heroes, a Dirty Dozen kind of group. Not here. ....Also, I thought it was cheap the way the wizard basically assured that the heroes could detect everything, but everything they did was invisible and inaudible and wiped from the giants' memories. ....The Paladin was basically a pacifist. He wouldn't kill a mosquito if it was carrying the next plague. .... And was anyone else annoyed by whom Rowan latches onto at the end? She flirted with the young guy Lhors for the whole book, what happened to that?
Rating: 
Summary: Against the Giants
Review: A village burns while its attackers flee into the night. Enraged, the King of Keoland orders an aging warrior to lead a band of adventurers on a retaliatory strike. As they prepare to enter the heart of the monsters' lair, each knows only the bravest will survive. Against the odds. Against the giants.
Rating: 
Summary: Beyond terrible
Review: About a third of the way in, I could only think, "Who the hell is Ru Emerson, and why did WOTC let her write a book about a classic module which she's obviously never played?" About halfway in, I just gave up. Terrible characters, zero plot, nothing to hold my interest. I have to thank Ru for one thing, though -- she's given me hope as to actually becoming a published writer one day. There's no way I could do a worse job than this. Then again, neither could a half-drunk wildebeast.
Rating:
Summary: Beyond terrible
Review: About a third of the way in, I could only think, "Who the hell is Ru Emerson, and why did WOTC let her write a book about a classic module which she's obviously never played?" About halfway in, I just gave up. Terrible characters, zero plot, nothing to hold my interest. I have to thank Ru for one thing, though -- she's given me hope as to actually becoming a published writer one day. There's no way I could do a worse job than this. Then again, neither could a half-drunk wildebeast.
Rating: 
Summary: Solid adventure tale that runs out of steam towards the end.
Review: AGAINST THE GIANTS is a fun read for sword and sorcery fans, though the last third of the book drags a bit. For those familiar with Dungeons and Dragons, the magic system depicted has nothing to do with the D&D game, though it does serve the story well enough. My main complaint is that the story should have ended 100 pages sooner. The first 200 pages are suspenseful, but I got the feeling that the last 100 were sort of tacked on in order to make the book fit in better with the three D&D modules it is based on. Had the book covered only the first module, AGAINST THE GIANTS would have easily gotten four stars. My other complaint is that the two main characters, Lhors and Vlandar, were by far the least interesting. The ranger twins Rowan and Maera, Khlened the barbarian, and Malowen the paladin were far more interesting heroes!
Rating: 
Summary: Yes, I know that place!
Review: I agree whis Marc E. Broom "this book read like a module and less like a novel". But I find it very interesting and enjoible reading, never the less. I play this module not once as player and DM, and it's very interesting to see how someone anather will make out the situation you once had been.
Rating:
Summary: Yes, I know that place!
Review: I agree whis Marc E. Broom "this book read like a module and less like a novel". But I find it very interesting and enjoible reading, never the less. I play this module not once as player and DM, and it's very interesting to see how someone anather will make out the situation you once had been.
Rating:
Summary: Ahhhhhh Memories!
Review: I have been a huge fan of the Giants' Modules for years. I have played once as a player, and ran the Module as a GM about 3 times. Ru's writing brought the true flavor of the series and even in a idea of what was actualy going on... (in the series, the modules never gave a clue of what was going on). Ru's vivid writing style made it a book I could not put down. If you have played the series or are planning to run it, this book should be read, and Ideas used.
Rating:
Summary: She never read/played this module before, you can tell..
Review: The latest round of greyhawk books came out bases on the old D&D module Against the Giants. I read this book and was completely baffled. Here we have these chump characters, waltzing through the largest encampment of giants known to man, and they get out with barely a scratch on them! HOW,WHAT,WHEN,WHY?!?!?!?!?!? Obviously the writer did not read the module, play the module, nor understand the breadth of the concept. With the level of the characters there is no POSSIBLE way for a frontal assault to occur and survive! Yet they managed to go through all 3 giant liars on nothing more than bows and arrows and some minor sword work! Against the Giants G1-2-3 has always been for me the pinnacle of assault, conquer, loot, and plunder forts and dungeons (The whole series is fantastic if you ask me..) but this abortion of a book should never have made it off the printer. Too many improbabilities and mistakes that anyone who read through the module or played it once would have understood.
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