Rating: 
Summary: FUN!
Review: A fantasy book that's actually fun to read? Yes, it is possible -- totally true to the great old AD&D module and to the great old Greyhawk setting -- but funny as hell. I have to idea who Paul Kidd is, but he's actually managed to make the novelization of a twenty year old AD&D adventure fresh, entertaining . . . did I say FUN?
Rating: 
Summary: Endearing Characters and Fast-Paced Story
Review: A great adaptation of the Classic D&D module. I found the characters to be very likeable, and the story fast-paced and concise. Paul Kidd does most of his characterization through dialogue and some of the comments by Escella and Polk are downright hilarious. The Justicar is the perfect straight man, playing off the comments of a droning teamster, a scantily-clad faerie, and a sentient hell-hound pelt. All-in-all, a very entertaining book.
Rating:
Summary: Endearing Characters and Fast-Paced Story
Review: A great adaptation of the Classic D&D module. I found the characters to be very likeable, and the story fast-paced and concise. Paul Kidd does most of his characterization through dialogue and some of the comments by Escella and Polk are downright hilarious. The Justicar is the perfect straight man, playing off the comments of a droning teamster, a scantily-clad faerie, and a sentient hell-hound pelt. All-in-all, a very entertaining book.
Rating:
Summary: Funny!
Review: After reading Ru Emerson's Greyhawk novel, AGAINST THE GIANTS, I was hesitant to purchase another Greyhawk novel. But I'm glad I did.Paul Kidd has created some interesting and memorable characters in Justicar, the ranger, and Escalla, the pixie--uh, faerie--sorceress. Most of the writing seems true to the game, though I do wonder about the pyromaniac hell hound pelt...(It proved to be funny and inventive, however). The author also pokes fun at the over-prepared adventurers (spikes, 10' poles, ropes, etc.), and, if you've ever played AD&D, I'm sure you'll see a lot of your own characters' actions/reactions in those of the protagonists. In short, I thought it was hilarious, and I will definitely purchase the next Greyhawk novel by Paul Kidd!
Rating:
Summary: Very Entertaining!
Review: An entertaining book to help fill the gap between WOT and SOT novels. The characters are fun to read about and the story was entertaining as well as interesting. Good job Mr. Kidd!
Rating:
Summary: A truly ripping yarn!
Review: Finally a novelisation of an AD&D module that actually FEELS like a fantasy roleplaying session. No glum, doom-laden portents or stomach-curdling angst here! Nope, just good old fashioned dungeonbashing that paints the walls arterial red and leaves the room smelling like roast chicken - hacking, slashing, spellblasting and, above all, FUN! Paul Kidd remains faithful (for the most part) to the original TSR module (one of 1st ed AD&D's classic dungeoncrawls - I still have nightmares about that crab...) whilst adding a great deal of meat and cleverly intertwined subplots to the bare bones. The party makeup is a tad unconventional (to say the least) and their antics poke fun at some of the eccentricities of fantasy roleplaying (that 10' pole always perplexed me as well...). All in all a most refreshing, pyromaniacal read although those who have played the actual module first will probably find it more rewarding.
Rating:
Summary: A novel based on a game module ... and its good!
Review: First of all, this book is leaps and bounds above "Against the Giants", the first book in the new Greyhawk line. This book draws the reader into the world of Greyhawk much as the old Gord books did long ago. The characters in this book are a bit outlandish, but they are so beautifully brought to life that they do not cause a distraction. The Justicar, a no nonsense powerful ranger with a pyromaniac animated hell hound pelt, is perfectly balanced with Escalla, a faerie sorcereress with a craving for the good life. The two meet while the Justicar (or Jus as Escalla calls him) is on a mission from the Countess of Urnst to determine who or what is to blame for a rash of recent attacks on supply caravans heading to the north. A fast paced series of adventures puts the characters up against a horde of devilish monsters in the bowels of White Plume Mountain. What did I like most about this book? Well this book is truly fun to read. I found myself laughing at the faerie's antics and Cinders the hell hound pelt usually jumped in with a great line or two. Above this the action scenes are superbly written. I liked the way their adventures reminded me of roleplaying at home. There were NOT endless amounts of spells like the silence spells used in "Against the Giants" and there was a real sense of mortality in the combat. Many times the companions came near death something I find missing in most of the Drizzt novels. And what really makes this book better than its predecessor "Against the Giants" is that the characters had personalities and they developed and changed through the course of the book! The only thing that I found lacking in the book was the transparent storyline. But, since this is a novelization of an adventure module, I kind of expected this and still enjoyed the book. I recommend the book highly and am anxious to start reading the next book with Jus and Escalla, "Descent into the Depths of the Earth" also by Paul Kidd. Hey and, "No one touches the faerie."
Rating:
Summary: Paul Kidd is a great D&D writer!
Review: For those of you who have played this Dungeons & Dragons module, or even just played Dungeons & Dragons at all, this book is a must! It is very funny, and the author really makes you feel like you're right there with the characters. There are also lots of really funny jabs at some of the basic Dungeons & Dragons gaming rules that really don't make much sense. When some of the rules are put into a real situation, they are pretty humorous.... and the Justicar (the main character) is quick to point these out! :>
It's a quick and easy read, and definitely leaves you wanting to continue the journey with the characters into the next book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent dungeons & dragons story!
Review: For those of you who have played this Dungeons & Dragons module, or even just played Dungeons & Dragons at all, this book is a must! It is very funny, and the author really makes you feel like you're right there with the characters. There are also lots of really funny jabs at some of the basic Dungeons & Dragons gaming rules that really don't make much sense. When some of the rules are put into a real situation, they are pretty humorous.... and the Justicar (the main character) is quick to point these out! :>
It's a quick and easy read, and definitely leaves you wanting to continue the journey with the characters into the next book.
Rating:
Summary: More Depth than any D&D title I can remember...
Review: Great read. It appears that Wizards of the Coast has allowed the D&D books to mature beyond cliche. Paul Kidd breathes more life into the characters than I've read in a long time. I might even be so bold to say that it has more depth than the Salvatore books. I always loved Greyhawk and am glad to see that it is getting deserved attention. I can't wait to get into Descent into the depths of the Earth by Kidd next. Also, read the short fiction in Dragon magazine that describes the first encounter between the Justicar and Cinders. Very entertaining and very funny.
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