Rating: 
Summary: A Good Book, in Contrast to an Outstanding Computer Game
Review: I played the computer game first. I was amazed at the quality. I thought it should win RPG of the year. The characters were well developed and interactive. The plot and graphics were rich and detailed. I bought the book to better understand the characters, to get more insight into the plot, and ,in general, to get more of what I loved in the computer game. I wanted more insight. The writing in a novel would seem to be less restrictive, limited only by the imagination. The book gives more, but the computer game has SO MUCH written dialogue, that it almost plays like a separate interactive novel. In many ways, the book barely even touches the complexity of some of the characters or side plots in the computer game. The book disappointed me with the treatment of the meeting of Ravel in the maze (very unremarkable), the scant appearance of Fall-from-Grace (she leaves the plot line very quickly), and some significant variations in the characters from the computer game, in style, and sometimes in personality. I felt that Morte was held back too much, and Dak'kon was made too personal in the novel. The computer game has much more DEPTH overall that this book doesn't touch, but the book adds some subtle details and clarifies major plot points that weren't completely clear in the game and leaves out others (where was Dionarra! ). The book certainly clarifies the ending (at least in the way my first computer game has ended). If you've already played the game, I recommend this book only if you truly loved it and want to fill out more details. The question would be how much you are willing to pay for more background. The plot is the same, and much is anticipated, but many scenes were in new places and many characters had subtle twists. If you haven't played the game yet, DON'T BUY THE BOOK! The plot and characters are so much better developed in the computer game. Let the enriched media enchant you all the way. Reading the novel first would have reduced the wonder I felt when playing the game. Get the game first, then buy the book if you're still interested. I hope this helps.
Rating: 
Summary: Weak Storyline
Review: I'll admit it; I have no one to blame but myself for being disappointed by this book. Wizards of the Coast has always released poor novels, with the exception of the Dragonlance series, but I liked the computer game "Planescape: Torment" enough that I assumed this book would be different.It wasn't. The storyline was weak, to put it simply. Imagine the basic plot of the game, then cut off three-quarters of its strength. The goal seemed to be to fit the basic idea of the entire game into as short of a book as possible, which translates into a book that is written faster. There seems to be no point to this book except to wrestle the last few dollars out of the buyer's hand after they spent most of it on "Planescape: Torment". Granted, the characters are true to what you would probably expect, and the atmosphere is equivalent. The thing I just cannot get over is how dumbed-down the whole thing feels. Maybe it's just the fact that I generally dislike high fantasy, but I still suspect a deeper problem with this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Good novelization of a GREAT game
Review: If you like computer role-playing games and haven't checked out Black Isle's FANTASTIC Planescape: Torment, stop reading this and go buy the game. You will see why Computer Gaming World gave it the best RPG of 1999. This novel takes many of the very basic elements of the game and weaves them into a watered-down yet easy-to-read story. Certain elements are changed (for example: the "Nameless One" character gets a temporary name early in the story) and most of the sub-quests have been eliminated. For a game that focuses on character, the book is surprisingly action oriented. With all of that said, the authors have a nice style and do a very good job elaborating interesting details. I'm a pretty slow reader, yet I finished this book quickly because the authors knew how to keep me reading. Overall, if you love the game, this is a fun way to relive some of the events from a different perspective. Just don't expect expanded characters and in-depth quests, you might be dissapointed.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not great
Review: In general, computer games simply don't translate well to novels. The usual reason why is because a game is interactive, how you play the game help shape the story. The Baldur's Gate novel was, in my opinion, lacking any real sense of story or direction. In TORMENT, however, the storyline is very well written, and it translates well to the book. I still believe the game should be played first, and then read this for a little different prespective.
Rating: 
Summary: insulting and degrading to a great legacy
Review: Is it unfair to rate a book in the shadow of what it's based upon? In this case, I definetly think so. Even though my strong feelings for the original computer game might cloud my judgment, I still feel that this waste of paper, ink and time didn't deserve to see the light of day. Besides adulterating all the characters, both physically and psychologically, it also destroys the plot - in my opinion, the best to ever grace a computer game. It might have been saved through its own merits, maybe solid plotting, colourful characterization, smooth action or insightful writing, but it failed abysmally in all of those. An utter disgrace and a shameful blemish in the Planescape legacy, and the first book I've ever actually thrown into the garbage bin. Why did they even bother? A line-by-line transcription of the game's script would have been better than this, and better written, besides.
Rating: 
Summary: "Based on the best-selling computer game from Interplay"
Review: It's a good thing this warning was placed on the FRONT COVER of the book, lest one gets the impression that the book should include everything found within Planescape: Torment, which by the way has to be one of the BEST computer RPG games of all time!
The book is set in Sigil-the City of Doors- primarily, as well as various other locations within the Planescape multiverse, as it deals with the nameless hero and his efforts to find out more about himself after realizing that he has lost both his memory and his mortality. His quest takes him and his companions from the City of Portals to the Outlands and the Gate-Town of Curst, to the Lower Planes of Baator and Carceri, and even to the Inner Plane of Negative Energy.
The plot as a whole is excellent! The book is so incredibly well written and presented that the reader feels that they have been transported to another plane of existence and are actually present among the characters, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, sensing what they sense. Moreover, Ray and Valerie Vallese do a great job of presenting the distinct cultures and civilizations of the inhabitants of Planescape.
This has, without a doubt, been achieved as a result of a great deal of research that has gone into learning and understanding the numerous and often complex characteristics of the Planescape multiverse. Subsequently, the authors have a firm grasp of vital factual knowledge, and in turn have succeeded in providing an accurate and lucid description of these peoples.
Tieflings, Baatezu, Tanar'ri, Devas, Bariaurs, Zombies, Shadows, Hags, Githzerai, and factions like the Sensates, the Harmonium, and the Doomguard have been very well presented.
The story, the dialogues, the details are all wonderful, and create a strong sense of mystery and anticipation.
Intrigue, betrayal, and swordfights are all about.
The cherry on the cake is the actual ending, which is totally unexpected!
In short, Torment is what a Planescape book SHOULD be like!
It is strongly recommended to both general Fantasy as well as Planescape enthusiasts along with the Blood Wars Trilogy-Blood Hostages, Abyssal Warriors, and Planar Powers, and the Lady of Pain novel.
Sadly these are all the Planescape novels that have been published so far.
Hopefully, a sequel will be written shedding light as to what comes next, since the demand for one is definitely there.
MORE PLANESCAPE BOOKS PLEASE!!!
PS One should seriously start thinking about turning this book into a movie...
Rating:
Summary: Strangely, the game is better then the book.
Review: Most of the time the book is better then the movie, etc.
Not this time. Maybe it was my fault for playing the game through before reading the book, but this book was run of the mill fantasy dribble. I read it through in two days but i cant say that that was because of how enjoyable it was. I read it quick so i can move onto another book. As of right now the game can probably be got for as little as this book. If youre interested in DnD or Planescape, pick up the game. You wont be sorry.
But stay away from this book!
Rating:
Summary: The Fall of TSR...
Review: This book was not worth the 5 dollars I paid for it. I own every book published by TSR (to my knowledge), and have always been a staunch supporter and avid fan of their work. However, this "book" gives me pause. I found this book to be unimaginitive, lacking strong characters or plot, and it appears that the writers received very little guidance or feedback on how to make a novel work. If I weren't so steadfast in my support of TSR, I might accuse them of slapping together an inferior book, naming it "Torment", and throwing it out on the market to make a few extra bucks for the company while riding the coattails of their highly acclaimed pc game under the same name. Knowing TSR and the great history and level of excellence that it has always strived for, I can only pray that this book is a mistake they will not soon make again.
Rating:
Summary: Poor at best
Review: Well if you enjoyed the game then skip the book. The story is the bare minimum of the game. The characters are not really well flushed out and they don't seem to carry the level of development you see in the game. That says something when a computer game has more character development and storyline than a book.
Rating:
Summary: Why?
Review: Why did they even bother to waste ink and paper on this? The game was awesome and with a story that would have taken about 3000 pages to do it justice. Not barely 200! The story was centred around the Nameless One, who they felt like giving a name, and as we remember from the game Names Are Dangerous! We see Morte, who, for the most part, stayed the same as the sarcastic little floating skull sidekick. Although he was waay hilarious in the game. Annah and Fall-from-Grace were in the book. But they were ALLL screwed up. From the game, Annah was a Tiefling theif. And Fall-from-Grace was a high society succubus. What happened? In the book, Grace was the tiefling and Annah was the sucubuss! Huh?! Plus Fall-from-Grace was only in it for like two pages!
Maybe the writers should have played the game and see what kind of story they needed to live up to. With a game drenching in personal torment, life, and philosphy...it was dripping with the need of a good novel (after all it WAS a novel in game form). Maybe the makers should have made the book.
Most of the important encounters were either summarized horrible or just plain taken out. Like the talk with Ravel, or the deva, Trias The Betrayer, and the FREAKING TRANCENDENT ONE, the MOST IMPOTANT NPC IN THE GAME VERSION WAS BARELY IN THIS ONE. He pretty much handed himself over to ADHSDHASDJHALSDJHS or whatever it was those idiot writers
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