Drachenfels

Rating:
Summary: Good, Gory Fun
Review: Drachenfels, written by Kim Newman under a pseudonym in the late 1980s, is apparently set in some bizarro RPG universe involving long, teutonic-sounding names and plenty of Tolkienian orcs and beasties.

As might be expected from Newman in such a context, this is a great goof of a book, simultaneously embracing and spoofing over the top fantasy/horror conventions. One must assume Drachenfels one of the few books set in this universe to be focused upon theater history.

Though it lacks the sophistication of the fiction Newman writes under his own name (and this Genevieve has little of the rich inner life she displays in the Anno Dracula books) Drachenfels is quite funny -- particularly in its Orson Wellsian leading man. Its actually the action/pacing elements that disappoint. Newman just doesn't seem to have spent much time on them.

But this is good, gory fun if you've a taste for such stuff. And it is interesting to note that back in the 80's, when horror fiction's splatterpunks were bafflingly attempting to build an ideology out of ultraviolent grue, Newman was already making a joke of it.

Rating:
Summary: If only I could rate Drachenfels higher
Review: No review can truly due this book justice. Drachenfels is without a doubt the best Black Library novel available, and is one of the best books I have ever read. Unlike other Warhammer novels Drachenfels is brimming with humour and satire. I was delighted to find myself laughing aloud to a Black Library release (which are normally filled with graphic violence). The characters are nothing short of incredible and are unbelievably realistic. Jack Yeovil (Kim Newman) does an excellent job of fleshing out the warhammer universe, and you'll be suprised by the number of famous warhammer names within this novel. Black Library has done a great job of reprinting this marvelous book. I am fortunate enough to own one of the original Genevieve short stories, and without this reprint I might never have been able to find this fantastic book. BUY THIS BOOK- You will not regret it.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Work
Review: The Black library collection is not where most people would ever think they'd be finding one of the best books they'll ever read. To all of those lured into the book Drachenfels by Jack Yeovil aka Kym Newman be glad you were.

Jack Yeovil proves himself not just a skilled writer, but a man capable of seducing you into loving his work.

Drachenfels is a great fantasy novel...horror novel...suspense novel. His characters are complelling ,and his gift of vivid vision of the Warhammer World just puts the icing on the cake for the fans of the Warhammer stories & Games.

It's no surprise that shortly after this Novel was published Jack Yeovil fell out of the modest budget range of the Black library.

This book has earned it's permanent place in my library for years to come, and I would recommend it highly to anyone who just loves a "Great Story". You'll be powerless to put it down, and the page turning will be as effortless as a blink of the eye.

Yeovil paces it like a Master Craftsman, keeps you thinking up to the end, scripts it so smooth you'd think your mother was reading you a bedtime story, and ends it with an incredible climax.

It doesn't get any better.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Work
Review: The Black library collection is not where most people would ever think they'd be finding one of the best books they'll ever read. To all of those lured into the book Drachenfels by Jack Yeovil aka Kym Newman be glad you were.

Jack Yeovil proves himself not just a skilled writer, but a man capable of seducing you into loving his work.

Drachenfels is a great fantasy novel...horror novel...suspense novel. His characters are complelling ,and his gift of vivid vision of the Warhammer World just puts the icing on the cake for the fans of the Warhammer stories & Games.

It's no surprise that shortly after this Novel was published Jack Yeovil fell out of the modest budget range of the Black library.

This book has earned it's permanent place in my library for years to come, and I would recommend it highly to anyone who just loves a "Great Story". You'll be powerless to put it down, and the page turning will be as effortless as a blink of the eye.

Yeovil paces it like a Master Craftsman, keeps you thinking up to the end, scripts it so smooth you'd think your mother was reading you a bedtime story, and ends it with an incredible climax.

It doesn't get any better.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay novels
Review: These books were all but unavailable in the US for a very long time, and I'm gratified to see them coming out again. Kim Newman, writing as Jack Yeovil for reasons that escape me, is a talented writer with an interesting and original take on the Warhammer universe and on vampirism. His version doesn't quite jibe with the game's rules, but that makes it more interesting. One of the real stars of this book, though, is the villain...a monster that makes Voldemort (in the Harry Potter universe) or Darth Vader look like a couple of little old ladies. His idea of a funny practical joke to play is itself worth the price of the book. Although this isn't a great classic of fantasy literature, it's far and away above the normal run of game-related books.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay novels
Review: These books were all but unavailable in the US for a very long time, and I'm gratified to see them coming out again. Kim Newman, writing as Jack Yeovil for reasons that escape me, is a talented writer with an interesting and original take on the Warhammer universe and on vampirism. His version doesn't quite jibe with the game's rules, but that makes it more interesting. One of the real stars of this book, though, is the villain...a monster that makes Voldemort (in the Harry Potter universe) or Darth Vader look like a couple of little old ladies. His idea of a funny practical joke to play is itself worth the price of the book. Although this isn't a great classic of fantasy literature, it's far and away above the normal run of game-related books.