Beyond the Moons (Spelljammer Novel: The Cloakmaster Cycle, Vol 1)

Rating:
Summary: A Good Introduction to Spelljamming!
Review: Beyond Moons, is the first book in the Cloakmaster Cycle series, which consists of six (6) books in total, and deals primarily with introducing the readers to the World of Spelljammer.
Specifically the book sheds light on Teldin, a simple farmer and war veteran, though a non-combatant (he was a mule skinner), as he makes the leap from "groundling" to spacefarer. By his side, is Gomja, a giff warrior that finds himself stranded on Krynn as a result of his ship's crash landing.
The plot as a whole is very good! The book is well written and 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, David Cook does a good job of presenting several different cultures and civilizations of Krynn's peoples/inhabitants. Furthermore, he has done a great deal of research in order to provide such an accurate and lucid description of the difficulties and hardships that people face in war.
The book itself is written very much along the lines of an adventure/module the author ran with his friends during a series o gaming sessions. This is actually like a double-edged knife; on the one hand it gets the reader in the right mood for what is to come, and that is positive, since most people reading the book either play or have played in the past, or would like to play and want to get a feel for the World, though on the other hand it can be slow, very slow, at times.
On the negative side, the book does have a few flaws e.g. In the city of Palanthas, when Tilden follows the mercenaries to their hiding place and witnesses their slaughter at the hands of the neogi and the umber hulks, why does he not lead the city guard to their location?
Moreover, how is it possible that the elven ship, "the Silver Spray," was NOT guarded, at NIGHT, AND while docked in port, specifically a HUMAN port (???), especially with the elves portrayed so paranoid, wary and hostile towards non-elves, to the point that the duo could sneak on board and hide till morning? And after taking a look at the giff they still took them on???
It would have been easier/simpler to just get passage on any other, human, gnome, or kender ship, even if it meant spending a few more days in the city. Not that big of a problem, especially, if the city guard had been called in the first place, and with the help of wizards from the nearby tower, had dealt with the neogi.
Or have the duo save Cwelanas from danger, at a time when she is cornered and outnumbered by drunken human sailors or something along those lines, and thus EARN passage on the ship, thus avoiding the "miraculously" unguarded entrance altogether. Another question is, why doesn't Cwelanas join Teldin and Gomja?
In addition, the book takes Teldin from 0-level farmer to 1-level fighter.
How he was able to take on minotaurs (!!!) and not only survive, but "win" beats me (he only had a few days practice, with a spear, prior to the battle...). Moreover, how he managed to escape the big neogi in the pit is also a bit far fetched, not to mention both how he got captured and how he escaped from the neogi ship!
David Cook is also a bit stingy with relevant information/knowledge/background of giffs, spelljammers and the void (space), instead insinuating that Gomja is rather "slow." Now there is slow and there is retarded, and Gomja, though simple (he's no ace), does not seem to be the latter.
Finally, the map at the beginning of the book (which is GREAT for some much needed direction sense) should NOT have been marked with "draconian, neogi, and minotaur pirate attack" sites for obvious reasons; it practically gives away the story! NO surprises when you already know what to expect!!!
Nevertheless, there are some wonderful scenes, especially in the beginning, but also at sea involving naval battle. The torture scenes are very graphic (well done!), as you really get to despise the neogi. Most importantly the steady development of Teldin's and Gomja's friendship is very well presented.
The author does follow the right pattern of how a 0-level character leaves home and picks up experience as he goes on etc.
Beyond Moons starts off incredibly well and continues so, up until half way through; enter the party's arrival at Palanthas and the passage to Sancrist, before it picks up again, for what ends up being a good fantasy book.
In gaming terms Teldin is LG, Gomja LN, Cwelanas CN, and Luciar LN.
In conclusion, Beyond Moons is strongly recommended to all Spelljammer and Dragonlance fans, but also Fantasy enthusiasts in general. The Cloakmaster Series should definitely be re-released, not to mention what a really great movie (or set of movies) it would make!

Rating:
Summary: Spelljammer--Space Fantasy
Review: Compared to any of the other books situated in the Dungeons and Dragons universes, I have enjoyed the Spelljammer stories quite thoroughly. I recommend this book highly to anyone that likes Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms, Darksun, Greyhawk, or Planescape.

Rating:
Summary: Good! Good!
Review: I read this a few years ago and thought it was pretty good. The way this series jumps from landscape to landscape such as Forgotten Realms and Dragon Lance is interesting, escpecially the way it all still fits together

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: I think this book should be recomended to anyone who likes Dragonlance books and that this book is very well thought out.