Status
Available
Genres
Collections
Publication
Lake Geneva, WI : TSR Inc., 1985.
Description
Fortune favors the bold! When young Gord's caretaker, the aged and foul-spirited Leena, dies, she leaves the boy destitute and adrift in the midst of the slums of the Old City, forced to fend for himself in the merciless world of mendicants, thieves, and rogues. Follow the wild adventures of this young thief as he fights impossible odds to attain the rank of Master Thief! Gord the Rogue #1: Saga of Old City is the first in a new series of novels by Gary Gygax, the creator of Dungeons & Dragons.
User reviews
LibraryThing member jsnrcrny
This is a wonderful example of sword and sorcery, and because it was written by Gary Gygax, the original architect of Dungeons and Dragons, it has a privileged position in my heart.
The best aspect of this novel is its scope. Rather than simply focus in on action and fight scenes--like Salvatore
But this is not to say there aren't great battle scenes in the novel. To the contrary, there is one particular scene near the end of the novel--a scene where Gord, Curley, and Chert face a demon--that is genuinely exciting. I knew Gord wasn't going to die, but Gygax under-characterized his two companions just enough for me to fear for their deaths. I knew they weren't invicible, and I anticipated their demise. When they lived I was genuinely relieved.
Gygax strikes a good balance in his characterization techniques. He fleshes out his characters just enough so that you never expect them to be invincible--like, say, a Drizzt Do'Urden--and their success and safety is never guaranteed.
If you love D&D, read this book. It makes it clear how much the game is more indebted to American Sword and Sorcery over British fantasy in the spirit of J.R.R. Tolkien.
The best aspect of this novel is its scope. Rather than simply focus in on action and fight scenes--like Salvatore
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seems to do--Gygax adopts a broad perspective, describing Gord the Rogue's adventures from a more historical perspective. Whole weeks will pass by in a paragraph. Years of adventure will be characterized in a single chapter. But this is not to say there aren't great battle scenes in the novel. To the contrary, there is one particular scene near the end of the novel--a scene where Gord, Curley, and Chert face a demon--that is genuinely exciting. I knew Gord wasn't going to die, but Gygax under-characterized his two companions just enough for me to fear for their deaths. I knew they weren't invicible, and I anticipated their demise. When they lived I was genuinely relieved.
Gygax strikes a good balance in his characterization techniques. He fleshes out his characters just enough so that you never expect them to be invincible--like, say, a Drizzt Do'Urden--and their success and safety is never guaranteed.
If you love D&D, read this book. It makes it clear how much the game is more indebted to American Sword and Sorcery over British fantasy in the spirit of J.R.R. Tolkien.
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LibraryThing member Karlstar
The first and one of the best AD&D based novels ever written, certainly one of the best about the World of Greyhawk. Written by the creator of AD&D, you get a real sense of how he felt the game should be played, and he turned it into a decent novel. Its not just about gaming concepts and archetypal
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characters, but a decent fantasy adventure novel. Show Less
Language
Original publication date
1985-10
Physical description
352 p.; 18 cm
ISBN
0394742753 / 9780394742755
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Pages
352