Bryan DeLuca —> Blog You
Every time you read my blog an angel gets its wings.

It has been awhile since I updated my blog and I have a few book reviews I have to do.

Annihilation by Philip Athans

Menzoberranzan fights to survive the onslaught  of attacks by multiple underdark races. There is an evolution in Gromph Baenre and he battles the Lich Drown for control over the city.

Our dwindling expedition of heros travel the multiverse in search of  Loth in the Demonweb Pits. But things are quickly falling apart. Battle for control of the group and the stress of a lost goddess push them to the edge.

This book was well written and there are some unexpected losses you’ll have to read to believe.

Extinction is the fourth book in the War of the Spider Queen Series. While, Lisa Smedmen weaved a hugh amount of Ryld’s tale in the book, it seemed very rushed. First, the beginning of the book seemed more like a cartoon version of the characters, compared to how they were represented in the first three novels. Second, who ever copy edited the novel should be fired. There were numous type-o’s, letter missing off the front of words and the world ”Underdark” spealled two different ways on the dame page. Third, the book just came to a screaming halt. I know it is part of a series, but the novel should still, to some degree, be able to stand on its own merits. Overall, she told and good story and it got better as the novel progressed.

I’ve been reading the War of the Spider Queen book series for some time now, in between other novels. Overall it is one of the best Forgotten Realms series. I’m on book four, Extinction. I loved the first three parts, especially Condemnation by Richard Baker.
The entire series was overseen by R. A. Salvatore, and takes place in Drow society. Lolth (The Spider Queen demi-god) has abandoned her worshippers. All of her priestesses denied of their divine magical abilities, which shakes the foundations of Drow society and sent off a a band of Drow adventurers to figure out what has gone for horribly wrong.
I usually don’t review books or book series until I’m done, but this one is too good to miss, even though I’m a little late in reading it.

Dissolution by Richard Lee Byers
Insurrection by Thomas M. Reid
Condemnation by Richard Baker
Extinction by Lisa Smedman
Annihilation by Philip Athans
Resurrection by Paul S. Kemp

All Cover Art by Brom

Renowned author Kurt Vonnegut died yesterday. Many will miss you!

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NYT: Darkly Humorous Works
LAT: Tom Wolfe On Vonnegut: ‘Closest Thing We Had To a Voltaire’ 
Salon: Andrew Leonard On Playing Chess With Vonnegut 
NPR (2006): Vonnegut Judges Modern Society
McSweeney’s (2002): The Best Jokes Are Dangerous 
Rolling Stone (2006): Vonnegut Says This is the End of the World 
Playboy (1973): Vonnegut on Science Fiction 
E&P: Editor Interviewed Vonnegut in 1974 
Atlantic Monthly (1955): Then GE Employee and Aspiring Novelist Vonnegut Recalls Days In The Army 
Salon (1999): The Salon Interview: Kurt Vonnegut 

R.A. Salvatore:

http://www.rasalvatore.com/