Richard Knaak: AoC: HA - Soldier's Quest

Melkorus · 05-12-2007, 12:35 PM

I picked up Knaak's Age Of Conan Hyborian Adventures: Soldier's Quest last night. I got first 3 volumes (is there more? I couldn't find it any more volumes). I read through first 55 pages of volume 1, and so far it is a good read. I like Knaak's style of writing, it's very simple and easy to understand (unlke Robert Jordan) and yet it captures the pricture so well, tho he's not into details too much.

I think this would make for a good movie, but we'll see how it unfolds.

Rook has probably read all 3 volumes, is it a good read throughout?

DunWolf · 05-12-2007, 01:16 PM

It's a trilogy. All of the Hyborian Adventure books are trilogies.

I liked the story *the first one and last one are probably my favorites* but I didn't like Knaaks "plot device" to move the story forward or move Nermesa out of harm. You'll pick up on it quickly if you read all 3 books, but I guess that's what you can expect when you're the favored of Mitra.

TurQ · 05-12-2007, 02:20 PM

I find that most of the "Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures" novels are very good reads. I read Marauders by Jeff Mariotte (all 3) and wow, those books made me want Picts a playable race.

Lomi · 05-12-2007, 05:02 PM

I love Knaak, he wrote a warcraft trilogy documenting how the burning legion tried to come in and take things over and what happened between illidan and his brother involving the first druids and what not.

He also wrote the story for the warcraft manga that was produced by tokyo pop, i haven't read that though.

Craftblade · 05-12-2007, 10:16 PM

I'll have to check those out, loved Knaak's diablo books.

Kiltor · 05-13-2007, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lomi

I love Knaak, he wrote a warcraft trilogy documenting how the burning legion tried to come in and take things over and what happened between illidan and his brother involving the first druids and what not.

He also wrote the story for the warcraft manga that was produced by tokyo pop, i haven't read that though.

It's War of the Ancients and the manga is Sunwell Trilogy. After I'm done reading the legends of kern I'm gonna pick up the soldiers quest.

Melkorus · 05-13-2007, 02:11 AM

How's Kern by the way? Grimnir said he likes it, but on official conan forums there is a lot of disliking to kern series, mostly because it conflicts with lore way too much.

Kiltor · 05-13-2007, 03:56 PM

Yeah I've seen the forums about it, but I like it. People on the forums act like they are REH's second cousin and know everything

Melkorus · 05-16-2007, 10:03 AM

Finished volume 1 last night, I'm a little let down. Overall it was decent read, but I have to say Robert Jordan's writing was better. This novel in particular lacked that sinister feeling to it, tho a lot of such nature happened all throughout the story. Knaak just failed to capture his readers, and I could guess the coming of few important twists in the story.

Also, just like Dunwolf pointed out, I don't like the way he engages and disengages main character in/from the action, and I think this particular aspect is why he fails to capture the dark and grim setting that REH did oh too well.

Above all, things that bothered me the most with this story are:
1. He never explained how Kathak escaped from Iron Tower - makes King Conan and Black Dragons look like idiots.
2. How he describes some battle. Like toward the end when he tried to capture Kathi and failed, then ran, the fight that followed that was extremely boring and unorganized (writing wise). Even the fight with Gullah was insignificant (as far as readers getting excited). If it was REH writing he would capture his readers better with the Nermesa killing some random pict in the wilderness than Knaak did by making him kill The One That Lives In The Moon.
3. Pointless scenarios. A lot of time I felt like he was just making up filler scenarios as they had no significance to the story. One in particular that pissed me off was towards the end when Nermesa tries to get across the raging river across some trees that I in no way could picture in my head. He went on for like 4 freaking pages of nothing in there, that entire segment could have been skipped, he didn't make it across the river after all. But if he had to, a freaking half a page would do just fine.
Another such event was a fight with the half-wolves........so wth was that all about. Tho that fight was more interesting than one with Gullah, it had no purpose in this story.

Started reading volume 2. So far I'm biased about it. I don't think I'll like the plot, and I don't like how he pussies Conan already. If it was the Conan I knew from REH, regardless of his position as a king, he would have decaped that baron that killed the other one in his court...where weapons were not allowed. Tho I haven't read through the segment that finalizes the decision about that baron, I can only imagine he'll simply be released as if nothing had happened.

Overall, for vol 1, I'll say 3 out of 5. I think Knaak needs to work on his battle scenes.......BIG TIME. The only decent battle scene was final one against Kathi, that was a bit better than all the rest in the novel.

Lomi · 05-16-2007, 03:42 PM

Knaak's writing isn't used to being as grim as most conan people would probably expect so I can see how he probably doesn't fit too well in a conan world, though usually I've noticed he writes stories that go the way he is told they are supposed to go like the warcraft novels, from what I understand the history of the events already existed and blizzard said write these novels and make these events happen.

05-12-2007, 12:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Melkorus The Old Timer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: St. Louis Posts: 4,185	Richard Knaak: AoC: HA - Soldier's Quest I picked up Knaak's Age Of Conan Hyborian Adventures: Soldier's Quest last night. I got first 3 volumes (is there more? I couldn't find it any more volumes). I read through first 55 pages of volume 1, and so far it is a good read. I like Knaak's style of writing, it's very simple and easy to understand (unlke Robert Jordan) and yet it captures the pricture so well, tho he's not into details too much. I think this would make for a good movie, but we'll see how it unfolds. Rook has probably read all 3 volumes, is it a good read throughout? __________________

05-13-2007, 02:11 AM	#7 (permalink)
Melkorus The Old Timer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: St. Louis Posts: 4,185	How's Kern by the way? Grimnir said he likes it, but on official conan forums there is a lot of disliking to kern series, mostly because it conflicts with lore way too much. __________________

05-13-2007, 03:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
Kiltor Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: from philly-station in cali Posts: 125	Yeah I've seen the forums about it, but I like it. People on the forums act like they are REH's second cousin and know everything __________________

05-16-2007, 10:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
Melkorus The Old Timer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: St. Louis Posts: 4,185	Finished volume 1 last night, I'm a little let down. Overall it was decent read, but I have to say Robert Jordan's writing was better. This novel in particular lacked that sinister feeling to it, tho a lot of such nature happened all throughout the story. Knaak just failed to capture his readers, and I could guess the coming of few important twists in the story. Also, just like Dunwolf pointed out, I don't like the way he engages and disengages main character in/from the action, and I think this particular aspect is why he fails to capture the dark and grim setting that REH did oh too well. Above all, things that bothered me the most with this story are: 1. He never explained how Kathak escaped from Iron Tower - makes King Conan and Black Dragons look like idiots. 2. How he describes some battle. Like toward the end when he tried to capture Kathi and failed, then ran, the fight that followed that was extremely boring and unorganized (writing wise). Even the fight with Gullah was insignificant (as far as readers getting excited). If it was REH writing he would capture his readers better with the Nermesa killing some random pict in the wilderness than Knaak did by making him kill The One That Lives In The Moon. 3. Pointless scenarios. A lot of time I felt like he was just making up filler scenarios as they had no significance to the story. One in particular that pissed me off was towards the end when Nermesa tries to get across the raging river across some trees that I in no way could picture in my head. He went on for like 4 freaking pages of nothing in there, that entire segment could have been skipped, he didn't make it across the river after all. But if he had to, a freaking half a page would do just fine. Another such event was a fight with the half-wolves........so wth was that all about. Tho that fight was more interesting than one with Gullah, it had no purpose in this story. Started reading volume 2. So far I'm biased about it. I don't think I'll like the plot, and I don't like how he pussies Conan already. If it was the Conan I knew from REH, regardless of his position as a king, he would have decaped that baron that killed the other one in his court...where weapons were not allowed. Tho I haven't read through the segment that finalizes the decision about that baron, I can only imagine he'll simply be released as if nothing had happened. Overall, for vol 1, I'll say 3 out of 5. I think Knaak needs to work on his battle scenes.......BIG TIME. The only decent battle scene was final one against Kathi, that was a bit better than all the rest in the novel. __________________ Last edited by Melkorus; 05-16-2007 at 10:09 AM.

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05-12-2007, 01:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
DunWolf Banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Tarantia Posts: 2,286	It's a trilogy. All of the Hyborian Adventure books are trilogies. I liked the story the first one and last one are probably my favorites but I didn't like Knaaks "plot device" to move the story forward or move Nermesa out of harm. You'll pick up on it quickly if you read all 3 books, but I guess that's what you can expect when you're the favored of Mitra.

05-12-2007, 02:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
TurQ Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 756	I find that most of the "Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures" novels are very good reads. I read Marauders by Jeff Mariotte (all 3) and wow, those books made me want Picts a playable race.

05-12-2007, 05:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lomi Banned Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 868	I love Knaak, he wrote a warcraft trilogy documenting how the burning legion tried to come in and take things over and what happened between illidan and his brother involving the first druids and what not. He also wrote the story for the warcraft manga that was produced by tokyo pop, i haven't read that though.

05-12-2007, 10:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
Craftblade Banned Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,372	I'll have to check those out, loved Knaak's diablo books.

05-16-2007, 03:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
Lomi Banned Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 868	Knaak's writing isn't used to being as grim as most conan people would probably expect so I can see how he probably doesn't fit too well in a conan world, though usually I've noticed he writes stories that go the way he is told they are supposed to go like the warcraft novels, from what I understand the history of the events already existed and blizzard said write these novels and make these events happen.