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Watershed #1
A Breach in the Watershed
When the sacred Watershed is breached, the peaceful lands of Dalethica, Faerine, and Duloth-Trol witness the end of centuries of peace, and a group of heroes wage a battle against a dark god and his all-consuming thirst. Reprint.
464 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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369 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Niles
175 books236 followersDouglas Niles is a fantasy author and game designer. Niles was one of the creators of the Dragonlance world and the author of the first three Forgotten Realms novels, and the Top Secret S/I espionage role-playing game. He currently resides in Delavan, Wisconsin with his wife, Christine, and two Bouviets, Reggie and Stella. He enjoys playing his guitar, cooking, and visiting with family.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 1, 2013
The mid to late '90's wre something of a golden age for Dungeons and Dragons derived fantasy. Foremost among these, of course, were the various novels and short story collections put out by TSR (bask when it was still a going concern an d not just another sub-division of a subsidiary of a giant conglomerate) But the influence of the game extended far beyond into the fantasy genre directly. A new generation of readers and writers whose primary contact to fantasy fiction came as much from Saturday nights crowded around a gaming table in someone basement as it did from actually reading stories was rising.
Douglas Niles is one of the authors that came out of these scene (for lack of a better term,) part of the same pack that included RA Salvatore, Richard Knaak, as well as the inestimable team of Weis and Hickman. He was one of the original writers to work on the Dragonlance setting, and wrote the very first Forgotten Realms novel, Darkwalker on Moonshae. The Watershed Trilogy was among the first works he died outside the warm embrace of TSR.
In terms of style and plot, it shows its origins quite oplainly, being very much in the tradition of that old school high fantasy birthed by tolkien annd transmitted via D&D to ensuing generations. The hero, Rudger "Rudy" Appenfell, is a mountaineer (in the parlance of the world, an 'Iceman') who follws the usual hero's path from rustic obscurity to world-changing adventure and the ultimate showdown against the Evil Dark Lord. Pretty much standard fare by any account.
What I find interesting about this story (aside from nostaliga for my lost youth) isn't the plot, which is rather forgetible, bur rather what iut symbolizes. The effect dungeons and dragons has had on the developmenr of the fantasy genre over the last two ot three decades is a profound one (for better and for worse.) High fantasy tropes were cemented in place, with elves, dwarves and so on become the "default" races, for lack of a better term. , and in the process pushing the genre further into the mainstream.
When the Watershed trilogy came out, the mainstreaming had only just begun. In the eyes of the culture, fantasy was scifi even more dorky little brother and if you were into Dungeons and Dragons you tended to keep it to yourself (at my high school no one went around wearing a t-shirt with DUNGEON MASTER written on it unless he had a death wish...) Magic the Gathering was just an odd card game and an incipient moral panic. None of us at the time had an inkling that less than two decades later the genre would be winning academy awards and inspiring hit tv series on HBO. The generation of writers and readers raised on Dungeons and Dragons had a big part to do with that, and while the Watershed trilogy might count as little more than a footnote in the story of the fantasy genre, it was a sign of things to come.
Douglas Niles is one of the authors that came out of these scene (for lack of a better term,) part of the same pack that included RA Salvatore, Richard Knaak, as well as the inestimable team of Weis and Hickman. He was one of the original writers to work on the Dragonlance setting, and wrote the very first Forgotten Realms novel, Darkwalker on Moonshae. The Watershed Trilogy was among the first works he died outside the warm embrace of TSR.
In terms of style and plot, it shows its origins quite oplainly, being very much in the tradition of that old school high fantasy birthed by tolkien annd transmitted via D&D to ensuing generations. The hero, Rudger "Rudy" Appenfell, is a mountaineer (in the parlance of the world, an 'Iceman') who follws the usual hero's path from rustic obscurity to world-changing adventure and the ultimate showdown against the Evil Dark Lord. Pretty much standard fare by any account.
What I find interesting about this story (aside from nostaliga for my lost youth) isn't the plot, which is rather forgetible, bur rather what iut symbolizes. The effect dungeons and dragons has had on the developmenr of the fantasy genre over the last two ot three decades is a profound one (for better and for worse.) High fantasy tropes were cemented in place, with elves, dwarves and so on become the "default" races, for lack of a better term. , and in the process pushing the genre further into the mainstream.
When the Watershed trilogy came out, the mainstreaming had only just begun. In the eyes of the culture, fantasy was scifi even more dorky little brother and if you were into Dungeons and Dragons you tended to keep it to yourself (at my high school no one went around wearing a t-shirt with DUNGEON MASTER written on it unless he had a death wish...) Magic the Gathering was just an odd card game and an incipient moral panic. None of us at the time had an inkling that less than two decades later the genre would be winning academy awards and inspiring hit tv series on HBO. The generation of writers and readers raised on Dungeons and Dragons had a big part to do with that, and while the Watershed trilogy might count as little more than a footnote in the story of the fantasy genre, it was a sign of things to come.
May 22, 2015
ABSOLUTELY LOVE the characters. you fall in love with the world and the struggle immediately. Simple design of a fantasy world yet complex in the entanglements. You become immersed with the progression of the story, characters, and plot and will immediately grab book two. Very underrated and unnoticed series. Prepare to fall in love with the characters.
April 19, 2014
Epic. The first book to a trilogy that immerses you in the world of three realms - human, faerie, and demons. These realms are separated by watersheds; however, now there is a sinister plan afoot to crack the watershed and those begin the realm wars.
I read this trilogy starting in the 90's and it was so good I even brought the entire set. My only lament is that the second and third book is not in ebook form yet.
This book has everything - suspense, a regular joe smo hero you can like and many other wonderful supporting characters.
The author is also great at story telling so definitely a plus.
I read this trilogy starting in the 90's and it was so good I even brought the entire set. My only lament is that the second and third book is not in ebook form yet.
This book has everything - suspense, a regular joe smo hero you can like and many other wonderful supporting characters.
The author is also great at story telling so definitely a plus.
December 24, 2013
12/13 Douglas Niles is a great storyteller. This first volume of his Watershed trilogy is full of adventure and all the elements of good fantasy - prophecy, magic, jealousy, vengeance, a motley crew of unlikely characters who fight evil against overwhelming odds, and of course a bit of romance. The author's the inspiration for this book came from his trip to the Alps. Seeing the way the watershed separated in the Alps gave him the idea of a watershed that sent three types of water to very different lands creating a human realm, a magic/fairy realm, and a darkwater realm of death and decay. This trilogy needs to be put in electronic form!!!
April 18, 2020
For eons the Watershed has maintained the peace between the three lands - Dalethica, Faerine and Duluth-Trol. But there are dark forces abroad and the Sleepstealer has stirred. Rudy the Iceman finds himself plunged into his destiny when Prince Garamis, a pawn of the Lord Minion, sets into motion the evil which will threaten the lands. Rudy, together with a band of companions he gathers along the way, feels compelled to save the lands using the good force of Aurianth.
This is a very typical Dragonlance/Forgotten Realm type saga story but no less enjoyable - in fact having just discovered D&D, I possibly had more fun reading it than I would otherwise!
This is a very typical Dragonlance/Forgotten Realm type saga story but no less enjoyable - in fact having just discovered D&D, I possibly had more fun reading it than I would otherwise!
June 3, 2013
Douglas Niles is a gifted story teller. The land of three waters is a believable place, and you are instantly swept up as he weaves this tale.
Rudgar Appenfell is an "Iceman" - he and his brothers live high in the mountains and make a living by taking noblemen up into the heights. A young prince of Galtigor comes, and Rudy is cast down a path from which he cannot turn away. Loss, adventure, sacrifice and friendship will follow him as he meets his destiny.
If you enjoy fantasy, you'll want to read this book. Classic and yet unique, it's a great way to spend a rainy day.
Rudgar Appenfell is an "Iceman" - he and his brothers live high in the mountains and make a living by taking noblemen up into the heights. A young prince of Galtigor comes, and Rudy is cast down a path from which he cannot turn away. Loss, adventure, sacrifice and friendship will follow him as he meets his destiny.
If you enjoy fantasy, you'll want to read this book. Classic and yet unique, it's a great way to spend a rainy day.
October 24, 2015
Better than expected, but it's just more of the same old 90's d and d fantasy. Nothing really fresh or original.
August 1, 2019
This was kind of a fun book, even though I expected it would be dumb as hell. The story has the usual tropes of a local farm boy with a destiny, but then there's also a snow lion and demons and fairies and magical water, haha. What it does poorly is battle scenes are rushed or boring and the ending is...abrupt. The only thing I truly hated was that the map in the front of the book is confusing enough that I had to just conjure up my own idea of the map.
January 18, 2023
A well written story with characters you like, and well done character arcs, as well as pacing.
Could it have been done in fewer pages? Yes.
Could it have been worse? Yes it could have been much worse.
I have to say, for a book I randomly selected off a thrift shop shelf, this was surprisingly satisfying. That being said, it is apparently a trilogy and I don't have any reason to read the next one or the next one. So my adventure into Dalethica and Faerine ends here.
Could it have been done in fewer pages? Yes.
Could it have been worse? Yes it could have been much worse.
I have to say, for a book I randomly selected off a thrift shop shelf, this was surprisingly satisfying. That being said, it is apparently a trilogy and I don't have any reason to read the next one or the next one. So my adventure into Dalethica and Faerine ends here.
August 16, 2023
DNF at page 83. This book is written well and had excellent prose, I was unfortunately just not invested in the characters and was not engaged with the story. Very meh basic fantasy. It seems like it will be a typical story with good vs evil with a lot of focus on the watershed magic system. Just not exciting enough for me.
2/5 stars ⭐️
2/5 stars ⭐️
January 4, 2019
3.5⭐️
I enjoyed the story- but it is perhaps a little fantasy formulaic. It’s the first of a three part series so let’s see where it goes from here.
I enjoyed the story- but it is perhaps a little fantasy formulaic. It’s the first of a three part series so let’s see where it goes from here.
April 7, 2011
I read these books as a teen and was enthralled by the quick pacing and epic scale of the trilogy. Since then, I've realized that it's a Tolkien knockoff--with many more women and girls and without the all-important quest to destroy an evil object, but otherwise a lot of similarities. Still, these are fun books: the main characters are likable and they're not all the same old stereotypes (the hero's young niece plays a major role, for instance... and speaking of the hero, it's nice to read a fantasy where the protagonist is neither the illegitimate child of someone important, nor secretly the heir to a kingdom). There's plenty of action and some good epic battles, the romance is sweet and the world is fairly interesting. The continent on which the action takes place is divided into three lands--human, faerie, and evil--determined by what sorts of liquids flow in their rivers. Unfortunately, this leads to some bizarre logical errors: for instance, when evil minions invade, they dam the rivers to cut off the flow of water. That's right, cut it off completely. Every dam I've ever seen has had a river coming out of it, but not so in Niles's world, where it disappears or something.
Overall, I would say this book works well as light fantasy--I don't mean that no one dies, but that it's a good romp that we're not meant to think about too hard. I'd recommend it for teens and for those looking for fun, simple fantasy books. It gets four stars because, although it has its flaws, it was great entertainment and left me with a happy feeling inside.
Overall, I would say this book works well as light fantasy--I don't mean that no one dies, but that it's a good romp that we're not meant to think about too hard. I'd recommend it for teens and for those looking for fun, simple fantasy books. It gets four stars because, although it has its flaws, it was great entertainment and left me with a happy feeling inside.
September 30, 2008
This was a very good book. I have alway liked fantasy books and this book has done a great job creating a world. I like all the different aspects the author has put in the book. I also enjoy how the author added in the history at varying points so that you could get the context and better understand what is happening.
The enviroment and characters that the author made were very, very good. I also like the wonderful nonhuman creatures/people that he includes in this book and the individual personalities that he gives them.
The enviroment and characters that the author made were very, very good. I also like the wonderful nonhuman creatures/people that he includes in this book and the individual personalities that he gives them.
September 5, 2011
One important comment here as far recommendations go: if you intend to read these books than you have to open yourself to a bit of high fantasy. I enjoyed it (reading it sometime in early high school) but I was also very open to the genre. The key here is to know what you are getting into. That being said Douglas Niles had some very clear and elegant prose and these books were something I appreciated.
August 19, 2008
While I'm waiting for some books to come in to the library, I picked up this book from 10+ years ago. I vaguely remember the story, other than I liked it. Niles comes from the (better part of the) Dragonlance/Forgotten Realms fantasy pulp fiction and therefore is an easy, quick and quite harmless read.
August 4, 2014
Wow. I don't know why, but this book odor SO hard crore to get through. I almost gave up several times. Evan though the story had all key features I like in a fantasy book, I just couldn't get into it and stay.
I am going to get the second book, simply because I hate starting a trilogy and not finishing.
I am going to get the second book, simply because I hate starting a trilogy and not finishing.
September 11, 2007
This is a great, fun and light hearted read, as well as a very good fantasy novel to its own right. With memorable characters and a dramatic plot, you can never put this series down.
May 9, 2008
Fun story and the author does a good job putting together a interesting world.
April 1, 2009
I found this to be one of the most original fantasy books I've come across in a while.
August 8, 2012
My friend and an ex bought me the first two for Cheistmas years ago, great series!
February 27, 2013
A nice, easy read with adventure aplenty. The characters are likable and the world is interesting.
July 16, 2015
Great Book for all ages
Well written and entertaining in a classic fantasy style, this book (and series) is good reading for younger and more mature readers.
Well written and entertaining in a classic fantasy style, this book (and series) is good reading for younger and more mature readers.
July 26, 2012
Love this book and can't wait for the 2nd series: in the same line as Lord of the Ring.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews