Tim’s Reviews > The Cataclysm > Status Update

8) The Cobbler' Son: about a kender being a journalist, asking the people about the mountain crash on Istar, etc.. But as it goes with Kender, the reports are in ADHD-style and things do go wrong, but you can't help but feel sorry for the poor fella. All in all, ok.

9) The Voyage Of The Sunchaser: very short story about a pirate ship nighing its doom and (non-)belief in the kingpriest. Pretty weak, imho.

7) Ogre Unaware: follow-up of "Off Day" in "The Reign Of Istar". While the latter was pretty good, this one was quite lame. Gully dwarves still searching a new place, the Cataclysm occurs, an ogre gets hit (loses memory), becomes friends with gullys, fight humans (as if it's nothing) who have caught the Highbulp Gorge III. Then a new smack on the head brings back Krog's memory, he's his violent self again...

6) Into Shadow, Into Light (Richard A. Knaak): story about the return of Rennard (a doomed ghost - I MUST read The Legend Of Huma to know why this is his fate). It's somehow related to TLOH, in that he tries to keep a young knight on the right path (revenge is not always the answer). Good story somehow with good values.

5) No Gods, No Heroes by Nick O'Donohoe: quite a funny story (dry humour too) about entrepreneurs seeking a profit after the Cataclysm. They get into trouble, of course, but there's friendship involved somehow. Plus, the Wolf brothers reminded me of Merry and Pippin (see LOTR) in the way they behaved and talked. But the lot's destination was also affected by the Cataclysm, but all ended well.

4) Seekers: about two people, a warrior & a kid who see their lives destroyed by the Cataclysm. The first sees his brother killed and his sister kidnapped. The second one sees his family die of a disease. Both meet each other on their way to their own goals, but both also want to ask the gods, esp. Paladine, why. Yet, none get an answer. The ending is a bit meager, imho.

3) The Bargain Driver: actually quite entertaining. Especially how it concludes. The Solamnic knight is a fool, very uncritical and just answers the call for help. The sales/tradeswoman thinks what the best outcome would be for all, sacrificing the promise of material wealth, which in the end doesn't provide happiness anyway. Also, the concept of city in ruin vs in full glory is very nice, I must say.

1) The Word And The Silence: as before, poems/songs by Michael Williams. Next!
2) Mark Of The Flame, Mark Of The Word: story about a kid trying to set the record (song) straight regarding his grandfather and father. Not a bad story, all in all, by Michael & Teri Williams.