High speed rail is far more interesting than this book28 March 2013tWell, I thought that I might write one commentary while I am sitting on the ICE (Inter-City Express) travelling at 300 kph (well not quite that fast but I do know that the train can hit those speeds) between Amsterdam and Frankfurt. Mind you second class is not really that cheap (though first class isn't actually much more, though when I was last here on a first class ticket we could basically sit where we wanted to, and got a our own private rooms). You simply have to love European High-speed rail (China and Japan have it as well, though I suspect that it does not exist in the United States, in the same way that it does not exist in Australia).tHowever, this is not about the wonders of high-speed rail, or criticisms of various governments because they have no interest in actually investing in the infrastructure of the country, and only look to profit margins in the same way that companies do. Instead this is a commentary on a rather ordinary book that is the second in a trilogy call 'The Empires Trilogy'. Basically it is about how the Mongols invaded China, but instead it is set in the Forgotten Realms, which is a Dungeons and Dragons product, so while the names have changed, the historical source remains the same.tPersonally, I can't remember much about this book, other than a horde of Mongols (or people who aren't strictly Mongols because Mongols do not exist in the Forgotten Realms, but we will call the Mongols anyway because we all know what we are talking about – actually, I think they were just called the Horde, but a Mongol Horde is somewhat more terrifying than a simple, everyday, average horde) attacking the Forgotten Realms version of China and being beaten off because of the Dragonwall, which is supposed to be a copy of The Great Wall of China (and it is a pretty blatant copy at that, particularly since the whole series are a blatant copy of the Mongol invasions). Mind you there is a significant difference between this book and the real event, and that is because in the historical event the Chinese lost and the Mongols ravished the place. So, even though the Great Wall was built, it turned out that it didn't work.tAnyway, I am almost at the Frankfurt Airport, which is my stop, so I better finish off now. Anyway, as for the book I would suggest blaah. I am sure there are better books to buy and waste your time reading than this one.
This one was much better than the first one. I like this author more, but I respect that the first story was really just laying the framework for the rest of the series. As with the first book, this one had very little magic and no monsters or anything...which made it not overly fantastic, but more of a war/cultural novel. However, at the end, when they move into Farun (or the main continent in forgotten realms) there is suddenly lots of magic and monsters for the last 30 pages. It really sets it up for the last book in the series, which I'm really looking forward to reading.This was a nice introduction to a new area in the forgotton realms world; definitely worth reading.
What do You think about Dragonwall (1990)?
Dragonwall is the 2nd book of the Empires Trilogy. From the opposite side of the story, this time we get the Shou Lung perspective after the end of Horselords. If the Tuigan from Book 1 are modeled after the Mongolians, the Shou Lung from Book 2 are modeled after the great Chinese Empire. The story brings to life the Far East lands of the Forgotten Realms World known as Kara-Tur. Wu-jen, Ronin, Bushido...lots of good fun with the Oriental theme.Wrapping up 1990 with the 2nd book in the Maztica series, Viperhand.
—Steve Ragusin
