I'd always wanted to read Gary Gygax's fiction as a D&D-devoted teenager, but I'd never heard anything good about it and it wasn't carried in any local libraries, so I wasn't about to lay down any cash on a bookstore special order. And, in retrospect, I wasn't missing much. Whatever else one says about the first Gord the Rogue novel, it's not good. It's a lazily-constructed picaresque that slaloms erratically between styles, starting off as a promising Peake-ish phantasmagoria but quickly cleaving to its roleplaying game roots, and spending a chapter each on a heist, a great escape, a land battle, a dungeon adventure, as well as a variety of highly game-flavored scenes of character development.It's not hard to see why the series never had the traction of, say, its DragonLance contemporaries.Still, if you're a fan (or recovering fan) of Dungeons & Dragons, it's a fun read. There's an unmistakeable Gygaxian flavor throughout: there are glaive-guisarmes and fauchard-forks, the color ochre rears its head at least once, a druid casts a reverse Sticks to Snakes, and you can almost pinpoint the moment after each adventure when Gord levels up. The world of Greyhawk emerges in a more personal and evocative manner than was possible in the sourcebooks.And beyond all that, Gygax's love for his source material-- Lieber, Howard, Vance, et al.-- shines through it all. Never mind that the man couldn't craft a city as sordid as Lankhmar or a leading man as roguish and interesting as Conan. He did his best, and his enthusiasm carries the books, even when the plot fails him. I'm not going to be rushing into reading the rest of the series, but I'm glad I finally got around to this one. And I've got book #2 waiting for the next time nostalgia takes hold.Thanks, Mr. Gygax. Thygax.
tThe problem with trying to comment on the writing style of a book that I read when I was a teenager is that I cannot remember exactly how it was written and how it compares to many of the true classics of the genre that are out there. Granted, I doubt the Gary Gygax ever set out to actually write a work of literature, but rather to write a book that hordes of pimply roleplaying geeks would spend their money on because it was connected with Dungeons and Dragons.tI was fortunate in that the library that I visited did carry a number of these old books, and moreso that I had a friend that would pretty much purchase every Dungeons and Dragons book that was published (and I tell you what, his collection was massive) and as such I could go and borrow his books (after he finished reading them of course) and them read them myself.tI have said it before, and I will say it again, there are really only two reasons these books were written, the first being to simply cash in on a captive market, and secondly to provide players and dungeon masters with examples of how a certain world comes together. It is simply an exercise in imagination, and particularly since the Hollywood scene at the time did not have much in the way of fantasy films (Willow was pretty much the best fantasy film around at the time – oh, that's right, there was also Conan), all of us fantasy aficionados simply had to resort to books, and if we wanted something that was specifically Dungeons and Dragons related, we have to wait for such a book to be released.
What do You think about Saga Of Old City (1986)?
I went in expecting to really love this; afterall, Gary Gygax wrote it! I wasn't blown away by the writing style as I expected I might be, and the book took more effort than it should have for me to read. It's written as a gaming adventure would be played, and I'm wondering why I thought it would be any different considering that was Gary's forte. I thought it ended stronger than it started, and I definitely got a look into Greyhawk and they way Gary's mind works. Overall I call it a win for my purposes, but not a form of literary genius.
—Trillian1117
This was the first book i ever bought myself, at the age of nine while in a used book store with my mother i found a with a cool picture of a demon on the cover. Little did i know in the twenty one plus years ive owned my copy i would read it over fifty times. My opinion is biased since this is the book that opened up the worlds of fantasy to me. Though i truly believe that its a great story, and if youve ever played d&d or read any forgotten realms novels you should pick this up. Gygax was one of the minds behind the game, and this is the world he ran in and loved, the one he designed and Gord his char. Even after splitting with tsr Gygax continued writing about gord.
—Mike
I found this on the $1 rack at half-price books in Seattle and immediately recognized the name Gary Gygax as the father of Dungeons and Dragons. How cool am I?In any event, the writing is pretty bad - obviously he Gygax never heard of the 'show, don't tell' dictum; every line is just more telling. Fortunately, the plot moves rapidly and is full of nonstop action. The first half of the book is entertaining as the eponymous Gord runs around causing havoc and stealing for his own benefit. I would rate this a solid three stars: nothing special, but fun to read nonetheless. Unfortunately, the book gets bogged down in its need for action and it becomes one meaningless loot-filled battle after another. You stop caring about the characters as the only drive to the plot is to get yet another stash of rubies or glowing sword. That half drags this down to a 'meh' and two stars.
—Adam Calhoun
