What's up + favorite book?

[ZombieMagnet]

Hey, just wanted to say I think this is a really great site. Really takes me back to when I was 10 or so, getting the first four Lone Wolf books from my school library... I had never managed to find the fifth one, and when I finally got it for a birthday my interest had sort of waned (and oh god the sewers, the unholy frickin sewers). I stumbled on this site after reading about Choose Your Own Adventure books on wikipedia.com and just about spent the entire day playing through the first six(!) books. Surprisingly enough I still remembered Banedon, and I just had to smile when I saw that image of him in the ruins, in the first book...

Other memories include the five travelers on the way to the mountain kingdom, and the army of the undead rising after three days in book 4; that I dedicated my nickname to, the get-freed-from-the-basement-by-skeletons thing was just too freaky for my gradeschool mind. I made damn well sure I stayed out of any log cabins this time around.

Ah, yeah, so let's give this rant some purpose: is there any book you like in particular? I'm personally fond of Fire on the Water; what with the sailing, the weirdos on the coach, the official-sounding business to get to Hammerdal and desperate escape with Rhygar, the Noodnics and the big sea battle at the end... IMO it's the book with the most character, so to speak.

[Doomy]

Welcome aboard! Shadow on the Sand is probably my personal favourite because a large part of it is one long chase sequence. I think it is overall one of the best-written episodes with a real sense of drama and urgency.

[Zipp]

Are you one of the intelligent zombies? Or a combined hoard of them? Or just a magnet for their essence? Because I am a Zombie slayer at heart. Oh, no offense meant by this or anything. Just watch your back and listen for the delicate sound of a chainsaw.

Now on to question. I have fond memories of the Legacy of Vashna. I like the darkness of it, the gothic nature, and the mysterious appearances of a new cast of characters (like Alyss and Shamath). It also ties up a slightly loose plot line from book 4 *waaaaay back* Then, too, it leads into the Darklord of Ixia, which is another good one. Mostly because it has the undead in abbundance. And they are so fun to slay.

[Black Cat]

Cool, another guy from Montréal! ;D

There's different posts in these forums about the favorite books of each series (The Kai, Magnakai, Grand Master, New Order and World of Lone Wolf). You might want to take a look around. There's plenty of cool ideas and stuff around here.

So, you are a Zombie Magnet? I understand, I'm a Chick Magnet myself! ;D

[Sol]

ZM,

I love your handle. I found that particular section of Chasm of Doom to be creepy as well - and yes, I never go into the cellar anymore!

Sol

[Nathan P. Mahney]

My favourite book of the series is Shadow on the Sand, without a doubt. It has such an evocative setting, as well as giving you a lot of interesting paths to explore. The other book that I like a lot is Dungeons of Torgar, for similar reasons. I love the three paths that you can take, especially the Battle of Cetza.

And chalk up another person creeped out by that section in Book 4! Upon my return to Lone Wolf I had completely forgotten about it, so those undead fiends claimed me a second time!

[North Star]

Black said:

So, you are a Zombie Magnet? I understand, I'm a Chick Magnet myself! ;D

Ah, so THAT explains the constant streams of hens and ready-laid eggs following you around. The clucking was starting to get on my nerves!
*is not going to make a dodgy British/US joke about [thingy]s*

NS.

Edit: Realised of course that I can't anyway. C O C K S is what I was trying to say up there

[Sol]

Trivia Question of the Day:

How many games of Lone Wolf have you played? How old were you when you started?

[Darkash]

How many games have I played: Too many to count!

How old was I when I started: That's a bit more interesting. I was 11 years old, and that sparks an interesting story. I was in 6th grade, and we went up to the high school one day around the end of the year to look around and get our bearings. A teacher there was giving away a lot of books: a table's worth. One to each person. When my teacher mentioned that I loved to read (still do, in fact, a book every 2-3 days or so.), the other teacher gave me a book. Turned out to be Grey Star 2. What really gets me? I now realise that the line of small, black books on the table was THE ENTIRE LONE WOLF AND GREY STAR SERIES! At least the 20 LW and 4GS books published in America. Just sitting there, and I didn't realize it! I went back later, but coulden't find that many books. (This was at the start of the next year) Just Fire on the Water, Shadow on the Sand, and the Kingdoms of Terror. (Still some of my favorite books.) Earlier this year, I found a great copy of GS 1 in the teacher's old stock (she had left). That's all I have in RL and GS 2 is in pieces, and Kingdoms of Terror and Fire on the Water are getting there. It pains me to this day, all those books there, and I missed out.

[Sol]

Darkash,

That is a truly great story. It reminds me of an interesting Lone Wolf experience I have had. Several, actually.

The first two Lone Wolf books were given to me when I was young (10 maybe?). I remember these well for although they were US versions, they also had color maps. Later I would give these away as a gift, but anyway...

I knew that the third book was called Caverns of Kalte which was simple because it was named at the end of Book 2. For some reason, though, I could never find it. I looked at the library, etc. Had the series ended at Book 2 after all?

Then one day I happened into a bargain bookstore. Wow! It was years later - I was 13 then, and boy had I been in a cave! They were all there - not just 1-3, but 1-6! I pledged myself to collect them all. High School was a wonderous time because I could go down to the Bookstore and little by little, I collected up to Book 12.

Then it ended. With a tear in my eye, I read the last paragraph of Book 12. The adventure was over. Or was it?

Then the premonitions began. In my dreams I knew that there was more - I became obsessed with the conviction that there were indeed levels of power far beyond that of the Magnakai. And yet when I returned to that last paragraph of Book 12, it was hard and cold. I scoured the book for a clue that there was more. In future times, the record will tell of the adventures you undertook as a Kai Grand Master, it said, until the time comes for their telling... and that was all.

One day I discovered the first of the Grand Master books, number 13. More proud days followed. I collected all of these. And then, another ending.

The dreams began again.

I began to experience the idea that there were yet more adventures. I dreamed of visiting Britain and finding a dusty little shop with all the Lone Wolf books in it. All the books... 1-20... but that was not all. There were a handful of books beyond the 20th book. And of course they were on sale! So I bought them ALL - and promptly woke up.

I had this dream several times. Was it fiction? I always asked at book stores whether there were any new Dever books. The answer was always "no." But the dream was so compelling. Then one day (the Internet was fairly new) I did a search on Lone Wolf, and yet again my eyes were opened as if for the first time...

The New Order books. These DID exist! I was fascinated. Alas that I still could not purchase these, but I always had hope that one day these, too, would be republished in the US.

One day recently then, Project Aon... my newest discovery. Lone Wolf on the net at last. I have come home.

[Nathan P. Mahney]

Looks like your Discipline of Divination was giving you premonitions, Sol! Perhaps you should have gone spirit walking?

[Sol]

Nathan said:

Looks like your Discipline of Divination was giving you premonitions, Sol! Perhaps you should have gone spirit walking?

That would have been VERY useful if I could have come back with an armful of books!

[Sol]

I would say that my favourite book would be "The Deathlord of Ixia." Yes, it is my new favourite. My old favourite might have been The Prisoners of Time.

The Deathlord story was very dark. You knew you were going up against ultimate evil. I mean, even the Darklords were afraid to tread in Ixia EVEN THOUGH the Deathlord was imprisoned! Plus he has an entire army of undead. His minions brought back old fears... you know, the kind you got when you found yourself staring into the eyes of a Helghast for the first time in Book 2 (maybe without your magic spear!) These guys were just plain powerful, and even with stacking, this became a deadly game for me - I did not dare to use the Sommerswerd for fear of being discovered.

The book faces you against truly deadly enemies on an epic scale. I will never forget the scene where Lone Wolf emerges from hiding aboard his ship only to find that all of the crew has been murdered. Where are they? Heaped against the mast (DARK IMAGE) whilst the dark ones invoke evil powers, transforming all of them into undead. WOW.

[Zipp]

So while we're on the subject: how about least favorite book?

I haven't read it in over eight years, but I don't remember liking the Darke Crusade much.

Sol might vote for Flight from the Dark after having to play it so many times.

Okay, and with that I'm off for the night. I've been sitting here working on Silencer since 10:00am and my brain's a bit addled.

[Black Cat]

Maybe we should start a new thread then? We are going a little bit (just a little bit) off topic.