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The well-executed and popular Forgotten Realms game of the same name is the basis for this novel. The inevitable question of any review of the novel is "Is the novel as good as the game?"

This is a difficult question to answer because the novel is very different from the story line presented in the computer game. It is sufficiently different that a comparison between the two becomes a comparison between apples and oranges. In other words, evaluating the novel by a strict standard of the computer game is not easy. This is probably Athans intent. However, because of the computer game, comparisons are both necessary and inevitable.

The story is of a fighter named Abdel who is one of a gaggle of children Bhaal sired before his unfortunate encounter with Cyric on that bridge. (If you wondered what the Lord of Murder was doing while the story followed Bane and Mightnight, now we know: he was shagging females of every sentient species he encountered.) Abdel must discover and come to terms with his heritage and at the same time thwart an evil conspiracy by another of Bhaal's children. Along the way, he meets a host of intrusting characters.

On it's own the novel is good, concise and generally engaging. However, the story in the novel is not quite as good the one in the computer game. The problem is not that the novel is simply different, but the story presented in the game is better.

In one fashion, the novel improves upon the game. In the computer game, the date is the middle of the summer of 1368. Supposedly, Bhaal sired all the children during the Time of Troubles. This would mean the main character in the game is nine or 10 years old. Unless the main character aged abnormally fast, and there is not hint of this in the game, this date does not work because 10 years old is simply too young. The novel does not set a date but it does say that Abdel is an adult who has been working as a mercenary for several years. This suggests that the story takes place in 1378, if not later. As such, the Realms altering events that take place during the story are not going to happen for some time.

A section that does capture the mood and story of the game is the scene in the Cloakwood with the spiders. It is a very disturbing scene that manages to drive home just how icky giant spiders are as monsters.

One problem with the novel is the above mentioned "host of interesting characters." Most of them die, including Xan, Xzar, Montaron, Yeslic, Khalid, and Jaheira. While Abdel does not meet all the characters in the game, all those he does meet die. Their dying is not the problem, but the introduction of more characters -- particularly the more interesting characters - would have been good. Drizzt, Cadderly, and Elminster do not appear in the novel -- make of that what you will. Of interest to those who's game is set in or around Baldurs Gate is the Scar and Eltan both die.

Another way the novel does not quite measure up to the computer game is the lack of dream sequences. In the computer game there were several dream sequences that helped move the story forwards and set the mood. There is one dream sequence in the novel, but it has little to do with the story, and does not move the plot forwards, even if it does help set the mood.

Many scenes in the game were not included in the novel. One is the scene in the bar where a non-playing character tell the main character that the strongest things are love of family and fear of death and that a family that loved death would be very dangerous. A second is the scene when the party has to kill the doppelgangers disguised as childhood friends of the main character. These two scenes helped make the story in the computer game, but they do not exist in the novel.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 3 (Average)

Baldurs Gate: The Novel
Author: Philip Athans Category: Novel Company/Publisher: TSR Line: Forgotten Realms Cost: 5.99 Page count: 250 ISBN: 0-7869-1525-0 Capsule Review by Robert Sullivan on 07/12/99. Genre tags: Fantasy Conspiracy	The well-executed and popular Forgotten Realms game of the same name is the basis for this novel. The inevitable question of any review of the novel is "Is the novel as good as the game?" This is a difficult question to answer because the novel is very different from the story line presented in the computer game. It is sufficiently different that a comparison between the two becomes a comparison between apples and oranges. In other words, evaluating the novel by a strict standard of the computer game is not easy. This is probably Athans intent. However, because of the computer game, comparisons are both necessary and inevitable. The story is of a fighter named Abdel who is one of a gaggle of children Bhaal sired before his unfortunate encounter with Cyric on that bridge. (If you wondered what the Lord of Murder was doing while the story followed Bane and Mightnight, now we know: he was shagging females of every sentient species he encountered.) Abdel must discover and come to terms with his heritage and at the same time thwart an evil conspiracy by another of Bhaal's children. Along the way, he meets a host of intrusting characters. On it's own the novel is good, concise and generally engaging. However, the story in the novel is not quite as good the one in the computer game. The problem is not that the novel is simply different, but the story presented in the game is better. In one fashion, the novel improves upon the game. In the computer game, the date is the middle of the summer of 1368. Supposedly, Bhaal sired all the children during the Time of Troubles. This would mean the main character in the game is nine or 10 years old. Unless the main character aged abnormally fast, and there is not hint of this in the game, this date does not work because 10 years old is simply too young. The novel does not set a date but it does say that Abdel is an adult who has been working as a mercenary for several years. This suggests that the story takes place in 1378, if not later. As such, the Realms altering events that take place during the story are not going to happen for some time. A section that does capture the mood and story of the game is the scene in the Cloakwood with the spiders. It is a very disturbing scene that manages to drive home just how icky giant spiders are as monsters. One problem with the novel is the above mentioned "host of interesting characters." Most of them die, including Xan, Xzar, Montaron, Yeslic, Khalid, and Jaheira. While Abdel does not meet all the characters in the game, all those he does meet die. Their dying is not the problem, but the introduction of more characters -- particularly the more interesting characters - would have been good. Drizzt, Cadderly, and Elminster do not appear in the novel -- make of that what you will. Of interest to those who's game is set in or around Baldurs Gate is the Scar and Eltan both die. Another way the novel does not quite measure up to the computer game is the lack of dream sequences. In the computer game there were several dream sequences that helped move the story forwards and set the mood. There is one dream sequence in the novel, but it has little to do with the story, and does not move the plot forwards, even if it does help set the mood. Many scenes in the game were not included in the novel. One is the scene in the bar where a non-playing character tell the main character that the strongest things are love of family and fear of death and that a family that loved death would be very dangerous. A second is the scene when the party has to kill the doppelgangers disguised as childhood friends of the main character. These two scenes helped make the story in the computer game, but they do not exist in the novel. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 3 (Average)

Baldurs Gate: The Novel