Simple question: Are any of the Magic novels any good?
And I mean actually good.
I've read some reviews, but I would hazard a guess that amateur reviews for novels based on existing fiction with a strong fan base are often skewed (I might be wrong). So, I'd like to hear some really critical opinions, from folk who have discerning taste for their literature!
I read mainly sci-fi, but only a select number of authors, due to there being a lot of bad writing in the genre (isn't there in any?). Read the likes Iain M Banks (RIP man), Alastair Reynolds and people like that, plus have read most of the main sci-fi classics. I also read a bit of fantasy (very selectively) and a plethora of other fiction (mostly trying to catch up on classics) and non-fic.
So, would any of the Magic novels be reviewed highly by a non-Magic fan critic or average discerning reader? I have a feeling they're probably all dross, but I thought it might be worth asking on here.
Simple question: Are any of the Magic novels any good?
And I mean actually good.
I've read some reviews, but I would hazard a guess that amateur reviews for novels based on existing fiction with a strong fan base are often skewed (I might be wrong). So, I'd like to hear some really critical opinions, from folk who have discerning taste for their literature!
I read mainly sci-fi, but only a select number of authors, due to there being a lot of bad writing in the genre (isn't there in any?). Read the likes Iain M Banks (RIP man), Alastair Reynolds and people like that, plus have read most of the main sci-fi classics. I also read a bit of fantasy (very selectively) and a plethora of other fiction (mostly trying to catch up on classics) and non-fic.
So, would any of the Magic novels be reviewed highly by a non-Magic fan critic or average discerning reader? I have a feeling they're probably all dross, but I thought it might be worth asking on here.
Thanks in advance!!
You are better off searching the storyline forum for advice on what to read. The general consensus is that most of the recent novels aren't very good, but YMMV.
The Secretist (Return to Ravnica) novel was pretty good for me.
Scars of Mirrodin is pretty uniformly regarded as terrible. I couldn't even finish it.
Zendikar was also pretty bad.
Shards of Alara is considered pretty bad.
Agents of Artifice is considered pretty good, as is the Purifying fire, but Test of Metal barely makes sense.
The original Ravnica Block novels were pretty good, but that's as much of the fiction as I've read.
You are better off searching the storyline forum for advice on what to read. The general consensus is that most of the recent novels aren't very good, but YMMV.
The Secretist (Return to Ravnica) novel was pretty good for me.
Scars of Mirrodin is pretty uniformly regarded as terrible. I couldn't even finish it.
Zendikar was also pretty bad.
Shards of Alara is considered pretty bad.
Agents of Artifice is considered pretty good, as is the Purifying fire, but Test of Metal barely makes sense.
The original Ravnica Block novels were pretty good, but that's as much of the fiction as I've read.
Thanks for the advice - I'll take a look at the storyline forum and keep your recommendations in mind!
The Ice Age Triology (The Gathering Dark, The Eternal Ice, The Shattered Aliance) and Torment were the best Magic books that I have read. Ice Age was awesome with the amazing character development of Jodah, and an in-depth look at how magic actually works for characters on Dominaria.
The Invasion block lacked a deep storyline, but it did contain non-stop fighting and carnage if you are into that sort of thing.
Thanks for the advice - I'll take a look at the storyline forum and keep your recommendations in mind!
Note that you can start reading with Agents of Artifice and not really miss anything. The wiki is fantastic for reading up on storylines, and most of early magic resolves around Urza or the Weatherlight, neither of which are every going to be seen again. The sole exception being Karn.
I read the first few like 10 years ago, I really enjoyed them, but I was also 14. I am not downing them at all, but who knows what I would think of them now.
I remember them really drawing on the imagination.
The newer Magic novels (Planeswalkers and RTR) are easier to read.
I actually like the RTR series of novels. It's not lore-heavy like The Silmarillion of LOTR. Rather it's a light read that can be easily appreciated by teenagers and adults alike.
Just about any anthology is good. Anything by Jeff Grubb or Clayton Emery is good. Scott McGough and Cory J. Herndon are generally recommended (though do skip the Lorwyn/Shadowmoor stuff if you can't be predominantly driven by a constant sense of mystery). I haven't experienced much in the way of prerevisionist, but Arena is certainly every bit as good as they say. As far as post-Mending, the modern era? Much like DC's Flashpoint and onward, it's generally a period of constant retcons, poor writing and general garbage, with what few bright spots exist constantly being snuffed out. Read ONLY Agents of Artifice and perhaps the Purifying Flame, and avoid everything else if you're uncomfortable with the notion that you wasted time you could've spent on literally ANYTHING else.
About any "subpar" mechanics or cards: Context is king.
If I make a templating or grammar error, let me know.
The franchise MtG most resembles is Battlestar Galactica. Why? Its players exist in, at most, a dozen different models at any given point in time, with perhaps up to 3% variation, 5% if you're lucky.
I didn't say it was bad, and in fact, the stuff that happens in Apocalypse is basically MTG Steampunk. Urza created battle mechs that would fit in during Pacific Rim or something.
The invasion/destruction of Phyrexia was one of the best story line arcs ever in MTG. Too bad there wasn't much card representation of this, aside from a couple like phyrexian arena, death grasp. I would have liked it if they somehow made lands based on the 9 spheres of phyrexia. Now that would be neat.
Dominarian legends speak of a mighty conflict, obscured by the mists of history. Of a conflict between the brothers Urza and Mishra for supremacy on the continent of Terisiare. Of titanic engines that scarred and twisted the very planet. Of a final battle that sank continents and shook the skies.
The saga of the Brothers' War." - Artifacts Cycle, Book I
"A rich man thinks all other people are rich, and an intelligent man thinks all other people are similarly gifted. Both are always terribly shocked when they discover the truth of the world. You, my dear brother, are a pious man." - Strahd von Zarovich
As someone who owns all the novels, they're really hit or miss. The farther back you go in the series, the better the stories were. Arena is among my favorites as is the Greensleeves Trilogy (Whispering Woods, Shattered Chains and Final Sacrifice). Most of the Anthologies are weak as is most everything that took place somewhere other than Dominaria.
I liked the dragon ruler story in Colors of Magic, equally I enjoyed The Brother's War. The Thran was also good as well which explains the beginning of all Magic. Quite frankly, I do wish they would have done one prequel to cover the Thran as an empire.
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I've found most of the novels to be very out of touch and flavor with the game and sometimes even contradictory to "cannon" storylines that are told to us through the medium of the blocks themselves. All of which can be really discombobulating.
That said, the Kamigawa ones were really good, as were the Ravnica ones. Past that, I can't really recommend any, especially the recent ones. Agents of Artifice and Alara Unbroken are at least not quite so lorebreaking, but neither is especially compelling or well written. The Quest for Karn (or whatever the SoM novel was called) disregarded pretty much all of what made Scars the block it was. I felt like I was reading an alternate universe.
Honestly, if you want my opinion, approach the novels with caution. I've been much, much happier with the short story column on the mothership.
Agents of Artifice and The Purifying Fire are both pretty good. Not great, but you're better off grabbing them than choosing at random from the BAM Fantasy/SciFi section.
The Artifacts Cycle 1 I absolutely love. I love Yawgmoth, I love Mishra, I love Urza. It feels like it wasn't written in the MtG universe it was writing the MtG universe and thus did things wholly as the plot demanded rather than care very much about the color pie and stuff. But then Artifacts Cycle 2 happened and I really just don't care about Karn or Gerrard at all.
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Simple question: Are any of the Magic novels any good?
And I mean actually good.
I've read some reviews, but I would hazard a guess that amateur reviews for novels based on existing fiction with a strong fan base are often skewed (I might be wrong). So, I'd like to hear some really critical opinions, from folk who have discerning taste for their literature!
I read mainly sci-fi, but only a select number of authors, due to there being a lot of bad writing in the genre (isn't there in any?). Read the likes Iain M Banks (RIP man), Alastair Reynolds and people like that, plus have read most of the main sci-fi classics. I also read a bit of fantasy (very selectively) and a plethora of other fiction (mostly trying to catch up on classics) and non-fic.
So, would any of the Magic novels be reviewed highly by a non-Magic fan critic or average discerning reader? I have a feeling they're probably all dross, but I thought it might be worth asking on here.
Thanks in advance!!
You are better off searching the storyline forum for advice on what to read. The general consensus is that most of the recent novels aren't very good, but YMMV.
The Secretist (Return to Ravnica) novel was pretty good for me.
Scars of Mirrodin is pretty uniformly regarded as terrible. I couldn't even finish it.
Zendikar was also pretty bad.
Shards of Alara is considered pretty bad.
Agents of Artifice is considered pretty good, as is the Purifying fire, but Test of Metal barely makes sense.
The original Ravnica Block novels were pretty good, but that's as much of the fiction as I've read.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
Thanks for the advice - I'll take a look at the storyline forum and keep your recommendations in mind!
The Invasion block lacked a deep storyline, but it did contain non-stop fighting and carnage if you are into that sort of thing.
Onslaught triology was just... trash.
Note that you can start reading with Agents of Artifice and not really miss anything. The wiki is fantastic for reading up on storylines, and most of early magic resolves around Urza or the Weatherlight, neither of which are every going to be seen again. The sole exception being Karn.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
I remember them really drawing on the imagination.
Invasion block is a giant fight scene. Its just... one giant fight scene with a bunch of greater teleports connecting it together
I actually like the RTR series of novels. It's not lore-heavy like The Silmarillion of LOTR. Rather it's a light read that can be easily appreciated by teenagers and adults alike.
Still better than Alara Unbroken!
About any "subpar" mechanics or cards: Context is king.
If I make a templating or grammar error, let me know.
The franchise MtG most resembles is Battlestar Galactica. Why? Its players exist in, at most, a dozen different models at any given point in time, with perhaps up to 3% variation, 5% if you're lucky.
Dominarian legends speak of a mighty conflict, obscured by the mists of history. Of a conflict between the brothers Urza and Mishra for supremacy on the continent of Terisiare. Of titanic engines that scarred and twisted the very planet. Of a final battle that sank continents and shook the skies.
The saga of the Brothers' War." - Artifacts Cycle, Book I
Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.
That said, the Kamigawa ones were really good, as were the Ravnica ones. Past that, I can't really recommend any, especially the recent ones. Agents of Artifice and Alara Unbroken are at least not quite so lorebreaking, but neither is especially compelling or well written. The Quest for Karn (or whatever the SoM novel was called) disregarded pretty much all of what made Scars the block it was. I felt like I was reading an alternate universe.
Honestly, if you want my opinion, approach the novels with caution. I've been much, much happier with the short story column on the mothership.
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The Artifacts Cycle 1 I absolutely love. I love Yawgmoth, I love Mishra, I love Urza. It feels like it wasn't written in the MtG universe it was writing the MtG universe and thus did things wholly as the plot demanded rather than care very much about the color pie and stuff. But then Artifacts Cycle 2 happened and I really just don't care about Karn or Gerrard at all.