Lost Kaer [ペーパーバック]

...to what seemed sure to be a great epic. Unfortunately, Nigel Findley died before he could continue the tale of Delaine and friends. Thankfully, Lost Kaer does not end on a cliffhanger, and still works well as a stand-alone, self-contained novel.

I haven't read any other Earthdawn novels besides the first couple by Kubasik, but this seems to be a very different story from most in the setting. A huge chunk of the novel takes place within the walls of a kaer, a warded underground shelter (for those unaquainted with Earthdawn), whose wards are failing. The residents all believe that death awaits them all in the coming days due to The Scourge, a period in which the world is consumed by creatures called Horrors, taking place in the outside world.

Young troubador Delaine, along with his friends Karena (a dwarf) and Gaylear (a troll), sense that Kaer Moar is about to tear itself apart before any Horrors ever have a chance of getting to them, due to all of the panicking and infighting, especially among the Council. The three friends have their suspicions that the world outside may not be what everyone else assumes.

One can pretty much guess where the story goes from here, but it's told in such a captivating and effortless way, that it doesn't really matter. It's the journey that counts. This is a very tight, well-told tale, with exceptional world-building for a 300-page novel, not to mention likeable and well-drawn characters that you care for, a rarity in RPG-based novels.

I'd recommend this to any fan of fantasy, or one who wants a taste of what the world of Earthdawn is all about. You won't need to be familiar with the setting to enjoy this novel. Fans of Findley are certainly in for a treat, as Lost Kaer is a great example of just what made him such a great storyteller, and is possibly his best piece of writing. He will be sorely missed, as he was one of the best "pulp" sf/fantasy writers in recent memory.

5 stars as far as game-related fiction goes. Heck, 5 stars for just plain great fantasy, period.

(Quick question for Earthdawn or Findley fans.<Minor spoiler for those who haven't read> The story seemed to wrap-up rather quickly at the end, after a set-up that implied this was going to be an epic story. Obviously, Findley died in '95 and could not continue the story. But it almost seemed as if the story was meant to be 2 or 3 books, or at least a couple hundred pages longer, and another writer wrapped up the story instead, once Findley died, to give it a more definitive ending. Does anyone know if this was the case? The last couple dozen pages have a totally different feel. There's no other author credited, but considering this book wasn't released until almost 3 years after Findley's death, it makes me suspicious. I can't find any info online. Any help would be appreciated.)

In a departure from the usual, shoot-'em up, technnobabble of his Shadowrun serials, this Earth's Dawn book delighted me. Rich characterizations and several unexpected plot turns made this far from ordinary game-companion type fare. It is a shame that Findley will not be able to continue the story of Delain, Karena and Gaylear, they are characters I would have liked to meet again. A caution to FASA though, please DON'T go the route of post-humous releases a la V.C. Andrews! Let the man lie, but please don't forget his greatness!

Nigel Findley is sorely missed by this particular individual. Though not one who runs the shadows I first met Nigel through, "Lone Wolf". Of all the shadowrun novels I've read, Nigel's are the absolute best. "Lost Kaer" was Nigel's attempt at a genre I prefer to sci-fi and I was exceedingly pleased. The depth of the characters was well done and it is simply a shame that we won't find out what happens with Gaylear, Karena and Delain in the future. At any rate, if you like Findley and you like a more "fantasy" based story, "Lost Kaer" is the book for you.