Quickly now, name two famous literary wizards.
Depending on your age, and how much you read, the answer will vary from person to person. As for myself, the first two wizards that come to mind are Merlin from the Arthurian legends, and Gandalf from the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.
But, if you're younger, you'd more than likely add Professor Dumbledore to that list.
In fifty years time, when you're asked the same question, I'm willing to bet that Dumbledore will be first and foremost on that list of wizards.
Those of you who are familiar with the Forgotten Realms setting of novels (which started out as a campaign setting for a role playing game), will probably add Elminster to that list as well.
At least, that's what Ed Greenwood, the creator of the setting and the character is more than likely hoping for.
I've recently finished reading Elminster's Daughter, the most recent novel in the Elminster series published by Wizards of the Coast.
Now, with a title such as this, you'd think that it would center on the main character Elminster and his offspring.
Not so.
The story is set in Cormyr, a kingdom that is constantly besieged by the Red Wizards of Thay, and is under threat from neighbouring kingdom of Sembia and Zhentile keep. To make matters worse, there is a `righteous conspiracy being plotted by several powerful nobles to take over the kingdom for their own nefarious needs.
Of course, Elminster gets involved in this, but only in a minor way. His unbeknownst daughter also is dragged into the conspiracy. She is totally at loss when she's pulled away from her stomping grounds of Waterdeep to be deposited into this completely unfamiliar and alien city.
A good chunk of the novel where his daughter is involved is spent with her being chased by a Harper agent. Harpers, by the way, are sort of like the secret service in the forgotten Realms. They're the enforcers of all that's good and just.
As with Silverfall, I found this novel to be pretty boring. Political conspiracies are not really my thing, and this includes the back room dealings of nobles - despite the fact that it is set in a fantasy world.
There were a ton of names being tossed around, some of which I am familiar, others I had no idea who they were. I guess I'd know more of these characters if I read more of the books in the setting, but Fantasy just isn't my main interest. It's more of a filler for me when I am out of my usual genre's to read.
Quite honestly, I'm getting a little tired of god-like characters in these various settings. Sure, powerful characters can be interesting and always have a part in shaping the world around them, but frankly, I'd like to see new characters introduced, characters that can grow over the years as stories are written about them.
God like characters are really getting tedious and thus it adds to the boredom factor for me when it comes to reading these books. Having Elminster's daughter introduced helps alleviate these feelings.
Now, that's the other issue I brought up. She really wasn't a major player in the novel. You'd think that considering the title, she'd be first and foremost. Not really the case. She's an accidental player, at best.
I would have enjoyed the novel far more if she'd had played a far larger role, but to me, she was - at best, a secondary character.
Hell, even Elminster played a secondary role when it came right down to it. The other characters, the ones involved in the conspiracy and the fight to end it seemed to take up center stage most of the time.
But, despite the complaints, it was kind of neat seeing a little more into the working's of the Realm's greatest wizard, and frankly, just how randy the old goat can be.
Don't let the cover of the book fool you either.
I quite honestly can say if I'll read another book by Ed Greenwood. This is the second one of his that I've read in recent months and I was very bored by both. That's not really a good sign either, when you consider that they were published pretty much a decade apart.
2.5 out of 5