A Lesson in Taxonomy

Pathfinder Tales

by Dave Gross

Fans of Pathfinder Tales have long since become acquainted with Count Varian Jeggare and Radovan, the half-elven Pathfinder venture-captain and his devil-blooded bodyguard. From novels like Prince of Wolves and Master of Devils to Pathfinder's Journals such as "Hell's Pawns," the streetwise duo has matched wits and blades with everyone from decadent Chelish nobles to the gothic horrors of Ustalav and the mystic masters of the mysterious East. Now Dave Gross brings us a glimpse of the one of Count Jeggare's early adventures in the Mwangi Expanse, a tale of rivalry and exploration turned deadly serious. For where courtly civilization ends, the law jungle begins.... From fan-favorite author Dave Gross, author of Prince of Wolves and Master of Devils, comes a stand-alone adventure set in the award-winning world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.

Genres: Fantasy, Gaming

15 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 6, 2011

About the author

Dave Gross is the author of ten novels, notably the adventures of Radovan and the Count, including Prince of Wolves, Master of Devils, Queen of Thorns, and King of Chaos. Formerly the editor of such magazines as Dragon, Star Wars Insider, and Amazing Stories, Dave has also written novels for the Forgotten Realms and Iron Kingdoms settings. For more tales of Radovan and the Count, including free short stories, check out http://paizo.com/pathfinder/tales.

For more on Dave's current and upcoming projects and events, go to .

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting glimpse into the times before Paizo (and later other peers) changed focus from allowing stories and APs with a slavery/colonialist theme. I do think something is lost from the nuance, but I can't fault them from making the adjustment- it has to be treated right, and I don't think anyone's paying their people well enough to put the proper time and thought into it.

It certainly is jarring to read as a Mwangi Expanse boy is called a monkey.

[Tomasz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cardboard, mostly. Rudimentary plot and central casting characters, who didn't get any room for development or even engaging the reader. Mini-kaijus did not suffice to entertain.

[Jason Wingate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent short story if you're into Pathfinder.

[Αταλάντη Ευριπίδου · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick read featuring the Count B.R. (Before Radovan)in a sort of Allan Quatermain story. With dinosaurs! I liked this first glimpse of the Mwangi Expanse; it's been hinted that the Count is passionate about Mwangi culture and I hope maybe one of his future adventures with Radovan will take them there. If that'd ever be the case, I'd also like to see more of Amadi who stood out as an intriguing and joyful character - I bet he'd have some great pieces of dialogue with Radovan too. Kasiya makes a nice change from the cunning, cruel, intelligent foes that the boys usually deal with and this adds to the light, enjoyable feeling the story conveys. A good introduction to the Count's character for new readers and an original fantasy short-story set in a place very different from what fantasy readers are used to.

[Tor.com Publishing]

The Count's bodyguard & partner Radovan is missing from this book, & but reading about a younger, brasher, less tolerant Count getting his comeuppance against a bumbling Prince Kasiya is deeply enjoyable. (Kasiya is the highlight of all of Gross' short fiction, if you ask me: maybe a little silly, but as his level of physical danger increases over the stories, the Inspector Clouseau of it all becomes less goofy & more scary. An idiot with evil powers is unpredictable & menacing.) -MK