Planescape Torment: The Unofficial Torment Novel

Planescape Novels

by Chris Avellone, Colin McComb, Rhys Hess (Editor)

An unofficial novelization of _Planescape: Torment_, the computer game. Rhys Hess has compiled the story from dialogs written by the original script-writers at Black Isle Studios and linking descriptions by himself.

Genres: Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Games

461 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Note: I didn't read the Rhys Hess edition, but a new edition that just got finished in 2011, which in my opinion is 1000 times better. The only place I can find it is here.)

Probably one of my most favorite novels. It's understandably hard to get into (considering its setting, also the first portion of the story moves pretty slowly), but once you get into the plot, and the CHARACTERS, you're hooked. It's got some fights/action sequences, some witty snaps from Morte, and a lot of ridiculous situations that good o' Nameless One finds himself in (like meeting Luis, the talking armoire). Other times it will just make you pause and think for a minute, and heck, you might learn a thing or two.

Most of all, I love all of the character development that goes on in this book. Can't really describe it in words. This book is awesome.

[Kalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have taken the liberty to add an electronic book here because of its one outstanding qulaity: the awesome dialogs. In this (unofficial) novelization, Rhys Hess has linked together the most memorable scenes from the game in a single coherent plotline, showcasing the verbal interplay that is in turn poignant, hilarious, philosophical, and sheerly shocking in its Otherness.

You do not need to have played the game (or even be familiar with the Planescape multiverse) in order to cherish this novel: both in terms of literary style and ideas.

[Δημήτρης Αθανασόπουλος · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'm not sure if i should write it in here.

i heard an audiobook version of Planescape Torment by Codex Radio.

in some parts doesn't feel it's an audiobook, or a book at all and that sounds correct cause it's based on a 1998 videogame. there were a lot of stuff written in that game and more than 75% of those are in the Unofficial Novel and the Audiobook version.

if you don't play videogames, and that old pc videogames you will not get how and why the main character leaves a conversation to go to an other to speak and then return with out any mention of the travel that was between.

the story is super though. almost 40 hours audiobook and more than 1000 pages on the pdf.

one of the few great stories that few have had the opportunity to experience as a pc game, or a book or even an audiobook.

[Amy]

As a badly edited novelization of the "revered-by-the-types-of-people-who-revere-cRPGs" cRPG Planescape: Torment -- i.e. more or less a straight port -- this was readable. It helped me figure out, more than a decade later, what happened in the last 15-20% of the game I never finished, without the ordeal of replaying something that hasn't aged well. Additionally, in this format, I was able to access excellent writing and characterization from dialogue trees that I never triggered in-game. On the downside, while the dialogue translates well to novel format, the nonlinearity of the game does not -- and above all, I felt the absence of the excellent soundtrack/audio design; the immersion in Sigil; those moments when you're looking at seven or eight different dialogue options, each of which could spin off an entire new universe... so yeah, don't expect any of that from a book.

All told, consider me officially HYPE for Torment: Tides of Numenera, Tyranny, and every other game being billed as a "spiritual successor to PS:T," since, to the benefit of narrative-driven cRPG-lovers like me, they seem to be growing on trees.

[Ky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read the unofficial novelization (yet), but I am using this as a stand-in for my recent playthrough of the game. Seeing how this is the dialogues linked together with description in-between (and some additions), I figure it fairly safe to say I've read a decent chunk of what is in here, and Planescape itself is often referred to as more book than video game (thus me coming on here to see if the game counted as a book... And the answer is... Kinda!) In a while when I want more Planescape, I'll most likely update my review here to reflect how I feel about the unofficial parts of this actual book BUT as a game, Planescape: Torment is one of the best experiences I've had playing a game or reading. The dialogue, philosophy, character-studies, humor, dread, surrealism, esoteric conversation-pieces, just... All of it. Anyone reading this, I recommend playing the game or reading this novelization, as if it contains the writing and spirit of the game. It is a treat.

[Janne Järvinen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's quite interesting to read a game as a novel. It's a testament to the story that it works this well.

I appreciate Hess' choice to keep the additional exposition to a minimum and concentrate on the actual game dialogue. What results is a style that I would describe as retro. The feel is somewhat like Asimov, Lovecraft, or maybe even ancient myths. It's stiff and terse, but the dialogue is often awesome. There are other novelizations of this game, but I think this is the best because of the minimal approach by Hess.

Style and pacing are not the strong points of this concoction, but they are decent enough to let the story emerge somewhat unhindered. All of the four stars I give this book are for the story.

I've never played the game, and it is a testament to the story that it works in book form.

[Mihai Criveti · Rating 3 out of 5]

What can change the nature of a man?
Whether regret, or love, or revenge or fear - whatever you believe can change the nature of a man, can.

[Moominboy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Converting in-game dialogue into a novel doesn't work.

[Atticus · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you've played the game, this is a fun trip down nostalgia lane.

If you haven't played the game, you're doing yourself a disservice by reading it.

A stark reminder of how good videogame writing can be, but said writing is best homed within the agentive framework of the game, as it allows for YOUR choices and YOUR particular playstyle to come through a little better, to feel more real.

Without that, in my bias I'd call it just an "above-average" fantasy novel.

[Marcos Francisco Muñoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esto es para fans y poco más, es la mejor manera de reecontrarse con viejas interacciones para los amantes del juego sin tener que pasar de nuevo por el a veces tedioso combate y movimiento a través del mundo. No podría recomendárselo directamente a alguien que no esté tan familiarizado tanto como con el juego como con el mundo de Planescape.

[Thermalsatsuma · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Nameless One awakes on a mortuary slab in the city of Sigil, the nexus of all of the planes of existence. He does not know who he is or how he came to be there, only that he can not die. His body is covered with strange scars and tatoos that may be a clue to his true identity and purpose.

This is something of an odd book to review. The author Rhyss Hess has taken the text from the computer role playing game 'Planescape : Torment' as written by Chris Avellone and Colin McComb, and added linking sections to combine it into a continuous narrative, with mixed results.

The game is widely regarded as a classic of the genre. It is certainly a long way from the traditional Dungeons and Dragons world, being set in a strange city that is riddled with portals to every part of the multiverse. Each portal has a key, that may be an object, a word or a memory and it is the task of the protagonist to explore this maze and find the clues that he has left himself to try to recover his memories.

If the setting is strange and baroque, that is nothing compared to characters that you meet. Morte the floating skull who still has an eye for the ladies, Ignus the burning man, a fallen angel and a mechanical creature from a plane of pure logic. The strangest of all is the Nameless One himself, and the reasons for his immortal, tormented existence.

If you have not played the game, then this book may be difficult to get into. There are sections where the gameplay imperative requires fetch quests and combat challenges that do not translate particularly well to a linear form. However, certain sequences really do stand out as masterful pieces of writing. The back stories of each of the Nameless One's companions, the stories in the Brothel of Slaking Intellectual Lusts, the maze of the night hag Ravel where the mystery starts to be resolved and the final section in the Fortress of Regret are all well worth reading.

If you haven't played the game, then you really should try to get hold of it, and read this book in conjunction with it. The narrative follows only one particular path through the game and there are other possibilities to explore.

[Emanuele · Rating 2 out of 5]

The script is great, but you should read this not in substitution of playing the game, but only as a complimentary lecture for recalling some dialogue or encounter you liked.

[Marcin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you haven't had the chance to play the game, this might seem only as a pretty interesting novella. For those who played it, this will seem to unravel just a bit of the whole beauty the story has to offer. Whichever group you belong to, it might seem a little bit off-putting since lots of the pages are filled with first-person log-like entries, but this may just be considered means to bring the game world to the reader, to encompass him by the storyline and personas. Though more often than not this has slightly negative influence as you do feel it's less oriented as a book than as a script cut out from another media, the dialogs and characters are just as lovable as one can remmember from the hours in front of the pc screen. Sure, you can find more interesting story concepts and their realisations on the market, but the Planescape Torment storyline and characters are both original and captivating, just as the game was. Sure, the game had that icing on the cake in the form of interactivity... but the novelisation still can be considered a really good piece of work worthy of your time. And it has its own icing as it is free and made by enthusiasts for everyone willing to find out what made so many so much in love with the game. Do I really think you, whether you know the game or not, should read it? Damn well I do! This might be the best way for you to get into grips with the planes ;) outside of the game itself. At least until hollywood stars decide to make a hit-movie of it ;D

[Miguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great novelization of the game Planescape: Torment. The dialogue captured is wonderful and it flows marvelously within the adaptation done by Rhys Hess. Still as wonderful as it is, there is interesting dialogue that isn't featured in the book, like the conversation with O, so if you can try playing the game too. It so great that this fantastic book could be born, as an adaptation of its dialogue and story.

[Kin Guan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What can change a nature of man?"

A great novelization of one of greatest RPG in history. The plot starts slow, but once you know the companions and the memories of The Nameless One more you'll be hooked up and eager to find out more. Lots of memorable dialogues, twists and emotion struggles. Strongly recommended.

[Matus Miksik · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is truly as wonderful as the game itself