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Tales of the Lost Citadel
The Lost Citadel is a shared-world horror fantasy edited and developed by C.A. Suleiman, based on an idea he conceived with his longtime collaborator, fantasy and horror novelist Ari Marmell. The first project in the world of the Lost Citadel is an anthology of short stories called Tales of the Lost Citadel, featuring some of the most acclaimed voices in fantasy and horror fiction, but the idea of the Lost Citadel is more ambitious in scope than a single collection of words.
With this setting, we're trying to re-define the idea of what it means to "share" a fantasy world, to have different voices and talents come together to build, express, and explore a world with a particular set of themes and aesthetics. We're working with writers, yes, but also fine artists, musicians, graphic designers, cartographers, and more; anyone whose gifts might help flesh out and embolden the world of the Lost Citadel.
With this setting, we're trying to re-define the idea of what it means to "share" a fantasy world, to have different voices and talents come together to build, express, and explore a world with a particular set of themes and aesthetics. We're working with writers, yes, but also fine artists, musicians, graphic designers, cartographers, and more; anyone whose gifts might help flesh out and embolden the world of the Lost Citadel.
382 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2016
6 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
C.A. Suleiman
31 books9 followersColin A. Suleiman is a writer, game designer, and musician who has worked primarily in dark fantasy and horror for role-playing games and fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 13, 2017
I'll preface by admitting that I'm not a gamer on any level. I find all the details of the artificial worlds of Dungeons & Dragons and Warcraft and such to be complicated and mind-boggling. By the same token, I never fail to be impressed by both the creativity and dedication it takes to construct such comprehensive universes.
That said, I really REALLY enjoyed TALES OF THE LOST CITADEL.
I'm just not entirely certain that I understood it all. Actually, belay that last statement: I'm SURE I didn't understand it all!
The reason I mention this is that the stories in TALES are such treats that I regret not being able to immerse myself more fully into the extensive fictional world-building that accompanies this volume. It's certainly not necessary to understand the ins and out of the various fictional races, religions and histories in order to enjoy the book. But, even after the editor very kindly provided me with a copy of the "bible", I felt I was somewhat "out of the loop".
Nevertheless, the writing of these stories is almost universally strong enough for each of them to stand alone. And that's to be expected as editor C.A. Suleiman has assembled a cast which includes such seasoned pros as Brian Hodge, Kealan Patrick Burke, Elizabeth Massie, Mercedes Yardley and someone who is perhaps the finest author you may not be familiar with, Damien Angelica Walters.
The bulk of the stories take place within the walls of a gigantic city called Redoubt, in the midst of a Tolkienesque world where the dead have revived for inexplicable (so far!) reasons. But don't make the mistake of believing this is a zombie book. Suleiman has artfully shepherded his contributors into using the risen dead primarily as background. No matter how horrific the countryside filled with animated corpses may be, these authors' focus is on the horrors of a population crammed into a city where both space and resources are running low with no respite in sight.
If you are a fan of Middle Earth-type literature, you will quickly become a fan of THE LOST CITADEL. And, even if you're not a Tolkien buff, you'll find a tremendous amount to like about this collection of stories.
One final note, apropos of nothing literary in particular:
The physical book itself is pretty spectacular. Suleiman and the publisher, Lost Citadel productions, seem to have spared no expense to produce a hard cover volume that is truly stunning. Simply holding it in your hands hearkens back to the days, several decades ago, when publishers often produced books as things of beauty as well as things to entertain and to stimulate the mind.
Strongly recommended.
That said, I really REALLY enjoyed TALES OF THE LOST CITADEL.
I'm just not entirely certain that I understood it all. Actually, belay that last statement: I'm SURE I didn't understand it all!
The reason I mention this is that the stories in TALES are such treats that I regret not being able to immerse myself more fully into the extensive fictional world-building that accompanies this volume. It's certainly not necessary to understand the ins and out of the various fictional races, religions and histories in order to enjoy the book. But, even after the editor very kindly provided me with a copy of the "bible", I felt I was somewhat "out of the loop".
Nevertheless, the writing of these stories is almost universally strong enough for each of them to stand alone. And that's to be expected as editor C.A. Suleiman has assembled a cast which includes such seasoned pros as Brian Hodge, Kealan Patrick Burke, Elizabeth Massie, Mercedes Yardley and someone who is perhaps the finest author you may not be familiar with, Damien Angelica Walters.
The bulk of the stories take place within the walls of a gigantic city called Redoubt, in the midst of a Tolkienesque world where the dead have revived for inexplicable (so far!) reasons. But don't make the mistake of believing this is a zombie book. Suleiman has artfully shepherded his contributors into using the risen dead primarily as background. No matter how horrific the countryside filled with animated corpses may be, these authors' focus is on the horrors of a population crammed into a city where both space and resources are running low with no respite in sight.
If you are a fan of Middle Earth-type literature, you will quickly become a fan of THE LOST CITADEL. And, even if you're not a Tolkien buff, you'll find a tremendous amount to like about this collection of stories.
One final note, apropos of nothing literary in particular:
The physical book itself is pretty spectacular. Suleiman and the publisher, Lost Citadel productions, seem to have spared no expense to produce a hard cover volume that is truly stunning. Simply holding it in your hands hearkens back to the days, several decades ago, when publishers often produced books as things of beauty as well as things to entertain and to stimulate the mind.
Strongly recommended.
April 15, 2020
Lost Citadel RPG je još jedno remek-delo iz kuhinje Green Ronina. Premda svakako zaslužuje detaljan prikaz, ipak će dobiti tek kratak osvrt, jer večeras se sprema sesija.
Lost Citadel veoma uspešno koristi okvir 5e da postavi grimdark potku koja će biti zanimljiva čak i poklonicima drugih sistema i edicija. Pisanje je na vrhunskom nivou, premda ima tipografskih grešaka, što još nisam video u proizvodu koji potpisuje GR, ali uzevši u obzir skandale koji su pratili razvoj ove knjige i njenog glavnog urednika, nije ni čudo.
Setting, odnosno poslednji grad na svetu preplavljenom zombijima, razrađen je do detalja i bez problema može da se ubaci u bilo koji postojeći setting, naročito postapokaliptične prirode ili neki koji naginje na low fantasy - od Midnighta pa do 5e verzije Middle Earth. Mehanička rešenja prate opšti vajb valjanja u krvi i blatu, a naročito je magija rešena na veoma zanimljiv i gadno depresivan način, koji nikako neće biti za svakog igrača. Dok sam čitao mehaniku "jada", naprosto sam u mislima čuo škrgrutanje zubima i vrištanje dedicated spellcastera u brojnim igračkim grupama. Svejedno, RP mogućnosti koje ta mehanika pruža su neverovatne i do sada retko viđene u RPG proizvodima. Jedino čega mogu da se setim a da ne zahvatam u mali mozak jesu defajleri iz Dark Sana. Uglavnom, Lost Citadel je dovoljno dobro i temeljno napisan setting, uz više nego solidne izmene osnovnih klasa za 5e i koncepta magije da sam počeo da ozbiljno razmatram da svoj homebrew prebacim u 5e.
Moram da napomenem da je niz izvanrednih 3pp proizvoda doprineo tome da 5e liči na ljudski sistem, od čega je bila veoma daleko kada se pojavila i da je možda vreme da se razmišlja o 5.5e, koja bi sažela iskustva ne samo WotC već i raznih 3pp izdavača, koji su ovom poslu prišli daleko ozbiljnije od WotC.
Najveća mana Lost Citadel su ilustracije. Nažalost, art je na nivou daleko ispod onoga što smo navikli da dobijamo od Green Ronina, čak toliko da sam se ozbiljno nosio mišlju da smanjim ocenu za celu zvezdicu. Ilustracije su više nego jeftine, uglavnom na nivou lošeg CG arta. Pretpostavljam da je to bilo zbog uštede troškova, a verovatno i posledica pomenutih skandala i projekcija da će LC baš zbog toga biti loše prihvaćen kod fanova. No, rešenje se moglo naći u crno-belim ilustracijama, koje bi čak vrlo odgovarale tonu i stilu setinga.
U svakom slučaju, veoma velika preporuka i za seting i za mehaniku u njemu.
Ipak, bez obzira na ilustracije, 5*
Lost Citadel veoma uspešno koristi okvir 5e da postavi grimdark potku koja će biti zanimljiva čak i poklonicima drugih sistema i edicija. Pisanje je na vrhunskom nivou, premda ima tipografskih grešaka, što još nisam video u proizvodu koji potpisuje GR, ali uzevši u obzir skandale koji su pratili razvoj ove knjige i njenog glavnog urednika, nije ni čudo.
Setting, odnosno poslednji grad na svetu preplavljenom zombijima, razrađen je do detalja i bez problema može da se ubaci u bilo koji postojeći setting, naročito postapokaliptične prirode ili neki koji naginje na low fantasy - od Midnighta pa do 5e verzije Middle Earth. Mehanička rešenja prate opšti vajb valjanja u krvi i blatu, a naročito je magija rešena na veoma zanimljiv i gadno depresivan način, koji nikako neće biti za svakog igrača. Dok sam čitao mehaniku "jada", naprosto sam u mislima čuo škrgrutanje zubima i vrištanje dedicated spellcastera u brojnim igračkim grupama. Svejedno, RP mogućnosti koje ta mehanika pruža su neverovatne i do sada retko viđene u RPG proizvodima. Jedino čega mogu da se setim a da ne zahvatam u mali mozak jesu defajleri iz Dark Sana. Uglavnom, Lost Citadel je dovoljno dobro i temeljno napisan setting, uz više nego solidne izmene osnovnih klasa za 5e i koncepta magije da sam počeo da ozbiljno razmatram da svoj homebrew prebacim u 5e.
Moram da napomenem da je niz izvanrednih 3pp proizvoda doprineo tome da 5e liči na ljudski sistem, od čega je bila veoma daleko kada se pojavila i da je možda vreme da se razmišlja o 5.5e, koja bi sažela iskustva ne samo WotC već i raznih 3pp izdavača, koji su ovom poslu prišli daleko ozbiljnije od WotC.
Najveća mana Lost Citadel su ilustracije. Nažalost, art je na nivou daleko ispod onoga što smo navikli da dobijamo od Green Ronina, čak toliko da sam se ozbiljno nosio mišlju da smanjim ocenu za celu zvezdicu. Ilustracije su više nego jeftine, uglavnom na nivou lošeg CG arta. Pretpostavljam da je to bilo zbog uštede troškova, a verovatno i posledica pomenutih skandala i projekcija da će LC baš zbog toga biti loše prihvaćen kod fanova. No, rešenje se moglo naći u crno-belim ilustracijama, koje bi čak vrlo odgovarale tonu i stilu setinga.
U svakom slučaju, veoma velika preporuka i za seting i za mehaniku u njemu.
Ipak, bez obzira na ilustracije, 5*
March 21, 2025
Històries curtes de diversos autors, algunes bones, altres mediocres, en general entretingudes, al menys les 10 primeres... Després es fan repetitives. El marc de les històries és molt restret, una ciutat, morts què retornen, lluita pels pocs recursos i el llibre té masses petites històries què no van enlloc.
January 26, 2017
The real strength of this book is that, by and large, you have horror authors trying their hands at fantasy. In many cases, they are either unaware or actively ignore the usual fantasy tropes and do something original and fun.
June 9, 2022
The editor of this book categorized it as a horror fantasy, and I hoped that, by this premise, I'd be wildly terrified and mystified. I was excited for it! But that didn't happen for me. It was a run-of-the-mill zombie horror thrown into a standard fantasy world, and it was underwhelming for the majority of the story. Reading about the Dead/restless/rotters felt like I was watching a 60s black and white zombie movie, and truthfully, I was more terrified by the people in power than the creepy Dead. That would have impressed me if my main focus for horror wasn't zombies.
The world-building in each story and the general premise of the book was, as I've said, standard: not terrible, but it wasn't distinguishable from many other Tolkien-esque fantasy stories.
The world-building in each story and the general premise of the book was, as I've said, standard: not terrible, but it wasn't distinguishable from many other Tolkien-esque fantasy stories.
December 26, 2024
Interesting book! A collection of horror/high fantasy short stories within an enclosed universe for an RPG. Not my go-to genre (as you can see by how long it took me to finish this), but these stories were still well written. I probably wouldn’t have read this if it weren’t for the cover tbh. I’m a sucker for detailed cover art :)
December 13, 2020
While I did enjoy the stories here, I realized that apparently they are part of an existing world of some sort of RPG game I know nothing about, and I think that made it hard to completely understand the world and characters.
March 25, 2020
Note: It's not "by" C.A. Suleiman, it's edited by him, and he contributes the least entertaining, pompous story of the book.
January 9, 2021
High fantasy + actually well written zombie horror so that it's actually scary = good stuff. I want to get the rpg.
March 25, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It brought so many emotions and I hope I get to play the dnd campaign at some point
February 27, 2024
THE DEAD/RESTLESS ARE ELVES??? WHAT???
(that's at least what I got from that ending)
(that's at least what I got from that ending)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2020
This collection of fantasy stories authored by horror writers offers the former genre the opportunity to shed something of its familiar trappings and embrace an earthier, darker, more uncomfortable tone where magics feel more disturbing in the pit of the stomach than all powerful, and where relations among the races of its world take on the similar prejudices of our own. But rather than veer into the heavy masculine grit of the grimdark subgenre, here the stories are more emotionally expansive, giving us families, lovers, lost daughters and sons, failures of character but not of the imagination. For a world-building effort, as the book states itself to be, the job is done admirably. Its ability to wear the fabric of fantasy over a broader, darker frame allows it a presence we might welcome -- and when that presence uncloaks its truer motives, we are far too rapt by the familiar-gone-wrong to turn it away. Highly enjoyable storytelling.
May 1, 2017
Scary, disturbing horror fantasy...you want to look away but you can't. If you like this genre, you'll love this anthology.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews