The Sundered Arms

Dungeons & Dragons Iconic Series #8

by T.H. Lain, Dave Gross

This title chronicles the latest adventure of various iconic characters from the Dungeons & Dragons core rulebooks. This series of novels is designed to bring readers closer to the feeling of actually playing a D&D adventure. This eighth title in the novel line features, among others, the iconic character of the rogue, who appeared in two previous titles, "The Savage Caves" and "Treachery's Wake."
Andaron's Delve, a great dwarven stronghold ravaged by war, has for ages lain abandoned. Now, smoke once again pours from the immense furnaces, and goblins and beasts guard the ancient entrance. Evil is rekindled in the heart of the mountain and strives to forge anew Andaron's sundered arms.
This time, it's about survival.

Genres: Dungeons and Dragons, Fantasy, Forgotten Realms

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 2003

About the author

T.H. Lain was a collective pseudonym used by nine separate authors writing under Wizards of the Coast's Dungeons & Dragons novels imprint.

According to Peter Archer, WotC's Director of Publishing, the decision to credit the Dungeons & Dragons novels to just one author was made to ensure they would be shelved together, as well as to spark a certain measure of curiosity and speculation as to T.H. Lain's identity. However, it was already obvious to many from the stylistic differences between volumes that Lain's output was the work of many authors rather than one.

In December 2003, WotC formally announced the nine authors whose work was published under the T.H. Lain name.

Reviews

[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of you know that T. H. Lain was actually 12 different authors. Like Victor Appleton, Carolyn Keene, and Max Brand (I think), he was a house name. By having 12 different authors pump out 12 books in approximately 12 months, it seemed like old T.H. was a prolific writer. We had hoped to be able to gain shelf space under the author's name so that there would be a critical mass of books under the pseudonym and built a following.

It turned out that the books were uneven and, even though we had a scheme so that we wouldn't have to worry about continuity (something the Star Wars and MechWarrior guys have down pat), we created more than a couple of schizophrenic characters. Some of the books were received well and others were almost universally panned.

The Sundered Arms was written by veteran Dungeons & Dragons novelist and former editor of Dragon and Star Wars Insider, Dave Gross. It is, in my opinion, the most humorous of the novels in the series and quite distinctive from his more powerful work (Black Wolf) and his distinctive short story in the Halls of Stormweather anthology. I like to think of The Sundered Arms as Dave's swashbuckling novel in the My Favorite Year vein and the others as terrific adventures with deeper characters. Some of the scenes are simply "laugh out loud" funny.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was the best of the 8 T H Lain books I've read so far.

[Steven "Steve" · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on the main characters from the D&D Third Edition Handbook, this book features the dwarf fighter Tordek, the halfling thief Lydda, the elven druid Vadania, and the half-elf bard Devis. Another dungeon crawl with some interesting dwarven history involved.

[Eric Kreeger · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun, quick adventure