The Parched Sea

by Troy Denning

Book Overview

Determined to drive a trade route through Anauroch, the Zhentarim have sent an army to enslave the fierce nomads of the Great Desert. falls to the intruders, help comes from an unexpected source--the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1560760672
• ISBN13: 9781560760672
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: TSR
• Length: 310 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

A different take on Faerun...

If you enjoy the Harpers series, then this book is definitely a must-read. It was one of the first D & D books I ever read, and it served to hook me into the genre. There's plenty of action, plenty of suspense, plenty of intrigue, but what makes this book different is that it deals with desert nomad tribes. It really is a very wonderful read.

Excellent FORGOTTEN REALMS fiction

I've read many of the novels set in the Forgotten Realms world. The books are usually hit-and-miss in terms of writing quality. (Ed Greenwood, the talented creator of the FR setting, doesn't seem to include fiction-writing among his talents.) "The Parched Sea," by Troy Denning is one of the better examples of the genre.TPS has been amply summarized in past reviews. I just thought I'd point out several bright points in the book's favor:* Well-researched. You can tell Denning did his homework in the Bedouin lifestyle. He sprinkles some loan-words from the language here-and-there in the text. The culture is fascinating, and a bit alien.* The plot is anything but predictable. At several points, the plot seems headed for a cliché, but Denning deftly veers away. I'll avoid specifics here... no spoilers.* The characters, especially Ruha and Lander, are well-developed. Ruha's stubborness and Lander's arrogance are not appealing at times... but all-too-human nonetheless. The minor characters, like Kadumi -- Ruha's 13 year old brother-in-law and protector -- are well-drawn.* There is a scene near the end that brings tears to my eyes every time; and books don't normally move me.Try out TPS, a great introduction to the Forgotten Realms!Wayne GralianWayne's World of Books / Krakow RPGs

Excellent stand-alone adventure

Unlike many other Forgotten Realms titles, this one is not part of an ongoing series. Though it is considered the first book in 'The Harpers,' it doesn't carry on from anything and, at least so far, doesn't carry on to anything.The setting is the Anauroch desert, and the Harper in question is not one of the usual suspects (Elminster, Alustriel, Arilyn, etc.) but a relative nobody. He is dispatched to gather information about rumored Zhentarim activities in the hostile land, but ends up doing far more than merely snooping around. Though important, the Harper is really only a secondary character in the plot. The right of protagonist is reserved for an unlikely individual- an ostracized witch named Ruha. I suppose it just wouldn't be the Realms if there wasn't some good old-fashioned magic involved, and she is quite an interesting character to personify it. Further details will be left to the reader to discover, but rest assured this tale is packed full of high adventure and plenty of Zhent-killing goodness. The setting is also unique, and Denning does an admirable job of portraying a much-overlooked portion of the Realms. The only problem about this novel is that it's old, and apparently hasn't been in print for a while. If you can find a copy, however, get it! You won't be disappointed.

A great novel

This book is great! The characters are well developed and can't help yourself to care about the characters even though some died in the first three chapters. The story follows a woman who's husband dies early in the book. She is then taken in by her husband's thirteen year old brother who must protect her with his life. The book has an interesting storyline, following the Arabic cultures, which makes this book unique from the other Forgotten Realms titles. I suggest this novel to anyone who wants something new or who seeks a great adventure in a novel.

I can't stop reading this book!

I'm only half way through this book and I can't put it down. It's the first Forgotten Realms book I've ever read, although I know a lot about the world from AD & D, and I love it! The Bedine are a wonderfull race dealing with honor and vengeance although they remind me of the Aiel, other desert dwellers from the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. Another highly recommended book. But, back to the matter at hand. Ruha is an intriguing character, I haven't quite figured her out yet. I can't wait to finish this book and continue to read further in the Harper Series.