The Temple of Elemental Evil

by Thomas M. Reid

Book Overview

A group of young inexperienced adventurers are drawn together in a quest to find a missing prince. During their search, the heroes are swept into a plot hatched by a sinister force--a she-demon bent... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786918640
• ISBN13: 9780786918645
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
• Length: 308 Pages
• Weight: 0.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Well written. Good stuff!

I have to admit that with most of the D & D related stuff I've been reading lately, I was beginning to think everything coming from the D & D genre was fluff. However, I picked this book up when I bought the new D & D 3E module "Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil", and I've been intrigued ever since. I found that the storyline is fluid and interesting. The characters are mysterious and enjoyable. I relate this one to my first reading of the Dragonlance Chronicles. Good stuff. I hope the newer novels are all like this one - might start a new trend to eradicate the fluff and market something with substance! I recommend this book to anyone interested in fantasy in general, the greyhawk series, or D & D.

Worth the time and money

Some of the criticisms are accurate, poor character development chief among them and I also did not like how quickly total strangers became such good friends as though they had spent a lifetime of adventures together.That being said, I was totally jazzed by reading about the temple and the vivid descriptions that Reid gave about it. I intend to read through again with the Temple of Elemental Evil module at my side and track the party through the module and note where Reid veered from the the module and where he stayed true to it.No, the writing is not up to Hickman and Weis quality but the adventure is. The memories it invoked from playing this particular module with my friends nearly 20 years ago were well worth the price of admission.

Great New Writer

Thomas M. Reid really came through with this novel. Not only does it make me think of old D & D games, but it also doesn't have the feel of a module, like most other Greyhawk novels. I have never played the original Temple of Elemental Evil, but have heard much about it. I play D & D often, and if my sessions could be this good, I would play every day. I think, if Thomas M. Reid puts out more novels of this calibre, he might possibly match up to Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Overall, great novel, I reccomend it to all.

For D & D fans, old and new!

The Temple of Elemental Evil was one of my favorite D & D adventures. Many a character of mine fell prey to the evil of the temple and I was excited to see a novelization of this great adventure. Weither you have played this adventure or not you will find the book to be very entertaining. I actually felt like like I was back at the gaming table rolling the dice!

The Temple breathes evil once more

The Temple of Elemental Evil is my favorite roleplaying adventure of all time. Many an adventurer has fallen amongst its deadly walls. I was mixed with delight and fear when I heard that a novel about this extraordinary piece was being written. I am happy to say that this novel does it justice. For those who have played the adventure before, you will relive past glories and defeats as images of Temple come back to you.The setting with Hommlet, Nulb, the moathouse, and the Temple itself have remained the same, and you will remember some old faces like Burne, Elmo, Otis, Ostler, Rufus, and more. Reid's descriptions of the Temple and the surrounding areas are incredible and put you there again with a new band of adventurers. The characters are wonderfully portrayed and they remind me of many adventurers that I have played. The main character in the story is Shanhaevel, an elven wizard, who is thrust into the adventure of his life, ill prepared and scared out of his wits, after his mentor is slain. Shanhaevel arrives in Hommlet to meet with Burne and representatives from the King of Furyrondy and soon finds himself along on a journey to discover what new evil threatens Hommlet and to determine if the Temple has awaken again. As the adventure begins, Shanhaevel rides out with a veteran warrior from the first battle against the Temple's forces named Melias who leads the expedition, a rogue named Ahleage, a warrior talented with a bow named Draga, a half-elven druid named Shirral, and Elmo a warrior who turns out to be more than he appears. The characters are developed through their actions and garb and are not simply described by class like in the novel Against the Giants. For instance, Govin who they meet later is not described as a paladin, but it can be inferred from his actions and abilities. And Elmo's true character can be determined from his hidden talents.Aside from all this let me just say...you will enjoy this book whether you are new to The Temple of Elemental Evil or not. The storyline is exciting and entertaining from the beginning and holds you till the end, unsure quite how it will all end up. I give this novel my highest recommendation. If you like this novel there is also a new adventure coming out called The Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, which I hope will also live up the standards of the original.