Daydreaming about Dragons Episode 98:

TABLETOP TECHNIQUES - Patterns of Play

INSPIRATION GOAT - Vlad Taltos and Lore

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daydreaming-about-dragons/episodes/Daydreaming-about-Dragons-Episode-98-TABLETOP-TECHNIQUES---Patterns-of-Play--INSPIRATION-GOAT---Vlad-Taltos-and-Lore-e273sq0

#TTRPG #VladTaltos #Jhereg #WorldBuilding

I'm speaking, of course, of #StevenBrust's #VladTaltos novels, which started with *#Jhereg*, published in 1983 - the year I turned 12, and devoured this book, rereading it four or five times in that year alone.

The titular character, Vlad Taltos, is a wisecracking assassin in a sword-and-sorcery world called Dragaera, where most of the inhabitants are extremely long-lived beings ("Dragaereans") akin to elves.

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@bookstodon
I just finished the first story, #Jhereg in The Book of Jhereg by #StevenBrust Someone mentioned it was on sale (as an ebook) so I nabbed it on Kobo a few days ago.
This is such a fun read! I can't believe I haven't read Brust before, as this is just the kind of fantasy I tend to enjoy (well, one kind of fantasy I tend to enjoy).
And I have a lot more books about #Vlad to read 😃
#WhatImReading #BookStodon #FantasyFiction

@KarchWrites

I always try to encourage people to look into #StevenBrust 's Vlad #Taltos series.

First book is #Jhereg, written in 1983, I think. Newest book in the series is coming out this year.

Each is short, but they differ in so many ways. One common aspect is they're often mysteries. They also jump around in time, from book to book, filling in background and character. Buried under the fun are important themes.

Main character is an assassin in a world with what seems like magic and witchcraft. It's a pretty huge world-building feat.

There is a later prequel series, with some of the same characters, that are sort-of modeled on Dumas' Musketeer books and other classic adventure books like The Man in the Iron Mask.

The first series of books are snappy, witty and not very long. You can read one in a day pretty easily. Often told in first-person, unreliably.

If you like adventure, mystery and plot, they're great. I love these books and have reread them a half-dozen times.

@cpoliticditto If you like speculative fiction, I always recommend the #StevenBrust #VladTaltos series that starts with #Jhereg. Each book is short, but he's been writing them since the 80s. Each book has a unique take, mostly first-person but different books have different styles. (I love first-person, unreliable narrators.)

There's a new one coming out in April. The series is subversive, sardonic, romantic and fun. Witty, and in my view, very deep.

Reads like fantasy (and mystery, and heists), but it's actually... well, that would be spoilers

@la_marteau @bookstodon People snooze on the #StevenBrust series about #VladTaltos. Massive ongoing series, since the 80's. Start with #Jhereg and just read them in chronological published order. Third book is very dark, but push through, you'll be very pleased.

So well written, and the interlocking stories get told from various viewpoints and in various styles. Lots of humor and lots of serious stuff. Moves back and forth in time. Some things take 10+ books to pay off.

There's a secondary prequel series that is an homage to Dumas' Three Musketeers, and has characters from the original series (some characters live for centuries.)

Reads like fantasy, but is actually sci-fi. Takes a long time to realize it, though, as a reader. It's romantic, sardonic, devastating and fun.

<Shut up, Loiosh.>

PS: New one (Tsalmoth) coming out in April 2023!