Skyrim Book Reviews, Titles Beginning with D

A Dance in Fire, by Waughin Jarth.

Another well-written multi-volume set by Waughin Jarth featuring the adventures of the hapless clerk Decumus Scotti. This story is a prequel to The Argonian Account. Poor Scotti has just been laid off from his job, in favor of a younger man with a winning smile, and he makes his way to Valenwood in the hopes of securing a lucrative contract to entice his former employer to rehire him. However, Scotti's bad luck never fails him, and just as he arrives, Valenwood erupts in war, with the Khajiit attacking on one side and the Altmeri on the other.

This rollicking tale rarely stops to take a breath, as Scotti is plagued by monsters, magic, cannibalism, and chaos. The reader learns quite a lot about the Bosmer and Khajiit, in the most fun way possible. The seven volumes of this set have continuity, so read them in order.

Five stars.

--

Darkest Darkness, by Anonymous.

This text provides some background information about various Daedra, their internal ranks and allegiances, and their relation to the Dunmer. It's not written in a particularly exciting manner, but it offers enough information beyond what one sees in the game to remain interesting. Read it if you're really interested in Daedra; skip it if you're not.

Two and a half stars.

--

The Death Blow of Abernanit, with Explains by the sage Geocrates Varnus.

The faux-archaic style of this epic poem makes for difficult reading. It was difficult to follow, despite the slow pacing. A holy warrior battles a Daedra-worshipper purported to be undefeatable, and defeats him. It wasn't terrible, but it didn't hold my interest.

Two stars.

--

The Death of a Wanderer.

An anonymous author records the end-of-life thoughts of an old Argonian adventurer. The Argonian was in possession of one of the claw-shaped keys from one of the many Draugr-infested Nord barrows. There wasn't a lot of substance to this story, but it was well written, with many nicely-turned phrases. An answer is offered to the question many players may have about these claws: "Why even have a combination if you're going to write it on the key?"

Three stars.

--

De Rerum Dirennis, by Vorian Direnni.

An Altmer from one of the great families, himself of little achievement, talks about a particular ancestor of his, renowned for turning alchemy into a science. This ancestor defeated a vampire and then went on to develop the first practical invisibility potion. A large and hostile force repeatedly attacked his village, eventually taking him prisoner. His clever use of alchemy was the key to his salvation. This story would have been better without the first couple of pages, but if you can get past the overly-long and dull intro, the main story is decent.

Three stars.

--

Report of the Imperial Commission on the Disaster at Ionith, by Lord Pottreid, Chairman.

Okay, I know this title begins with R, but it appears in the D section of the Dovahkiin Gutenberg, presumably filed on the word Disaster. I'm going to review it now because I absolutely do not want to reread it once I reach the Rs. This report possesses the dreaded combination of long plus boring. I fell asleep multiple times, and I was well-rested and alert when I started reading. My pervasive thought was, "How many pages are left? Will this ever end?" The historical events described should have been interesting, but this was written in the dryest, most overblown style possible.

One star.

--

The Doors of Oblivion, by Seif-ij Hidja.

Of course, my strongest in-game impression of this book came from finding a skeleton that would yield a copy of this book with every single search. I kept clicking on the skeleton until I had enough copies of the book to reach my encumbrance limit, and then hauled them off to town to sell.

Lucrative glitch aside, this book is actually quite interesting. In fact, it's probably the most interesting textbook about Daedra that I've read yet. An apprentice remained in this plane of existence while his master traveled into Oblivion. The two maintained psychic contact, and the apprentice transcribed the master's running commentary on his exploration of the Daedric lands. It's rather long, but well worth the read.

Four stars.

--

The Dragon Break Reexamined, by Fal Droon.

This is an interesting exploration of how the use of different calendars with different methods of measuring years can result in distortions of the historical record. This is a very short piece, and rather like an article from an academic journal.

Three stars.

--

Dragon Language: Myth No More, by Hela Thrice-Versed.

This book more than makes up for its scattering of typos by presenting passages of the dragon's language in its original form (marks similar to cuneiform), romanizing them, and then translating them into English (or whatever Tamrielian language that English is supposed to represent). The inscriptions are taken from word walls, and this book goes a long way toward explaining what the walls are and why they exist, which makes them truly meaningful, instead of just places to go to pick up new shouts. That alone makes this book a must-read. The Dovahkiin Gutenberg does not show the dragon language, so to see it, you will need to find an in-game copy of the book or look at the Elder Scrolls Wiki.

Four and a half stars.

--

The Dragon War, by Torhal Bjorik.

This book talks about ancient history, back in Ysgramor's day, telling of how the dragons ruled "as god-kings over men," and of how men rebelled against the dragons and their priests. This text provides only the most cursory overview of the war, and that chapter of history probably deserved a longer and more detailed treatment. Even so, this was an interesting little book.

Three and a half stars.

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A Dream of Sovngarde, by Skardan Free-Winter.

Written by a Nord warrior on the eve of one of the most significant battles of the Great War, this text describes a vision of the afterlife sought by Nord warriors who die with honor in battle. Skardan dreamed himself in the company of great Nord heroes, and he sought council from Ysgramor himself. Upon waking, he related his dream to the other Nords, raising their morale and whipping them into a battle-frenzy as they rushed toward their deaths.

Three stars.

--

The Dreamstride, the Mysterious Alchemists of Vaermina.

This book is cool simply for being the largest and most impressive book I've yet seen in the game, and for having awesome cover art. This is definitely one to leave lying on or near your alchemy bench, to serve as home decor.

The content of this book serves simply to explain how the potion Vaermina's Torpor works, just before you have to use that potion as part of the Waking Nightmare quest. Treat this book as an instruction manual if you are doing that quest.

Three stars.

--

The Dunmer of Skyrim, by Athal Sarys.

The Dunmer author apparently read a travelogue written by Nords and thought that Skyrim would be a nice place to live. After emigrating from Morrowind, he discovered that the Nords were not at all hospitable toward his people. A victim of racism, he responded with a virulently racist screed of his own, proclaiming that the Dunmer ("higher beings") will eventually rise up and slaughter all Nords ("white-skinned, jaundice-haired apes"). He doesn't come across as threatening so much as angry and impotent. All he's doing by publishing this is reinforcing the bad opinion many Nords have of Dunmer.

Two stars.

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Dwarves: The Lost Race of Tamriel, by Calcelmo, Scholar of Markarth.

This three-volume set uses a lot of words to say that little is known about the Dwemer, and to obliquely attempt to discredit all other Dwemer scholarship. Calcelmo, a character you can interact with in the game, is just as condescending, arrogant, and pompous in print as in conversation. In that aspect, these books are very successful in fleshing out Calcelmo's character. But don't expect them to tell you anything especially useful about the Dwemer, despite Calcelmo's self-reported expertice.

Two and a half stars.

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Dwemer History and Culture: A Scholar's Review of the Dwemer Essays Written by Marobar Sul, by Hasphat Antabolis.

(Alternate title from the Dovahkiin Gutenberg: Collected Essays on Dwemer History and Culture, Chapter 1: Marobar Sul and the Trivialization of the Dwemer in Popular Culture.)

This text is so similar in tone, style, and content to the uncredited publisher's notes at the end of each volume of the Ancient Tales of the Dwemer that at first I thought it was merely a compilation of those notes, but upon comparing them, I can verify that the text is actually different. It is probably safe to assume that Hasphat Antabolis is the author of the publisher's notes in Ancient Tales. If you are hardcore into the Dwemer, Dwemer History and Culture is a must read. If you're ambivalent toward Dwemer history, you can probably skip this book.

Despite the "Chapter 1" label, there appears to be only one volume of this series.

Three stars.

--

Dwemer Inquiries: Their Architecture and Civilization, by Thelwe Ghelein, Scholar.

Now this is the three-volume set to read if you actually do want to learn something about the Dwemer. Even if the author strays into speculation on occasion, this text demonstrates more real scholarly inquiry than Calcelmo's work. It's quite interesting, and it's written in an engaging style. Beware if you're reading from the Dovahkiin Gutenberg as I mostly do--the second and third volumes are missing part of the text. Read this particular series in-game or on one of the wikis.

Three and a half stars.

--

Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite Skyrim book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.

Read these books within the game Skyrim, on The Elder Scrolls Wiki or on the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages, or download the Dovahkiin Gutenberg.

Skyrim Book Reviews, Titles Beginning with C

The Cabin in the Woods, Volume II, as told by Mogen Son of Molag

Despite the title, there is no Volume I to be found in Skyrim. This had the potential to be an excellent ghost story. Instead, passive writing, awkward sentences, punctuation errors, and a derth of description make this tale fall flat.

Two stars.

--

The Cake and the Diamond, by Athyn Muendil

This story is told in first person, and does an excellent job of staying in the point-of-view character's head. He is part of a group of thieves in possession of a magnificent diamond. An old alchemist offers to trade them some invisibility potions, in the form of cakes, in exchange for some small fragments of the diamond. They agree to her proposition in order to get the potions, never intending to part with the gem. But she has a scheme of her own. This tale was delightful in every way.

Four and a half stars.

--

Cats of Skyrim, a report by Aldetuile

I love cats, but this is just about the most useless book I've encountered thus far. This book could have been an opportunity for the game developers to provide a little supplemental information about sabrecats, perhaps something about their territorial behavior, mating habits, or even the average number of cubs in a litter. Instead, this report tells absolutely nothing that wouldn't be obvious from your first encounter with one. And as sabrecats are more common in Skyrim than copies of this book, it is a safe bet that the player will have killed dozens of them before reading the book.

One star.

--

Chance's Folly, by Zylmoc Golge

Ah, now here's a worthy story, both intriguing and clever. A thief known as Chance recruits a madman to be her muscle on a particularly risky tomb raid. But as they progress, some of the madman's nonsensical ramblings begin to seem prophetic. Does he know things he shouldn't? Or is it just a coincidence? A wealth of subtle details enrich the texture of this short tale.

Five stars.

--

The Charwich-Koniinge Letters.

This four-volume set represents an exchange between two men who are seeking Azura's Star in different locations. Overall, the writing style is quite good, however there are a few glaring errors, such as improperly conjugated verbs, incorrect words, and one sentence so broken as to be incomprehensible. (Note: I am not referring to the part of the story where the quality of writing deteriorates for a plot-related reason, but to other areas of the story where such errors are glaring because they contrast so strongly with the otherwise good writing.)

In spite of these few technical errors, the tale is actually quite good. It is another one that you should read as a single story. Don't read the volumes out of order, or you'll miss out on the delightful switchbacks in the plot. For the first part of the first volume, I felt like I was reading a bad horror story, the kind where you yell at the characters. "Don't go to the cemetery at night! Listen to the townspeople's warnings!" But the story quickly departed from genre stereotypes, and turned into something quite wonderful. I won't say any more, because I do not wish to ruin the surprise.

Four stars. (Yes, even with the technical errors.)

--

Charrus Pie: A Recipe

This book was written by a character you'll likely meet in the game--Nils, the guy who chops firewood for the inn in Windhelm. The writing captures his voice and personality perfectly. The text contains not just a simple recipe, but also tips for hunting charrus, glimpses of Nils' life, and a few disparaging comments about Imperials and Bretons. It's not especially helpful in terms of advice you can actually use in the game, and it certainly doesn't tell anything resembling a story, but it made me laugh several times during it's few short pages. A delightful little book that would make a nice addition to the kitchen area of any of the houses in the game.

Four stars.

--

Children of the Sky

This is a brief overview of the legends and mythology of the Nords, told by someone who is clearly not a Nord. Some of it seems to match up to Nord beliefs as revealed through character interactions in the game, but other parts seem to be out of left field. (I certainly haven't encountered a rope woven from the severed tongues of enemies anywhere in the game so far.) Perhaps these things were true at some point in history, or perhaps they are misunderstandings recorded by someone who hear things second- or third-hand. It kind of reads like an outdated encyclopedia entry about a third-world country.

Two and a half stars.

--

A Children's Anuad: The Anuad Paraphrased

This is the origin story for the world of Nirn. The myth is reasonably interesting, but not dynamic in the telling. The weak, flat writing render the tale unmemorable. Read it if you want to know how Mer and Men came to be, but it's not as enthralling as it ought to have been.

Three stars.

--

The Chronicles of the Holy Brothers of Marukh, Volume IV, or, The Cleansing of the Fane

This is presented as the only surviving fragment of an ancient tale, so although it is labeled volume four, there are no other volumes to find. It is very brief, providing only the most cursory overview of what could have been a very exciting story about an infestation of devils upon the land. Except for the appropriately archaic language, it reads like a tenth-page newspaper article.

Two stars.

--

Chronicles of Nchuleft

This history piece on the Dwemer describes some rivalries and plots among and against several Dwemer nobles. It lacks the cultural context that could have made it comprehensible. Whenever Bluthanch became angry at the other nobles, I couldn't quite understand why she was upset. They had a meeting and didn't invite her? Why is this considered treason? More information is needed to make the story meaningful. As it was, I found it confusing.

Two stars.

--

The City of Stone: A Sellsword's Guide to Markarth, by Amanda Alleia, Mercenary

The title pretty well says it all. A world-weary, sarcastic mercenary explains a few basic rules for navigating Markarth, both in the literal sense of navigating the steep cliffs and in the figurative sense of knowing who to talk to (that is, those who might offer employment) and who not to talk to (that is, whoever will cause you trouble with no reward). There really isn't much advice that the player couldn't easily figure out independently, but it's a reasonably fun read. However, the use of honorific "Ms." in a pseudo-medieval fantasy setting seems terribly anachronistic and out of place to me, particularly given that term's 20th-century origins.

Three stars.

--

The Code of Malacath: A Sellsword's Guide to the Orc Strongholds, by Amanda Alleia, Mercenary

"Ms. Alleia," as she calls herself, turns her attention to Orcs, explaining the code they live by, and how strict adherence to the code makes Orcs from strongholds different from "city Orcs." She doesn't really describe the strongholds themselves in any particular detail, and she implies that she's never actually been inside one, instead having gained all of her information from listening to drunk Orcs rant. Again, it's nonessential reading, imparting nothing the player wouldn't learn on their own, but Alleia's voice is entertaining.

Three stars.

--

Commentaries on the Mysterium Xarxes, by Mankar Camoran

I presume this four-volume set is meant to be an aid to a quest that I have not yet encountered in the game, as the text speaks of four keys to be found. I can't speak to the usefulness of the text to the quest, but it's not the most enjoyable read. The text contains the semi-coherent ravings of a cult leader. After a few pages, all I saw was "blah, blah, blah," with the occasional bit of implied incest or cannibalism rousing me to disgust. If you like listening to madmen and zealots rant in public spaces, you'll love these books. The author refers to a source book called Mysterium Xarxes, but I don't think it can be found in Skyrim.

Two stars.

--

Complete Catalogue of Enchantments for Armor, by Yvonne Bienne, Synod researcher

And

Complete Catalogue of Enchantments for Weaponry, by Yvonne Bienne, Synod researcher

I'm reviewing these two together because there is really little to distinguish them. Open these books to collect you skill points in the game, but there's really no good reason to actually read them. The text is bland and uninspired, and pocked with a few grammatical errors. They provide no information beyond what you can learn by experience in the game.

One star.

--

A Concise Account of the Great War Between the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion, by Legate Justianus Quintus

It's very textbookish, but more enjoyable than A Brief History of the Empire. Perhaps that's because it deals with more recent historical events, namely the war that ended with the White-Gold Concordat, which in turn caused the civil war that features in the main plotline of Skyrim. The player encounters many characters who fought in the war described in A Concise Account, and so perhaps for that reason, the information it imparts seems directly relevant to the choices the player makes. The writing is respectably decent, if a bit dry. I was especially pleased to learn about the Redguard and Khajiit roles in the war. I had previously thought both groups were disinterested outsiders as far as the conflict between the Stormcloaks and the Empire went, but now I understand how they fit into the political structure of the gameworld. This book enriched the Skyrim experience for me.

Three and a half stars.

--

Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite Skyrim book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.

Read these books within the game Skyrim, on The Elder Scrolls Wiki or on the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages, or download the Dovahkiin Gutenberg.

Skyrim Book Reviews, Ancient Tales of the Dwemer

It has come to my attention that I missed the Ancient Tales of the Dwemer when I reviewed the titles beginning with A. For some reason, in the Dovahkiin Gutenberg they are listed under T for Tales instead of A for Ancient.

There are seven volumes of Ancient Tales of the Dwemer that you can find in Skyrim, although gaps in the numbering imply that more exist.

Although they differ widely in storytelling style and quality of writing, one thing they all have in common is that they are purported to have been recorded by Marobar Sul, and each of them includes a publisher's note analyzing Marobar Sul's scholarship, or rather lack thereof, and whether or not the tale presented was actually Dwemer in origin. The majority of them are determined to have been from other cultures, and that Marobar Sul slapped some Dwemer-sounding names on the characters.

This scholarly analysis of each text makes the set so much more interesting than each volume might have been individually. If you read all seven books together, the unnamed editor's seven notes together tell their own kind of story about Marobar Sul's shenanigans. Because these publisher's notes provide a unifying thread for these seven otherwise loosely-related books, the set as a whole merits it's own rating.

Four stars for the "complete" set (seven volumes, numbered 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, and 10). Ratings for individual volumes follow.

--

Ancient Tales of the Dwemer, Part I: The Ransom of Zarek, by Marobar Sul

This is an interesting tale told indirectly, as a son relates his escape to his mother. Of course, there can be no suspense in a story told this way, because the reader already knows the son is home safe. However, curiosity about how he managed to get away from his captors keeps the reader's interest.

The jarring use of thy and thou as one might see in formal, archaic language, when the rest of the dialogue was modern and somewhat variable in formality, grated on my nerves. However, the boy's method of escape was reasonably clever.

Two and a half stars.

--

Ancient Tales of the Dwemer, Part II, by Marobar Sul

This is the only book in the set that lacks a unique title. If I were to give it one, it might be The Woodsman and the Hist, or perhaps, The Argonan's Revenge. The publisher's note refers to the source tale as "The Seed." Despite its inclusion in the Dwemer series, this story prominently features Argonian lore and culture. An old Argonian woman wins the friendship of a young Dwemer (probably actually Dunmer) girl, and gives her a seed to plant. The story is engaging and well-written. It flows smoothly and reaches a satisfying conclusion, which I shan't spoil for you.

Four and a half stars.

--

Ancient Tales of the Dwemer, Part III: The Importance of Where, by Marobar Sul

While each of the Ancient Tales is told in a distinctive voice, this one has perhaps the most unique flavor. It is the tale of a warrior who must contend with a priest and a healer who attempt to steal the credit for his deeds. The writing has a particular cadence, which makes it seem very much like an ancient epic handed down through an oral tradition, and the story is clever, involving a delightful play on words.

Five stars.

--

Ancient Tales of the Dwemer, Part V: The Song of the Alchemists, by Marobar Sul

This story is told in a painful, sing-song rhyme. The meter is inconsistent, and many of the rhymes are contorted. The tale is of a contest between two alchemists to brew an invisibility potion, and the conclusion did not strike me as nearly so clever as it tried to present itself. The saving grace is the publisher's commentary, which slams the poem hard.

Two and a half stars.

--

Ancient Tales of the Dwemer, Part VI: Chimarvamidium, by Marobar Sul

This is the first of the Ancient Tales that might actually represent Dwemer culture accurately. It also prominently features the Chimer, who were the ancestors of the Dunmer. The plot is a variation on the story of the Trojan Horse, and thus familiar and predictable. The writer was inconsistent with tenses, a clumsy error that could have been fixed with better proofreading. Nonetheless, this was overall an enjoyable story.

Three stars.

--

Ancient Tales of the Dwemer, Part IX: Azura and the Box, by Marobar Sul
Another actual Dwemer tale, this one also featuring a Chimer and a Daedra. This is a tale of how a mortal tricked a goddess, with consequences implied but unshown. It presents science and skepticism in opposition to faith. The writing is decent, but unmemorable. This is another story made better by the publisher's commentary at the end, where the Dunmer and Aldmeri versions of the story.

Three stars.

--

Ancient Tales of the Dwemer, Part X: The Dowry, by Marobar Sul

This is the story of a wealthy father who establishes stringent conditions to be met by any suitors who might pursue his daughter, and the clever suitor who bests those challenges through trickery. The writing is solid, if unremarkable. It's not the most original story, but it is an enjoyable read.

Three stars.

--

Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite Skyrim book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.

Read these books within the game Skyrim, on The Elder Scrolls Wiki or on the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages, or download the Dovahkiin Gutenberg.

Skyrim Book Reviews, Titles Beginning with B

Well, my PlayStation 3 has succumbed to the infamous Yellow Light of Death. Dead, dead, deadsky. My Skyrim disc is trapped inside, so I will have to disassemble the machine to rescue my disc. (Before you say, "but that will void the warranty," I'll just mention that I bought the PS3 used and so I have no warranty.) My save files are, of course, toast. Nothing survives the YLOD. Rest in peace, Sekhmet the Khajiit Warrior Librarian, Level 51, and Wemi the Dwemer-Obsessed Argonian Mage, Level 32.

For now, reading the Dovahkiin Gutenberg on my Nook will have to satisfy my Skyrim cravings.

On to the latest batch of reviews . . .

The Battle of Red Mountain and the Rise and Fall of the Tribunal

This is an interesting history of how the Chimer became the Dunmer, and how the Dwemer came to vanish from the face of Nirn. It is presented a transcript of a historic speech by Vivec (a familiar name in Skyrim, and one of the main characters of the 2920 series), with commentary added by an unknown scribe. It provides a fair amount of worthwhile backstory in a decently readable package. It's not one I'd go back to re-read often, but it's worthwhile.

Three stars.

--

The Battle of Sancre Tor

This is a brief account of one of the great victories of Talos, aka Tiber Septim. It reads like a textbook, albeit a decently well-written one. It's the kind of story that would have done nicely if expanded into a multi-volume epic like 2920 or The Real Barenziah, but as it is, it's not the most dynamic telling. It's enjoyable enough, though, even as is.

Three stars.

--

The Bear of Markath: The Crimes of Ulfric Stormcloak, by Arrianus Arius, Imperial Scholar

The title and author's affiliation make the bias of this text readily apparent. The primary aim is to cast a shadow over anything positive the reader may have heard about Ulfric Stormcloak, and generally to make the Forsworn seem like they weren't really all that bad. The secondary aim is a sort of apology, presumably directed at the Aldmeri Dominion and their allies, for the Empire having granted Ulfric's people permission to worship Talos, in violation of the treaty between the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion. In the end, this book comes across as a "CYA" move on behalf of the Empire.

Two and a half stars.

--

Beggar Prince: The Story of Wheedle and his Gifts from the Daedric Lord Namira

Ah, here's the kind of story that reminds me of why I'm reading all of these Skyrim books. It is the kind of tale that should be told around a roaring campfire or in an alehouse. It is a cautionary tale against making deals with demons--er, Daedra. It is also the story of how a blessing can turn out to be a curse, and a curse can turn out to be a blessing.

Four and a half stars.

--

Biography of Barenziah, see here.

--

Biography of the Wolf Queen, see here.

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The Black Arrow, by Gorgic Guine

This two-volume set is a delight, a lovely tale of cruelty rewarded with rogue justice, with a little mystery on the side and an ending satisfying both in terms of content and storytelling technique. My only quibble is a reference to "a single black bolt of ebony," meaning the arrow for which the story is titled. Bows shoot arrows. Crossbows shoot bolts. Since the weapon in question was not a crossbow, referring to the missile as a bolt is an error. But that's a minor flaw in an otherwise highly engaging story.

Four and a half stars. Would have been five if it had said "shaft of ebony" instead of "bolt."

--

The Black Arts On Trial, by Hannibal Traven, Archmagister of the Arcane University, Imperial City

Another veiled critique of academia, in the vein of The Alduin/Akatosh Dichotomy. This is a well-handled debate over the merits versus the impropriety of the study of necromancy. The arguments and counter-arguments swing back and forth very smoothly, making this an enjoyable and interesting read.

Four stars.

--

The Black Star: An Achievement of Magic over Daedra, by Malyn Varen, Master Enchanter

I have little to say about this short text, as it is merely an informational supplement to one of the game's quests. If you're doing The Black Star quest, you'll want to read The Black Star book. If not, probably not. It doesn't really have a story; it's the journal of a coherent, articulate madman.

Two stars.

--

Boethiah's Glory

I'm not certain, but at 88 words this might be the shortest book in the game. Those 88 words are creepy in the extreme. This is one of the few books I've come across in the game that has a unique picture on the cover, and so it looks great laying on a table in your in-game house. It's worth acquiring just for that, even if you have no intention of doing the Bothiah's Calling quest.

Three and a half stars.

--

The Book of Daedra

If, like me, you have trouble keeping all those pesky Daedric Princes straight, this is the book for you. It's like a Who's Who list, or perhaps a field guide. Either way, it's a handy reference tome to have around.

Four stars.

--

The Book of the Dragonborn, by Prior Emelene Madrine, Order of Talos, Weynon Priory

You find this book during the opening sequence of the game, in the torturer's room. Pick it up and hang on to it until your character can afford to buy a house, because with the unique cover, this book makes a cool decoration.

As for the content of the book, it's informative and provides a lot of useful background information on the gameworld, and what it means for your player-character to be dragonborn. The prophecy at the end is interesting, and I am certain that it will be important to the plot by the end of the game. (I don't know, because I never finished the game. I enjoyed tromping all over Skyrim, exploring caves and keeps, and scrupulously avoiding anything that might trigger the progression of the main plotline. Whenever I get a new PS3, I'll be starting over with a new character, so I expect it will be a long, long time before I see the end of the game.) It seems to me that this book serves a useful function in the game, but doesn't stand alone outside of the context of the game.

Three stars.

--

Bravil: Daughter of the Niben, by Sathyr Longleat

This is a narrative of the history of the town of Bravil, a particular statue there, and the woman who became the town's legendary Lucky Old Lady. It's the kind of thing one might read in a travel guide. It's actually quite interesting and well written. Not essential reading, but worthwhile and enjoyable.

Three and a half stars.

--

Breathing Water, by Haliel Myrm

This is a great story horribly marred by one recurring error, and that is the frequent and consistent use of breath as a verb. Breath is a noun. The verb is breathe. One may breathe and one may take a breath. Every time I ran across the phrase "to breath water" I wanted to take a red pen to my screen (which of course would have damaged the screen horribly).

If you can get past that error, the tale told is actually quite good. It is engaging and clever, with a nice zinger at the end. I do recommend reading it.

Three stars. (Would have been four if someone had simply corrected breath to breathe.)

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A Brief History of the Empire, by Stronach k'Thojj III, Imperial Historian

This four-volume set is as advertized, a history textbook about the Empire from its founding by Tiber Septim until the reign of Uriel Septim VII. That means it is a few centuries out of date, as far as the current events in Skyrim are concerned. If you are interested in the history of the gameworld, do read this text. It's your best one-stop-shopping place for all of the Pelagiuses, Uriels, and other Imperial rulers. If you're having trouble keeping them straight, and if you care enough to want to, this is your essential text.

That said, it is written like a textbook. It is well edited and coherent, but deathly boring. Although it covers several exciting historical events, it does so in that history-textbook way of glossing over the interesting stuff in favor of bombarding the reader with names and dates. I'm sure that's exactly what the author (the real author, not Stronach k'Thojj III) intended: to create the textbook that schoolchildren all over the Empire would be forced to read and despise.

Two and a half stars.

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The Brothers of Darkness, by Pellarne Assi

This brief history text provides a little background on the Dark Brotherhood's ascent (or descent, if you prefer) from obscure cult to untouchable assassins guild. There's really not much to say about this book. It's decently written, but not especially exciting. If you're playing an assassin, you might find it interesting. If you're not, you might not.

Two and a half stars.

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The Buying Game, by Ababael Timsar-Dadisun

This is general advice on buying, selling, and negotiating prices, much of which can't actually be used in gameplay because trade happens automatically based on your speech skill. However, it is very interesting, and it highlights some of the cultural differences between the races in Skyrim. It's a short book, but worth reading.

Three stars.

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Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite Skyrim book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.

Read these books within the game Skyrim, on The Elder Scrolls Wiki or on the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages, or download the Dovahkiin Gutenberg.

Skyrim Book Reviews: The Wolf Queen

As with the books about Barenziah, I decided that it would be best to treat the two Wolf Queen titles together.

The Wolf Queen, by Waughin Jarth

This eight-volume set tells an engaging and interesting story about a woman who is unredeemably evil. It reads like historical fiction, because it occasionally contains speculation about events that there wouldn't have been any survivors to record. It has a well-plotted story cycle, with an ending that links back to the beginning. A few scattered typos and misused words detract from otherwise fine writing.

Four stars.

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Biography of the Wolf Queen, by Katar Eriphanes

I wish all of the good things I said about the multi-volume set The Wolf Queen could be set about the single volume Biography of The Wolf Queen, but alas, this book is dreadful. It is presented as a historical account (that is, lacking dialogue or other traits typical of fiction), however much of the text is lifted verbatim from narrative passages of The Wolf Queen. This wouldn't be a problem, except that they abridged the story too much, compressing things to the point at which they made no sense.

For example, in one paragraph, Uriel is born. The next paragraph begins, "Two years later, Pelagius II died . . ." The following paragraph begins, "Mantiarco King of Solitude, died the springtide after Pelagius II. Uriel ascended to the throne, ruling jointly with his mother. Doubtless, Uriel had the right and would have preferred to rule alone . . ."

I read those paragraphs over and over again, to see if I missed any indications of the passage of time. As it stands, the text implies that a three-year-old child "would have preferred to rule alone." That's sloppy writing, or at least sloppy editing. It's all the worse because it would have been so very easy to fix, simply by adding a phrase such as, "Once he reached the age of majority . . ."

Throughout the whole Biography of the Wolf Queen, I had a great deal of trouble identifying how much time passed between events. That meant I spent far too much time asking, "Huh?" and flipping back to previous pages.

Skip this book. Biography of the Wolf Queen doesn't contain one single piece of information not included in The Wolf Queen. It is completely and absolutely worthless.

Zero stars. Yeah, that's right. Zero.

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Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite Skyrim book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.

Read these books within the game Skyrim, on The Elder Scrolls Wiki or on the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages, or download the Dovahkiin Gutenberg.

Skyrim Book Reviews: Barenziah

Working my way through the Bs, after I finished Biography of Barenziah, I felt a great compulsion to immediately read The Real Barenziah. Since I didn't want to drop an R title into the middle of my B list, and I didn't want to wait until I reached the Rs to talk about The Real Barenziah, I decided to pull these two out and treat them together. I'll probably do the same for Biography of the Wolf Queen and The Wolf Queen.

Biography of Barenziah, by Stern Gamboge, Imperial Scribe. (Three volumes.)

Sniff, sniff. What's that smell? It reeks of propaganda. There are two multi-volume sets about the life of Barenziah, and this is the terrible one. It's kind of worth reading as a companion to The Real Barenziah, but on its own . . . it's a little bit awful.

The Real Barenziah, by Anonymous. (Five volumes.)

Unless "Anonymous" is intended to be Barenziah herself, this can't be considered a historical account, but rather historical fiction. There are too many details that only Barenziah herself could have known. (Yes, I know she wasn't a real person. Stay in character here, okay?) That said, the story is very good.

After reading about the "innocent" and "chaste" Barenziah in Biography of Barenziah, I expected The Real Barenziah to present the opposite extreme. I anticipated a tale of a wicked, evil woman. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find her here depicted as a well-rounded character who did some bad things and who also did some good things. She was a thief and a queen and so many other things, and she had to figure out for herself who she really was. Her feelings and deeds were complex, and I found myself liking the character. I have a few quibbles with typos, misused words, and inconsistencies in the spelling of Riften/Rifton (I don't care which, but each author should pick one and be consistent), but overall I can overlook such small flaws in the face of a well-told story.

Biography of Barenziah, as a companion to The Real Barenziah: two and a half stars.

Biography of Barenziah, alone: One star.

The Real Barenziah, with or without the other set: Four stars.

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Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite Skyrim book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.

Read these books within the game Skyrim, on The Elder Scrolls Wiki or on the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages, or download the Dovahkiin Gutenberg.

Skyrim Book Reviews, Titles Beginning with A

Read these books within the game Skyrim, on The Elder Scrolls Wiki, on the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages, or download the Dovahkiin Gutenberg.

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An Accounting of the Elder Scrolls, by Quintus Nerevelus, Former Imperial Librarian.

Since Skyrim is the first Elder Scrolls game I've played, I really wasn't familiar with the lore surrounding the titular Elder Scrolls. This was my introduction to the Elder Scrolls and the Moth Priests, as told by a librarian who sought to catalog these artifacts of arcane wisdom.

Of course, considering that I have worked as a cataloger for well over a decade and am presently working toward a Master's degree in library science, I am predisposed to favor a story that features a cataloging librarian. But even setting aside my bias, I do think this is an excellent story. It is tight, well-written, well-paced, and interesting. The narrator's voice is consistent and strong, and the story has a nice, if not completely surprising, twist at the end.

Four stars.

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The Ababal-a

I believe it is meant to emulate the great epic tales of history, such as Beowulf, however the writing is convoluted and disjointed. Interesting ideas are presented in fragments that flit by with no connection to one another.

Two stars and a half stars.

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Advances in Lock Picking

The author admits up front that he is not a good writer, and he is right. However, despite the purposely terrible writing, there was one piece of information worth opening this book for, beyond the skill point you earn for reading it: holding a torch near the lock makes it easier to pick. I have no idea if this is true in real life, and I can't imagine why it would be, but it has helped my lockpicking in Skyrim.

Two stars.

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Ahzirr Trajijazaeri

A Khajiit explains the Khajiit mindset and customs to outsiders who are allies in their struggle against the Imperial oppressors. I felt more like I was listening to an oratory than reading a text. The narrator's voice is perfect, and I can envision him speaking these words with sweeping gestures of his hands and sly flicks of his ears and tail. If this were our modern world, I can imagine this Khajiit on stage, perhaps with a witty and clever PowerPoint presentation displayed on a screen behind him. Perhaps I'm just partial to Khajiit, but I found this book absolutely delightful in every way.

Five stars.

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The Alduin/Akatosh Dichotomy, by Alexandre Simon, High Priest of the Akatosh Chantry, Wayrest, and Alduin is Real, and He Ent Akatosh, by Thromgar Iron-Head, prowd Nord

Although these are two separate books and you will likely find them in separate places around Skyrim, they should be taken as a set. When I first found Alduin is Real, I was put off by the painfully bad spelling and grammar, and I almost dismissed it as a junk book. But reading it back to back with The Alduin/Akatosh Dichotomy, I formed a very different opinion.

In The Alduin/Akatosh Dichotomy, the pompous priest Alexandre Simon has a theory about the Great Dragon Akatosh being known by different names in different regions, and he insists that the Nord stories of the great dragon Alduin are just corruptions of the Akatosh myth, and he dismisses any evidence to the contrary. In fine academic writing, he builds his case and dismisses contrary opinions from "the primitive peoples of Skyrim."

Alduin is Real is clearly intended to be a rebuttal of The Alduin/Akatosh Dichotomy, and the barely-literate "prowd Nord" makes his case with a treatise that a third-grade teacher would bleed five red pens dry correcting. Of course, the real author is an anonymous employee of Bethesda, who did a rather impressive job of creating the voice of Thromgar Iron-Head, despite a few occasional lapses into almost-correct standard English. The "prowd Nord" makes his case rather convincingly, actually, and I am inclined to believe his interpretation of Alduin over the analysis made by the priest from Wayrest.

Taken together, these two books present a very interesting commentary on cultural hegemony, local wisdom, and academia versus common sense.

Taken individually, neither of these books would have earned above three stars, but together, as perfect point and counterpoint, I give them five stars.

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Amongst the Draugr, by Bernadette Bantien, College of Winterhold

Oh, those crazy mages. Who else would think to live in a crypt to study the undead? Her observations on draugrs are actually very interesting, and they serve to elevate the draugr above the average video game zombies. And her explanation of the connection between the rank-and-file draugr and the dead priest in the central tomb is positively chilling.

Four and a half stars.

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The Amulet of Kings, by Wenengrus Monhona

This is full of good historical information for the world of Skyrim, but it's a little dry. I really don't have much say about it. I can't decide if it's interesting in a boring way, or boring in an interesting way.

Three stars.

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Ancestors and the Dunmer

This provides a very interesting description of how the Dunmer once treated the bodies of their dead, with a particular focus on the Ghost Fence, which was made from the bones of their ancestors to anchor the ghosts to this world, so that the ghosts might protect the living. I didn't find this as creepy as some readers might, because I've seen with my own eyes the Ossuary at Sedlec in the homeland of my ancestors, and I felt it to be a holy and wonderous place. So building structures of human bones (or in the case of the Dunmer of Skyrim, elven bones) doesn't really creep me out. I thought it was a neat custom, and it made the Dunmer seem much more interesting to me. This probably isn't required reading, but I thought it enriched the game world greatly.

Four stars.

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The Apprentice's Assistant: Advice from Valenwood's Most Prestitious Spellcaster

The pompous narrator reminds me a lot of Guilderoy Lockhart from the Harry Potter books. Next comparison: The Great and Powerful Trixie, from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. In short, Aramril, the narrator, is incredibly annoying. She gives useful advice on spellcasting, but probably not anything that the average player wouldn't have figured out on their own.

Two and a half stars.

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Arcana Restored: A Handbook, by Wapna Neustra, Praceptor Emeritus

Written in stilted, archaic language, this book repeatedly tells you that you must have it in hand, "so that thou might speak the necessary Words straightaway, and without error." The Words here being an incantation for restoring power to depleted magic artifacts with the Mana Fountain. The author also repeatedly lambasts the work of Kharneson and Rattor, who presumably are his rivals. I haven't learned who they are yet. Perhaps they are the authors of another book that I haven't encountered. In any case, the Words of which Wapna speaks are not actually present in this book.

Three stars.

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The Arcturian Heresy, by the Underking, Ysmir Kingmaker

This book wanders back and forth between present and past tense, sometimes within the same paragraph, making it painful to read. It has a lot of plot, and the poorest possible execution of that plot. It's almost like the author wrote an outline of the book they wanted to write, then though, "eh, good enough," and didn't bother to actually write the book. It reads like an awful first draft that never went through any kind of editing process.

Half a star, and I'm tempted to give it zero.

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The Argonian Account, by Waughin Jarth

This is a four-volume set, and from the title, I expected it to be dull. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the well-written story and excellent pacing. It was neither too long nor too short, but exactly the perfect length without a wasted sentence. The protagonist is a well-paid civil engineer who has somehow managed to get by without ever doing any actual work. His boss, thoroughly deceived into believing that this man is actually one of his best employees, gives him a challenging assignment, one that might force him to work after all. The engineer journeys to the Black Marsh, where he is to improve the roads and bridges in an environment that is exceedingly harsh and hostile. I won't say anything more, because I don't want to spoil the many delightful surprises this story has to offer. Get all four books and read them in order. This is possibly the best Skyrim book I've read so far. Even people who don't play Skyrim might enjoy this story.

Five stars, solid.

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The Armorers' Challenge, by Mymophonus

This is an enjoyable, if rather predictable, tale about two blacksmiths competing for a military contract. One is famous, has a magnificent forge, and has access to the highest quality materials. The other has next to nothing in terms of facilities and materials, however, he has the advantage in knowledge and experience. There is nothing new in this little parable, but the writing style is clean, and it's a pleasing read.

Four stars.

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The Art of War Magic, by Zurin Arctus, with Commentary By Other Learned Masters

The title fairly well sums it up. This is full of tactical advice for battlemages. How useful any of it is, I can't say. I found several pieces of advice to be contradictory. One passage recommends allowing your enemy to win before striking, while another suggests not engaging the enemy unless your own victory is secure. The anecdote about the Chimer sorcerer's ice demon was reasonably entertaining, though, and the book is worth reading just for that.

Two and a half stars.

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Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite Skyrim book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.