King's Quest: Kingdom of Sorrow

[colin]

I am also very excited about the Kingdom of Sorrow game. Many years ago I tried to buy the books
but to my annoyance it was too late as they were out of print. So the game will definitely be new to me.
I have also played the kinqs quest remakes and have enjoyed them.

[B'rrr]

yeh I got the jar from doing one of the other spells but it still isn't working 

You are just not meant to be a sorcerer, Kim 

[tessspoon]

I read Kingdom of Sorrow for the first time a few weeks ago (having previously read the Floating Castle) and I have to admit I was a little let down.  It's not a bad book by any means but I felt the story was poorly executed.  From what I understand Kenyon Morr are two authors working together and I kind of almost got that feeling reading it... as if two people were passing the narrative back and forth.  My biggest gripe was how Graham was portrayed, more as a bumbling lucky idiot more than a quick witted adventurer. I read the first line of "See No Weevil" and put it down for "A Brief History of Time".  Perhaps another day Mr and Mrs/Misses Morr.

Yea, they're not exactly the most well written books ever. And as Rosella pointed out one time, in Sorrow the author specifically states that Rosella is 7 when he had earlier mentioned Alexander being around 10. One would think twins would be the same age. Still enjoy reading them every now and then though, at least Sorrow and Floating Castle. Plus you get some neat little details about how the castle works and looks. See No Weevil I have no real desire to reread.

I am also very excited about the Kingdom of Sorrow game. Many years ago I tried to buy the books
but to my annoyance it was too late as they were out of print.

You can still find them on Ebay or Amazon Marketplace every now and then, sometimes for a really good price; that's where I found mine.

[Baggins]

From what I understand Kenyon Morr are two authors working together and I kind of almost got that feeling reading it... as if two people were passing the narrative back and forth.

As for the discussion of the authors of the books. Craig Mills passed away in 2002.
http://web.archive.org/web/20060924232020/http://www.sfwa.org/News/cmills.htm

Kenyon Morr was the pseudonym of the authors Mark Sumner and Marella Sands.

Personally I like The Floating Castle the best, its the darkest of the series. I like KOS second. SNW is ok, but its way too tongue and cheek for my tastes. It's not as serious, nor has the epic feel of the other two, and there isn't really a villain per se (or at least the villain is long dead, and his creations are all that's left). You get a larger sense of the danger Daventry is in in the other two. Graham's life is serious threatened the Floating Castle.

I'm surprised that IA preferrs KOS over Floating Castle, personally. But then again having the chance to play Graham again, makes it a better pick over TFC imo.

While each story is pretty much stand alone there are certain characters and themes that appear throughout the three books. The Old Woods appears in all three, and Ahi'aorina/Culatha Alimehenii appears in all three (or at least an aspect of her appears in KOS, White Fairy). The idea that time inside Old Woods runs differently than that inside of the woods (is mentioned in all three I think) .William and his father appears in the two Kenyon Morr books. KOS sets up the importance of Culatha, and she or the White Fairy helps Rosella and later Alexander in the later books because of the events of KOS (chronological order, not publishing order).

As a side note one aspect of SNW that's interesting is that it does expand the history and the world of Daventry through the Cyclopedia. Yuo get references to geography and events covering almost a 1000 years throughout the book, that are kinda interesting (although most of those references relate to the weevils). Plus the discriptions of the Town of Daventry are pretty cool. It also made a fair use of a fairy tale character, Pield Piper of Hamelin, which kind of brings it closer to King's Quest theme than any of the other books. It also drew on King Solomon and Daniel during its references as well.

My biggest gripe was how Graham was portrayed, more as a bumbling lucky idiot more than a quick witted adventurer.

Well that's kinda how he's portrayed in the King's Quest Companion as well. Not so much an "idiot" (I wouldn't say he was an idiot in KOS either) but having random luck about him, solving puzzles by accident. While chanting the mantra, "pick up everything not nailed down" has his father used to day. It's not like he plans for every encounter in advance (otherwise there probably wouldn't be dead ends ). I  mean haven't you noticed how much random crap goes on during KQ1 and KQ2, and even KQV to a degree? How many people pick up smelly fish, and old shoes, and other random trash?

Frankly he does a good job of tricking the inhabitants (such as the imps) of Castle of Sorrow in the latter of the book.

And as Rosella pointed out one time, in Sorrow the author specifically states that Rosella is 7 when he had earlier mentioned Alexander being around 10. One would think twins would be the same age.

No, it's the other kid who's 10, William, the son of the castle seneschel, Oswald.

They ain't brother and sister, . Although King Graham almost treats him as a son, takes him up to the top of the castle to see his land as a birthday gift. I think Rosella says she kinda sees him as a brother, also (and later a possible love interest).

http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/13_GC

I think there is a single reference to him musing that Alexander would be about the same age as William if he were still around (but that could be said about Rosella as well, 7 is still about 10, ).  But ya bit weird way of saying things, and does seem to indicate that the authors didn't know that they were twins.

[liggy002]

Infamous Adventures is making a game based on the novel for those of you who missed it.  This way, when we're all done with TSL, we'll have some more King's Quest material to have fun with.

I'm guessing that TSL will be the final entry in the King's Quest saga.  If so, I am sad to see it go but all good things must come to an end.  Do not fret though, there are more King's Quest adventures to be had and more fans who will be willing to make them.  Even if they are not directly related to the original series, we can all agree that they are fun nevertheless!

[I_am_so_nifty]

There's already discussion of this on another thread, but I guess two isn't terrible.

Click! --> King's Quest: Kingdom of Sorrow

[koko_99_2001]

And now I've merged the threads

[Storm]

I haven't read any of the KQ novels, but I got the impression that Kingdom of Sorrow has some similarities with the game "Tale of Two Kingdoms", which originally started out as a fan "King's Quest 2.5". Both have the protagonist traveling to aid a neighbouring kingdom, both have a magical fairy land, and Graham's magic shield is replaced with a girdle of protection that has a similar effect.
Anyone knows if there are other similarities? (without spoilers, please )

[Baggins]

Graham doesn't use a magic shield in Kingdom of Sorrow, and the Kingdom of Sorrow wasn't much of a kingdom. It was just contained a magical construct of a castle, Sorrowing Castle, where everyone living there were put into a state of remorse, which powered a spell, to feed an evil Wizard ambitions of power. Graham stops the spell and the castle collapses. Not to go much more into it.

While he Graham does visit a forest with fairies, its only for a very brief section of the book.

[Storm]

Huh? I thought I said "no spoilers"...

(spill the entire plot, please )

Oh, sorry, my bad

[Baggins]

Oh, that wasn't the entire plot . That being said, Infamous Adventures said there version of the story is only inspired on the novel, and will not be following it exactly.

[tessspoon]

It'd be hard to make an adventure game following the plot exactly anyway. Not enough game-type puzzles.

[Baggins]

It's surprising the The Floating Castle, had moments that seemed more adventure game like. That is Alexander amassed a few items, and had to use them along the way. For example getting a green wallet that would always fill with elven waybread, which he gives to an ogre to stop guarding some carts.

Other things like magic rope, a golden pin, apples, etc, etc.

[Storm]

Oh, that wasn't the entire plot . That being said, Infamous Adventures said there version of the story is only inspired on the novel, and will not be following it exactly.

I hope so, it's not as fun if you already know all the details before playing the game. That's why I'd rather see an original game than another fan remake, even if it is based on the book

[jewelkid87]

I read all three novels a few years ago, so I don't really remember exactly what happens. I read them because I had already played all of the KQ's and was craving something new from KQ. It will be really cool to play this game!

[theroachyjay]

http://www.infamous-adventures.com/home/index.php?page=view&topic=3462

I posted this a few days ago, but that was before the site change.  So I thought I'd post it again.  Apparently it is going to be loosely based on the novel of the same name.

I think that I'm going to flippin' faint.  I need to get off of this website now before I find out about the King's Quest TV show CBS is planning.

[koko_99_2001]

http://www.infamous-adventures.com/home/index.php?page=view&topic=3462

I posted this a few days ago, but that was before the site change.  So I thought I'd post it again.  Apparently it is going to be loosely based on the novel of the same name.

I think that I'm going to flippin' faint.  I need to get off of this website now before I find out about the King's Quest TV show CBS is planning.

Shhh! That's supposed to be under wraps right now!

[jen]

I saw this last night when I was redownloading KQ3.  I've never read the book, but I look forward to the game!