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Spelljammer: The Cloakmaster Cycle #2
Into the Void
Great Read.
Paperback
First published September 1, 1991
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About the author
Nigel Findley
66 books44 followersNigel D Findley (July 22, 1959 – February 19, 1995[1]) was a game designer, editor, and an author of science fiction and fantasy novels and role-playing games (RPGs). Findley died suddenly on February 19, 1995, at his home in Vancouver, British Columbia. He suffered a heart attack at the age of 35.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 9, 2021
The second Spelljammer novel. The series is definitely going to suffer for having a new author for every book. Nigel Findley wrote material for Spelljammer the game and that does show through in many points but there's also a lot of the novel that is lacking. As the series title hints, a Cloak Teldin received from a dying alien is a powerful artifact that is drawing seemingly everyone down on top of his head.
So first, the good: The Spelljamming action sequences are top notch. Age of Sails ships flying in space is such a wonderful idea I can hardly believe TSR came up with it. There is an extremely good sequence where small insect-like Spelljammers are attacking a lifeboat manned by main character Teldin Moore and some gnomes. The gnomes, trying to get as much between them and the incoming ballista-bolts as possible spin the lifeboat upside-down so that the keel of the longship is acting as a shield. It's brilliant and really considers the peculiar nature of age-of-sail ships fighting in a 3D environment.
Teldin is eventually rescued by a ship shaped like a shark captained by a Mind Flayer. This is significant as Estriss is one of the first non-evil Mind Flayers I think in all of D&D and he's pretty interesting. He's got a conspiracy-theory about an ancient advanced civilization and is putting his resources in to finding it. The novel attempts some character assassination later by having Teldin become positive that Estriss is working for a group of Mind Flayers who want the cloak. Y'know. Except Teldin was on his ship for like weeks and the Mind Flayer never did anything to try to harm Teldin even though he could have? He's a Mind Flayer. He can charm. He can just paralyze Teldin with a psychic blast. And while the Cloak's abilities are still nebulous we know it doesn't protect Teldin from mental effects because he was feeling an Umber Hulk's confusing gaze last book. But, y'know, how can you really trust a tentacle-y-faced monster?
Anyway, the bad is pretty bad. The ultimate antagonist of the book is a woman who Teldin becomes infatuated with and romantically involved with and then finds out that she's working with the Neogi that have been dogging Teldin since the last book. At the climax of the novel she reveals that she charmed Teldin. This is a pay off with no set up. If Teldin's romantic interest had come on suddenly it would make sense. There are also many aboard the ship that could have realized Teldin was charmed and didn't? Or were just too dumb to? Additionally, why did she bother charming Teldin when it was obviously unnecessary? The previous rest of the book every. single. time. a female character is introduced she is immediately physically described based on how hot Teldin finds her to be. Every single one of them. Including the female gnome who Teldin gets caught oggling (it's okay though, it's implied later that she had feelings for Teldin because Teldin wants every female character and they all want him back because of course they do). I get that fantasy as a genre is often an adolescent male power fantasy but yikes? Especially in this context. Teldin has been dogged for weeks and forced to leave his PLANET by a nasty spider-eel-man and their Umber Hulk slaves. Now is NOT the time to be looking to get laid, Teldin old boy. Additionally, the reveal that the antagonist charmed him would fit so much better and be so much more rewarding if he hadn't spent every interaction with a woman prior to her thinking about how hot he thought she was. Imagine. Teldin hasn't even looked twice at anyone and suddenly he's overcome with emotion for this one person out of the blue. He hasn't felt this way in years. He decides he deserves a little happiness, even if temporary. It would have read as being out of character until the reveal. It would have been great. But, instead, Teldin gotta be all about chasing skirts I guess and that plot thread was a giant red herring. Especially since even a mildly astute reader could see it coming a mile off. There is a cut away to the villain who mentions having spies that confirm Teldin is on Toril. Findley clumsily attempts a red herring with a mostly nameless person rescued from a Neogi ship they battled but it's never credible and I pieced together her entire reveal from that villain point-of-view chapter.
Also the villain POV chapters aren't very good. It's an attempt to make them horrifying but it doesn't really work. Neogi are already gross. They are long-necked eel spider people who take slaves and only see non-neogi as meat to be eaten. It comes across like Skaven chapters in the Gotrek & Felix series but has none of the charm. You kinda like Thanquol. You don't give a shit about Prissith Nerro. He's boring
As is typical for licensed RPG novels most of the writing is not great. The long introspective sequences of Teldin thinking about himself are a chore to read and, frankly, Teldin isn't that interesting of a character. He's the fish out of water. He's surrounded by people who are more interesting consistently. And that's fine but don't leave me alone with Boring McEveryMan's whiny thoughts. There's only a hint of the wonder that makes Spelljammer so appealing to many. Fantasy, especially D&D-esque fantasy, is pretty played out at this point. Put it in space. Give it age-of-sail tropes in Space with Dragons and you've got my interest all over again. It comes close to matching the wonder that got most of us in to D&D in the first place.
Also there seems to be a goal of mostly wiping the slate clean at the end of every book. The gnome characters appear to have been left stranded on Toril which is absolute bullshit because at least they were interesting and now we're stuck with Teldin and his friend StockFace McGenericFantasyHero guy. Go back to Toril and pick up the Gnomes who are stranded on another planet entirely because of you goddammit. There is a running joke where the Gnomes offer to invent improvements to the Mind Flayer's ship and are threatening with death if they touch anything. It's funny the first two times but it wears out its welcome quickly. On the other hand, Tinker Gnomes are firmly in the same pile as Gully Dwarves and Kender comprising "Dragonlance's Annoying People."
So first, the good: The Spelljamming action sequences are top notch. Age of Sails ships flying in space is such a wonderful idea I can hardly believe TSR came up with it. There is an extremely good sequence where small insect-like Spelljammers are attacking a lifeboat manned by main character Teldin Moore and some gnomes. The gnomes, trying to get as much between them and the incoming ballista-bolts as possible spin the lifeboat upside-down so that the keel of the longship is acting as a shield. It's brilliant and really considers the peculiar nature of age-of-sail ships fighting in a 3D environment.
Teldin is eventually rescued by a ship shaped like a shark captained by a Mind Flayer. This is significant as Estriss is one of the first non-evil Mind Flayers I think in all of D&D and he's pretty interesting. He's got a conspiracy-theory about an ancient advanced civilization and is putting his resources in to finding it. The novel attempts some character assassination later by having Teldin become positive that Estriss is working for a group of Mind Flayers who want the cloak. Y'know. Except Teldin was on his ship for like weeks and the Mind Flayer never did anything to try to harm Teldin even though he could have? He's a Mind Flayer. He can charm. He can just paralyze Teldin with a psychic blast. And while the Cloak's abilities are still nebulous we know it doesn't protect Teldin from mental effects because he was feeling an Umber Hulk's confusing gaze last book. But, y'know, how can you really trust a tentacle-y-faced monster?
Anyway, the bad is pretty bad. The ultimate antagonist of the book is a woman who Teldin becomes infatuated with and romantically involved with and then finds out that she's working with the Neogi that have been dogging Teldin since the last book. At the climax of the novel she reveals that she charmed Teldin. This is a pay off with no set up. If Teldin's romantic interest had come on suddenly it would make sense. There are also many aboard the ship that could have realized Teldin was charmed and didn't? Or were just too dumb to? Additionally, why did she bother charming Teldin when it was obviously unnecessary? The previous rest of the book every. single. time. a female character is introduced she is immediately physically described based on how hot Teldin finds her to be. Every single one of them. Including the female gnome who Teldin gets caught oggling (it's okay though, it's implied later that she had feelings for Teldin because Teldin wants every female character and they all want him back because of course they do). I get that fantasy as a genre is often an adolescent male power fantasy but yikes? Especially in this context. Teldin has been dogged for weeks and forced to leave his PLANET by a nasty spider-eel-man and their Umber Hulk slaves. Now is NOT the time to be looking to get laid, Teldin old boy. Additionally, the reveal that the antagonist charmed him would fit so much better and be so much more rewarding if he hadn't spent every interaction with a woman prior to her thinking about how hot he thought she was. Imagine. Teldin hasn't even looked twice at anyone and suddenly he's overcome with emotion for this one person out of the blue. He hasn't felt this way in years. He decides he deserves a little happiness, even if temporary. It would have read as being out of character until the reveal. It would have been great. But, instead, Teldin gotta be all about chasing skirts I guess and that plot thread was a giant red herring. Especially since even a mildly astute reader could see it coming a mile off. There is a cut away to the villain who mentions having spies that confirm Teldin is on Toril. Findley clumsily attempts a red herring with a mostly nameless person rescued from a Neogi ship they battled but it's never credible and I pieced together her entire reveal from that villain point-of-view chapter.
Also the villain POV chapters aren't very good. It's an attempt to make them horrifying but it doesn't really work. Neogi are already gross. They are long-necked eel spider people who take slaves and only see non-neogi as meat to be eaten. It comes across like Skaven chapters in the Gotrek & Felix series but has none of the charm. You kinda like Thanquol. You don't give a shit about Prissith Nerro. He's boring
As is typical for licensed RPG novels most of the writing is not great. The long introspective sequences of Teldin thinking about himself are a chore to read and, frankly, Teldin isn't that interesting of a character. He's the fish out of water. He's surrounded by people who are more interesting consistently. And that's fine but don't leave me alone with Boring McEveryMan's whiny thoughts. There's only a hint of the wonder that makes Spelljammer so appealing to many. Fantasy, especially D&D-esque fantasy, is pretty played out at this point. Put it in space. Give it age-of-sail tropes in Space with Dragons and you've got my interest all over again. It comes close to matching the wonder that got most of us in to D&D in the first place.
Also there seems to be a goal of mostly wiping the slate clean at the end of every book. The gnome characters appear to have been left stranded on Toril which is absolute bullshit because at least they were interesting and now we're stuck with Teldin and his friend StockFace McGenericFantasyHero guy. Go back to Toril and pick up the Gnomes who are stranded on another planet entirely because of you goddammit. There is a running joke where the Gnomes offer to invent improvements to the Mind Flayer's ship and are threatening with death if they touch anything. It's funny the first two times but it wears out its welcome quickly. On the other hand, Tinker Gnomes are firmly in the same pile as Gully Dwarves and Kender comprising "Dragonlance's Annoying People."
January 22, 2020
This entry in the series wasn’t strong. It had more action than the first book but the plot was too predictable for me as I saw the twist coming.
The protagonist continues to learn new tricks of the cloak but we are two books into the five book series and still know nothing about the cloak for sure. At this point I’d like to know something concrete or at least know where he is going next but so far this protagonists being acted upon instead of acting and I hate these kinds of stories. Give me a man with a plan even if it’s a dumb plan.
Will I continue to read the series? Yes more for the fact that I’m enjoying the setting and some of the side characters but I better start seeing some improvements in the next book.
The protagonist continues to learn new tricks of the cloak but we are two books into the five book series and still know nothing about the cloak for sure. At this point I’d like to know something concrete or at least know where he is going next but so far this protagonists being acted upon instead of acting and I hate these kinds of stories. Give me a man with a plan even if it’s a dumb plan.
Will I continue to read the series? Yes more for the fact that I’m enjoying the setting and some of the side characters but I better start seeing some improvements in the next book.
July 8, 2019
Full review here:
https://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/...
Fun read, and it looks like the next book will explore areas that are specific settings for SpellJammer, which should be interesting.
https://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/...
Fun read, and it looks like the next book will explore areas that are specific settings for SpellJammer, which should be interesting.
March 17, 2025
Very much a book of its time, I enjoyed it but it’s some what dated which is a bit of a shame. It’s also a bit clumsy in execution and rushed at the end.
But glad I’m catching up on some books I’ve wanted to read for a very long time
But glad I’m catching up on some books I’ve wanted to read for a very long time
May 23, 2018
It wasn't too bad for an early 90's D&D book, though others are better.
May 2, 2022
The second part of the story with a new writer. Teldin travel in space between the different spheres that makes up the universe. A decent ok story.
October 3, 2023
Took about half the book for the action to really get going but once it did it was all out who can trust who magical action.
December 9, 2024
Really enjoyed the story of this second book of the Spelljammer series.It kept me guessing what was going on. It was an intresting story to follow up the first book.
July 5, 2015
A Dungeons & Dragons space adventure
9 March 2012
This is the second book in the Cloakmaster Cycle and details Teldin's journey from Krynnspace to Realmspace thus bringing two AD&D worlds into the same setting. It has been a while since I have read this book and unfortunately I can find little about it on the web, though I have discovered a couple of reviews that have been a bit of a refresher. From what I have learnt, and can remember, this is purely a space adventure opening up Teldin, and the reader, to the new and endless possibilities of the Spelljammer universe.
We meet a number of the unique, and not so unique, creatures that inhabit the universe. The first are the Giff, a race of hippo-men who are noble and honourable fighters that like using guns. They aren't too bright, but they are loyal and devoted, despite the fact that they are mercenaries. As mercenaries, they are quite good to the people who pay them, however they are still mercenaries. Yet it seems that by giving them that title does not seem to diminish them in any way.
There are the Arcane; a race of tall blue giants that love to trade. Once again they are honest traders, though exist in a closed society. It seems that the world of the Arcane is like an opaque corporation that outsiders can never enter and learn about. However, once again they are portrayed and honest and fair creatures, unlike some other sci-fi trading races (such as the Ferengi from Star Trek). I guess one of the reasons for this is to try and paint economics and commerce in as favourable a light as possible. Though this is not entirely true when it comes to Shadowrun. This is not Shadowrun though: the is AD&D, a world of high fantasy and adventure with a distinct division between good and evil.
Along with these there are also gnomes, elves, and illithid. Somebody mentioned that the Illithid in this book was like Dr Zoidburg from Futurama. That is impossible simply because this book predates Futurama by at least ten years. If the author had borrowed the idea of the illithid from somewhere, it definitely was not Futurama (and I doubt Futurama borrowed Zoidberg from Spelljammer since the two are nothing alike).
An Illithid
"191" alt="Dr Zoidberg"/>
Dr Zoidberg
There is probably little else that I can say about this book (or any of the others). It is highly unlikely that I will ever read this book again, or even attempt to finish the series. I am simply not interested. These books, while entertaining, are still little more than a marketing strategy for a line of AD&D products that are out of print. I remember I sold a lot of my old books about ten years ago, and I am not going to run around trying to find them again (however my friend does own the collections, so they are readily accessible).
9 March 2012
This is the second book in the Cloakmaster Cycle and details Teldin's journey from Krynnspace to Realmspace thus bringing two AD&D worlds into the same setting. It has been a while since I have read this book and unfortunately I can find little about it on the web, though I have discovered a couple of reviews that have been a bit of a refresher. From what I have learnt, and can remember, this is purely a space adventure opening up Teldin, and the reader, to the new and endless possibilities of the Spelljammer universe.
We meet a number of the unique, and not so unique, creatures that inhabit the universe. The first are the Giff, a race of hippo-men who are noble and honourable fighters that like using guns. They aren't too bright, but they are loyal and devoted, despite the fact that they are mercenaries. As mercenaries, they are quite good to the people who pay them, however they are still mercenaries. Yet it seems that by giving them that title does not seem to diminish them in any way.
There are the Arcane; a race of tall blue giants that love to trade. Once again they are honest traders, though exist in a closed society. It seems that the world of the Arcane is like an opaque corporation that outsiders can never enter and learn about. However, once again they are portrayed and honest and fair creatures, unlike some other sci-fi trading races (such as the Ferengi from Star Trek). I guess one of the reasons for this is to try and paint economics and commerce in as favourable a light as possible. Though this is not entirely true when it comes to Shadowrun. This is not Shadowrun though: the is AD&D, a world of high fantasy and adventure with a distinct division between good and evil.
Along with these there are also gnomes, elves, and illithid. Somebody mentioned that the Illithid in this book was like Dr Zoidburg from Futurama. That is impossible simply because this book predates Futurama by at least ten years. If the author had borrowed the idea of the illithid from somewhere, it definitely was not Futurama (and I doubt Futurama borrowed Zoidberg from Spelljammer since the two are nothing alike).
An Illithid
"191" alt="Dr Zoidberg"/>Dr Zoidberg
There is probably little else that I can say about this book (or any of the others). It is highly unlikely that I will ever read this book again, or even attempt to finish the series. I am simply not interested. These books, while entertaining, are still little more than a marketing strategy for a line of AD&D products that are out of print. I remember I sold a lot of my old books about ten years ago, and I am not going to run around trying to find them again (however my friend does own the collections, so they are readily accessible).
February 11, 2016
I'm giving this three stars because I enjoy DnD books so much. This is part of a six book series, each book by another author, that seems to be taking a different tack than others I've read. Instead of having each book build on the last, so far each story has burned most of its bridges by the end, leaving the next author to pick up the pieces and repeat the process. So yes, all the characters from the last book were discarded or outright killed, new ones were introduced, discarded and killed in this book as well.
There is very little continuity at all, really, except that the main character has a McGuffin that he's still getting chased over. He learned how to use a spear in battle after much practice, and even got a cool magic spear from a person he took pains to get to know, save each others lives, etc. This spear is not mentioned at all in this book, not even once, then he takes pains to learn to use a shortsword. WTF? First of all, that is a lame weapon, second, there was absolutely no reason he couldn't have found another spear to use! In fact, in one fight he has the chance to pick up a spear right next to him, but he instead takes the shortsword from a dead friend. Sigh.
The writing for this book was choppy at best. The main character has a super ability to tell if people are lying or not, but the pot hinges on him not using this at all and getting fooled over and over. Several times he seems to foget what's going on... he'll have the main character muse that a second character is gone, then later in the conversation that person will chime in... where'd they come from? At another point, he doesn't have money, then he does, then he doesn't again, then he had it all along. What? Oh, and at one point his knee hurt, then it hurt worse, then he was nearly blacking out from the pain, but then he was suddenly better with no explanation. Huh? Hey Nigel, keep track of what's going on in your own book!
Also, this is a book that forgets its place in the world. It is a Dungeons and Dragons novel! The core audience for this book consists of those who have played or are otherwise interested in that game. The entire plot is firmly set in the 'Spelljammer' version of the DnD worlds (good old AD&D). So when people get hurt, you say... why the hell doesn't he take a healing potion? If they do, and they don't get healed, you say "why don't they take another healing potion! You clearly have them available!" Basically, I don't think some random novel is the place to try altering the shared universe you've been allowed to play around in.
Thats enough about this book. In this case its a good thing that all the books in the series are by different authors...
There is very little continuity at all, really, except that the main character has a McGuffin that he's still getting chased over. He learned how to use a spear in battle after much practice, and even got a cool magic spear from a person he took pains to get to know, save each others lives, etc. This spear is not mentioned at all in this book, not even once, then he takes pains to learn to use a shortsword. WTF? First of all, that is a lame weapon, second, there was absolutely no reason he couldn't have found another spear to use! In fact, in one fight he has the chance to pick up a spear right next to him, but he instead takes the shortsword from a dead friend. Sigh.
The writing for this book was choppy at best. The main character has a super ability to tell if people are lying or not, but the pot hinges on him not using this at all and getting fooled over and over. Several times he seems to foget what's going on... he'll have the main character muse that a second character is gone, then later in the conversation that person will chime in... where'd they come from? At another point, he doesn't have money, then he does, then he doesn't again, then he had it all along. What? Oh, and at one point his knee hurt, then it hurt worse, then he was nearly blacking out from the pain, but then he was suddenly better with no explanation. Huh? Hey Nigel, keep track of what's going on in your own book!
Also, this is a book that forgets its place in the world. It is a Dungeons and Dragons novel! The core audience for this book consists of those who have played or are otherwise interested in that game. The entire plot is firmly set in the 'Spelljammer' version of the DnD worlds (good old AD&D). So when people get hurt, you say... why the hell doesn't he take a healing potion? If they do, and they don't get healed, you say "why don't they take another healing potion! You clearly have them available!" Basically, I don't think some random novel is the place to try altering the shared universe you've been allowed to play around in.
Thats enough about this book. In this case its a good thing that all the books in the series are by different authors...
September 16, 2022
Where to start? Well this isn't a book or series I would normally read even though I love space and fantasy just not mixed together. I guess I would go more the Star Wars route if I went any. The reason I read this book is because I decided to read or in some cases re-read all the Forgotten Realms books in chronological order and this book was on the list I found. I did like reading new stuff about Toril and learning about Realmspace in general and how they are tied in with the other worlds like Krynn. I also never heard of Rauthaven so it was nice to learn more about another location that is away from where most Forgotten Realms books take place. That is the only reason I gave it a 3 star. The story itself is just ok. A good mind flayer?? I guess there are other anomalies in FR like Drizzt. Teldin is definitely more whiny in this one so his character in general just isn't that interesting. Having different authors per book shows. The supporting characters are typical but interesting. We barely learned anything new about the cloak itself. Once again Teldin is in love even though he is running for his life and scared he sure finds time to check out all the ladies. They tried to explain this one with a spell but that was way too late and has numerous flaws with it. This book itself has numerous flaws. All of a sudden Teldin doesn't trust Estriss even though he had numerous other opportunities to get the cloak if he wanted throughout the whole book and was helping him learn about it? The plot twist was so predictable. I knew from the moment they rescued Rianna what was going to happen. With each book having different authors the scorched earth approach makes Teldin even a worse character. You just leave the gnomes behind??? There were some unanswered questions that I guess will be answered in the future by a different author which seems odd but I will read the remaining books in the series so we will find out.
February 11, 2017
Not as much revealed about the cloak in this novel. The hero just can't seem to keep any weapon or magic item on him unless it's cursed. So many lost opportunities.
March 10, 2013
I found the writing for this one in the series to be better than the first. The protagonist, Teldin Moore, is saved by a flying longboat manned by a crew of humans and captained by a mind-flayer. Together they leave the realmspace of Krynn and go into that containing Toril to attend an auction of artifacts that may give clues to the magical cloak Teldin wears. Along the way he battles some pretty nasty enemies and makes some good friends, including fall in love. Lots of twists in the plot made for a good reading experience.
November 24, 2013
i plodded along in a removed manner until the plot twist. for some reason, i didn't see that coming and i had an OHHHH SHITTT SONN sort of reaction. so i must have been more invested in the plotline than i thought i was.
September 15, 2011
The first "real" spelljammer novel. It deals with the main character finally making it into space, having some space adventures, and learning more about the mysterious cloak.
January 15, 2012
Second of the Spelljammer AD&D books. The first one was quite good, this one was a disappointment.
March 2, 2015
Very good. I know it's very unrealistic as far as space travel goes, but hey, it's D&D in space! How can you beat that. I will keep reading through the series.
Want to read
January 4, 2010Book 2 in the Cloakmaster Cycle...now all I need is book 1!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews