David Cook (2) (1940–)

A fantasy novel set in the Dungeons and Dragons 'Spelljammer' setting - meaning spacegoing sailing ships! You have to ignore the physics and other practical science considerations and read this as a fantasy adventure. For that, its not bad, though it wasn't memorable.

The story is based on the beginnings of Genghis Khan's Mongol empire, with the added wrinkle that it is set in the TSR version of medieval Earth: Forgotten Realms. Although I have a degree of skepticism with regards to fantasy, especially of the "epic" sort, Horselords managed to win me over. Of its various strengths, the first I wish to highlight is the author's attention to detail. The depth of the author's research and his ability to portray the Tuigan (the AD&D stand in for the Mongols) show more way of life give the novel a sense of plausibility without sacrificing its epic proportions.

The main character in the novel is Koja, a monk belonging to a vaguely Buddhist sect, who is sent as an emissary to the Tuigan. Throughout the course of the novel, he rises to a place of prominence within the Tuigan society. Koja is actually something of a ridiculous character, a pacifist among hardened warriors, and his advancement within the Tuigan society seems to be the result of luck more than anything. It would have made for a somewhat interesting character if his actions had been motivated by some degree of ambition. Admittedly Koja's weakness as a character is due in part to his role as surrogate for the reader, and his integration into Tuigan society meant to reflect the reader's submersion into the story.

Also, Koja's passivity serves to contrast with the other major character, Yamun Khahan (the stand-in for Genghis Khan). Yamun will probably not go down as one of the great characters in fiction, but he is probably one of the better drawn characters to appear in an AD&D novel. Certainly this sort of amoral, charismatic anti-hero seems more appropriate for a Robert E. Howard story than a novel set in Forgotten Realms. Yamun's mixture of savagery and honor certainly owes a great deal to Conan, though it also makes for a plausible portrayal of what the real Genghis Khan might have been like. This makes it a little more believable that Koja comes to serve this man who is very much his opposite.

The plot of the novel concerns the first conquests of the Tuigan army and Yamun's decision to invade Shou Lung (China). Also key is treachery within the Tuigan ranks. The treachery subplot is a bit of a diversion, as the conspirators are not successfully portrayed; they seem more bumbling than dangerous. show less

Horselords was a slow starter for me. It begins in an area where magic is banished, and the horselords are left to use their minds and shear brawn to maneuver. The main character, Koja, was a fun character to follow as he goes from enemy, to scribe, to trusted ally, to brother, or anda, of the great Yamun. His trials and tribulations are few, but what he experiences is beyond his understanding. He is pushed into a world he knows nothing about, and is forced to participate in things that he show more finds reprehensible. However, by the end, he has become one of the Tuigan, and is happy to be so. show less

I was always drawn to this module, mostly because of the city map. I finally got a chance to use it in a 3.5 Jungle-based campaign and it rocked. Of course I completely changed some things around but kept some of the really cool parts. One of the reviewers mentioned the rope bridge. I kept it in and killed one of the characters with it. The friendly/greedy singing xorn was fun too. Then of course there was the naked gnome... oh wait that wasn't part of the original adventure (long story).