Previous book in series         Return to Spelljammer Novels, Comics & More The Ultimate Helm The Cloakmaster Cycle - Book 6 Item code: TSR8038 Type: Novel Release: 1993 Author: Russ T. Howard Cover Art: Michael Scott Format: Softcover novel 307 pages Print Runs: First (September 1993) Rarity: Uncommon Value@NrMint: $15 ISBN: 1-56076-651-4 Cover Price: $4.95 U.S. Weight: 200 grams Dimensions: width: 10.5 cm height: 17.5 cm depth: 2.0 cm Collectors value: Somehow, this book is much harder to find than the prvious five of the Cloakmaster Cycle. European collectors prepare to invest 20 Euro to get this one (U.S. sourcing). "Teldin Moore has gone from "dirtkicker" to spacefarer, from farmer to soul searcher, from muleskinner to captain in an elven Imperial Fleet, from outcast to political magnet. Now, in The Ultimate Helm, Teldin Moore discovers the key to his destiny, the great ship Spelljammer itself. He battles to control the vessel amid the myriad plots of its inhabitants. Political intrigue mixes with colossal magical forces for an explosive ending to the Cloakmaster Cycle. Teldin grapples with the choice of taking the ship's helm, and his decision could rend the bonds of fantasy space forever." The Tome of Treasures Rating: Originally, the novel was to be written by Roger Moore and it appears that he has already started with the project when, for whatever reasons, Russ T. Howard took over. On its first one hundred pages the novel had some strong moments, and the dialogues are a great strength of the author. However, that doesn't make up for a single page of the cosmic debris Howard has turned this last sequel into. Howard's style is mostly a hilarious exaggeration. It would have been fun if it could be read as a splatter parody. Unfortunately that is not possible. Howards descriptions of melee and magic have little to do with the AD&D game. For example, Teldin cuts off the arm of an umber hulk with a short sword (a small piercing weapon); a fighter beheads two umber hulks during melee with a single strike of a broad sword. Everything is mystic, magic is everything and Teldin's amulet and cloak can do whatever they want, and so, even the most idiotic deeds can easily be achieved. Example? People had forgotten that the entry to the old library was sealed shut, despite having lived for years on the Spelljammer. But that's no problem, because Teldin with his cloak is god - he merely concentrates a little and Howard let's him do some cosmic mumble-jumble and suddenly Teldin hacks his way through solid stone and mortar with his tiny short sword. It's so stupid, one wants to start to cry ... Howard does it all: Elves growing thick moustaches, ships exploding into fireballs when hit by a ballista shot, beholders letting themselves get slaughtered without using their eye rays ... Sure, the Spelljammer universe is weird and often illogical, but too much is simply too much. The final space battle erupts in a series of explosions (the most often used words in the final chapters: explosive, exploding, explosion) as Russ T. Howard lives out the atavistic side of his personality. The esoteric ending of the novel is bad taste at it's best. Conclusion: TSR seems to have lost all common sense to release this novel. Probably the decision for discontinuation of the Spelljammer line had already been made and nobody really cared about the outcome of this book. Even if you've read the first first books, you should avoid this one. (RALF TOTH) Previous book in series         Return to Spelljammer Novels, Comics & More