Can't... remember... name... of... novel... GRRARRGH

[Murkus]

Ok, here's the deal. A few years ago, I had begun a tendency to read novels that were way too big for your average kid to finish. I stumbled across one particularly interesting work, which, for the life of me, I cannot remember the name of. Being less interested in such long reads than I am now, I would like to find that book again (especially because it's my favorite genre as of now). Maybe someone who's seen or read it could help me?

It was a large tome, several hundred pages at the least, hardback, it's cover illustrated with an image of near-future soldiers fighting knights on horseback (or something close to that).

It was about two mighty empires: one based in powerful magic, and the other in futuristic technology. Both empires had begun expansion through alternate universes, using their alterate modes of travel. The magicians had things like dragon riders or holographic displays that could appear from magic crystals. The techies had... I can't remember. These two empires would meet, and conflict would begin.

Anywho, if anyone has read something that sounds even a bit like what I've tried to describe, say about it and I'll look it up. I may have gotten a couple details wrong, so even just suggestions for investigation would be nice.

[dehro]

I'm not a warhammer player, yet what you describe brings that sort of scenario to my mind and I know there's been a lot of fiction written ..based on the game.

Alternatively, something by Raymond E Feist (although too much time has passed since I last read his books, for me to remember accurately, I do remember there being at least 1 or 2 instances of parallel universes and inter-universe clashes.
also, I haven't read all of Marion Zimmer Bradley's work..I'm thinking the darkover material... but I seem to remember that the premise is a civilisation that uses magic but that is developed from a race of people who got stranded on the planet due to crashing with their space-ship (or something in that direction)

I'm afraid however that your description applies to too many fantasy or sci-fi/fantasy books, some famous some less so, for me to identify it accurately.

[Kuma Da]

My first thought was "oh, Gaunt's Ghosts", but then you mentioned a magical empire and that all went out the window.

My next thought is Eric Flint (particularly if it had a very shiny cover. Baen loves shiny covers to death.) A cavalry charge sounds like maybe "1632", except that was mostly missing empires at war. Still, your description sounds a lot like something Flint would do, so he might be a good first place to start looking. He's got loads of series I've never heard of.

[Murkus]

There are MORE books that this description applies too?

Well, actually, it's not very surprising that I don't know that. I haven't been to a library or bookstore in months.

In any case, I'll start looking into what you suggested. I know the premise was not related to Warhammer, but it may have been one of the other authors. Thanks.

[dehro]

conflicting empires with different forms of society appear in most modern fantasy really... the difference in what you remember is that one of them is technologically advanced..which does restrict the search somewhat..but it's still not much to go by
what made it a difficult book for you? the lenght? the writing style? who were the main characters? troops? rulers? bystanders? was it a new book or a reprint of an estabilished author? how old were you and when was this?
the hardcover description might help, but only to a point..english and american editions rarely share the same covers

[Tavar]

Could it be Hell's Gate? Haven't read it, but it sound exactly lie you're description.

[John Cribati]

There are MORE books that this description applies too?

You have no idea. There's a Neil Gaiman "one-shot" called "Interworld" that has practically all of that, save the dragon-riding and mecha-horse things.

[Murkus]

You have no idea. There's a Neil Gaiman "one-shot" called "Interworld" that has practically all of that, save the dragon-riding and mecha-horse things.

I read that. Twas' excellent. Any word of a series, or is it remaining a one-time deal?

Could it be Hell's Gate? Haven't read it, but it sound exactly lie you're description.

Yes. That is exactly what I was looking for. Huzzah! Thanks Tavar.

[dehro]

Yes. That is exactly what I was looking for. Huzzah! Thanks Tavar.

let us know if it's any good

[Murkus]

Sure thing. Thanks to everyone who contributed, you've all been a great help. Didn't think I'd find it so fast.

[Storm Bringer]

I've read it. its Very good. It's by the same author as the Honour Harrington series, and I saw a few simmilar themes carry over.

to expand of the setting:

the two empires are expanding though alternate versions of earth, on which humanity never evolvled. the portals are some unexplained natural thing that just appeared out of nowhere on these planets. The techo side has tech of roughly late victorian/early edwardian era (bolt action rifles, manaually driven machine guns, and steam power, with very early internal combustion engines mentioned in passing). They also have Psionics, with certain 'Gifted' people one of a set of specail powers (like telepathy, or the ability to view terrian form afar. these powers are not unique, in that their are many telepaths, for instance. they use them in a signal chain).

the 'fanasty' side uses magic, obviously, in particularly in the form of magic computers, and have magically bred dragons (as in, a large, winged flying reptile thing that is rendered into english as a 'dragon'). and other fanasty beasts for various purposes. they use magic to replace most, but not all, technologies, but not a complete swap, in that they can't do some things tech can and can do some things tech can't (for example, they have no answer to the techies telepaths. they can't send a message magically, but rely on super fast messenger birds. but their dragons two levitating cargo platforms).


oh, just read it, its mint.

[Philistine]

That'd be the Honor Harrington series, by David Weber. It's a proper noun, so you don't get to change the spelling on us.

[Brewdude]

Yes, it's good, but it only has one sequel, and the story is still not finished after two. I'd wait until there are at least three in the series to pick it up, though I expect it's going to go on for more than three books.

[Killer Angel]

I've read it. its Very good. It's by the same author as the Honour Harrington series, and I saw a few simmilar themes carry over.

Good to know, I like that kind of setting.

edit:

Yes, it's good, but it only has one sequel, and the story is still not finished after two.

Doh. I hate that kind of things...

[Tavar]

Seems very common with David Weber, mostly because it seems that many of his works(War God's Own, The March Upcountry, etc) are much, much less profitable than his Honor Harrington Series. Add in the fact that they're done in partnership with someone else, and it's easy to see why it happens.

[Elfey]

He's said there will be more, it's just he has different monetary needs after he and his wife were given custody of a set of siblings, so what he can write versus what he's going to write is different. He does eventually plan on doing more Hells Gate and War God's stories. Prince Roger is a different problem, between cooperation and how the end of the 4th book makes it so the method they used to write it doesn't work anymore so they've got to figure out how to change it.

[growe123]

This sounds like a very strange book. Hmph.

thinking.



Do not disturb my thought process.

[FoeHammer]

My favorite works by Weber are still definitely his Safehold series, though this looks interesting.

[Brewdude]

See, now what would be awesome is for some MMORPG to use this concept as a method for transferring from one server to another.

[TheLaughingMan]

This sounds like a very strange book. Hmph.

thinking.



Do not disturb my thought process.

__________________
_____________________________________________:smal lcool:
because I can. Be jealous.



IS MOST AWESOME.

wait what.

[Douglas]

It is unfortunate that Weber and his coauthor haven't managed to continue the series past book 2 yet, because it's very good. I find the discovery and reactions of each side to the other's capabilities to be particularly interesting. For example, the magic side takes it as given that attacks can't pass through the inter-world portals - they rely on magic for all military weaponry beyond swords and crossbows, and spells can't cross a portal. Additionally, attack spells (they have magic devices that throw fireballs, among other things) stop at the first solid barrier they hit, no matter how thin. Imagine their shock when machine guns and heavy artillery start shooting through a portal, at - and through - their (thin, just enough to stop fireballs and such) fortifications as if there's no barrier at all. The tech side gets their own set of nasty surprises, of course (most notably the dragons), and I find the portrayal of the two militaries' interactions to be very interesting and well done. And then there's all the rest of the story...