Torment: Based on the Best-Selling Computer Games from Interplay

by Ray Vallese and Valerie Vallese

An eternal warThe endless Blood War rages, a never-ending battle between the fiends of the planes. Amid this horrific conflict, a single hero with no memory of his past seeks to discover his true... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786915277
• ISBN13: 9780786915279
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
• Length: 247 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.3" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

"Based on the best-selling computer game from Interplay"

It's a good thing this warning was placed on the FRONT COVER of the book, lest one gets the impression that the book should include everything found within Planescape: Torment, which by the way has to be one of the BEST computer RPG games of all time! The book is set in Sigil-the City of Doors- primarily, as well as various other locations within the Planescape multiverse, as it deals with the nameless hero and his efforts to find out more about himself after realizing that he has lost both his memory and his mortality. His quest takes him and his companions from the City of Portals to the Outlands and the Gate-Town of Curst, to the Lower Planes of Baator and Carceri, and even to the Inner Plane of Negative Energy. The plot as a whole is excellent! The book is so incredibly well written and presented that the reader feels that they have been transported to another plane of existence and are actually present among the characters, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, sensing what they sense. Moreover, Ray and Valerie Vallese do a great job of presenting the distinct cultures and civilizations of the inhabitants of Planescape. This has, without a doubt, been achieved as a result of a great deal of research that has gone into learning and understanding the numerous and often complex characteristics of the Planescape multiverse. Subsequently, the authors have a firm grasp of vital factual knowledge, and in turn have succeeded in providing an accurate and lucid description of these peoples. Tieflings, Baatezu, Tanar'ri, Devas, Bariaurs, Zombies, Shadows, Hags, Githzerai, and factions like the Sensates, the Harmonium, and the Doomguard have been very well presented. The story, the dialogues, the details are all wonderful, and create a strong sense of mystery and anticipation. Intrigue, betrayal, and swordfights are all about. The cherry on the cake is the actual ending, which is totally unexpected! In short, Torment is what a Planescape book SHOULD be like! It is strongly recommended to both general Fantasy as well as Planescape enthusiasts along with the Blood Wars Trilogy-Blood Hostages, Abyssal Warriors, and Planar Powers, and the Lady of Pain novel. Sadly these are all the Planescape novels that have been published so far. Hopefully, a sequel will be written shedding light as to what comes next, since the demand for one is definitely there. MORE PLANESCAPE BOOKS PLEASE!!! PS One should seriously start thinking about turning this book into a movie...

A review on itself

I have not played the game, but I have been playing the Planescape setting of AD & D since it was launched. In that context, I can't compare the novel to the game, but the book to the book itself. It's Planescape down to the bones. It vividly shows the feel of the setting. Even if it's aimed at teen and pre-teen readers (it's very easy to read), I found it a pleasure of enjoyment. If you like fantasy, give it a try. It's more than worth.

Fun romp through the Planescape

At first I was wary of buying this book, after trying to read the terrible novelization of Baldur's Gate. But gladly, this book claimed my attention and kept me reading all the way to the end. It's not just a cliffhanger-solution pattern of chapters as some have said. It read to me like a fun, easy, very enjoyable escape. No, It's not great literature, but it is better than one would expect from a simple novelization of a computer game. I think it stands fine as a novel by itself. The closer you get to the end, the longer your reading periods become as you want to find out what happens to Thane.One thing I didn't like was some of the characters were killed and the end could use something more. What happens to Morte? The other characters? It's as if it calls for a sequal, which I would love to see.This is a nice, fun, easy read and I recommend it to someone who wants a little escape.

Excellent storyline, bad writers.

"Torment" is the tragic tale of a man's quest for the truth to his immortallity. As with the computer game, the ending of this book left me with an unbearable sad feeling for the characters' fate. Play the game and then read the book. There are some differences between the two versions, but basically the novel is a watered-down version of the game. The game has a more gripping storyline while the book seems a bit rushed and immature (the authors made some of the main characters do some pretty unreasonable things in the story. And some events even happen without purpose to the plot).

A Good Book, in Contrast to an Outstanding Computer Game

I played the computer game first. I was amazed at the quality. I thought it should win RPG of the year. The characters were well developed and interactive. The plot and graphics were rich and detailed. I bought the book to better understand the characters, to get more insight into the plot, and ,in general, to get more of what I loved in the computer game. I wanted more insight. The writing in a novel would seem to be less restrictive, limited only by the imagination. The book gives more, but the computer game has SO MUCH written dialogue, that it almost plays like a separate interactive novel. In many ways, the book barely even touches the complexity of some of the characters or side plots in the computer game. The book disappointed me with the treatment of the meeting of Ravel in the maze (very unremarkable), the scant appearance of Fall-from-Grace (she leaves the plot line very quickly), and some significant variations in the characters from the computer game, in style, and sometimes in personality. I felt that Morte was held back too much, and Dak'kon was made too personal in the novel. The computer game has much more DEPTH overall that this book doesn't touch, but the book adds some subtle details and clarifies major plot points that weren't completely clear in the game and leaves out others (where was Dionarra! ). The book certainly clarifies the ending (at least in the way my first computer game has ended). If you've already played the game, I recommend this book only if you truly loved it and want to fill out more details. The question would be how much you are willing to pay for more background. The plot is the same, and much is anticipated, but many scenes were in new places and many characters had subtle twists. If you haven't played the game yet, DON'T BUY THE BOOK! The plot and characters are so much better developed in the computer game. Let the enriched media enchant you all the way. Reading the novel first would have reduced the wonder I felt when playing the game. Get the game first, then buy the book if you're still interested. I hope this helps.