Baldur's Gate (novels)

Baldur's Gate, also referred to as the Baldur's Gate novels or the Baldur's Gate trilogy, is a series of novels loosely based on the games of the same names respectively.
The first book, Baldur's Gate, was written by Phillip Athans and released in July 1999 followed by Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn in September 2000 by the same author. Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal was written by Drew Karpyshyn and released in September 2001.
==Plot Summary==
===Baldur's Gate===
The story focusses on Gorion's Ward in the form of the mercenary Abdel Adrian, a 7 foot tall human fighter with superhuman strength. He tries to to unravel the events behind the manipulation of the iron mines along the Sword Coast. He has an affair with Jaheira, who later dies, and he stabs Sarevok Anchev to death in Candlekeep.
===Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn===
===Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal===
Abdel Adrian has gained invincibility but Illasera has cursed arrows that can harm even him. Sarevok gets resurrected and tries to join Abdel.
==Notable Inaccuracies==
The novels feature a large number of inaccuracies, most notably (SPOILERS):
*In a game where the protagonist didn't ascend to godhood, the divine essence of Bhaal has been sealed in Mount Celestia. Abdel Adrian did not keep it in him as he went back to Baldur's Gate, so none of the events in the book leading to the resurrection of Bhaal could have happened.
*Viekang could not have been alive or holding divine essence, as the Solar responsible for destiniesFrom : I have existed since the first strand of fate was woven, a servant of the paths and the gods. I have watched your own path most carefully. Our own servant, who was the mortal Alaundo, spake the truths that became prophecy. It tells of your coming and of all the others who are the progeny of Bhaal.You are central to this Event. Many are the strings of fate that start or pass through you. The end I cannot see. I must shepherd you through this time as best I can. said only Imoen and the protagonist remained. This is not addressed in the novel, where Viekang and Abdel Adrian, each holding half of Bhaal's essence, fight to the death and enable the return of the dead god.
*Minsc is described as as having long, red hair and a patchy orange beard. He is also not a warrior.
*All drow have lavender eyes, like Drizzt Do'Urden, instead of red.
==Canon==
The novels were set as the official version of the events described in the franchise in regard to the overall canon of the Forgotten Realms setting. Wizards of the Coast have however slowly started retconning this in the recent years. Now the canon is a mix of both the events in-game (including the Enhanced Editions) and the novels, though a lot of details are left ambiguous. Abdel Adrian is still the official version of Gorion's Ward.
Other elements ignored from the novels by future sourcebooks are the deaths of characters such as Khalid, Jaheira, Imoen, Grand Duke Eltan among many others, and the lack of presence of characters such as Minsc who didn't appear in the first novel and only made a cameo during the second. Later sourcebooks and media would establish these characters more in line with the games than the novels, not only in personality but also in their role in the story.
==Reception==
The novels were widely criticized by fans of the games for being too inaccurate to the original story and spirit, even though they are said to be on par with most other novels of the genre.
Some of the points of contention revolve around the characterization of the characters, most notably Adrian Abdel, the novel's version of Gorion's Ward, who was written as an ill-tempered, impatient and naive human fighter who tended to resolve any problems with violence or intimidation.
==External links==
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