The World of Asterion – Older but Still Beloved Books

We asked Gergon for tips on Asterion literature that inspired him and that he would recommend to our readers and RPG players. Many of these titles, although they are older pieces, can still be found in our catalog, at least in ebook format.

And now, we'll hand it over to Gergon. 🙂

From Memories to the Present

Asterion – that name alone stirs up memories of the turn of the millennium. Two sweet words come to mind – Dračí doupě. Many RPG players experienced their first adventures in Asterion, and this world became just as familiar to them, if not more so, than the real world. By Czech standards, it is an incredibly rich and extensive work. Hats off to everyone who participated in creating this world, whether through game modules or later in short stories and novels.

I don't count myself among those who played in this world. I never visited it during tabletop RPG sessions. Yet, I bought all the modules and books, traveling across its vast plains and exploring Tara and Lendor from a reader's perspective. Asterion has often inspired my own games, and looking back, I often regret that we never played in it.

For a while, there was a silence, and for a long time, not much came out of the world of Asterion. That's why it was a huge and pleasant surprise for me when new works from this setting started to emerge. Whether it's new game modules Krajiny za obzorem, or the new short story collection Úsvit nových bohů. Unfortunately, neither met my expectations, so I decided to dive back into history to point out which Asterion works are worth dusting off, and perhaps show current authors where the strength and magic of the Asterion world lay and what things and works they should build upon so its glory doesn't fall into oblivion.

Among the game modules, I always enjoyed the thematic ones more, as they brought many ideas and inspiration not only for people playing in Asterion but also for other players who don't. The geographical modules were more like geographical encyclopedias full of boring facts. Even after years, I can recommend the modules Zlatá pavučina, Falešná apokalypsa, Vzestup temných bohů, and Nemrtví a světlonoši as a great source of inspiration.

The module Nemrtví a světlonoši was re-released under the title Sedmý živel. Unfortunately, in a format that lacks nearly as much creativity as the previous modules.

Gergon's impressive Asterion collection

Books by Zbyněk Holub and Jan Č. Galeta

If I had to choose any books or an author from the entire Asterion body of work that is worth reading, it would definitely be Zbyněk Holub and his books about executioners and gravediggers. True, it is simple and straightforward literature, without any time jumps or similar tricks, but that is a good thing. Because these books are about the characters. And they are perfect. Whether the journey takes you with Kat, Kočka, or Jednooký rum with Tichý oheň, you definitely want to set off and spend enough time with them.

Especially the book Kaat pulls you into the world of Eldebran executioners from the very first pages, a world where every word breathes a deeper mythology. I can peek at the edge of this world of killers, but in the distance, I see many other things and other characters, and I want to look closer and find out what else is hidden there. Unfortunately, we haven't seen that with the executioners yet. How do they work? Where is their headquarters? Who are the other executioners—there should be nine of them, right? I'm not saying I need to know the answers to everything; after all, that mysticism is what gives it the right charm. But a few more short stories or another book that lifts the veil a little more certainly wouldn't hurt.

On the other hand, I know everything I need to know about the gravediggers. From their short story in the book Kaat, I know all the gravediggers, and that information is enough for me. Even though I still wonder who they were in their youth and what they are capable of. I don't need more information. I just want more books and short stories because it's an incredibly fun ride. The characters themselves are perfectly constructed; each is different, they complement each other, and their approach to life—and, for that matter, to death—greatly entertains the reader.

That is why Krumpáč a motyky is a book I would recommend to anyone who wants to take a look at the world of Asterion. A very fun and readable book about how the gravediggers set out on a journey into the world. Yes, the story is quite simple, and don't expect any complex narratives, deep plots, or mysterious character motivations, but that's not the purpose here. The humor works great, the characters are interesting, and as light reading in the world of Asterion, it works perfectly. Hrobnické historky then expands the world of the gravediggers with a few more stories and tales, but it doesn't quite reach the quality of Krumpáč a motyky. Nevertheless, it is a very interesting concept where several separate stories together form one continuous plot, as the individual tales flow beautifully into one another.

Anyone interested in more information about the executioners can set off on one more journey with Kočka in the book Zpívající meč: Čajový drak a kočičí démon. In this book, Zbyněk takes us into a fantasy fairy-tale world of sprites, magic, and wars over the empire. A very pleasant read that replaces the darkness of the gravediggers and executioners with a pleasant world with an atmosphere of Asian mythology. So, brew a pot of good tea and set off on an adventure!

The book Šíp v zádech by Jan Č. Galeta invites the reader on an expedition into the streets of Erin, and it is a very interesting and refreshing adventure. The reader finds themselves in the shoes of the assassin Vločka and gets entangled in the fights between gangs and noble houses in this city; it's great reading. An excellent choice for people who like stories from the criminal underworld full of intrigue. Again, it's not about deep thoughts or complex points, but about a solid action ride.

In the book Cesty snů, Zbyněk Holub and Jana Č. Galeta joined forces, but the result is unfortunately quite weak. Neither the characters nor the story are anywhere near as interesting as what each of them created separately. Brubs and Anaret cannot compare to the gravediggers, the executioners, or the assassin Vločka. Regarding character depth, originality, or the story they experience. After reading, all I remember about the characters is that Brubs is black and bald, and Anaret is… well, probably an ordinary person. And the story basically just describes a journey from the city to a garden, where every now and then some complication stands in the way so the boys don't get bored on the road, but the influence on the story is either blatant (let's give Anaret a woman so we have something to blackmail him with when we need him to go somewhere he doesn't want to) or non-existent. The fundamental "twist" in the plot is also quite clunky, and from the explanation of some phenomena, one can clearly feel the authors' need to get the characters into a situation that suits the story, but it doesn't make much sense for the characters.

Unused Potential

The book Pevnost zoufalství by Radovan Kolbaba suffers from similar ailments. The two main heroes are quite uninteresting and unoriginal. The barbarian is interchangeable with any other barbarian we've ever seen. The ranger is only interesting because she wears a hat pulled down over her face with holes for her glasses. Their adventure about finding a kidnapped daughter doesn't bring much either. The plot line around the main villain is much more interesting, and I regret that the author didn't build the story around him.

Towards the end of the book, more action starts, but also more problems. The characters behave illogically, the twists are just for effect but don't make sense, and the dramaturgy of the scenes is poorly put together. The author undermines the story himself by describing the plot from multiple angles and starting with the least interesting one. I have another problem with the choice of language; unnecessary vulgarisms and brutality alternate with poetic descriptions and similes, as if the writer couldn't decide what kind of book he actually wanted to write. They contradict each other, and whether you prefer one or the other, it ends up being distracting for the reader. Again, the potential is visible in this book because some ideas and themes are interesting, but the skill to process and utilize them is missing.

Perhaps Asterion is missing some chief supervisor or editor who would oversee the quality of the texts, the consistency of the processing, the dramaturgy of the stories, etc.

The Magnólie Cycle

Hana Veselá and her Magnólie do honor to Asterion. Basically, everything I didn't like about the previous books, Hanka does perfectly. An original, interesting main character – a red-headed half-psionic, half-necromancer; I haven't seen one like that in fantasy before. And the chosen writing style is perfect. From a first-person perspective, completely in the style of Magnólie. Cynical, cheeky, simply Nolly, as we know her from the book. A perfectly chosen style that fits the genre, the book, and the main character. It is also a big plus that the Magnólie cycle already includes several books that gradually follow each other and develop the story of Magnólie and her friends. Although she probably wouldn't call them friends. More like colleagues, lovers, or opponents.

So, what to recommend in conclusion?

Despite my reservations, Asterion is a well-crafted and rich world that deserves attention. I would love for it to return to its former glory and for it to once again become high-quality, inspiring literature full of interesting characters and exciting stories. From the modules, I recommend reaching for the older thematic ones for inspiration; from the books, I highly recommend finding the books about the executioners, the gravediggers, Vločka, and Magnólie. If there is interest from readers in this work, perhaps it will be possible to provide enough energy and resources for Asterion to be processed with the same quality as before, with the care and love it deserves.

Can't get enough of the world of Asterion? Check out Gergon's video about the world of Asterion and the module Hranice šílenství.

author: Gergon