Believe it or not, I read a lot.  My eyeballs grace far more communications outside the realm of The Novel Post and its dealings with the Extended Universe of Warcraft.  These peepers peruse video game magazines, highfalutin comics (that’s not an oxymoron), popcorn books, fantasy drek, epic political dramas, white papers, History Channel tomes, classics and blogs.  Lots of blogs.  To the point where leaving the realm of Internet access covers me in sweat.  The thought of returning to an RSS feeder with hundreds, perhaps thousands of unread items fills me with dread.

And I continue to add to my RSS feeder.  My most beloved addition of the year has been “The Psychology of Video Games.”  Jamie Madigan, a Ph.D. in psychology, has only penned a few dozen articles, but each of them are brilliant.  Jamie attempts (and often succeeds) to explain via psychology how marketing and game design affects players, and why we get suckered in.  Topics are broad, covering the my addiction to Steam bundles, unoptimized pricing by Microsoft, and Bayonetta.

Oddly enough, I traveled from Madigan’s on-going creation to another unusual realm of game discussion, philosophy.  One of the articles, I am not sure which, had me scanning through Amazon, looking for new academic topics in an interest of seeing how the field approaches video games.  I came across World of Warcraft and Philosophy: Wrath of the Philosopher King.  The corny subtitle sold me.  The book is one of a long-running series that looks at pop culture in a philosophical light.  Everything from The Undead, Star Wars, Anime, The Beatles and Monty Python have had a treatment.  The list goes on.  And on.

Inside the WoW edition, readers are meet with a selection of articles that look at different aspects of the massive community that Blizzard has fostered.  Why is it that there are ninjas?  Should people be angry at the group of players that laid waste to an in-game funeral for a player of the opposing faction?  Does the Corrupted Blood epidemic have any merit in real-world study?  Just to name a few.

There’s really no point in doing a full review of the paperback.  It’s either something you’ll be interested in or not, and it’s cheap enough to try.  Regardless, some will be on the fence, so here’s a quick synopsis.

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Too busy to read World of Warcraft: Stormage yourself?  Then you’ve come to the right place.  Unlike the proper review, this installment of TL:DR brings you the important events of Knaak’s best Warcraft novel to date.

As close to the Emerald Dream as we've come.

Stormrage is about the Emerald Dream/Nightmare from start to finish.  Knaak painstakingly introduces us to the world, the characters he’s going to use, and this other realm during the first half of the book.  It’s slow going, but the time lets us realize that Malfurion isn’t just trapped in the Nightmare.  He’s being used by Xavius, Queen Azshara’s former second-in-command, to strengthen the Nightmare while Xavius attempts to bind the mortal plane with the dreamworld.  Xavius uses this opportunity to toy with Malfurion, attacking him psychologically and morphing his dream form into a gnarled tree, much like Xavius’ new guise.

In the mortal plane, Tyrande, Broll and a pair of newcomers fight against an encroaching slumber.  Those that succumb end up joining its nightmarish ranks, much like the Scourge and its plague.  After fruitlessly battling the apparitions, the group stumbles upon Eranikus and launches a daring rescue attempt –  One that sends their mortal bodies into the Emerald Nightmare after Malfurion.  Eventually, the archdruid is freed.  And the second half begins.

Thanks to the thick plot and exhaustive description early, Knaak uses the second portion to unleash the action.  We discover that Fandral Staghelm, the druid in charge during Malfurion’s nap time, and Remulos have been corrupted by the Nightmare Lord.  Staghelm, in turn, corrupts Teldrassil, further increasing his master’s power.  Remulos distracts Malfurion until the druid sees through the plot.  The force of Malfurion, Tyrande, Broxigar’s axe, Eranikus (who dies), Broll’s ascension and Ysera barely overcame Xavius and his master’s plan.

Related extended universe works:

• World of Warcraft: Stormrage (starring character)
• Warcraft: War of the Ancients Archive (starring character)
• Warcraft III (starring character)

Other notes:

Malfurion Stormrage is to be a major character in Cataclysm and returns to lead the Cenarion Circle.

Is your ability to read hampered by TL:DRitis? Ever want to just know the basics of a character in Warcraft?  Tired of scrolling through tomes of information you already know?  Want bite-sized lore that can be expanded into hour-consuming sessions on a need-to-know basis?  Then “In 250 Words or Less*” is for you!

The young Varian Wrynn, son of the King of Stormwind, Llane Wrynn, took over the crown after he witnessed the assassination of his father by Garona Halforcen.  The ensuing chaos led to Varian’s exile to Lordaeron, where he befriended Arthas Menethil.  With the aid of Lordaeron and the rest of the Alliance, Varian reclaimed his kingdom.

The lull in warfare allowed Wrynn to focus on rebuilding his land, and his family.  During this time Katrana Prestor refused to pay the Stonemasons for their hand in restoring Stormwind.  Her tampering ultimately lead to the rioting in Stormwind, the death of Tiffin, Varian’s wife, and the kidnapping of Varian by the Defias Brotherhood.

During his struggle to escape, Varian lost his memory and was captured by a traveling band of gladiator combatants.  His military training kicked in, allowing him to lead his team to numerous victories, earning him the name of Lo’Gosh.  Aegwynn manages to clear his fractured memory, revealing him as the lost king of Stormwind.  Lo’Gosh began his journey home only to discover that an impostor had claimed his throne.  Lo’Gosh disclosed Katrana as Onyxia and pursued her to her lair with his impostor.  His soul as one, Varian returns to Stormwind, with Onyxia’s head.

Whole again, Varian returns to his duties only to learn of Bolvar’s death at Wrathgate.  In his honor, Varian leads a charge into Undercity to kill Varimathras.  The betrayal is the last straw for Varian, who confronts Thrall and vows that peace will never come.

Related extended universe works:

• World of Warcraft Comic Volume 1 & Volume 2 (starring character)
  
• World of Warcraft: Stormrage (minor character)

Other notes:

Varian does not play a major role in the attack against Icecrown Citadel.  He does have a cameo in which he tells Bronzebeard to stand down and allow Saurfang The Elder to reclaim his son’s body.  Varian will play a major role in Cataclysm.

*Count does not include the introduction or footer.