We are going to meet with Richard A. Knaak on a Public Q&A to discuss his latest Blizzard Entertainment project titled Diablo: The Sin War Trilogy. It is your opportunity to ask anything about the book, its plot and anything Diablo-related to its author. Simon & Schuster publisher provided me few weeks ago with a review copy of Sin War Trilogy. I started reading and so far it looks like a good read. I recommend it whether you are a veteran or new to the Diablo RPG video game and its lore. Spread the word!

UPDATE: The Public Q&A Transcript is now available. Fasten your belts for a bumpy and exciting ride. Diablo 3? Read the book for a portent of things to come. Sometimes the future lies in revelations from the past.


Within the pages of BIRTHRIGHT, the first novel in the SIN WARS for Diablo, readers will discover the basis for the present dire conflict as, far in the past – three thousand years before the darkening of Tristam, a farmer named Uldyssian ul-Diomed finds himself the pawn of powers both Heavenly and Hellish.  But a gift lurking within him may prove the key to saving Humanity from being caught in a celestial conflict that could destroy the world of Sanctuary. Rated-M for mature readers.

DESCRIPTION:

Since the beginning of time, the angelic forces of the High Heavens and the demonic hordes of the Burning Hells have been locked in an eternal conflict for the fate of all Creation. That struggle has now spilled over into Sanctuary – the world of men. Determined to win mankind over to their respective causes, the forces of good and evil wage a secret war for mortal souls. This is the tale of the Sin War – conflict that would forever change the destiny of man.

Three thousand years before the Darkening of Tristam, Uldyssian, son of Diomedes, was a simple farmer from the village of Seram. Content with his quiet, idyllic life, Uldyssian is shocked as dark events rapidly unfold around him. Mistakenly blamed for the grisly murders of two traveling missionaries, Uldyssian is forced to flee his homeland and set out on a perilous quest to redeem his good name. To his horror, he has begun to manifest strange new powers—powers no mortal man has ever dreamed of. Now Uldyssian must grapple with the energies building within him—lest they consume the last vestiges of his humanity.

NOTE: I finished reading the book. Its plot seems to have good material for Diablo 3 storyline. The book reveals the origin of Sanctuary and men. Not what you would naturally assume would be. Lilith – the Pandemonium Monster introduced in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction Patch 1.11 appears in the Diablo: The Sin War Trilogy pocketbook.

Lilith (Demon) (Pandemonium Event)

“Lilith is believed to be Queen of the Succubi and matriarch of demons. After her legions of Succubi and strongest daughter Andariel were killed by mortals who successfully defended the Worldstone, Lilith swore to personally intervene. She masterminded the revival of Diablo by manifesting herself in the mortal realm and performing a ritual of Dark Summoning. This ritual, long thought to be impossible by the most powerful mortal wizards, allowed Lilith to link with Diablo across realms, strengthening him until he was finally able to once again reincarnate himself in the mortal plane. Rage and a deep yearning for revenge boiled within the eyes of the Lord of Terror, and together he and Lilith resurrected the two remaining Prime Evils as well as Duriel and Izual, two of their strongest agents.

Diablo announced his grand plan – the Three were finally strong enough to spread Pandemonium throughout Sanctuary. Lilith could have easily conducted an assault on her own, but because she had been left severely weakened by the Dark Summoning ritual, she agreed to aid the Prime Evils and command some of their remaining forces.”

SPOILERS – from Diablo: The Sin War, Book One: Birthright—Disclaimer: Read at your own risk.

“I am inarius, one of the Angiris Council, once a commander of the Heavenly Hosts. Once a rebel against both the High Heavens and the Burning Hells. You shall not take from me Sanctuary. I will not let you again destroy my dream! Sanctuary and all it contains will not be yours. Even if I must destroy it myself … as is my right.

I will not brook the stirring of the nephalem again. such an abomination will not see fruition again! you should not have dared return, not dared to influence that which should have been left buried so deep…”

Richard A. Knaak is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty fantasy novels and over a dozen short pieces, including The Legend of Huma in the Dragonlance series and the epic War of the Ancients Trilogy for Warcraft.  Aside from his extensive work in the Warcraft, Diablo and Dragonlance, he is also known for his popular Dragonrealm series, which includes ten novels and six online novellas, and The Sunwell Trilogy, a Warcraft manga published by TOKYOPOP. His Aquillonia trilogy, based on the world of Robert E. Howard’s Conan, is now coming out in print from Penguin/Ace. Currently, he is at work on the second and third volumes of Diablo: The Sin War Trilogy, and the first novel of Ogre Titans saga (The follow up to Minotaur Wars). A new Warcraft book is in the horizon, plus other projects.

Those interested in learning more about his work should join his email list by contacting him at his website: www.sff.net/people/knaak