| Post/Author/DateTime | Post |
|---|---|
| Jazzman8303-29-08, 07:30 AM | Hello guys, I am interested in beginning to read some of the novels in the world of Forgotten Realms. I was looking for some opinions on what are the best series to begin with. I know of R.A. Salvatore and Ed Greenwood, would they be best? Thanks and I look forward to hearing your thoughts. |
| Fabius Maximus03-29-08, 09:26 AM | No, they wouldn't be the best. They are the worst. Start with Elaine Cunningham. |
| Stigger03-29-08, 09:51 AM | I like Greenwood myself... lots of folks don't like his writing, but I enjoy his characterizations and appreciation of the absurd, so he appeals to me. |
| Phelf_Der_Zemit03-29-08, 10:31 AM | Despite what others would have you believe, Salvatore is fun to read, he's just got a problem with letting go. I say read Salvatore's first Six books in chronilogical order (Homeland, Exile, Sourjoin (Sp?), and the Icewind Dale Trilogy). Greenwood does have a good writing style, and you can feel almost all of his charactors personalities and reasoning in many different and refreshing ways. Cunningham is a fun read, thought I had trouble getting into her Daughter of the Drow book. It might have been that I was drow'd out though, sooo... My advice would be to pick up a series with different authors wrighting the whole of the books. Of these, I would tell you to read the Sembia books. Every chapter has a different author and then every book afterwards goes into greater detail of what that chapter said. After that you can sprout off into the Cale series if you wish. I find Kemps writing style compeling and his charactor stuggle based on reallife type of emotions. You can all but put yourself in the character's shoes. That's all I got, hope it helps. |
| Jazzman8303-29-08, 10:48 AM | Thanks so far for all your input. Upon looking around it seems that the Drow Trilogy and Icewind Dale Trilogies are the two ones worth starting with. I think the name of the Cleric Quintet sounds interesting - not many stories written about our pure healers. |
| Old Sage03-29-08, 11:11 AM | I've seen no better answer than this from The Hooded One, one of the players in Ed's campaign:- ". . . I would recommend the following books to get a grounding in the breadth of FR fiction: Ed Greenwood: Spellfire, Elminster: The Making Of A Mage, Elminster's Daughter, Swords of Eveningstar Ed Greenwood & Jeff Grubb: Cormyr A Novel Ed Greenwood & Elaine Cunningham: City of Splendors Jeff Grubb & Kate Novak: Azure Bonds Elaine Cunningham: Elfshadow, Evermeet Bob (R.A.) Salvatore: Homeland lots o' folks: Halls of Stormweather Then I'd stop, take a breather, and consider Paul Kemp's Erevis Cale trilogy and Blackstaff by Steven Schend. Then back to Elaine . . . Then I'd take stock of who I liked, of the above titles, and go from there in reading their other works, each series in order of course (we scribes can help)." ... Swords of Eveningstar would be my first choice for a first novel, with Spellfire close behind. |
| Lord Karsus03-29-08, 12:56 PM | -This is what I reccomend. And, what I say counts for six people, so heed my words. -Start off reading the Realms of X... novel anthologies. There are a whole bunch of them, with subjects ranging from magic to Dragons to mystery to Elves to war to shadows, and everything inbetween. They all feature a number of short stories, taking place in various places in the Forgotten Realms. They feature most, if not all, of the major writers who contribute to the setting. Take a look at these short story collections, and read a few. You'll get a sense of the places and people in the Forgotten Realms that you enjoy. From there, you can then purchase other novels that are written by the same authors, or that take place in the same region, or that feature the same characters... |
| Jazzman8303-29-08, 02:54 PM | That sounds like great advice Lord Karsus. Thanks very much for the advice, I will probably go with that at first. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin03-29-08, 06:00 PM | I like Greenwood myself... lots of folks don't like his writing, but I enjoy his characterizations and appreciation of the absurd, so he appeals to me. Same here! |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin03-29-08, 06:01 PM | I think the name of the Cleric Quintet sounds interesting - not many stories written about our pure healers. Well, there is a Priests series. :) I didn't care for the Cleric Quintet, but if it interests you, why not try it? |
| Lord Karsus03-30-08, 01:45 AM | That sounds like great advice Lord Karsus. Thanks very much for the advice, I will probably go with that at first. -Of course it's good advice. I'd never steer you wrong. -As I said, there are a whole slew of short story collections, and there will surely be a topic that interests you. |
| MarkusTay6303-30-08, 04:56 PM | How to start Reading the Novels? With Eyes Wide Shut. :D With apologies to Tom Cruise... on second thought, screw 'em. :P |
| DraconsNighthawk03-31-08, 01:12 PM | Elaine Cunningham's Elfshadow was one of the best FR books I've ever read, followed by Red Magic. |
| MarkusTay6303-31-08, 05:57 PM | You liked Red Magic? :uh-huh: Quite possibly the WORST book I ever read. :( To each his own, I suppose. :rolleyes: |
| Jazzman8304-01-08, 12:00 PM | Hey guys. Thanks for all the advice. It all seems good so far except I haven't been able to locate Elfshadow. Oh well, I have access to about 30 other Forgotten Realms novels. |
| Jiggawha04-01-08, 01:24 PM | I don't like most of RAS' or Greenwood's novels much, they're overrated, there are exceptions tough: Icewind Dale Trilogy book I The City of Splendors: A Waterdeep Novel other recommendations: The Finder's Stone Trilogy The Druidhome Trilogy Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad Silver Shadows The Ring of Winter The Threat from the Sea trilogy Vanity's Brood Star of Cursrah Mortal Consequences Tymora's Luck Evermeet: Isle of Elves Prince of Lies The Moonshae Trilogy The Parched Sea Horselords Pool of Radiance Counselors & Kings trilogy Temple Hill Shadowbred Midnight's Mask Frostfell Blackstaff Ghostwalker City of Ravens |
| dav04-01-08, 03:17 PM | The Alabaster Staff and Depths of Madness are my two favorite realms books. Theyre both stand alone novels. |
| SmartPaladin04-01-08, 06:35 PM | Hmm... I would say Ed Greenwood, R.A. Salvatore, and Elaine Cunningham. Oh, and with Paul S. Kemp hot on their heels. Also, not only read the Best Of The Realms novel anthologies, but also some standalone novels. Like from the Fighters series, as well as the Wizards. Those can be good as well, some more then others, sure. But not everyone has the same taste. :) |
| LumTheMad04-02-08, 02:39 AM | I can recommend at least the first few books of 'The War of the Spider Queen'. I cannot recommend Ed Greenwood. I have only read the first book about Elminster so maybe I am unfair, but unless he changed his writing style completely after this book I will never bother again. |
| Lord Karsus04-02-08, 04:17 AM | I can recommend at least the first few books of 'The War of the Spider Queen'. I cannot recommend Ed Greenwood. I have only read the first book about Elminster so maybe I am unfair, but unless he changed his writing style completely after this book I will never bother again. -That's funny. Most people don't like the War of the Spider Queen novels, and like the Elminster novels. -Anyway, Ed Greenwood's writing style stays mostly consistent in all of his novels. |
| LumTheMad04-02-08, 05:01 AM | -That's funny. Most people don't like the War of the Spider Queen novels, and like the Elminster novels. Most people are idiots. :P Seriously though, I've only read the first two books of the 'War of the Spider Queen' series and I've heard that the quality declines quite rapidly as you progress through the rest of the series. This might be the reason why people don't think highly of it. But why someone would like the Elminster novels is really beyond me. -Anyway, Ed Greenwood's writing style stays mostly consistent in all of his novels. I expected as much. |
| Fabius Maximus04-02-08, 09:30 AM | The WotSQ books had the problem that each of them was written by a different author, but they shared all the important characters. I really liked that drow wizard in the first book, but he changed too much over the course of the series. |
| Lord Karsus04-02-08, 11:25 AM | Most people are idiots. :P -As in "most people here", and most people here are hardly all idiots, especially as I am included in that grouping of individuals. Seriously though, I've only read the first two books of the 'War of the Spider Queen' series and I've heard that the quality declines quite rapidly as you progress through the rest of the series. -This is indeed correct. As Fabius mentioned, this is likely because every novel is written by a different author, with different perspective on things, and so on and so on. But why someone would like the Elminster novels is really beyond me. -Because, of all novels in the Forgotten Realms brand, they are virtually unparalleled, in terms of quality? The WotSQ books had the problem that each of them was written by a different author, but they shared all the important characters. I really liked that drow wizard in the first book, but he changed too much over the course of the series. -Don't forget that, no matter how much Phaeraun considered Ryld a friend, he couldn't trust him. You can't trust anyone in Drow society. Did I mention you can't trust anyone in Drow society, or that you can't trust anyone in Drow society? -Did you know that, in Drow society, you can't trust anybody? |
| dav04-02-08, 01:38 PM | Most people are idiots. :P Seriously though, I've only read the first two books of the 'War of the Spider Queen' series and I've heard that the quality declines quite rapidly as you progress through the rest of the series. This might be the reason why people don't think highly of it. But why someone would like the Elminster novels is really beyond me. Its true, the War of the Spider Queen got worse and worse as it went on. I thought the series was pretty 'meh' from the get go though. But Im not much of a drow fan to begin with. As for Greenwood. I love the Realms and I respect him immensely for creating it and I think hes a wonderfully creative man. Ive read all his Realms novels but I do have to read them pretty piecemeal. After so many pages of beautiful females losing their clothes I start to feel bad for the genre... |
| SmartPaladin04-02-08, 02:54 PM | -Don't forget that, no matter how much Phaeraun considered Ryld a friend, he couldn't trust him. You can't trust anyone in Drow society. Did I mention you can't trust anyone in Drow society, or that you can't trust anyone in Drow society? -Did you know that, in Drow society, you can't trust anybody? Oddly enough, some of my friends online went up in flames when Phaeraun left Ryld behind, yet when I got to that part in the book, read it, I found it tacitly sound. Does it suck? Yes, but at least they were able to warn the Matron's about the attack. Sometimes in battle, you have to make those hard choices. |
| Lord Karsus04-02-08, 02:56 PM | Oddly enough, some of my friends online went up in flames when Phaeraun left Ryld behind, yet when I got to that part in the book, read it, I found it tacitly sound. Does it suck? Yes, but at least they were able to warn the Matron's about the attack. Sometimes in battle, you have to make those hard choices. -Well, you know the old addage: In Drow society, you can't trust anybody...:cool: |
| Jazzman8304-02-08, 02:58 PM | Ohhh. Good discussion, this is what I was hoping for. I'm really intrigued now to read some of these books. |
| Lord Karsus04-02-08, 03:04 PM | Ohhh. Good discussion, this is what I was hoping for. -Wrong thread. Nevermind. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin04-02-08, 03:10 PM | I cannot recommend Ed Greenwood. I have only read the first book about Elminster so maybe I am unfair, but unless he changed his writing style completely after this book I will never bother again. That's not unfair...but it is unfair to say that people with a differing opinion are "idiots." Last time I checked, you are not the gauge of all that is good and true in the world. |
| Lord Karsus04-02-08, 03:23 PM | Last time I checked, you are not the gauge of all that is good and true in the world. -Indeed...That's my job! :) |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin04-02-08, 03:25 PM | Yes.:) |
| Lord Karsus04-02-08, 03:36 PM | -Finally, someone agrees. |
| MarkusTay6304-02-08, 03:43 PM | :rolleyes: How to start Reading the Novels? First, get a pair of knitting needles. Then, grabbing ahold of them firmly, thrust them directly into your eyes..... :P ;) |
| Lord Karsus04-02-08, 03:52 PM | How to start Reading the Novels? First, get a pair of knitting needles. Then, grabbing ahold of them firmly, thrust them directly into your eyes..... :P ;) -That deserves a ' :rolleyes: '. :P |
| MarkusTay6304-02-08, 03:56 PM | That was said entirly in jest - I do enjoy at least half of the FR novels immensely. ;) |
| Lord Karsus04-02-08, 03:58 PM | That was said entirly in jest - I do enjoy at least half of the FR novels immensely. ;) -Which is why I gave you the ' :rolleyes: '. |
| SmartPaladin04-03-08, 02:42 AM | -Indeed...That's my job! :) Odd, I never got that memo... :rolleyes: :P |
| Stigger04-03-08, 08:07 AM | No memo is required. It should be immediately obvious by most sentient beings simply by virtue of LK's existance... :P :) |
| Lord Karsus04-03-08, 12:23 PM | No memo is required. It should be immediately obvious by most sentient beings simply by virtue of LK's existance... :P :) -Indeed. |
| Jhalad04-06-08, 09:02 PM | Look, about the books... I got 'em all, and I've read most of 'em. It really depends on what you want to learn about the Realms, 'cause you will learn about it if you read them. My personal recommendation is, if you can find them, to go back to the beginning. Read Pool of Radiance. Read the Wyvern Spur Trilogy. Read the Moonshae Trilogy. Read Spellfire (if you can stomach Greenwood. Great sourcebooks, not always the best author). Read the Avatar Trilogy. Read the first two Dark elf trilogies. Read the Empires Trilogy Hit the first couple of Harper books (all stand alone) That covers all of the beginning basics. From there, go where you want, learn what you want. Outside of some of the Greenwood books, I've throughly enjoyed all of them. While you are at it, go to RPGNOW and download the original grey boxed set (after you buy it). Hope this helps. |
| Jazzman8304-13-08, 03:49 PM | Thanks for the tips Jhalad. I'm about halfway through the Realms of Valor short story collection. They are quite good but pretty much simple in style and flavor. The Douglas Niles story that started off the collection was perhaps the best one so far I think. I will refer to the collection of books that I have access to and see how they pair up with your advice. I am able to get a hold of some 40 or so books so I should think many would be in the ones you recommend. Thanks again. |
| MerrikCale04-13-08, 10:49 PM | I like Greenwood myself... lots of folks don't like his writing, but I enjoy his characterizations and appreciation of the absurd, so he appeals to me. I'm firmly in the "don't like his fiction" camp. But you might want to try it out for yourself for your first FR novel, This may be blasphemy, but I like Salvatore. He was my introduction to the Realms. I particularly like the Cleric Quintet. Elaine Cunningham is a good choice as well |
| AmericanLord04-20-08, 12:10 PM | Read them in the order of their publication. This way you can see how it unfolded over the years. |
| XHereticX04-20-08, 04:11 PM | -Indeed...That's my job! :) And behind the great Prime Mover lies a little man with glasses and a baseball cap controlling his illusions on a computer. Wizard of OZ ftw.:D |
| Jiggawha04-20-08, 04:12 PM | -- |