Must-read novels in chronological order? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Must-read novels in chronological order? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Vaughan
09-16-06, 03:49 PM Hello, everyone.

I'm Vaughan, a long-time DnD player but new to the Forgotten Realms (used to play Dragonlance). I understand that the setting leans heavily on the novels as far as current events and so forth, and was wondering if anyone had a list of the core must-read novels in chronological order?

Thanks in advance. :)
GothicDan
09-16-06, 03:51 PM It's probably best to posit this question over at Candlekeep rather than on here, since novel discussion is banned unless it relates specifically to game canon or stats...
Vaughan
09-16-06, 04:01 PM Well, I'm trying to learn the canon :). I don't need a summary of the novels, just a list.
Davidw
09-17-06, 04:40 AM Then Candlekeep's the place to go as they have a list there.
Derren S.
09-17-06, 09:23 AM There are no must read novels as teh FR novel world and the FR game world are very different.
GothicDan
09-17-06, 12:02 PM Or at least to get a real idea of what the world is like, one must take both into account.
Bladesong
09-17-06, 12:02 PM There are no must read novels as teh FR novel world and the FR game world are very different.
That's not entirely true. In terms of chronology and courses of events, novels are considered canon and affect the FR game world.

Anyway, there is a novel guide at WotC's main site. Most novels are stand-alone stories but I think the must-read ones are the Realms-shaking events.
Vaughan
09-17-06, 03:57 PM Thanks for the help. I'll Google Candlekeep and see if I can find it.
MerrikCale
09-17-06, 09:22 PM That's not entirely true. In terms of chronology and courses of events, novels are considered canon and affect the FR game world.

Anyway, there is a novel guide at WotC's main site. Most novels are stand-alone stories but I think the must-read ones are the Realms-shaking events.

I'm not sure if the world shaking books are the best. In fact, I thinks its quite the contrary but considering the ban, check out Candlekeep.
Bladesong
09-17-06, 11:52 PM Well not the best but "must-read" in a sense that they chronicle very important events in the world.
ORC_Paradox
09-18-06, 09:52 AM Of course, your DM might not consider such events take place in his game world.

The list is here:

http://ww2.wizards.com/books/Wizards/Guides/default.aspx?doc=ForgottenRealms

And it includes the list of world shaking novels.
Vaughan
09-18-06, 02:20 PM Excellent! Thanks so much. We actually enjoy keeping up with the novels and weaving them into our games. Also, I love serialized entertainment and want to know as much about Toril as I can. Thanks again.
okaynowa
09-18-06, 04:07 PM Is that intended to be a complete list? I don't see the Azure Bonds series in there. Am I simply overlooking it, or is it ex-directory for some reason?
Davidw
09-18-06, 05:20 PM There seem to be several series missing from the list. Is the Moonshae trilogy and its sequel (forget the name now) trilogy there or am I just overlooking them?
BrianCritchley
09-19-06, 12:16 AM must read novels depend in part on the region you're going to be in.

that being said Ed Greenwood's novels are proably an excellent place to start. in particular the spellfire trilogy which reportedly hits all kinds of places in faerun, and the new Knights of Myth Drannor Trilogy.
ORC_Paradox
09-19-06, 01:27 AM You could also look up the info in the game books. :)
Vaughan
09-19-06, 08:40 AM You could also look up the info in the game books.

Timelines and a few paragraphs really only do so much for me. To really get the feel of the setting and history, I like to read novels. As far as what I meant by "must-read", basically those novels that tell the stories of world-shaping events and important characters.
MerrikCale
09-19-06, 09:42 PM Well not the best but "must-read" in a sense that they chronicle very important events in the world.

Fair enough.

why is there a ban anyway?
Dielzen
09-19-06, 10:16 PM The ban exists due to people not being level headed and being rude to people who work hard to produce material.

In terms of which novel series have had the most profound impact upon the history of the realms...(purely subective, o'course)

The Avatar "Trilogy" (the biggy)
Return of the Archwizards (most recent "major event")
Year of Rogue Dragons (the current year)

Also an excellent work for elven history is the Evermeet novel which details the schism that created the drow, as well as other major events in the lives of the elves.

From there the options are endless, tho it might be a good idea to snag a couple of the anthologies to get a feel for what all is out there and decide where you want to go.

ANOTHER option is to use http://www.wizards.com/forgottenrealms/FR_Timeline.asp and read things in mostly chronological order. -- Keep in mind that URL hasn't been updated by WotC since sometime in late 2000 or early 2001, as no novels since that date are listed.
Bladesong
09-19-06, 11:01 PM Year of Rogue Dragons was 1373, it's currently 1374. The most recent "big one" was the Last Mythal trilogy.
MerrikCale
09-20-06, 09:22 PM The ban exists due to people not being level headed and being rude to people who work hard to produce material.

.

OK. This I don't really get and excuse me because I wasn't around for this decision. But can't we criticize sourcebooks, adventures, etc. but not novels. People who work on those materials work hard don't they? And why can't authors take criticism?
MerrikCale
09-20-06, 09:23 PM In terms of which novel series have had the most profound impact upon the history of the realms...(purely subective, o'course)

The Avatar "Trilogy" (the biggy)
Return of the Archwizards (most recent "major event")
Year of Rogue Dragons (the current year)

I definately agree with your list. I might throw in the recent drow series.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Vaughan 09-16-06, 03:49 PM	Hello, everyone. I'm Vaughan, a long-time DnD player but new to the Forgotten Realms (used to play Dragonlance). I understand that the setting leans heavily on the novels as far as current events and so forth, and was wondering if anyone had a list of the core must-read novels in chronological order? Thanks in advance. :)
GothicDan 09-16-06, 03:51 PM	It's probably best to posit this question over at Candlekeep rather than on here, since novel discussion is banned unless it relates specifically to game canon or stats...
Vaughan 09-16-06, 04:01 PM	Well, I'm trying to learn the canon :). I don't need a summary of the novels, just a list.
Davidw 09-17-06, 04:40 AM	Then Candlekeep's the place to go as they have a list there.
Derren S. 09-17-06, 09:23 AM	There are no must read novels as teh FR novel world and the FR game world are very different.
GothicDan 09-17-06, 12:02 PM	Or at least to get a real idea of what the world is like, one must take both into account.
Bladesong 09-17-06, 12:02 PM	There are no must read novels as teh FR novel world and the FR game world are very different. That's not entirely true. In terms of chronology and courses of events, novels are considered canon and affect the FR game world. Anyway, there is a novel guide at WotC's main site. Most novels are stand-alone stories but I think the must-read ones are the Realms-shaking events.
Vaughan 09-17-06, 03:57 PM	Thanks for the help. I'll Google Candlekeep and see if I can find it.
MerrikCale 09-17-06, 09:22 PM	That's not entirely true. In terms of chronology and courses of events, novels are considered canon and affect the FR game world. Anyway, there is a novel guide at WotC's main site. Most novels are stand-alone stories but I think the must-read ones are the Realms-shaking events. I'm not sure if the world shaking books are the best. In fact, I thinks its quite the contrary but considering the ban, check out Candlekeep.
Bladesong 09-17-06, 11:52 PM	Well not the best but "must-read" in a sense that they chronicle very important events in the world.
ORC_Paradox 09-18-06, 09:52 AM	Of course, your DM might not consider such events take place in his game world. The list is here: http://ww2.wizards.com/books/Wizards/Guides/default.aspx?doc=ForgottenRealms And it includes the list of world shaking novels.
Vaughan 09-18-06, 02:20 PM	Excellent! Thanks so much. We actually enjoy keeping up with the novels and weaving them into our games. Also, I love serialized entertainment and want to know as much about Toril as I can. Thanks again.
okaynowa 09-18-06, 04:07 PM	Is that intended to be a complete list? I don't see the Azure Bonds series in there. Am I simply overlooking it, or is it ex-directory for some reason?
Davidw 09-18-06, 05:20 PM	There seem to be several series missing from the list. Is the Moonshae trilogy and its sequel (forget the name now) trilogy there or am I just overlooking them?
BrianCritchley 09-19-06, 12:16 AM	must read novels depend in part on the region you're going to be in. that being said Ed Greenwood's novels are proably an excellent place to start. in particular the spellfire trilogy which reportedly hits all kinds of places in faerun, and the new Knights of Myth Drannor Trilogy.
ORC_Paradox 09-19-06, 01:27 AM	You could also look up the info in the game books. :)
Vaughan 09-19-06, 08:40 AM	You could also look up the info in the game books. Timelines and a few paragraphs really only do so much for me. To really get the feel of the setting and history, I like to read novels. As far as what I meant by "must-read", basically those novels that tell the stories of world-shaping events and important characters.
MerrikCale 09-19-06, 09:42 PM	Well not the best but "must-read" in a sense that they chronicle very important events in the world. Fair enough. why is there a ban anyway?
Dielzen 09-19-06, 10:16 PM	The ban exists due to people not being level headed and being rude to people who work hard to produce material. In terms of which novel series have had the most profound impact upon the history of the realms...(purely subective, o'course) The Avatar "Trilogy" (the biggy) Return of the Archwizards (most recent "major event") Year of Rogue Dragons (the current year) Also an excellent work for elven history is the Evermeet novel which details the schism that created the drow, as well as other major events in the lives of the elves. From there the options are endless, tho it might be a good idea to snag a couple of the anthologies to get a feel for what all is out there and decide where you want to go. ANOTHER option is to use http://www.wizards.com/forgottenrealms/FR_Timeline.asp and read things in mostly chronological order. -- Keep in mind that URL hasn't been updated by WotC since sometime in late 2000 or early 2001, as no novels since that date are listed.
Bladesong 09-19-06, 11:01 PM	Year of Rogue Dragons was 1373, it's currently 1374. The most recent "big one" was the Last Mythal trilogy.
MerrikCale 09-20-06, 09:22 PM	The ban exists due to people not being level headed and being rude to people who work hard to produce material. . OK. This I don't really get and excuse me because I wasn't around for this decision. But can't we criticize sourcebooks, adventures, etc. but not novels. People who work on those materials work hard don't they? And why can't authors take criticism?
MerrikCale 09-20-06, 09:23 PM	In terms of which novel series have had the most profound impact upon the history of the realms...(purely subective, o'course) The Avatar "Trilogy" (the biggy) Return of the Archwizards (most recent "major event") Year of Rogue Dragons (the current year) I definately agree with your list. I might throw in the recent drow series.