Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Zeltari, beyond 11-05-07, 12:31 PM	Hi, I was thinking of updating my view on the FR setting as I'm going to DM a campaign soon. Have been absent from DoD for a year or so and suddenly people says that Mystra is dead etc, where is this info? I just placed an order for "Grand History of the Realms" figuring that it would be in there. Anyways, I'm also tempted to read a few novels, the ones I'm almost sure to order are: The Avatar Series The Netheril Trilogy The Cormyr Saga The Threat from the Sea Return of the Archwizards The Year of the Rogue Dragons The last Mythal Which one is best? Which are "must-read"?
Alediran 11-05-07, 12:35 PM	All books by Elaine Cunningham are more than good. Most of the books you posted are of the RSE (Realms' Shaking Events) that aren't appreciated for their impact on the setting (most of us preffer subtle changes instead of blatant ones)
Blibbering_Humdinger 11-05-07, 12:38 PM	Hi, I was thinking of updating my view on the FR setting as I'm going to DM a campaign soon. Have been absent from DoD for a year or so and suddenly people says that Mystra is dead etc, where is this info? I just placed an order for "Grand History of the Realms" figuring that it would be in there. Anyways, I'm also tempted to read a few novels, the ones I'm almost sure to order are: The Avatar Series The Netheril Trilogy The Cormyr Saga The Threat from the Sea Return of the Archwizards The Year of the Rogue Dragons The last Mythal Which one is best? Which are "must-read"? That sort of stuff, Mystra's death and all that, is mostly 4E stuff and not necessary to know until the new books come out in 2008. The only info I can think of in regards to it would be found in the prologue to The Orc King (made available as a web preview, check RASalvatore.com) and Grand History of the Realms, but just on the last few pages, or so I've heard. Those other things are Realms-shaking events that occured during the 2E/3E times. The Avatar series in particular chronicles the central events of the Time of Troubles (I just ordered Shadowdale; should be here some time this week, but man, waiting for Super Saver Shipping is like waiting for the Arctic to melt!). All worth reading if you're looking to update your campaign, but you won't find 4E stuff in those books.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 11-05-07, 12:44 PM	Far be it from me to steer someone away from books they really want to read, but most of the books listed aren't ones I'd recommend first. I'd recommend anything by Ed Greenwood, especially Spellfire (his writing style isn't for everyone, granted, but give Ed a try). Anything by Cunningham is also a good bet. I WOULD recommend the Cormyr saga. Some say RAS is overrated (I'd be one of them, in fact), but there's no getting around the fact that his Drizzt novels have become established building blocks in the FR canon. Give them a try too.
MerrikCale 11-05-07, 04:55 PM	Far be it from me to steer someone away from books they really want to read, but most of the books listed aren't ones I'd recommend first. I'd recommend anything by Ed Greenwood, especially Spellfire (his writing style isn't for everyone, granted, but give Ed a try). Anything by Cunningham is also a good bet. I WOULD recommend the Cormyr saga. Some say RAS is overrated (I'd be one of them, in fact), but there's no getting around the fact that his Drizzt novels have become established building blocks in the FR canon. Give them a try too. I essentially agree with you on the books listed although I did enjoy the Year of Rogue Dragons. I do like RAS books with his best being the Cleric Quintet and the first three Drizzt books (beginning with the Crytsal Shard my first FR book way back when). I very much recommend Elaine Cunningham books especially the Song and Sword stuff. I was never big on the Halruaa stuff myself. If you can get your hands on some of the old Harper series books by all means do it. Some of the newer smaller scale stories are OK as well. I for one do not like Ed Greenwood as an author and would say steer clear. Like the previous poster says, his style is not for everyone but by all means give him a shot. He is the creator after all. I would try one of his more recent books like Swords of Eveningstar or perhaps Stormlight before Spellfire however.
Fabius Maximus 11-05-07, 05:45 PM	I'm in the boat of not-liking Greenwood and RAS as well. And I agree with Cunningham being a good author. Other well written Realms novels are Darkvision, The Black Bouquet, many (but not all) books of The Harpers series, the House of Serpents trilogy, and The Alabaster Staff.
Zanan 11-05-07, 06:02 PM	Lolth's eight legs! No-one mentions Paul S. Kemp?! Where's my scourge!?! ... Of the books listed in the first post, I'd only recommend The Last Mythal series ... maybe the Netheril series too (Arcane Age, right?). Before the others, I'd have about a dozen novels straight out of my head I'd recommend instead. BTW, do note the COC with regard to comments on authors etc.. (Regarding the big-selling RAS Drizzt stuff ... well, it would be like taking Robin Hood out of medieval English history if you'd exclude Drizzt from FR literature. Which is not to say that you have to like either of them.)
Phil73805 11-05-07, 07:21 PM	Hi there, first off welcome back :o) As for novels let me just repeat what has been said in that anything by Elaine Cunningham is well worth the time to read. She is an exceptionally gifted author. I'm currently reading through the Songs and Swords series which I can highly recommend! In addition she has the 6th in the series coming out early next year, doesn't get more current than that. I know this may border on blasphemous but I found the Crystal shard trilogy by R.A. Salvatore hard graft though it may have been one of his earlier efforts in which case I may have to pick up one of his newer books and have a look. Phil
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 11-05-07, 08:31 PM	Lolth's eight legs! No-one mentions Paul S. Kemp?! Where's my scourge!?! ... Yes, his books are good too.:) I thought the Year of Rogue Dragons was a good trilogy, but I wouldn't recommend it as an introduction to Realms novels. Not that it's a bad place to start, it's just that other books are better places to start.
MerrikCale 11-05-07, 10:10 PM	I thought the Year of Rogue Dragons was a good trilogy, but I wouldn't recommend it as an introduction to Realms novels. Not that it's a bad place to start, it's just that other books are better places to start. Fair enough. But I liked that trilogy considerably more than some of the others the OP mentioned. I agree with Paul Kemp being very good. I would also recommend some of the other Sembia books. I particularly liked Black Wolf.
GothicDan 11-06-07, 09:28 AM	Of the books listed in the first post, I'd only recommend The Last Mythal series ... I wouldn't! (I'm trying to read the first book, but repeatedly find myself distracted by other schoolwork and the Elfshadow.) Depending on what you WANT in a novel, it really affects what we suggest.
Rauric 11-06-07, 10:16 AM	I thought the Finders Stone Trilogy was a bunch of fun. The Elaine books with the Harpers were good. Paul Kemps novels are good plus the Sembia novels themselves are interesting. The House of the Serpents was a good look into the areas that the Yuan-ti rule and it also looks into psionics a bit. Cormyr saga stuff is good for getting info about the nation. The Nethril Trilogy is also a good bit of resource info about the lost magical nation.
18DELTA 11-06-07, 10:40 AM	Erevis Cale for the win!!!:D
Fabius Maximus 11-07-07, 12:07 PM	Besides forgetting the Ererivis Cale books, I also forgot The Lost Library of Cormanthyr and Star of Cursrah.
MarkusTay63 11-07-07, 12:19 PM	The Avatar Series The Netheril Trilogy The Threat from the Sea Return of the Archwizards The Year of the Rogue Dragons The last MythalThat the perfect list... of what to avoid... ;)
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 11-07-07, 12:22 PM	That the perfect list... of what to avoid... ;) *guffaw!* :rofl:
Rauric 11-07-07, 02:03 PM	The dark Elf Trilogy by RAS will give you good insight into how the Underdark works. The Avatar trilogy is so so imo. It was the second series I read though after the Icewind Dale stuff.
GothicDan 11-07-07, 02:05 PM	I read the Avatar Trilogy very first, before I even officially RPed in the Realms (well, online, mostly, but still). I despised it, without knowing anything else about FR. Just personal taste though; I found the deities in the Dragonlance novels, when given in Avatar form/whatever, to be more impressive than those depicted in the Avatar trilogy.
Rauric 11-07-07, 02:59 PM	I read the Avatar Trilogy very first, before I even officially RPed in the Realms (well, online, mostly, but still). I despised it, without knowing anything else about FR. Just personal taste though; I found the deities in the Dragonlance novels, when given in Avatar form/whatever, to be more impressive than those depicted in the Avatar trilogy. If I reread it now I would probably loathe it. I do remember thinking Storm was a total meanie though. By meanie I meant....well I really shouldn't go there. ;)
Blibbering_Humdinger 11-08-07, 06:48 PM	Whatever you do, avoid the Baldur's Gate computer novelization trilogy. Those books are the most Bhaal-awful abominations I've ever laid eyes on. That said, you MUST play the games--I command you! *casts Dire Charm on all in attendence*
Owlperson2007 11-08-07, 08:40 PM	All books by Elaine Cunningham are more than good. Most of the books you posted are of the RSE (Realms' Shaking Events) that aren't appreciated for their impact on the setting (most of us preffer subtle changes instead of blatant ones) Louise enjoyed "Elfshadow" and I tried it but unfortunately I couldn't get passed the prologue when Arilyn's shadow killed the bloke who was writing his memoirs. I guess I wasn't supposed to sympathise with the murderer but having lived at the mercy of biography writers and had to read a lot of turgid lies spun into book length from people who ought to know the system better than they make out I just ... couldn't stop laughing. The story was very personally resonant for both of us but Danilo is a bit too like my friend Volpone - see sig - for comfort. I enjoyed the Shadowdale-Tantras-Waterdeep series too; again, anyone who has gone through political upheaval as one of the main characters/witnesses/protagonists/victims/perpetrators would, but alas I didn't really keep up with things after that as real life got too much for me by about 1995 and I stopped reading novels altogether. But there is a lot of good fantasy fiction about and I hope to get back into some of the books once things quieten down in about, oh, twenty years' time.
Old Sage 11-08-07, 09:09 PM	I would recommend the following books:- Ed Greenwood: Spellfire, Elminster: The Making Of A Mage, Elminster's Daughter, Swords of Eveningstar, Swords of Dragonfire Ed Greenwood & Jeff Grubb: Cormyr A Novel Ed Greenwood & Elaine Cunningham: City of Splendors Jeff Grubb & Kate Novak: Azure Bonds Elaine Cunningham: "Songs & Swords" series, Evermeet Steven Schend: Blackstaff Erik Scott de Bie: Depths of Madness Lisa Smedman: "House of Serpents" trilogy Doug Niles: both "Moonshae" trilogies
Zémobiel 11-10-07, 07:56 AM	The dark Elf Trilogy by RAS will give you good insight into how the Underdark works. I find that War of the Spider Queen despite way better the drow and the Underdark than the Dark Elf Trilogy myself
Questing GM 11-12-07, 02:03 AM	All these thumbs up for Elaine Cunningham makes me wanna rip open my Evermeet:Island of Elves the moment I get home :D Haven't been able to get my hands on the Harper series without a credit card....:weep: As for the OP, I would also suggest to read whichever novels that is pertaining to your region of interest. Cormyr Saga - for obvious reasons The Last Mythal - for the High Forest and the Dalelands (with a little bit of the Moonsea, i guess) As for RSEs...(other than The Last Mythal) Return of the Archwizard - I personally think this is a RSE series that shouldn't be missed for its relation to the return of the Shade (as introduced in the 3.0 FRCS) Another series I would also recommend for you is the War of the Spider Queen series on the whole Silence of Lolth issue (which I also feel is a significant RSE in the recent Realms)
MarkusTay63 11-12-07, 02:15 AM	I find that War of the Spider Queen despite way better the drow and the Underdark than the Dark Elf Trilogy myselfDid that actually qualify as literature? ;) If you enjoy characters that act completely different from one book to the next, then go for it. :rolleyes: Go for the anthologies - you really can't go wrong there.
TheSilverBard 11-14-07, 07:34 AM	They're all worth reading, admittedly some being worthier than others. Among my little collection (89 Forgotten Realms titles and growing!) I can strongly urge you to consider the following: Mistress of the Night (Priests Series) by Don Bassingwaith and Dave Gross. Son of Thunder (Fighters Series) by Murray J.D. Leeder. The Erevis Cale Trilogy: Twilight Falling, Dawn of Night and Midnight Mask by Paul S. Kemp. If you enjoy the characters in the Cale trilogy, I recommend moving onto the Shadowstorm trilogy. I cannot recommend Thomas M. Reid's "Scions of Arrabar" trilogy highly enough. In some places, they are very difficult to aquire, however. The Sapphire Crescent and the Ruby Guardian are both great books. A pity I've not yet managed to aquire the Emerald Scepter... Despite it being on order for two years. As has been said above, The Moonshae Trilogy by Douglas Niles. Darkwalker on Moonshae was the *very* first Realms novel ever printed, and a good one at that! Follow it up with Black Wizards and Darkwell. They've been reprinted somewhat recently, but Wizards of the Coast keeps changing their suppliers - As such, Darkwell could be just as difficult for you to aquire as I. Two years and waiting... Troy Denning's "The Giants Amoung Us" trilogy is worth at the very least looking into, My personal thoughts are that you'd best be reading the first two. If you like what you find there, Then purchase Titan of Twilight. Most seem to be warding you away from Richard Lee Byers, Heretics that they are... Personally, I loved the Year of Rogue Dragons series (And am rather frustrated that no retailers have heard of "Ther Ruin". Book 3. Yes, the trilogy is a great and memorable read, but don't let it be your first books in the realms. To that Honor, I would point you to Elaine Cunninghams's Starlight and Shadow trilogy, featuring Lirial Baenre. It will providea decent glimpse into the ways of the Underdark - Of Skullport in particular - and the wonderous lands of Rasheman. How is it that I've not mentioned Ed Greenwood or Bob Salvatore yet? If you stumble into a pile of Realms novels in a store, at least a third of them will be R.A. Salvatore's (Henceforth scribed as Bob). Bob's books are going through a numbner of reprints, and there are more versions of his original "Dark Elf Trilogy" than I can immediately recall. Hard cover, Paperback, Graphic Novel... Whatever you manage to aquire, the Dark elf trilogy (Now known as 1,2,3 in the Legend of Drizzt reprint series) be an enjoyable read. As for Ed Greenwood, I dare to point you to his "Best of the Realms 2" and the soon to be released "Unabriged Elminster", which contains "Elmister: Makings of a Mage", "Elminster in Myth Drannor" and "The Temptation of Elminster". "Cormyr" is enjoyable, once you find a way to follow everything that happens during the chaotic events in the tale. Ok, Onto Philip Athans, Editor of all that is and was! The Watercourse Trilogy is a stark contrast to the rest of the Realms novels. The intention of the novel is not to give a hack and slash adventure, nor to.... really... adventure. The novels are of political manipulations by corrupt lords and councilmen to cease the creation of the works of one man. Ivar Devorhast. It is a story of twisted love and fanatic determination to see a grand project finished. I would ask that you avoid the Baldur's Gate novelisations. I'm sorry Phil, but they just didn't work. You've improved much since though! Finally.... You should look into the War of the Spiderqueen Series. If you see it through, then move into Lisa Smedman's Lady Penitent series. I also recommend "The Gossamyr Plain" by Thomas M. Reid, which takes off immediately following Spiderqueen.
Blibbering_Humdinger 11-14-07, 09:18 AM	As for Ed Greenwood, I dare to point you to his "Best of the Realms 2" and the soon to be released "Unabriged Elminster", which contains "Elmister: Makings of a Mage", "Elminster in Myth Drannor" and "The Temptation of Elminster". It's not the "Unabridged" Elminster, tho' it definitely be unabridged. The title of this one-volume collection is The Annotated Elminster, called so because it is advertised to contain a substantial amount of annotation by Ed himself, which not only provides insight into the writing of the Elminster books but into the Realms-making process as well. It's due for release 'round November's end--I've already pre-ordered mine.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 11-14-07, 11:03 AM	By the by, I hope I did not leave the impression that I was trying to warn people away from Mr. Byers's novels. I think he's a great author, but in terms of "where to begin", I don't think beginning with the YoRD trilogy is the best place to start reading about the Realms.