The only other that comes to mind is the original Drizzt novels (which didn't 'feature' Drizzt) - The Icewind Dale trilogy.
Both were good series that didn't have far-reaching, world-changing events
Although the Everis Cale one should have...
Anyway, both are well-written and give you a nice glimpse of the Realms.
I can name 'single-shots' that I enjoyed far more, but you specifically requested series... and most of those are garbage, IMHO.
Later Drizzt stuff is to be avoided - he begins to act like a nigh-omnipotent sock-puppet, all the time whining about his miserable existance. He turned into someone I'd love to strangle in real life.
the Finder's Stone Trilogy
novels
Prince of Lies
Finder's Bane (Sigil)
Ring of Winter
Crucible: Trial of Cyric
Temple Hill
Star of Cursrah
Evermeet
Rising Tide
Elfshadow
Glass Prison (just cause it has some planar elements, Abyss)
of the new ones maybe Frostfell
It's the only series of novels I ever "reference" for ideas about my own games to this day.
Original Icewind Dale.
And, also, specifically, Ed Greenwood's "Knights of Myth Drannor" trilogy, Steven Schend's "Blackstaff" books, and Erik Scott de Bie's Depths of Madness.
'Nuff said!
Also, the "Heroes Of Phlan Trilogy", Pool Of Radiance is first and best, Darkness and Twilight are alright too. Okay, Bane acts like a spoilt kid and devils are like cliche mobsters, but the rest is also corny and fun pulp fantasy.
Okay, there's a theme to my selections here: dodgy pulp fantasy, but that's really where FR's strength lies. :D Or at least where I've been most satisfied by a novel. I haven't read a whole lot, mind you.
Starlight and Shadows (Elaine Cunningham)
Songs and Swords (Elaine Cunningham)
The Twilight War (Paul Kemp)
The Empires (Troy Denning, James Lowder, David Cook)
Stand-Alone Novels
The Star of Cursrah (Clayton Emery)
Finder's Bane (Kate & Jeff Grubb)
Evermeet: Island of Elves (Elaine Cunningham)
The Parched Sea (Troy Denning)
RA Salvatore's "Icewind Dale Trilogy", specifically The Crystal Shard. (Unlike most authors, RAS's best book is his first. Make of that what you will. ;)) No monologues or angst from Drizzt, he's reckless and almost dangerous character who's still really a drow at heart.
Ah yes, those were the days when Drizzt was still a gleeful, psychotic killer!*
*That's a bit of an in-joke.:D
-Only to those that deserved it, of course.
But what about all the poor, crying orc widows, and baby goblins still wrapped in their swaddling clothes?
That's an in-joke too.
Couldn't help it.A more obscure novel that was actually my introduction to Forgotten Realms is The Simbul's Gift (I forget the author off-hand, sadly. Lynn Abbey?).
Yes, that's her.
I also quite enjoyed Queen of the Depths from the Priests series, because it took place mostly under the Sea of Fallen Stars, and provided a look at a place virtually no other fiction has covered.
I agree, good point.
I agree with Faraer's recommendation of the KoMD trilogy, too.
The Knights of Myth Drannor trilogy is my clear first recommendation, though it's not very old.
I am with you on this one Faraer. The trilogy (quadrilogy, please, Ed?) was certainly one of the gems of the FR novels. Add to that "Starlight and Shadows" and "Songs and Swords" (I even enjoyed "Counsellors and Kings" and "El's Daughter" although I know I am in the minority on those ones). Definitely "Cormyr" (but then I was quite fond of the Obarskyrs in general and Filfaeril and Alusair in particular). There are probably more ;).
(I even enjoyed "Counsellors and Kings" and "El's Daughter" although I know I am in the minority on those ones)...
If so, then I'm part of that minority.
It has that written for a still developing system/setting feel to it but overall I really liked the characters and story, I look forward to Corsair.
Erik Scott de Bie's Depths of Madness.
Oh yeah! "Depths of Madness" is one of my favorites- fun fun book with a great cast!
I really liked alot of the Hall of Stormweather books. I'd pick up the first one and then settle out of it. Everis Cale really shines in the begining when he's still struggling with humanity and all that jazz.
Try Dissolution on for size as well, it gives a nice look at drow getting down and dirty. Don't bother reading the rest of WofSQ though as it gets repetitive and ill scripted. Wiki it if you just want to know the ending.
Lastly I'd suggest The Servant of the Shard Series. I find Arty's development from a pyscho killer to a more powerful slightly depressed pyscho killer very entertaining. Not to mention you'll always have fun with Jarlaxe. He's a one man show.
Exile, Homeland, and Sojourn.
THE SELLSWORDS OMG YES. That's Salvatore's best.
I liked The Haunted Lands Trilogy.
The Pirate King (The Orc King was... meh.)
Realms of Shadow.
(This is my first post! Hi guys!)
And that would be a list of novels NOT to read, for me. ;)
The first Drizzt series was grea, because it wasn't about Drizzt. I'm talking Crystal Shard here, not the preqel series (I find the LESS you know about Drizzt personally, the better).
Hand the little cry-baby a kleenex and move unto Everis Cale. He's still 'new enough' to be enjpoyable.
Lets just hope he doesn't get used to death, which so many authors (not just FR mind you) are guilty of.
Haven't read []iSomgs and Swords[/i] - I have an aversion to anything 'Harperish'. Still, I suppose I should...
Hey LK - wasn't Parched Sea a Darksun novel?
Hey LK - wasn't Parched Sea a Darksun novel?
-No. It introduced Ruha, the Harper "witch" who is known for chasing around Malik, Cyric's Chosen. Has some nice tidbits about Bedine culture.
Hand the little cry-baby a kleenex and move unto Everis Cale. He's still 'new enough' to be enjpoyable.
HA!
Lets just hope he doesn't get used to death, which so many authors (not just FR mind you) are guilty of.
Ah, well...
Show
That doesn't seem likely, as I hear tell the character actually does die in Shadowstorm.
Azure Bonds and the rest of the Finder's Stone trilogy by Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb. They've already been recommended, but they can't suggested too often.
Most of the novels from the four 'Class' series. The Rogues, The Clerics, The Wizards, and The Fighters. Tastes vary so I won't say which my favourites are in each series, but they're certainly not bad novels and stand well on their own.
Year of Rogue Dragons (My personal favorite)
Sellswords
Last Mythal
Erevis Cale trilogy
Twilight War trilogy
Haunted Land
House of Serpents(Personally I only ever read the 1st book, House of Serpents, because the 2nd, Viper's Kiss, is out of print)
Singles:
Evermeet: Island of Elves
(No single FR book has had as much of an impact on me as this one has had)
btw there is a nice list of some of the more recent FR books here:
http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Portal:Novels
Most of the novels from the four 'Class' series. The Rogues, The Clerics, The Wizards, and The Fighters. Tastes vary so I won't say which my favourites are in each series, but they're certainly not bad novels and stand well on their own.
-Eh, I think they are all hit and miss. In the entire series- counting all four books in all four titles- there are definitely a few gems, but, there are some that are just really bad.
I thought the entire House of Serpents trilogy was a great read--an exciting plot featuring settings that have rarely if ever been used before.
Aye.
Also, the yuan-ti coupling scene proved to be a fascinating reading experience.
I thought the entire House of Serpents trilogy was a great read--an exciting plot featuring settings that have rarely if ever been used before.
Yes that is another of my favorites! Great trilogy! :D
Aye.
Also, the yuan-ti coupling scene proved to be a fascinating reading experience.
-Hmm...I don't know if I am supposed to take that literally, or what, but that just didn't sound right. And, if I am supposed to take that literally, I'm not sure if it makes it better or worse...
-I haven't read the House of Serpents (I don't think I've actually seen any of them in bookstores before), but with very few that interest me much left, I might go shopping online to get them.
I read the Baldur's Gate novelization and I don't really think it did the original game much justice!
My favorite series is: The Dark Elf trilogy.
I read the Baldur's Gate novelization and I don't really think it did the original game much justice!
This must be the most praising review of the BG novels that I've read so far :D People are usually much less positive about it.
Drizzt had existed for quite some time in Icewind Dale's, but when they took some bold new direction w/ a main character instead of the usual hero tropes given his origin, man did it take off. I mean, look what happened.
house of serpents was good.
the kings and councilers trilogy had three things wrong with it from what i remember. cunninghams view on the anatomy of wemics. there was a snarkiness about them as if she was either told by wizards to use a wierd creature minion, or she would show how she thought they were obsolete. the castration theme for the magemonks was another one that - ahem didn't sound so great.
can you imagine the gaming table that night?
dm : "so what are you playing?"
Player 1: "im playing a magic monk. read it in counclers and kings by elaine cunningham."
dm: "lets see prerequisites. 14 dex, 13 str... uh... you know they cut your 'gnome' off for that "
player 1: "come again?"
players 2,3,4: " LMAO!"
it distracted me from the rest of the novel enough not to enjoy it and that was coming off her daughter of the drow trilogy, which i had other issues with. none the less tho. i must admit she has a solid concept on story progression and stable character concepts that evolve mostly. so... you know. go cunningham.;)
That would be more annoying if the Jordain were actually physically castrated rather than simply rendered infertile through specialized magic. The lady who brought the matter up was offering to take Matteo to bed at the time. Pointing out to him that Jordain can't sire children was the answer to an argument. She'd have had other arguments to handle if Jordain (who she'd slept with in the past) were fully castrated.
Paul Kemps two Erevis Cale trilogies are my current favorite extended novel series. Nice attention to detail on the regular Faerunian citylife and great villains and (anti-)heroes. Dark and Empty.
I will counter Manchild's burn on the Night Parade, it was the first Realms novel I read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. No largescale catastrophes or massively overpowered heroes but an intriguing mystery set in an medieval urban setting. Actually loved the sidestory about Myrmeen Lhal and her "adopted" daughter.
I prefer the smaller scale stories in the realms. Elaine Cunningham, Bob Salvatore, Eric Scott-De Bie, James P. Davis and Bruce Cordell all spin good character driven stories.
She is one of those "strong Cormyrean women" that I have loved reading about.
-Got a fetish, eh? ;) :P
-Got a fetish, eh? ;) :P
Nope, just enjoying the rarity value. Especially these days. Especially when they have had some of the best scenes (usually verbal byplay) in any of the FR novels written by anyone...
Brennus' Homunculi ran with glee on the marble floor. One stopped suddening, picking up a small mouse pellet on the ground and held it in the air like a trophy. "Mouse turd!", it squealed with glee.
Lady Lahl to Kysten: "No, But you are"
Krystens eyes tears up
And I thought Drizzts ponderings were cheesy.