I am new to the FR world and have read the Moonshae books as well as the first couple of Drizzt novels. Also, I am starting an 4ed FR campaign.
However, I wanted to make an FR novels reading plan where I got the main events of the world leading up to and including whatever caused the Spellplague in (a somewhat) chronological order.
I have done some intensive research (lots of help from http://www.o-love.net/realms/index.html and http://www.candlekeep.com/index.html) and have come up with this list:
1. Evermeet (?-1371 DR)
2. Cormyr #1: Cormyr, A Novel (-400 DR – 1369 DR)
3. Cormyr #2: Beyond the High Road (1370 DR)
4. Cormyr #3: Death of the Dragon (1371 DR)
5. Elminster #1: The Making of Mage (212 DR – 241 DR)
6. Elminster #2: Elminster in Myth Mannor (241 DR – 261 DR)
7. Elminster #3: The Temptation of Elminster (759 DR – 767 DR)
8. Avatar #1: Shadowdale (1358 DR)
9. Avatar #2: Tantras (1358 DR)
10. Avatar #3: Waterdeep (1358 DR)
11. Shadow of the Avatar #1: Shadows of Doom (1358 DR)
12. Shadow of the Avatar #2: Cloak of Shadows (1358 DR)
13. Shadow of the Avatar #3: All Shadows Fled (1358 DR)
14. Avatar #4: Prince of Lies (1368 DR)
15. Avatar #5: Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad (1369 DR)
16. The Return of the Archwizards #1: The Summoning (1371 DR – 1372 DR)
17. The Return of the Archwizards #2: The Siege (1372 DR)
18. The Return of the Archwizards #3: The Sorceror (1372 DR)
19. Anthologies: Realms of the Shadow (-470 DR – 1372 DR
20. Elminster #4: Elminster in Hell (1372 DR)
21. Elminster #5: Elminster’s Daughter (1373 DR)
22. The Last Mythal #1: Forsaken House (714 DR – 1374 DR)
23. The Last Mythal #2: Farthest Reach (714 DR – 1374 DR)
24. The Last Mythal #3: Final Gate (666 DR – 1380 DR)
25. The Year of the Rogue Dragons #1: The Rage (1344 DR – 1373 DR)
26. The Year of the Rogue Dragons #2: The Rite (1373 DR)
27. The Year of the Rogue Dragons #3: The Ruin (1373 DR)
28. War of the Spider Queen #1: Dissolution (1372 DR)
29. War of the Spider Queen #2: Insurrection (1372 DR)
30. War of the Spider Queen #3: Condemnation (1372 DR)
31. War of the Spider Queen #4: Extinction (1372 DR)
32. War of the Spider Queen #5: Annihilation (1372 DR)
33. War of the Spider Queen #6: Resurrection (1372 DR)
34. The Lady Pertinent #1: Sacrifice of the Widow (1372 DR – 1375 DR)
35. The Lady Pertinent #2: Storm of the Dead (1376 DR – 1377 DR)
36. The Lady Pertinent #3: Ascendancy of the Last (1378 DR – 1379 DR)
37. Netheril #1-3 (skip??)
38. Transitions #1: The Orc King (1372 DR – 1472 DR)
39. Transitions #2: The Pirate King (1376 DR – 1377 DR)
40. Transitions #3: The Ghost King (??)
41. The Empyrean Odyssey #1: The Gossamer Plain (1373 DR – 1385 DR)
42. The Empyrean Odyssey #2: The Fractured Sky (1384 DR -1385 DR)
43. The Empyrean Odyssey #3: The Crystal Mountain (??)
44. The Haunted Lands #1: Unclean (1375 DR)
45. The Haunted Lands #2: Undead (1385 DR)
46. The Haunted Lands #3: Unholy (1478 DR) (skip??)
47. Abolethic Sovereignty #1: Plague of Spells (1385 DR)
How does this plan look? Would you skip some? Swap some around? Add some?
I'm especially uncertain about the latest books leading up to the Spellplague. I have absolutely no idea what (if any) book(s) tell the story of what causes the Spellplague. I'm terrified of spoilers, so I don't look at book descriptions
Thanks a ton in advance for your input!
/Banno
As for quality, add in Darkvision by Cordell, anything by Paul S. Kemp and Elaine Cunningham, and House of Serpents by Lisa Smedman. Several books of the old Harpers series are quite well written, too.
Worthwhile may be also Star of Cursrah by Clayton Emery and The Lost Library of Cormanthyr by Mel Odom.
Although, if any series on your list was up for removal and replacement with straight plot outline then it would have to be, for me, The Return of the Archwizards series by Tory Denning. I am usually an even-tempered man with no great desire to inconvenience anybody. Those books, however, transported me to violent, bunny-killing rage every time I read them.
I'm a bit of a reading machine, so I'll eventually get around to reading all published FR novels. First I wanted to get the main story events down, though, and then fill up with the rest.
Fabius: Surprised about your take on Salvatore and Greenwood. Not sure if you mean they are not worth reading due to the writing itself or due to the content not being part of the main storyline. I understood, as Iluvrien mentions, that especially Cormyr is a good FR history book.
Any hints on whether the last books up to the Spellplague are in "correct" order?
I think you have most of the major history covered in that list, Banno. You seem to be reading them for the reason most people do, for the major plot points in the Realms. You may find, as I have, that some of the best books (in my opinion) are not on this list. Some of the novels that were comissioned to handle major plot are seemingly constrained by that plot. In my opinion.
I would therefore suggest that you don't wait until you have read them all before you pick up some of the (seemingly, but really not) ancilliary material. I am still working my own way through this list... but I have found the occasional (real) stinker that, although historically important, needs to have the memory of it softened somewhat by something better. Usually by Elaine.
As for Fabius' observation, I cannot speak for him, but I personally think he was making a statement more about the writing than applicability of the content to the "Main Storyline". My apologies if I misunderstood you, Fabius.
But the Cormyr series can stay in, because I suspect that Greenwood didn't work that much on it. It's actually readable. I think Jeff Grubb did most of the writing, and Greenwood supplied the background material.
Also, Iluvrien, if you're talking Realms Shaking Events, the Archwizards trilogy is as viable as Cormyr. The return of Shade is a major history event.
I would place it with the Rogue Dragons trilogy in terms of quality: a bit weak, but sufficient. Troy Denning is an adequate writer, as he has shown with his two Harper novels. I think he had the same problem as Lisa Smedman with the Lady Penitent novels: they put the two into plot-straightjackets, so that they couldn't show their true abilities.
Also, Iluvrien, if you're talking Realms Shaking Events, the Archwizards trilogy is as viable as Cormyr. The return of Shade is a major history event.
That is exactly the point I was making. Dropping any major author wholesale would pretty much cost you an RSE or two. The question of which author(s) to drop is entirely a matter based on personal opinion, and not really the subject of the thread, I think.
Salvatore and Greenwood are just bad writers.
Can you elaborate on this?
8. Avatar #1: Shadowdale (1358 DR)
9. Avatar #2: Tantras (1358 DR)
10. Avatar #3: Waterdeep (1358 DR)
11. Shadow of the Avatar #1: Shadows of Doom (1358 DR)
12. Shadow of the Avatar #2: Cloak of Shadows (1358 DR)
13. Shadow of the Avatar #3: All Shadows Fled (1358 DR)
14. Avatar #4: Prince of Lies (1368 DR)
15. Avatar #5: Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad (1369 DR)
I loved using those as a part of the changing of the pantheon, but others weren't so interested. But I am a politics/religion freak when it comes to stroylines
Can you elaborate on this?
Sure.
Salvatore's stuff is just trite. He has no idea of character development, his action scenes are repetetive and his stories are just bland. You can safely guess the ending beforehand. Even if a character dies, you can expect that he returns from the dead.
Greenwood is in many ways the same. His Elminster in Making of a Mage is just as juvenile in the end as he is in the beginning. But additionally, his stories are jumbled. They seem to have no coherent plot, and stumble from one scene into another.
I recently got a couple of the Priests (?) series out of the library and thought they were OK (one with a werewolf priestess of Selune) though nothing to write home about (no pun intended). Also got the Shandril Shessair series at the same time, and it was all I could do to finish those.
Sure.
Salvatore's stuff is just trite. He has no idea of character development, his action scenes are repetetive and his stories are just bland. You can safely guess the ending beforehand. Even if a character dies, you can expect that he returns from the dead.
Greenwood is in many ways the same. His Elminster in Making of a Mage is just as juvenile in the end as he is in the beginning. But additionally, his stories are jumbled. They seem to have no coherent plot, and stumble from one scene into another.
I think we can all chalk this one up to personal opinion. Banno I would disregard Fabius' comments and form your own thoughts on the matter. Personally I would tell you to read every FR novel that you are able to because I think it is a fabulous setting. But if you had to stick to a list, the one you listed would be a great reading experience. And btw, my own personal thoughts, Making of a Mage is a great novel and the Ice Wind Dale trilogy is a classic. But please judge for yourself.
read them, you will either like it, or you wont.
I like the drizzt books, and I like the elminster ones, well save El in hell which I dont own and havent read as a result, so I cant say whether or not I like it or not.
the FR books I own, I've enjoyed reading.
they include:
greenwood
the annotated Elmister
Elminster''s daughter
Silverfall
cunningham:
the windwalker trilogy
Salvatore:
hunter's blade trilogy
icewind dale collector's edition
road of the patriarch
promise of the lich king
pirate king
orc king
legacy of the drow
dark elf trilogy
Baker:
farthest reach
final gate
eric de'Bie
depths of madness
also have
whose author' I cant think of at the moment due to a headache
darkvision
stardeep
best of realms (either 1 and two or 2 and 3)
pool of radiance II
death of the dragon
beyond the high road
realms of the elves
james p davis
shield of weeping ghosts
as for I'm not off topic.... you seem to have the bulk of it.
I'm off to bed now, maybe sleep off the head ache
I think we can all chalk this one up to personal opinion.
Well, duh.
I appreciate that there are differences in what you like from an author. Personally, from reading the first two Drizzt trilogies I really like the writing of Salvatore.
It is correct that my major intention is to make myself a list of books covering the main events of the history. I'm sure I'll love some of them and dislike some as well
From what I gather so far, then my list is not completely off, and I should get what I'm looking for.
I'd still like to know, if the last books (no. 38 and forward) are in "correct" order. I'm kind of assuming that "Plague of Spells" tells the story of how the Spellplague comes about, but I'd like to have it confirmed. Thanks
It is correct that my major intention is to make myself a list of books covering the main events of the history. I'm sure I'll love some of them and dislike some as well
From what I gather so far, then my list is not completely off, and I should get what I'm looking for.
Hey, I like your list, and have decided to follow it myself(though a bunch of it will be re-reads for me). I found copies of Evermeet (in hardcover!) and Cormyr last night at a local bookstore--along with the 2E Faiths & Avatars which I only had in .pdf, and the Elves of Evermeet gaming supplement from '94. Good haul!
I'm not a big Troy Denning fan, but his trilogy is certainly servicable and has at least been mentioned by other books. If you want to save time, the trilogy basically boils down to 2 points: The ancient Netherese city of Shade returns, and Shar begins her Mary Sue trip to being the primary "evil" goddess of the Realms.
The Avatar trilogy isn't really all that relevant before, and prior to the 4e transition, possibly the 2nd most hated series of books (after the gods-awful Baldur's Gate novelizations). The books themselves aren't "bad"; they are actually decently written. It's that the characters and plots described therein can best be described as "idiotic" or "wangsty". The Shadows of the Avatar books are pretty fun though. If you dislike idiot plots with no resolution, you can skip the Trial of Cyric duology - the climax is that nothing happens - seriously.
You can probably skip the Dragon Rage books, only because they are ignored by virtually everyone else.
I'm not a big Troy Denning fan, but his trilogy is certainly servicable and has at least been mentioned by other books. If you want to save time, the trilogy basically boils down to 2 points: The ancient Netherese city of Shade returns, and Shar begins her Mary Sue trip to being the primary "evil" goddess of the Realms.
The Avatar trilogy isn't really all that relevant before, and prior to the 4e transition, possibly the 2nd most hated series of books (after the gods-awful Baldur's Gate novelizations). The books themselves aren't "bad"; they are actually decently written. It's that the characters and plots described therein can best be described as "idiotic" or "wangsty". The Shadows of the Avatar books are pretty fun though. If you dislike idiot plots with no resolution, you can skip the Trial of Cyric duology - the climax is that nothing happens - seriously.
[/Begin rant]Please, please, don't mention the Baldur's Gate books. They are an insult for those who played and liked the game, they are an insult to the Forgotten Realms and to litterature in general. There is no word to say how much I loathe these books. I've seen fanfictions written by 13 year old kids better written than these novels. Dammit, I've yet to see a Baldur's gate fanfic as bad as those books!
Let's just pretend they never existed, for everyone's sake.[/End rant]
Sorry for the rant, guys.
[/Begin rant]Please, please, don't mention the Baldur's Gate books. They are an insult for those who played and liked the game, they are an insult to the Forgotten Realms and to litterature in general. There is no word to say how much I loathe these books. I've seen fanfictions written by 13 year old kids better written than these novels. Dammit, I've yet to see a Baldur's gate fanfic as bad as those books!
Let's just pretend they never existed, for everyone's sake.[/End rant]
Sorry for the rant, guys.
I second this. I remember being really excited when I picked up the BG books because the BG games are basically my favourite PC games still to this day. However they turned out to be the worst realms books I've ever read.
Alright, that was harsh. Nothing can suck more than "The night parade". But they got pretty close!
Sure.
Salvatore's stuff is just trite. He has no idea of character development, his action scenes are repetetive and his stories are just bland. You can safely guess the ending beforehand. Even if a character dies, you can expect that he returns from the dead.
SPOILER WARNING!!
I disagree, they aren't...Some of his novels have huge plot twisters in the end...A good example of this would be the Pirate King....I don't think everybody expected Drizzt and Deudermont to loose against the Pirate King....or Jarlaxle actually dominating everything from start to finish (when he was never mentioned in more than half part of the book.
Also, the Two Swords, Nobody expected Drizzt to loose to Obould at first and tie against him in the end. Everybody was expecting...Drizzt would pawn the hell out of that orc...But in the end it turned out to be an understanding...that Obould was as unpredictable as possible.
As to him having no idea of character development, I think it would be the opposite, take in mind that RAS uses Drizzt's journal to describe how characters act, look like in the books.
As to his novels being predictable...I think that is the result of :constant research from fans: about how he likes the characters to fare. but sometimes RAS proves them wrong, good examples of this would be:
Obould = We all thought Drizzt would own him, we were wrong
Kensidan = We all thought he would be killed by either Deud. or Drizzt.
Wulfgar = Wulfgar's character was a huge question...his character always changing sides, there was a time that I actually thought that he would be the main antagonist
Greenwood is in many ways the same. His Elminster in Making of a Mage is just as juvenile in the end as he is in the beginning. But additionally, his stories are jumbled. They seem to have no coherent plot, and stumble from one scene into another.
I kinda liked the Making of Mage, as to the others, it was a bit bad...no coherent plot, jumbled...etc. I was a bit dissapointed on Elminster in Hell..
BTW: Swords of Dragonfire...that was one of the coolest novels I've ever read....Imagine...Five parties duking it out in a tavern!! With Blackstaff, Manshoon, Vangerdahast....And Elminster himself interfering!!
The fight scenese were great and UneD like
- Blackstaff Tower - definite
- Downshadow - definite
- Mistshore
- City of the Dead
SKIP Abolethic Sovereignty #1: Plague of Spells -- it really does not touch on the history of the Realms, doesn't leave any lasting indelible changes on the Realms, and barely touches upon the Spellplague, despite the title. (Plus it's pretty meh.)
By the gods, I bet everybody has forgotten about Lady Polaris!! Mystryl! Sysquemalyn (my fave in them)..Karsus, Larloch, Iaolum (I'm not talking about the brain thingy)