Let me start by saying I'm leery of gaming fiction. The only two authors I like are Salvatore and Mel Odom, and I don't think Odom does gaming stuff anymore. The only other two authors of D&D fiction I've ever read will remain nameless. They don't work for Wizards anymore, but suffice it to say it was among some of the worst dreck I've ever encountered in my life. In fact it was so bad that it put me permanently off gaming fiction with the two exceptions I listed above.
BUT
I have, over time, come across at least half a dozen glowing reviews or comments about Elaine Cunningham. So I'm going to give her work a shot.
Which brings me to my question: What book of hers should I start with? I saw a few different series in the store that she had written for (or so it looked to me).
I'm looking to give E.C. a shot as well. There's an "Elaine Cunningham Fans" thread about a week old that will be informative for you, as I posted pretty much the same question there. So take a look.
And I highly recommend trying Paul S. Kemp.
Shadowrun seems cool, but I've never played it or read anything in it. I'll look for the thread you're talking about!
Cool, thanks for the info, Judge.
Shadowrun seems cool, but I've never played it or read anything in it. I'll look for the thread you're talking about!
Mel Odom and the word "drek" are applicable to Shadowrun. Simply thought the two were connected. ;)
BTW, there was some hostility in that thread, so much may be missing. But those suggestions on what to read--much like Merrik's--should still be there.
I like Odom. I like his non-gaming stuff as well as the one gaming series of his I read.
No, the chief purveyor of dreck I was thinking of was fairly popular at the time, I think, and I'd rather not say who it is.
I found the other thread, though. Good info in there. Thank you!
I like Odom. I like his non-gaming stuff as well as the one gaming series of his I read.
Odom was always "OK" for me. Of course, I can't claim to have read anything outside of his gaming works.
No, the chief purveyor of dreck I was thinking of was fairly popular at the time, I think, and I'd rather not say who it is.
I said "applicable" and not "proprietary." Mel Odom was always Shadowrun first to me, then D&D. As drek was Shadowrun first to me. Don't remember where the word first popped up anymore. Either way, the two clicked and, therefore....
Breath mint? :D
-She has a couple of different novels, though. Is there anything you are particularly interested in?
That would be Daughter of the Drow, Tangled Webs and Windwalker. As a stand-alone, Thornhold and Silver Shadows ain't that bad, while Evermeet is something for people who already have some insights into the Elven history of Faerûn. Else you easily might get lost with the various time threads in there.
If you want to get a taste of our current crop of FR authors, get your hands on Realms of War, wherein you'll find not just EC, but also a number of other very promising and well established people.
If you want to get a taste of our current crop of FR authors, get your hands on Realms of War, wherein you'll find not just EC, but also a number of other very promising and well established people.
-Yes, this is something I always recommend new fans do. Short story compilations cover a broad variety of topics: a lot of different authors, characters, story lines, settings, and so on. They are great places to "start out", because, from there, you can branch out to something that interests you, in an author, a character, a region, and so on.
Which brings me to my question: What book of hers should I start with?
I think the Songs and Swords series (starting with Elfshadow) is a great place to start. That series has a lot of fans, myself included.
Really, though, I don't think you can go wrong if you start anywhere--I think all her books are good.
-Personally, I recommend Evermeet: Island of Elves . My favorite Forgotten Realms book.
-She has a couple of different novels, though. Is there anything you are particularly interested in?
I will point out that you are particularly interested in elves. Perhaps that lays bias down for the other novels she has written? ;)
I will point out that you are particularly interested in elves. Perhaps that lays bias down for the other novels she has written? ;)
she always has a lot of "elf" in her novels anyway
I will point out that you are particularly interested in elves.
-Very perceptive of you.
-Very perceptive of you.
He is a judge
-I'm taking the NYPD exam on Friday, so if all goes well, all three stages of the judiciary will be represented, soon. :D
You are planning to be a police? Hmm..
-I'm taking the NYPD exam on Friday, so if all goes well, all three stages of the judiciary will be represented, soon. :D
good luck
good luck
Yeah, good luck!
all three stages of the judiciary will be represented, soon.
Don't forget the presentence investigation (or is that more of a sub-stage?) and supervised release (hmm, I was thinking of after the prison term is up, but there's the pretrial one too, after bail is posted or the suspect is ROR or whatever) stages. Just sayin'. ;)
Good luck Friday!
Oh, and on-topic, I would start with Elfshadow and read through the Songs and Swords series, then Evermeet. Then the Starlight and Shadows, and then the Halruaa books. But that's just me--I read Evermeet before Elfshadow, and sort of kicked myself for it because of a few minor spoilers that resulted. But not a big deal, it didn't ruin it, so didn't kick myself all that hard.
Counselor & Kings is really good either, and it's centered on the Human Nation of Halruaa, a land of magic. Tzigone rocks.
That was actually the one series of Elaine's that I did not particularly care for
I read Waterdeep and the Isles trill. If you want some original ideas from fiction check out Michael Moorecock, RE Howard, and Frizt Leiber. Those were the writers that inspired Gary Gygax and he is why we are here today. I enjoyed his books but I thought Gord was a dull name but who really names themself anyway.
That was actually the one series of Elaine's that I did not particularly care for
-I've never actually been able to get any of those books. I've never actually seen any in a book store before.
-I'm taking the NYPD exam on Friday, so if all goes well, all three stages of the judiciary will be represented, soon. :D
And what system might you be working in?
Wait—nevermind. It’s Brooklyn.
Being one to enforce the law and being one that gives verdict to it are two different things. One rules with authority and the other rules with the wisdom of how that authority was enforced. Thus, one is a lord and the other is a judge.
It’s why we have the MerrikCale’s of the world to “mediate” between the two.
Good luck with the test, my man. I’ll be sure never to jaywalk if I ever make it to Brooklyn. ;)
I read Waterdeep and the Isles trill.
Speaking of Waterdeep, I read City of Splendors about a year or so ago, due to complete boredom. Did E.C. write any novels that carried any of the characters involved in that book? I have any easier time with new authors when characters from other authors novels are transitioned (in this case, Greenwood to me).
City of Splendors, The: A Waterdeep Novel
Author Ed Greenwood and Elaine Cunningham
This was another book
Waterdeep
Author Troy Denning
I read much maybe too much
Splender it was named though tragic it remains, with those monsterous graphs and all
City of Splendors, The: A Waterdeep Novel
Author Ed Greenwood and Elaine Cunningham
This was another book
Waterdeep
Author Troy Denning
I read much maybe too much
I'm with ya. But, with things as they are, I have to stretch some.
-I've never actually been able to get any of those books. I've never actually seen any in a book store before.
really. howzabout ebay?
really. howzabout ebay?
-That would work, and is actually a good idea, now that the number of titles that I am half-way interested in is getting slimmer and slimmer...
That was actually the one series of Elaine's that I did not particularly care for
Same here. Weird though since all of her other books I thoroughly enjoyed but I could not even complete the first book of that series.
That was actually the one series of Elaine's that I did not particularly care for
Well ... while the novel(s)* as such are well written, I couldn't "get my heart into" the region and the going-on's there. The magehound was, indeed, an intriguing character.
That the whole region and thus not only all the series' content and that of The Shining South goes out of the window with Spellplague disnae help either.
*Managed 1,5 of the 3 before I got a more interesting book and I simply forgot to touch them afterwards :raincloud
That the whole region and thus not only all the series' content and that of The Shining South goes out of the window with Spellplague disnae help either.
-You shouldn't let that stop you, though.
Well ... while the novel(s)* as such are well written, I couldn't "get my heart into" the region and the going-on's there. The magehound was, indeed, an intriguing character.
That was definately part of the problem. I do not particularly care for Halruaa myself
That was definately part of the problem. I do not particularly care for Halruaa myself
-Well, for future consideration, you don't have to worry about it anymore.
-Well, for future consideration, you don't have to worry about it anymore.
well thats true
You have Jhaamadath (sp?) for that.
-Yes, and that culture:
(A) Is defunct
(B) Is a historical denotation, really
(C) Never had a whole lot written about it, in the first place
Ed wrote a lovely article on Jhaamdath and Auppenser some time ago if anyone is interested.
nah no one is interested. I am the official spokesperson for everyone on these Boards
do you have a link by any chance
Somewhere on So Saith Ed. It even had a prestige class for Auppenser's clergy. Sorry but it would take a while to find the exact pdf. Ask in Candlekeep.
LOL, we wouldn't want you break a sweat using a search function or anything. :P
But it's probably hard to find because it wasn't Ed Greenwood but Ed Bonny.
Auppenser at Wikipedia.
Ed Bonny on Monastic Servants of Auppenser and follow-ups on Auppenser by The Sage at Candlekeep.
And just FYI, there's also a nice compilation of "So Saith Ed" from Candlekeep right here.
Jhaamdath is not dead! In fact in the new edition the ruins are going to be available for exploration.
-Ruins. Your civilization is fallen. Accept it, it's alright. I understand...
-Note, though, that the ruins have always been available for exploration with the right resources.
Netheril was a fallen empire as well, and we have all seen how that turned out.
-Yes, yes it is. I never said otherwise. ;)
-And, in my opinion, in the 4-Gotten Realms, it should have stayed a fallen empire. Of course, the individual leading it (presumably Lord Shadow/Telemont Tanthul) is an impostor to the seat of leadership of Netheril. So, technically the actual Netheril still will be a fallen empire.
Nothing is ever truly dead in the Realms... not as long as the designers can't come up with new ideas of their own. ;)
I fully expect to see a new Jhaamdath rise up from the old... when the psionic rules come out.
LK - The Empire of Netheril, Deep Imaskar, Miyeritar (Rhymanthiin), Myth Drannor, etc, etc...
Nothing is ever truly dead in the Realms... not as long as the designers can't come up with new ideas of their own. ;)
-Indeed. Note, though, that a lot of these "reused" elements stem from novels, and not the designers. In theory, you could be blaming the wrong people. We don't know the exact process in which topics are chosen.
Also, isn't Jhaamdath as a psionic realm a retcon?
-I belieeeve so. Don't quote me on it, though.
-That said, it's nice to see something other than a Magocracy every once and a while. It's nice, it's different.
I enjoyed Daughter of the Drow (I think she wrote it) ... but I didn't care for the 2nd book in the series. If there was a 3rd, then I haven't read it. The 2nd one turned me off.
-Yes, she did write it. And, there is a third novel- Windwalker, released April 2003, I believe.
-Personally, the second novel in the series was my favorite.
the Starlight and shadow books, Evermeet is great too.Yes it is a retcon, but that doesn't mean much.
To some it may not mean much, to others it might.
I LOVE
It was good. As was Evermeet. I still like Song & Swords the best myself
Hapless, I know.
Frankly, I have to admit to being a hopeless fanboy. I have yet to read a story of Elaine's that I haven't enjoyed, and that includes Songs & Swords, Everment, Starlight & Shadows, Counsellors & Kings and the short stories too.
Hapless, I know.
well, she is a good author