Which Books Should I Read? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Which Books Should I Read?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
DrowElfMorwen
Apr 23, 2012 14:13:36 I am really big into the FR Campaign Setting but I admit I do not know it well from novels, but rather the FR Campaign Setting book and other related FR RPG books. The only novels I have read are the Drizzt series (well admittedly only the first 8 or 9 books, it's been a few years), the War of the Spider Queen (which I LOVED) and I've been trying to read the books with Liriel Banrae but I guess I keep losing interest.

Anyway, I love most besides drow, elves in general (are there any novels featuring sea elves or a sea elf?!), Bahamut (he is my number one actually, so what novels talk about him or have a follower or followers featured?) and also I want to read the books on Elminster. I do not know his story nor where to start it.

So any help is appreciated! I want to get to know the Realms more! (The older Realms btw not the new 4e stuff--unless Bahamut is specifically involved!)
#2
Iluvrien
Apr 23, 2012 17:04:00
Anyway, I love most besides drow, elves in general (are there any novels featuring sea elves or a sea elf?!), Bahamut (he is my number one actually, so what novels talk about him or have a follower or followers featured?) and also I want to read the books on Elminster. I do not know his story nor where to start it.

Just a quick reply, a more in-depth one should follow tomorrow...

For the Elves-in-general part of your query, then Evermeet by (the always fantastic) Elaine Cunningham is a good start. It approaches pretty much the entire pre-4E history of the Elven peoples and tells many of the tales along the way.

The Bahamut bit? There are people who are probably more knowledgeable than me there.

Elminster? I would start with Elminster: Making of a Mage by Ed Greenwood (also fantasmical), it starts El's story at the beginning, before his service to Mystra began.

I hope that is a good enough start!

#3
DrowElfMorwen
Apr 23, 2012 18:20:44 Thank you!
With the Elminster book, I read in wikipedia that "
The series focuses on the titular character Elminsterwho was a key figure in several of Greenwood's other novels set in the Forgotten Realms setting. Elminster was known as a powerful wizard or mage in previous books."

Can I ask what previous books this is referring to?
#4
sfdragon
Apr 23, 2012 21:14:30 if you plan on getting the making of a mage...

you should just get yourself the elminster rises or something that was a combo of all three of the first elminster books.

I also reccomend Depths of madness
#5
Mr_Miscellany
Apr 24, 2012 10:23:39 THIS LINK to WotC's online catalog is set up to produce many hits for Ed Greenwood-written novels. Not all of them are about Elminster, but you can tell by clicking on each which are the ones you'll want.

Lots of good reads there. Enjoy!

EDIT: sometimes you can find the older trilogies reprinted in one omnibus-style format. If you don't have access to a well-stocked second hand bookstore, buying in omnibus form is usually easier on the wallet and allows you to get all the books at once.

Once example would be the Annotated Elminster from The Elminster Series.
#6
DrowElfMorwen
Aug 21, 2012 16:11:20 Thank you Mr_Miscellany Sorry I didn't see this sooner.

So I guess there are no known books really featuring anything about Bahamut or his followers? Perhaps a series focusing on dragons themselves?
#7
Asteron
Aug 21, 2012 18:27:08 Unfortunately, as far as Bahamut is concerned, he wasn't ever a force in the world until 4E. Prior to that he was just a minor deity whose only real followers were dragons. He isn't referenced in any books that I know of except for at the end of The Crystal Mountain (Empyrean Odyssey book 3.) I don't know if he shows up in the Year of the Rogue Dragons trilogy or not as I have not read them, but that series is all about dragons. Also, there are very few metallic dragons in the novels that I have read, lessening the chance of Bahamut being mentioned.

Here is a fairly comprehensive list of all of the Forgotten Realms novels:
forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Portal:No...

I recommend:
The Avatars series (Time of Troubles)
Erevis Cale Trilogy
Twilight War Trilogy
Empyrean Odyssey series
Brimstone Angels (4e)
Cleric Quintet

I've read more, but those are my favorites. My next task will be to track down the Harper series and read them all...
#8
DrowElfMorwen
Aug 21, 2012 22:50:50 Actually I just finished reading The Crystal Mountain (Empyrean Odyssey book 3) ^^ Not one hour ago, actually! I mainly picked up the series because I heard Pharaun was in that book, but it was awesome to read about Kael and the others--and a story of angels vs. demons always gets me excited.

Also, speaking of Kael, do you know of Thomas M Reid did or will do a follow up book or series with him? I want to find out what happens next with him!!!

I will look up the others. I never did read the Cleric Quintet, though I remember starting it. The others I don't recognize.

I've also read the Lady Pentinent series, and that was beyond awesome.

Thanks everyone.
#9
LordManshoon
Aug 21, 2012 22:59:26
Also, speaking of Kael, do you know of Thomas M Reid did or will do a follow up book or series with him? I want to find out what happens next with him!!!

So far, there has been nothing featuring Kael released since TCM, to my knowledge. As for whether Reid will feature him in another novel, there's always the chance.

I will look up the others. I never did read the Cleric Quintet, though I remember starting it. The others I don't recognize.

I would definitely recommend reading both the Erevis Cale and Twilight War trilogies. They are some of the best writing ever seen in FR, and Paul Kemp is one of the finest authors FR has on its team. I have not read Brimstone Angels (it is sitting on my bookshelf at this very moment), but it seems to have garnered good reviews. The Avatar Series is... well, in terms of the quality of its writing, it is pretty bad, even for FR stuff, but it deals with one of the most important events in FR history.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 DrowElfMorwen Apr 23, 2012 14:13:36	I am really big into the FR Campaign Setting but I admit I do not know it well from novels, but rather the FR Campaign Setting book and other related FR RPG books. The only novels I have read are the Drizzt series (well admittedly only the first 8 or 9 books, it's been a few years), the War of the Spider Queen (which I LOVED) and I've been trying to read the books with Liriel Banrae but I guess I keep losing interest. Anyway, I love most besides drow, elves in general (are there any novels featuring sea elves or a sea elf?!), Bahamut (he is my number one actually, so what novels talk about him or have a follower or followers featured?) and also I want to read the books on Elminster. I do not know his story nor where to start it. So any help is appreciated! I want to get to know the Realms more! (The older Realms btw not the new 4e stuff--unless Bahamut is specifically involved!)
#2 Iluvrien Apr 23, 2012 17:04:00	Anyway, I love most besides drow, elves in general (are there any novels featuring sea elves or a sea elf?!), Bahamut (he is my number one actually, so what novels talk about him or have a follower or followers featured?) and also I want to read the books on Elminster. I do not know his story nor where to start it. Just a quick reply, a more in-depth one should follow tomorrow... For the Elves-in-general part of your query, then Evermeet by (the always fantastic) Elaine Cunningham is a good start. It approaches pretty much the entire pre-4E history of the Elven peoples and tells many of the tales along the way. The Bahamut bit? There are people who are probably more knowledgeable than me there. Elminster? I would start with Elminster: Making of a Mage by Ed Greenwood (also fantasmical), it starts El's story at the beginning, before his service to Mystra began. I hope that is a good enough start!
#3 DrowElfMorwen Apr 23, 2012 18:20:44	Thank you! With the Elminster book, I read in wikipedia that " The series focuses on the titular character Elminsterwho was a key figure in several of Greenwood's other novels set in the Forgotten Realms setting. Elminster was known as a powerful wizard or mage in previous books." Can I ask what previous books this is referring to?
#4 sfdragon Apr 23, 2012 21:14:30	if you plan on getting the making of a mage... you should just get yourself the elminster rises or something that was a combo of all three of the first elminster books. I also reccomend Depths of madness
#5 Mr_Miscellany Apr 24, 2012 10:23:39	THIS LINK to WotC's online catalog is set up to produce many hits for Ed Greenwood-written novels. Not all of them are about Elminster, but you can tell by clicking on each which are the ones you'll want. Lots of good reads there. Enjoy! EDIT: sometimes you can find the older trilogies reprinted in one omnibus-style format. If you don't have access to a well-stocked second hand bookstore, buying in omnibus form is usually easier on the wallet and allows you to get all the books at once. Once example would be the Annotated Elminster from The Elminster Series.
#6 DrowElfMorwen Aug 21, 2012 16:11:20	Thank you Mr_Miscellany Sorry I didn't see this sooner. So I guess there are no known books really featuring anything about Bahamut or his followers? Perhaps a series focusing on dragons themselves?
#7 Asteron Aug 21, 2012 18:27:08	Unfortunately, as far as Bahamut is concerned, he wasn't ever a force in the world until 4E. Prior to that he was just a minor deity whose only real followers were dragons. He isn't referenced in any books that I know of except for at the end of The Crystal Mountain (Empyrean Odyssey book 3.) I don't know if he shows up in the Year of the Rogue Dragons trilogy or not as I have not read them, but that series is all about dragons. Also, there are very few metallic dragons in the novels that I have read, lessening the chance of Bahamut being mentioned. Here is a fairly comprehensive list of all of the Forgotten Realms novels: forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Portal:No... I recommend: The Avatars series (Time of Troubles) Erevis Cale Trilogy Twilight War Trilogy Empyrean Odyssey series Brimstone Angels (4e) Cleric Quintet I've read more, but those are my favorites. My next task will be to track down the Harper series and read them all...
#8 DrowElfMorwen Aug 21, 2012 22:50:50	Actually I just finished reading The Crystal Mountain (Empyrean Odyssey book 3) ^^ Not one hour ago, actually! I mainly picked up the series because I heard Pharaun was in that book, but it was awesome to read about Kael and the others--and a story of angels vs. demons always gets me excited. Also, speaking of Kael, do you know of Thomas M Reid did or will do a follow up book or series with him? I want to find out what happens next with him!!! I will look up the others. I never did read the Cleric Quintet, though I remember starting it. The others I don't recognize. I've also read the Lady Pentinent series, and that was beyond awesome. Thanks everyone.
#9 LordManshoon Aug 21, 2012 22:59:26	Also, speaking of Kael, do you know of Thomas M Reid did or will do a follow up book or series with him? I want to find out what happens next with him!!! So far, there has been nothing featuring Kael released since TCM, to my knowledge. As for whether Reid will feature him in another novel, there's always the chance. I will look up the others. I never did read the Cleric Quintet, though I remember starting it. The others I don't recognize. I would definitely recommend reading both the Erevis Cale and Twilight War trilogies. They are some of the best writing ever seen in FR, and Paul Kemp is one of the finest authors FR has on its team. I have not read Brimstone Angels (it is sitting on my bookshelf at this very moment), but it seems to have garnered good reviews. The Avatar Series is... well, in terms of the quality of its writing, it is pretty bad, even for FR stuff, but it deals with one of the most important events in FR history.