Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 MWSAber Dec 23, 2009 23:06:35	I played DnD long before there were in novels set in the DnD worlds (OK, Quag Keep was out).  Seeing the many volumes in the stores, where does one start?  I know Dragonlance is probably the oldest and IIRC set in the world of Greyhawk.  Can someone help me determine which ones to read to best allow the world(s) to build?
#2 KillerGM Dec 23, 2009 23:10:10	Dragonlance is actually its own setting, not Greyhawk.  I read the DL books way back when, and they were OK.  I'm not a fan of D&D novels, myself, but my husband said that the Eberron novels were pretty good.  The Spider Queen novels (I think that's what they're called) also has some good characters. Other than that, good luck!
#3 MWSAber Dec 23, 2009 23:17:40	But which one to start with?  I ask because I'm running a party of 8 mostly teens and I'd like to get them to read something to help get a feel/ideas for the game.  I read a lot of Moorcock, Howard, DeCamp, and Farmer not to mention Tolkien.  Fantasy, but not very DnD.
#4 KillerGM Dec 23, 2009 23:23:33	IMO, reading D&D novels are terrible for getting "into" D&D because the novels generally feature things that can't really happen. The best thing for them to read is the setting book of whatever setting you want to run. And, of course, there's the problem with the 4E reset for a lot of the worlds.  Many of the older novels have ideas/people/places that just don't exist anymore.  I'd suggest finding a novel series in a world you want to run (Eberron, Forgotten Realms, etc) - they should say on the cover what "setting" they are in - and find the first book.  Read it, and if you'd like to run your games like that, then suggest it to them. Otherwise, I'd suggest you tell them to read the things that inspire your version of D&D (the books/authors you mentioned).  It will probably give them a better idea of what kind of world you want to run in. Hope it helps!
#5 pigknight Dec 23, 2009 23:54:17	Well I once read some Lolth/Pelor fanfic.... Not that kind of fanfic!
#6 MWSAber Dec 24, 2009 10:46:28	...  I'd suggest finding a novel series in a world you want to run (Eberron, Forgotten Realms, etc) - they should say on the cover what "setting" they are in - and find the first book.  Read it, and if you'd like to run your games like that, then suggest it to them. Otherwise, I'd suggest you tell them to read the things that inspire your version of D&D (the books/authors you mentioned).  It will probably give them a better idea of what kind of world you want to run in. Hope it helps! OK, what is the title of the First FR, Eberron or Dark Sun book?
#7 KillerGM Dec 24, 2009 16:26:26	...  I'd suggest finding a novel series in a world you want to run (Eberron, Forgotten Realms, etc) - they should say on the cover what "setting" they are in - and find the first book.  Read it, and if you'd like to run your games like that, then suggest it to them. Otherwise, I'd suggest you tell them to read the things that inspire your version of D&D (the books/authors you mentioned).  It will probably give them a better idea of what kind of world you want to run in. Hope it helps! OK, what is the title of the First FR, Eberron or Dark Sun book?    I don't know what the first ever books are.  Check out Amazon.com and look at publishing dates.  I doubt you'll find any of the really "first" books out there anymore.  Or you could check out the Wizards.com releases page.
#8 Malcadon Dec 24, 2009 18:54:19	D&D novels are total dreck! I suggest sticking to Moorcock and Howard. Hell, Howard makes all the D&D novels look like children books - Red Nails alone has all the elements that make a typical run-of-the-mill D&D game awesome! If you really need your rags, then checkout this link.
#9 MWSAber Dec 24, 2009 19:13:13	Thanks!  That was the type of lead I needed.  As to needing these, not really.  It is more a matter of being able to answer if one of the players asks.