| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| ajfurst |
Posted - 11 Dec 2007 : 04:43:55
I couldn't find a thread on which was the first FR novel people read (as opposed to the one on what people recommend as the first to read*), so decided to start one myself. Both on what was the first novel and how you came to read it.
Myself I started way back (I'm now feeling old) on Darkwalker on Moonshae. I was 15 and had been reading fantasy about 3 years and had just finished the Dragonlance Chronicles when I came across a book by the same company set in a new world. At that time I hadn't a dragon subscription or the like or picked up any FR D&D gear. I found it a reasonable story and was quickly onto 'The Crystal Shard' when it was released - that one really nailed me as a Realms fan. And from there I became interested in the D&D game side of things.
The continued 'history' of the realms being driven by the books, as well as RPG products really struck a chord. The RPG stuff is great, but having all the history in the books really brought the whole FR alive for me. I'll risk being branded a heathen by stating although individually none of the books are what I call 'High' fantasy (A song of Ice and Fire, The wheel of Time, Sword of Truth, etc.), as a group they can't be beaten and command the largest part of my bookshelves.
As a side note any 4th edition WoTC people, especially marketing, who happen to read this, I'm by far not the only one who's purchase of Realms RPG products was brought about and continues to be in part due to the novels and the ongoing history they tell.
*I did a search, but may have missed it. |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alruane |
Posted - 07 Dec 2013 : 11:11:09
Well, to begin, my love starts with the class of Wizard (or mage, if you prefer). So, as a kid I searched for things within my Baldur's Gate games to read about, lore-wise. I found some interesting facts and details, saw some characters...and so on. I met on particular character within the realms that will always stick with me. Twas during my first time playing Baldur's Gate Tales Of The Sword Coast. My character had just left Candlekeep with Gorion, naturally I did not know what was to become of my adopted father. Afterwards I left the scene of the crime with Imoen, going to the next part of the map. When suddenly, a mysterious old man came upon me and managed to say a few words to my character. I was so interested in him (as he was dressed like a wizard) that I looked up more things about him. Turns out, he was Elminster Sage of Shadowdale. Naturally I was curious so, I took it upon myself to find any books written on him (if any). Turns out, there were more than a few. So we take the story to Christmas 2006, I am in a very large Barnes & Noble book store. When suddenly I come across quite a few Elminster novels! I purchase the first, second, and third one of the series. The moment I read the first, I was ATTACHED. So, I guess you could say my first FR novel was Elminster: Making Of A Mage, by Ed Greenwood. |
| jornan |
Posted - 30 Apr 2010 : 22:16:23
Streams of Silver first. Then went back and read Crystal Shard and then Halfling's Gem.
Read the Moonshae Trilogy after that. |
| Elfinblade |
Posted - 30 Apr 2010 : 17:39:53
I was looking for more Dragonlance books when i stumbled across some sale at the local bookstore, where i bought Soldiers of Ice and Homeland. Can't remember which of those i read first, but both hooked me on the Realms :) |
| Dennis |
Posted - 30 Apr 2010 : 17:24:51
Min was The Summoning, Book One of the Return of the Archwizards Trilogy. It was followed by The Siege, The Sorcer, Wizardwar, El the Making of the Mage....  |
| Nilonim |
Posted - 31 Dec 2009 : 16:47:14
Crystal shard |
| Cleric Generic |
Posted - 31 Dec 2009 : 11:08:20
For me I think it was Elminster: The Making of a Mage. Found a battered old copy it burried in the back of a curiosity shop in the middle east, of all places. |
| Joran Nobleheart |
Posted - 31 Dec 2009 : 09:18:00
quote:
Originally posted by skychrome
quote:
Originally posted by Joran Nobleheart
Elfshadow for me by the amazing Elaine Cunningham. Her books which I've tried to read all of have always shown me what I love most in Forgotten Realms, and I feel like her characters take me right along with them on their journeys. They actually feel like dear friends every time you read one of her novels. And because of her wonderful descriptions, she's inspired me to run as well as play in some fantastic D&D campaigns since I first started playing in 1999.
Even though Elfshadow was not my first book, I would like to second every word of the rest you wrote! Elaine really is THE spirit and benchmark of realms atmosphere!
I'm glad that you agree, my friend. Her books are fun, insightful, and just a true treasure to read and go back to. I hope that you have a Happy New Year! |
| skychrome |
Posted - 29 Dec 2009 : 13:50:00
quote:
Originally posted by Joran Nobleheart
Elfshadow for me by the amazing Elaine Cunningham. Her books which I've tried to read all of have always shown me what I love most in Forgotten Realms, and I feel like her characters take me right along with them on their journeys. They actually feel like dear friends every time you read one of her novels. And because of her wonderful descriptions, she's inspired me to run as well as play in some fantastic D&D campaigns since I first started playing in 1999.
Even though Elfshadow was not my first book, I would like to second every word of the rest you wrote! Elaine really is THE spirit and benchmark of realms atmosphere!
|
| Joran Nobleheart |
Posted - 29 Dec 2009 : 13:24:23
Elfshadow for me by the amazing Elaine Cunningham. Her books which I've tried to read all of have always shown me what I love most in Forgotten Realms, and I feel like her characters take me right along with them on their journeys. They actually feel like dear friends every time you read one of her novels. And because of her wonderful descriptions, she's inspired me to run as well as play in some fantastic D&D campaigns since I first started playing in 1999. |
| Victor_ograygor |
Posted - 29 Dec 2009 : 10:22:04
It was: Darkwalker on Moonshae :O) |
| SirUrza |
Posted - 29 Dec 2009 : 01:27:52
I'm amazed by how many people started with Crystal Shard. |
| ElaineCunningham |
Posted - 28 Dec 2009 : 19:47:49
quote:
Originally posted by swifty
anyone know whats happened to kymil nimesin in 4e.
Kymil's fate has not yet been revealed. |
| swifty |
Posted - 19 Dec 2009 : 19:22:19
anyone know whats happened to kymil nimesin in 4e. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 18 Dec 2009 : 05:03:13
quote:
Originally posted by Farah Jade
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
That sounds like Pool of Radiance to me.
Thank you SO much, you're right!!!! I've read so many, which of the books are about Alias the Sellsword and Ariel Moonblade, are they in the Harper novels?
The Alias books are the Finder's Stone trilogy -- Azure Bonds, The Wyvern's Spur, and Song of the Saurials. Masquerades was a sequel to the trilogy, set several years later. That book was in the Harpers series -- book 15. There's also Finder's Bane and Tymora's Luck, which involve one of the characters from the Finder's Stone books. Those two books were part of the Lost Gods series.
The first four books about Arilyn Moonblade and Danilo Thann were originally Harpers books -- 2 (Elfshadow), 8(Elfsong), 13 (Silver Shadows), and 16 (Thornhold). They were later recast as books 1-4 of the Songs & Swords series. Book 5 was The Dream Spheres. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 18 Dec 2009 : 04:08:14
quote:
Originally posted by Farah Jade
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
That sounds like Pool of Radiance to me.
Thank you SO much, you're right!!!! I've read so many, which of the books are about Alias the Sellsword and Ariel Moonblade, are they in the Harper novels?
For Alias, the "Finder's Stone" trilogy -- Azure Bonds, Wyvern's Spur, and Song of the Saurials.
For Ariel, [I assume you actually mean 'Arilyn'] -- Elfshadow, Elfsong, Silver Shadows, and The Dream Spheres. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 18 Dec 2009 : 04:02:41
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
That sounds like Pool of Radiance to me.
Ditto. It's now on the list of Realms novels I won't reread. I've come to dislike those books so strongly that I extend my dislike to the city of Phlan.
Sadly, I can't even remember the last time I read the three "Pool" novels. Which is a shame, because I've always liked Phlan.
|
| Farah Jade |
Posted - 18 Dec 2009 : 04:01:58
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
That sounds like Pool of Radiance to me.
Thank you SO much, you're right!!!! I've read so many, which of the books are about Alias the Sellsword and Ariel Moonblade, are they in the Harper novels? |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 18 Dec 2009 : 03:48:48
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
That sounds like Pool of Radiance to me.
Ditto. It's now on the list of Realms novels I won't reread. I've come to dislike those books so strongly that I extend my dislike to the city of Phlan. |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 17 Dec 2009 : 13:17:38
That sounds like Pool of Radiance to me. |
| Farah Jade |
Posted - 17 Dec 2009 : 12:39:58
I can't remember the name of the first one I read it was in 1994, and I was home sick and a friend brought over some books for me to read. It was a slight petite girl who worked for a wizard, who put on a ring and became a huge fighter type woman, and accidently made her horse able to talk and fly. Then they ended up in another city and with all realms books, you know the adventure comes after that...but I can't remember the name. I have always looked at books to see if I can find it, and I can't. |
| Sandro |
Posted - 19 Nov 2009 : 00:39:09
The first, strictly, was Darkwalker on Moonshae, but that was well before I had any real knowledge of the Realms or intent to read many more of them (borrowed it from the school library). Homeland was next, many years later, and that led on to the entire Drizzt series, the Sellswords, the Cleric Quintet, and, of course, the Realms as a whole. |
| Hellkeepa |
Posted - 18 Nov 2009 : 23:59:34
HELLo!
First book of the Drizzt triology, and then the next two in rapid succession. 
This was after reading the entire Majere history, and I was not let down in the least. By either series, in fact.
Happy playin'! |
| MrsDrasek |
Posted - 17 Nov 2009 : 20:58:07
Elminster the making of a mage was my first. |
| Sermon Bath |
Posted - 14 Aug 2009 : 23:06:42
Homeland, I thought it was a very nice sword and sorcery epic
I really enjoyed the warped family dynamics |
| coach |
Posted - 09 Aug 2009 : 20:06:38
was there for the first as it hit the shelves: Darkwalker on Moonshae ... 'tis still one of my favorite FR trilogies |
| Mr. Coyote |
Posted - 09 Aug 2009 : 07:00:41
Making of a Mage then Cormyr |
| canikoblivan |
Posted - 14 Jul 2009 : 12:55:04
First Realms novel I've had was The Legacy as a birthday present but when I noticed it wasn't the first book in the Drizzt series, I traded it with The Nether Scroll, enjoyed it very much and I've been buying FR novels ever since :) |
| cephet |
Posted - 14 Jul 2009 : 05:11:04
Homeland for me. |
| skychrome |
Posted - 13 Jul 2009 : 03:00:21
I started with "The Black Bouquet" when it had just come out. Pure coincidence. I was working in India for a while, had been a great Baldur's Gate 2 fan and suddenly saw those FR novels. "Give it a shot" I thought and it was good I started with that one because it hooked me up to read more.
Next was Legacy of the Drow series and Counselors & Kings Trilogy. |
| Janav |
Posted - 12 Jul 2009 : 18:22:36
Crystal shard :) |
