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Quartermass
Acolyte
2 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Apr 2010 : 20:41:02
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Hi folks, I've taken a notion to read FR novels set around the Underdark and/or Dwarven underground territory. Sadly I can't seem to find some kind of resource which would help me identify novels, or sets of novels which relate to this.
I've already read Salvatore's works, including the Spider Queen War series, so I'm afraid they're out...
Would anyone be able to point me in the right direction?
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31773 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2010 : 01:50:24
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You're unlikely to find heavily dwarf-centric FR novels, because the bearded folk have never really had much purchase in Realms. Sure, there have been dwarven supporting characters, like Morgala the Mirthful in Elaine Cunningham's Elfsong, and novels that feature tales set in and/or around dwarven territories, like some of the books in the WotSQ series. But we've yet to see a full-blown "Dwarven Nations-style" trilogy [from DRAGONLANCE] for the Realms.
This is because, according to Rich Baker:-
quote:
I'd be happy to write about dwarves, but I think it would be a tough sell to much of our audience (and I know our book editors would be pretty shaky on supporting such a notion). We think that most of our readers just aren't that interested in dwarf protagonists in a story. I don't know why that is -- they're fine as supporting characters. But they just don't seem to have the same "starring role" capacity that humans or elves (or drow!) do.
The Realms of the Underdark anthology has a little of what you're looking for though. As does Elaine Cunningham's "Starlight & Shadows" trilogy [Daughter of the Drow, Tangled Webs, and Windwalker].
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swifty
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
517 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2010 : 19:13:50
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| cant say im sorry there are no dwarf series.there far stereotypical in every book ive read with them. |
go back to sleep america.everything is under control.heres american gladiators.watch this.shuttup. BILL HICKS. |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3243 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2010 : 19:32:37
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
You're unlikely to find heavily dwarf-centric FR novels, because the bearded folk have never really had much purchase in Realms. Sure, there have been dwarven supporting characters, like Morgala the Mirthful in Elaine Cunningham's Elfsong, and novels that feature tales set in and/or around dwarven territories, like some of the books in the WotSQ series. But we've yet to see a full-blown "Dwarven Nations-style" trilogy [from DRAGONLANCE] for the Realms.
This is because, according to Rich Baker:-
quote:
I'd be happy to write about dwarves, but I think it would be a tough sell to much of our audience (and I know our book editors would be pretty shaky on supporting such a notion). We think that most of our readers just aren't that interested in dwarf protagonists in a story. I don't know why that is -- they're fine as supporting characters. But they just don't seem to have the same "starring role" capacity that humans or elves (or drow!) do.
The Realms of the Underdark anthology has a little of what you're looking for though. As does Elaine Cunningham's "Starlight & Shadows" trilogy [Daughter of the Drow, Tangled Webs, and Windwalker].
It might be because they have traditionally been written with Scottish accents... |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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Quartermass
Acolyte
2 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2010 : 23:04:24
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Being Scottish I particularly detest the stereotypes dutifully applied to dwarves. Not just because I'm Scottish... the whole dwarves are bad tempered, drink lots, swear lots etc etc is just poor writing. Perhaps if there was a series of books centred on dwarven lands then the author would feel compelled to avoid having every single one as a stereotype!
I'm not particularly interested in dwarves as such, more the underground side of things, which is why I put dwarves as well as the Underdark.
So perhaps I should rephrase my question! :)
Are there any series of books which are concerned with things underground, be it Dwarven realms, the Underdark, etc..... but also if they touched very little on the Drizzt side of things I'd be happy. I quite enjoyed the ones I've read, but it does feel as if WotC found a good money maker and printed book after book after book on him.
I think I will look into the Dwarven Nations thing from Dragonlance as suggested, however I've found Dragonlance to be in many cases pitifully lazy writing, predictable and riddled with "comedy" and stereotypes. Many years ago I picked up a couple of Mary Kirchoff Dragonlance books, and I think I'm still scared to read any Dragonlance again because they were frankly dire.
And yes, I suppose I am not easily pleased! I do also realise that my tastes are my own, and what I don't like is quite possibly exactly someone else's cup of tea. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 28 Apr 2010 : 00:51:14
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Pretty much all books dealing with any Underdark races have focused on drow.
The dwarves of the Realms have gotten short shrift, from a fictional standpoint. You could also say they've gotten the short end of the stick, with mostly small mentions. They're a race quite often overlooked by authors and designers. It may even be safe to say that many folks look down on dwarves.
I'd use more puns, but that's all I've got at the moment.  |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31773 Posts |
Posted - 28 Apr 2010 : 01:22:59
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quote:
Originally posted by swifty
cant say im sorry there are no dwarf series.there far stereotypical in every book ive read with them.
Eh. Most of the dwarves in the more recent DRAGONLANCE books have been anything but what you'd term as "stereotypical." |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 28 Apr 2010 : 08:58:34
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| Neither would I call the Dwarven Nations books very stereotypical. But I might be biased as that series is among my favourites among all TSR published series. The only problem is that WotC for some reason never re-released the series, so its a bit more work to get your hands on than many other Dragonlance books I would imagine. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31773 Posts |
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swifty
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
517 Posts |
Posted - 28 Apr 2010 : 11:44:15
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by swifty
cant say im sorry there are no dwarf series.there far stereotypical in every book ive read with them.
Eh. Most of the dwarves in the more recent DRAGONLANCE books have been anything but what you'd term as "stereotypical."
i meant the fr novels ive read.there always portrayed the same way. |
go back to sleep america.everything is under control.heres american gladiators.watch this.shuttup. BILL HICKS. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 28 Apr 2010 : 12:50:23
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quote:
Originally posted by swifty
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by swifty
cant say im sorry there are no dwarf series.there far stereotypical in every book ive read with them.
Eh. Most of the dwarves in the more recent DRAGONLANCE books have been anything but what you'd term as "stereotypical."
i meant the fr novels ive read.there always portrayed the same way.
You've not read any of Elaine's books, have you? Morgala the Mirthful, Jill, and Ebenezer Stoneshaft are all far from stereotypical. |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 09:09:34
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| There's also an important dwarven character in both the Moonshae series and Spellfire, not anything ground-breaking, but still enjoyable. |
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Underdark/Dwarven Novels?
