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Matt128
Acolyte
USA
15 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Sep 2010 : 04:55:18
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Hi everybody, I have played and beaten baldur's gate series and icewindale nwn, I'm just curious what book I should start with? I really want to get into reading forgotten realms novels but don't know where to start, I don't want to jump in cold. I know R.A Salvatore and ed. greenwood write novels Im sure there are other authors that write FR novels. I know somewhat of the history of FR but not to much. Any advice for someone who has played some FR games but no sure where to start like should I start from the very beginning? If so where is that? I also heard drizzt series is very good.
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4692 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2010 : 05:24:35
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There is no easy way to answer your question. Some books are out of print (last I knew) and others clearly can be about parts of the Realms you might not find interesting.
At best all any can provide you with are books that they value as good or the best books.
Some indeed like the Drizzt series, however what samples I have read I would not advise killing trees for.
If you really want to get a better sense of the Realms I would advise seeking Realms source material as opposed to any novel. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2010 : 06:22:11
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I have to agree with Kentinal here. Knowing more fully the setting of the stories you are reading will make it easier to choose WHO you want to read about.
For me, I honestly don't read that many Forgotten Realms novels...though I wish I could. I just don't have the time to read them all! |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Kno
Senior Scribe
452 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2010 : 08:31:05
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| Start with Azure Bonds |
z455t |
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Dracons
Learned Scribe
USA
299 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2010 : 10:59:26
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ElfShadow.
Also try out the antholgy books, like Realms of Valor, Realms of Magic, Realms of Infamy.
They're collections of short stories of popular arthors, and star many of the famous characters of the realms. |
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mensch
Seeker
80 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2010 : 13:52:49
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When I didn't know a thing about the Realms I started with "Evermeet" by Elaine Cunningham, but that's not a good novel to get acquainted with the Realms. I only read it because the current campaign where I'm one of the players is largely set on Evermeet.
After "Evermeet" I read the Avatar trilogy ("Shadowdale", "Tantras" and "Waterdeep") and the two subsequent novels ("Prince of Lies" and "Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad"). For me they neatly explained a lot of the Forgotten Realms, its heroes, pantheon and the recent Godswar. Our campaigns are set roughly before 1370 DR, so the 4e Spellplague construct is largely ignored in both our groups.
I'm currently reading the "Song and Swords" series by Elaine Cunningham, "Elfshadow", which Dracons mentioned, is the first part in that series and I can recommend it as well. |
Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate to know that for destruction ice is also great and would suffice. – Robert Frost (1874 - 1963) |
Edited by - mensch on 16 Sep 2010 13:54:30 |
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Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2010 : 14:08:13
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| The Avatar trilogy is a good one becasue its very Realms generic in that you meet many realms personalities and in many realms locations. |
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http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2010 : 15:21:55
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I agree that the Avatar series provides you a with a very good background. However I was not much thrilled with the writing style of the first 3 books.
Starting with the Songs & Swords series seems the perfect start to me personally, considering that Azure Bonds and its trilogy is out of print.
Apart from that you might also start with some good stand alone novels like City of Ravens, The Black Bouquet and such.
The anthologies mentioned in this thread are also a good option. You might also try Halls of Stormweather which has a series of good short stories from Sembia.
You will most likely find further useful answers in the thread, where others have asked similar questions before:
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4893
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"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
Edited by - skychrome on 16 Sep 2010 15:26:24 |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2010 : 15:39:46
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I always suggest Darkwalker on Moonshae, since it was the first novel and the trilogy it is part of I enjoy.
Another great starting point might be the Harper series, 16 novels set all over Faerun, about many varied subjects.
The Erevis Cale novels would be great if you like darker and gritty. |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Ghaunadaur
Acolyte
4 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2010 : 16:51:48
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Icewind Dale Trilogy + Legacy of the Drow Trilogy by R.A. Salvatore, classic stuff
Elfshadow by Elaine Cunningham
Erevis Cale Trilogy by Paul Kemp
I'd recommend those for starters. I'm not into Ed Greenwood's stuff so i can't really recommend his novels, you will either love them or loathe them.
The Avatar trilogy isn't that bad either, although its nowhere near the above recommendations.
There are alot of bad FR novels out there, but some of them are real gems.
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Kilvan
Senior Scribe
Canada
894 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2010 : 18:37:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Ghaunadaur
I'd recommend those for starters. I'm not into Ed Greenwood's stuff so i can't really recommend his novels, you will either love them or loathe them.
Spellfire is a great novel to start, as you'll be presented with Myth Dranor, Elminster, the Seven Sisters, The Zhentarim, The Cult of the Dragons, The Malaugrym, The Knights of Myth Drannor, The Harpers, Cormyr... and much more I can't think of now.
It is also quite easier to read than some of Ed's book (Shadow of the Avatar trilogy comes to mind) |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2010 : 01:36:06
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I've seen no better answer than this from The Hooded One, one of the players in Ed's campaign, on where to start with Realms fiction:-
quote:
. . . I would recommend the following books to get a grounding in the breadth of FR fiction:
Ed Greenwood: Spellfire, Elminster: The Making Of A Mage, Elminster's Daughter, Swords of Eveningstar
Ed Greenwood & Jeff Grubb: Cormyr A Novel
Ed Greenwood & Elaine Cunningham: City of Splendors
Jeff Grubb & Kate Novak: Azure Bonds
Elaine Cunningham: Elfshadow, Evermeet
Bob (R.A.) Salvatore: Homeland
lots o' folks: Halls of Stormweather
Then I'd stop, take a breather, and consider Paul Kemp's Erevis Cale trilogy and Blackstaff by Steven Schend. Then back to Elaine . . .
Then I'd take stock of who I liked, of the above titles, and go from there in reading their other works, each series in order of course (we scribes can help).
Swords of Eveningstar would be my first choice for a first novel, with Spellfire close behind.
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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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wintermute27
Learned Scribe
USA
179 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2010 : 20:01:28
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| I have recently decided to start reading more of the novels, and based on recommendations from various threads here at the keep, I picked up Elfshadow, Elfsond, and Azure Bonds from my local used book store. Some of these I noticed are part of the Harpers series. Should I try and find a copy of The Parched Sea or can I start in at any point? |
My Current Campaign: The Adventures of the Stonelanders |
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Ghaunadaur
Acolyte
4 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2010 : 20:28:34
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The Harper novels are pretty much standalone novels. Most of the later novels (starting with book 8)are standalone sequels to earlier ones, but they can be read in any order.
Curse of the Shadowking is a sequel to Crypt of the Shadowking
Veiled Dragon is a sequel to Parched Sea
Crown of Fire is a sequel to Spellfire
Masquerades features characters from Azure Bonds
Silver Shadows is a sequel to Elfsong
A good list of all FR novels with short descriptions can be found here:
http://www.o-love.net/realms/fr_books.html |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36874 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2010 : 22:32:21
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quote:
Originally posted by wintermute27
I have recently decided to start reading more of the novels, and based on recommendations from various threads here at the keep, I picked up Elfshadow, Elfsond, and Azure Bonds from my local used book store. Some of these I noticed are part of the Harpers series. Should I try and find a copy of The Parched Sea or can I start in at any point?
Elfsong is a sequel to Elfshadow. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2010 : 01:11:01
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quote:
Originally posted by wintermute27
I have recently decided to start reading more of the novels, and based on recommendations from various threads here at the keep, I picked up Elfshadow, Elfsond, and Azure Bonds from my local used book store. Some of these I noticed are part of the Harpers series. Should I try and find a copy of The Parched Sea or can I start in at any point?
You can start where-ever you wish. But do remember that many of "Harpers" novels often have follow-up books later in the series, like the Elfshadow/Elfsong combination and the two Mark Anthony books. So there is some benefit to reading them in an order that follows that trend. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
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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wintermute27
Learned Scribe
USA
179 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2010 : 05:01:32
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| Good to know. My exploration into the Forgotten Realms novels is long overdue. I read Icewind Dale in middle school back before I had even heard of the Forgotten Realms, then last year I started reading Ed's novels. I got through Spellfire, Cormyr: a Novel, the Elminster series, and Knights of Myth Drannor and now I crave more. During the aforementioned trip to the book store I also picked up Crown of Fire and Beyond the High Road to add to my reading queue. If anyone lives in the area, Mr. Mike's Used Books in Cary, NC has a rather nice selection of Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms paperbacks. |
My Current Campaign: The Adventures of the Stonelanders |
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brando
Acolyte
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2010 : 03:35:59
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| I started off with Spellfire, it is still one of my favorite novels. Other recommendations would be to read some of the Realms Anthologies, many of the stories are great and then from there you can find a few authors to follow up on. R.A. Salvatore, Elaine Cunningham, and Paul S. Kemp are some of my favorites personally. |
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Matt128
Acolyte
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2010 : 02:44:26
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| hmmm this will take some pondering. thank you all for all the advice. if you have any more feel free to post because i have yet to decide which one or have not yet purchased any novels but plan on doing so soon. |
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Not sure where to start?
