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Bionic Man
Acolyte

39 Posts

Posted - 03 Aug 2012 :  18:26:07  Show Profile Send Bionic Man a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
Hey everyone. Im an old Realms fan whose interest is rekindled. I know the realms has gone through a bit of a reboot, and was wondering what were the key novel series of the modern era of the realms. Back in the old days, I read Avatar Series, Drizzt, Cleric Quintet, etc. Which of the current day stuff is most important to the modern continuity. Also, which of them are best. Thanks in advance.


It's a ::rolls dice:: pleasure to meet you!

Dennis
Great Reader

9933 Posts

Posted - 03 Aug 2012 :  19:01:41  Show Profile Send Dennis a Private Message  Reply with Quote

The Twilight War Trilogy by Paul S. Kemp.

The Haunted Lands Trilogy by Richard Lee Byers.

Every beginning has an end.
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Thauranil
Master of Realmslore

India
1591 Posts

Posted - 03 Aug 2012 :  19:57:49  Show Profile Send Thauranil a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis


The Twilight War Trilogy by Paul S. Kemp.

The Haunted Lands Trilogy by Richard Lee Byers.


Seconded.
Also try out the Brotherhood of the Griffon series and the War of the spider queen is great if your a drow fan
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Bionic Man
Acolyte

39 Posts

Posted - 03 Aug 2012 :  20:26:07  Show Profile Send Bionic Man a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis


The Twilight War Trilogy by Paul S. Kemp.

The Haunted Lands Trilogy by Richard Lee Byers.



So, would you say that those are the most important (lynch pin?) stories? Or are they the ones you think are the best.

It's a ::rolls dice:: pleasure to meet you!
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Dennis
Great Reader

9933 Posts

Posted - 03 Aug 2012 :  20:40:06  Show Profile Send Dennis a Private Message  Reply with Quote

The best? Yes. Most important? Probably, as their plots are connected to several other series in the current and previous timelines.

Every beginning has an end.
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Bionic Man
Acolyte

39 Posts

Posted - 03 Aug 2012 :  20:48:45  Show Profile Send Bionic Man a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis


The best? Yes. Most important? Probably, as their plots are connected to several other series in the current and previous timelines.



How important/good would you say the new Drizzt series is? I read the first book, and thought it was ok.

It's a ::rolls dice:: pleasure to meet you!
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phranctoast
Learned Scribe

USA
151 Posts

Posted - 03 Aug 2012 :  21:02:37  Show Profile Send phranctoast a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I wouldn't limit myself to just 4th edition books even in preparation.

I'd read with the return of the archwizards trilogy
http://www.amazon.com/Return-Archwizards-Forgotten-Realms-Omnibus/dp/0786953659/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1344023744&sr=8-2&keywords=archwizards

Followed by the Everis Cale trilogy
http://www.amazon.com/Erevis-Cale-Trilogy-Paul-Kemp/dp/0786954981/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344023791&sr=1-1&keywords=everis+cale

Then read the book Dennis mentioned (Twilight War trilogy)(sorry..no omnibus)
http://www.amazon.com/Shadowbred-Twilight-War-Book-1/dp/0786940778/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344023833&sr=1-2&keywords=twilight+war

Also few book bring you right to the doorstep of the spell plague like the Empyrean Odyssey
http://www.amazon.com/Empyrean-Odyssey-Books-1-3-Fractured/dp/B002PNKUC8/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344023957&sr=1-6&keywords=fractured+sky

I would also highly recommend the Abolethic Sovernity trilogy
http://www.amazon.com/Plague-Spells-Forgotten-Realms-Sovereignty/dp/B00878HTMY/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344024071&sr=1-8&keywords=abolethic+sovereignty

Currently reading: Spider and Stone by Jaleigh Johnson: Sequel to Mistshore
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Dennis
Great Reader

9933 Posts

Posted - 03 Aug 2012 :  21:09:32  Show Profile Send Dennis a Private Message  Reply with Quote

Ah, yes. Forgot about RotA. I second that. In fact, I recommend you start with it.

Every beginning has an end.
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Dennis
Great Reader

9933 Posts

Posted - 03 Aug 2012 :  21:14:46  Show Profile Send Dennis a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Bionic Man

quote:
Originally posted by Dennis


The best? Yes. Most important? Probably, as their plots are connected to several other series in the current and previous timelines.


How important/good would you say the new Drizzt series is? I read the first book, and thought it was ok.


You're asking the wrong man. Not a fan of Drizzt, or any fighters for that matter. Never finished a Drizzt novel ever. The last one I read, The Pirate King, I couldn't finish.

I might need to make an exception with any future books in the Nevewinter saga IF Szass Tam plays a MAJOR role. What I heard from our fellow scribes who read the novels is that he's doing some sort of a cameo role. He just lets his servants do the job...

Every beginning has an end.
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Thauranil
Master of Realmslore

India
1591 Posts

Posted - 04 Aug 2012 :  11:50:34  Show Profile Send Thauranil a Private Message  Reply with Quote
The new Drizzt books are good. But we prepared for them to be darker than the Drizzt novels of yore.
Also try out the Last Mythal series if you like elves, it describes the reclaiming of Cormanthor.
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phranctoast
Learned Scribe

USA
151 Posts

Posted - 06 Aug 2012 :  15:05:32  Show Profile Send phranctoast a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Forgot about the Last Mythal. Read that after the Return of the Arch Wizards. Not sure where it exists with the other books though.

Currently reading: Spider and Stone by Jaleigh Johnson: Sequel to Mistshore
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author

USA
4598 Posts

Posted - 06 Aug 2012 :  23:30:20  Show Profile  Visit Erik Scott de Bie's Homepage Send Erik Scott de Bie a Private Message  Reply with Quote
At the risk of being that guy that comes online and recommends his own book (aheh!), I might suggest you take a look at the 6-book Ed Greenwood Presents Waterdeep series (of which I wrote book 3, Downshadow). They're very loosely connected (in the same city and the same general timeframe) and present what I think are classic Realms stories that are very true to the past and forward-looking.

Cheers

Erik Scott de Bie

'Tis easier to destroy than to create.

Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars"
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HardKano
Learned Scribe

Canada
158 Posts

Posted - 15 Aug 2012 :  02:10:35  Show Profile  Visit HardKano's Homepage Send HardKano a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I hope i'll be in the new era books in few years ! for now i'm actually on earlier books :)

There is only one thing that will never change : Evolution
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Bionic Man
Acolyte

39 Posts

Posted - 15 Aug 2012 :  02:59:39  Show Profile Send Bionic Man a Private Message  Reply with Quote
When does the "new era" officially begin? With which books, i mean.

It's a ::rolls dice:: pleasure to meet you!
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Dennis
Great Reader

9933 Posts

Posted - 15 Aug 2012 :  07:22:09  Show Profile Send Dennis a Private Message  Reply with Quote

The Spellplague, a malady that struck Realmspace on 29th Tarsakh, 1385 DR, heralded the "new era." Many novels aren't just set in one 'era.' For instance, PSK's The Twilight War trilogy started before the Spellplague, and ended years after. The events in RLB's The Haunted Lands trilogy happened before, during, and after the SP. And B. Cordell's The Abolethic Sovereignty started a short while after the SP devastated Toril. To make it easier for you, just start with the novels published after August 2008, the date when 4E was officially (?) introduced.

Every beginning has an end.
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Bionic Man
Acolyte

39 Posts

Posted - 15 Aug 2012 :  14:32:39  Show Profile Send Bionic Man a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Is all the stuff before the Spellplague still valid, or did the Spellplague essentially reboot everything?

It's a ::rolls dice:: pleasure to meet you!
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phranctoast
Learned Scribe

USA
151 Posts

Posted - 15 Aug 2012 :  16:21:26  Show Profile Send phranctoast a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I didn't realize that the The Twilight War ended post spell plague. I guess it's been a few years..

Currently reading: Spider and Stone by Jaleigh Johnson: Sequel to Mistshore
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Delwa
Master of Realmslore

USA
1272 Posts

Posted - 15 Aug 2012 :  16:24:35  Show Profile  Visit Delwa's Homepage Send Delwa a Private Message  Reply with Quote
The Spellplague didn't "reboot" anything as far as I know. It jumped the timeline forward and made magic go, "the way everything works has changed."
Novels already written did happen as written, but the exact mechanics for things has since changed.

- Delwa Aunglor
I am off to slay yon refrigerator and spoil it's horde. Go for the cheese, Boo!

"The Realms change; seldom at the speed desired of those who strive, but far too quickly for those who resist." - The Simbul, taken from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Conspectus
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Delwa
Master of Realmslore

USA
1272 Posts

Posted - 15 Aug 2012 :  16:30:29  Show Profile  Visit Delwa's Homepage Send Delwa a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by phranctoast

I didn't realize that the The Twilight War ended post spell plague. I guess it's been a few years..


The last chapter of Shadowrealm's header is in The Year of Lightening Storms (1374 DR) but the Epilogue is set in 1479. If you're like me, in the past I didn't pay much attention to a book's epilogue, so it's easy to miss.

- Delwa Aunglor
I am off to slay yon refrigerator and spoil it's horde. Go for the cheese, Boo!

"The Realms change; seldom at the speed desired of those who strive, but far too quickly for those who resist." - The Simbul, taken from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Conspectus
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phranctoast
Learned Scribe

USA
151 Posts

Posted - 15 Aug 2012 :  17:44:41  Show Profile Send phranctoast a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Delwa

quote:
Originally posted by phranctoast

I didn't realize that the The Twilight War ended post spell plague. I guess it's been a few years..


The last chapter of Shadowrealm's header is in The Year of Lightening Storms (1374 DR) but the Epilogue is set in 1479. If you're like me, in the past I didn't pay much attention to a book's epilogue, so it's easy to miss.



Ahhhh.. Thank you. I probably did read but didn't really register as post spellplague at the time.

@Dennis

Is there any other books that talks about the Shadovar posts SP? I heard their power was greatly reduced by the elimination of the Shadow Weave...

Currently reading: Spider and Stone by Jaleigh Johnson: Sequel to Mistshore
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Dennis
Great Reader

9933 Posts

Posted - 15 Aug 2012 :  20:37:42  Show Profile Send Dennis a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by phranctoast

@Dennis

Is there any other books that talks about the Shadovar posts SP? I heard their power was greatly reduced by the elimination of the Shadow Weave...


TW is the last series where the Shadovar played a major role.

Ed mentioned somewhere that like Elminster, the Shadovar were significantly weakened that they're now resorting to manipulating people. There's hardly enough lore to support that one-liner, though. So I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Most definitely there will be an explanation in PSK's soon-to-be-released Godborn.

Every beginning has an end.
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drkissinger1
Acolyte

USA
32 Posts

Posted - 15 Aug 2012 :  21:08:56  Show Profile  Visit drkissinger1's Homepage Send drkissinger1 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Twilight War and the Haunted Lands are the two series I would most recommend to "set the scene" for a post-Spellplague Faerun. They're still set in the 1300s, but they cover some of the biggest changes that the 1400s have to deal with.

Edited by - drkissinger1 on 15 Aug 2012 21:10:42
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phranctoast
Learned Scribe

USA
151 Posts

Posted - 16 Aug 2012 :  13:46:40  Show Profile Send phranctoast a Private Message  Reply with Quote
*Based off of Neverwinter trilogy*
I ask since there seems to be some major changes to the Shadovar than what I was used to.

They appear to consists of many non humans... Namely, a decent amount of Tielflings. There's no use of Shadow magic, other than shadow stepping back into the Shadowfell. Two of the main Shadovar characters are Warlocks, and there seems to be no mention of Shar anywhere.....

Now that I think of it the Thayans are a bit out of character than what I'd expect too. Employing Ashmadai, and having a half elf lead them (Dhalia).......

It almost seems like RAS failed to read any other novels based off these races...

Currently reading: Spider and Stone by Jaleigh Johnson: Sequel to Mistshore
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Dennis
Great Reader

9933 Posts

Posted - 17 Aug 2012 :  03:17:53  Show Profile Send Dennis a Private Message  Reply with Quote

Or he's using what consist of the small expendable lackeys of Shade.

Every beginning has an end.
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