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SirUrza
Master of Realmslore
USA
1283 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Aug 2013 : 04:51:52
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So with The Sundering happening tomorrow, I figured I'd ask what the books are that should checked out before hitting the rest of the series.
The Companions: Neverwinter Saga
The Godborn: The Twilight War trilogy
The Adversary: Brimstone Angels & Lesser Evils
The Reaver: none
The Sentinel: ??
The Herald: The Sage of Shadowdale
I'm trying to limit the list to 4e novels, but if anyone wants to expand it out further for people that read this in the future.. ok.
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"Evil prevails when good men fail to act."
The original and unapologetic Arilyn, Aribeth, Seoni Fanboy. |
Edited by - SirUrza on 06 Aug 2013 20:57:38
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charger_ss24
Learned Scribe
USA
108 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2013 : 05:35:32
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| Thinking for The Godborn, reading The Twilight War trilogy would be recommended. Least, that's what I'm planning on. |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2013 : 06:02:20
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THE REAVER features new characters, so you don't have to read any of my previous books to enjoy it fully.
Although I still recommend that you read all my previous books just on general principles. |
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SirUrza
Master of Realmslore
USA
1283 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2013 : 21:00:39
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Thanks!
So that leaves The Sentinel. Granted I didn't pay close attention to 4e books, but I'm fairly certain Troy has been writing Star Wars novels all this time... safe to assume it's like The Reaver with new characters? |
"Evil prevails when good men fail to act."
The original and unapologetic Arilyn, Aribeth, Seoni Fanboy. |
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Entromancer
Senior Scribe
USA
388 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2013 : 21:15:32
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I recommend you go for Paul Kemp's Erevis Cale Trilogy. It has been collected in an omnibus, and includes a couple of short stories that give some background on side characters from the Cale trilogy. One of them is also featured in the Twilight War...two actually, now that I think about it. In a Sundering panel from last year, Paul described The Godborn as a continuation of the themes he started in the Cale Trilogy.
You're depriving yourself if you skip out on The Haunted Lands (also in omnibus form now) and The Brotherhood of the Griffon. |
"...the will is everything. The will to act."--Ra's Al Ghul
"Suffering builds character."--Talia Al Ghul |
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PaulSKemp
Forgotten Realms Author
808 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2013 : 21:17:32
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quote:
Originally posted by charger_ss24
Thinking for The Godborn, reading The Twilight War trilogy would be recommended. Least, that's what I'm planning on.
I tried to write it so it didn't require reading any previous novels.
That said, I think you'd be in good shape if you read The Twilight War. And I think you'd be in REALLY good shape if you read The Erevis Cale Trilogy and then The Twilight War. |
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Gyor
Master of Realmslore
1632 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2013 : 22:07:44
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| I'd also add the Sembia series, after all you might as well start at the beginning, then move onto the Cale Series, and then the Twilight War. |
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SirUrza
Master of Realmslore
USA
1283 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2013 : 23:15:26
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The Sembia books were ok, I didn't particularly care for them.. but there's Shadow's Witness which is great. The Erevis Cale trilogy I read a while ago, might have to give it another read.
Didn't one of the Sembia books fetch a high price used before the reprints? Can't remember which one... hmmm. |
"Evil prevails when good men fail to act."
The original and unapologetic Arilyn, Aribeth, Seoni Fanboy. |
Edited by - SirUrza on 06 Aug 2013 23:24:16 |
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ksu_bond
Learned Scribe
New Zealand
214 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2013 : 23:58:06
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| I believe it was book 3 or 4 in that series...I've been piecing together the Double Diamond series, but some of those books have been going for outrageous prices... |
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mattymoron
Acolyte
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - 11 Aug 2013 : 00:36:16
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| So, does anyone know what characters are going to be in The Sentinel? The only books I've read by Denning were Waterdeep and Crucible (and Star by Star (: ). I've already read Evans's books, all of Kemp's FR stuff, all of Bob's books, and all of the Elminster books except Enraged. |
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Mirtek
Senior Scribe
595 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2013 : 00:12:14
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quote:
Originally posted by mattymoron
So, does anyone know what characters are going to be in The Sentinel? The only books I've read by Denning were Waterdeep and Crucible (and Star by Star (: ). I've already read Evans's books, all of Kemp's FR stuff, all of Bob's books, and all of the Elminster books except Enraged.
Since Malik is in the Sentinel the Return of the Archwizards (Malik's last appearance) sounds like a recommended reading before reading the Sentinel. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2013 : 11:30:28
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I thought Troy would be using all new characters? Not that I would complain if he uses his signature characters (Malik and Ruha) again. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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SirUrza
Master of Realmslore
USA
1283 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2013 : 06:22:01
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| If that's true.. I'd have to read Return again since I don't really remember those characters. |
"Evil prevails when good men fail to act."
The original and unapologetic Arilyn, Aribeth, Seoni Fanboy. |
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Yoss
Learned Scribe
USA
259 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2013 : 06:55:24
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| Heh, my phone keeps autocorrecting Ruha and making me type tuna. Did she appear in anything other than the two harpers books? |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36968 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2013 : 13:00:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Yoss
Heh, my phone keeps autocorrecting Ruha and making me type tuna. Did she appear in anything other than the two harpers books?
As I recall, she also appeared in the Return of the Archwizards, though it's been a long time since I subjected myself to those books. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2013 : 05:01:04
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Wooly has the righ of it. Ruha also appeared in RotA. She "accompanied" Malik in Shade Enclave. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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swifty
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
517 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2013 : 21:24:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Yoss
Heh, my phone keeps autocorrecting Ruha and making me type tuna. Did she appear in anything other than the two harpers books?
As I recall, she also appeared in the Return of the Archwizards, though it's been a long time since I subjected myself to those books.
am I to believe you didn't really enjoy that trilogy wooly.its the first series I actually gave up on. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36968 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2013 : 22:37:21
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quote:
Originally posted by swifty
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Yoss
Heh, my phone keeps autocorrecting Ruha and making me type tuna. Did she appear in anything other than the two harpers books?
As I recall, she also appeared in the Return of the Archwizards, though it's been a long time since I subjected myself to those books.
am I to believe you didn't really enjoy that trilogy wooly.its the first series I actually gave up on.
Indeed, I did not care for that series. What bugs me about it is the way Denning's white hats were always correct, and any non-Denning white hats generally ignored good advice and made things worse. I also felt that most of the non-Denning characters acted quite out of character. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2013 : 22:56:13
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quote:
Originally posted by Mirtek
Since Malik is in the Sentinel the Return of the Archwizards (Malik's last appearance) sounds like a recommended reading before reading the Sentinel.
That is what I was thinking as well. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2013 : 14:16:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by swifty
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Yoss
Heh, my phone keeps autocorrecting Ruha and making me type tuna. Did she appear in anything other than the two harpers books?
As I recall, she also appeared in the Return of the Archwizards, though it’s been a long time since I subjected myself to those books.
am I to believe you didn’t really enjoy that trilogy wooly.its the first series I actually gave up on.
Indeed, I did not care for that series. What bugs me about it is the way Denning’s white hats were always correct, and any non-Denning white hats generally ignored good advice and made things worse. I also felt that most of the non-Denning characters acted quite out of character.
Galaeron, Troy’s character, was almost always wrong, and he was the one that made all things worse. Elminster and Khelben, to name a few non-Denning characters, appeared in character to me. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36968 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2013 : 14:55:23
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As has been pointed out by others, Khelben knows about making gates and such -- and yet chose to march an army overland, a long distance, with them being constantly attacked en route. That's one thing that's out of character. I'm sure there's more for just him (not to mention others), but I've not read that trilogy in years and hope to continue that trend.
Galaeron did screw up initially, but after that, he was constantly giving good advice to non-Denning characters, which they consistently -- and sometimes disastrously -- ignored. |
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DragonReader
Senior Scribe
USA
371 Posts |
Posted - 06 Nov 2013 : 21:29:21
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I am getting ready to read Brimstone Angels and Lesser Evils in preparation for The Adversary and had a quick question. Is The God Catcher related in anyway? In other words should I read this first or is it to come back to it after The Adversary?
As you can see I am behind in my Realms reading...
Thanks! |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2013 : 00:30:56
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I went to the bookstore today to see if I could find the first of the Sundering novels - isn't Paul's out? I also wanted to finally buy a copy of Elminster's Forgotten Realms, and to take a look at the Lords of Waterdeep boardgame, and possibly buy it. What I found was lots of games - including all of those D&D 'Dungeon Command' ones (both the ones with the painted and unpainted minis), but no WD boardgame. 15 different versions of Settlers of Catan though, and a nice looking Pathfinder boardgame.
So then I went to look for the books, and I found a singe shelf for D&D/FR (and DL, etc). Borders used to have an entire (4') section, but B&N has one shelf. A shelf with 75% RAS books on it, a few DL novels, a couple of plain vanilla D&D novels, and about a dozen FR novels. One by Smedmen, two by Erin Evans (two copies of Brimstone Angels), and five different books by Byers. Also, two Elminster novels by Ed (but not the one I might have bought - the ones on ether side of the next I need to read). No Sundering novels, no Paul Kemp (I may have picked-up the 2nd Everis Cale trilogy), and certainly no Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms.
I did see an 'Owner's Manual' for both the Death Star and Enterprise, though. 
Saw a whole shelf for Warcraft and Diablo. Saw another whole shelf just for Warhammer. The only 'plus' that someone might walk away from this is that the few Pathfinder novels I saw were by author, and weren't even in their own section (thats piss-poor retail, if you ask me).
So I bought the 4th David Weber novel for his Safehold series, and the third book of Fire & Ice (Game of Thrones). On the way out I spotted Paul's Hammer & Blade and picked that up as well. At least I was able to find a Paul Kemp novel, even if I couldn't find any FR ones. It must suck coming after 3 shelves of Robert Jordan... you got lost in there - time to change your last name, Mr. Kemp. 
Bottom line is, I am an impulse buyer, a 'hands on' kind of guy. I'll never go through Amazon. Borders put all the book stores around me out of business, and then IT went out of business! Now all I have is world's crappiest Barnes & Noble in a mall I hate about 30 miles away. Guess I'm gonna have to give up reading... or move.
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
As has been pointed out by others, Khelben knows about making gates and such -- and yet chose to march an army overland, a long distance, with them being constantly attacked en route. That's one thing that's out of character. I'm sure there's more for just him (not to mention others), but I've not read that trilogy in years and hope to continue that trend.
Galaeron did screw up initially, but after that, he was constantly giving good advice to non-Denning characters, which they consistently -- and sometimes disastrously -- ignored.
I enjoyed the first novel of RotAW, but it went downhill from there. What really blew it for me was when Laerel lost an entire army (who were slaughtered), and she flippantly commented, "guess I need to raise another army."
That was just the worst, IMHO. There were other bad parts - many - but that just stuck in my craw more then the others. 
*Name and grammar corrtections |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 10 Nov 2013 03:56:20 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36968 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2013 : 03:51:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Bottom line is, I am an impulse buyer, a 'hands on' kind of guy. I'll never go through Amazon. Borders put all the book stores around me out of business, and then IT went out of business! Now all I have is world's crappiest Barnes & Noble in a mall I hate about 30 miles away. Guess I'm gonna have to give up reading... or move.
I've bought more than a few books from Amazon that were impulse buys... I'm in the third book, right now, of a trilogy that I got into after an impulse buy of the first book.
I love my local Barnes & Noble, but their selection often isn't as great as it could be, and they are usually at least a couple of weeks behind -- if not longer -- on getting the brand new fantasy/sci-fi titles.
When I decide to read the Sundering books, I'll likely have to go thru Amazon, since my local B&N could be better. |
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hashimashadoo
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1155 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2013 : 05:40:13
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| Markus, you're LUCKY to have that much FR on the bookshelves. I live a half hour drive from my nearest bookstore of any description. I haven't seen an FR book on the shelves since The Thousand Orcs came out in paperback. |
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SirUrza
Master of Realmslore
USA
1283 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2013 : 15:57:35
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My Barnes & Noble isn't much better. The hardcovers are often tough to find after awhile in it. I'd suggest checking to see if your store as a New Release section for Science Fiction/Fantasy.. mine does and that's usually the only place to find hardcovers after they're no longer on special displays by the entrance.
My store has been pretty good about having Pathfinder (and Planet Stories) stocked, but they sometimes mess up and don't know they're suppose to but certain series books together instead of by author. I assume this is because they have someone untrained/unfamiliar with the section stocking the books and nothing else.
If you're looking for Lords of Waterdeep I think you're best bet will be the rpg store. I've never seen it in the bookstores or in toys r us. |
"Evil prevails when good men fail to act."
The original and unapologetic Arilyn, Aribeth, Seoni Fanboy. |
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ErinMEvans
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
294 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2013 : 18:27:23
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quote:
Originally posted by DragonReader
I am getting ready to read Brimstone Angels and Lesser Evils in preparation for The Adversary and had a quick question. Is The God Catcher related in anyway? In other words should I read this first or is it to come back to it after The Adversary?
As you can see I am behind in my Realms reading...
Thanks!
Hi Dragonreader!
The God Catcher isn't related to The Adversary. There's a tiny Easter Egg related to the characters, but if you don't have the background of having read the book, it shouldn't interrupt your read.
As for finding Sundering books in the stores, I would second SirUrza and say check the front racks. The stores I've been in have all had The Godborn and The Companions placed near the entrance (leaving aside whether it's a good idea to put them all there...) That doesn't sound like it helps you, Markustay, and it may be that your nearest bookstore really isn't stocking enough, but if anyone else is having trouble finding them, that's another place to search. |
www.slushlush.com |
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SirUrza
Master of Realmslore
USA
1283 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2013 : 18:54:12
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| I used to make the mistake of assuming they'd have the book stocked in both the section, the new release section, and the front of the store. So I'd often bypass the door display and go right upstairs to the science fiction/fantasy section to get the book I'd be looking for an browse... such a mistake. Now I grab what I want at the door and go browse. It's very annoying. |
"Evil prevails when good men fail to act."
The original and unapologetic Arilyn, Aribeth, Seoni Fanboy. |
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DragonReader
Senior Scribe
USA
371 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2013 : 19:57:31
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| Thanks for the info Erin. I will be starting Brimstone Angels tonight. Will definitely go back and read The God Catcher at some point as well. |
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SirUrza
Master of Realmslore
USA
1283 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2013 : 20:47:05
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quote:
Originally posted by DragonReader
Thanks for the info Erin. I will be starting Brimstone Angels tonight. Will definitely go back and read The God Catcher at some point as well.
I just finished reading the 2 books (almost in time to see Erin play one of her characters in the Extra Life charity game) and I found them every enjoyable. I think you'll like them. |
"Evil prevails when good men fail to act."
The original and unapologetic Arilyn, Aribeth, Seoni Fanboy. |
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The Masked Mage
Great Reader
USA
2420 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2013 : 04:25:54
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| For the most part, I think a store's stock depends on the management's taste. Usually B&N and other mega stores have a good selection (like 1 half of 1 side of an isle in the Sci-fi fantasy section) but rarely more than that. In smaller sellers on the other hand I've seen several walls covered with TSR publications. |
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The Sundering "Essential" Reading?
