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Elren_Wolfsbane
Learned Scribe
USA
111 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Sep 2016 : 16:26:58
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Anyone have any ideas about which realm books to read first.
I'd lime to go chronological order. but if there is a favorite preference, I'd be willing to look into it
thanks
Mod Edit:- Shifted to a more appropriate shelf
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Aa' lasser en`coialle n`natula brown.
(May the leaves of your life tree never turn brown)
-Elren Wolfsbane |
Edited by - The Sage on 29 Sep 2016 13:55:45
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MrHedgehog
Senior Scribe
688 Posts |
Posted - 29 Sep 2016 : 01:11:50
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There are SO MANY forgotten realms books it is hard to say what to read first. They are usually presented in such a way that anyone could pick up any one of them and start there.
All often set in very different settings. With very wide ranging quality of writing (I have had forgotten realms books I couldn't finish...)
I believe "Crystal Shard" may be a popular place to start.
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
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Arivia
Great Reader
Canada
2965 Posts |
Posted - 29 Sep 2016 : 11:42:01
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| If you're completely new to the Realms, go with Swords of Eveningstar. It's the story of the setting creator's own original play group, and introduces the Realms very well I think. |
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Elren_Wolfsbane
Learned Scribe
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 29 Sep 2016 : 13:43:54
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| I'm somewhat new to the realm, I just want to learn all the lore I can |
Aa' lasser en`coialle n`natula brown.
(May the leaves of your life tree never turn brown)
-Elren Wolfsbane |
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Lamora
Seeker
USA
81 Posts |
Posted - 29 Sep 2016 : 14:59:20
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| I suggest starting with Salvatore's Crystal Shard trilogy. After that you can continue with Salvatore if you want or you can jump to Elaine Cunningham's books. The Making of a Mage and Elminster in Myth Drannor give really good lore details on the Realms in the past. Once you get past the Time of Troubles, two of the better series are the Last Mythal by Baker and all of Paul Kemp's novels. I would definitely say Kemp is the best Realms writer, so make sure to check out his work. His work starts in the 3e era, so you might want to get a few different series under your belt first. |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2476 Posts |
Posted - 29 Sep 2016 : 15:11:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Lamora
I suggest starting with Salvatore's Crystal Shard trilogy.
I was about to suggest the opposite: avoid Salvatore as long as possible. Double so for early Salvatore. 
Other than this, you could try to read by mixing the publishing order and whole trilogies (all Moonshae, Finder's Stone, Avatars, Pools, etc).
To alleviate the distraction from "but what's next?" syndrome. Unless you are another proud Gunnerkrigg Court reader, in which case you must be resistant to it due to being teased with cliffhangers non-stop.  |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
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charger_ss24
Learned Scribe
USA
108 Posts |
Posted - 29 Sep 2016 : 16:50:49
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| Look into books from the Harpers. Crypt of the Shadowking was my first realms book dealing with the Harpers. Each are a standalone book, but I also think a couple of them spin off into their own trilogy. |
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Seravin
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1297 Posts |
Posted - 29 Sep 2016 : 18:10:16
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| I'd start with anything Pre Time of Troubles - but my PERSONAL favorite starting point would be Azure Bonds (book 1 of the Finder's Stone trilogy). Jeff Grub was a master of early Realms, and I think for newbies its easier to pick up that Ed's works. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36877 Posts |
Posted - 29 Sep 2016 : 18:17:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Seravin
I'd start with anything Pre Time of Troubles - but my PERSONAL favorite starting point would be Azure Bonds (book 1 of the Finder's Stone trilogy). Jeff Grub was a master of early Realms, and I think for newbies its easier to pick up that Ed's works.
Ditto. I always recommend either Azure Bonds or Elfshadow as an ideal starting point.
I said as much to Jeff Grubb, when I met him at GenCon last year -- and he immediately began raving about Elaine's work.  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 29 Sep 2016 : 19:52:08
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quote:
Originally posted by TBeholder
quote:
Originally posted by Lamora
I suggest starting with Salvatore's Crystal Shard trilogy.
I was about to suggest the opposite: avoid Salvatore as long as possible. Double so for early Salvatore.
Jeez, I say avoid later Salvatore, since it's just regurgitated early Salvatore anyway. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2016 : 04:22:44
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I've seen no better answer than this from The Hooded One, one of the players in Ed's campaign:-
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. |
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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Firestorm
Senior Scribe
Canada
826 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2016 : 21:56:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Seravin
I'd start with anything Pre Time of Troubles - but my PERSONAL favorite starting point would be Azure Bonds (book 1 of the Finder's Stone trilogy). Jeff Grub was a master of early Realms, and I think for newbies its easier to pick up that Ed's works.
Ditto. I always recommend either Azure Bonds or Elfshadow as an ideal starting point.
I said as much to Jeff Grubb, when I met him at GenCon last year -- and he immediately began raving about Elaine's work.
Exact two books I was going to recommend. Quintessential realms books |
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Quil
Acolyte
5 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2016 : 06:41:32
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I'd say it depends what you're interested in. Do you just want lore, or do you want actually great books? Those are not necessarily the same. I'm reading the first book about the Time of Troubles now (Shadowdale), and it reads more like a review of a gaming session than a novel. If you want a good first impression of Forgotten Realms novels, I really wouldn't go with that one first, at least, even though it's really early in the chronology.
Paul Kemp is a great author, though. His Erevis Cale series, and especially his Twilight War series, are both really good. Erin M. Evans is also a really great author. Her Brimestone Angels series is really well-written. It feels more like a fantasy series that just happens to be set in the Forgotten Realms, than a book that tries that explain the Forgotten Realms within the D&D rules. She's one of my current favourite authors in general.
Those series are the favourites of what I've read, so those are what I'll recommend. |
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Lamora
Seeker
USA
81 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2016 : 06:30:18
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| Paul Kemp is definitely the best writer in the Realms. His work starts in 3E though so its a little far into the timeline. My suggestion would actually be to read the Cormry Novel which details the timeline from Cormry's founding to the 1370s. Its Greenwood at his best. Also reading the first few trilogies by Salvatore is how I learned much of early lore of the Realms. Once you get into the 3rd edition though, I definitely suggest Kemp and Baker's Mythal trilogy. |
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idilippy
Senior Scribe
USA
417 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2016 : 23:05:16
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| Don't forget to read everything Elaine Cunningham wrote, both the Songs and Swords and Starlight and Shadows series' are great. The Erevis Cale trilogy from Paul S Kemp is a must read too. I really like Azure Bonds and it's a good place to start too. |
Edited by - idilippy on 25 Oct 2016 23:05:59 |
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Elren_Wolfsbane
Learned Scribe
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2016 : 20:55:51
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| I'm Starting to read Azure Bonds. I'm currently on chapter 3. I really like it so far :D |
Aa' lasser en`coialle n`natula brown.
(May the leaves of your life tree never turn brown)
-Elren Wolfsbane |
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CorellonsDevout
Great Reader
USA
2708 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2016 : 23:38:16
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Anything by Elaine Cunningham.
Darkwalker on Moonshae was the first book in the Realms |
Sweet water and light laughter |
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Spectralballoons
Acolyte
Pakistan
48 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2016 : 13:51:54
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I'd say to start with Brimstone Angels. Great quality of writing, explores new areas (i.e. dragonborn) and is self-contained in six books.
After that Elaine Cunningham's Harpers is great (imo she's a brilliant author and a great read).
The sundering primes you on a bunch of greay characters and is also a great place to start, while ed greenwood's or salvatore's first FR novels are also wonderful. Salvatore's later stuff becomes a bit tiring after a while. Enjoyable writing, but many of them have rather presictable outcomes (kinda glad its ending, no offence to salvatore, but it often seems like he's using a snake-whip on a dead dark elven horse).
Greenwood has a vwry enjoyable style, but often his writing seems aimless, with many redundant characters and unexplored details. Both authors have written great books, but its a good idea to ee reviewa of then before biying. Trpy denning is great, but WotC seems to have driven him away. Pick up his things if you spot them.
Richard Lee Byers is also a good writer, shame that WotC refuses to pay an industry standard wage. |
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Elren_Wolfsbane
Learned Scribe
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2016 : 15:09:47
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Thanks, I'm currently reading The Finder's Stone trilogy (The Wyvern's Spur). I like the series so far
Then I plan on reading The Moonshae trilogy, and keep going from there |
Aa' lasser en`coialle n`natula brown.
(May the leaves of your life tree never turn brown)
-Elren Wolfsbane |
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Elren_Wolfsbane
Learned Scribe
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2016 : 20:45:41
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| Ok, so I found something in The Wyvern's Spur that seems interesting. There is a game that Giogioni plays with his friends and it seems interesting. Elemental Empire. I would love to know how to play, it seems like a strategy card game. anyway, if anyone knows anything about I'd love to know. thanks |
Aa' lasser en`coialle n`natula brown.
(May the leaves of your life tree never turn brown)
-Elren Wolfsbane |
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VikingLegion
Senior Scribe
USA
483 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2016 : 05:43:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Artemas Entreri
Here is a useful site for chronology: http://www.o-love.net/realms/
That is a fantastic site for gathering all the books up by publishing date, up until around 2012 when it seems to tail off. 2013, and 14 are just skeletons, and then there is nothing beyond it. It's a great, complete, and concise list of books... until it isn't.
The wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Forgotten_Realms_novels
has a more complete (probably) list, but the way it is laid out - in alphabetical order by series makes it frustrating to try and double check if you've gathered everything up in a given year.
Are there no better resources out there to use? I think I tried once to open up a pdf from Candlekeep that is supposed to be a checklist of sorts, but it was an overlapping nightmare that I could not make heads or tails of. |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2016 : 12:08:38
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quote:
Originally posted by VikingLegion
quote:
Originally posted by Artemas Entreri
Here is a useful site for chronology: http://www.o-love.net/realms/
That is a fantastic site for gathering all the books up by publishing date, up until around 2012 when it seems to tail off. 2013, and 14 are just skeletons, and then there is nothing beyond it. It's a great, complete, and concise list of books... until it isn't.
Yeah, seems like the author of that page just gave up along the way. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Elren_Wolfsbane
Learned Scribe
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2016 : 13:39:16
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| Yeah, but I believe you can find the rest on wiki |
Aa' lasser en`coialle n`natula brown.
(May the leaves of your life tree never turn brown)
-Elren Wolfsbane |
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Entromancer
Senior Scribe
USA
388 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2017 : 01:35:06
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My Salvatore recommendations -
Homeland
Exile
Sojourn
The Legacy
Starless Night
Siege of Darkness
The Silent Blade
Servant of the Shard
Promise of the Witch-King
Road of the Patriarch
The Pirate King
And you've read his best. |
"...the will is everything. The will to act."--Ra's Al Ghul
"Suffering builds character."--Talia Al Ghul |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12020 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2017 : 22:17:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Elren_Wolfsbane
Ok, so I found something in The Wyvern's Spur that seems interesting. There is a game that Giogioni plays with his friends and it seems interesting. Elemental Empire. I would love to know how to play, it seems like a strategy card game. anyway, if anyone knows anything about I'd love to know. thanks
No, nothing was ever done with that. That being said, when this book came out it was 1990. Three years later, magic the gathering, which was based on using certain "elements" or "lands" to build your deck, etc.... came onto the scene. I half wonder if somehow there was a relation.
Over the past ten years, the Red Knight's religion has really grown on me, such that my main PC turned NPC actually transformed into an artifact with the ability to turn into a "Wheel of Spells" deck.
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19170
Also, in an attempt to discover more games that Red Knight adherents might play, I discussed it in this forum entry.
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17366 |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Elren_Wolfsbane
Learned Scribe
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2017 : 00:47:34
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
quote:
Originally posted by Elren_Wolfsbane
Ok, so I found something in The Wyvern's Spur that seems interesting. There is a game that Giogioni plays with his friends and it seems interesting. Elemental Empire. I would love to know how to play, it seems like a strategy card game. anyway, if anyone knows anything about I'd love to know. thanks
No, nothing was ever done with that. That being said, when this book came out it was 1990. Three years later, magic the gathering, which was based on using certain "elements" or "lands" to build your deck, etc.... came onto the scene. I half wonder if somehow there was a relation.
Over the past ten years, the Red Knight's religion has really grown on me, such that my main PC turned NPC actually transformed into an artifact with the ability to turn into a "Wheel of Spells" deck.
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19170
Also, in an attempt to discover more games that Red Knight adherents might play, I discussed it in this forum entry.
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17366
That's interesting. I wonder if they're similar. I'd love to play a realms game in my campaign, kind of like a puzzle of sorts.
I'll have to read up on your red knight. Thanks |
Aa' lasser en`coialle n`natula brown.
(May the leaves of your life tree never turn brown)
-Elren Wolfsbane |
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suggestions for reading realms novel..??
