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Caldurin
Acolyte
2 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Apr 2004 : 03:24:05
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Hey!
Well I want to delve into the world of Forgotten Relms literature. I am reading R A Salvatore's "The Thousand Orcs" and am looking for other things to read.
I am just lost cause there are so many novels, any suggestions.
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2004 : 03:57:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Caldurin
Hey!
Well I want to delve into the world of Forgotten Relms literature. I am reading R A Salvatore's "The Thousand Orcs" and am looking for other things to read.
I am just lost cause there are so many novels, any suggestions.
Well, first off, what type of novels are you looking for? Prefer action/combat over intrigue or character development? What styles do you like/dislike? |
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Alexander Heppe
Seeker
Germany
62 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2004 : 08:21:22
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Well met, and welcome to the wonderful continent of Faerún, referred to as the Forgotten Realms...
I think the best starting points to get a small overview of what the realms are all about, Iīd start reading novels that donīt focus on a single region and/or chracter, but instead involves many characters and power groups.
For a start, I would recommend Shandrilīs Saga, the Avatar trilogy or the Return of the Archwizards trilogy, acommpanied by Realms Of Shadow. On the other hand, a novel series which focuses on a single region but proves to be a good starting read as well, is the Sembia Series.
For classic one-shot adventures, like you could expect on a gaming table as well, you could alternatively aim for some of the old Harper series novels.
Hope this helps,
Alex |
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fanatic
Acolyte
Austria
34 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2004 : 08:35:14
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well i think you did the right start into the realms reading the "drizzt series".
how to continue..........
the cleric quintet is very good and quite amusing. (thanks to pikel bouldershoulder)
i canīt tell you which book you will like and which not.
my advise is: get every book you can buy (or borrow). read every book you get. enjoy every book you read.
one advise if you are not a native speaker: hads off greenwood books.
they are not as easy to read than others. took my quite some time to understad them.
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even fantasy has itīs limits
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2004 : 08:54:16
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| Aiya! Wasn't this just asked a few days ago? |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
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Freakboy
Seeker
USA
63 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2004 : 09:46:05
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I think the best place to start in the Realms is the Drizzt books. R.A. Salvatore is an easy read and the focus is narrow enough that you don't get overwhelmed by sheer volume of characters and regions but at the same time over the course of the entire 15 or so books in Drizzt's and friends path, Salvatore takes you to the Underdark, the Spine of the World, the Silver Marches, the Shining South, the Sword Coast, and Waterdeep. He gives you a good taste of each without making you feel completely satcherated with information. Then once you see something in Salvotre's books that you think is interesting, try to find more novels in that region or following those characters.
In my case I fell in love with the Drow, as so many do, and immediately went and got every Forgotten Realms Underdark and drow sourcebook I could. I read those and then read the first two books in Elaine Cunningham's Starlight and Shadows trilogy. I followed that up with Realm's of the Underdark. I then jumped on the War of the Spider Queen Series, which at this point is my favorite series of books that I've ever read. Most recently, I read Windwalker and just finished reading Extinction about two months ago. Right now I am reading the return of the Archwizards Trilogy, though a good portion of the backstory for it can be found in the Players Guide to Faerun.
In terms of the essential D&D Forgotten Realms releases, I would say FRCS is a must as is PGtF. After that it depends on your tastes. Magic of Faerun is essential. Then I would look to regional sourcebooks for areas you like and then perhaps sourcebooks like Faiths and Pantheons and Races of Faerun.
In any case, read FRCS and PGtF and find something that interests you or something in Salvatore's books and then try to find novels in those areas. After that just go with what you find interesting or things by authors you really like. In no time you should have a real good feel for what you like and you can run with it. The Realms are a big place, but you can certainly learn a lot and enjoy a lot without giving up the rest of your "real" life.
Best of luck and happy reading |
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dbassingthwaite
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
64 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2004 : 14:18:08
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Or (*blatant plug*blatant plug*) if you want something that isn't necessarily overwhelming and presents the Realms in smaller bites, there is the Rogues series (Alabaster Staff/Black Bouquet/Crimson Gold/Yellow Silk). All standalone novels, so you don't have to read them in any particular order or even all of them.
I'll also agree with Alexander Heppe that the Sembia series is a good start (that starts with the Halls of Stormweather anthology and continues through seven standalone but braided books); if you read and like Shadow's Witness in the series, you could also jump to Paul Kemp's Erevis Cale trilogy (starts with Twilight Falling; Book 2 - Dawn of Night is out in June).
And, of course, Richard Lee Byer's Year of Rogue Dragons trilogy starts off this month with The Rage.
Don |
Don Bassingthwaite
www.sff.net/people/dbassing |
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VEDSICA
Senior Scribe
USA
466 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2004 : 15:07:43
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Definitely all good choices Don.Especially when one of those suggestions happens to be your book But as for I would start with The Avatar Series.Because that's where I started my journey in the Realms. |
LIFE,BIRTH,BLOOD,DOOM---THE HOLE IN THE GROUND IS COMING ROUND SOON----BLS |
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dbassingthwaite
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
64 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2004 : 15:52:25
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quote:
Originally posted by VEDSICA
Definitely all good choices Don.Especially when one of those suggestions happens to be your book
Yeah, but Richard and Paul got more plugs per capita out of the post than I did! 
Don |
Don Bassingthwaite
www.sff.net/people/dbassing |
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Caldurin
Acolyte
2 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2004 : 03:36:54
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| Thanks for all your help. I will continue the Drizzt Saga and begin the Avatar and all the other series listed. |
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VEDSICA
Senior Scribe
USA
466 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2004 : 04:11:18
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| Yeah you're right Don |
LIFE,BIRTH,BLOOD,DOOM---THE HOLE IN THE GROUND IS COMING ROUND SOON----BLS |
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Sturm
Acolyte
Canada
4 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2004 : 05:19:02
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Read there books by Margreit Weis and Tracy Hickman. The Death Gate Cycle,And as many DragonLance Novel's as you can find....Im not saying anything bad about Mr.Salvatore because in the lone drow many people died but in the DragonLance Novels and the Death Gate Cycle the people are not invincible Like Drizzit is they are always getting killed and over run they are exactly the same as us... so just read those one's they are great.. |
I am the one and only. |
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Winterfox
Senior Scribe
895 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2004 : 05:43:22
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Except that, you know, Weis and Hickman don't write FR novels. Incidentally, it's Paladine the platinum dragon you were looking for, unless you meant for a generic paladin.
My recommendation for FR reading:
Evermeet: Island of Elves by Elaine Cunningham -- if you're interested in elves, this is the Silmarillion of FR.
War of the Spider Queen by various authors -- drow. Unapologetically evil (no moralistic angst here, kthxbye), treacherous, and actually intelligent. Too many drow are portrayed as cartoonish villains that, for all their supposed cunning, have all the intelligence of a block of brick. Wonderful plot, three-dimensional characters.
The Shattered Mask by Richard Lee Byers -- yay for a mature, strong female lead! Who is neither a stick with melons attached somewhere nor a Xena!clone, nor a fake misguided feminist. Fast-paced, action-packed, great plot, and excellent character development. |
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Help for a newbie
