Recommended reading? - The Forgotten Realms

[Daniel]

I've always loved fantasy, but over the past few years I have fallen in love with the Forgotten Realms, it started with CRPG games like Baldurs Gate (I dont play PnP and didnt know anything about the realms prior to playing this), then one day I stumbled across a dusty old copy of Homeland, I would probabally have never have picked the book up if I hadnt recognised the main character as that crazy Gnoll slashing Drow Elf I had met in the first Baldurs Gate. And so began my love affair with R.A Salvatore.

Having read everything Salvatore has to offer, I was wondering what other Forgotten Realms fans would recommend as my next read? and what should I miss? I was thinking of giving the Elminster books a try next, though I have no idea where to begin, there are quite a lot of them (if anyone could list them in chronological order, it would be appreciated ).

Well thats about it, beyond Salvatore and the number of CRPG's that have been released over the years my knowledge of the Realms is pretty limited, so any info and recommendations are welcome.

[Dragonshadow]

The War of the Spider Queen series was always my favourite.

[JrKASperov]

The avatar series was nice for it's historic content.

[SpiritWarrior]

Originally Posted by Daniel I've always loved fantasy, but over the past few years I have fallen in love with the Forgotten Realms, it started with CRPG games like Baldurs Gate (I dont play PnP and didnt know anything about the realms prior to playing this), then one day I stumbled across a dusty old copy of Homeland, I would probabally have never have picked the book up if I hadnt recognising the main character as that crazy Gnoll slashing Drow Elf I had met in the first Baldurs Gate. And so began my love affair with R.A Salvatore. Having read everything Salvatore has to offer, I was wondering what other Forgotten Realms fans would recommend as my next read? and what should I miss? I was thinking of giving the Elminster books a try next, though I have no idea where to begin, there are quite a lot of them (if anyone could list them in chronological order, it would be appreciated ). Well thats about it, beyond Salvatore and the number of CRPG's that have been released over the years my knowledge of the Realms is pretty limited, so any info and recommendations are welcome.

Avoid the elminster books like plague. Yes, I know, it looks so interesting and elminster is cool and stuff but no, Greenwood butchers it. He managed to make one of the coolest mages into a lackluster tale. I couldn't finish book 2.

Read the old stuff, like Azure Bonds and The Avatar Series. The follow-ups like Trial of Cyric the Mad were fun too. Pool of Radiance/Darkness etc. are all good, although a little more for the younger audience when I think back. I am a fan of The Cleric Quintet by RAS also, his Drizzt books are okay but not amazing IMO.

[Micah Foehammer]

Originally Posted by Dragonshadow The War of the Spider Queen series was always my favourite.

If you liked the Spider Queen series - try out Lisa Smeden's "The Lady Penitent" series. It's a continuation of the Spider Queen series - first two books are in paperback.

[Dragonshadow]

Originally Posted by Micah Foehammer If you liked the Spider Queen series - try out Lisa Smeden's "The Lady Penitent" series. It's a continuation of the Spider Queen series - first two books are in paperback.

Thanks for the tip off. I'll have a look for them, but those kind of books aren't so popular over here - Only on shop I've seen regularly sells more than a dozen

[Armen]

i'm not sure i'd have payed full price for them but if you find any of the 'collected tales' books second hand then there's some good (and not so good) stuff in some of them

i seem to remember quite liking elfshadow (elaine cunningham?)

edit: oh yeh and the 'daughter of the drow' series (also E.C i think)

[Daniel]

Hehe I already have the third book in the 'War of the Spider Queen' series, I got it free when I joined a mail order book club, but seeing as I dont have the previous books its just been sat on my shelf gathering dust for years, I might have to give them a try. Just a quick question, how do the books carry on from one another? One thing I noticed is that each book in the series is by a different author, it always struck me as a bit odd, I'm not sure whether its a good or a bad thing.

And are the the Elminster books really that bad? He always seemed such a popular character, so I just assumed they were good.

I already own and love the Cleric Quintet, but I dont think I have heard of any of the other books mentioned (with the exception of Pools of Radiance/Darkness I remember the ancient games of the same name on the Amiga 500 lol), I'll look them up, and see what I can find, thanks for the responses.

[SpiritWarrior]

Originally Posted by Daniel Hehe I already have the third book in the 'War of the Spider Queen' series, I got it free when I joined a mail order book club, but seeing as I dont have the previous books its just been sat on my shelf gathering dust for years, I might have to give them a try. Just a quick question, how do the books carry on from one another? One thing I noticed is that each book in the series is by a different author, it always struck me as a bit odd, I'm not sure whether its a good or a bad thing. And are the the Elminster books really that bad? He always seemed such a popular character, so I just assumed they were good. I already own and love the Cleric Quintet, but I dont think I have heard of any of the other books mentioned (with the exception of Pools of Radiance/Darkness I remember the ancient games of the same name on the Amiga 500 lol), I'll look them up, and see what I can find, thanks for the responses.

Yes, the Elminster books are terrible. He is popular for his appearances in other books like Azure Bonds and games like BG. His own novels just didn't have an author that could do his story justice. Do look for the older titles, as they were very original in their storylines. It was back when D&D was kinda obscure. I'm not talking 40 years ago but a good few years back. You remember, when people used to actually gather for a PnP game, because the internet wasn't there to connect us all and give us multiplaying games, when the only adventuring we could hope for was sitting down with a good FR novel. We knew no different I guess.

Nowadays, Hasbro seems to be pushing WotC to keep churning out new novels for no reason other than cash, and the writers look to be struggling as a result. I haven't been really impressed by any of the newer titles being released lately and find myself re-reading old favourites. I always felt even RAS was kinda forced/paid to quickly write some new Drizzt books to bring in the fans.

[Dragonshadow]

Originally Posted by Daniel Just a quick question, how do the books carry on from one another? One thing I noticed is that each book in the series is by a different author, it always struck me as a bit odd, I'm not sure whether its a good or a bad thing.

They carry on quite well. There was one book I didn't like so much as the others because the characters just didn't seem... Right, but I can't remember which it is, so it wasn't that bad.

I have the first book of Daughter of the Drow, but can't find the others around *sigh*