D&D Novels

[Camelot]

If I wanted to start reading the official D&D novels, such as R. A. Salvatore's novels and the soon to be Abyssal Plague novella, and I've never read any D&D stories before, where should I start?

 

[Dire Bare]

If you are interested in R.A. Salvatore's novels, start with "The Crystal Shard", the first novel in the "Icewind Dale" trilogy. The "Legend of Drizzt" series is quite long and most of the series within it are available in omnibus editions (both soft and hard cover).

Icewind Dale Trilogy (The Legend of Drizzt, Books IV, V, and VI)
Dark Elf Trilogy (Legend of Drizzt I, II, and III)
Legacy of the Drow (Legend of Drizzt VII, VIII, IX, and X)
Path of Darkness (Legend of Drizzt XI, XII, XIII, and XIV)
The Hunter's Blades (3 books)
Transitions (3 books)

The Abyssal Plague novels don't start until March of next year with "The Temple of Yellow Skulls", but if you are interested in the novellas that lead up to the series/event, you can find them in these books:

Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Home (Dungeons & Dragons Novel Line)

Follow the five-part prelude novella: The Gates of Madness by James Wyatt, in these novels:

* Part 1: Forgotten Realms, The Ghost King by R.A. Salvatore (July 2010)
* Part 2: Dungeons & Dragons, The Mark of Nerath by Bill Slavicsek (August)
* Part 3: Dark Sun, City Under the Sand by Jeff Marriotte (October)
* Part 4: Forgotten Realms, Whisper of Venom by Richard Lee Byers (November)
* Part 5: Eberron, Lady Ruin by Tim Waggoner (December)

"The Ghost King", for Part 1, is the third book in the Transitions series of Drizzt novels by Salvatore. If you don't want to go all the way back to the beginning of this long series, start with "The Orc King", then "The Pirate King", and then finally "The Ghost King". These are Forgotten Realms novels.

"The Mark of Nerath" is the first novel in the new D&D core world book line.

"Whisper of Venom" is book 2 in the "Brotherhood of the Griffin" series (book 1 is "The Captive Flame"), which is a sequel series to "The Haunted Lands" trilogy ("Unclean", "Undead", and "Unholy"). These are also Forgotten Realms novels.

"Lady Ruin" is a the first book in a new Eberron series.

 

[Camelot]

Why do you suggest to read books 4-6 before 1-3? Is the Dark Elf Trilogy a set of prequels, ala Star Wars?

Also, is there other official fiction besides Drizzt and the yet to be published ones?

 

[coyote6]

The Icewind Dale books were actually written & published first. The Dark Elf books were indeed prequels, I believe (I've not read them).

And TSR & WotC have published many books set in the various D&D settings. I think they did books in every one of the settings.

Wikipedia has a list of FR novels, and similar lists for other settings.

 

[Jason Zavoda]

If I wanted to start reading the official D&D novels, such as R. A. Salvatore's novels and the soon to be Abyssal Plague novella, and I've never read any D&D stories before, where should I start?

As has been mentioned start with the Icewind Dale trilogy. They are the start of Salvatore's Drizzt stories and his Forgotten Realm books (unless I'm missing something earlier). If you like the style of writing then you are pretty safe with any of Salvatore's writing.

 

[Tamlyn]

You may give Elaine Cunningham's FR works a try too. I like her as much, if not more, than Salvatore. Especially Evermeet.

Personally, I avoid Ed Greenwood. But that's just my personal taste. He is, after all, the originator of the Realms.

 

[IronWolf]

You may give Elaine Cunningham's FR works a try too.

I will second this recommendation.

 

[Thanael]

Paul Kemp's FR novels are also excellent. And I always liked the anthologies.


Candlekeep has a nice list of the FR novels here. It is sorted by series and there bilbiography checklists and timelines and reviews available.


PS: www.half.com is a great source for used novels if you'r living in the US (cheaper than amazon marketplace.) Bookfinder.com is the metasearch engine for books.

 

[Phaezen]

Paul Kemp's FR novels are also excellent.

I will second this recommendation

 

[Shemeska]

I will second this recommendation

Thirded.