Favorite Setting That Has Novels

[RetroGameView]

What's your favorite RPG game / setting that also has novels associated with it?

 

[delericho]

Star Wars, then Eberron, then Warhammer 40k.

Though in none of these cases do the novels play any part in that. Indeed, I've never read any Eberron or Warhammer novels.

 

[Bluenose]

Glorantha, though I should say that the fiction associated with it plays no part in that. There's a comic book too, come to think of it.

Exalted's Creation setting also has some competent fiction. And if you count it, there's some decent fiction in the Battletech universe.

 

[WayneLigon]

Another hands-up for Eberron. Most of the novels produced for that setting were quite a bit better than any other game fiction I've ever read, with the exception of Nigel Findley's ShadowRun books.

 

[Umbran]

Hr. I don't usually use settings, unless they are integral to the ruleset (like, say Shadowrun, or Star Wars), except as mines for ideas to steal. So, when posed with this question, I find I'm really answering, "Name the setting that has your favorite novels" which may not really be what you're asking.

And, while there may be technically better works out there, I have only one answer: Dragonlance.

 

[ShadowDenizen]

While I read ALOT of gaming-genre fiction (ShadowRun, Cthulhu, Forgotten Realms, Eberron, Dark Sun, Dragonlance, Exalted, Scarred Lands, the oWoD lines, amongst MANY others)...

The line that popped into my mind first was RAVENLOFT. Sure, it was an uneven line, and some of the novels were better than others. But I can't think of a line that captured my imagination quite as much.

The Spelljammer books (Cloakmaster Cycle) is another series I have find memories of; I'm hoping they get ebook editions sometime in my life.

 

[RetroGameView]

Though in none of these cases do the novels play any part in that. Indeed, I've never read any Eberron or Warhammer novels.

I've read a few Warhammer 40k novels and found them to be okay. Some were better than others, but not necessarily my favorite novels. I've really enjoyed the Warhammer Fantasy novels I've read though. Especially those written by William King. He's an excellent author.

The line that popped into my mind first was RAVENLOFT. Sure, it was an uneven line, and some of the novels were better than others. But I can't think of a line that captured my imagination quite as much.

I read the first Ravenloft book and really enjoyed it. I have the second but haven't read it yet.

I wasn't aware there were any Eberron books. My sole experience with the Eberron setting was playing some Dungeons and Dragons Online. I might have to check out the novels sometime.

I wish more roleplaying settings had novels associated with them.

 

[delericho]

I've read a few Warhammer 40k novels and found them to be okay.

Actually, thinking back, I think I may well have read a couple of those novels - but that would have been back in high school, 20+ years ago. Shows how much of an impression they made.

I read the first Ravenloft book and really enjoyed it. I have the second but haven't read it yet.

"I, Strahd" is a pretty decent read. For that matter, so too is the Birthright novel "The Iron Throne".

I wish more roleplaying settings had novels associated with them.

Most of them aren't worth the time, never mind any cost associated with getting them. That said, most of the "Pathfinder Tales" have been decent (except "The Wizard's Mask", which sucks beyond my ability to adequately describe). And the "Vampire: the Victorian Age" trilogy actually turned out to be pretty good.

One thing that I think a lot of settings could benefit from is not so much novels as a really good anthology of short stories - that's a good way to cover a lot of ground quickly. I'm thinking of something like the "Dragonlance Tales" or "Realms of Valor". But good, obviously!

 

[delericho]

The Spelljammer books (Cloakmaster Cycle) is another series I have find memories of; I'm hoping they get ebook editions sometime in my life.

I'd forgotten those. Annoyingly, I never did manage to track down the last volume - I have 1 through 5 on my bookshelf, but never learned how it ended. I did consider using eBay to pick up a copy, but given that I read book 5 some 20 years ago, I'd have to reread them all, and I'm not sure it would be worthwhile - my tastes are not what they were.

 

[Crothian]

I'd forgotten those. Annoyingly, I never did manage to track down the last volume - I have 1 through 5 on my bookshelf, but never learned how it ended. I did consider using eBay to pick up a copy, but given that I read book 5 some 20 years ago, I'd have to reread them all, and I'm not sure it would be worthwhile - my tastes are not what they were.

Book 6 is going to be expensive to buy and a huge disappointment to read. It really was quite bad compared to the first five.

My favorite setting with novels is Thieves World. Sure, the novels came first but only by a little bit.