D&D Iconics Novels, any good?

[kengar]

I'm looking for some light fantasy reading of non-horrible quality. I'm a big "re-reader" of stuff I do like, but I'm trying to find something new to read instead. I was wondering if anyone would care to offer their opinion of the "iconics" books.

For the record, the only "D&D novels" I've read are the Dark Elf & Crystal Shard trilogies; which -IMHO- were really bad. The only reason I read them was I had a player interested in playing a drow. I checked them out of the library and took them on a trip with me.

 

[kengar]

So I guess no one's read them? (*bump*)

Not much of an endorsement

 

[Saba Taru]

Well...

Honestly, if they're the same books I'm thinking of, they are REALLY hit and miss (with more misses than hits). Out of the half dozen or so out, I've only enjoyed one of them (Plague of Ice). To me, they read like the transcript from a gaming session (for the most part and among other things), which annoys me to no end, but YMMV.

Give them a try. You might like them.

 

[kengar]

Re: Well...

Honestly, if they're the same books I'm thinking of, they are REALLY hit and miss (with more misses than hits). Out of the half dozen or so out, I've only enjoyed one of them (Plague of Ice). To me, they read like the transcript from a gaming session (for the most part and among other things), which annoys me to no end, but YMMV.

Give them a try. You might like them.

Actually, it sounds like the kind of thing that would really irritate me. I think I'll pass, but thanks for the info.

(I guess I'll just re-read LOTR & Discworld again )

 

[Silaqui]

The D&D series isn't half bad. I like them all a whole lot and recommend them all.

 

[Vocenoctum]

very hit or miss, because they're all under a pen name.

So, every book is a different author and writing style.

I like the first one the best. The rest have driven me from the series really. There was another one or two good, but I can't recall them. I think Bruce Cordell's was good, I think that was the Monk one.

 

[Doppleganger]

I once had the same interest and I posted the same question here. The general consensus that I got from the replies was that the first book would be okay, and the following ones were not quite as good.

So, I bought and read #1, the Savage Caves. It started out good, Lidda the halfling rogue was portrayed perfectly!! But after you get past that initial thrill, the story was really bland.

My feeling is that it's not worth paying $6 for 150 pages of mediocre quality. But if you're merely considering checking them out of the library, then sure why not check out just the Savage Caves. It's super-short so it'll only take you a couple hours to read the whole dang thing, and then your curiosity will be satisfied once and for all.

 

[Anavel Gato]

I've read a bunch of them and I liked the following:

The Savages Caves mainly because I play Clerics & Paladins, so it was good to see Jozan wasn't just a healer.

The Living Dead was okay. I didn't expect Mialee's character to be like she turned out. Devis was kinda bland for a Bard.


The Oath of Nerul was good. I didn't think I would like it since it was about Ember and I couldn't see how they were going to link her to Nerul, but in the end it was a good story kept me reading. They could have done more with Hennet and his being sorcerer in relation to Nebin. They touch on it, but alot more could be done.

The Bloody Eye was good again Clerics and Paladins. Ydith (or what ever her name is was annoying though)..

City of Fire didn't really see Krusk being so smart. Some good parts in it...leaving party members and the like...

I started Treachery's Wake, and stopped. I really don't like the character choices in this one. Its the third straight one with Krusk. The opening chapter in the city is good if you like Lidda.

In all I would read them. They are short easy reads, but they are expensive for what you are getting. So try buying them from a used book shop or half.com. They are definitely not Dragonlance or Forgotten Realms...

 

[Artimoff]

Is there a list somewhere on which writer wrote what?

I thoiught City of Fire was the best and the Oath of Nerul was the worst.