D&D Novels

[Tamlyn]

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

Thanks for the recommendation. I've been tempted to pick up some of his stuff for a while but always put it back. I've been burned too many times in the past by blindly picking up unknown authors.

 

[Dragonhelm]

Dragonlance has a number of great novels. The Chronicles and Legends trilogies make up the heart of Dragonlance, and it continues from there.

We have a complete list of Dragonlance novels over at the Dragonlance Nexus.

 

[Alzrius]

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.

The Icewind Dale trilogy was published first, but as someone who started the Drizzt series by reading the chronologically-first Dark Elf trilogy, I'd recommend beginning with those books. They form a solid basis for who Drizzt is and how he got where he is when the Icewind Dale books start.

Begin at the beginning.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

...where should I start?

With some other non-formulaic story. Even if you're a teen, there are lots of better novels to read than anything with the D&D logo. Except maybe the Weis & Hickman Dragonlance novels; I still remember those fondly, but I suspect that's just nostalgia speaking.

Anyway, I know your query is about D&D novels, but if you want something that you'll still remember in five years, give George RR Martin's 'A Game of Thrones' a read. Or Robert Jordan's 'The Eye of the World.' Or Harry Potter, if you're into light reading.

 

[AngryMojo]

Dragonlance has a number of great novels. The Chronicles and Legends trilogies make up the heart of Dragonlance, and it continues from there.

We have a complete list of Dragonlance novels over at the Dragonlance Nexus.

I'll second this. Although Dragonlance isn't around in RPG form right now, the novels are still great. Anything by Weis and Hickman gets my seal of approval. I've also been a fan of the Keith Baker Eberron novels.

I'm thinking about picking up the new Kemp FR omnibus that's out, the Everis Cale trilogy or something like that. Any reviews?

 

[Starman]

I'll second this. Although Dragonlance isn't around in RPG form right now, the novels are still great. Anything by Weis and Hickman gets my seal of approval.

I agree for the most part. I was very disappointed with the War of Souls trilogy. Dragons of Summer Flame was okay, but not near as bad. None of the DL books they've done top the Chronicles and Legends trilogies.

 

[Desdichado]

Is it too late to recommend that you not read any D&D novels? Yeah, probably so.

I still keep copies around of the original Dragonlance Trilogy and the original Salvatore Icewind Dale trilogy. They're not bad. I've also picked up some newer stuff, like Paul S. Kemp's Twilight War trilogy (not bad) a handful of decent Eberron novels, some Don Bassingthwaite books (which I still haven't read yet) and a few others.

If you don't mind unofficial D&D novels, Raymond Feist's Riftwar books, and Simon R. Green's Hawk & Fisher novels feel very much like D&D novels that just don't happen to be licensed. They're pretty good. Some of the Warhammer fiction by Black Library also has a similar feel and is not bad. I recently read the Matthias Thulmann Witch Hunter series (in omnibus format) and it was amongst the best licensed fiction I've read. I've heard even better reports about the Eisenhorn trilogy (which I also have in omnibus format) but that's futuristic, not fantasy.

 

[Camelot]

Of course I don't mind unofficial D&D books! I just want to read more fantasy, and I thought that D&D was a good place to start. I definitely want to hear about other fantasy books too! Thanks, everyone!

 

[Dire Bare]

With some other non-formulaic story. Even if you're a teen, there are lots of better novels to read than anything with the D&D logo. Except maybe the Weis & Hickman Dragonlance novels; I still remember those fondly, but I suspect that's just nostalgia speaking.

Anyway, I know your query is about D&D novels, but if you want something that you'll still remember in five years, give George RR Martin's 'A Game of Thrones' a read. Or Robert Jordan's 'The Eye of the World.' Or Harry Potter, if you're into light reading.

Is it too late to recommend that you not read any D&D novels? Yeah, probably so.

I still keep copies around of the original Dragonlance Trilogy and the original Salvatore Icewind Dale trilogy. They're not bad. I've also picked up some newer stuff, like Paul S. Kemp's Twilight War trilogy (not bad) a handful of decent Eberron novels, some Don Bassingthwaite books (which I still haven't read yet) and a few others.

If you don't mind unofficial D&D novels, Raymond Feist's Riftwar books, and Simon R. Green's Hawk & Fisher novels feel very much like D&D novels that just don't happen to be licensed. They're pretty good. Some of the Warhammer fiction by Black Library also has a similar feel and is not bad. I recently read the Matthias Thulmann Witch Hunter series (in omnibus format) and it was amongst the best licensed fiction I've read. I've heard even better reports about the Eisenhorn trilogy (which I also have in omnibus format) but that's futuristic, not fantasy.

Wow. Can't disagree more.

 

[fanboy2000]

I sugest you read Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and The Gray Mouser books. IIRC, Dark Horse just republished the series. The first book is Swords and Deviltry. The books are collections of short stories originally published in magazines, so they have a very different feel them than modern fantasy.