Forgotten Realms novels

[Oni]

I haven't really read all that much in the way of FR novels, the only one until recently that really stands out in my mind was Greenwood's Elminster: Making of a Mage, and only because of how outstandingly bad it was. However I started reading the Return of the Archwizards Trilogy just because I think the Shadovar are the coolest things in FR. They have been full of fun, pulpy goodness, I've enjoyed them and thats what counts ultimately (to me anyway). I can't wait for the last one to come out (sadly I'll have to wait until at least november). To tide me over I picked up Realms of Shadow the anthology book tied into the Return of the Archwizards, there were a couple of good stories but there were also some not so good stories, and it really doesn't shed any additional light on the events from the regular series and in fact conflicts with it on several points if I remember correctly. (Also note that the Return of the Archwizards conflicts somewhat with information given in Lords of Darkness about the Shades, but I prefer Troy Denning's version a little more.)

 

[EricNoah]

You might want to take a peek at this page

http://www.wizards.com/books/main.asp?x=forgottenrealms/articles/novellist,1&b=forgottenrealms

It helps you find novels that have historical/uberplot importance vs. those that are more local in scope.

 

[Glamdring]

You started with the Avatar Trilogy. It's good you get them outta the way, because they're terrible.

If you're trying to read FR for enjoyment only, then do yourself a favor and stick to Greenwood.

The sites and suggestions of before should help you just fine.

 

[EricNoah]

As there's no accounting for taste, let me add...

I enjoyed the first of the Dark Elf trilogy, but not the second two. But you kinda need all three for that one to work.

I've enjoyed some of the short story anthologies for the purposes of getting FR flavor.

I enjoyed some of Elaine Cunningham's books, particularly the ones set in / around Waterdeep.

I have not been able to get through any book by Greenwood or Denning.

I found the Harpers series, overall, to be a pretty good read and given that you can pick and choose (because they're stand-alone tales) that might be a good way to go for some flavor.

I'd read just the cliff notes of the Avatar stuff to get the overall picture of what happened during the Time of Troubles.

I will probably take a look at the new drow series. I just like drow, ok?

 

[qstor]

I liked the avatar trilogy actually. And I really enjoy the Finders Stone series by Jeff Grubb. Those are my favorite 3 novel. I have to agree with Eric about Greenwoods prose, while he might be a good game fluff writers, he's a horrible novelist.

I enjoyed the Death of the Dragon and Cormyr a Novel both of which I think Greenwood had less a hand in writing and added more to the plot.

The Dark Elf series is good too. I have the new drow novel which is pretty good, but I missed some of the later drow novels so I'm not 100% up on all the characters in the Underdark.

Mike

 

[Chromnos]

What I want to know is when is game fiction going to live up to real fiction? Why can't writers within this genre reach the level of a Tolkien, a Robert Jordan, a Fritz Lieber, or a Stephen Brust. Many of the above authors gamed and wrote fantasy inspired by thier games. So why does a good amount of game fiction really suck?

The original Dragon Lance series was (in my opinion) decent but didn't approach the level of fantasy written outside of game fiction.

My feeling, is that game fiction writers tend to make their fiction too game-like. There are some basic elements of story telling that many of these novels fail to even approach. Or perhaps it's because not all people who write good games make good fantasy writers. I guess a part of the issue could also be ownership. They're writing within a setting and according to a set of prescribed rules and guidelines that are not of their own crafting.


Alot of it's good for a bubble gum read. But me, I'd like to see some depth and, hell, some risk taking!

That subject, in and of itself, is worth at least a thread or two.

-C

 

[Numion]

Although the Dark Elf Trilogy is Salvatores best, it might not be best for getting a 'feel' of the realms, since it happens underground in the first 2 books. It could give a good feel of the underdark, but not the whole realms.

His first trilogy (Crystal Shard, Streams of Silver and Halflings Gem) gives a better tour of the realms. I especially liked Salvatores picture of the Icewind Dale.

 

[mkarol]

3e, namely the FRCS, inspired me to get to know the Realms better also, so I started to read the novels also in a ‘flavorful’ way:

Icewind Dale Trilogy: Okay, but feels like reading a transcript of a mega D&D session.

Darkelf Trilogy: Really enjoyed this; felt D&Dish (2e), but still original or provocative.

Avatar Trilogy: <achem> well, at times it was passable, but in general not so hot. At times I had to pull my hair out to get through parts, the worst being the last paragraph of the last book. Shoot me.

Now I am reading _Elminster: Making…_ and the first few pages I liked a lot… very flavorful in the FR sense, but the book has gotten pretty, um, rag-tag I guess…. More random than anything; But it is Elminster (well, sorta) and you have to expect this being walking around just doing things without reason or repercussion.


As for why D&D books are not as good as “standard” fantasy fiction; I think it is because the authors start with two feet in the hole so to speak. They loose creativity because they are writing not only about someone elses world/history/gods/events, but also because someone else wrote the _rules_ for how things work.

How many times have you, while reading a D&D book (whether it is in the Realms, Dragon Lance, Dark Sun, Greyhawk, wherever…) said “A rouge can’t use a Long-sword! (2e)” or “a week in the Realms is 10days not 7!”? The authors know they have to work in aspects of what the readers expect although the author may not be comfortable writing about it.

 

[Valdier]

My least favorite FR books:

-Anything by Troy Denning except The Parched Sea
-Evermeet
-Daughter of the Drow
-RAS's last trilogy (can't remember the names of the books, but they involve battles between Menzoberranzan and Mithril Hall)

I have to agree here about the parched sea... that was possibly one of my favorite books I have ever read... that is saying a lot imo. I don't know why but Denning really caught me with it, a masterpiece

 

[dreamthief]

What I want to know is when is game fiction going to live up to real fiction? Why can't writers within this genre reach the level of a Tolkien, a Robert Jordan, a Fritz Lieber, or a Stephen Brust. Many of the above authors gamed and wrote fantasy inspired by thier games. So why does a good amount of game fiction really suck?

The original Dragon Lance series was (in my opinion) decent but didn't approach the level of fantasy written outside of game fiction.

My feeling, is that game fiction writers tend to make their fiction too game-like. There are some basic elements of story telling that many of these novels fail to even approach. Or perhaps it's because not all people who write good games make good fantasy writers. I guess a part of the issue could also be ownership. They're writing within a setting and according to a set of prescribed rules and guidelines that are not of their own crafting.


Alot of it's good for a bubble gum read. But me, I'd like to see some depth and, hell, some risk taking!

That subject, in and of itself, is worth at least a thread or two.

-C

I think it's because for gaming fiction, there's a rigid set of guidelines as to how it's written and the universe that it's set in. Many great fantasy novels dazzle us with the world they create, and there's not much room for creativity when you're writing in a game world which has pretty much been mapped out.