FR Novels-Which ones are good?

[Raesene Andu]

I've read most of the FR novels over the years (and still own copies of most). They are good light reading, something start and finish in a single day and with the exception of Ed Greenwood's novel I've enjoyed most of them.

My current presonal favourite would be Shadow Stone by Rich Baker (although that couldn't really be consider a FR novel, as it was original a Birthright novel and was converted after the BR setting was dropped by WotC).

I'd agree that none are particularly great literature, but most of the book that are consider of great literary value had to have been written at least 50 years ago.

 

[KChagga]

Well, thanks to those who gave constructive answers(you know who you are) and a big to those who just said negative things. Remember I said recommendations. If you think all of these forgotten realms suck then thanks thats an opinion not a recommendation.
Guess what I know these aren't GREAT literature. I have 3 bookcases full of books I've read mind you I said cases not shelves.
Books like these are a guilty pleasure. Let me use an analogy. You could watch a great movie like Citizen Kane or you could watch an episode of BayWatch, both have their own enjoyable moments. Light literature is like the latter. Quick and fun when done right.

 

[Richards]

Yeah, I had forgotten about the Sembia series. I've read Black Wolf and The Shattered Mask, in that order - I think they are the third and second books in the series, respectively; now I'll have to hunt down the first book. Anybody recall the name of it?

In any case, they were both a good read.

Johnathan

 

[Dalin the Monk]

I enjoyed the Salvatore books.... I also liked The Parched Sea, the Empire trilogy and the Avatar trilogy.

 

[The Dungeon Nazi]

Well, thanks to those who gave constructive answers(you know who you are) and a big to those who just said negative things. Remember I said recommendations. If you think all of these forgotten realms suck then thanks thats an opinion not a recommendation.
Guess what I know these aren't GREAT literature. I have 3 bookcases full of books I've read mind you I said cases not shelves.
Books like these are a guilty pleasure. Let me use an analogy. You could watch a great movie like Citizen Kane or you could watch an episode of BayWatch, both have their own enjoyable moments. Light literature is like the latter. Quick and fun when done right.

I don't think it's possible to go wrong with the Greenwood books.

I just reread your initial post, and noticed that you still need to check out The Temptation of Elminster. Definitely good stuff, but my personal favorite has to be Elminster in Hell. My highest recommendation is to read that another couple of times.

You also need to trudge through the Icewind Dale trilogy, which isn't entirely bad, but a little slow. After that, read through the Legacy of the Drow series and the Paths of Darkness books -- while they're all books you'll definitely enjoy, Servant of the Shard is alone worth the trip, as it features Jarlaxle's swashbuckling scene, and there are numerous just plain awesome scenes where Artemis and Jarlaxle take down all opposition with extreme prejudice.

Great stuff.

But like I said before, the Shadows of the Avatar trilogy should be at the top of your list. The added bonus here is the scene featuring the appearance of Tempus' battle avatar during the Time of Troubles. The Malaugrym also make an appearance here (I wasn't familiar with their novel exploits until I saw one at the end of The Making of a Mage), and I can't get enough of those bad boys.

 

[CrusaderX]

I can't really recommend any FR book, and I've tried a bunch of them. Even the so-called "best" of the Realms authors, such as Salvatore and Cunningham, are extremely weak IMO. Yes, they're even too weak for the "guilty pleasures" catagory.

Now if you want to talk guilty pleasures, pick up Paul Kidd's Greyhawk books. Kidd will provide you with more guilty fun in a few chapters than Salvatore or Cunningham ever will.

 

[NiTessine]

Most of the D&D novels are at least readable. Notable exceptions to this are Troy Dennings, Brian Thomsen and Philip Athans, who I dislike.

R. A. Salvatore, Elaine Cunningham, Paul S. Kemp and Ed Greenwood are the best of the bunch, in that order. Paul Kidd's Greyhawk novels are very funny, but don't capture the D&D feel quite as well.

The Cormyr Saga is worth reading. Especially the first one, Cormyr: A Novel, was exceptionally good.

The Sembia series is another very good one. Especially the second, Shadow's Witness by Paul S. Kemp, was bordering on high literature.

The Realms of... series of short story anthologies are all pretty interesting. There are a few bad stories in there, but plenty of good ones to make up for it. My personal favourite of these is Realms of Mystery.

 

[PaulKemp]

R. A. Salvatore, Elaine Cunningham, Paul S. Kemp and Ed Greenwood are the best of the bunch, in that order. Paul Kidd's Greyhawk novels are very funny, but don't capture the D&D feel quite as well.

The Sembia series is another very good one. Especially the second, Shadow's Witness by Paul S. Kemp, was bordering on high literature.

I appreciate the good words, NiTessine. Thanks.

I'm always surprised by how quickly readers dismiss RPG fiction as poorly written -- and often on the basis of a fairly small sample of books they've read. It's nice to see someone stand-up for them. While I'm forced to admit that some RPG fiction is bad, I'm also forced to acknowledge that much of it is good. Quite good, IMO. When I consider non-RPG fantasy fiction, I notice the same division -- some is bad (very bad, in some cases), while much is good. Yet no one readily dismisses non-RPG fantasy fiction in quite the same way. Ah well.

At the end of the day, I suppose all I can do is write the best story I can and try to win some people over.

BTW, lots of Cale stories on the horizon. A short story in the July issue of Dragon, and a trilogy starting next year (entitled, "The Erevis Cale Trilogy," appropriately enough).

Paul

 

[Eridanis]

Color me a fan of Elaine Cunningham, and allow me to a give a more guarded recommendation for Greenwood. Not to reiterate the points made above, but Salvatore, Weis&Hickman, Denning <shudder> and Niles are great books for a young teenagers, and perhaps not so interesting for older readers.

Of course, I assume you've read other authors before you get to these guys, anyway. I usually stump for Julian May, Steven Brust, Connie Willis, Neil Gaiman, Glen Cook, and a few others when asked for recommendations on these and other boards. But sticking strictly to FR, Cunningham and Greenwood are the only ones I'd recommend to you, and only Cunningham to someone who is not a gamer.