[FRCS] I need some book advice

[~Joseph~]

Ok, I really want to start reading some the forgotten realms books to better familiarize my self with the setting, but I'm not sure where to start. What books should I read? I already have the Dark Elf Trilogy and I've read the first two Elminster books and the first in the Avitar Crisis series. I'm extra intreested in good books about the "Time of Troubles" or any other major catastrofic, realms shaping event.

Thanx for the trouble

 

[Alzrius]

By the "Avatar Crisis" series, do you mean the Shadow of the Avatar trilogy, or just the Avatar trilogy?

The Avatar trilogy (Shadowdale, Tantras, and Waterdeep) is the actual three novel set describing the Time of Troubles and how it came about and ended. Its the defining "shake-up" of the Realms.

The Shadow of the Avatar trilogy (Shadows of Doom, Cloak of Shadows, and All Shadows Fled) is the trilogy describing what the "movers and shakers" of the Realms, such as Elminster, Khelben, the Seven Sisters and the like, were doing during the Time of Troubles.

Other good books for major events in the Realms are Prince of Lies the sequel to the Avatar trilogy ten years after the fact, and its own sequel Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad three years after that.

Shortly after that but not directly related is the Cormyr trilogy (Cormyr: A Novel, Beyond the High Road, and Death of a Dragon). These events detail the largest and most powerful country in Faerun, and the events that rock it to its core.

An even more recent, big shake up in the Realms is detailed in the Return of the Archwizards trilogy (The Summoning, The Siege, and The Sorcerer), wherein an ancient force returns to Faerun, and an even older evil is released.

Of course, there are many more books than these, many of which have a large impact on the Realms, but you can't go wrong with the ones mentioned here. Good luck and good reading!

 

[Sniktch]

I'd also suggest Elaine Cunningham's 'Songs & Swords' quintet. Thann is the man! Plus, you'll get a get look at the workings in Waterdeep.

 

[Malessa]

I'd have to recommend a lot of the earlier series. As previously mentioned, the Avatar trilogy IS about the Time of Troubles.

Other great world-shaping events take place in the Moonshae trilogy, as well as the Maztica trilogy... although they are, admittedly, off of the main continent. Regardless, the stories are amazingly written, and give you a good feel of the Forgotten Realms. The chase through the Trollmoors is still one of my favorite, edge-of-you-seat reading experience, and I read it more than 10 years ago.

Before you get too deep into the Dark Elf stuff, read the Icewind Dale trilogy.

 

[Mr Fidgit]

some great advice here

but if you're looking for some non-'world-shaping' books, i'd recommend the Harpers series of books. there are some really great tales of people and places from all over the Realms

 

[Alzrius]

Before you get too deep into the Dark Elf stuff, read the Icewind Dale trilogy.

Actually, thats exactly what you don't want to do. Although the Icewind Dale trilogy was published first, the Dark Elf trilogy occurs first chronologically speaking. If you want to read about the character from straight beginning to end, read the Dark Elf trilogy (Homeland, Exile, and Sojourn) first, and then the Icewind Dale trilogy (The Crystal Shard, Streams of Silver, and The Halfling's Gem).

 

[blackshirt5]

I can't remember the exact name of it, but the Drizzt book set during the Time of Troubles was a really great read(actually, the whole series was. I oughta get em from the public library again). Anybody wanna help out the original poster by giving him the names of the books in that series(it'd also help me out too, if that's incentive )

 

[Alzrius]

The entire Drizzt series thus far (not counting short stories and cameo appearances) in chronological order:

Homeland
Exile
Sojourn
The Crystal Shard
Streams of Silver
The Halfling's Gem
The Legacy
Starless Night
Siege of Darkness
Passage to Dawn
The Silent Blade
The Spine of the World
Servant of the Shard
Sea of Swords
The Thousand Orcs

Blackshirt 5, the novel you're referring to, the one set during the Time of Troubles, is Siege of Darkness.

 

[blackshirt5]

OK, what were the other books in that series? I know Starless Night was one of em, correct?

 

[Alzrius]

OK, what were the other books in that series? I know Starless Night was one of em, correct?

What series, exactly, are you referring to? Siege of Darkness is the only one set during the Time of Troubles (in fact, the entire Time of Troubles doesn't even take up the entirety of the book!). The Legacy, Starless Night, Siege of Darkness, and Passage to Dawn are collectively called the Legacy of the Drow series, if that helps.