I'm reading the Forgotten Realms Novels- #33 Once Around the Realms... Gah!!!!

[Goonalan]

That's it really. I've got a list- last count 295 books (although that number may go up) and I've given myself 10 years to get through them. I've looked at a variety of websites (thanks to the fine people here at ENWorld) which tell me what order I should read the books, but... the bugger is getting hold of them so as often supply will dictate the order they get read.

I've bought the first 40 books on the list, so I'm committed.

My reasons- I've been DMing in the Forgotten Realms for I don't know how long (off and on- but a lot more since 5e started), and until this point I've never thought to do any background reading- of course I buy all the Wizards stuff, handbooks and modules et al (for most editions all the way back to AD&D) but I've never really paid attention to the geography, or the history- socio-political or economic, or any of it. Mainly because I've been just dying to DM and get to the action, and adept at making up my own little micro-settings within a variety of already mapped out worlds, but now I'm an old(er) git and with time on my hands and the inclination to find out more.

I'm not going to write reviews- they already exist elsewhere, there are also wonderful collections of online material for the Forgotten Realms- garnered from the novels and the myriad other sourcebooks- it would be pointless to attempt to duplicate any of this. So, feel free to ignore this thread- this is more just a reminder to me- read books, post here- keep going. That kind of thing, obviously the stigma and the shame if I don't make it to the end of the run will haunt me for the rest of my days. Nah! I'll survive, so- I'm giving it a go.

Cheers Goonalan

WARNING!
HERE BE SPOILERS!​

 

[Goonalan]

Books purchased and ready to read, and read so far (with links)-

#001 The Crystal Shard by RA Salvatore (Icewind Dale 1) 2/8/19 to 5/8/19
#002 Streams of Silver by RA Salvatore (Icewind Dale 2) 6/8/19 to 13/8/19
#003 The Halfling's Gem by RA Salvatore (Icewind Dale 3) 13/8/19 to 17/8/19

#004 Darkwalker on Moonshae by Douglas Niles (Moonshae 1) 27/8/19 to 1/9/19
#005 Black Wizards by Douglas Niles (Moonshae 2) 1/9/19 to 6/9/19
#006 Darkwell by Douglas Niles (Moonshae 3) 8/9/19 to 14/9/19

#007 Azure Bonds by Kate Novak & Jeff Grubb (Finder's Stone 1) 15/9/19 to 18/9/19
#008 The Wyvern's Spur by Kate Novak & Jeff Grub (Finder's Stone 2) 18/9/19 to 20/9/19
#009 Song of the Saurials by Kate Novak & Jeff Grub (Finder's Stone 3) 20/9/19 to 22/9/19

#010 Ironhelm by Douglas Niles (Maztica 1) 23/9/19 to 27/9/19
#011 Viperhand by Douglas Niles (Maztica 2) 27/9/19 to 30/9/19
#012 Feathered Dragon by Douglas Niles (Maztica 3) 1/10/19 to 4/10/19

#013 Horselords by David Cook (Empires 1) 5/10/19 to 8/10/19
#014 Dragonwall by Troy Denning (Empires 2) 9/10/19 to 10/10/19
#015 Crusade by James Lowder (Empires 3) 11/10/19 to 14/10/19

#016 Homeland by RA Salvatore (Dark Elf 1) 14/10/19 to 16/10/19
#017 Exile by RA Salvatore (Dark Elf 2) 17/10/19 to 18/10/19
#018 Sojourn by RA Salvatore (Dark Elf 3) 18/10/19 to 21/10/19

#019 Prophet of Moonshae by Douglas Niles (Druidhome 1) 21/10/19 to 24/10/19
#020 The Coral Kingdom by Douglas Niles (Druidhome 2) 25/10/19 to 27/10/19
#021 The Druid Queen by Douglas Niles (Druidhome 3) 27/10/19 to 31/10/19

#022 Pool of Radiance by James M Ward & Jane Cooper Hong (Heroes of Phlan 1) 31/10/19 to 3/11/19
#023 Pools of Darkness by James M Ward & Anne K Brown (Heroes of Phlan 2) 4/11/19 to 8/11/19
#024 Pool of Twilight by James M Ward & Anne K Brown (Heroes of Phlan 3) 8/11/19 to 12/11/19
#025 Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor by Carrie Bebris (Pools of Phlan 4) 13/11/19 to 15/11/19

#026 Realms of Valor Anthology Ed. James Lowder 15/11/19 to 17/11/19

#027 Canticle by RA Salvatore (Cleric 1) 18/11/19 to 19/11/19
#028 In Sylvan Shadows by RA Salvatore (Cleric 2) 20/11/19 to 23/11/19
#029 Night Masks by RA Salvatore (Cleric 3) 23/11/19 to 26/11/19
#030 The Fallen Fortress by RA Salvatore (Cleric 4) 26/11/19 to 27/11/19
#031 The Chaos Curse by RA Salvatore (Cleric 5) 28/11/19 to 30/11/19

#032 Realms of Infamy Anthology Ed. James Lowder 30/11/19 to 3/12/19

#033 Once Around the Realms Guidebook by Brian Thomsen 3/12/19 to 4/12/19

33 books read so far in 125 days.​

#034 The Ogre's Pact by Troy Denning (Twilight Giants 1) 5/12/19 to
#035 The Giant Among Us by Troy Denning (Twilight Giants 2)
#036 The Titan of Twilight by Troy Denning (Twilight Giants 3)

#037 Realms of Magic Anthology Ed. Brian Thomsen & J Robert King

#038 Shadowdale by Scott Ciencin (Avatar 1)
#039 Tantras by Scott Ciencin (Avatar 2)
#040 Waterdeep by Troy Denning (Avatar 3)
#041 Prince of Lies by James Lowder (Avatar 4)
#042 Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad by Troy Denning (Avatar 5)

#043 Shadows of Doom by Ed Greenwood (Shadow of the Avatar 1)
#044 Cloak of Shadows by Ed Greenwood (Shadow of the Avatar 2)
#045 All Shadows Fled by Ed Greenwood (Shadow of the Avatar 3)

#046 The Legacy by RA Salvatore (Legacy of the Drow 1)
#047 Starless Night by RA Salvatore (Legacy of the Drow 2)
#048 Siege of Darkness by RA Salvatore (Legacy of the Drow 3)
#049 Passage to Dawn by RA Salvatore (Legacy of the Drow 4)

#050 Spellfire by Ed Greenwood (Shandrill's Saga 1)

#051 The Parched Sea by Troy Denning (Harpers 1)
#052 Elfshadow by Elaine Cunningham (Harpers 2 + Songs & Swords 1)
#053 Red Magic by Jean Rabe (Harpers 3)
#054 The Night Parade by Scott Ciencin (Harpers 4)
#055 The Ring of Winter by James Lowder (Harpers 5)
#056 Crypt of the Shadowking by Mark Anthony (Harpers 6)
#057 Soldiers of Ice by David Cook (Harpers 7)
#058 Elfsong by Elaine Cunningham (Harpers 8 + Songs & Swords 2)
#059 Crown of Fire by Ed Greenwood (Harpers 9 + Shandrill's Saga 2)
#060 Masquerades by Kate Novak & Jeff Grubb (Harpers 10)
#061 Curse of the Shadowmage by Mark Anthony (Harpers 11)
#062 The Veiled Dragon by Troy Denning (Harpers 12)
#063 Silver Shadows by Elaine Cunningham (Harpers 13 + Songs & Swords 3)
#064 Stormlight by Ed Greenwood (Harpers 14)
#065 Finder's Bane by Kate Novak & Jeff Grubb (Harpers 15 + Lost Gods 1)

#066 Tymora's Luck by Kate Novak & Jeff Grubb (Lost Gods 2)

#066a Rise of the Blade by Charles Alexander Moffatt (Harpers 15a)
#067 Thornhold by Elaine Cunningham (Harpers 16 + Songs & Swords 4)

#068 The Dream Spheres by Elaine Cunningham (Songs & Swords 5)

#069 Hand of Fire by Ed Greenwood (Shandrill's Saga 3)

#070 Elminster: The Making of a Mage by Ed Greenwood (Elminster 1)
#071 Elminster in Myth Drannor by Ed Greenwood (Elminster 2)
#072 The Temptation of Elminster by Ed Greenwood (Elminster 3)
#073 Elminster in Hell by Ed Greenwood (Elminster 4)
#074 Elminster's Daughter by Ed Greenwood (Elminster 5)

#075 King Pinch by David Cook (Nobles 1)
#076 War in Tethyr by Victor Milan (Nobles 2)
#077 Escape from Undermountain by Mark Anthony (Nobles 3)
#078 The Mage in the Iron Mask by Brian Thomsen (Nobles 4)
#079 The Council of Blades by Paul Kidd (Nobles 5)
#080 The Simbul's Gift by Lynn Abbey (Nobles 6)

#081 Daughter of the Drow by Elaine Cunningham (Starlight & Shadows 1)
#082 Tangled Webs by Elaine Cunningham (Starlight & Shadows 2)
#083 Windwalker by Elaine Cunningham (Starlight & Shadows 3)

#084 Murder in Cormyr by Chet Williamson (Mysteries 1)
#085 Murder in Halruaa by Richard Meyers (Mysteries 2)

#086 Realms of the Underdark Anthology Ed. J Robert King

#087 Swordplay by Clayton Emery (Netheril 1)
#088 Dangerous Games by Clayton Emery (Netheril 2)
#087 Mortal Consequences by Clayton Emery (Netheril 3)

#088 Cormyr: A Novel by Ed Greenwood & Jeff Grub (Cormyr 1)
#089 Beyond the High Road by Troy Denning (Cormyr 2)
#090 Death of the Dragon by Ed Greenwood & Troy Denning (Cormyr 3)

#091 Realms of the Arcane Anthology Ed. Brian Thomsen

#092a The Abduction by J Robert King (Double Diamond 1)
#092b The Mercenaries by Ed Greenwood (Double Diamond 2)
#092c The Paladins by James M Ward & David Wise (Double Diamond 3)
#092d Errand of Mercy by Roger E Moore (Double Diamond 4)
#092e An Opportunity for Profit by David Gross (Double Diamond 5)
#092f Conspiracy by J Robert King (Double Diamond 6)
#092g Uneasy Alliance by David Cook & Peter Archer (Double Diamond 7)
#092h Easy Betrayals by Richard Baker (Double Diamond 8)
#092i The Diamond by J Robert King & Ed Greenwood (Double Diamond 9)

#093 The Lost Library of Cormanthyr by Mel Odom (Lost Empires 1)
#094 Faces of Deception by Troy Denning (Lost Empires 2)
#095 Star of Cusrah by Clayton Emery (Lost Empires 3)
#096 The Nether Scroll by Lynn Abbey (Lost Empires 4)

#097 Evermeet: Island of the Elves by Elaine Cunningham

#098 Realms of Mystery Anthology Ed. Philip Athens

#099 The Shadow Stone by Richard Baker

#100 The Silent Blade by RA Salvatore (Paths Darkness 1)
#101 The Spine of the World by RA Salvatore (Paths Darkness 2)
#102 Servant of the Shard by RA Salvatore (Paths Darkness 3)
#103 Sea of Swords by RA Salvatore (Paths Darkness 4)

#104 Rising Tide by Mel Odom (Threat Sea 1)
#105 Under Fallen Stars by Mel Odom (Threat Sea 2)

#106 Realms of the Deep Anthology Ed. Philip Athens (Threat Sea 3)

#107 The Sea Devil's Eye by Mel Odom (Threat Sea 4)

#108 The Glass Prison by Monte Cook

#109 Baldur's Gate by Philip Athens (Baldur's Gate 1)
#110 Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn by Philip Athens (Baldur's Gate 2)
#111 Baldur's Gate II: The Throne of Bhaal by Drew Karpyshyn (Baldur's Gate 3)

#112 Silverfall: Stories of the Seven Sisters by Ed Greenwood

#113 The Magehound by Elaine Cunningham (Counselors & Kings 1)
#114 The Floodgate by Elaine Cunningham (Counselors & Kings 2)
#115 The Wizardwar by Elaine Cunningham (Counselors & Kings 3)

#116 The Halls of Stormweather Ed. Philip Athens (Sembia 1)
#117 Shadow's Witness by Paul S Kemp (Sembia 2)
#118 The Shattered mask by Richard Lee Byers (Sembia 3)
#119 Black Wolf by Dave Gross (Sembia 4)
#120 Heirs of Prophecy by Lisa Smedman (Sembia 5)
#121 Sands of the Soul by Voronica Whitney-Robinson (Sembia 6)
#122 Lord of Stormweather by Dave Gross (Sembia 7)

#123 The City of Ravens by Richard Baker (Cities 1)
#124 Temple Hill by Drew Karpyshyn (Cities 2)
#125 The Jewel of Turmish by Mel Odom (Cities 3)
#126 The City of Splendors: A Waterdeep Novel by Ed Greenwood & Elaine Cunningham (Cities 4)

#127 The Summoning by Troy Denning (Return Archwizards 1)
#128 The Siege by Troy Denning (Return Archwizards 2)
#129 The Sorcerer by Troy Denning (Return Archwizards 3)

#130 Realms of Shadow Anthology Ed. Lizz Baldwin (Return Archwizards 4)

#131 Dissolution by Richard Lee Byers (War Spider Queen 1)
#132 Insurrection by Thomas M Reid (War Spider Queen 2)
#133 Condemnation by Richard Baker (War Spider Queen 3)
#134 Extinction by Lisa Smedman (War Spider Queen 4)
#135 Annihilation by Philip Athens (War Spider Queen 5)
#136 Resurrection by Paul S Kemp (War Spider Queen 6)

#137 The Thousand Orcs by RA Salvatore (Hunter's Blade 1)
#138 The Lone Drow by RA Salvatore (Hunter's Blade 2)
#139 The Two Swords by RA Salvatore (Hunter's Blade 3)

#140 Twilight Falling by Paul S Kemp (Erevis Cale 1)
#141 Dawn of Night by Paul S Kemp (Erevis Cale 2)
#142 Midnight's Mask by Paul S Kemp (Erevis Cale 3)

#143 The Alabaster Staff by Edward Bolme (Rogues 1)
#144 The Black Bouquet by Richard Lee Byers (Rogues 2)
#145 The Crimson Gold by Voronica Whitney-Robinson (Rogues 3)
#146 The Yellow Silk by Don Bassingthwaite (Rogues 4)

Struck through books are the novels I am at present looking for- if you'd like to donate to this worthy cause then feel free to get in touch.

If you spot any howling errors in the suggested order of reading above then feel free to let me know, please however realise that I started out buying the books in the order that they were published. I'm now trying to target some of the earlier trilogies and series and fill in the gaps.

Again, if something looks really wrong then please offer an opinion.

Oh, and inevitably my pace will slow as I go on, although I've nearly broken the back of the first year (17 novels read in the first 2.5 months). I'm aiming to read fifty Forgotten Realms novels every year, but I have however given myself ten years to get them all done. We'll see... as I say quick to start but I know this is a marathon.

Cheers goonalan

 

[Goonalan]

#001 The Crystal Shard by RA Salvatore (Icewind Dale Trilogy Book 1)
Read 2/8/19 to 5/8/19



Yeah, I should have started with the Moonshae Trilogy but... I picked up all three of this series in a charity shop, and after reading this one the idea came about- don't stop here, read the lot, all of the Forgotten Realms novels.

Not a review but... Drizzt is as cool as everyone says, I so wanted to dislike him but alas, I do however now really want to find out how he escaped to the surface- what came before. Thanks Salvatore, first book and I'm hooked. Learned a lot about Icewind Dale and the Ten Towns, also lots of other good stuff about- Barbarians and their honour bound crazy ways, also nice power mad Wizard (being manipulated by the Crystal Shard), and plenty of other good stuff to recommend. Loved Bruenor (I heart Dwarves, what can I say- they're dependable) superb enemy- Errtu (the Balor).

Read!

 

[Blackrat]

Holy Ao! That is one crazy undertaking. I have quite a few of FR books, but I had no idea there were that many. Drizzt, as much as it is a fad to hate him, is by my opinion awesome as well. I should reread those too. The Drow Princess series is one of my favourites also, and then there was sort of ”Sherlock Holmes in Cormyr” novel, but I can’t remember what it was called. I do remember that I liked it a lot though...

EDIT: Murder in Cormyr! And what I referred to as Drow Princess, is apparently Starlight & Shadows in english.

 

[jasper]

SEE SEE THIS is punishment which a waits a paladin who has broken his oath. OR what sin did you could commit in a pass life to deserve this penance. Ok, I should confess I am trying to work through the Complete Oz books.

 

[gyor]

Wow, I knew there were a lot of FR novels, but I didn't know it was that many.

 

[Goonalan]

#002 Streams of Silver by RA Salvatore (Icewind Dale Trilogy Book 2)
Read 6/8/19 to 13/8/19



Book 2- Artemis Entreri is a real bastard, filmic in his brooding menace and disregard for all of humanity. Oddly I seem to have confused D&D Halflings for Tolkien Hobbits, Regis- in the last book and this, is a bit more 3d- fleshed out, less self-sacrifice and all for one. Nice journey down the Sword Coast and around about a bit- didn't like the Harpells (too silly, reminded me of a few too many early homebrew Wizard schools, and for some reason Harry Potter- can't put my finger on it, I think its the mundanity of magic, I somehow thought that magical ability/aptitude as being hard to achieve, and rare, and incredibly difficult to wield and control). The Harpells section made it look mundane, ordinary.

Really liked the finding of clues to the Mithril Hall, and Silverymoon and the Lady Alustriel. Also Sydney is cool, but nowhere near as cool as Bok (I wantsa Golem). Bruenor (of course- he's a Dwarf, Dwarves rock!) saves the day with his sacrifice (leaving the others to do the hard work- kidding). Love the action with Shimmergloom and the Duergar, and the Guenhywvar side plot is really nice- and probably cements the bond between the magical beast and Drizzt. I'm still not sold on Catti-brie and Wulfgar, although I love their magical weapons (bow and hammer), I like a bit of story (plot) to go with my magical weapons/artefacts. Nice set up for the next one... please Bruenor, come on back to us! Now chase the Halfling... and that bad bastard Artemis Entreri, of course.

Read!

 

[Goonalan]

#003 The Halfling's Gem by RA Salvatore (Icewind Dale Trilogy Book 3)
Read 13/8/19 to 17/8/19



Book 3- Lady Alustriel to the rescue- Bruenor lives (YES! Shhh.. I knew he would), meanwhile Drizzt et al race to Calimport- loved the pirate interlude, made me grin out loud with the arrival of Bruenor (& Catti-brie) on their flaming chariot. I've almost forgiven the Harpells. Oh, and wererats- I love a good (bad) lycanthrope (Rassiter), some very nice action in the sewers.

Loved Drizzt's mask, and his inner turmoil- I have to wear a mask to be accepted. I can't just be me. In fact one of the things I have got out of this series is how great magic items can be (in game) which actually makes me want to give fewer of them out in my games- make them rarer, and with a history. Not the potions and spells, they're okay- but wonderous items that are as the name states- truly, wonderous.

Then a spin through Tarterus, and Drizzt saves the day- while Guenhywvar pops back to take care of Pasha Pook (great Thieves' Guild building), meantime the armies have taken back Mithril Hall. All is well with the world... except out there in the shadows Artemis Entreri continues to plot. No doubt, he'll be back with nothing but vengeance in mind, and at any cost.

Not sure about the kissy bit between (unconscious) Catti-brie and Drizzt, is this the start of some awkward love triangle? Kinda odd, but quickly forgotten- lost in all of the action.

Nice work. Read!

 

[JediSoth]

I never liked the relationship between Catti-brie and Wulgar. If it'd been in a movie, I'd say the actors had zero chemistry, but this was a book so... maybe Salvatore just wasn't up to writing a believable romance at that stage in his career.

I still cannot think of the crystal shard without calling it Cren-cinnabon.

 

[Salthorae]

Love this goal! Tymora's luck and Gwaeron's speed guide you.

I have all the books published up to the 4e transition and have read them all. I've kept up with only the Drizzt, Elminster, and the "big transition" books since then like the Sundering series.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

I think it'll start off easy enough, but as the fiction line got longer in the tooth, the quality...meandered. I just read The Ring of Winter not too long ago, and that got to be a slog.

If I recall correctly, the first FR novel I read was Spellfire or Curse of the Azure Bonds.

 

[Mistwell]

That's it really. I've got a list- last count 295 books (although that number may go up) and I've given myself 10 years to get through them. I've looked at a variety of websites (thanks to the fine people here at ENWorld) which tell me what order I should read the books, but... the bugger is getting hold of them so as often supply will dictate the order they get read.

I've bought the first 40 books on the list, so I'm committed.

My reasons- I've been DMing in the Forgotten Realms for I don't know how long (off and on- but a lot more since 5e started), and until this point I've never thought to do any background reading- of course I buy all the Wizards stuff, handbooks and modules et al (for most editions all the way back to AD&D) but I've never really paid attention to the geography, or the history- socio-political or economic, or any of it. Mainly because I've been just dying to DM and get to the action, and adept at making up my own little micro-settings within a variety of already mapped out worlds, but now I'm an old(er) git and with time on my hands and the inclination to find out more.

I'm not going to write reviews- they already exist elsewhere, there are also wonderful collections of online material for the Forgotten Realms- garnered from the novels and the myriad other sourcebooks- it would be pointless to attempt to duplicate any of this. So, feel free to ignore this thread- this is more just a reminder to me- read books, post here- keep going. That kind of thing, obviously the stigma and the shame if I don't make it to the end of the run will haunt me for the rest of my days. Nah! I'll survive, so- I'm giving it a go.

Cheers Goonalan

Would love it if you could pop in here after you complete each book with at least a one sentence review? Or any tidbits you thought helpful for DMing in the Realms? Or an interesting observation?

 

[Alzrius]

You might want to skip Rich Baker's The Shadow Stone. Despite being published as a Forgotten Realms novel, it was originally written for Birthright. But by the time it was set to be released, that campaign setting had been closed down, so Baker went back through and made some quick changes to turn it into an FR novel. Even today, the book makes much more sense if you place it in Cerilia rather than Faerun.

 

[Yaarel]

One summer, I read thru most of the scifi books in the library. (Scifi includes both speculative science and fantasy magic.) It is awesome. The memory of the books kinda start to blur together after a while. But there are lots of vivid experiences that say with me!

 

[Goonalan]

#004 Darkwalker on Moonshae by Douglas Niles (Moonshae Trilogy Book 1)
Read 27/8/19 to 1/9/19



Yeah, this is the one I should have read first- in some ways I'm glad I didn't. Set in the Moonshae Isles (obviously) which is home to the Celtic mythos style Ffolk and the marauding Viking-like Northmen. Our hero is a bit of a... I don't know, and neither does he, that might be the problem. The start of the novel gets my back up for a good long while, awfully contrived and a bit (whisper this) unbelievable- when Tristan meets Daryth (a bit Drizzt lite). Also, what's with the faithful side-kick cats/dogs (Guenhywvar vs Canthus) who had the hound/canine companion first Salvatore or Niles. Pawldo is very Halfling.

The above aside it's a cracking read- Kazgaroth (and his boss) versus the Earthmother, plenty of hot druid action (and even more in the later novels) and the Beast in his many forms. Oh, and you've got to shed a tear when the Leviathan goes under, although secretly I was rather rooting for the Northmen (who doesn't love a Viking?).

Still, I found myself rooting for the bad guys a little too often, the central character/s can be annoying (including Robyn) and this doesn't let up in the proceeding novels- just talk to each, tell him/her how you feel and stop bottling up your teenage style sexual frustration/angsty angst. Cut the moping and the self doubt and we'd have room in the novel for another hefty helping of combat action, and there are some supercool bad guys that'd love another scene.

Read?

 

[Mistwell]

Did you really read all four of these books TODAY?

 

[Xenonnonex]

Your sacrifice is much appreciated.

 

[Tkolhoff]

That's it really. I've got a list- last count 295 books (although that number may go up) and I've given myself 10 years to get through them. I've looked at a variety of websites (thanks to the fine people here at ENWorld) which tell me what order I should read the books, but... the bugger is getting hold of them so as often supply will dictate the order they get read.

I've bought the first 40 books on the list, so I'm committed.

My reasons- I've been DMing in the Forgotten Realms for I don't know how long (off and on- but a lot more since 5e started), and until this point I've never thought to do any background reading- of course I buy all the Wizards stuff, handbooks and modules et al (for most editions all the way back to AD&D) but I've never really paid attention to the geography, or the history- socio-political or economic, or any of it. Mainly because I've been just dying to DM and get to the action, and adept at making up my own little micro-settings within a variety of already mapped out worlds, but now I'm an old(er) git and with time on my hands and the inclination to find out more.

I'm not going to write reviews- they already exist elsewhere, there are also wonderful collections of online material for the Forgotten Realms- garnered from the novels and the myriad other sourcebooks- it would be pointless to attempt to duplicate any of this. So, feel free to ignore this thread- this is more just a reminder to me- read books, post here- keep going. That kind of thing, obviously the stigma and the shame if I don't make it to the end of the run will haunt me for the rest of my days. Nah! I'll survive, so- I'm giving it a go.

Cheers Goonalan

WARNING!
HERE BE SPOILERIvv​

That's it really. I've got a list- last count 295 books (although that number may go up) and I've given myself 10 years to get through them. I've looked at a variety of websites (thanks to the fine people here at ENWorld) which tell me what order I should read the books, but... the bugger is getting hold of them so as often supply will dictate the order they get read.

I've bought the first 40 books on the list, so I'm committed.

My reasons- I've been DMing in the Forgotten Realms for I don't know how long (off and on- but a lot more since 5e started), and until this point I've never thought to do any background reading- of course I buy all the Wizards stuff, handbooks and modules et al (for most editions all the way back to AD&D) but I've never really paid attention to the geography, or the history- socio-political or economic, or any of it. Mainly because I've been just dying to DM and get to the action, and adept at making up my own little micro-settings within a variety of already mapped out worlds, but now I'm an old(er) git and with time on my hands and the inclination to find out more.

I'm not going to write reviews- they already exist elsewhere, there are also wonderful collections of online material for the Forgotten Realms- garnered from the novels and the myriad other sourcebooks- it would be pointless to attempt to duplicate any of this. So, feel free to ignore this thread- this is more just a reminder to me- read books, post here- keep going. That kind of thing, obviously the stigma and the shame if I don't make it to the end of the run will haunt me for the rest of my days. Nah! I'll survive, so- I'm giving it a go.

Cheers Goonalan

WARNING!
HERE BE SPOILERS!​

I've been a FR novels fan from the beginning. I used to buy all the novels but got away from that over the last 10 yrs or so. Currently I have 120 FR novels and have read probably half of them or more.

 

[Stunts]

Assuming you have hard time finding some of the books, you can always get the audiobooks. Audible has the majority of them I do believe. I have also started this journey. I've read all the Drizzt books and have followed them for a long time. I recently decided to read others and have quite enjoyed it.

 

[TheSword]

There are some crackers...

I really liked the Drizzt prequels Homeland, Exile and Sojourn... a really fun trilogy for lovers of the Drow and far better than the Icewind dale books IMHO

The Return of the Archwizards series is great

Also loved the Last Mythal series.

Come to think of it, I was partial to Troy Dennings books set in Cormyr.