is there such thing as a good FR novel?

[darkbard]

hi folks. when the FRCS came out i was enchanted with the flavor and history of the setting. this was a far cry from my reaction to FR products in past incarnations of the game. however, the novels published by WotC are sorely lacking in the quality of writing for which the setting begs. i've tried picking up one of the salvatore novels but couldn't get past the first few chapters for the poor writing (sorry salvatore fans, i know you're legion but i just don's see it). so here's my question: are there any well-written, engaging FR novels out there. where both the plot and writing inspire. i'm not looking for tolkien here (wouldn't that be great!), but perhaps the level of j. gregory keyes, thomas harlan, etc. thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Kaptain_Kantrip]

Nope. The FR novels don't get any better than Spellfire or Curse of the Azure Bonds, and don't get me started on how bad those R.A. Salvatore books are... *sigh*

 

[The Allamistako]

Agreed. I liked the Legacy, but that was because I read it when I was sick, and had nothing else to read.

The only good TSR novel I ever read was "I, Strahd", and that was a nice Dracula rip-off...

-Alla

 

[darkbard]

sigh. this is depressing. well, at least all those aspiring fantasy writers out there now have a place to start....

 

[Kaptain_Kantrip]

sigh. this is depressing. well, at least all those aspiring fantasy writers out there now have a place to start....

...and end their careers, LOL!

 

[Tsyr]

Try "The Cleric Quintet" series by R.A.Salvator. I know some people just love to hate the guy, but the series is actualy pretty good. Actualy, salvator's last Drizzt book wasn't half bad.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I am so glad someone else thinks they are bad! Oh, don't get me wrong, they are readable but that is about it.

 

[S'mon]

I am so glad someone else thinks they are bad! Oh, don't get me wrong, they are readable but that is about it.

I thought RAS's very first, The Crystal Shard, was pretty good in a simple sort of way. It predated the TSR Ethics Code, which helped. Then they went a long way downhill very fast.

 

[Wolfspirit]

Try the Elf Sword Series by Elaine Cunningham (sp? I'm REALLY tired ). It's been pretty cool so far. They Sybul's Gift was pretty cool too.

Other than that... umm... You've got those Drizzt books, right?

 

[NiTessine]

Actually, the good FR novels outnumber the bad ones.
R.A. Salvatore's Dark Elf and Icewind Dale trilogies are excellent, with Homeland claiming prize as the best FR book I've ever read. Cleric Quintet was also very entertaining.

Elaine Cunningham is also a very good author. I've read her every FR book, and they were all interesting and captivating.

The Sembia series. This is a new series, with a number of different authors. All the books that've come out thus far have been excellent. Paul S. Kemp, especially, is someone I predict will be very popular soon.

The Realms of... anthologies. As with all short story collections, the quality varies wildly, but the balance is towards the good.

The Cormyr saga. Cormyr: A Novel was good. Beyond the High Road wasn't that good, but since it was Troy Denning's, that was to be expected. Death of the Dragon was excellent.

And that's just the beginning... Then there are the Threat From the Sea trilogy, the Elminster books, some upcoming works I am looking forward to, like Richard Lee Byers' War of the Spider Queen series.