The Best Novels?

[Nebulous]

I haven't read a book from WotC in many years. I think the last was a Drizzt novel, maybe Endless Night, however long ago that was. I read part of a Weiss/Hickman book but didn't fully get into it. I was sort of wanting a good, light fantasy read D&D style, and i don't want to wade through the mountain of bad books i know are out there to find a few gems.

SO, i turn to Enworld, to post your opinions on what you feel are the very best books and series to come from Wizards. Any genre, any setting. I've read (and enjoyed) all the early Salvatore stuff, but i doubt i care to read anymore about Drizzt. I just noticed that a new DL book is out that features the original crew, as well as a 5-author coffee table book about dragons.

I would add a poll to this, but it would take too long to research every series available from the past 10 years and compile them.

 

[diaglo]

for pulp fantasy try the Forgotten Realms books. they ain't great literature. but they do the job of escapism well enough. as long as you don't spend time trying to analyse the rules of the game while reading them.


for kids i suggest any of the 2000ed D&D line by a multitude of authors like TH Lain aka Bruce Cordell... but they definitely aren't adult material. way too simple plot wise.


the Dragonlance novels of long ago are okay for preteens or early teens, but they have too much preachy bullstuff for anyone over the age of 14.

 

[Mouseferatu]

A few years ago, WotC published a series of novels loosely based on some of the classic modules. I recommend the three written by Paul Kidd: White Pume Mountain, Descent into the Depths of the Earth, and Queen of the Demonweb Pits. They're a lot of fun and they're quick reads.

 

[Eridanis]

I second the recommendation for Paul Kidd's novels. Good reads that don't make you feel guilty about reading a gaming novel.

And I'll bop this over to the fiction forum...

 

[Squire James]

I gotta mention that "Queen of the Demonweb Pits" was a good demonstration of why the Grease spell now allows a saving throw...

 

[jonesy]

I have no idea what preachy bullstuff diaglo has been reading, but since he says long ago I'm assuming it's the old prequel books.

Aanyway, if you can somehow find it, get your hands on Lord Toede. It's the funniest DnD novel I ever read.

For an excellent series on wizards try the Defenders of Magic.

And finally the Taladas trilogy (which is on book two now) is very good.

None of those require you to have read any other DL books and stand on their own feet very well.

 

[Nebulous]

Ok, i found copies of Paul Kidd's novels on Amazon. Interestingly, the first one, White Plume Mountain, was available for no cheaper than $10. But all the reviews were rather positive, and someone mentioned that it should be snatched up before it is extremely hard to find, like Gygax's early Gord novels. Those are treasures in my collection, so i heeded the reviewers advice.

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

Through 2000 or so, I had read ALL of the TSR/WoTC D&D Novels (Dragonlance, Dark Sun, Al-Qadium, Ravenloft, Birthright, etc).

I now only pick up the FR books (Still my favorite published setting).

Overall, most of these novels are average, with a lot of stinkers and a few gems scattered about.

Of all those that I read. Legend of Huma for Dragonlance still stands out as my favorite.

Plus, unlike Drizzt or the Companions of the Lance, it's a self-contained novel. No volume after volume of sequels & prequels to read.

And, I think it's still in print.

 

[carrot]

Well there was the sequel "Kaz the Minotaur". Come to think of it, that was pretty good too.

 

[Wombat]

I read a couple of them, utterly forgot the titles. They were entirely forgettable, much like most fiction, genre or otherwise. Sure, there are memorable fantasy novels (Lord of the Rings, Earthsea, The Once & Future King), but the WotC books are what they are -- pulp. They are quickly written on a contract basis to fit a production schedule, rather than any literary level.

They are okay for downtime reading, but if I want a light read, I'll head for Jim Butcher quicker.