Which Poul Anderson novels do you recommend?

[johnsemlak]

I was browsing a used book store and wanted to pick up a novel or two by this author. I haven't read him at all, and was surprised by the amount of titles. For D&D-esqe type fantasy, what would be the best to choose?

On a separate note, the same bookshop had a bunch of Rose Estes novels. Now, I've heard really AWFUL things about these novels, so I doubt I"ll pick them up. Still, are they at all interesting for Greyhawk nostalgia?

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Three Hearts and Three Lions (See if you recognize the trolls!)
The Broken Sword (Drow as they should be.)
The Merman's Children

I also enjoyed his Nicholas vanRijn series (the Man who counts in particular), but was not much excited by his Flandry series.

And if you can find his essay "On Thud and Blunder" you will likely enjoy it.

The Hoka series with Gordon Dickson is also fun. (Dickson and Anderson were both in the SCA.)

The Auld Grump

 

[PaulKemp]

Three Hearts and Three Lions (See if you recognize the trolls!)
The Broken Sword (Drow as they should be.)
The Merman's Children

I also enjoyed his Nicholas vanRijn series (the Man who counts in particular), but was not much excited by his Flandry series.

And if you can find his essay "On Thud and Blunder" you will likely enjoy it.

The Hoka series with Gordon Dickson is also fun. (Dickson and Anderson were both in the SCA.)

The Auld Grump

Second the nod for The Broken Sword and Three Hearts and Three Lions. Wonderful books.

I do not believe the Estes Greyhawk novels would hold much appeal for lovers of the setting.

Paul

 

[diaglo]

I was browsing a used book store and wanted to pick up a novel or two by this author. I haven't read him at all, and was surprised by the amount of titles. For D&D-esqe type fantasy, what would be the best to choose?

open up your 1edADnD DMG 1979 revised....


Three Hearts and Three Lions and The Broken Sword are good bets. OD&D gnolls come from the breeding of Trolls and Gnomes.... no they weren't the dog men they are today.

On a separate note, the same bookshop had a bunch of Rose Estes novels. Now, I've heard really AWFUL things about these novels, so I doubt I"ll pick them up. Still, are they at all interesting for Greyhawk nostalgia?

nothing interesting at all in them concerning Greyhawk. D&D on a kid's reading level maybe.. but not Greyhawk material. they use names and places from Greyhack. but that doesn't make them Greyhawk.

kinda like calling d02 material put out by WotC... D&D... it just ain't the same.

 

[johnsemlak]

open up your 1edADnD DMG 1979 revised....


Three Hearts and Three Lions and The Broken Sword are good bets. OD&D gnolls come from the breeding of Trolls and Gnomes.... no they weren't the dog men they are today.

Rats. My 1eDMG is on another continent. Thanks for the tips. I remember the D&D Basic Set also recommended good titles.

nothing interesting at all in them concerning Greyhawk. D&D on a kid's reading level maybe.. but not Greyhawk material. they use names and places from Greyhack. but that doesn't make them Greyhawk.

kinda like calling d02 material put out by WotC... D&D... it just ain't the same.

Yeah, I'll give them a pass. Thanks

 

[Wombat]

Good suggestions

To this I would add The Armies of Elfland (if only for The Queen of Air & Darkness!)

 

[replicant2]

You can't go wrong with The Broken Sword. For my money it's among the best fantasy novels ever written.

That said, I found Three Hearts and Three Lions a bit disappointing. Much, much better were Hrolf Kraki's Saga and War of the Gods.

Poul Anderson is best known for sci-fi, but his first love was fantasy, particularly the norse sagas. The sci-fi market was far more lucrative back when he was writing in the 50's and 60's, however, so his fantasy unfortunately had to take a back seat.

If you like grim, gritty stories of revenge and warfare and valor and dark magic, you'll love those two books.

 

[Templetroll]

You can't go wrong with The Broken Sword. For my money it's among the best fantasy novels ever written.

That said, I found Three Hearts and Three Lions a bit disappointing. Much, much better were Hrolf Kraki's Saga and War of the Gods.

Poul Anderson is best known for sci-fi, but his first love was fantasy, particularly the norse sagas. The sci-fi market was far more lucrative back when he was writing in the 50's and 60's, however, so his fantasy unfortunately had to take a back seat.

If you like grim, gritty stories of revenge and warfare and valor and dark magic, you'll love those two books.

I agree about Broken Sword and Hrolf Kraki's Saga; I thought Three Hearts and Three Lions was good also. Fine reads, great fun and he does do trolls well!