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Post by Tesla Ranger on Feb 9, 2016 21:11:29 GMT
Well, not to "Forgotten Realms" per se, but at least to the books. I listen to a lot of audiobooks while I'm stitching/hammering/carving away at work and I just finished a good, long run of sci-fish works. I've been feeling like taking a stroll through the more swordly side of speculative fiction and was thinking I'd finally poke my head into RA Salvator's monolithic lexicon. My difficulty is that I have absolutely no idea where to start. Audible has 84 books by Mr. Salvatore and I presume most of them feature Drizzt in some way or another. Even better, our local library has 26 audiobooks, most of which (below) seem related to D&D. Can ya'll help me out by recommending where to start on all this? The books from the library will be prefered but I can come back to them later if something else is a better starting point. |
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Post by Vulash on Feb 9, 2016 21:31:46 GMT
I haven't read any of the new stuff but I'll make some recommendations. First I'll say this: They tend to have some type of cataclysmic event each time there is a new D&D edition to account for different magic systems, etc. Some of those are pretty decent, but the world changes. Also, the realms are so big that even as you jump in there are going to be lands you wont' even hear about.
If you want to get into the Drizzt books start with the Dark Elf trilogy. Book 1 is Homeland. Book 2 is Sojourn, and Book 3 is Exile. Those are the first chronologically. He actually wrote another trilogy first, but they're not as well written and more generic. Also I think getting the background of Drizzt first is the best order to read them in.
Another series I really liked was the Cormyr saga. Book one is Cormyr. The first book is more of a collection of short stories tied together by a narrative that picks up more in books 2 and 3. They were good though.
If you read Elminster, the making of a mage - you'll get a look into the early life of the most powerful wizard in the realms (and maybe D&D). Because of the way it's written you'll get a good view of different areas of the realms and history.
There are some other great ones. The Avatar series (I think) was the transition of the 2nd edition to 3rd edition. The gods walked the earth and chaos ensued. I enjoyed it a lot when I was younger, and again you get to learn a lot of the world. Book 1 is Shadowdale.
There is also a series of separate novels that are all about the Harpers, a secret organization. They don't need to be read in order.
That's all I'll mention so it's not overwhelming. I haven't read any of the ones you listed. I don't read too much in FR anymore because I find them to not be quite as high of quality as many other fantasy books out there - however, they can really scratch that D&D itch and sometimes that is what you want!
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Post by joatmoniac on Feb 9, 2016 23:35:31 GMT
As much as I would advise reading them in published order as that is how I read them all Salvatore himself advises the chronological approach. Here is a document I made awhile back based on a post that Salvatore put on his Facebook page. www.dropbox.com/s/do7b5lg3wfljj07/salvatore%20reading%20order.docx?dl=0 Check it out and see what you think! I would advise that reading all of the books in the Sundering series from a couple years ago. It has some of the best authors who have written for the realms over the years. Hope that helps some along with Vulash's info! |
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Post by Tesla Ranger on Feb 10, 2016 1:25:21 GMT
Thanks! I've started tucking in to the Dark Elf trilogy. If nothing else I reckon it'll be handy when our campaign inevitably swings around to our variation of the Underdark and the drow. If I figure on keeping on with the series after this trilogy the rest of your recommendations will be a great place to start!
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Samuel Wise
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Post by Samuel Wise on Feb 10, 2016 2:53:40 GMT
As much as I would advise reading them in published order as that is how I read them all Salvatore himself advises the chronological approach. Here is a document I made awhile back based on a post that Salvatore put on his Facebook page. www.dropbox.com/s/do7b5lg3wfljj07/salvatore%20reading%20order.docx?dl=0 Check it out and see what you think! I would advise that reading all of the books in the Sundering series from a couple years ago. It has some of the best authors who have written for the realms over the years. Hope that helps some along with Vulash's info! The first book I read (and the only so far) was the first book in the Sundering series. I read it in two days and it was really good. I have never read anything by R.A. Salvitore and my first taste wasn't too bad. The characters were really fun and very interesting (there was a couple I just didn't get, thanks to beginning right in the thick of things). The storyline of the first book would make for one helluva campaign. |
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Post by Tesla Ranger on Feb 10, 2016 16:12:28 GMT
I think I'm about half of the way through the first Dark Elf book and I expect I'll prolly finish it today. One of the benefits of handstitching camera cases is having about a week to listen to audiobooks and podcasts. So far I get the same feeling I might get from watching a decent 90s action movie. The story is simplistic (almost to an extreme) but I get the feeling that's intentional. It's more of a "fun romp" genre than "compelling epic". After a bunch of Neil Stephenson and a run around Dmitry Glukhovsky's Metro I'm quite enjoying a "fun romp" for now.
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Post by Vulash on Feb 10, 2016 16:36:41 GMT
I think that is a very good way to describe most Forgotten Realms books. They were some of the first fantasy I ever read and really got me into the genre. Now when I go back I wouldn't put anything on the same level as The Name of the Wind or The Lies of Locke Lamora, but for me, sometimes all I'm wanting is a fun romp.
The dark elf trilogy sets the stage for Drizzt as a character, but is in some ways quite different than what you'll get once you finish that trilogy and add the other companions.
What is the Sundering? I haven't read anything FR in quite some time except one of the Drizzt books that got a little weird.
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Post by frohtastic on Feb 10, 2016 22:44:16 GMT
iirc the sundering was the event where the goddess of magic died and the barriers between the planes got destroyed.
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Post by friartook on Feb 11, 2016 15:04:25 GMT
I think I'm about half of the way through the first Dark Elf book and I expect I'll prolly finish it today. One of the benefits of handstitching camera cases is having about a week to listen to audiobooks and podcasts. So far I get the same feeling I might get from watching a decent 90s action movie. The story is simplistic (almost to an extreme) but I get the feeling that's intentional. It's more of a "fun romp" genre than "compelling epic". After a bunch of Neil Stephenson and a run around Dmitry Glukhovsky's Metro I'm quite enjoying a "fun romp" for now. We have very similar tastes in literature. Metro was a dark ride for sure. Huge Stephenson fan here. I'm a little late to the game, but I would have recommended the Drizzt origin books you're starting with. After that, find the original Companions series (Icewind Dale trilogy if I remember correctly), which is the series where Drizzt was first introduced. After that...to be honest Salvatore lost his shine for me pretty quick. I liked his books a lot when I was 13. They don't hold up so much for me now. This is in contrast to the Dragonlance Chronicles series, which still holds up for me and pushes my nostalgia buttons. But then, those were some of the first novels I ever sat down and read with pleasure, so they hold a special place in my heart. The story of Drizzt and his companions just went on too long for me. It seemed to dissolve over time into a soap opera. And Drizzt, as a character, seemed to get more shallow as the series went on, rather than more complex. |
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Post by friartook on Feb 11, 2016 15:06:30 GMT
I think that is a very good way to describe most Forgotten Realms books. They were some of the first fantasy I ever read and really got me into the genre. Now when I go back I wouldn't put anything on the same level as The Name of the Wind or The Lies of Locke Lamora, but for me, sometimes all I'm wanting is a fun romp. This sums up my feelings quite well about most of the D&D fiction, not just the FR books. To me, The Lies of Locke Lamora was a "fun romp". D&D books are more like YA fiction tied to a very popular and successful intellectual property. |
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Post by Vulash on Feb 11, 2016 15:46:02 GMT
I think I'm about half of the way through the first Dark Elf book and I expect I'll prolly finish it today. One of the benefits of handstitching camera cases is having about a week to listen to audiobooks and podcasts. So far I get the same feeling I might get from watching a decent 90s action movie. The story is simplistic (almost to an extreme) but I get the feeling that's intentional. It's more of a "fun romp" genre than "compelling epic". After a bunch of Neil Stephenson and a run around Dmitry Glukhovsky's Metro I'm quite enjoying a "fun romp" for now. We have very similar tastes in literature. Metro was a dark ride for sure. Huge Stephenson fan here. I'm a little late to the game, but I would have recommended the Drizzt origin books you're starting with. After that, find the original Companions series (Icewind Dale trilogy if I remember correctly), which is the series where Drizzt was first introduced. After that...to be honest Salvatore lost his shine for me pretty quick. I liked his books a lot when I was 13. They don't hold up so much for me now. This is in contrast to the Dragonlance Chronicles series, which still holds up for me and pushes my nostalgia buttons. But then, those were some of the first novels I ever sat down and read with pleasure, so they hold a special place in my heart. The story of Drizzt and his companions just went on too long for me. It seemed to dissolve over time into a soap opera. And Drizzt, as a character, seemed to get more shallow as the series went on, rather than more complex. I'm glad you mentioned the Chronicles series because I'm actually about to go back and reread them for the first time since I was a teen. I'm a little different in that I liked books 4 5 and 6 of the Drizzt books better than the Icewind Dale Trilogy (the origin is still my favorite ones). After that it does just stretch out too long. I tried rereading The Crystal Shard and just couldn't get through it. I could see that about The Lies of Locke Lamora. I mean it's ultimately a caper type of story, but for some reason it just really appealed to me and while I normally don't like jumping around in time in books I enjoyed how well it was done. Also, I laughed....a lot. |
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Post by Tesla Ranger on Feb 11, 2016 20:56:43 GMT
I tried "Lies of Locke Lamora" but didn't really find it to my liking and only got about a 1/4 of the way through it. I wouldn't say it's "bad", because there's certainly lots of people who do enjoy it, but for whatever reason I wasn't enjoying it at the time.
I remember reading the Chronicles of Prydain when I was a kid and being really swept up in it. I tried going back to them last year and was pretty surprised at much simpler they were than I remembered. And that's perfectly fine. Books, more than any other media I can think of, are going to say something different to every reader and probably every time they're read. I don't need to be able to enjoy a book today to appreciate the enjoyment I got out of it twenty years ago.
Meanwhile, I'm reckoning to at least wrap up this trilogy. After that I might keep on with the Icewind Dale trilogy (which is also next chronologically) or go hunt for some other series somewhere. There's always some new bit of speculative fiction around the bend!
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Post by friartook on Feb 11, 2016 20:56:45 GMT
I could see that about The Lies of Locke Lamora. I mean it's ultimately a caper type of story, but for some reason it just really appealed to me and while I normally don't like jumping around in time in books I enjoyed how well it was done. Also, I laughed....a lot. I guess that's kind of my point. A fun romp can still be well written. Salvatore is good, but not great, as a writer. Lynch is amazing! Oh, and speaking of Neal Stephenson: For those who've read Reamde, I have secretly speculated that Devin Skrealing may be loosely based on R.A. Salvatore...not kindly or flatteringly, but there are comparisons to be made there. For the record: I have nothing but respect for Mr. Salvatore. He is a prolific writer and I've enjoyed many of his books. But, I also enjoyed watching The Mole People and Evil Dead. I feel its important to enjoy a creation on its merits and be honest about what it is. Salvatore's books are decent D&D themed YA fiction. But as literature, they fall short of the mark for me, as a long time prolific reader. |
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Samuel Wise
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Post by Samuel Wise on Feb 11, 2016 22:59:54 GMT
I could see that about The Lies of Locke Lamora. I mean it's ultimately a caper type of story, but for some reason it just really appealed to me and while I normally don't like jumping around in time in books I enjoyed how well it was done. Also, I laughed....a lot. I guess that's kind of my point. A fun romp can still be well written. Salvatore is good, but not great, as a writer. Lynch is amazing! Oh, and speaking of Neal Stephenson: For those who've read Reamde, I have secretly speculated that Devin Skrealing may be loosely based on R.A. Salvatore...not kindly or flatteringly, but there are comparisons to be made there. For the record: I have nothing but respect for Mr. Salvatore. He is a prolific writer and I've enjoyed many of his books. But, I also enjoyed watching The Mole People and Evil Dead. I feel its important to enjoy a creation on its merits and be honest about what it is. Salvatore's books are decent D&D themed YA fiction. But as literature, they fall short of the mark for me, as a long time prolific reader. I tend to agree. I approach Salvatore similarly I would approach the Star Wars novels (and here I probably would not call them YA fiction, because that just leaves an awful taste in my mouth, which the Star Wars and Salvatore's novels certainly do not do, but I completely understand where you are coming from). I was actually surprised after reading my first D&D novel, I loved it, however I felt the Warhammer/WH40K novels were a lot more rounded/engaging. And both series (Warhammer and D&D) I jumped right into the middle of. Warhammer I guess does have less of that (if I may use the term to describe this) YA feel. |
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Post by friartook on Feb 12, 2016 1:08:56 GMT
"YA fiction" has a lot of baggage around it right now thanks to Divergent, The Hunger Games, and The Maze Runner and their ilk. The modern counter-example is Harry Potter. By age 12, my oldest son had read all of these.
When I was twelve, YA Fiction was not a stand alone genre. D&D books and Star Wars books were what I read when I first became a serious reader (ages 13+, I used to devour at least a book a week back then). As far as quality of writing, Salvatore's books and pretty much the entire SW EU is geared for the same age range as what we now call "YA Fiction". Like I said earlier, it's important to be honest about these things (for me at least).
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