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The Best of the Realms #2
The Best of the Realms: The Stories of Ed Greenwood
A Forgotten Realms anthology featuring the best of Ed Greenwood’s fiction.
This anthology consists of fiction by Ed Greenwood, creator of the Forgotten
Realms world. Greenwood has written hundreds of articles, novels, and game
products set in the Realms, and his signature character, Elminster the Sage of Shadowdale, has become a staple of REALMS fiction and game play for
millions of fans.
AUTHOR BIO: A resident of Ontario, ED GREENWOOD created the Forgotten Realms setting more than 30 years ago and has written hundreds of novels, articles, stories, and game products in the setting. His most recent novel is Elminster’s Daughter.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2005
4 people are currently reading
390 people want to read
About the author
Ed Greenwood
364 books879 followersEd Greenwood is the creator of the Forgotten Realms fantasy world, which became the setting for his home D&D game in 1975. Play still continues in this long-running campaign, and Ed also keeps busy producing Realmslore for various TSR publications.
Ed has published over two hundred articles in Dragon magazine and Polyhedron newszine, is a lifetime charter member of the Role Playing Game Associaton (RPGA) network, has written over thirty books and modules for TSR, and been Gen Con Game Fair guest of honor several times.
In addition to all these activities, Ed works as a library clerk and has edited over a dozen small press magazines.
Invented the character Elminster from the popular Forgotten Realms RPG series. Currently resides in an old farmhouse in the countryside of Ontario, Canada.
Ed has published over two hundred articles in Dragon magazine and Polyhedron newszine, is a lifetime charter member of the Role Playing Game Associaton (RPGA) network, has written over thirty books and modules for TSR, and been Gen Con Game Fair guest of honor several times.
In addition to all these activities, Ed works as a library clerk and has edited over a dozen small press magazines.
Invented the character Elminster from the popular Forgotten Realms RPG series. Currently resides in an old farmhouse in the countryside of Ontario, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 7, 2023
THE BEST OF THE REALMS II: ED GREENWOOD is a book that I am sad is only in audiobook form but am still pleased to have enjoyed the availability of. Stories of Elminster, The Seven Sisters, Mirt the Moneylender, Princess Alusair, and a young lads as well as lasses who want to use the power of Mystra's weave to become heroes or villains. I think my favorite story is a young noblewoman using the Crown of Horns to avoid a forced marriage. However, after that is the story following THE DEATH OF THE DRAGON. Alusair has always been a favorite character of mine.
August 12, 2022
Some great stories of Elminster giving harsh lessons to other wizards and the escapades of silly Mirt. Strange magic and whispering crowns.
May 30, 2020
A collection of Forgotten Realms short stories by Ed Greenwood.
“The Realms Wait for Thee” – Alaundo of Candlekeep narrates this introductory story, stating that he envies the reader and has seen many things.
“Not the Most Successful of Feasts” – A look into when Elminster the wizard was a child at twelve.
“Dark Talons Forbear Thee” – At the end of one of Greenwood’s novels, Elminster was tasked with rearing three silver-haired babies as his fellow Chosen, and gives some focus to Vrasabra the Anointed, elated at being called the Great Mistress.
“The Whispering Crown” – The Lady of Dusklake and Rammast feud over the eponymous artifact.
“So High a Price” – Opens with a fragment of a text called The Ballad of a Tyrant, and focuses on how Zhentarim came to hold sway in Zhentil Keep.
“One Comes Unheralded to Zirta” – Allegedly the earliest Forgotten Realms story penned in 1967 before Greenwood’s eighth birthday, telling about the swordsman Durnan, the old rogue Mirt, and the wizard Elminster.
“A Dance in Storm’s Garden” – An episodic tale about a string of occurrences in Storm Silverhand’s garden.
“A Slow Day in Skullport” – A tale the author describes as a “romp”, with the character Durnan allegedly being a thinking man’s version of Robert E. Howard’s Conan the barbarian.
“Bloodbound” – A story written with the attitude that destiny is bested avoided, with the protagonist Tace discovering the wickedness of the order of Red Wizards.
“How Wisdom Came to the Maimed Wizard” – A coda to Shandril’s Saga, detailing the fate of Eirhaun the Maimed, a mage of the Zhentarim.
“The Eye of the Dragon” – Another Bildungsroman about a fledgling sorceress, Ambreene, who wants to deal with Khelben “Blackstaff” Arunsun, the Lord Mage of Waterdeep.
“Nothing but Trouble” – Narrates an incident in the life of Mirt the Moneylender of Waterdeep, who thinks he’s better than wizards.
“The Grinning Ghost of Taverton Hall” – The architect Glarasteer Rhauligan investigates the alleged appearance of the titular specter.
“The Place Where Guards Snore at Their Posts” – A young man learns magic to impress his love, with the appearance of the creatures sahuagin as well.
“Living Forever” – Written with the author’s fascination with the ruined city of Myth Drannor.
“The Long Road Home” – Tells of the tragedy of King Azoun of Cormyr, fourth monarch of the name to rule the Forest Kingdom, and nicknamed the Purple Dragon.
All in all, a good collection of stories, though there are a few unclear things such as who the “Master of Oysters” is in one of the tales.
“The Realms Wait for Thee” – Alaundo of Candlekeep narrates this introductory story, stating that he envies the reader and has seen many things.
“Not the Most Successful of Feasts” – A look into when Elminster the wizard was a child at twelve.
“Dark Talons Forbear Thee” – At the end of one of Greenwood’s novels, Elminster was tasked with rearing three silver-haired babies as his fellow Chosen, and gives some focus to Vrasabra the Anointed, elated at being called the Great Mistress.
“The Whispering Crown” – The Lady of Dusklake and Rammast feud over the eponymous artifact.
“So High a Price” – Opens with a fragment of a text called The Ballad of a Tyrant, and focuses on how Zhentarim came to hold sway in Zhentil Keep.
“One Comes Unheralded to Zirta” – Allegedly the earliest Forgotten Realms story penned in 1967 before Greenwood’s eighth birthday, telling about the swordsman Durnan, the old rogue Mirt, and the wizard Elminster.
“A Dance in Storm’s Garden” – An episodic tale about a string of occurrences in Storm Silverhand’s garden.
“A Slow Day in Skullport” – A tale the author describes as a “romp”, with the character Durnan allegedly being a thinking man’s version of Robert E. Howard’s Conan the barbarian.
“Bloodbound” – A story written with the attitude that destiny is bested avoided, with the protagonist Tace discovering the wickedness of the order of Red Wizards.
“How Wisdom Came to the Maimed Wizard” – A coda to Shandril’s Saga, detailing the fate of Eirhaun the Maimed, a mage of the Zhentarim.
“The Eye of the Dragon” – Another Bildungsroman about a fledgling sorceress, Ambreene, who wants to deal with Khelben “Blackstaff” Arunsun, the Lord Mage of Waterdeep.
“Nothing but Trouble” – Narrates an incident in the life of Mirt the Moneylender of Waterdeep, who thinks he’s better than wizards.
“The Grinning Ghost of Taverton Hall” – The architect Glarasteer Rhauligan investigates the alleged appearance of the titular specter.
“The Place Where Guards Snore at Their Posts” – A young man learns magic to impress his love, with the appearance of the creatures sahuagin as well.
“Living Forever” – Written with the author’s fascination with the ruined city of Myth Drannor.
“The Long Road Home” – Tells of the tragedy of King Azoun of Cormyr, fourth monarch of the name to rule the Forest Kingdom, and nicknamed the Purple Dragon.
All in all, a good collection of stories, though there are a few unclear things such as who the “Master of Oysters” is in one of the tales.
August 12, 2022
Some good short stories from the creator of the Forgotten Realms. I think this is worth it for the story One Comes Unheralded to Zirta. It’s not a great story, but it is the first, written before the creation of D&D. Besides that, you have typically Greenwoodian fare, romps mixed with good heartfelt characters.
December 7, 2018
It had a few pretty good stories in it, but I think Ed Greenwood’s novels are far better than his short stories. I had to skip some of the stories they were so poorly written and so boring.
June 9, 2019
I only read Not the Most Successful of Feasts so far because it's kind of a prequel story to Elminster: The Making of a Mage.
May 27, 2010
I'm really not too fond of this author, and this book didn't change my opinion.
A bunch of short stories that I value as glue for the forgotten realms world and the knots in some loose ends. It really only deserves 3 stars if you are super interested in this fantasy world...otherwise, I wouldn't really bother.
A bunch of short stories that I value as glue for the forgotten realms world and the knots in some loose ends. It really only deserves 3 stars if you are super interested in this fantasy world...otherwise, I wouldn't really bother.
April 23, 2008
This didn't contain as many stunning Ed stories as I wanted. I do love his writing. Maybe I'm spoiled by all his other good books.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews