Fantasy Book Club discussion

I am familiar with the world and characters through both D&D and D&D minis but I have never actually read any of the books.

I would like to start picking up some of the books because there are so many. If you search Forgotten Realms in goodreads you get 449 results. But I have no idea where to start.

Is there a timeline? Should certain character books be read before others? What series are must reads and which should be skipped? Basiclly where should I begin?

I haven't read, or to be more extact, I haven't brought any Realms in years, so this is on memory.

There is something of a timeline (at least there use to be). I think Shadowdale is one of the first. Azure Bonds is an early one as well.

I would say that most popular ones tend to be the ones by R.A. Salvatore. His first, I think, was the The Icewind Dale Trilogy Collector's Edition. There is a prequel about one of the main characters, The Dark Elf Trilogy Collector's Edition, Icewind came first.

Spellfire was good as well.Darkwalker on Moonshae is good as well, though the series weakens as it progesses.

Pool of Radiance and its sequels are good.

Horselords starts the Empires series, and that was really good. Sorta an alternate history series. The same is true of Ironhelm

Here is an online chronology which looks pretty thorough, except that it hasn't been updated with novels from recent years. Certainly enough to point you in the right direction, though.

http://www.wizards.com/forgottenrealm...

The Icewind Dale Trilogy was his first books. Slavatore I mean but he afterwards went back to go over the life of the main character Drizzt Do'Urden. I am obviously a fan but i suggest reading the prequels first becouse it makes it have more sense to it and you will understand it better. The first one i suggest getting is Homeland then if you like it the rest of the books are listed in the front.

Stephen wrote: "The Icewind Dale Trilogy was his first books. Slavatore I mean but he afterwards went back to go over the life of the main character Drizzt Do'Urden. I am obviously a fan but i suggest reading the ..."

Really? I read them in publication order and it didn't confuse me. I think Icewind is better than the Dark Elf.

O too true. I am just saying from my stand point i did that too but i went back and tried the way i just explained and it helped. I think for someone not used to forgotten realms that would be the best course of action. Maybe your right though in the end i suggest to what you want it wont matter one way or another in the end.

Thanks for all the help especially the web link. I probably will start with Drizzt stuff, he is everyones favorite dark elf!

AMEN TO THAT! One of the best characters I have ever know!

Lol - my only exposure to this world was playing Ice Wind Dale the computer game - I don't remember it being very "memorable" hopefully the books are better.

Robin (The Crown Conspiracy | Avempartha | Nyphron Rising)

THERE IS A GAME!!!!!!!! wow sweet i shall jave to find it!

I have to agree with everyone and suggest The Legend of Drizzt series. The characters are amazing and the stories stick with you. The Crystal Shard has to be my favorite of the series (That I have read so far).

Sentinelspire was a good Forgotten Realms 'quick read' that I enjoyed.

Happy Reading :]

I have heard good things about that book. But to the crystal shard bit i have too agree. It was my favorite axcept maybe for the Siege of darkness. I loved that one too!

Has anyone read the graphic novelization of the Drizzt stories? The Legend of Drizzt Omnibus, Vol. 1 I've been thinking of getting it, and was wondering how faithful it was to the original stories.

Is it the one with Drizzt as the on the front? the purple new edition?

Wait is it a comic? If so then i shall really have to take a look at it. But if not then what is it?

Yes, it is the purpley one with Drizzt on the cover, and yes it is a comic/graphic novel.

Ok i have it but i dont remember there being pictures in it and i just checked too?

I believe you are referring to , maybe, which is not the graphic novel version. I'm referring to , which is the graphic novel version, published by Devil's Due Publishing (which is purpley, but not purple. The limited color scheme seems to have been a confusing factor. That and my confusion with purple vs. purpley, as I was unaware of the existence of the Collector's Edition version prior to my earlier response to your question.)

I'll stick you in the no column for having read the graphic novelization. :>

blackrose wrote: "I believe you are referring to , maybe, which is not the graphic novel version. I'm referring to [bookcover:The Legend of Drizzt Omn..."

:O I had no idea *runs to Barnes and Noble*

Haha ok I have the purple one but never got to the purply one. I will have to look it up i am somewhat excited now so my hopes are somewhat up!

I'm working on the Forgotten realm's books as well. I like the Omnibus and boxed formats. Better get them special ordered from your bookstore now while they remain in print. A lot of the FR books from the 1990's are out of print. If you want the books new that is

blackrose wrote: "I believe you are referring to , maybe, which is not the graphic novel version. I'm referring to [bookcover:The Legend of Drizzt Omn..."

Couldn't find it at B&N :[

I didn't think you would. They don't have it online at B&N, either. I don't think Borders has it, either. It is available through Amazon, though, and on ebay. Mostly used, though. The new ones are rathe pricey. I'm guessing it's not in print anymore, even though it was only published last year.

If you have any comic book stores in the area, they might be able to help you out, too.

It is not in print anymore due to it was for the celebration of 20 years of Drizzt. I doubt youll find it except mybe amazon. Otherwise good luck.

I recently bought the first omnibus, I believe through amazon marketplace, though half.com and ebay had some decent prices, too, for anyone who might be looking.

my bookstore here in edmonton can still order it:

Its in medium demand:

http://bookmanager.com/1675745/?opt=k...+

On the books: My favourites were NOT the Drizzt books. In fact I think R.A. Salvatore is a bit overrated. He did an awesome job of bringing the drow elves into the FR world, but I couldn't get into his FR books as much as say... Ed Greenwood (who actually created the FR world).

Ed Greenwood's books are full of irony and humour that I really enjoy. Sometimes Salvatore was a trial to get through.

My favourites from the FR series are the Shadow of the Avatar series (starting with Shadows of Doom), though you'd do well to read the Avatar series first. Those start with Shadowdale. These are perhaps not the first books you should read, but they are definitely ones you can't miss. The entire Harpers series was an open ended series that doesn't follow any one character. Those are good light reads. Also a must read series in the FR world is the Windwalker series by Elaine Cunningham. Starts with Daughter of the Drow. :)

As for the game... Icewind Dale as a computer game was not all that great. They have advanced a long way since then. If you want a FR computer game, look for Neverwinter Nights II. I think that is the most recent I have played (yes, I'm a gamer). I have NWN I with all its expansion packs but NWN II was meant to expand upon that and be more open ended itself.

I think I have about 50 FR novels. Most are out of print now. I re-read them from time to time. :)

The entire omnibus collection of the Legend of Drizzt series is listed on Goodreads. Here are the books in order:

The Legend of Drizzt Collector's Edition, Book I
The Legend of Drizzt Collector's Edition, Book II
The Legend of Drizzt Collector's Edition, Book III
The Legend of Drizzt Collector's Edition, Book IV

Homeland, Exile and Sojourn really kick off Drizzt Do'Urden's story. Homeland is my favorite out of all the FR books I've read. I've yet to read Sojourn, but it's on my to-read list after I finish what I'm currently reading.

I always kind of browsed through them. My local library had a lot of them when I was younger.

You can't beat a Forgotten Realms Cover. Dragonlance comes close.

Alright! You can't beat a TSR cover, how about that?