Where can I find Forgotten Realms books

[Coconut_Crab]

Hi,

I was introduced to the world of Forgotten Realms by Baldur's Gate II. Can anyone tell me the good titles of books that have stories in this setting? I am very interested to read more about the Forgotten Realms.

Thanks.

Coco

[Rob-hin]

Do you mean books to play d&d in the forgotten realms setting or normal story books?
D&d books are for example, The Forgotten Reams setting book which simply contains info about The Forgotten Reams .
Story books are about stories in the Forgotten Realms, like the Drizzet series.

You can find both in fantasy stores, for the better fantasy books I would go to a local book store though. Problem is that they normally don't sell The Forgotten Reams story books...

[Coconut_Crab]

It's the story books I'm looking for. Does anyone suggest any good titles?

Thanks.

Coco

[Odhanan]

Chapters, Amazon.com ... you can find Forgotten Realms fiction almost anywhere these days.

Really.

Good titles? Not really. *sigh*

Not by the standards of Michael Moor c o c k (that's his name... damn censure) or JRR Tolkien is you see what I mean.

But the Cormyr series for instance are not bad. Titles of the three volumes:

Cormyr
Beyond the High Road
Death of the Dragon

Evermeet - Island of Elves by Elaine Cunningham is considered a classic (I highly dislike it - I much prefer the Eldar of Tolkien).
The Dark Elf Trilogy of R.A. Salvatore is not bad either.
The Sembia Series can be good.

[Aegis]

The forgotten Realms and Drizzt has practically become synonomous with each other. The books are a fun read, but I find you tire of them if you read them to close together.

R.A. Salvatore is the author of the Drizzt books, which include the Icewind Dale Trilogy, Legacy of the Drow, Dark Elf Tirlogy, Spine of the World series, and the new trilogy, which the name has slipped my mind.

He also did the Cleric's Quintet, which is a very well done book dealing with the cleric, Cadderly.

Another set to look into is the Elminster set.

Anyway, depending on where you live, Chapters (if in Canada) is a great resource, otherwise what ever is the big book store in your area.

[Coconut_Crab]

Man I read the Dark Elf Trilogy, and I was SOOO disappointed. Mr. Salvator described Drizzt like a weakling, and so much different from the impression I got from BG1 and BG2. The drow city and mind flayer dungeon are also more lively in the game than are described in Salvator's book.

Why do people like his work I'm wondering. Under his pen drows have no pride but shady conspiracy, while in the game they are true warriors. "With faith and might we shall rule supreme!"

In my opionion Salvator's Dark Elf Trilogy has good decoration in English sentences and phrases, but no depth in story line. The game is MUCH better!

Coco

[Aegis]

Originally posted by Coconut_Crab
Man I read the Dark Elf Trilogy, and I was SOOO disappointed. Mr. Salvator described Drizzt like a weakling, and so much different from the impression I got from BG1 and BG2. The drow city and mind flayer dungeon are also more lively in the game than are described in Salvator's book.

Why do people like his work I'm wondering. Under his pen drows have no pride but shady conspiracy, while in the game they are true warriors. "With faith and might we shall rule supreme!"

In my opionion Salvator's Dark Elf Trilogy has good decoration in English sentences and phrases, but no depth in story line. The game is MUCH better!

Coco

You do realize that Salvatore pretty much fleshed out the Drow culture for the Forgotten Realms, right?

The reason Drizzt was 'weak' (even though he was the top melee drow in the city, next to his father and trainer), was because, in game terms, he was still considered a low level. When you encounter him in game, he is a much, much higher level, and has all his funky gear.

Also, the reason the game potrayels of the Minf Flayer/Illithid city is much more lively is because it's a game. It has to be. A book is a more civilized way of telling a story, in which constant action is not required.

As for the Drow themselves. What do you mean no pride? They have too much pride! So much in fact, it's egotisical and megalomanical! They believe themselves to be superior to every other race out there, militeristically, socially, and aristocratically.

The combination of these things makes the Dark Elf Saga one of the best reads of the Forgotten Realms books (in fact, Salvatore's writting is the only one I can stomach of them all).

[Galuf the Dwarf]

Originally posted by Aegis
The forgotten Realms and Drizzt has practically become synonomous with each other. The books are a fun read, but I find you tire of them if you read them to close together.

R.A. Salvatore is the author of the Drizzt books, which include the Icewind Dale Trilogy, Legacy of the Drow, Dark Elf Tirlogy, Spine of the World series, and the new trilogy, which the name has slipped my mind.

He also did the Cleric's Quintet, which is a very well done book dealing with the cleric, Cadderly.

Another set to look into is the Elminster set.

Anyway, depending on where you live, Chapters (if in Canada) is a great resource, otherwise what ever is the big book store in your area.

1) The current set of Drizzt books is known as "The Hunter's Blades Trilogy." I've already gotten the two that have come out already, and if you ask me, it still seems like Salvatore has a sharp edge with his writing. Don't forget about the Paths of Darkness set, which The Spine of the World is part of, and takes place after the Legacy of the Drow series, but before the Hunter's Blades Trilogy.

2) I definitely second the Cleric Quintet. Very impressive, to say the least.

3) Yes, I also second the Elminster series. Ed Greenwood created the Forgotten Realms, and in some ways, he really has a great creative touch.

4) Here are some other series that I suggest for Coconut_Crab:
- Starlight & Shadows Trilogy, by Elaine Cunningham. This series is about a female drow (Liriel Baenre) and her human companion (Fyodor of Rashemen) as she escapes the ways of her people and discovers the ways of the surface world.

- Songs and Swords collection, by Elaine Cunningham. It follows the adventures of a half-elf warrior/assassin who becomes an agent of the Harpers: Arilyn Moonblade. So far, I've only read the first book, Elfshadow, but I do suggest that, and possibly the entire saga.

Hope this helps.

[Coconut_Crab]

Hi, Galuf, thanks for your suggestions. I will try them. And Ed Greenwood is the creator of the Forgotten Realms? I will definitely check out his work.


To Aegis: I said the drows in Salvator's book had no pride, not in terms of what they think about their superiority, but in terms of what they consider themselves as warriors. In Salvator's books drows considered themselves as superior, cunny, dexterous assasants, but they don't have the fighting spirit as seen in Baldur's Gate II. In the game they enjoy fighting, and superiority is determined from the outcome of the fight. In Salvator's book they enjoy bullying, and superiority is determined much more by the favor of Lloth instead of their real prowess. THAT, is what I meant. As for Salvator's description of mind flayers, all I read was "pfff, pff, pff" and the flayers' enemies were stunned. Nothing really more exciting than that.

[Aegis]

Originally posted by Coconut_Crab
To Aegis: I said the drows in Salvator's book had no pride, not in terms of what they think about their superiority, but in terms of what they consider themselves as warriors. In Salvator's books drows considered themselves as superior, cunny, dexterous assasants, but they don't have the fighting spirit as seen in Baldur's Gate II. In the game they enjoy fighting, and superiority is determined from the outcome of the fight. In Salvator's book they enjoy bullying, and superiority is determined much more by the favor of Lloth instead of their real prowess. THAT, is what I meant. As for Salvator's description of mind flayers, all I read was "pfff, pff, pff" and the flayers' enemies were stunned. Nothing really more exciting than that.

The thing is, though, that is Drow soceity. That's how it has been developed in the novels, and even in the DMG and so forth. The way they are made in BG2 is done that way, simply because all th elittle nuiances of the Drow would make for an overtly complex portion of the game, in which many would likely lose interest.

When examing the Forgotten Realms, you can't base your information on the games, simply because the games, while maintain bits of factuality, is still inaccurate potrayels of the world itself. When you have a culture that thrives because of the praise of their God, it only makes sense that they can be made or broken on a whim.

As for the Mind Flayers, can you think of a better way to convey their psionic powers into text?

[Coconut_Crab]

Hey Aegis,

Anyhow, I like the game way more than Salvator's book, mainly because BG2 is a world "alive", and Salvator's is not.

And I don't know how to convey mind flayers' psy power into text because I'm not a story writer, but I have read some other author's book in which such psy power/magic/energy can be visualized by reading the text. In fact, BG2 stimulates a lot of imagination from me, but Salvator's book never did that.

[Aegis]

Just out of curiosity, what do you mean by 'A world alive'? I don't think I've heard this term before.

[Moonbiter]

LOL! I find most D&D books incredibly poor, but Salvatore's Dark Elf Trilogy, which did the same for The Underdark and Drow that Hickman/Weiss did for Dragonlance, was the least tedious of them. I found the description of the Underdark and of Drow culture pretty much spot on. As for pride, THEY think they are mighty warriors with a high code of conduct and honor, while to the rest of the world they just base their entire existence on treachery and backstabbing. That's what make them evil. The best part of the books are when the Drow teachers teach their own version of history about the treacherous surface dwellers who betrayed THEM, and forced them underground. They justify their own wickedness in such a delightful way it's like prime 1938 nazi propaganda.

[LastManStanding]

the drow if you have read sshamath a book primarily about drow says that they do not develope a contients and the few that do usually are sacrificed shows how "proud" they are in my opinion