Classic AD&D novels

This is a general open discussion for all ALFA, Neverwinter Nights, and Dungeons & Dragons topics.

Moderator: ALFA Administrators

Twin Axes
Dungeon Master
Posts: 1327
Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:43 am
Location: The Frozen North
Contact:

Classic AD&D novels

Post by Twin Axes »

Which, if any, should I read? I only read the Dragonlance series, when I was 15, and have stayed far away from Fantasy literature since then, seeing as it just never measures up to Tolkien. But, I would like to get more of a feel for Faerun from something other than Wikipedia. So where should I start? What's considered the 'canon' literature?
"[T]he dwarvern people, are machine-like, and it is impossible to reason with a machine." - Susana
Rumple C
Bard
Posts: 3561
Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:38 pm
Location: The ceiling.

Re: Classic AD&D novels

Post by Rumple C »

Honestly, most of them are pretty rubbish, but!

Spellfire (by Ed Greenwood) is really rather good. And it's got a dracholich.
12.August.2015: Never forget.
Rumple C
Bard
Posts: 3561
Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:38 pm
Location: The ceiling.

Re: Classic AD&D novels

Post by Rumple C »

Whatever happens, do not read the "Cleric Quintet". The dwarves in that series will destroy your dwarf brain, and ruin them for you, forever...
12.August.2015: Never forget.
Twin Axes
Dungeon Master
Posts: 1327
Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:43 am
Location: The Frozen North
Contact:

Re: Classic AD&D novels

Post by Twin Axes »

Rumple C wrote:Honestly, most of them are pretty rubbish
Oh I fully expect that!
"[T]he dwarvern people, are machine-like, and it is impossible to reason with a machine." - Susana
User avatar
dergon darkhelm
Fionn In Disguise
Posts: 4258
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:21 pm
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Re: Classic AD&D novels

Post by dergon darkhelm »

MY Forgotten Realms favorites:

1) The Sembia Series -- all the way through the Erevis Cale books.

http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/S ... the_Realms

http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/T ... le_Trilogy

__

2) War of the Spider Queen Series -

http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/W ... ider_Queen


3) Icewind Dale -- I would read them in chronological order starting with Dark Elf Trilogy then the Icewind Dale Trilogy.

http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/T ... lf_Trilogy

http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/T ... le_Trilogy




there's a tidy bunch of 20 books or so for ya' .... enjoy!
PCs: NWN1: Trailyn "Wayfarer" Krast, Nashkel hayseed

NWN2: ??

gsid: merado_1
User avatar
Ithildur
Dungeon Master
Posts: 3548
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2004 7:46 am
Location: Best pizza town in the universe
Contact:

Re: Classic AD&D novels

Post by Ithildur »

Early Drizzt books and Elaine Cunningham's stuff seem pretty decent, but may not be everyone's cup of tea.
Formerly: Aglaril Shaelara, Faerun's unlikeliest Bladesinger
Current main: Ky - something

It’s not the critic who counts...The credit belongs to the man who actually is in the arena, who strives violently, who errs and comes up short again and again...who if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement, but who if he fails, fails while daring greatly.-T. Roosevelt
User avatar
kid
Dungeon Master
Posts: 2675
Joined: Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:08 am

Re: Classic AD&D novels

Post by kid »

The first 3 drizzt are good if I remember right.
I also like the Harpers series, or at least the first three that I've read.
They're a bit childsih (but so is all of FR) but the nice thing is that each stands on its own right and each describes a different part of world.
(The anurach desert in the first, waterdeep and elf lands in the second, tahy in the 3ed)
Which helped me learn some general idea about the world.
Also sembia ones are good or so I've heard from a few other sourses.
<paazin>: internet relationships are really a great idea
User avatar
Castano
Head Dungeon Master
Posts: 4593
Joined: Wed May 26, 2004 5:42 pm
Location: USA

Re: Classic AD&D novels

Post by Castano »

Tolkien they are not.

ok now that that is out of the way and we acknowledge we are reading trash:

1. Darkwalker series for their descriptions of the Moonshaes Isles and inhabitants
2. The Salvatore mega series
3. The Sembia series (whatever that is called with the Shades and Mask etc.)

as an added bonus these books are so cheaply done you can find typos and grammar errors that passed uncorrected.
On playing together: http://www.giantitp.com/articles/tll307 ... 6efFP.html
Useful resource: http://nwn2.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

On bad governance: "I intend to bring democracy to this nation, and if anybody stands in my way I will crush him and his family."
You're All a Bunch of Damn Hippies
User avatar
orangetree
Dungeon Master
Posts: 897
Joined: Thu Jun 03, 2004 9:10 pm
Location: UK (GMT)

Re: Classic AD&D novels

Post by orangetree »

Rumple C wrote:Whatever happens, do not read the "Cleric Quintet". The dwarves in that series will destroy your dwarf brain, and ruin them for you, forever...
Um... I actually rather liked that one. It was a little quirky but...

... actually come to think of it, its the only one I've read.
User avatar
kid
Dungeon Master
Posts: 2675
Joined: Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:08 am

Re: Classic AD&D novels

Post by kid »

So he's done DMing you and immediately you stopped giving him any respect.
Shame on you!

You should wait a couple week like I did.
<paazin>: internet relationships are really a great idea
User avatar
Lucifer
Gelatinous Cube
Posts: 338
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2009 10:29 pm

Re: Classic AD&D novels

Post by Lucifer »

Not FR but I read The Gord Series by E. Gary Gygax because they are by E. Gary Gygax !!!
User avatar
Ithildur
Dungeon Master
Posts: 3548
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2004 7:46 am
Location: Best pizza town in the universe
Contact:

Re: Classic AD&D novels

Post by Ithildur »

GG actually wrote novels? Dare I ask if they were passable? Or did the protagonist get smashed into goo/blown up to bits/disintegrated to powder every other chapter? :)
Formerly: Aglaril Shaelara, Faerun's unlikeliest Bladesinger
Current main: Ky - something

It’s not the critic who counts...The credit belongs to the man who actually is in the arena, who strives violently, who errs and comes up short again and again...who if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement, but who if he fails, fails while daring greatly.-T. Roosevelt
Witchdoctor
Gelatinous Cube
Posts: 318
Joined: Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:44 pm

Re: Classic AD&D novels

Post by Witchdoctor »

Been a long time since I read them but I liked the Gord series.
Twin Axes
Dungeon Master
Posts: 1327
Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:43 am
Location: The Frozen North
Contact:

Re: Classic AD&D novels

Post by Twin Axes »

Rumple C wrote:Whatever happens, do not read the "Cleric Quintet". The dwarves in that series will destroy your dwarf brain, and ruin them for you, forever...
Got it. Will avoid, OT's endorsement notwithstanding. I ordered the Dark Elf trilogy, I wonder what I'm in for...
"[T]he dwarvern people, are machine-like, and it is impossible to reason with a machine." - Susana
JonnyJerny
Gelatinous Cube
Posts: 377
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2012 10:13 pm
Contact:

Re: Classic AD&D novels

Post by JonnyJerny »

high fantasy nice
[22:46] <Ronan_> I once stabbed a man in Reno just to watch him bleed.
Post Reply