OK, in conjunction with the other 2 threads going, Worst D&D Novels and Worst Modules, and knowing this has probably been batted around here before, I want to turn it around a little.
What are your favorite D&D novels? Or series?
My two favorites happen to be series: Threat from the Sea by Mel Odom and the three Greyhawk novels by Paul Kidd, White Plume Mountain, Descent into the Depths of the Earth, and Queen of the Demonweb Pits. The first series had an epic scope and took us to a realm not often explored in D&D books, and the second was just plain fun...
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I was amazed at how drawn in to both the Year of Rogue Dragons and the Last Mythall trilogies I became. Rogue Dragon was summer blockbuster stuff. Big fight and explosion fun. Last Mythall was... well, it wasn't Fitzgerald, but it was captivating.
I'm also really partial to the Finder's Stone Trilogy, and anything with Alias and Dragonbait. Give me a paladin that looks like a tyrannosaurus any day.
The original Dragonlance Chronicles with Weis and Hickman was groundbreaking stuff when it first came out. Although Dragonlance has been beat to death, I'll always have fond memories of summer days as a teen reading about Fewmaster Toede and Verminaard's war against the heroes.
Same as the original Icewind Dale and the introduction to Drizzt. Man, was he cool when he arrived on the scene! It's too bad, it followed the path it did.
Most of the Eberron stuff seems to be better written than the other FR series. Although not masterpieces by any stretch, they can give some pleasurable reading. I guess, like all things, my taste has matured and I have moved on to Martin, historical fiction and actual ancient history. It's hard to go back to the Forgotten Realms world after reading Martin. It's like comparing a Porsche to a Pinto.
Tomb of Horrors
Blackstaff
Taladas Trillogy.
Hi Matthew! Any reasons for your choices?
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Tomb of Horrors- The Paladin redemption story is awesome. And the line at the end to the Thrazdun worshipper rocked.
Blackstaff- The Life and death of Khelben. With them blowing up the realms, it was nice to a) see a death have a purpose and b) see that being chosen sometimes means being chosen to die.
Taladas Trillogy. I've always loved Taladas, and while it blew up the world, it was nice to see that the other half of Krynn can make wizards that kick that scrawny gold skinned guy's butt.
If I was correctly informed, then Steven Brust's "Vlad" novels take the cake, hands-down. I read somewhere he based the first batch of 'em off his old game camapign.
I grew up on Salvatore, so am still fond of the Icewind Dale and Dark Elf trilogies. I moved to Robert Jordan and Stephen King in the latter stages of High School, and after grad school picked up the combined Cleric Quintet on a whim. I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did - but went in with less than stellar expectations. I still have all the original trilogies from back in the day, and don't think I could bear to part with any of them.
I like what other people are throwing about out there. It's rekindling my interest in pulp fantasy.
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Eberron, folks ...
Keith Baker's Dreaming Dark trilogy.
Plus Matt Forbeck's Queen of Death series.
Of course, Don Bassingthwaite's trio was a great romp, too!
I also thought "Left Hand of Death" was a nifty take on noir.
And James Wyatt's first Eberron novel, haven't picked
up the new hardcover. I am skeptical about spending
25 bucks on a fantasy novel that isn't "Children of Hurin." Lol!
I've picked up a few of the Eberron novels (ran out of traditional FR long ago) and was pleasantly surprised by Rich Wolf's Voyage of the Mourning Dawn. I need to get the next two.
Anybody have any feedback on the newer Realms novels, the ones they are doing in themes, i.e. The Fighters, The Wizards, The Dungeons, The Citadels?
Almost forgot! I also enjoyed the War of the Spider Queen series...
First Dragonlance trilogy rates highly in "generic pseudomedieval fantasy" genre, at least for me. Second one was quite good too.
I rather enjoyed Moonshae trilogy. And Keith Baker's Dreaming Dark trilogy...first book was great, second was nice, haven't dared to read the third one (as what blurbs I have seen of it have been quite off-putting).
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I was amazed at how drawn in to both the Year of Rogue Dragons and the Last Mythall trilogies I became. Rogue Dragon was summer blockbuster stuff. Big fight and explosion fun. Last Mythall was... well, it wasn't Fitzgerald, but it was captivating.
I enjoyed both of those as well. Paul Kidd's GH novels with the Justiciar and his weird buddies are cheesy as hell, but also fun adventure romps. I also like some of the mid-period Salvatore books taking place in Menzoberranzan - Gromph and company are far more interesting than Drizz't. Finally, I liked four of the six War of the Spider Queen books - it made for a pretty decent series.
I've got to go with the Dragonlance Chronicles. I'v reread them more than any book I have ever read. Epic, fun and at times humorous.
I still get choked up when Sturm & Flint die.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I've got to go with the Dragonlance Chronicles. I'v reread them more than any book I have ever read. Epic, fun and at times humorous.I still get choked up when Sturm & Flint die.
Did you sit up straight when Raistlin reappeared to save Caramon and everyone in the third book? Most everyone we know did.
Did you sit up straight when Raistlin reappeared to save Caramon and everyone in the third book? Most everyone we know did.
Yes! Raistlin = bad ass. Reconfirmed in the next trilogy.
The original Dragonlance Trilogy.
The first Moonshae Trilogy
The Maztica trilogy
Flame of the Blade series
Claws of the Tiger
Bound by Iron (the best paladin character I've ever read!)
Crypt of the Shadow King
So I'm taking it no one has read any of the newer "themed" Realms novels/series?
I have read one of the 'cities' theme book, but it was not good enough to get me to read the rest or the other theme series either.
-Crystal Shard*-defined the hero for me and made many crunch things fluff - Aegis fang, challenge by deed, two-weapon fighting, a dragon trapped. I include the other Drizzt books in this, but the last few have been less impressive.
-Dragonlance trilogy (first one) - what people die? *sniff* This is so unlike our games. *sniff* (my mate reread them this summer just for the fun of it) we are glad to see the movie coming out---hmmm it is coming out right?
-Azure Bonds--as above yeah dino-paladin* (and i suppose the cover art helped quite a bit.) I also liked the fluid tattoo and use of scents for his prayers and speaking. Really solid images that have obviously stuck with me.
-The wizard-war (halruun?) was a lot of fun, and made a prestige class something other than a broken showoff.
-I found the year of Rogue Dragons* totally awesome just because they were so fun. And it of course introduced a lot of dragons.
-One I have not been able to find, but that I found to be really cool way back when was Ring of Winter.* Not sure why I enjoyed this one so much, but it may have been the jungle exploring nature of the book.
-Not Novels, but the 'Realms of' collections of short stories were almost all good reads.
*As a herper, I have named my critters after a dragon in these books.
Azure Bonds seconded - first D&D novel I read. It captures D&D really well.
Top Three In My Book:
Dragonlance Chronicles
Homeland
Saga of Old City
Close Runners Up: Azure Bonds, Artifact of Evil, Darkwalker On Moonshae
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Don Bassingthwaite's The Dragon Below trilogy. Really liked the story and characters, how they interact with each other. Well written fiction.
Have to agree with that - the best D&D series I have read for quality of writing and characterisation. I read the first Dragonlance trilogy but unfortunately can remember damn all about it.
Gygax's Gord the Rogue novels, both before and after he left TSR. Also the spellfire trilogy by Ed Greenwood were good. First ever read was Dragons of Autumn Twilight. Salvatores Cleric quintett hold a special place too.
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RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
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As I have said many times before, Paul Kidd's Greyhawk novels. Unlike the other writers in that series, while he may be pretty cheesy, he is also fun as hell to read. Also, since it was the first I read, Salvatore's Dark Elf trilogy. I also liked the first of that one series with the shifter, the mage, and the Kalashtar, but I couldn't force myself to finish the second.
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I have to give praise to the Avatar 5-book series, starting with Shadowdale. All the characters, not just the main 3-5, portray unique outlooks and motivations. And perhaps I have a weakness for Mask, which leads me to my next recommendation...
Shadowbred and Shadowstorm, the first two books of an Erevis Cale trilogy. (Not THE Erevis Cale Trilogy, though. I haven't read that.) I have been reading Shadowstorm with my wife while her vision recovers from a temporary disorder. The book flows much like a fast-paced adventure, and has both of us looking forward to the release of the third.
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As I have said many times before, Paul Kidd's Greyhawk novels. Unlike the other writers in that series, while he may be pretty cheesy, he is also fun as hell to read. Also, since it was the first I read, Salvatore's Dark Elf trilogy. I also liked the first of that one series with the shifter, the mage, and the Kalashtar, but I couldn't force myself to finish the second.
Paul Kidd's novels were at the top of my list too!
The newer FR series like the Fighters and the Wizards haven't held much appeal to me, though I've read the 1st of the Dungeons and liked it. My friend says the next one he read, Stardeep, is good too. I liked the Rogue Dragons and the Last Mythal, but my favorites are Elaine Cunningham's works for the Harpers series. Danilo and Arily FTW!
Many of the others noted here, such as the original Dragonlance trilogy, the Moonshae trilogy (I like both the original and the later one), Blackstaff, and some of the others are good too. I read fewer D&D novels these days since many of them just don't seem as good. War of the Spider Queen was good all around, I'll admit I like Salvatore's books (the last trilogy he did at least amused me at times), and a few other series currently at work aren't bad either (Lady Penitent series, Unclean, and the Gossamer Plain).
It's been a while since I read them but I enjoyed the Cleric Quintet series. I was also a big fan of the Ravenloft series with Knight of the Black Rose being one of my favorite.
I don't know if someone will kick me for this but I like everything with drizzt.
Also I just got through Crypt of the Moaning Diamond and have to say that the characerization in that book was by far some of the best I've read in a one-shot D&D novell.
Dragon Lance Chronicles is certainly at the top of the list for me (which reminds me that I think the animated Dragons of Autum Twilight comes out today).
I did enjoy the dark elf trilogy (particularly homeland)
I liked the hunters blade trilogy and at the time I read it I also like the crystal shard (but I wouldn't read it now)
I really enjoyed reading the sequels to the avatar trilogy (Prince of Lies and Crucible)
I also remember enjoying the first Book in the Dark Sun novels.
However, I haven't read a dnd novel in a long time, so I can't say much about anything that has come out recently.
I don't know if someone will kick me for this but I like everything with drizzt.
*kicks Lenarior* ;)
Are there any good D&D novels out there for us literary snobs who grew up on Pushkin and The Worm Ouroboros?
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RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
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I really enjoyed reading the sequels to the avatar trilogy (Prince of Lies and Crucible)
Crucible WAS a unique book, actually. I actually felt bad for the poor guy writing the book.
(The book was written from the perspective of a worshipper of Cyric, who is writing the events as part of a holy text of Cyric.)
Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser series reads very much like an ongoing D&D campaign. Classic fantasy at its best!
Weis & Hickman also dead a 7 book series called The Deathgate Cycle that was very good - lot's of good material one could steal for a D&D campaign. And Fizban (from DragonLance) even has a cameo!
I also loved Paul Kidd's stuff. I bought those Grayhawk novels hoping for a trip down memory lane - but none of the original modules were even remotely recognizable. But the novels were good on their own, in a goofy, slapstick kind of way.
I am really craving some good D&D fantasy novels right now. And I'm not finding any. Going to have to go back and try to find some I haven't read that didn't appeal at the time and give them a shot (like Dark Sun) or re-read some I've already read...
The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon -- a trilogy composed of Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Divided Allegiance[i/], and [i]Oath of Gold -- is for my money the best novel about D&D paladins, ever.
It isn't an official D&D novel at all, mind you, but the world is clearly operating according to the game rules. Elizabeth Moon doesn't play, but she has friends who do, and having watched one such friend horribly misplay a paladin in classic fashion, she decided that someone should really show us how it should be done, and hoo BOY did she. Paksenarrion Dorthansdottir, a farmer's daughter who runs away to join a mercenary band, after many trials and tribulations winds up one of the most awesome paladins EVAR.
Read it. It's How To Be A Paladin in Six Incredibly Difficult and Life-Threatening Lessons. :)
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The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon -- a trilogy composed of Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Divided Allegiance[i/], and [i]Oath of Gold -- is for my money the best novel about D&D paladins, ever.
Got the first of those in my 'impossibly high stack of things to read'. I got it on a whim, knowing nothing about the series or the author, but if it gets recommended by a fellow Paizoan, I might just move it to the front.
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Though, admittedly, I'm not the worlds biggest Salvatore fan, I did particularly enjoy his Sellswords trilogy. It really reminded me of some of the adventures I've played in, as far as characters go. A taciturn human assassin plus a metrosexual dark elf swashbuckler equals priceless.
I find it amusing that, in light of the many LGBTs trying to support their own agenda by adopting any and every male-buddy team, no matter how unlikely (Batman & Robin? So obviously gay, darling! Rorschach and Night Owl? Utter closet-cases! etc), I'm surprised this pair get off so easily.
Jarlaxle, with his shirt slashed to the groin, and his huge, floppy purple pimp's hat, hasn't so much stepped out the closet, as slammed the door behind him, hacked the closet to matchwood, burnt the splinters and hurled the ashes of a cliff into the sea.
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To me, it seems now that most of the DnD novels weren't that hot. I mean I guess I read a ton of those things when I was middle school, which is why I say *now* heh.
Looking back though, I will say that I would recommend the original Dragonlance Trilogy to anyone who is interested in the books. I think it was basically the best that there was to offer in regards to those books. And no, not that 4th book that was written later... that thing was lame. Legends wasn't terrible either I guess, I still got a soft spot for Raistlin *grin*
Update time: I have tried one of The Citadels novels: Neversfall by Ed Gentry and it was just okay. Liked the inclusion of the formians but the rest I was just lukewarm about.
I am currently reading The City of Ravens by Richard Baker and this one is great. If it manages to hold together it will have been a good read and one of the best books about a D&D rogue I've read. Several great plots, wonderful characters, and a good dose of humor.
