The World of Layonara
The Layonara Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: jjkolb on April 20, 2005, 06:09:00 AM
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Aside from the standards, like Lord of the Rings, Dragonlance Chronicles & Legends, Crystal Shard, etc., what are some really good novels to read that capture the feel of great D&D PnP? Something that has action, magic, various races, and a compelling storyline. Remember, I want to feel as though I am sitting at a table RPing with friends.
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Ed got me interested in War of the Spider Queen a while back. I have to say, it's an excellent series (read 4 of 6 so far). The storyline in great though I did feel that it dropped off a bit in book 4 as the inevitable goodness started to snake it's way through the plot. The first and third books however were possibly some of the best reading I've ever had, and the second book tied the two into each other well. Though it won't make you feel like you're playing DnD with your friends (the story plot, characters, and events are far too complex) it is a great read and will definatly satisfy.
Also remember hearing something about a book or series. Can't remember the name. Chronicles of Time or something like that. Also supposed to be very good and have a complex story line. And if that doesn't work for ya just pick up any Salvatore book and start reading. Some are more DnD-like than others but most of them work out for the better.
-Zv
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If you buy books please buy from amazon and use the link supplied here at this time (up under shop). It will help with supporting the server farms.
Thank you.
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Not sure I've read a Forgotten Realms book I really liked.
Prisim Pentad is a good 5 book series about Darksun, its pretty slick. Or I remember it being pretty slick.
There are a couple of Ravenloft books that are alright. I, Strahd and the one about Jander Sunstar and the other about Lord Soth called White Knight Black rose or something.
Anyway... good luck.
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ZeroVega - 4/20/2005 3:16 PM Ed got me interested in War of the Spider Queen a while back. I have to say, it's an excellent series (read 4 of 6 so far). The storyline in great though I did feel that it dropped off a bit in book 4 as the inevitable goodness started to snake it's way through the plot.
Thanks.... I just managed to buy part 4 and still have to read it... :(
Also remember hearing something about a book or series. Can't remember the name. Chronicles of Time or something like that. Also supposed to be very good and have a complex story line.
That'd be the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. I am going through parts 1-10 in sequence now (am at part 7) and still a page turner, although I admit it's a big series to start on as part 10 is not the last one either :0
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Read 4 of the 6 books in the series "Malazan books of the fallen", by Steven Erikson. I recommend you to read it. The characters are some of the most detailed I have seen, the plot is amazing, and the world is very dark, mysterious and dangerous. Great series! Ohh... and its continuing. Book 6 is just the newest in the series.
Harlas
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This isnt really D&D books but has a really nice epic story.
The books about The Black Company by Glen Cook. You can probably find them on Amazon.
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Terry Brooks - Sword of Shanara series. Just awesome.
Raymond E. Feist - Magician: Apprentice (whole series of these books. Very Good)
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Yes, Terry Brooks. And not really DnD but Neil Gaiman can sure write a story.
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I agree, The Black Company is a great book. Others that I recommend are the stories by David Eddings "The Belgariad"," The Mallorean", and "The Ellenium" series as well as his other works, anything by Raymond E Feist "The Magician" series, works by Terry Brooks "The Shannara" stories, Katherine Kurtz "The Deryni" books, Tad Williams "The Dragonbone Chair", and Margaret Weis/Tracy Hickman "The Death Gate" saga.
All are excellent works, I have read many fantasy novels and stories, you just have to pick it up and read a little to see if it entices your imagination enough to picture the story in your mind.
Good Reading.
Deagle :)
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I agree with the black company books."Crooker rules"
Right now Im reading books by Kate Elliott "Crown of stars" series.
I have read so many books alot blend together.
The Silver Call and Iron Tower series were really AD&D'ish.I forgot who wrote them.
Thomas Covinent and Thomas Covinent the unbeliever were good series.
The List is so big its hard to pick a few.
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I have mostly read books set in the Forgotten Realms. Any book by Ed Greenwood is an excellent choice, the inventor of the Forgotten Realms. Also the dark elf series by R.A. Salvatore are very good.
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Leanthar - 4/20/2005 6:29 AM If you buy books please buy from amazon and use the link supplied here at this time (up under shop). It will help with supporting the server farms.
Thank you.
Now I know where I'm shopping for textbooks this semester... :)
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Stephen R. Donaldson wrote the Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever books (as already mentioned). Good stuff but the second trilogy contains a plethora of words you need a dictionary for.
George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire is an absolute must but not D&Dish.
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Murgleys - 4/21/2005 8:13 AM
second trilogy contains a plethora of words you need a dictionary for.
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Contains a what-ora of words? :)
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Great response from you guys, thanks. I've read a number of your suggestions already. Makes me want to read 'em again. But I see a few new interesting ones that I'll look into.
Keep the suggestions coming.
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If you've never read Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth novels (10 books all page turners and nice and long and the series isn't over) then you should really pick them up been the best reading I have done since Tolkien and Wheel of Time books.
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I put a bump here for Terry Goodkind. Good reading.
As far as Stephen R. Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series... I liked everything but the main character. . . Intresting world, in depth characters...
But Ugh... the main character... what was he called... Berek Half Hand...
I guess what really turned me off about him was what happened early on in the book... right after he was exposed to the healing mud of the river. . .
It was actually a while before I could get past that part to read the rest...
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Recluse serie (12books) By L.E.Modisitt Jr.
Terry Brooks, pretty much all is good and funny to boot but the last Shannara serie (4verybigbooks) although good got to be draguing in length for me.
Adventures of Conrad Stargardht by Leo Frankowski, very good.
Piers Anthony, XANTH serie but everything else he's ever written is great ;)
Katharine Kerr, Deverry & The Westlands series.
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I don't know if it's been translated, but there is a great series in portugal called "Crónicas de Allaryia"(Chronicles of Allaryia).
I also recomend the Dragonlance books, they're great. I won't give any more books because my shelves are so full of them I don't have the time to say 'em all
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i havn't had the chance to read them, but i've heard good things about Fred Saberhagens, Book of Swords Serries
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Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan I really enjoyed.
Read all 10 books in like 2 months, just could not stop. Was really upset when I got to the end of book 10 to only realise then that there is still 2 books in the series pending to be only releases in 2006 and 2008 apparently.
They are first releasing the 3 book series prelude. Guess I will have to read it again once the last two is released. The Feist books are also very good, especially the Riftwar series. Read all of them except the latest series, Serpentwar saga.
Have bought the Dark tower series from Stephen King as well, but waiting for the final books in the series to be released, but the intro looks very good.
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The Wheel of Time Series is by far my favorite of all time. I have read most of the others that have been mentioned. The Wheel of Time is just much more complex a story to me and I like that it is structured in a realistic way. Some of the characters are a little repetitive, but the storylines are great and they mesh together really well.
I have heard but not confirmed that the next book is going to be released in Nov. I do know it is titled "Knife of Dreams"
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I've read more books than I can remember, but very few or no D&D ones.
Going to bump some of those that have been mentioned above.
My favorite one is the Series about the Malazans. It takes two
huge books to read in all the characters, places and base story plot
line though. By Steven Erikson.
Elizabeth Haydon's Rhapsody: Child of Blood was amazing, it's the first part of
a series. Not sure, but it's probably around 5-6 books.
Elizabeth Moon's series about Paksenarrion is really good, three parts and she
is writing a "prequel" serie. Not really a prequel but you'll know what I mean
if you read it.
Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time is great in the start, but declines in my opinion.
But not enough to make you stop reading. First five books or so are the best ones.
That's where the Trollocs on Layo come from.
Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series is very similar to Wheel of Time in many
aspects. But this series doesn't decline as it goes on. So I like it more.
David Edding's Belgariad is what got me into reading books in the first place.
A good read, but it is more directed to kids in the early teens I think. He's
written a lot more books too, prequels to the Belgariad (with his wife), The
Mallorean (sequel to Belgariad)and the series about Elenien which is also good.
I've read Fred Saberhagen's Book of Swords, which are part 1 through 3. Not the
best read I've had, but I don't regret reading them. There are more books after
that but in other timelines I believe. Somewhat inspired by Greek Mythology.
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's The Death Gate cycle is a very good read.
Raymond E Feist has written a couple of series about the world of Midkemia.
And he's written several novel's about Midkemia too. They have a red string
running through the story line. These are all very good. With Janny Wurts
he has also written about another world that is connected to Midkemia, Kelewan.
This series is much more about politics and is less adventure oriented than the
Midkemia one. Still a good read.
I've read the first series by Terry Books, Shannara series. Definitly not
a must read, but may appeal to some people. Low on my priority list.
Tad Williams Dragonbone is an okay series, worth reading.
kathrine Kerr's serie about the land of Deverry is a good one. Feels
Wales inspired.
Stephen R. Donaldson's Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever has its moments,
but it often has a very gloomy feel to it. Worth reading if you are
having a hard time finding something to read.
George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire is a good serie, but also
directed to more mature readers. Foul language, incest and such.
I've only read one book of R.A Salvatore, The Demon Awakens. Definitly
worth reading, a good read. Not part of a series as far as I know.
David Gemnell's Tales of Drenai are very good. Only read the first
three or four books though. The timeline isn't chronological. So if
you know someone who has read them, you can ask to have them tossed
around and read them in the "right" order if you want.
L.E Modesitt's Spellsong cycle is a good read, though I've only
read the first four books or so.
Gene Wolfe's the Book of the New sun is a good read. The two books
Soldier of Mist and Soldier of Arrete are even better. May be known
elsewhere as Latro of Mist or some such. The last two books mentioned
takes place highly(almost completely) inspired by greek Mythology.
I can go on and on, but it starts hurting going through my memory
banks now ^^
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I am re-reading Eddings series' for the first time in 20 years, and must concur, it is a bit vague, but it also leaves powerful room for imagination. By far the best fantasy author I have ever read....
I thought Feist really slowed down in the Melawei section, but fired up to the coolest climax I think I have seen.
Two more series I have not seen make it into this discussion...somewhat girly, but AWESOME reads...
MELANIE RAWN the Sunrunners series. Mixes all of the combat and character with some genuine romance. As a sexually mature adult male, even *I* must confess it added to the story.
JENIFER ROBERSON- the Cheysuli books about shape shifters was ok, but the Tiger and Del series, much like the Sunrunners- very vivid, with some romance, but an awesome story.
STEVEN BRUST- anything with Vlat Taltos, the assasin. Good tongue-in-cheek dark humor. Short books, but good.
GLEN COOK- Stories of Garrett the fantasy world detective. Same humor as above.
Great thread!
DAVE DUNCAN- THE KINGS BLADES_ I devoured all of them in a matter of nights in Iraq. All of them. Yes, they are THAT Good. His 7th sword series set the foundation for his writing here.
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Just about anything that Guy Gavriel Kay has written...he's about the best thing that Canada has exported to the U.S., along with beer ;) ...he worked on a lot of Tolkien's stuff after his death and his writing seems like I"m reading "literature" or some great classic...great plots and characters...nothing ever seems far-fetched and it all weaves togther seamlessly.
Although they involve five characters traveling from the present world to a fantasy world, his Fionavar Tapestry is just amazing and the most D&D-ish. A Song for Arbonne and Tigana are also great, and I understand they're (whoever they is) are considering makign his Lions of Al-Rassan into a movie. Good, good stuff.
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If there's one thing in the world I have any knowledge in, it's FR books. So listen up, children.
If I had to pick the best FR author, it would be R. A. Salvatore. That probably won't surprise many people, but there's a reason he's so well known.
A (fairly) new author I like a lot is Paul S. Kemp. He is currently writing the Erevis Cale Trilogy. A little dark at times, but a good read. He is also going to be writing the last book in the War of the Spider Queen series - Ressurection.
I've never really gotten into Ed Greenwood, but most people do like him a lot. I have never really given him a chance, though. I read the first chapter of Elminster in Hell and gave up on him - I had no clue what was happening.
Most people don't like the Baldur's Gate series, by Philip Athans and Drew Drew Karpyshyn. But it's what got me in to FR to start with. They were some okay books; I don't understand why people hate them so much. Maybe because everyone dies... I don't like that either.
The War of the Spider Queen, as mentioned above, is also a good series. It, along with Dawn of Night by Paul S. Kemp, is pure D&D bliss.
Well, I'm sure I was no help with this, but I couldn't resist writing something. *Attempts to turn off loser mode, but realizes the switch is jammed*
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Any of Robert Howard's fantasy stories...especially Conan. They are all back in print now.
The Thieves' World anthology.
Tad William's books are also very good.
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Sitting in the study now, looking up at the bookshelf and seeing some other good reads.
James Clemens - The banned and the banished series was excellent (Wit'ch Fire,Wit'ch Storm, Wit'ch War, Wit'ch Gate and Wit'ch Star).
I really enjoyed this series and the writer had me stuck to me chair during this one with a very clever twist in the end.
And must also mention the first D&D type books that I read was Dragonlance Chronicles & Legends by Weis & Hickman. That is what got me hooked. I actually bought them the other day in a box set format, but have not read them yet.
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If you want really good reference material into how the different races are "supposed" to interact with one another, I suggest reading the FR series.
R.A. Salvatore gets a little weak when putting up the 'racial barrier' between all the races, and his books tell the tale of far more accepting and tolerant characters. However, all the Dark Elf books will show you the 'inner workings' of a dwarf. Also the quintessential Drow. Evil to the bone.
Ed Greenwood puts Elminster in Myth Drannor. By a bunch of elves. You can bet that these elves don't really like Elminster. There are many, many examples of how snootish an elf should act.
That's the only FR I've read, but I've read 'em all by both. I'm pleased at many points, but some are disappointing. I feel that Salvatore's latest trilogy didn't wrap up nicely and had far too many cliffhanger points to it. Oh well.
Harry Turtledove wrote a really magnificent series that sort of integrates World War II into a fantasy realm. I believe the series was called someting like 'Darkness Descending', but it was insightful and pretty well done in my opinion.
Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth... I couldn't finish the book, I found it tedious and far too scrupulous to detail. But I have heard many a good review about it anyway, so I'll recommend it despite this.
That's all for now, I'll try really hard to think up some more. Dragonlance is supposed to be good, but I haven't read any from experience -- Too big of an everything, I don't know where to start.
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First actual fantasy book I read was The Legend of Huma, first part of the Dragonlance Heroes collection, by Richard Knaak. I was spoiled by this book in regards to Weis and Hickman, I consider their work by comparison on the Chronicles to be okay, but the "of the Twins" series to be boring and uninspired. I made it through the first book, about halfway through the second, and just had to put it down because it was literally putting me to sleep. The Legend of Huma is everything that a fantasy novel, to me, should be. Chronicles seemed more like a group of high school friends bumbling their way through a campaign with no real clue as to how the game works, as I watched unexplored plot threads go slipping away (the green gemstone man? can I get a wtf?) without satisfactory resolution or beginning.
(and yes, I deliberately talk down Weis and Hickman as much as possible, I just like watching devotees thereof sputter and counter. ;) )
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Im spankin new to this stuff. I could suggest some good reads on WAN technologies (been doing that for 17 years) but I know diddly about D&D or FR save what I've learned since I signed up for layonara last month.
Apart from the books mentioned, can anyone suggest a quick primer on the web? For example, until last month, I still had a pretty decent image of Elves as the tiny guys in Santa's workshop. I don't want to read about Elves at some random web site and get the wrong idea. Before I jump into any heavy novel, I want to get a better feel for the genre.
For example, on the topic of age by race:
How old is a young adult Elf? When would they marry... have kids... start a career? How old is an old Elf?
Same questions for the other races, and lots more topics I'd like answered.
Any suggestions for a primer that will give me some context like this?
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one of my personal favorite sci-fi fantasy serrieses is Roger Zelzany's Amber Serries, they tend to be short reads (only a couple hundred pages each) but they are really good, also his good and evil serries that he wrote with Jack Mckinny is fun to read too (Bring me the head of Prince Charming, if at faust you don't succeed, etc)
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This link looks good for such information, Xhanum:
http://myth-drannor.net/DlabraddathNet/z-Dlabraddath/Main.htm
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Also, for a real good definition of 'elves' and what not, I suggest the players handbook, 3rd edition or whatever's available, but also another book by Cookie and the gang, "The Quintessential Elf". It is like a handbook but goes over everything there is about the Elven folk: How they act, table manners, how they tip their hats, and so forth. I personally do not own it, nor have I ever read it. But I assume it to be very useful.