Forgotten Realms

[Shandriz]

Right, so you all knew the resident Drizzt fanatic was going to come out with this eventually!

..have any of -you- actually read any of the series, though? And I don't just mean the Drizzt section-- there's a lot more to Forgotten Realms than R.A Salvatore (even if he is the -best-).

A little summary, for those unfamiliar--

Drizzt chronicles-- there are four trilogies in this series so far. The fifth one is in progress. It's about a character named Drizzt Do'Urden, a Drow. Drow are, in general, extremely evil, manipulative people. They live by a matriarchy in which woman have all the power and glory, and men consider themselves lucky when they live. Drizzt isn't like the other Drow, most likely because of his father's influence as his father seemed to be a bit soft-hearted as well. Eventually he leaves the Underdark, where all the Drow live, and attempts to make a life for himself on the surface world despite the fact that just about everyone there hates him simply for being Drow.

The thing that makes this series truly wonderful is R.A. Salvatore's style of writing. He -really- focuses on characterization, and makes Drizzt believable despite the fact that a "Good" aligned Drow really shouldn't be possible.

Starlight and Shadows Trilogy-- by Elaine Cunninghame. Also Forgotten Realms, and also Drow (though I swear not all Forgotten Realms books are about Drow! ..most aren't, actually. Only the ones I read are.) Elaine Cunningham is a -master- writer. She manages one of the most difficult feats for -anyone- familiar with D&D alignments and even those who aren't-- a True neutral character. It's nearly impossible to actually manage a character who literally doesn't act in any way even slightly good or bad, but just what -they- feel they should do. Liriel, however, -is-, though she starts leaning just the slightest bit towards good when she meets up with the human Berserker Fyodor.

Liriel starts off in the Underdark as well, the daughter of the highest ranking male in Menzoberranzen (the biggest of the Drow cities). She's a powerful mage to begin with, but when things start going awry and her adventure lust takes hold of her, she visits the surface world. Eventually she embarks on a Quest to find something called the Windchaser Amulet which she hopes will allow her to take her Drow magic to the surface so that she might exist there, as Drow magic generally fades out and dies in the surface world.

The Underdark, as a sidenote, is very very deep under ground. I don't think I mentioned that before.

At any rate, there are a lot of other really interesting-sounding series in the Forgotten Realms world. My brother's collecting a set that has a book in it called Elfsong (I assume it's about an elven bard, but then, I could be completely off.) and I know that the stories about an elderly cleric named Cadderly is really good, as I've met the character in Drizzt's tale and there's a lot there of interest.

[Daijaga]

Theres more to FG than R.A. Salvador? *dubious*

lol

I was thinking about picking up Murder in Cormyr sometime, but is it a lot like its cousin book in the dragonlance world, Murder in Tarsis?

[Shandriz]

I have -no- idea. Like I said, I'm only familiar with those two seried really, though the Cleric Quintet's probably decent, and I'm really looking for the Song of the Seven Sisters series, as the Sisters seem incredibly cool.

[Therin]

Salvatore is pretty damn good. I've read the Icewind Dale Trilogy, but that's all. Had I the money, I'd read the rest

[GAAZ]

I've read ever RA book he's written for Forgotten Realms...All his books that aren't Forgotten Realms SUCK...HARD.

I'm also on the last book of "Song and Swords" books by Elaine and I finished "Starlight and Shadows" (Commonly called the Windwalker saga) and made it through her "Counselors and Kings" saga. I like Elaine probably more than Salvatore..She created Dannillo Thann who is infinetly better then many of RA's characters just because he's a flop turned Harper being groomed to take over for Kelben Arunsun. Drizzt while cool always goes right back where he started doubting himself that he's actually doing any good only to be confronted by Catterbrie or Wulfgar and then Drizzt goes back to normal... Basically he's getting played out.

But the new series that's directed by Salvatore but not written by him but a multitude of authors is great. The saga is "War of the Spider Queen" and if you enjoy REAL Drow logic then these are the books to pick up. It's about Lloth no longer answering summons by the Drow and it's turning their world into PURE chaos because they can no longer defend themselves from Males, Slaves, or the Underdark. A team of Drow must find out why and how far this blanket of non-Lloth help is stretching. They even go as far as to seek the help of one of Lloths children Vargas (I think that's his name) the god of masks and thievery.

[Shandriz]

Yeah, my best friend was telling me about the War of the Spider Queen ones. Sadly, I -don't- like REAL Drow logic, and really can't stand pure chaotic evil characters in general, so I don't particularly feel inclined to read them.

[Shinigami Banchou]

Well, i have never really read any of the forgotten realms book though i would really like to, i have just never really had money to spend on books often (sucks paying for college outta pocket) and lately i have been addicted to Clive Barker so my book money goes towards that, but when i was younger i did read a bad ass book called "Curse of the Shadow Mage" its about the harpers if i remeber correctly but it was before i ever knew about the Forgotten Realms or really much about D&D in general. I am looking to pick up some FR books sometime soon and i was wondering if anyone had any recommendations?

[GAAZ]

[Shandriz]

Sounds like it'd be worth a try, then. ^^ Perhaps I should see if Alex'll let me borrow them.

[Zzyxx]

i've read the drizzt books up until right after the Icewind Dale trilogy... i ahven't been able to get a hold on any after that... *weeps*