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T O P I C    R E V I E W
Lina Posted - 18 Nov 2004 : 12:10:41
Vote for a FR Series that you loved reading the most.
Note: Those included in the list were published in the late 80s/early 90s. Series which began in the 80s but continued on by later editions were also added (it's not my fault that some authors decided to slack off until now to extend the series).

I see Alaundo has made a few changes here (can have up to 12 instead of 6 choices). Good thinking Alaundo.
30   L A T E S T    R E P L I E S    (Newest First)
BARDOBARBAROS Posted - 25 Jan 2008 : 07:44:53
The Dark Elf Trilogy
ajfurst Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 01:49:36
I've gone with the Finders Stone Trilogy. Though you get the impression half of those ones were never planned as trilogies at the start, but the first books were too popular.

Ie. my favourite 3 FR books, that when I've read what I've got and short of cash for something new I can re-read happily for the 37th time are 'Azure Bonds', 'The Crystal Shard' and 'Pools of Radiance'. I don't feel compelled to finish the trilogies when I do. Where as if I read something like 'Return of the Archwizards' or 'Avatar Trilogy' stopping at book 1 really can't be done.
Zarithar Posted - 04 Jan 2008 : 16:06:17
I'm going to have to go with Icewind Dale. I love Salvatore's earlier writing. I see Song and Swords ranking quite highly, and I'll have to check that out. One of my problems with many of the Realms novels I have read (and Dragonlance as well) is that the writing is sub-par and cliche. I'm looking for something to break that trend.
GRYPHON Posted - 02 Jan 2008 : 13:52:25
I have to go with the Elminster series or the Avatar series.
Zaknafein Posted - 09 Feb 2007 : 22:58:06
the Icewind Dale trilogy was the first series I read in FR and thats what got me into it. However I enjoyed the Dark Elf trilogy more than the Icewind Dale one.

Overall you can't go wrong with Elminster. Elminster in Hell is one of my all-time favorite novels.
Jorkens Posted - 09 Feb 2007 : 07:01:26
Well, that would depend on your taste wouldn't it? Therefore I will try to answer more in line with general popularity and withhold a few of my own favorites. The Song & Sword books are generally well liked by everyone, the Finders Stone trilogy also, bare in mind that that one is out of print. The Sembia books and Erevis Cale books are also liked by most. The rest is much a matter of personal taste. If you enjoyed the Cormyr books and feel like more Greenwood I would suggest the Elminster series or the Shandril books.
yargarth Posted - 09 Feb 2007 : 05:50:15
i have read very few series and atm i have finshed all of the Drizzt books, the sellswords, almost done with year of the rogue dragons, and i am almost done with cormyr. PLEASE tell me what a good series is!!
koz Posted - 23 Jan 2007 : 04:34:53
Thanks Quajack. I'm still a newbie here so hearing that someone with more knowledge than me agrees with my thoughts is high praise indeed. I also mean no disrespect to the current authors. In fact my favorite realms novel isn't in either of my two favorite series. That honor goes to Richard Baker's The City of Ravens. Jack Ravenswild has to be the most memorable character in any realms novel I have read IMHO. I do think that today's authors are doing a fine job of "carrying the torch" so to speak. Songs and Swords and The Finder's Stone set the bar very high but also set a very solid foundation for future authors. Here's hoping the bar continues to be pushed ever higher.
quajack Posted - 22 Jan 2007 : 18:53:53
This Koz guy seems to know what he's talking about. Song and Swords and Finder's Stone. These are the standards that other authors should strive to achieve. My apoligies to Paul Kemp and Lisa Smedman as their trilogies are epic in their own rite. I feel as though I cannot give positive accolades to RAS on these boards because of the strong anti-Drizzt sentiment that exists in this community. Otherwise I'd have Dark Elf and Icewind Dale up near the top.
koz Posted - 21 Jan 2007 : 01:59:44
This was a difficult decision. I enjoyed the Moonshae trilogy very much and the Drizzt novels are what introduced me to the realms and got me hooked, Icewind Dale being my first series read. I am going to have to settle for a tie between the Songs and Swords series and the Finder's Stone trilogy and it's spin offs. Both were very well written and kept me engrossed throughtout. I can still remember each series very fondly. Both series flew by in the time it took me to read them. I averaged just under 3 days for each book in Songs and Swords series and finished the entire Finder's stone trilogy in under 5 days!!!!! What stands out to me about each series is the characterization and humor. Both go a long way towards enjoyment of a novel I think.
Grehnar Posted - 18 Jan 2007 : 22:28:10
While some of my old FR books have been, shall we say, 'recycled' the Icewind Dale series keep coming out for a re-read. Longevity counts for a lot.
I still keep "Darkwalker" too for sentimental reasons.
Aglaranna Posted - 18 Jan 2007 : 16:20:18
Hm...I'd have to say that my favorites are the Cleric Quintet and the Harper Series. And if I had to choose one over the other...Harpers all the way!
The Sage Posted - 17 Jan 2007 : 23:16:39
quote:
Originally posted by gaasban

The Ring of Winter (we need more Chult!)
Well, we also have the Jungles of Chult adventure module. See the "Chultengar" and "Samarach" details in Serpent Kingdoms also.
gaasban Posted - 17 Jan 2007 : 21:16:31
I really enjoyed the Harpers series. My favorites were 4, 5 6 and 7... The Night Parade, The Ring of Winter (we need more Chult!), Crypt of the Shadowking and Soldiers of Ice.

But, I'm old school like that... I have not read many newer books that I have liked as much as the older ones.
Ateth Istarlin Posted - 16 Jan 2007 : 10:31:51
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje

quote:
Originally posted by coralleane

I had to vote for Heroes of Phlan... although I've read Icewind Dale, the Cleric Quintet, the Avatar series and the Moonshae Trilogy, the first FR books I ever read were "Pool of Radiance" and "Pool of Darkness" and there is *something* about them (and also Pool of Twilight) that still makes me want to snatch up my Bag of Holding and venture forth. It also has some of my favourite quotes in. ;)

~Coral



YAY see I am not alone in my like of those books! :)


Of course your not alone - I voted for the Heros of Phlan as well!
Although I have enjoyed almost all the FR novels I've read (apart from "Bloodwalk"), The Heros of Phlan seem much more like real AD&D adventures to me (most other books focus too much on 1 or 2 characters instead of the whole party).
Lameth Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 16:46:55
Finders Stone Trilogy
boddynock Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 14:07:54
I voted for the dark elf trilogies. It were the first novels that I ever read about Forgotten Realms. I really enjoyed the way the writer wrote about the live in Menzoberanzan.
Enialus Meliamne Posted - 09 Jan 2007 : 09:47:13
My last post to this thread was in 04. After brief intervals of time away, I'm reading once again, deep into these forums/threads. Anyway, I've probably read a good 20-25 Forgotten Realms books since then (Some re-reads added in to that figure), and yet I still think the Cleric Quintet was and is my all time favorite, though admittedly Songs and Swords is moving up in the pecking order.

The things that appeal to me about the Quintet...Well, a searcher for his place in the world, and eventually finding it (I'm an agnostic, though for reasons I won't list here, my faith is growing), a pair of antic driven brothers (I have many friends like this that come in pairs), a beautiful and yet strong willed and tough woman (Just like my fiance that I know I'll spend the rest of my life with)...Etc.

The list goes on and on for me really. I think the Ghost scares me the most of any villain I've read up on. I admittedly cringed while reading some of the scenes involving him.

I really could go on in this thread on why, but maybe in a few years I'll redirect to it , and might have a different input by then.
khorne Posted - 10 Nov 2006 : 20:20:25
Songs and swords, definitely.
Victor_ograygor Posted - 09 Nov 2006 : 09:56:27
I voted for the Shandril''s Saga ( A vaste of time )
Twilight Posted - 09 Nov 2006 : 08:28:22
Return of the ArchWizards
Ardashir Posted - 02 Oct 2006 : 18:41:10
If I had to pick a series, it'd be a toss-up between either of Elaine Cunningham's two series (the Windwalker/Liriel Baenre trilogy and Songs and Swords), or really anything Ed Greenwood has done.

If a single novel, I'd choose Scott Ciencin's The Night Parade. One of the best Realms novels and a great horror story to boot.
Zimme Posted - 30 Sep 2006 : 15:35:12
Ah the battle of Mithral hall, and the defeat of the armies of Menzoberranzan is indeed a great tale. Legacy for me for sure.
sleyvas Posted - 30 Sep 2006 : 12:13:42
Song & Swords definitely. Elaine makes wonderful characters and interesting plots.
Eremite Posted - 30 Sep 2006 : 04:30:22
I still have a soft spot for The Crystal Shard. To this day I still want to run an adventure similar to that depicted in the book. Hmmm... might be time to plan a campaign in the North....
GMWestermeyer Posted - 29 Sep 2006 : 16:42:43
I choose the Elfshadow books as a series, but I think _Wyvern's Spur_ is the single best Realms novel ever. Really captured the life of Cormyr's country nobility.
Faramicos Posted - 17 Sep 2006 : 13:40:28
My vote goes to the Dark Elf trilogy... They hooked me to the realms and i have read them several times since. Love them.
MerrikCale Posted - 17 Sep 2006 : 03:35:15
Icewind slightly over Cleric Quintet
Jorkens Posted - 13 Sep 2006 : 17:16:59
quote:

Originally posted by Chosen of Moradin

Things will be very funny if someone is trying to track some of us.


Especially with me wearing high heels and you wearing bunny-slippers

Sorry, don't throw anything.
Alisttair Posted - 13 Sep 2006 : 16:34:27
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens

Sorry if I confused you Alistair, it was only a flippant comment about the threads you had resurrected; it was not meant in any way as negative. I had not answered them myself, so I was following in your footsteps topic after topic.



Oh hehe....I hadn't even noticed....I was just trying to vote in all the polls and it showed up in Active Polls for some reason.

But yeah its nice to resurrect some old threads sometimes. It's like going through some old tomes in Candlekeep....oh wait...its scrolls in this area ;)

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