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Which should I read first?

Discussion in 'Booktalk' started by Smaug, Jan 13, 2003.

  1. Smaug Gems: 1/31
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    Should I read Baldur's Gate the novel first? This is what this site says but I'm just making sure.
     
  2. Aikanaro Gems: 31/31
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    [​IMG] Read it first in comparison to what precisly?
     
  3. Smaug Gems: 1/31
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    Oh sorry. I meant, should I read it first in the Forgotten Realms series.
     
  4. Aikanaro Gems: 31/31
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    Well you can't realy call the FR books a series as there are so many writers and so many parts to it. I have heard some realy bad things about the Baldur's Gate books. If I were you I would give FR a pass, they're too much money for too little
     
  5. Erebus Gems: 16/31
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    The Baldurs gate books are pretty good, well I read them first before anything else.
     
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  7. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    [​IMG] What I wrote was meant to indicate that for each separate cluster of books, they are listed in order they should be read. But you can start with any bunch of FR books, really.

    And if I were you, I'd skip the BG books altogether. They're the worst of all FR books. Start with something from Salvatore or Greenwood, which is a good typical entry point. Anyway, there have been a dozen topics on the subject of where to start with the FR books, so just explore this forum a bit and you'll find them.
     
  8. Frostmage Gems: 11/31
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    I recommend starting with R.A. Salvatore's Icewind Dale trilogy (The Chrystal shard, Streams of silver, and the Halflings gem). They are very good reading.
     
  9. Smaug Gems: 1/31
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    Thanks guys. I actually have the Icewind Dale Trilogy but I stopped to read BG because I misunderstood the book guide. Thank you for setting me straight.
     
  10. Rathanel Gems: 1/31
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    Well, the Avatar Trilogy (Shadowdale, Tantras, and Waterdeep) is one of the better ones in the Forgotten Realms setting, but the high points are the Elminster series, Salvatore's books, and the Harper's series. Any of those would make an excellent starting point.
     
  11. The Archmage Neon Gems: 3/31
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    Well, IMHO you should first read the Dark Elf Trilogy, it was a great trilogy, very easy to read, and covered a lot of ground quickly. After that I recommend the IWD trilogy, I found that I enjoyed it more when I read the Dark Elf Trilogy first, it gives you a better understanding of Drizzt. After those I recommend either the other Drizzt books or the Elminster series. After that pretty much anything works.

    [ January 29, 2003, 20:44: Message edited by: Lord Neon ]
     
  12. Khelben Gems: 15/31
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    Elminster Series
    Dark Elf Trilogy
    Icewind Dale Trilogy
    Avatar Trilogy
    or Salvatore's Cleric Stuff can give you a point of view about FR.
     
  13. Apeman Gems: 25/31
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    Add the cormyr trilogy to that and you're pretty far.
     
  14. Champion of the Multiverse Gems: 1/31
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    I've only read about 30 Forgotten Realms books, so I may not be the most reliable source. Out of what I have read though, I would recommend starting out with The Avatar Trilogy and the 2 sequals. Excellent books that will make you want to read more FR. Better than RAS' Drizzt and Cadderly books, and better than the Elminster books.
     
  15. Arahar

    Arahar Hmm, it's a dwarf. Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder

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    IMHO go:

    Dark Elf Trilogy
    Icewind Dale Trilogy
    Next Drizzt Trilogy(can't remember name)
    The Avatar Trilogy
    Continue with Drizzt

    the reason for throwing the Avatar Trilogy in between all the Drizzt books is because it explains some of the Magic problems that go on in the continuing Drizzt books although the timelines don't exactly match?? ;)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 16, 2012
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