Remember that the explosion of novels in the 1990s had a lot to do with the relationship between TSR and Waldenbooks. I can't quote the page or anything, but there's an interesting tidbit in Of Dice & Men that talks about the profit from the novels and drain they were on the business. While some of those books grew to be quite profitable (Salvatore's books and the Weis/Hickman collaborations in particular), they really aren't the core of the business model.
Even when the novels extended or supported product, balancing the release dates and getting quality writing and game products to coincide at the same time were not always possible. One or the other suffered.
In effect, I can't blame them really. Hasbro isn't a publishing house. Wizards of the Coast publishes games that are in book format, but they are certainly NOT novels or fiction publishers like Penguin/Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, or Hatchette Book Group. They are punching WAY over their weight class based on how few folks seem to be working for them and adding additional folks wouldn't necessarily be a win for the game, it's image, setting continuity, or the current production schedule which seems pretty aggressive.
"...Debts must always be paid, sometimes in more than blood and gold. But this is Ordo Ursa," Ren places his hand on Erakas's chest, right where the Dragonborn's heart is. "Right here. And it always has been and always will be. Don't ever forget that. Because I won't."
Serandis Mendaen (Aereni Elven Rogue/maybe one day Wizard)- Project Point Playtest
I won't turn my nose up at it, but Drizzt novels marked their 30th anniversary last year. It would be great to see a new set of characters and stories that appeal to the new overall inclusive direction of D&D. Finding that balance between bringing in new licensed property readers (like many of us were as teenagers) while maturing the approach for their Gen X audience that grew up with these things is almost an impossible order though.
It is very interesting this thread, it seems that started 1 year ago and since then, from my understanding the only new novel to be released this year is "Timeless" bringing Drizz D'uorden (and some friends) back.
Once it seems that novels are not in the near plans of WoTC or we don't have any other news about that, I would like to "spice" the subject by asking you from Forgotten Realms series:
1) Which novel(s) have you read that you consider the best one(s)? 2) Which one(s) do you recommend for the DnD beginners to catch up with the lore and other references in FR?
For my personal experience, I decided to start reading DnD books around one year and a half ago; I went to the local library and I got the first trilogy of Drizzt (with Homeland, Exile and Sojourn) and from there, for the last 12 months I read in sequence all Drizzt books until Sea of Swords.
Current I am reading the SellSwords trilogy (Servant of the Shard, Promise of the Witch-King and Road of the Patriarch). I want to finish it quickly to start the Hunter's Blade Trilogy.
I am not "judging" the characters, author, story or the writing style, etc., I am just pointing the amount of lore I have learned through those books, especially about the North area.
While playing and mastering the adventures, I feel myself more comfortable with the stories (and I don't need to show off my "knowledge" to my friends or players - lol).
For instance, now, when I master the Start Set, the Lost Mine of Phandelver, I can bring to my players more information about the Banshee, Agatha, living close to Conyberry, because she was one of the characters of Drizzt adventures.
I can give them more information about what happened to that region (around 970 DR, especially with the 3 villages: Phandalin, Thundertree and Conyberry ) when the Orcs from the North, from the reign of Uruth Ukrupt, raided almost everything (and I am going to read bout those Orcs in the next trilogy of Drizzt: the Hunter's Blade).
Did I say that I was not showing off my knowledge (lol)? and that is only from some books I read about Drizzt. We still have books featuring Elminster, books about Cromyr, Dalelands, etc.
Anyway, what I want to share with you all is that we should motivate the beginner (and all) players to read the novels; we should suggest the reading of the "old" novels by commenting the great amount of lore we will find there and the benefits we have have when playing the adventures.
Even if the players decide to create their homebrew campaigns they will have more resources and knowledge to do it.
Maybe the authors and publishers decide to publish new novels if they realize the audience is bigger and more interested in reading/buying the products.
So..... Which books are you suggesting/sharing here to us? Sincerely, Drakortex.
I'm interested in the same thing. As far as D&D fiction goes, I only ever read Dragonlance Chronicles. For whatever reason (staying in the worlds of Tolkien, Jordan, Goodkind, and now Rothfuss), I never read novels in the Forgotten Realms. I've begun correcting that by ordering the Icewind Dale trilogy to begin reading, but other than those, what FR novels do others recommend - particularly for DMs looking to improve narration and backstory wrt Faerûn?
The Sundering series is pretty good for bridging a lot of the 4e to 5e lore.
I also really enjoyed Brimstone Angels. Really there are books for most areas it seems. If you like Cormyr there is the Cormyr saga, if you like Sembia there is the Sembia series of books, Westgate you have Shadowbane books, plenty for Waterdeep, Icewind Dale, Cormanthor, etc. etc. I believe there are almost 300 Forgotten Realms novels, so lots of options.
It is. Internet-found art. Can't remember from where, but I loved the design.
Thanks - I'll check for Brimstone Angels, and look into a few of the regions. I'm not geography-specific. Was just looking for something good set in the world. (And I am admittedly not a fan of the Salvatore style, so I have been looking for something else.
Cheers!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Remember that the explosion of novels in the 1990s had a lot to do with the relationship between TSR and Waldenbooks. I can't quote the page or anything, but there's an interesting tidbit in Of Dice & Men that talks about the profit from the novels and drain they were on the business. While some of those books grew to be quite profitable (Salvatore's books and the Weis/Hickman collaborations in particular), they really aren't the core of the business model.
Even when the novels extended or supported product, balancing the release dates and getting quality writing and game products to coincide at the same time were not always possible. One or the other suffered.
In effect, I can't blame them really. Hasbro isn't a publishing house. Wizards of the Coast publishes games that are in book format, but they are certainly NOT novels or fiction publishers like Penguin/Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, or Hatchette Book Group. They are punching WAY over their weight class based on how few folks seem to be working for them and adding additional folks wouldn't necessarily be a win for the game, it's image, setting continuity, or the current production schedule which seems pretty aggressive.
You guys saw that there is a new drizzt novel announced last week yeah? Happy days!
https://nerdist.com/drizzt-dourden-return-new-trilogy-ra-salvatore-timeless-exclusive/
DADDY'S BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"...Debts must always be paid, sometimes in more than blood and gold. But this is Ordo Ursa," Ren places his hand on Erakas's chest, right where the Dragonborn's heart is. "Right here. And it always has been and always will be. Don't ever forget that. Because I won't."
Serandis Mendaen (Aereni Elven Rogue/maybe one day Wizard)- Project Point Playtest
Looks like Salvatore is still milking that book contract for all its worth; it'll be a new 3 book trilogy.
Forever Dungeon Master & Storyteller
I won't turn my nose up at it, but Drizzt novels marked their 30th anniversary last year. It would be great to see a new set of characters and stories that appeal to the new overall inclusive direction of D&D. Finding that balance between bringing in new licensed property readers (like many of us were as teenagers) while maturing the approach for their Gen X audience that grew up with these things is almost an impossible order though.
It is very interesting this thread, it seems that started 1 year ago and since then, from my understanding the only new novel to be released this year is "Timeless" bringing Drizz D'uorden (and some friends) back.
Once it seems that novels are not in the near plans of WoTC or we don't have any other news about that, I would like to "spice" the subject by asking you from Forgotten Realms series:
1) Which novel(s) have you read that you consider the best one(s)?
2) Which one(s) do you recommend for the DnD beginners to catch up with the lore and other references in FR?
For my personal experience, I decided to start reading DnD books around one year and a half ago; I went to the local library and I got the first trilogy of Drizzt (with Homeland, Exile and Sojourn) and from there, for the last 12 months I read in sequence all Drizzt books until Sea of Swords.
Current I am reading the SellSwords trilogy (Servant of the Shard, Promise of the Witch-King and Road of the Patriarch). I want to finish it quickly to start the Hunter's Blade Trilogy.
I am not "judging" the characters, author, story or the writing style, etc., I am just pointing the amount of lore I have learned through those books, especially about the North area.
While playing and mastering the adventures, I feel myself more comfortable with the stories (and I don't need to show off my "knowledge" to my friends or players - lol).
For instance, now, when I master the Start Set, the Lost Mine of Phandelver, I can bring to my players more information about the Banshee, Agatha, living close to Conyberry, because she was one of the characters of Drizzt adventures.
I can give them more information about what happened to that region (around 970 DR, especially with the 3 villages: Phandalin, Thundertree and Conyberry ) when the Orcs from the North, from the reign of Uruth Ukrupt, raided almost everything (and I am going to read bout those Orcs in the next trilogy of Drizzt: the Hunter's Blade).
Did I say that I was not showing off my knowledge (lol)? and that is only from some books I read about Drizzt. We still have books featuring Elminster, books about Cromyr, Dalelands, etc.
Anyway, what I want to share with you all is that we should motivate the beginner (and all) players to read the novels; we should suggest the reading of the "old" novels by commenting the great amount of lore we will find there and the benefits we have have when playing the adventures.
Even if the players decide to create their homebrew campaigns they will have more resources and knowledge to do it.
Maybe the authors and publishers decide to publish new novels if they realize the audience is bigger and more interested in reading/buying the products.
So..... Which books are you suggesting/sharing here to us?
Sincerely,
Drakortex.
Drakortex, cleric of Bahamut.
I'm interested in the same thing. As far as D&D fiction goes, I only ever read Dragonlance Chronicles. For whatever reason (staying in the worlds of Tolkien, Jordan, Goodkind, and now Rothfuss), I never read novels in the Forgotten Realms. I've begun correcting that by ordering the Icewind Dale trilogy to begin reading, but other than those, what FR novels do others recommend - particularly for DMs looking to improve narration and backstory wrt Faerûn?
Thanks from me as well!
The Sundering series is pretty good for bridging a lot of the 4e to 5e lore.
I also really enjoyed Brimstone Angels. Really there are books for most areas it seems. If you like Cormyr there is the Cormyr saga, if you like Sembia there is the Sembia series of books, Westgate you have Shadowbane books, plenty for Waterdeep, Icewind Dale, Cormanthor, etc. etc. I believe there are almost 300 Forgotten Realms novels, so lots of options.
Also is that Matrim?
It is. Internet-found art. Can't remember from where, but I loved the design.
Thanks - I'll check for Brimstone Angels, and look into a few of the regions. I'm not geography-specific. Was just looking for something good set in the world. (And I am admittedly not a fan of the Salvatore style, so I have been looking for something else.
Cheers!