The Role of Books...
-
- Rider of Rohan
- Posts: 8067
- Joined: Fri May 25, 2012 10:06 am
- Location: Pennsylvania
The Role of Books...
Greetings - I'm about 200 pages away from finishing book 14 of the Wheel of Time series. Finally . Made if half way years ago, but got distracted. Started up again recently and have been happily enjoying it. A few books in the middle where a little slower but the final few books have been pretty good.
So what's next? Any recommendations for a good epic series?
I've read Malazan Book of the Fallen a while ago and enjoyed that (i'll have to re-do that one again for sure), The Black Company, Game of Thrones, of course, and have a few others on hand but they aren't finished yet (I hate starting series that aren't complete ).
Thanks!
So what's next? Any recommendations for a good epic series?
I've read Malazan Book of the Fallen a while ago and enjoyed that (i'll have to re-do that one again for sure), The Black Company, Game of Thrones, of course, and have a few others on hand but they aren't finished yet (I hate starting series that aren't complete ).
Thanks!
- GreyWolfVT
- Wants a special title like Scott
- Posts: 33236
- Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2013 10:02 pm
- Location: Vermont
- Contact:
Re: The Role of Books...
Well question I have would be have you read any of the old school D&D novels? Like the ravenloft series (open ended so really no specific order to worry about reading them in.) OR Dragonlance novels? Anything forgotten realms novel wise.ravenn4544 wrote:Greetings - I'm about 200 pages away from finishing book 14 of the Wheel of Time series. Finally . Made if half way years ago, but got distracted. Started up again recently and have been happily enjoying it. A few books in the middle where a little slower but the final few books have been pretty good.
So what's next? Any recommendations for a good epic series?
I've read Malazan Book of the Fallen a while ago and enjoyed that (i'll have to re-do that one again for sure), The Black Company, Game of Thrones, of course, and have a few others on hand but they aren't finished yet (I hate starting series that aren't complete ).
Thanks!
Only asking that as all I've been reading for the past 10+ years are old D&D novels. Currently reading Dragonlance Preludes book 1 about half way through and only started it a week or two back. I like to take my time.
I would recommend if you have not read them the Elminster series of books. Thats where this started for me when i was younger ready the first book part way through. Never completed it until maybe 2006 I think when i decided to buy a copy since I lost the one i had as a kid. That fueled the fire and I started buying older D&D novels and new ones too. I've read all that the Drizzt multiple series had at the time. Probably missing some new stuff since I haven't read a Salvatore book in probably 2 years now.
I really enjoyed most all the books I've read so far for D&D stuff. I would also say anything from Paul S. Kemp or Ed Greenwood is worth a read.
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred
"If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
DM - GreyWolf's Mystara Adventures - AD&D 2e
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred
"If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
Re: The Role of Books...
I'll go a little off the wall here and say that Hemingway and Hammett are good reads if you want to mimic their style in play by post. They're both good storytellers and write solid prose without a lot of embellishment.
Neil Gaiman: "I started imagining a world in which we replaced the phrase 'politically correct' wherever we could with 'treating other people with respect', and it made me smile."..."I know what you’re thinking now. You’re thinking 'Oh my god, that’s treating other people with respect gone mad!'"
Fail States RPG
Mythistorical Bundle
माया | Gratitude
Fail States RPG
Mythistorical Bundle
माया | Gratitude
- GreyWolfVT
- Wants a special title like Scott
- Posts: 33236
- Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2013 10:02 pm
- Location: Vermont
- Contact:
Re: The Role of Books...
I could also suggest H.G. Wells books. The Time Machine and War of the Worlds. Granted these are the only books of his I have read I really liked The Time Machine.
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred
"If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
DM - GreyWolf's Mystara Adventures - AD&D 2e
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred
"If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
- Quonundrum
- Rider of Rohan
- Posts: 3653
- Joined: Sat Jul 27, 2019 11:57 pm
Re: The Role of Books...
Highly recommend War of the Worlds!
Re: The Role of Books...
Have you ever read Fred Saberhagen's Empire of the East and Books of Swords? Classics and great RPG inspiration.
Re: The Role of Books...
Thirded!Quonundrum wrote:Highly recommend War of the Worlds!
If you don't mind digital formats, right here is a good D&D place to start:
https://archive.org/details/appendix-n?tab=collection
This is a game about killing things and taking their stuff so you can become more powerful in order to kill bigger things and take even better stuff.
Re: The Role of Books...
Discoworld novels by Terry Pratchett.
"I drained the soul of a monk once....... It tasted like Chocolate."
Re: The Role of Books...
There is a scene in which dice actually fall from the sky, if I remember correctly. The gods run the game.tarlyn wrote:Discoworld novels by Terry Pratchett.
Neil Gaiman: "I started imagining a world in which we replaced the phrase 'politically correct' wherever we could with 'treating other people with respect', and it made me smile."..."I know what you’re thinking now. You’re thinking 'Oh my god, that’s treating other people with respect gone mad!'"
Fail States RPG
Mythistorical Bundle
माया | Gratitude
Fail States RPG
Mythistorical Bundle
माया | Gratitude
- GreyWolfVT
- Wants a special title like Scott
- Posts: 33236
- Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2013 10:02 pm
- Location: Vermont
- Contact:
Re: The Role of Books...
Terry Pratchett and Terry Brooks books are in my "to read list" as well so I couldn't suggest what I haven't read yet.
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred
"If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
DM - GreyWolf's Mystara Adventures - AD&D 2e
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred
"If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
Re: The Role of Books...
Hah hah! For real? That’s great.tibbius wrote:There is a scene in which dice actually fall from the sky, if I remember correctly. The gods run the game.tarlyn wrote:Discoworld novels by Terry Pratchett.
I don’t think I’ve read any Discworld books. I’ve heard of them, not sure why I haven’t read any.
This is a game about killing things and taking their stuff so you can become more powerful in order to kill bigger things and take even better stuff.
Re: The Role of Books...
They're a really humane and humorous version of swords and sorcery. The characters generally are likable people, although some behave in horrifying ways if you stop to think about what they're doing. Heroism is accidental in the earlier books, and tends toward "just doing my job" in the later ones. My favorite characters are Granny Weatherwax (a witch), Carrot (a six foot tall "dwarf" watchman), and of course Rincewind (a mostly-failed but graduated wizard with a knack for languages and surviving terrible decisions).rredmond wrote:I don’t think I’ve read any Discworld books. I’ve heard of them, not sure why I haven’t read any.
I should add that many of the books are available to borrow from archive.org.
Neil Gaiman: "I started imagining a world in which we replaced the phrase 'politically correct' wherever we could with 'treating other people with respect', and it made me smile."..."I know what you’re thinking now. You’re thinking 'Oh my god, that’s treating other people with respect gone mad!'"
Fail States RPG
Mythistorical Bundle
माया | Gratitude
Fail States RPG
Mythistorical Bundle
माया | Gratitude
-
- Rider of Rohan
- Posts: 8067
- Joined: Fri May 25, 2012 10:06 am
- Location: Pennsylvania
Re: The Role of Books...
Thanks for the suggestions. Much appreciated! I like the unique ideas.
Terry brooks was good - the first three (sword, elf stones, and wish song of shannarra).
Have read a lot of the forgotten realms and dragon lance series (the first dragon lance trilogy was great). The Avatar series in the forgotten realms was my favorite. I have Elminster in Hell but never read it - maybe dust that one off between epic series readings . Enjoyed the Drizzt series too.
Started on a new series from Brandon Sanderson (stormlight or stormbringer series - i forget the name) and i like that - but that's 10 books and only 4 out so far so that's gonna have to wait. I ordered the mistborn series as reviews were good but never read it.
Katherine Kerr's deverry series was really good - characters were good.
Maybe i'll re-read Stephen Kings 'the stand' - that's apropos for the times
I'll have to browse my library and see what jumps out.
Any ideas welcome!
Terry brooks was good - the first three (sword, elf stones, and wish song of shannarra).
Have read a lot of the forgotten realms and dragon lance series (the first dragon lance trilogy was great). The Avatar series in the forgotten realms was my favorite. I have Elminster in Hell but never read it - maybe dust that one off between epic series readings . Enjoyed the Drizzt series too.
Started on a new series from Brandon Sanderson (stormlight or stormbringer series - i forget the name) and i like that - but that's 10 books and only 4 out so far so that's gonna have to wait. I ordered the mistborn series as reviews were good but never read it.
Katherine Kerr's deverry series was really good - characters were good.
Maybe i'll re-read Stephen Kings 'the stand' - that's apropos for the times
I'll have to browse my library and see what jumps out.
Any ideas welcome!
Re: The Role of Books...
Cormac McCarthy's The Road!
Another vote for Gary Gygax's list in Appendix N from the AD&D DMG:
And I'd add Tom Moldvay's list from D&D Basic as well:
They really speak to the game's roots in pulp horror and sword and sorcery vs the high fantasy of Tolkien that came to dominate the genre and the game (through no fault of Tolkien).
Another vote for Gary Gygax's list in Appendix N from the AD&D DMG:
And I'd add Tom Moldvay's list from D&D Basic as well:
They really speak to the game's roots in pulp horror and sword and sorcery vs the high fantasy of Tolkien that came to dominate the genre and the game (through no fault of Tolkien).
Re: The Role of Books...
I see C.J. Cherryh mentioned in the D&D Basic list, so I'll amp that up by specifically mentioning the Morgaine Chronicles. A strong and complicated female paladin and her ronin sidekick, written by an extremely learned woman. They travel between worlds through faery gates. The gates make them immortal. Something I'd like to re-read if I ever have sufficient time.
Neil Gaiman: "I started imagining a world in which we replaced the phrase 'politically correct' wherever we could with 'treating other people with respect', and it made me smile."..."I know what you’re thinking now. You’re thinking 'Oh my god, that’s treating other people with respect gone mad!'"
Fail States RPG
Mythistorical Bundle
माया | Gratitude
Fail States RPG
Mythistorical Bundle
माया | Gratitude
- GreyWolfVT
- Wants a special title like Scott
- Posts: 33236
- Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2013 10:02 pm
- Location: Vermont
- Contact:
Re: The Role of Books...
I realized I forgot to mention one of my favorites Douglas Adams. If you're into that type of thing I'd recommend it.
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred
"If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
DM - GreyWolf's Mystara Adventures - AD&D 2e
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred
"If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
-
- Rider of Rohan
- Posts: 8067
- Joined: Fri May 25, 2012 10:06 am
- Location: Pennsylvania
Re: The Role of Books...
douglas adams is just a work of art.
that list from Tom from the basic set is brining back memories. the first one on the list - the Book of Three - was the first fantasy book i ever read. Loved the artwork on that cover as a kid Still on the bookshelf!
that list from Tom from the basic set is brining back memories. the first one on the list - the Book of Three - was the first fantasy book i ever read. Loved the artwork on that cover as a kid Still on the bookshelf!
- cybersavant
- Ranger Lord
- Posts: 2300
- Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2019 3:23 am
- Location: Saskatoon
- Contact:
Re: The Role of Books...
ANYTHING by Poul Anderson - i have all of Anderson' Asimov's, Bradbury's and Tolkien's wrtiings
gaming since 1980
cybersavant.proboards.com
- = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = -
Andreas Larson; Law of the Gun <Boot Hill 3e>
Nah Olos; Earthquakes in the Jotens <AD&D 1e>
Rorexsth; Wayfarers <Doctor Who>
DM - Wrath of the Righteous (PF1)
cybersavant.proboards.com
- = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = -
Andreas Larson; Law of the Gun <Boot Hill 3e>
Nah Olos; Earthquakes in the Jotens <AD&D 1e>
Rorexsth; Wayfarers <Doctor Who>
DM - Wrath of the Righteous (PF1)
Re: The Role of Books...
If you enjoyed The Black Company Glen Cook has another series called "The Instrumentalities of the Night" that I've been enjoying immensely! It's got an entirely different feel, a bit more like a spy novel I guess but I really love the world building and dense cast.
Former GM:Adventures in the Old World (WFRP, 1e)
Re: The Role of Books...
This is awesome!rredmond wrote:If you don't mind digital formats, right here is a good D&D place to start:
https://archive.org/details/appendix-n?tab=collection