What books to start with in the FR settings

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I've recently rediscovered the desire to learn more about Faerûn and fantasy in general, so I went to the local library but I just found tons of books and no way to see what to read first. What I really want to do, is to read from the start of the timeline, so I won't miss anything.

Does such a timeline exist, where you can see where the books take place? It would certainly be nice.

 

amen. start reading wherever you like. Hell, my first FR book was Cunningham's "Thornhold", the end of "THe Harpers" series

The Sembia series may be a good place to start. iirc, it's purpose is to try and draw new readers in anyway. And half the book in the series are pretty good. The others.. not so :/

 

Yeah, I even think I made a topic about this once but I was in a hurry in school. But that's no excuse anymore. Thanks for the tips, I'll check it out.

 

If you want to learn about the Pantheons of the Realms, magic and plenty more, read the Avatar trilogy and the two books following:
1st book- Shadowdale
2nd book- Tantras
3rd book- Waterdeep
4th book- Prince of Lies
5th book- Cruicible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad

To learn about Cormyr, read 'Cormyr: A novel' its quite good.

To learn about the north, the Underdark and more, read the Drizzt saga. But if you read the Drizzt series make sure that you read them in order otherwise you waste some of them. Also if you read this make sure that you read the Cleric Quintet, you learn about some characters that come into the Drizzt saga.

I'd also recomend the Elminster series, the newer books aren't as good but you should still read them.

 

If you want to learn about elves, start with "Evermeet;" Netherese, Arcane Age trilogy; gods, the Avatar trilagy Rolsuk mentioned, a fun romp with pretty much everything, try the Cleric Quintet

A really good way to break yourself in is to pick up one of the "Realms of (X)" books. Realms of the Underdark will take you all over its cavernous tunnels, Realms of the Dragons gives you tidbits on dragons, and so on. The stories are typically long enough to be intersting, but short enough to not be intimidating. Also, since there's a mix of many authors, you can find whose writing style you like or dislike, and find or avoid their work accordingly.

As said, however, it doesnt really matter. I started with R.A Salvator's "the Silent Blade" and branched out from there.

 

I have to disagree bro. "Elminster in Hell" was a travesty that I will never open again. You should definitely read Making of a Mage though. And El in Myth Drannor wasn't too bad.

 

I'm not looking to read "up" on something, I want to be entertained and I don't want to sit in the middle of a book, listening to myself saying "Hm, when did he die?" or something like that. I want to be in from the beginning.

 

You could start with the Sembia series then. It's a totally "self-contained" series. They don't make much (if any) mention about things that haven't occured in the previous novels of the series. You'll have to read them in the order that they were released though, otherwise you'll recieve spoilers.

WotDSC would also be a good place. It's my favorite FR series and since practically all of the main characters were introduced only in the series itself, you wont need "footnotes" or anything like that.

 

All I've really read in the Forgotten Realms setting has been the Drizzt books by R.A. Salvatore.

I started with the Icewind Dale Trilogy, moved on the Dark Elf, then to Legacy of the Drow. Currently making my way through the Paths of Darkness.

They're entertaining reads -- and the only D&D books I've been able to stand.

 

As opposed to which books?

Personally, with the exception of Homeland, Servant of the Shard, The Silent Blade and The Lone Drow, I find Salvatore's work more difficult to finish than ,say, Cunningham.