"Confused with big series books" Topic

As a late comer to reading D&D fantasy series (Dragonlance, Forgontten Reams, etc) and Science Fiction (Star Wars, Star Trek, Halo, etc.) I am overwhelmed by the number of books on the shelves.

Where do I start? Within a series, which books stand alone and which ones are sequential (and what is the sequence)?

Is there a blog or web site like TMP where these low brow books are discussed?

This might help.
just type in or find the author

fantasticfiction.co.uk

Mick

You might also want to try searching the TMP Plus Boards section. The Books board is here TMP link and often has some great discussion on the sort of "low-brow" fare you mention. I have found some great sci-fi and fantasy reading fodder there.

Cases in point for me: The Black Company saga by Glen Cook, Hammer's Slammers by David Drake,and The Eisenhorn Trilogy by Dan Abnett.

It can also be very helpful to post questions about books or authors you are intersted in. I generally find the input from the other TMP members very helpful.

If you're looking at reading Dragonlance, I'd start with Chronicles, then Legends, then Tales (if still in print), then go from there. To be honest I haven't read Dragonlance actively in a long, long time. But those books above were the first 3 "trilogies" (Tales is more of a short collection), so best to start there.

Also, WRT Trek fiction, IIRC Paramount dictated that Trek fiction must be stand-alone, and cannot create a "canon" for TV series/movie characters (only original characters). Thus most Trek books are stand-alones, with the exception of obvious series' or trilogies.

Damon.

You'd make better use of your time looking for the original fiction authors that inspired the creators of the game properties.

The thing with any licensed story property is, the owners of the trademark have to keep creative control. Authors willing to work under that constraint tend to be those who can't get a book deal for their own original work. Generally this means a second rate writer, or deliberate second rate work by a better writer. There are some exceptions of course.

In TV the same applies except sometimes there's more money available and established authors often are trying to get work as screenwriters so on occasion the process works in spite of itself and you get a good writer doing one or a few of the licensed books. The original series Trek stories were by James Blish, for instance, although adapted from screenplays so in effect they were collaborations. Or there's a Firefly novel by Steven Brust.

Here's a Wikipedia article citing influences on the developers of Dungeons & Dragons. There are a ton of authors listed, most with links to their own articles so you can cull out their most well-known books: Wikipedia, "Sources and influences on the development of Dungeons & Dragons": link

I'd second Garand on the Dragonlance, I'd start with the Chronicles two sets of trilogies quite a good read.

I was going to make a reply similar to donrice's, but OTOH, I don't think there really is anything wrong with reading genre (aka tie-in) fiction. I'll happily admit I read a lot of genre fiction, from Star Wars, occasional Trek, all of Halo, and a bunch og 40K (and Battletech, if that ever gets going again). REading genre fiction is IMHO like watching your favorite TV show week after week. It may not be neccessarily profound, but it can be entertaining and fun. Along with that, though, I also read a lot of so-called "legitimate" SF literature. But like anything taste is subjective: FREX I'd rather read an Abnett 40K Horus Heresy novel that read Azimov, but would read more eagerly a book by Heinlein or one of the "Killer-Bs" (Brin, Benford, Bear). I won't touch Bradbury at all (tried reading both The Martian Chronicles as well as Fahrenheit 491, and found both turgid), but think Eric Nylund does a good job writing for HALO.

Damon.

Thanks all.

I agreed completely, Garand. I read a lot of non-fiction for "fun." (genetics, physics, etc.) but that can be tough going. After awhile, I need something light and entertaining (like those TV shows) to read.

What I'm trying to avoid is reading a book and later finding out that I should have read another one first to get the "whole" picture.

For example, I read the six Star Wars novels based on the movies. There dozens of Star Wars themed books in print. It would be nice if I could gosome where that maps out where all these books lie on the timeline; the back covers are less than helpful.

Another example would be the Drizzt books. The first six are easily identied since they are marketed in sets. But there are lots more.

I will take the wize advice, though and when I decide on a particular series, I'll post the same questions only with more specificity.

Thanks again.

Do what I do, look at all the pretty covers and find one that looks cool. It's as good a method as any.