Looking for a good D&D Eberron Novel

[AZgreentea]

I wanted to learn a little more Eberron Lore. I have picked up all I can from Wikipedia, and I was hoping there were some novels written for the setting. Is there another way to learn the lore? Forgive me, but I have only played D&D computer games, not PnP.

I know there are novels written for the Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance Settings. Any recommendations for Eberron would be greatly appreciated. I have seen Keith Bakers novels (not read them), but is he the only person to write for Eberron? Also, which of his trilogies am I supposed to read first (I dont like reading stories out of order)?

[WeaselKing]

I have only read the ones that Keith Baker (the guy who came up with Eberron) wrote. I am really enjoying the Thorn of Breland series so far, especially Son of Khyber. The other series is good too (The Dreaming Dark) and delves into dragonmarks, warforged and interplanar travel more than the Thorn series.

[amethystdragon]

I have read part of the "Blade Of The Flame" series by Tim Waggoner. I enjoyed them quiet a bit. I picked them up at Borders, the one I shop at has a whole section just for these types of novels.

I did learn a lot about the Eberron setting by reading them. While I have played PnP, I never had the chance to play in the Eberron settings.

[AZgreentea]

I plan to go to B&N this weekend and pick myself up a belated birthday present. I think I will pick up "The city of Towers" by Keith Baker and "The Thieves of Blood" by Tim Waggoner.

I looked Tim up in Wikipedia, and it seems The Blade of the Flame series is the only stories he wrote based on Eberron. That is unless some of his short works are based there. Do you know if any of his other works are?

[AZgreentea]

So I purchased and read all of Keith Bakers The Dreaming Dark series and I loved it! I had to find book two and three as used books, but thats ok. I also picked up a copy of Tales of the Last War which is a collection of short stories. One of those is by Keith Baker, and it elaborates on a comment made by Daine in I think the second or third Dreaming Dark book (the one about someone offering to trade Pierce for 5 seemingly better Warforged).

Also of huge interest: Keith Baker has an online story he wrote. The first chapter can be found here:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/fict/20060612a
Its free, which is the best part. The other chapters can be accessed by clicking the links at the bottom. I think there is other free Eberron fiction in there, but I havent finished reading Shadows of Stormreach yet, so I havent played with the links.

Tales of the Last War is giving me a good range of authors I can look up later. There is also a list someone built on Amazon.com of D&D Eberron authors.

All in all, I have rediscovered the joy of reading, and I am loving reading about the world of Eberron. It really does enhance what little gameplay I have as a casual player. It gives the world a real splash of color, and it lets me appreciate the work the devs have done to keep DDO true to Lore. I am slightly convinced that DDO is more like the books about Eberron than it is about PnP, given the more "live action" feel in the books and stories.

[Ashurr]

You could always check out my column over at DDO-Daily

[AZgreentea]

You could always check out my column over at DDO-Daily

Oh, dont worry, I read that too.

You should try your hand at writing an Eberron story.

[sainy_matthew]

I have only read the ones that Keith Baker (the guy who came up with Eberron) wrote. I am really enjoying the Thorn of Breland series so far, especially Son of Khyber. The other series is good too (The Dreaming Dark) and delves into dragonmarks, warforged and interplanar travel more than the Thorn series.

Dude, you have terrible taste in Novels: Son of Khyber isn't even any good as a work of fiction, let alone a work of Eberron fiction (no offense with the dreadful taste comment). As much as i like Keith Baker (i've met him, he's an overly charming man), his ability to write novels is very questionable. I'll admit he didn't do to badly on Queen of Stone, but he still wasn't very good.

You want a couple of good Eberron novels , it depends on what you are looking for. My suggestion would be to try out the "Heirs of Ash" series for starters. The first book is hard to get into... but about 40 pages in the writers style suddenly shines through & from there you get three great books.

If you like your D&D to be a little more noir then i suggest the "Inquisitives" series, which is a group of 4 unconnected novels that are essentially D&D detective novels set in different parts of Eberron. Or if you prefer your fiction to be a little grittier i would suggest the seriously underated Lanternlight Files, with our criminal fixer Whitsun.

But avoid Keith Bakers writings if you consider your self an actual fan of Eberron... He can write a setting but not a novel, he just doesn't have the skill set for it.

-M

[Rav'n]

I plan to go to B&N this weekend and pick myself up a belated birthday present. I think I will pick up "The city of Towers" by Keith Baker and "The Thieves of Blood" by Tim Waggoner.

I looked Tim up in Wikipedia, and it seems The Blade of the Flame series is the only stories he wrote based on Eberron. That is unless some of his short works are based there. Do you know if any of his other works are?

Have to be the absolute worst Fantasy books I've ever read. Extremely linear, No challenges for the "Heroes".

[sainy_matthew]

Have to be the absolute worst Fantasy books I've ever read. Extremely linear, No challenges for the "Heroes".

well darn my socks and call me shorty. I'd totally forgotten about that trilogy... yeah those were bad too.

[Ashurr]

Oh, dont worry, I read that too.

You should try your hand at writing an Eberron story.

Thanks for the compliment mate! In fact, I've already started what is fast becoming a novel set during the time of the Elf-Dragon war....I hope to have it finished by early November.