Cormyr: A Novel

Cormyr: A Novel is a fantasy novel by Ed Greenwood and Jeff Grubb, set in the world of the Forgotten Realms, and based on the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. It is the first novel published in "The Cormyr Saga". It was published in hardcover in July 1996 ISBN 978-0-7869-0503-4, and in paperback in April 1998 ISBN 978-0-7869-0710-6.

Plot summary
Cormyr is a novel in which a conspiracy in the court of Cormyr is told in a series of stories which take place from the days of the founding of the kingdom, throughout its history up to the time of the main story.

Reception
Gideon Kibblewhite reviewed Cormyr: A Novel for Arcane magazine, rating it a 7 out of 10 overall. He comments that "At the heart of this novel is an ordinary but affable tale of a conspiracy in the court of Cormyr. [...] We are told of the growth of an encampment of men in a forest glade into a nation; we are told of the village leaders from whom spring a line of kings. Then there is the myth of the forest itself - the abode, in turn, of dragons, elves and men. The myth of the dragon - a potent symbol at TSR - pervades all of Cormyr's proud past." He continues by saying "The chapters which tell of these deeds of long ago succeed far more than most game tie-in novels, in that they add not just flesh and structure to a campaign setting, but a sense of warmth towards the place, as well. The words of Tolkien and Leiber, for example, transport you to a magical world, while it is more difficult for a book based on a game to do so. Cormyr manages it, though, with much aplomb, making this a valuable aid to those who might wish to adventure in such a land. For here you not only have a location, but a whole history." Kibblewhite concludes his review by saying, "It's all told at great speed, flicking from age to age like a book of short stories with a common thread. As such, it works really well, Sure, it's sometimes pretty cheesy fare, but what did you expect - Dickens?"

Reviews

 * Kliatt
 * Science Fiction Chronicle