The Elminster Series

The Elminster Series is a series of fantasy novels by author Ed Greenwood. The novels are set in the Forgotten Realms setting created by Greenwood for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The series focuses on the titular character Elminster who was a key figure in several of Greenwood's other novels set in the Forgotten Realms setting. Elminster was known as a powerful wizard or mage known as "The One Who Walks" and eventually "The Sage of Shadowdale." This series seeks to present the backstory of Elminster's life as well as provide a history of other important events in this particular fantasy setting.

Works included

• Elminster: The Making of a Mage (1994); ISBN 0786902035
• Elminster In Myth Drannor (1997); ISBN 0786911905
• The Temptation of Elminster (1998); ISBN 0786914270
• Elminster In Hell (2001); ISBN 0786927461
• Elminster's Daughter (2004); ISBN 0786937688
• The Annotated Elminster (2007) - An anthology of the first three books in the series.
• Elminster Must Die (2010) - The debut 4th Edition appearance of one of the Forgotten Realms world’s most iconic characters. ISBN 0786957999
• Bury Elminster Deep (2011) ISBN 0786960248
• Elminster Enraged (2012) ISBN 0786963638

Plot summary

Elminster: The Making of a Mage

Main article: Elminster – The Making of a Mage

As a young boy, tending sheep in the fertile countryside of the nation of Athlanthar, Elminster has his first encounter with magic: the destruction of his entire hometown by a vicious dragon-riding magelord. The only survivor of the tragedy, Elminster joins a troupe of bandits and later a gang of thieves in the nearby city of Hastarl. Fed up with the rule and power of arrogant mages, Elminster sneaks into a temple of Mystra with the intent of defacing it, leading to a face-to-face confrontation with the goddess. Instead of unleashing her wrath upon the upstart youth, she questions him, and based upon his wise and honest answers and his exceptional potential, Mystra instructs Elminster in the ways of magic and he becomes a powerful cleric and mage, one of her Chosen, a title rarely given and accompanied by a host of powers and duties.

Elminster in Myth Drannor

Main article: Elminster in Myth Drannor

After winning the freedom of Athlanthar from the power-mad magelords, and subsequently abdicating his throne, Elminster follows the edict of Mystra to enter the forest of Cormanthor. Stumbling upon a patrol of elves beset by monsters, he rescues the sole remaining elf and comforts him in his dying moments. He sneaks into the City of Cormanthor, under threat of death, as elves will kill any non-elves on sight, to return the kiira and complete his vow. Eventually erecting the Mythal, Cormanthor becomes Myth Drannor.

Elminster Must Die

Main article: Elminster Must Die

When the goddess of magic was murdered, Elminster’s world shattered. Once the most powerful wizard in the world, immortal, beloved of the goddess of magic, and the bane of villainy, he is now a tired old man. He is powerful but mortal, and with all the enemies a man who makes a habit of saving the world tends to accumulate.

To make matters worse, Elminster has needs—feeding powerful magic items to the Simbul, his lover, is the only thing that keeps her sane—but their increasingly risky collection leads his enemies right to him.

Reception

Bury Elminster Deep received a positive review from California Bookwatch, which called it "a top pick for any fantasy collection".