Which books are "must reads?" : V

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:30 am

So, I'm fairly new to Elder Scrolls games. I played Oblivion and now Skyrim, but I don't feel like I have a very good handle on the lore. I would like to learn more, but I have a hard time getting myself to read most of the in-game books.

Which books would you suggest that I definitely not skip?

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:10 pm

First, for gameplay, read any book that costs more than 50 Gold. Those are skill books and you will learn a skill if you have not read the book before.

As for Lore, I hate to say it, but most of them have some Lore in them, and the titles are pretty easy to figure out which ones are more Lore than others. However, there is a reference for all the books in this game and previous games

http://www.imperial-library.info/

So, you can catch up on your lore there. Note, the Skyrim specific books may not be up yet.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:58 am

"Rising Threat"
"Book of the Dragonborn"
"ADance in Fire"

Plus all those wildlife and geography dossiers.

» Fri Dec 16, 2011 1:17 am

I really enjoyed "Word of Clan Mother Ahnissi" on Nelecar's room in that Winterhold tavern.

It feels like a story a grandmother would tell their children.

Plus it explains the origins of the world.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:17 pm

I put books that look interesting into my beside dresser in my home in Whiterun. When I have time I will read them. Some books will start a quest.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:33 pm

The Real Barenziah , the best.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:50 am

I like "A Minor Maze" cause it references the first TES game and the protagonist of that game known as the "Eternal Champion".

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:39 pm

Any book that you find on it's own in tomb etc is worth checking, especially if it's a journal, they're like the computer terminals in Fallout and give you an idea of what happened there, sometimes they offer clues as to what to expect.

Also look out for anything about botany and alchemy, I found one that went into detail about the magical properties of quite a lot of plants.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 2:15 pm

I am a collector and I seriously enjoy hunting books. Especially the ones with more volumes (Biography of Barenziah 1,2,3/ The Real Barenziah v1 till v5 and so on). I put those in my book shelf's by order. I can really recommend "Book of the Dragonborn" and "The Great War". I am off hunting books!

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 3:42 pm

So, I'm fairly new to Elder Scrolls games. I played Oblivion and now Skyrim, but I don't feel like I have a very good handle on the lore. I would like to learn more, but I have a hard time getting myself to read most of the in-game books.

Which books would you suggest that I definitely not skip?

This is a list of the games that tell the backstory of the game which takes place 200 years after Oblivion.

The Great War (most important)
The Talos Mistake
The Oblivion Crisis
The Rise and Fall of the Blades
Book of the Dragonborn
Nords Arise
Flight from the Thalmor

Some I don't recall if the title is correct:

Life and Times of Uriel Septum VII (I think its 4 volume)
A brief history of the Empire (I think 4 volume)

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:50 am

The Real Barenziah

its not new, but still good

A Dance in Fire, and the books that go with it are good

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:10 am

Lusty Argonian Maid.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 2:21 pm

I liked "A Tragedy in Black", something about a kid who gets killed after summoning a dremora, I lol'ed. :thumbsup:

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:24 pm

Cicero's Journal, all volumes.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:26 pm

All the suggestions here are good, especially " The real Barenziah".

I would also recommend " The wolf queen" (or something simmilar), it comes in nine volumes and gives you an idea of how she ruled, her plots, her "evil". I just cant find the first volume, wich kinda piss me off.
Furthermore, you will actually meet this woman... just talk to falk firebeard at the blue palace

2090 are also good books, although hard to find (in my experiencce in any case)

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:43 pm

There's also a book called The Third Era Timeline which beyond the other detailed lore it references, lists the basic outline of all 4 of the previous Elder Scrolls games. Interesting read if you're unfamiliar with the history of the TES world timeline.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 9:05 pm

The real Barenziah definitely!

There are also many short and interesting books, one of my favourite is The Locked Room.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 3:33 pm

That's my favourite short story too.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:35 pm

Lusty Argonian Maid.

:hubbahubba:

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 1:54 pm

Lusty Argonian Maid.

This

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:05 am

if you want more books for the mainquest line, read Dragon Wars, Olaf one eye, Alduin/Akatash, and if u want oblivion crises, most found in the court wizard 's book room in dragons reach

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 1:40 pm

wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack. wabbajack.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:35 pm

http://uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Ahzirr_Traajijazeri, especially "rule" #3.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:35 pm

Cicero's Journal, all volumes.

I would also recommend " The wolf queen" (or something simmilar), it comes in nine volumes and gives you an idea of how she ruled, her plots, her "evil". I just cant find the first volume, wich kinda piss me off.
Furthermore, you will actually meet this woman... just talk to falk firebeard at the blue palace

This! And I think I saw the First Volume of Potema's stories in the Library of the College.

I personally also liked The Marksmanship Lesson, "Vernaccus and Bourlor" and the Windhelm Letters.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 2:15 pm

The wabbajack one. Cracked me up hard.