Which books are "must reads?" : V

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:57 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?

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:42 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.

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 10:52 pm

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

Plus all those wildlife and geography dossiers.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:55 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.

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 5:41 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.

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 9:30 pm

The Real Barenziah , the best.

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:13 pm

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

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 10:14 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.

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 1:08 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!

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:27 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?

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)

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 1:19 pm

The Real Barenziah

its not new, but still good

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

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 3:48 am

Lusty Argonian Maid.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 1:01 am

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

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 4:39 pm

Cicero's Journal, all volumes.

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 10:48 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)

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 4:27 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.

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:23 pm

The real Barenziah definitely!

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

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 1:21 am

That's my favourite short story too.

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 3:42 pm

Lusty Argonian Maid.

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 8:05 pm

Lusty Argonian Maid.

This

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 4:42 pm

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

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 1:41 am

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.

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 9:17 pm

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

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:39 am

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.

» Fri Jun 01, 2012 8:07 pm

The wabbajack one. Cracked me up hard.