The Forgotten Realms Atlas: Advanced Dungeons and Dragons

Karen Wynn Fonstad's work on the various atlases she has produced is phenomenal, and the Forgotten Realms Atlas is no slouch in this department. Similar to her other works, it focuses on the novels written for the series. Included in this Atlas is the journey made by Alias in the Curse of the Azure Bonds, the events of the Icewind Dale Trilogy, Spellfire, and the Pool of Radiance (complete with maps of the various locations that the respective heroes of those tales battle through). As fascinating as that is, for a Dungeons and Dragons gamer (Advanced or otherwise), this Atlas is a little less useful. The wealth of area knowledge for Shadowdale, Icewind Dale,and Zhentil Keep are impressive, but the lack of a region by region treatment of the Realms was disappointing, especially so because the first portion of the book is mostly maps of the various places in the Realms, with only sparse descriptions of the places featured in them. As a gamer, I've reviewed this with an eye towards its usefulness in that arena - and although the Atlas is primary for fans of the Forgotten Realms novel lines, gamers will find it useful to have maps of various cities, detailed maps of important adventuring locations like Shadowdale, and for those of us who adventure in the Realms before the destruction of Zhentil Keep - a detailed look at that formidable fortress is included within the Atlas' pages. All in all, it's a quality product, and you won't be unhappy with it.

This book is arguably one of the best forgotten realms supplements ever published. It details all of the major areas and locales that you are likely to encounter. In short, you MUST get this book