Yes, all the stories are independent of each other, except that Kingdom of Shadow and Moon of the Spider revolve around the same main character Zayl. But I actually read those two out of order and it still made sense to me. The Sin War is just a nice beginning read because it establishes the background of Sanctuary and how everything came to be. Though thats not essential to the other stories.
PS. Nice post Hyperversity, I've always liked the books but could never really put into words why.
The concept of there being a 'Sin War' was established in the first Diablo game. It basically means the war between Heaven and Hell on Earth (Sanctuary). The Sin War trilogy describes the beginning of the war, and it won't stop until both Heaven and Hell leave Sanctuary alone (not likely, ever).
Because thats just the order they were published in.
Legacy of Blood 2001
The Black Road 2002
Kingdom of Shadow 2002
Moon of the Spider 2006
The Sin War: Birthright 2006
The Sin War: Scales of the Serpent 2007
The Sin War: The Veiled Prophet 2007
I'm not sure if thats the year they were actually released in though, I thought the last Sin War book came out in 2008. But those are the copyright dates printed on the books, so it'll do.
The first three books (other than Demonsbane, which is sort of a special case) were published as a series, even though they aren't a series at all. Then Moon of the Spider came as an individual book, and then The Sin War trilogy came.
Its basically just four previous books re-released into one massive book. If you haven't read the stories in it yet, then sure, buy it in one nice little package. But it could make reading somewhat difficult, being so thick.
I dont mean to offend anyone, but have you guys read any fantasy by authors not tied to a franchise like George RR Martin, Gene Wolfe or Steven Erikson? Not trying to be elitist since I like and read books based for instance on the Mass Effect game or the Forgotten Realms books.
I have tried to read some, but its hard knowing what is out there and what I will like. I read the first book in The Dark Tower series, but I didn't like it enough to continue. I didn't like the feel of it. I've also read another demon book, but I didn't like the feel of that one either. If you know of any other books with the same or similar feel of Diablo, let me know. I'd especially like it too if it was more extreme than Diablo is.
Also before I start ranting I should say thar I kind of enjoyed the books and will probably read the others except the last sin war book. Its like watching a really bad cheesy tv show like Buffy can sometimes be enjoyable.
The Black Road is written by a different author, and its pretty tricky with all this fate and destiny, and has a really nice chapter about the difference between angels and demons (where there isn't much difference at all). Though if you do read it, just hold out until the end. The beginning is extremely generic and cheesy, but it gets much better as it goes along.
Thats the thing that dissapoints me the most ruins the books for me. All the parts with the super powerful mythical beings like Inarius and Lucion, where i expect something really cool to happen, plays out like an episode of a soap opera with some generic fantasy mixed in. The way the author portrays these beings they might as well have been powerful, influential humans, not cold, calculating inhuman overlords determined to enslave the human race to their will.
Ahh yeah, because they didn't really use their demonic or Heavenly powers? That is true. But I still like it.
Then there is the story of Uldyssian. The unassuming nobody suddenly gains powers and wants to use them for good! Where have I read that before? The beautiful noblewoman randomly develops a crush on a nobody. What? She had an ulterior motive? Never saw that coming. Also, his adventures seem really trivial and stupid. He wins his fights by really wanting to win, and his superpowers just takes care of the rest.
Uldyssian's powers kind of get better in the end of The Sin War trilogy. His powers go way out of control, like a mind of their own. Though you probably think thats really cheesy too. So what do you think of Mendeln then? I really like him the most, is his story cheesy, generic and cliche too?
I also got the books for the cool factor of the Diablo universe, but the author has turned it into generic fantasy. I guess i was just expecting a much darker and complex story.
The "Ask Lore Questions Here" thread is more enjoyable and informative to read than the books, ant to top it off, better written.
I guess it depends how much you read. In a way, I'm lucky that I haven't read many fantasy books so I can really enjoy the Diablo books without feeling like its too generic.
THANKS FOR THIS VARY AWSOME POST!!!!!!! YOUR AWSOME!!!!!!!:thumbsup:
So are any of the Diablo books any good? I have read the first 2 books of the Sin War trilogy and they are very very bad. The language and story of those books are comparable to internet fanfiction, which is a shame since the setting from the games is very interesting.
If you don't like reading The Sin War, you likely won't like the other books either. I admit that its the 'cool' factor that really sells it for me. Though yeah, it would be even cooler if it was a little more complex and... sophistacated? But I still love it as it is. It definitely satisfies my fantasy-needs.
Offtopic? Eh, there isn't much else to talk about in this thread.
Hmm, I didn't really think of that. I'll have a look into it, but it wasn't a very successful comic and it doesn't seem to count to anything very much. Still, I'll have a look.
We don't know that Marius is 20 years older, unless you have a source? According to Cain's journal, the gap between Diablo II and LoD is only one year. The soulstone must have aged him incredibly.
I love reading the manuals just as much as the books. I like to read the whole manual first before actually playing the game. It builds up the excitement incredibly so.
This is the chronological order of all the Diablo novels.
What is important to note is that they do not have to be read in this order. The only books that depend on previous books are the Sin War trilogy (which should be read in order) and the Kingdom of Shadow and Moon of the Spider, of which KoS should be read first and MotS should be read second. All other books can be read in any order without having any detriemental effect on the plot or story or spoiling anything.
The Sin War: Birthright
The Sin War: Scales of the Serpent
The Sin War: The Veiled Prophet
Demonsbane
The Black Road / Diablo I
Legacy of Blood / Diablo II
The Kingdom of Shadow / Diablo II
Moon of the Spider
The Sin War happens 3000 years before the darkening of Tristram (Diablo I). Each book is in direct relation to each other.
Demonsbane happens 600 years before the Horadrim capture the Prime Evils and therefore before the Dark Exile. (The Horadrim capture the Prime Evils a long time before the darkening of Tristram in Diablo I).
The Black Road story expands over a year. Kabraxis is unleashed at some point at the beginning of the book, and over a year later (at the end of the book) is defeated. Towards the end of that year's gap it is stated that Tristram was recently destroyed by Diablo. It is also stated by Deckard Cain that Tristram was corrupted for nearly four years. So Tristram fell before Kabraxis was released, but the actual Diablo I game where Tristram is 'saved' happens in the middle of this novel, before Kabraxis is defeated.
Legacy of Blood is parallel with or slightly before Diablo II and involves the , ends with Diablo (the Wanderer) entering AranochArcane Sanctuary. Which means it happens just before the Diablo II hero enters Lut Gholein or while the hero is still at the Rogue Encampment, depending on the time gap following the Wanderer.
The Kingdom of Shadow happens before the Moon of the Spider but no mention of the Worldstone, so it is assumed that this book also takes place before it is destroyed (whereas MotS specifically mentions the destruction of the Worldstone). Zayl traveled from Ureh to Westmarch and would have likely to have had to pass through the Rogue Monastary (apparently the only path to Westmarch if traveling through the twin seas, which Zayl likely would have done). With Andariel and many other demons out and about during DII, and no mention of a hazardous journey to Westmarch, it is unlikely that he was traveling during the events of Diablo II, but was actually in Ureh at the time. Its more likely that Zayl left Ureh to travel to Westmarch after Diablo II, which means that The Kingdom of Shadow must have happened parallel to Diablo II and the destruction of the Worldstone.
Moon of the Spider takes place after the Worldstone is destroyed in Diablo II. It also talks about Zayl's past in the city of Ureh, placing this book as a direct sequel to The Kingdom of Shadow (no time gap is given, however).
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PS. Nice post Hyperversity, I've always liked the books but could never really put into words why.
Happy readings
Legacy of Blood 2001
The Black Road 2002
Kingdom of Shadow 2002
Moon of the Spider 2006
The Sin War: Birthright 2006
The Sin War: Scales of the Serpent 2007
The Sin War: The Veiled Prophet 2007
I'm not sure if thats the year they were actually released in though, I thought the last Sin War book came out in 2008. But those are the copyright dates printed on the books, so it'll do.
The first three books (other than Demonsbane, which is sort of a special case) were published as a series, even though they aren't a series at all. Then Moon of the Spider came as an individual book, and then The Sin War trilogy came.
Its basically just four previous books re-released into one massive book. If you haven't read the stories in it yet, then sure, buy it in one nice little package. But it could make reading somewhat difficult, being so thick.
I have tried to read some, but its hard knowing what is out there and what I will like. I read the first book in The Dark Tower series, but I didn't like it enough to continue. I didn't like the feel of it. I've also read another demon book, but I didn't like the feel of that one either. If you know of any other books with the same or similar feel of Diablo, let me know. I'd especially like it too if it was more extreme than Diablo is.
The Black Road is written by a different author, and its pretty tricky with all this fate and destiny, and has a really nice chapter about the difference between angels and demons (where there isn't much difference at all). Though if you do read it, just hold out until the end. The beginning is extremely generic and cheesy, but it gets much better as it goes along.
Ahh yeah, because they didn't really use their demonic or Heavenly powers? That is true. But I still like it.
Uldyssian's powers kind of get better in the end of The Sin War trilogy. His powers go way out of control, like a mind of their own. Though you probably think thats really cheesy too. So what do you think of Mendeln then? I really like him the most, is his story cheesy, generic and cliche too?
I guess it depends how much you read. In a way, I'm lucky that I haven't read many fantasy books so I can really enjoy the Diablo books without feeling like its too generic.
Hahahaha
If you don't like reading The Sin War, you likely won't like the other books either. I admit that its the 'cool' factor that really sells it for me. Though yeah, it would be even cooler if it was a little more complex and... sophistacated? But I still love it as it is. It definitely satisfies my fantasy-needs.
Offtopic? Eh, there isn't much else to talk about in this thread.
What is important to note is that they do not have to be read in this order. The only books that depend on previous books are the Sin War trilogy (which should be read in order) and the Kingdom of Shadow and Moon of the Spider, of which KoS should be read first and MotS should be read second. All other books can be read in any order without having any detriemental effect on the plot or story or spoiling anything.
Demonsbane happens 600 years before the Horadrim capture the Prime Evils and therefore before the Dark Exile. (The Horadrim capture the Prime Evils a long time before the darkening of Tristram in Diablo I).
The Black Road story expands over a year. Kabraxis is unleashed at some point at the beginning of the book, and over a year later (at the end of the book) is defeated. Towards the end of that year's gap it is stated that Tristram was recently destroyed by Diablo. It is also stated by Deckard Cain that Tristram was corrupted for nearly four years. So Tristram fell before Kabraxis was released, but the actual Diablo I game where Tristram is 'saved' happens in the middle of this novel, before Kabraxis is defeated.
Legacy of Blood is parallel with or slightly before Diablo II and involves the , ends with Diablo (the Wanderer) entering AranochArcane Sanctuary. Which means it happens just before the Diablo II hero enters Lut Gholein or while the hero is still at the Rogue Encampment, depending on the time gap following the Wanderer.
The Kingdom of Shadow happens before the Moon of the Spider but no mention of the Worldstone, so it is assumed that this book also takes place before it is destroyed (whereas MotS specifically mentions the destruction of the Worldstone). Zayl traveled from Ureh to Westmarch and would have likely to have had to pass through the Rogue Monastary (apparently the only path to Westmarch if traveling through the twin seas, which Zayl likely would have done). With Andariel and many other demons out and about during DII, and no mention of a hazardous journey to Westmarch, it is unlikely that he was traveling during the events of Diablo II, but was actually in Ureh at the time. Its more likely that Zayl left Ureh to travel to Westmarch after Diablo II, which means that The Kingdom of Shadow must have happened parallel to Diablo II and the destruction of the Worldstone.
Moon of the Spider takes place after the Worldstone is destroyed in Diablo II. It also talks about Zayl's past in the city of Ureh, placing this book as a direct sequel to The Kingdom of Shadow (no time gap is given, however).