MTG books

[Jessta]

So I've been playing magic the gathering for awhile now and I've been reading the flavor text on allot of my cards, this flavor text drawn me in to have a sudden urge to read the magic the gathering series, however, now that I look into buying some of the books, I have NO idea where to start.
Does anyone know what book I should start with I want to read about the magic the gathering universe from the beginning and see how it grew to be the intricate labyrinth of stories and fantasy fiction that it is today?

Edit: when I try looking it up on various magic the gathering sites all I'm met with is spoilers which summarize what happens in the series but no names for the actual books >< to be more clear I want to know what books Urza and Mishra are first introduced in.

 

[DJDarque]

I don't know. The books have appealed to me in the past, and not at the same time. I read one of the samples that came in a fat pack once and it didn't seem very well written, but from what I understand they're written by different authors. My best guess is to look it up on the MTG website.

 

[Moose Fisher]

I myself need to get into reading some of the books. I've gotten suggestions to start with the Brother's War.

 

[Rednog]

The books really don't coincide with one another, most of them are just separate adventures that relate to the current editions of the cards and usually just expound on certain cards in the editions. Just grab a set of books of whatever looks interesting (I think they usually come in 3 parts) and just go at it. I personally liked
Ice Age Cycle
1999 I The Gathering Dark Jeff Grubb 342 ISBN 0-7869-1357-6
2000 II The Eternal Ice Jeff Grubb 320 ISBN 0-7869-1562-5
2000 III The Shattered Alliance Jeff Grubb 309 ISBN 0-7869-1403-3

Kamigawa Cycle
2004 I Outlaw: Champions of Kamigawa Scott McGough 320 ISBN 0-7869-3357-7
2005 II Heretic: Betrayers of Kamigawa Scott McGough 320 ISBN 0-7869-3575-8
2005 III Guardian: Saviors of Kamigawa Scott McGough 320 ISBN 0-7869-3786-6

Edit: Actually small correction, some books will make a small reference or two to another series, but you can understand 99% of the story without that small tidbit.

 

[Russano_Greenstripe]

By the time of the Brother's War, I think the books actually had the same name as the set that they covered the events of; thus, the book about events in Weatherlight was called Weatherlight, on and so forth.

I've heard good things about the Kamigawa and Ravnica series, and I loved the Mirrodin story, but I'm a Mirrodin fanboy. Those are my reccommendations.

 

[DJDarque]

The books really don't coincide with one another, most of them are just separate adventures that relate to the current editions of the cards and usually just expound on certain cards in the editions. Just grab a set of books of whatever looks interesting (I think they usually come in 3 parts) and just go at it. I personally liked
Ice Age Cycle
1999 I The Gathering Dark Jeff Grubb 342 ISBN 0-7869-1357-6
2000 II The Eternal Ice Jeff Grubb 320 ISBN 0-7869-1562-5
2000 III The Shattered Alliance Jeff Grubb 309 ISBN 0-7869-1403-3

Kamigawa Cycle
2004 I Outlaw: Champions of Kamigawa Scott McGough 320 ISBN 0-7869-3357-7
2005 II Heretic: Betrayers of Kamigawa Scott McGough 320 ISBN 0-7869-3575-8
2005 III Guardian: Saviors of Kamigawa Scott McGough 320 ISBN 0-7869-3786-6

I did get into MTG until the Zendikar block (late, I know.), but the Kamigawa block always looked like it could have a really interesting story to it.

 

[Rednog]

The books really don't coincide with one another, most of them are just separate adventures that relate to the current editions of the cards and usually just expound on certain cards in the editions. Just grab a set of books of whatever looks interesting (I think they usually come in 3 parts) and just go at it. I personally liked
Ice Age Cycle
1999 I The Gathering Dark Jeff Grubb 342 ISBN 0-7869-1357-6
2000 II The Eternal Ice Jeff Grubb 320 ISBN 0-7869-1562-5
2000 III The Shattered Alliance Jeff Grubb 309 ISBN 0-7869-1403-3

Kamigawa Cycle
2004 I Outlaw: Champions of Kamigawa Scott McGough 320 ISBN 0-7869-3357-7
2005 II Heretic: Betrayers of Kamigawa Scott McGough 320 ISBN 0-7869-3575-8
2005 III Guardian: Saviors of Kamigawa Scott McGough 320 ISBN 0-7869-3786-6

I did get into MTG until the Zendikar block (late, I know.), but the Kamigawa block always looked like it could have a really interesting story to it.

I loved the Kamigawa books because it has a really great antihero who reminds me of Harry Dresden from The Dresden Files.

 

[Russano_Greenstripe]

I did get into MTG until the Zendikar block (late, I know.), but the Kamigawa block always looked like it could have a really interesting story to it.

Kamigawa was a great story, especially how it subverted common M:TG stereotypes (the Big Bad is a white creature, while the hero is a black creature). Sadly the actual cards themselves are nothing to write home about, and were outshone by Mirrodin before it and Ravnica after.

 

[DJDarque]

reminds me of Harry Dresden from The Dresden Files.

Fucking sold. The Dresden Files are my favorite books.

 

[Plinglebob]

Edit: when I try looking it up on various magic the gathering sites all I'm met with is spoilers which summarize what happens in the series but no names for the actual books >< to be more clear I want to know what books Urza and Mishra are first introduced in.

The book you're looking for is "The Brothers War" by Jeff Grubb. This kicks off the current canon history that still continues today. I've also added a guide to the novels for the main sets/storyline with recommendations of the reading order and quality because I'm really bored!

Spoiler: Big List Warning!

Artifacts Cycle
The Brother?s War
Planeswalker - This covers the entire Ice Age period from another perspective. Read before the Ice Age Cycle.
Time Streams
Bloodlines

Overall very good quality and very entertaining.

Ice Age Cycle
The Gathering Dark
The Eternal Ice
The Shattered Alliance

Best set of books in the canon and includes what is considered the best character in all the canon. Read after Planeswalker and before Timestreams.

Weatherlight
Rath & Storm - Set after the artifacts cycle, but best read after the Ice Age Cycle and before Time Streams for best effect.

Masques Cycle
Mercadian Masques
Nemesis
Prophecy

All 3 books are all set in the same time period looking at 3 different events on different planes. Worht reading just to keep up with the story.

Invasion Cycle
The Thran - While set chronologically before everything, reading it before you've read anything will spoil a LOT!
Invasion
Planeshift
Apocalypse

This cycle wraps up the Urza saga started in Thr Brothers War. Entertaining to read. After this, each set became more independant (except Time Spiral) and while you get call backs etc to other books and events, its not necessary to read all of them to follow it all.

Odyssey Cycle
Odyssey
Chainer?s Torment
Judgement

This and Onslaught are both set on Dominaria, but set about 100 years after Apocalypse. Chainer's Torment is a good read, but both cycles can easily be skipped without missing much.

Onslaught Cycle
Onslaught
Legions
Scourge

There's a reason why the last 2 books in this cycle are nicknamed "The Book That Shall Not Be Named" & "The Sequal To The Book That Shall Not Be Named" on the official forums.

Mirrodin Cycle
The Moons of Mirrodin
The Darksteel Eye
The Fifth Dawn

Not bad, but not great. Read if you're interested in the history behind the current set.

Kamigawa Cycle
Outlaw: Champions of Kamigawa
Heretic: Betrayers of Kamigawa
Guardian: Saviors of Kamigawa

This series has the best protagonist of the entire Canon. Read and enjoy!

Ravnica Cycle
Ravnica, City of Guilds
Guildpact
Dissension

Again an enjoyable set, but can be skipped.

Time Spiral Cycle
Time Spiral
Planar Chaos
Future Sight

This cycle revists characters and settings last seen in the Urza/Phyrexia Saga. It also establishes the current shift in how Planeswalkers operate and introduces a couple that continue in the storyline from here on. If you liked the characters in Urza's Saga, this is worth a read.

Lorwyn Cycle
Lorwyn
Morningtide
Shadowmoor
Eventide

Closest MTG gets to "High Fantasy" with some nice twists on the setting. After Lorwyn, they stopped doing a book for each set and instead have released a ?Planewalker? book and a ?Set? book each year. The order is as follows.

Agents of Artifice
Alara Unbroken
The Purifying Fire
Zendikar: In the Teeth of Akoum
Test of Metal
The Quest for Karn