Back to the Beginning | My Hunt for the Magic: The Gathering Novels

Magic: The Gathering, the card game launched by Richard Garfield and Wizards of the Coast in 1993, has captured the hearts and bank accounts of millions of players for over 30 years. Filled with wild universes, distinct characters, and deep lore, Magic: The Gathering (or MTG) has been a mainstay at LGS tables since launch. But did you know you can learn everything about the universe you are playing in through the pages of an extensive list of books?

I didn’t expect hunting for Magic: The Gathering novels to feel like chasing mythic rares through a foggy back alley. Yet here I am, months deep into eBay listings and raiding the shelves of used book stores, trying to build a bookshelf that feels as complete as my Nekusar Commander deck.

Why Are The Magic: The Gathering Novels So Hard to Find?

Starting in the mid-1990s through the late 2000s, Wizards of the Coast published a surprisingly large catalog of Magic novels. Some tied into major sets like Weatherlight, Mirrodin, and Time Spiral, while others offered standalone stories expanding the multiverse while getting a set release way down the line (thank you, Brother's War). But unlike booster packs, these books weren’t printed in endless waves. Once a novel left the shelves, it often never came back.

The result? Scarcity. Especially for books like The Brothers' War, Johan, or Planeswalker. They fetch high prices on resale sites, often $50 to $100 for decent-condition copies, and complete sets can cost you hundreds.

Limited print runs, low distribution, rare restocks, and release lulls created a market almost as impressive as the card market itself. And just like the card market, once the chase is on, you don't stop until you have completed the collection you have set your sights on.

Why These Novels Matter to Players

As much as I love cracking packs or drafting at my local game store, Magic’s lore is just too deep to pass up. And the novels are the deepest dive you can take into the Multiverse outside of playing Commander with someone who roleplays Nicol Bolas.

These stories provide essential context to iconic characters like Urza, Mishra, and Karn while expanding on world-building that the cards only hint at. They connect loose threads across sets and mechanics, creating emotional stakes behind card effects and flavor text. Flavor text! A lot of it comes from the books, and when you run into a line you recognize, it can be magical, no pun intended.

Are They Actually Well Written?

Here’s the surprise twist: a lot of them are genuinely good reads! Not in the literary prize-winning sense, but in the sense that they’re fast-paced, inventive, and often thoughtful.

You’ll find yourself caught in high-stakes fantasy adventure with satisfying arcs and intricate plots threaded through planar politics and the science of magic & mana. Characters and storylines evolve across books, mirroring the shifts in Magic’s sets, gameplay, and philosophy.

That said, quality, while good across the board, can vary. Some books are a bit thick, others take a deep dive into themes like sacrifice, obsession, or legacy. Planeswalker by Lynn Abbey and The Brothers' War by Jeff Grubb are often hailed as standout works. They set the baseline for the entire multiverse with characters that continue to play pivotal roles nearly 30 years later.

The Collector’s Dilemma

As a player, it’s a bit heartbreaking. These novels are part of the game’s history, yet increasingly inaccessible. Wizards has made strides with short stories online and digital content, but there’s still something sacred about holding a paperback that’s older than some mechanics in Standard.

So I keep hunting. Scouring estate sales, thrift shops, and every used bookstore within a 30-mile radius. When I score that $100 book for a tidy $6, like I did a few weeks ago, it makes it all worthwhile. One day, I’ll complete my dusty shelf of Magic lore, and when I do, I’ll reread Arena like it’s my first duel all over again.