The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’s setting is wonderful for more than simply adventure and conflict; it’s also great for exploring its distinctive vistas and incredibly deep mythology.

NPCs will always be around to educate the player on the setting’s history, but the best method to truly immerse oneself in Skyrim’s universe is to read its literature.

Even though Skyrim’s wide and enormous environment offers plenty of things to do and explore, one Elder Scrolls player has opted to read every single book in the game. So, How Many Books In Skyrim? Continue reading to learn more.

How Many Books In Skyrim?

This is list of books in Skyrim:

Skyrim Book Category #1: Skill-Training Books

Skyrim’s books are not only entertaining but also educational. A player can increase their skill rating by simply opening these books. The books also contain parables, fables, and anecdotes that relate to the skill being studied. These are some notable examples of skill books:

– A Game at Dinner, is a dark first person narrative from the point of view of a spy sent to steal the Prince of Morrowind’s court. The Prince declares that he has poisoned the dinner utensils and then gives the bowl containing the antidote. The so-called antidote is ingested by a party guest, who turns out not to be the spy. This book raises the bar for Alchemy.

– The Black Arrow Volumes 1 and 2 are about an archer who lives in Valenwood’s forests, learning his craft and occasionally taking on students. The archer kills a cruel Duchess who threatens his town’s well being.

He then sends a perfectly aimed arrow through a door keyhole, resulting in an amazing feat of archery. Volume I increases Acrobatics and Oblivion in Morrowind and Oblivion. Volume II increases Archery and Oblivion in Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim.

Skyrim Book Category #2: Wordbuilding

Skyrim’s various historical texts, biographies, scholarly treatises, and scholarly treatises provide players with additional insight into the cultures and races that make up the continent of Tamriel.

These lore books not only add color to the setting but also make it feel more alive. Bethesda developers can also tell players about peoples and lands that aren’t in Skyrim, such as the Valenwood carnivorous wood elves or Black Marsh rainforests, home to the Argonian Lizardfolk. These volumes contain information about Skyrim’s history.

–The Songs of The Return volumes tell stories about the mythical founders of Nord civilization. The eight Skyrim volumes contain Ysgramor, his Five Hundred Companions, and their voyage from Atmora, the doomed land to find the cities of Whiterun, Windheim, and war against the elves. These books will give players an insight into the Nord culture and why so many NPCs swear to Ysgramor’s names.

–The Red Year volumes 1 and 2 detail the catastrophe that struck the Dunmer civilization in Morrowind’s imperial province several centuries after the events described in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Survivors in first person accounts described the disaster. Some Dark Elf refugees flee Skyrim and the nearby island of Solstheim in the wake of the disaster’s dust and embers.

If you’re enjoying this article, be sure to also check out our collection of Top 40 Best Video Game Books of All Time Review 2024

Skyrim Book Category #3: In-Game Fiction (With Lots Of Daedra)

Skyrim has a fictional history text for every historical text. There’s also a fiction work of fiction. These range from multi volume sagas to stage plays like:

The Lusty Argonian Maid Volume 1 and 2 are stage plays that mock erotic fiction. Cantius Colto asks the titular Argonian maid, a reptilian domestic worker called Lifts Her tail, to polish her spear and make bread dough for his loaf. The bread loaf and the spear are likely metaphors for something else.

The Red Book of Riddles and Yellow Book of Riddles are both compendiums of riddles. Each book contains a list with conundrums that readers must solve. The answers are printed upside down. Here’s a sample of one of these riddles.

Skyrim’s fictional books also include cautionary tales and stories about the Daedra, which are godlike entities and demon like beings that play with the lives and dreams of Men and Mer living in Tamriel. Take, for example:

Azura and the Box: Part of a larger series that describes the culture and technology of the Dwemer (Dwarven), race, Azura, and the box is a parable about the tension between faith and reason. A Dwemer scientist who is agnostic summons Azura, the Daedric Princes of Dawn and Dusk, and asks her for divinity.

Azura predicts that the box will contain a flower. The scientist pulls off a clever trick to empty the flower filled box before opening it. Azura curses Azura for his tricks and declares him dead.

Myths of Sheogorath tells tales about Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness and Creativity. He is well known throughout Elder Scrolls for his love of trickery and memetic obsession with cheese. He creates music by dissecting innocent human beings and creating musical instruments using their body parts.

The second tale sees him inflicting an ironic punishment upon a King who attempts to ban music and art in his kingdom. The third is when Sheogorath threatens a Wizard with madness, but then he steps back and allows the wizard’s paranoia to do the job.

Skyrim Book Category #4: Surreal Post Modern Religious Scripture (Written By Michael Kirkbride)

Skyrim’s creation myths and religious texts, as well as other Elder Scrolls games, owe a lot of credit to Michael Kirkbride. He took an already standard fantasy setting and added vividly surreal details, philosophical musings on reality and dreams, and characters who achieve enlightenment when they realize they are in a videogame.

This is more evident than in Skyrim’s books on mythology, religion, and other topics, such as:

–The Monomyth is a scholarly treatise that compares different versions of the Elder Scrolls Creation Myth. Lorkhan, a deity, convinces other gods to make/dream/become a Mundus, also known as the material world.

The creation myth is different in human and elvish cultures. Human cultures see the creation of the material universe as a positive event that brought about change. However, Elvish cultures view the creation as a curse that stripped away their long lost divinity.

–The Battle of Red Mountain is a book Vivec dictated to a dissident priest. He was a member of the Tribunal of mortal turned gods that ruled Morrowind in the ages past. Vivec tells the dissident how Vivec and his fellow god rulers rose to divinity by tapping into the Heart of Lorkhan (a fossilized god organ buried in the volcanic Red Mountain).

They brought prosperity to the Dunmer Elves in Morrowind through their Godhood. However, the King they betrayed to attain their divinity is destined for reincarnation and to end their rule (said King is the character in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind).

Elder Scrolls Player Read All 337 Books in Skyrim

It’s no secret that The Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim was released seven years ago. However, it remains one of the grandest and vastly acclaimed games of all time.

While Bethesda has been criticized for porting Skyrim all the time, millions of people love to delve back into the game’s worlds and its lore. One player, however, has spent a lot of time studying the game’s lore and has ranked his top five.

Brian David Gilbert, who is seen below, describes his journey to reading all 337 books in The Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim. He also categorizes them and ranks his top five. He claims that he printed all 571 pages in 5.5 font.

This translated to over 316,000 words. Gilbert would then categorize a book into one of seven categories after reading it: instructional, historical, academic, mythical and dramatic, and good fiction.

Gilbert selected 58 books to make up the good fiction category. To be classified in that category, books must answer three questions by Gilbert.

Does it create the world around us?
Is it possible to see the world from a different perspective?
Is it good?

Gilbert selected his top five fiction titles and recommended that Elder Scrolls readers also read them. His top five picks include book series but are included because they share the same story. These are Gilbert’s top five picks in order:

Bigger. Thief. Warrior. King.
Feyfolken 1-3
Argonian Account
Palla Vol 1 & 2
Advancements in Lockpicking

Although The Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim’s combat mechanics are not up to par with the best action RPGs, Bethesda’s many ports of the immensely popular RPG prove the huge fan base for Elder Scrolls games. The Elder Scrolls series is a growing RPG that has been praised for its quality and popularity.

Bethesda will be looking to capitalize on Skyrim’s success when it releases The Elder Scrolls 6. Bethesda recently said that the next gen would likely launch shortly. Even though The Elder Scrolls 6 is still years away, Skyrim’s literature can help fans satisfy their desire for more Elder Scrolls lore.

The Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim is now available for Nintendo Switch, PC and PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Xbox 360.

FAQs

How many unique books are there in Skyrim?

Skyrim is home to 307 books that serve only lore.

How much literature is in Skyrim?

Skyrim has 820 pieces of literature that are readable. These include letters, spell tomes, and journals. Five books give quests, five books that provide skill points, and 307 books that only serve lore.

Is it worth reading books in Skyrim?

Skyrim books are well worth reading if you find them fascinating, but they’re not essential.

Is there a Skyrim novel?

Bethesda Softworks announced today that they have partnered with a publisher to create physical books that are inspired by the in-game lore from The Elder Scrolls Online and The Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim. It will consist of three books, including Vol 1: The Histories, Volume II: Man, Mer and Beast, and Vol 3: The Arcane.

How to read books in Skyrim?

Updating…

Where to find books in Skyrim?