:: This post contains possible spoilers ::

KEY:

BoA: The Book of Atrus
BoT: The Book of Ti'Ana
BoD: The Book of D'ni
BoM: The Book of Marrim (As yet unpublished.)

First, I don't know what's going on with the Book of Marrim (I want news as well.)

Second, the books don't tie into the games specifically, though the characters and themes and all that do.

BoA takes place just before Myst, and details Atrus' youth and where he learned the Art.

BoT takes place before BoA, and explains the downfall of the D'ni empire.

BoD takes place between Riven and Exile, ending just before Exile begins.

So, if you want to do the story in chronological order, it is as follows:

BoT
BoA
Myst
Riven
BoD
Exile
Revelation
End of Ages

The Book of Marrim takes place four years after the Book of D'ni (According to the sample chapter that was available with the Collectors Edition of Myst V), so it takes place between Exile and Revelation.

I hope this didn't give away too much, and I hope I helped you out.

~Ghola

Once you read the Book of Atrus and even the end of Book of Ti'anna, you'll see more of Gehn and why he turned out the way he did.

Funny, I just finished the book of Ti'ana last night.  An excellent novel.  Even better than the book of Atrus.

Even though I love the Myst games, I wasn't expecting much from the novels simply becuase most film and game novels don't amount to much.  But, I was very suprised.  They actually stand on their own as great books regardless of the games.

***CONTAINS SPOILERS***

It is amazing how well the books turned out. I think it owes to the fact that the Myst games would never have been as much a success if not made by such excellent story tellers - tee'ahnatee.

Though, the games are much enhanced by those books, and vice versa - at least playing Myst and Riven fills in most gaps between BoA and BoD. Perhaps the Book of Marrim will fill in some gaps between Exile and Revelation, and perhaps End of Ages - as Atrus eventually flees Tomahna to end his days in the paradise, and I hate to say that sentance, because Atrus is such a noble character - but in this situation is apt.

Each book is stand alone, but is part of the Myst series, just as each game is stand-alone.

:: POSSIBLE SPOILER ::

However, to fully understand the story behind all the characters, you need the books. Not so much the Book of D'ni, as that takes place between Riven and Exile, but it does explain the importance of Releeshan, and why it is so imperative you rescue the book from Saavedro.

Books of Atrus and Ti'ana are a massive requirement to know the story, as it goes into massive details to the events preceeding Myst and Riven - and explains how that room once called 'Dunny' was not a single trap room.

I suggest you read them, even if you get into Beta - you need something to do when you're travelling or your connections down.