The books are a lot of fun, and I loved them when I was a teenager. I read the first six recently, and I enjoyed them. The first three by publication order are a bit rough, but his writing and storytelling skills improve a lot after that. So if you read them chronologically, just be prepared for the fourth book to be a rough patch in the road. And know that it gets better again.
It seems to me that the more interesting fantasy authors have a history with the classics. Something for us all to consider in this era of disdain for what has come before.
“I read his books because they are fun.” - you hit the nail on the head. I've been rereading his Drizzt series lately, this time with an adults perspective. I probably wouldn't enjoy them as much if I hadn't read them as a young adult, but I don't think that matters. They're young adult novels - that's who the prose was originally written for. Sure its clunky sometimes, and sometimes he falls back on tropes. But Salvatore excels at action and excitement, at fun.
Listening back as an adult, I can't help but admire how well he foreshadows and ties together plot points, or throws in an unexpected twist that fits a scene perfectly. Things like (***spoilers for Icewind Dale Saga and Dark Elf Trilogy***) Bruenor's flaming ride on the shadow dragon, or Matron Malice listening to Drizzt's and Zaknafein's conversation at the exact worst time - I can't help but admire how he structures a plot. I think he deserves every bit of his success.
The books are a lot of fun, and I loved them when I was a teenager. I read the first six recently, and I enjoyed them. The first three by publication order are a bit rough, but his writing and storytelling skills improve a lot after that. So if you read them chronologically, just be prepared for the fourth book to be a rough patch in the road. And know that it gets better again.
It seems to me that the more interesting fantasy authors have a history with the classics. Something for us all to consider in this era of disdain for what has come before.
That's amazing, I guess I gotta start reading his work. Any you might recommend to start with?
Homeland is Drizzt’s inception.
D’accord
“I read his books because they are fun.” - you hit the nail on the head. I've been rereading his Drizzt series lately, this time with an adults perspective. I probably wouldn't enjoy them as much if I hadn't read them as a young adult, but I don't think that matters. They're young adult novels - that's who the prose was originally written for. Sure its clunky sometimes, and sometimes he falls back on tropes. But Salvatore excels at action and excitement, at fun.
Listening back as an adult, I can't help but admire how well he foreshadows and ties together plot points, or throws in an unexpected twist that fits a scene perfectly. Things like (***spoilers for Icewind Dale Saga and Dark Elf Trilogy***) Bruenor's flaming ride on the shadow dragon, or Matron Malice listening to Drizzt's and Zaknafein's conversation at the exact worst time - I can't help but admire how he structures a plot. I think he deserves every bit of his success.