The first story about the dark elf Salvatore told almost twenty years ago. The adventures of the tracker Drizzt so captured the readers that they are looking forward to the next novel. Robert Salvatore did not deceive their expectations - today the grandiose “Saga of Drizzt Do'Urden” has more than 30 books.
A bit about the author
Robert Salvatore was born in 1959 in Leominster, Massachusetts. He graduated from high school there. According to the writer, an English teacher played an important role in becoming him as a writer. Robert continued his studies at Fitchberg State College in Computer Science.
There, after reading The Lord of the Rings, presented to him for Christmas, he became interested in fantasy. The books of J.R. Tolkien revived a fading love of literature and suggested the idea of ​​writing the story of a dark elf. Salvatore transferred to the faculty of journalism. In 1981, he received a bachelor's degree in communications, then a bachelor's degree in English. Before devoting himself entirely to writing, Robert worked as a bouncer and joked that through this experience he was able to vividly describe scenes of fierce battles.
Literary debut
Since 1982, Robert seriously engaged in literature, the result of this was the novel “Echoes of the Fourth Magic”, which marked the beginning of the trilogy “The Chronicles of Janis Eill”. Robert sent the novel to several publishers, but everywhere was refused. The book was not published until 1990 after the success of the book “Magic Crystal” (1988), which was the first published novel and laid the foundation for all the books of Robert Salvatore about the dark elf.
The book was a huge success, and Salvatore writes a sequel, in 1989 the novel “Silver Arrows” was published, in 1990 - “The Curse of the Ruby”. All books were included in the trilogy “Ice Wind Valley”, which received huge popularity. And from 1990 to 1991, Salvatore wrote the Dark Elf trilogy-prequel, which reveals the secret of birth and tells about the childhood and youth of Drizzt Do'Urden.
“Forgotten Kingdoms”
Salvatore writes prequels about other equally interesting characters. For example, the “Mercenaries” trilogy tells the story of the adventures of an assassin Entreri and a thief Jarlax. All Salvatore books about the dark elf are included in the series “Forgotten Kingdoms”, which has more than 30 novels.
Now the writer is working on a new trilogy, telling about the past of the Underdark and the city of dark elves Menzoberranzan, the main participant in the trilogy is the father of Drizzt. The first volume “Out of Time”, which tells about the acquaintance of the young gunsmith Zaknafein with the assassin Jarslaks and matron Melis, will go on sale September 18, 2018.
Readers' Choice
Before listing all the books of Robert Salvatore about the dark elf in order, you need to get acquainted with the main characters of the cycle. So it will be much easier to navigate in numerous novels that tell about different times, and not get confused in the appearance of new characters.
Initially, Robert Salvatore planned to make the main character the barbarian Wulfgar, and Drizzt his companion. But the drow ranger won his readership and became more popular than Wulfgar. Thus, outside the established order, Robert Salvatore's trilogy about the dark elf appeared, telling about his family, the city of Menzoberranzan, where he lived until he arrived in the Valley of the Ice Wind.
In subsequent novels, Drizzt was finally identified as the main character. The writer, too, did not ignore Wulfgar, and devoted the book “The Ridge of the World” from the trilogy “Paths of Darkness” to him completely.
Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms
Drizzt Do'Urden, an elf drow, left his hometown and became an apostate. He abandoned the cult of the bloody goddess Lolth and went to the Surface. In search of a new home, Drizzt wandered and was persecuted by people who hated the dark elves, even when he saved them from trouble. Those few who became friends with the elf drow found him merciful and noble. Drizzt was a ranger and worshiped the goddess of nature. He wandered for a long time and finally found a house in Icewind Dale. After conquering the underground city of Mithril Halla, Drizzt settled there, but spent more time traveling.
Catti-brie - a friend of Drizzt, who later became a faithful wife, the adopted daughter of Bruenor, she first saw the true face of an elf drow and was able to convince others of this. Catti was a friend of the barbarian Wulfgar, who was also raised by Bruenor. After the events in the Dark Heritage novel, she mourned for a deceased friend and suddenly found herself in love with his ally, the dark elf. Robert Salvatore “blessed” these characters, and in the book “Two Swords” a serious relationship is established between them.
Ranger Friends
Bruenor is the head of the Battle Ax clan, a direct descendant of their ancestor, twice King Mithril Hall. The city was conquered by the dragon when Bruenor was still a child, and the remnants of the Battleaxe clan were forced to move to the Valley of the Ice Wind. Bruenor found friends here, adopted the remaining Catti without parents. Drizzt, Wulfgar and the halfling Regis have been his faithful companions for many years.
Wulfgar is a former leader of the barbarian tribe. Bruenor defeated him in a fair fight, gave him life, but in return demanded five years of slavery from him. Wulfgar did not want to put up with his position, but Bruenor became his mentor, and the young barbarian learned a lot from him. For half a year he was taught the art of battle by Bruenor's friend, Drizzt.
Regis - a halfling from Calimport - escaped from a hired killer, joined the ranger and always accompanied Drizzt and his friends. In 1364, they went to Cadderly in the Temple of the Holy Spirit to destroy the sacred artifact. Regis was seriously injured and nearly died. After that, the halfling sneak has changed - it has become much more decisive and bolder. For his laziness, friends often chuckled after him, calling Puzan, but appreciated for cunning, dexterity and a sharp mind.
Reader Tips
Fans of the adventures of the tracker Drizzt, who have read this cycle more than once, who are familiar with all the heroes and the history of the Forgotten Kingdoms, recommend reading in this order the books of Robert Salvatore about the dark elf:
- The Dark Elf trilogy, which saw the light in 1990 and 1991;
- Ice Wind Valley trilogy, published from 1988 to 1990;
- The Drow Legacy tetralogy, which appeared in print from 1992 to 1996;
- The Dark Trails trilogy, years of publication - from 1988 to 1990;
- The Hunter Blades trilogy was published from 2002 to 2004;
- the “Mercenary Swords” trilogy, the first book “The Servant of the Crystal” was published in 2000, the other two, respectively, in 2005 and 2006.
The last three novels tell the story of the mercenary Jarlax and Artemis, these books are best read after the series “Blades of the Hunter”, as a new hero appears there, features of the plot. After it read:
- the Evolution trilogy, published from 2007 to 2009;
- The Neverwinter trilogy, 2007-2009;
- trilogy “Code of Companions” (2014-2015);
- Homecoming trilogy - the author is currently working on it.
In the footsteps of the dark elf
The Cleric trilogy, related to the Dark Elf saga, Salvatore, can not be read in order. It goes as an independent series about the priest Cadderly, so you can read it at any time, but Cadderly himself appears for the first time in the Dark Paths trilogy.
The Spider Queen's War series, with seven books, talks about the homeland of the dark elves. Novels were written by different authors, but edited by Salvatore. They are not connected with the main series, as they talk about the time when Drizzt already left Menzoberranzan and went to the Surface.
The stories included in the collection “Forgotten Legends” can also be attributed to the books of Salvatore about the dark elf. Order by date of writing:
- “First Notch” - about the youth of Bruenor;
- “Dark Mirror” - a prequel to the novel “Heritage”;
- “Third Level” - about the young Artemis Entreri;
- Guenhwyvar is the story of Catti-brie;
- “That strange sword” - to the novel “The Spell of the Sorcerer King”;
- “A candle without a wick” - a prequel to “Spells of the Sorcerer King”;
- “Entrance fee” - to the book “The Path to Dawn”;
- “Companions involuntarily” - the action takes place after the events of the novel “Two Swords”;
- “Only at its lair” - to the series “Mercenaries”;
- “Bones and stones” - a prequel to “Blades of the Hunter”;
- “Iruladun” - a prequel to the Evolution trilogy;
- “Leaving into legend” - about the last battle of Wulfgar, to the cycle “Neverwinter”.
Briefly about Drizzt
The action of the story of Salvatore about the dark elf takes place in the underground city of Menzoberranzan. Matriarchy reigns here: the priestesses of the goddess Lolth and the mothers of the Noble families rule the inhabitants. Men are subordinate to them, and there is fierce competition between them. House Do'Urden destroyed House De Vir. And on the same night a third son was born in their house, and they had to sacrifice him. During the raid on House De Vir, one of the Do'Urdenes died, the priestesses considered this a sacrifice, and little Drizzt remained alive.
The boy grew rebellious and very capable. Father Zaknafein taught him fencing. Drizzt graduated from the Academy of Warriors and was one of the best fencers in his hometown, but he was a naive and kind young man. The older brother soon began to take Drizzt with him on patrol. Once they were given the task to go to the Surface and attack the elves. Drizzt and the beating of the unarmed disgusted Drizzt, he secretly saves the elven girl from everyone. Somehow, during a fight with the deep gnomes, he released one of the prisoners.
Zaknafein, secretly dreaming of the military glory of his son, was dejected, and his father is trying to kill him in training. Drizzt is about to flee the city. Wizards Alton and Masoi immediately attack him and die during the battle. Mother, learning about the escape of his son Drizzt, enrages and is going to execute him for treason. But the father offers himself as a sacrifice to the goddess Lolth instead of his son. Drizzt, returning home, found out about the death of his father, expressed to the family everything he thought of them, and fled from the city.
Soon he finds friends and roams along with him through the Underdark. But the mother of the family, the matron Malis, creates zombies from the body of Zaknafein and sends him in search of Drizzt. In the battle, Zak returns his memory, and so as not to harm his son, he rushes into the lake with acid. Elf, fleeing persecution, goes to the Surface, where he is waiting for new friends, unknown dangers and adventures, which readers can learn about from the numerous novels of Salvatore about the dark elf.
Reader Reviews
Not many gaming-based book series boast such superb quality. More about the books of the Forgotten Kingdoms series in Russia than about games. The adventures of Drizzt, begun in 1988, have been so popular that every book is eagerly awaited. Over the years, readers have matured, but they don’t want to part with their beloved hero.
The city of Menzoberranzan and its inhabitants attract like a magnet. Heroes, landscapes, and the whole world surrounding the heroes are described in detail and scrupulously. Immerse yourself in this universe so much that you hear the whistle of the wind in your ears. Numerous battles, battles, battles of many thousands are clearly and vividly spelled out, and, surprisingly, for such a large series, they are never repeated. The plots in the books are simple, but kept in suspense. The most important thing is the story of the formation of the personality of the protagonist, and each plot of this tale has morality.