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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Sep 2011 : 15:07:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Seabus Mythforger
Seeing as it was RA Salvatore's Dark Elf Trilogy that brought me into the Realms, I must say that I love most of his novels. Drizzt and the Companions of the Hall do tend to get stale after a trilogy or two but that's why I've delved further into the Realms themselves. I can read a trilogy of Drizzt and then jump around to Elminster or spend a week in Evermeet with the Fair Folk and when I return to Drizzt, it's like I'm picking up Homeland for the first time again. But as good as Drizzt is to read, I must honestly say, I enjoy Salvatore's dwarves the best. Bruenor is exactly like I've always imagined dwarven folk to be but when I read the Cleric Quintet and was introduced to Pikel Bouldershoulder, my world got turned completely upside down...and for the better!
Overall, I'd have to agree with most people here. There need to be more books about other characters. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see a book dealing with Jarlaxle and Zaknafein before the time of Drizzt and he could take it even further back with Jarlaxle to the time when Matron Mother Baenre tried to sacrifice Jarlaxe for being the thrid born child and make a trilogy leading up to when he formed Bregan D'arthe! A book dealing with the Bouldershoulder brothers would be awesome as well! But most of all, we NEED a trilogy about Harkell Harpell and his insanely dangerous family of cooky wizards. For some reason in my head, I like to think of the Harpells as the Addams Family of the Forgotten Realms!
A pre-Drizzt book on Zak would be great, if done properly of course. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
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Nilus Reynard
Learned Scribe
Canada
137 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2011 : 18:12:19
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| I liked his novels, but I didn't go out of my way to find & buy them whenever a new one came out. I just kept acquiring Realms novels and eventually bought and read the newest one that he had written. |
Nilus Reynard
Doom Master of Beshaba, Hand of Despair.
P24 Hm CN
(2nd Edition AD&D) |
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Seabus Mythforger
Seeker
76 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2011 : 19:36:09
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| I also think it needs to be stated that, while Drizzt can get stale from time to time, there's no need for his "death". Drizzt is a drow, who happen to live for centuries upon centuries. Matron Mother Baenre was possibly two thousand year old when Bruenor killed her. And while most drow don't necessarily live that long they do have the ability to live up to a full millenia easily. It's part of why I'm looking forward to 4th edition Drizzt. The companions are dead and gone and there's a whole new world of stories to tell about Drizzt. I'm not too sure how I feel about Entreri being brought into 4th edition but after reading the Sellswords and learning that he used his vampiric dagger to draw in the essence of a shade into his soul I certainly understand how he could still be around. We'll just have to see how things progress and only time will tell if Drizzt should ever be killed off. |
~Seabus Mythforger,
Renegade Mage |
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Nilus Reynard
Learned Scribe
Canada
137 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2011 : 05:51:28
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I agree, Seabus.
While it may take him some time to gain new (trusted) companions, I believe that there is alot more than can be done with the Drizzt character. Killing him off would just be the cheap and easy way of ending the character saga. |
Nilus Reynard
Doom Master of Beshaba, Hand of Despair.
P24 Hm CN
(2nd Edition AD&D) |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7968 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2011 : 07:20:22
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More stage time for Drizzt means less for everybody else. It's a tradeoff: endless saga about the Drizzt character (and his sidekicks) keeping the Realms safe - vs - the need for countless other new and old NPCs to have a shot at adventure instead.
Drizzt is (or at least was) immensely popular and iconic, readily evidenced by all those books written about him and all those copycat players who dedicate so much effort into explaining how their dark elves are different. I'm of the personal opinion that Drizzt has already had enough center stage, indeed I think he's overstayed his welcome and should've already been killed/retired in some appropriate fashion. But, my opinions about Drizzt aside, even though I know Wizbro will keep on selling Drizzt pulp as long as people keep buying it, I would still like to see some other characters get in on the action instead. Preferably new (or previously ignored) characters, not Drizzt's drinking buddies, not Elminster and Khelben and the Seven Chosen, etc. Preferably also not constantly centered around the ambitions of gods and goddesses, archmages and überliches. The vast majority of people, and heroes, in the Realms are not powerful magi, indeed many aren't humans or elves ... how about a determined focus on writing some of them into Realms legend?
Interesting that the noble paladins and priests all have an unfortunate tendency to get heroically martyred in suicidal victories against Big Evil Things. How about one or two of them sticking around for a few trilogies to have a lasting impact?
[Edit]
Still waiting on all those stories about Mirt the Moneylender we were long-ago promised.  |
[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 12 Oct 2011 07:32:22 |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2011 : 14:06:05
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| I think it's time for Salvatore to write and entirely new and different trilogy for the Realms: new characters, new setting, etc. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
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Nilus Reynard
Learned Scribe
Canada
137 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2011 : 17:27:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
More stage time for Drizzt means less for everybody else. It's a tradeoff: endless saga about the Drizzt character (and his sidekicks) keeping the Realms safe - vs - the need for countless other new and old NPCs to have a shot at adventure instead.
Yes, your opinion has definite merit.
But there is no need to kill off the character, there has been far too much of that as of late. Getting rid of the Drizzt Do'Urden character might just have the effect of getting rid of more Realms fans. While there is the need to have new characters introduced and developed, there is still the need to keep some of the "old guard" as well. |
Nilus Reynard
Doom Master of Beshaba, Hand of Despair.
P24 Hm CN
(2nd Edition AD&D) |
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Therise
Master of Realmslore
1272 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2011 : 17:36:28
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With RAS, I initially loved his Drizzt books. I still like Drizzt, Entreri, Jarlaxle, etc. but they've grown a little long in the tooth. I absolutely loved his Cadderly books, but I lost interest when Drizzt and company showed up. I'm really not happy with Cadderly's end, but it had a certain poetic quality to it, I suppose.
What I really would like to see is a totally new series by RAS with entirely new characters. He's such a talented writer and storyteller, it would be great fun to see something fresh and new. Maybe a story about a young mage, or even the story of an orc that becomes civilized.
I realize that Drizzt is a big sell for WotC, I'm just not as excited about reading Drizzt stories as I once was.
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Female, 40-year DM of a homebrew-evolved 1E Realms, including a few added tidbits of 2E and 3E lore; played originally in AD&D, then in Rolemaster. Be a DM for your kids and grandkids, gaming is excellent for families! |
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phranctoast
Learned Scribe
USA
151 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2011 : 20:22:31
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I would like to see RAS take on more Realms Shattering events. I know that sounds strange after he wrote the destruction of Neverwinter, and near destruction of Luskan, but I mean larger. It's likely not even up to him, but I'd like to see him write something that affects the realms like Abolethic sovereignty, Haunted Lands Trilogy, Arch Wizards trilogy, or The Last Mythal. He always seems like he's writing a skirmish when I'd like to see a War.
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Currently reading: Spider and Stone by Jaleigh Johnson: Sequel to Mistshore |
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phranctoast
Learned Scribe
USA
151 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2011 : 20:27:13
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Chosen of Asmodeus
The problem is that the business plan is to create new characters instead of developing existing ones. Drizzt and Elminster(and their associated characters) are the exceptions. Everyone else may get a trilogy, or a cameo at a later date.
I would add Aoth to the exceptions. He's got two trilogies and one more coming. He's spellscarred and would live far longer than ordinary mortals.
Anyway, I would love it if RAS writes at least a trilogy featuring Robillard as the main protagonist.
Speaking of Spellscarred. RAS was completely set up to use a similar affliction for Cattie Bri instead of killing her off. She was hit by the Blue Fire and died shortly after. After being injured in 1000 orcs, she started studying magic under Alustrial.
To me they were setting up Drizzt to have a component spell wielding partner that could 'live a while' with him as she was spell scarred but they kind of screwed the pooch with her death there.
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Currently reading: Spider and Stone by Jaleigh Johnson: Sequel to Mistshore |
Edited by - phranctoast on 12 Oct 2011 20:28:53 |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2011 : 20:42:46
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| SOOOO many people on here need to learn how to use the "Spoiler Warning." |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Seabus Mythforger
Seeker
76 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2011 : 01:33:30
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| I agree to the point that RAS should delve into more of the Realms other than Drizzt. Don't kill off the character or anything but take some time to bring us some new stories with new characters as well as bringing Drizzt around once in a while. What I think would be best is if he wrote new trilogies/series with new characters/setting/events and dropped those on a once/twice a year basis while dropping a new Drizzt standalone every year and a half/two years and get WotC to up his page limit for Drizzt novels. I would gladly take a 450-500 page Drizzt novel every 18-24 months while still reading other great stories that he could tell. And I do think it's time for him to leave the drow and the Underdark behind him. He created a great world with the Underdark and the drow but he's such a great author that it's time for him to expand further into the Realms. To prove this point I suggest everyone (who hasn't already) to read his Demon Wars Saga. They're amazing and showcase his talent for sword and sorcery story-telling better than even his earlier Drizzt novels. |
~Seabus Mythforger,
Renegade Mage |
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Tasker Daze
Seeker
84 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2011 : 04:26:54
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| I've read a couple of RAS's non-Drizzit books. And I really didn't like them. |
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Yoss
Learned Scribe
USA
259 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2011 : 05:05:30
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I'm somewhere between the "I love all or most of his Realms books" and "I liked his novels but at some point I eventually moved away from them." I have enjoyed most of them, and can't really say I've moved away from them if I'm still reading them. If I'd moved away from them entirely, there would have been no mad dash to Barnes & Noble last Tuesday when I realized half an hour before closing that it was Tuesday (because 13 bucks for an e-book is nuts, but apparently I have no problem spending an extra 10 bucks if it means I get an actual book...but I digress). This probably has a lot to do with the fact that I never read any of his stuff until the beginning of this year. Had I been waiting one-book-a-year throughout the Hunter's Blade trilogy, I'd definitely have moved away from Drizzt. I stopped caring about that character & friends probably right around Siege of Darkness. On the one hand, I would definitely say I've enjoyed more RAS FR stuff than I've disliked. And most of the ones I was less thrilled about reading were simply viewed as things standing between me and catching up to Gauntlgrym. Since I'd read plenty of Barrabus-is-Entreri spoilers, and sometimes have a tendency to complete things that come in a series (or at least hanging on much longer than I should after I've decided I don't like it anymore--"maybe the next one won't suck, maybe it will be good again!")
The first two trilogies were excellent, and I've pretty much loved everything featuring Entreri and Jarlaxle (in Menzoberranzan, the short stories, Sellswords trilogy, like I said: everything with those two). But I can see why people 1) are and never were fans to begin with 2) feel the super good guy thing has been incredibly played out 3) prefer something more than a relatively straight-forward and linear storytelling. Your lore is going to be very limited and skewed if your novel-base comes primarily from RAS' work, because it's far more character-oriented and pertains to their stories, it seems to me that other authors do a far better job showcasing the sights/sounds/smells of the Realms. If you for some reason despise melee fighting classes, of course you're not going to want to read book after book primarily about someone who dual-wields scimitars. Sometimes Ed Greenwood's style drives me batty because I do like a story that reads like "they found the cave. then they fought some bad guys. and after that they looted the treasure." Jumping from one plotline to another, breaking to introduce characters that you will see again in 100 pages (or perhaps never see again, only existed for that one short side-tale), is too much like I talk, and I'm constantly going off on tangents, forgetting what I said and coming back to that 2 hours later, or writing incredibly long, run-on sentences on message boards. At the same time, though, I do see how a story that progresses from point A to G via B,C,D,E, and F all in that exact order can grow tiresome and boring. And the Drizzt/Catti-brie relationship was far from a favorite of mine, so I do have a hard time disagreeing with anyone who wants to hate on that. And they're not without continuity flaws. Being 1) a non-gamer novel-reader and 2) still a noob/FNG, I can overlook a lot of them out of sheer ignorance (which I am trying to correct by reading more) when they are issues due to time-line nitpicking--chalk it up to that shared world thing. Or with an all-knowing supernerd smirk when they're continuity issues in RAS' own work itself. They don't bother me (yet), but I do see how they could be annoying. |
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Seravin
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1265 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2011 : 18:58:46
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My favorite characters are Kimmuriel, Robillard, and Cadderly....so I wish he would write less about Mary Sue Drizzt.
Guantlgrym was a great way to send off one of his characters (no spoilers) but two particular send offs seemed really poorly done of the Companions of the Hall (you know which two I mean). Although he has brought characters back from the dead many times.
I do like his books tho a great deal. I just find Mary Sue Drizzt to be way too perfect all the time. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7968 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2011 : 01:12:33
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I don't think the Mary Sue argument is entirely applicable to Drizzt. Drizzt is iconic, the prototype of his kind, and (as said before) immensely popular. I don't blame Wizbro and RAS for pumping Drizzt when people avidly buy everything with his name on it. True, Drizzt's lost a lot of popularity over time for being a big emo full of brooding angst, but in all fairness this tendency seems to have been toned down (or at least shifted onto other characters) to free up old Drizzy's time for more acrobatic deathblading and dark elfy coolness.
I think the main problem is that I've just grown a little (well, a lot) tired of Drizzt, and I'm not alone; lots of people have just had enough. But I recall my introduction to the Realms, my rapt fascination, my unbelieving enthusiasm ... Drizzt was great, he was kickass, he was killa phat gangs. Since he hasn't changed all that much I can only conclude that I have. Although I might be completely sick of hearing about Drizzt I can still heartily recommend his books to others, especially to people recently captivated by the Realms, in the hopes that others will experience some Drizzt in the same positive manner. More power to those who love Drizzt, just don't count on me being one of them. |
[/Ayrik] |
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HardKano
Learned Scribe
Canada
158 Posts |
Posted - 04 Nov 2011 : 01:54:54
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I have read all the Drizzt Saga (exept neverwinter trilogy, i wait for the last one to read them in a row... 1&2 already waiting in my bookshelf, signed) and the sellswords trilogy. I really like the way he put the characters into life and the immersion within their feelings. Many things cross different series and its sweet to put a '!' on a thing about a character in a series that is "release" in another one.
I have stoped a bit reading his books for 1 year now to read other FR books and see what else is around.
I'll probally restart when the last neverwinter novel will be release |
There is only one thing that will never change : Evolution |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 04 Nov 2011 : 13:16:38
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quote:
Originally posted by HardKano
I have read all the Drizzt Saga (exept neverwinter trilogy, i wait for the last one to read them in a row... 1&2 already waiting in my bookshelf, signed) and the sellswords trilogy. I really like the way he put the characters into life and the immersion within their feelings. Many things cross different series and its sweet to put a '!' on a thing about a character in a series that is "release" in another one.
I have stoped a bit reading his books for 1 year now to read other FR books and see what else is around.
I'll probally restart when the last neverwinter novel will be release
I can see why some people liked that he had his characters from both realms series overlap, but i did not care for it. I sort of felt like a shamless plug to me, as if WoTC came to Salvatore and said :"Sales for the Cleric Quintet are down, see what you can do to increase them." I still need to read the Transitions Trilogy and the Neverwinter books. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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HardKano
Learned Scribe
Canada
158 Posts |
Posted - 04 Nov 2011 : 19:55:14
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| Unfortunately, many things are stick to sales objectives ! And its not only in Forgotten Realms matters ... Every thing need to "seduce" a type of reader to get them and sell books ! |
There is only one thing that will never change : Evolution |
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BEAST
Master of Realmslore
USA
1714 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2011 : 00:27:59
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quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
I can see why some people liked that he had his characters from both realms series overlap, but i did not care for it. I sort of felt like a shamless plug to me, as if WoTC came to Salvatore and said :"Sales for the Cleric Quintet are down, see what you can do to increase them." I still need to read the Transitions Trilogy and the Neverwinter books.
Originally, RAS began writing "The Cleric Quintet" to get away from the Drizzt Saga. Bob was actually very eager to pursue this new character of Cadderly Bonaduce, no matter how popular Drizzt had already become.
He was only halfway through this other series when he began being pressured (by fans and TSR) to start up the Drizzt stories once again. So he actually started writing the "Legacy of the Drow" mini-series while he was also finishing the writing of "TCQ".
And I don't think that that chain of events allowed him to focus as intently on "TCQ" as he otherwise would've liked. It certainly divided his attention and his energies. So Bob probably wanted to pick up the Cadderly stories ever since. There was no need for publisher pressure to drive him into it.
TSR and RAS had a falling-out over different issues, most notably the aforementioned workload being demanded of him, and RAS decided to finish up his contract at the time with the novel Passage to Dawn. Since he thought this would be his last book set in the Realms, it was he--Bob Salvatore--who decided to merge the two different Realms storylines together. He wanted to enjoy playing with both sets of characters before he--and they--set off into the sunset. And he left off that tale with the Companions determined to see Cadderly yet again, regardless of TSR's intentions for the characters.
Later on, after RAS and WOTC kissed and made up, RAS finally did check in on Cadderly and Co. again in the book Servant of the Shard. There is no evidence that the publisher pushed him into this. He did it because, as mentioned, he clearly had already been wanting to for years.
WOTC, in turn, re-released "TCQ" as individual paperbacks, and then in an omnibus collector's edition.
And later still, the Spellplague probably struck RAS as an excellent opportunity to once again re-visit the powerful cleric Cadderly Bonaduce, in the novel The Ghost King. With the gods and magic going all wonky, Cadderly would certainly be the most logical RAS character to directly and dramatically experience that particular RSE. (If anything, it was the inclusion of the Crystal Shard in the story that comes across as a little clumsy and contrived--not that of the magical priest Cadderly.)
At any rate, WOTC then probably saw RAS's decision to drop in on Cadderly again as an excellent way to try to sell more "TCQ" books. In an effort to make "TCQ" sound more relevant, before TGK was even published, WOTC even re-packaged that series as a sort of "prequel" to TGK.
So I think you got the sequence/order or causative relationship backwards. |
"'You don't know my history,' he said dryly."
--Drizzt Do'Urden (The Pirate King, Part 1: Chapter 2)
<"Comprehensive Chronology of R.A. Salvatore Forgotten Realms Works"> |
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HardKano
Learned Scribe
Canada
158 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2011 : 00:53:00
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| Thanks for the info, very interresting |
There is only one thing that will never change : Evolution |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2011 : 14:14:55
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quote:
Originally posted by BEAST
quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
I can see why some people liked that he had his characters from both realms series overlap, but i did not care for it. I sort of felt like a shamless plug to me, as if WoTC came to Salvatore and said :"Sales for the Cleric Quintet are down, see what you can do to increase them." I still need to read the Transitions Trilogy and the Neverwinter books.
Originally, RAS began writing "The Cleric Quintet" to get away from the Drizzt Saga. Bob was actually very eager to pursue this new character of Cadderly Bonaduce, no matter how popular Drizzt had already become.
He was only halfway through this other series when he began being pressured (by fans and TSR) to start up the Drizzt stories once again. So he actually started writing the "Legacy of the Drow" mini-series while he was also finishing the writing of "TCQ".
And I don't think that that chain of events allowed him to focus as intently on "TCQ" as he otherwise would've liked. It certainly divided his attention and his energies. So Bob probably wanted to pick up the Cadderly stories ever since. There was no need for publisher pressure to drive him into it.
TSR and RAS had a falling-out over different issues, most notably the aforementioned workload being demanded of him, and RAS decided to finish up his contract at the time with the novel Passage to Dawn. Since he thought this would be his last book set in the Realms, it was he--Bob Salvatore--who decided to merge the two different Realms storylines together. He wanted to enjoy playing with both sets of characters before he--and they--set off into the sunset. And he left off that tale with the Companions determined to see Cadderly yet again, regardless of TSR's intentions for the characters.
Later on, after RAS and WOTC kissed and made up, RAS finally did check in on Cadderly and Co. again in the book Servant of the Shard. There is no evidence that the publisher pushed him into this. He did it because, as mentioned, he clearly had already been wanting to for years.
WOTC, in turn, re-released "TCQ" as individual paperbacks, and then in an omnibus collector's edition.
And later still, the Spellplague probably struck RAS as an excellent opportunity to once again re-visit the powerful cleric Cadderly Bonaduce, in the novel The Ghost King. With the gods and magic going all wonky, Cadderly would certainly be the most logical RAS character to directly and dramatically experience that particular RSE. (If anything, it was the inclusion of the Crystal Shard in the story that comes across as a little clumsy and contrived--not that of the magical priest Cadderly.)
At any rate, WOTC then probably saw RAS's decision to drop in on Cadderly again as an excellent way to try to sell more "TCQ" books. In an effort to make "TCQ" sound more relevant, before TGK was even published, WOTC even re-packaged that series as a sort of "prequel" to TGK.
So I think you got the sequence/order or causative relationship backwards.
None of that changes the fact that i don't care for the way Salvatore blended both of his different series together. This would have been a great opportunity for him to create some new characters to help Drizzt deal with the Crystal Shard and so on and so forth. Instead he decided to have all of his established characters get together, when in "real life" they probably would never have met. I'm not saying he was right or wrong, that's just my opinion. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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jornan
Learned Scribe
Canada
256 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2011 : 02:59:29
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| But isn't the realms all about unlikely meetings. Look at any Greenwood book and his characters from all over the realms have a tendency to run into each other. I fail to see why it is any different than in an RAS book and personally like the inter-relation between series. Bruce Kordell did the same thing with various characters and even a weapon. Richard Lee Byers has taken parts from two completely different series and melded aspects of both into on (Rogue Dragons+Haunted Lands = Brotherhood of the Griffon). Honestly, I like it when stories are interwoven, it makes the Realms feel more connected and alive. It also makes me believe that the plots of one book can have implications for another. |
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BEAST
Master of Realmslore
USA
1714 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2011 : 03:31:21
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quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
None of that changes the fact that i don't care for the way Salvatore blended both of his different series together.
Are you referring to the first time when they met, in Passage to Dawn? Having Harkle Harpell magically fuse them together was both silly and contrived. But that's a Harpell for you!
After that meeting, though, Cadderly was probably the foremost goodly magic-user in Drizzt's personal circle. (There is no evidence that Drizzt has ever met with Elminster, yet.) So it makes since to me that Drizzt would seek assistance from Cadderly to destroy the Crystal Shard (The Silent Blade; cf. Servant of the Shard), and then again to really really  destroy it (The Ghost King).
It's not like he would've gone to the Harpells!
quote:
This would have been a great opportunity for him to create some new characters to help Drizzt deal with the Crystal Shard and so on and so forth.
Aye.
Perhaps Bob's great skill with visualizing melee as opposed to magic made him a little reluctant to create a new magic-user? Maybe that made it easier for him to fall back on one of his established characters?
I also think that he never has felt that he got to explore Cadderly as deeply as he wanted to, originally. He's always felt like there was something more he could or should do with the guy.
As the second Realms novelist when he was still quite young himself, Bob harkens back to a time when authors were advised to play in their own little corner of the Realms and not interfere with other writers' characters and lands. Obviously, over time that edict became impossible to follow, as the Realms are all inter-connected. But Bob has still had a tendency to isolate his characters from the larger Realms. Some observers have noted that this leads to many RAS fans failing to ever learn about the rest of the Realms, over-estimating the power/impact/etc. of Drizzt, etc. At any rate, I think this could be a case of Bob working within his own comfort zone partially based on past requirements of the publisher.
quote:
Instead he decided to have all of his established characters get together, when in "real life" they probably would never have met. I'm not saying he was right or wrong, that's just my opinion.
I wonder which is more likely: that Drizzt would've intentionally sought out an audience with Elminster, or that Harkle would've screwed up and accidentally introduced Drizzt to a third magic-user in the form of Cadderly?
RAS has acknowledged Elminster in his stories, perhaps indicating that Drizzt knows of the archmage's public exploits, but he's never shown that Drizzt has had any interest in actually meeting El.
Drizzt inherited a preference for the blade over the wand from his father. It may be that Drizzt would never intentionally seek out any mage at all, unless chance had already brought them together in the past and made them comfortable with each other. |
"'You don't know my history,' he said dryly."
--Drizzt Do'Urden (The Pirate King, Part 1: Chapter 2)
<"Comprehensive Chronology of R.A. Salvatore Forgotten Realms Works"> |
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Yoss
Learned Scribe
USA
259 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2011 : 10:20:32
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| I was thinking I would have liked to see them go to Khelben or borrow someone established if RAS wasn't going to create a new character. Getting to Waterdeep would have left out the whole Harpell thing (not a fan), and after a while I just ended up finding Cadderly irritating. I liked him for the first couple books of the cleric quintet, but I think in the end I have very little tolerance for priests. I believe there is a certain Entreri quote that belongs here regarding "supposed goodly priests." |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2011 : 03:11:15
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R.A. Salvatore's novels are great. If he writes it I will most likely read it. Realms or not, Drizzt or not.
I am a fan of Drizzt, but it would indeed be great if he could write more non-Drizzt realms fiction or at least let Drizzt fade to the background as new characters are able to be developed. |
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Tarloc
Acolyte
USA
37 Posts |
Posted - 03 Dec 2011 : 03:40:03
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| ive known since i first read athrogate was from the north, that the sellswords would end up meeting drizzt. this is heading for new companions series. drizzt, dahlia, artemis, jarlaxle, athrogate. i will read this or any other fr novel ras writes. hesitance one of the greats |
"hey, you just rolled two natural twenties!"
"is that a touchdown?" |
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Thrasymachus
Learned Scribe
195 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2011 : 05:47:14
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| Salvatore could write on toilet paper, and I would buy it. Just as long as it's set in the Realms. Nothing against his other work. I haven't tried it... yet. |
Former Forgotten Realms brand manager Jim Butler: "Everything that bears the Forgotten Realms logo is considered canon". |
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Tarloc
Acolyte
USA
37 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2011 : 06:01:16
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| used toilet paper even. his demon stone are good.....when waiting for a new fr to come out! what do you think of the new companions? it will be the dark side of being heros. but all the others could pass as long as drizz-it and entreri live on. those two together equal action |
"hey, you just rolled two natural twenties!"
"is that a touchdown?" |
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Thrasymachus
Learned Scribe
195 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2011 : 06:48:13
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| I haven't started the Neverwinter Trilogy, and won't until a month before the third book comes out. I drive myself batty otherwise. |
Former Forgotten Realms brand manager Jim Butler: "Everything that bears the Forgotten Realms logo is considered canon". |
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An RAS poll
