The Dark Elf Trilogy

After the unexpected popularity of Drizzt in The Icewind Dale Trilogy, this prequel trilogy elaborating on his past, journey to the surface, and initiation into the ways of a ranger came out. It is arguably the best in the series, primarily due to its focus on Drizzt, the sinister world of drow intrigue, and utter lack of pesky dwarves. Now that all the books are being re-released under the blanket title The Legend of Drizzt, these three novels have been renumbered to fit the proper chronological order (instead of -3, -2, -1).

This fast-paced, action-packed classic not only chronicles the childhood of this peculiar drow with lavender eyes but is also the definitive primer on the twisted brilliance of drow society. Innocence is realized and lost, a lasting friendship with a magical black panther is forged, one of the best characters in the series is introduced and swiftly killed off. Possibly my favorite book in the whole thing.

Oh no, illithids! Illithids are bad, m'kay? Drizzt develops a wilder, darker aspect of himself here geared towards sheer survival. Dinin gets the crap beat out of him again for no apparent reason and Zaknafein is back with a vengeance.

Drizzt journeys to the surface to be feared, hunted, and shunned by all except his trustworthy feline companion and a blind ranger. His hapless attempts to make friends are absolutely adorable! It is here Drizzt is first called a "drizzit," a cute elf is strangled, and a very mean quickling meets a suitably grisly death.

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The Icewind Dale Trilogy

Dwarves and snow *shudder*. Though this was the original few books featuring Drizzt ever released, it is chronologically the second trilogy in the series. Wulfgar was actually supposed to be the star of the story, but Drizzt somehow got a life of his own and stole every scene hands down. Though the drow now traveled with a band of loyal friends, he was still hated by the rest of the world. The first hardcover release of the Collector's Edition was riddled with typos before it was pulled from the shelves. This was amazing not just in the sheer number of typos (at least one per page), but in the fact that the original individual paperbacks did not have them. Hmmm. I am very happy I have it and can read all I want about the adventures of "Drizzi" and "Wi;fgur."

Giants and dragons and demons, oh my! One Ring Crystal to rule them all, one Crystal to find them, one Crystal to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. When a powerful magical artifact threatens the countryside, Drizzt comes to the rescue and tries to earn the friendship of Ten-Towns. Wulfgar is annoying and should stop hogging Drizzt's scenes.

More gratuitous persecution and the first appearance by Artemis Entreri (one of the coolest names ever, might I add)!! The only casters I could ever enjoy, the Harpells, are introduced. Oh, and something about ancient dwarven legacies, mines of Moria Mithral Hall, and a rather large fire-breathing balrog dragon. Wulfgar still annoying.

As Drizzt found out, there was at least one man in the world that judged others not by the color of their skin, but by their skill with the blade(s). That man was Artemis Entreri, and this was not altogether a good thing. The gang goes all the way to Calimport and Drizzt braves an other-planar abyss. Wulfgar being especially annoying in this one.

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Legacy of the Drow

Less dwarves, more drow! These books go back to the politics and brutality of the Underdark to tie up some loose ends regarding Menzoberranzen's purple-eyed misfit problem. Lolth wants Drizzt dead and her zealous followers are practically tripping over each other to grant their goddess' wish. Friends become enemies, enemies become friends, people die, anything goes!! Drizzt is faced with the dilemma of breaking his vow to never kill drow as he ventures alone into his homeland, more vulnerable than he has ever been. I have no idea what Passage to Dawn is doing in here.

I have no idea what the original cover (hover cursor over the picture to the left to see) was supposed to mean. Watch out, Drizzt, there's a huge glowing spider coming at you!! Here the rivalry between Artemis and Drizzt takes on Wile E. Coyote & Roadrunner proportions, complete with a futile attempt to sail off a cliff on a hang glider. My sweet darling Dinin dies... twice..... T_T Also, somebody else dies, but for the life of me I can't remember their name. I think it started with a W... Wu... Oh well, couldn't have been all that important.

I hate the original cover (hover cursor over the picture to the to see). Why does Drizzt look like Spock? Why does he look like he's 1000 years old? Why is he pink? What's with The Rock raised eyebrow? Can you smell what The Drizzt is cooking?? And for the love of god what is with the damn gold plate on his head??? Aside from that, with the unicorn scene, freaky drow ladies hitting on Drizzt, overt torture, Drizzt and Entreri teaming up, Jarlaxle's involvement, and Drizzt fighting Dantrag, this book is all that and a bag of chips! Without a doubt one of my favorites.

House Baenre falls! Did I mention how much I love Thibbledorf Pwent's battleragers? The only dwarf I actually enjoy. Sorry, this book is a blur to me, I really need to re-read it. ^_^;;

What was the point of this book? After dangling Zaknafein in front of our noses we get Wulfgar?? You know, I bet that was Drizzt's reaction, too: "DAD?!? ............... oh..... it's just you." Only worth reading for Harkle Harpell and Drizzt getting electrocuted.

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Paths of Darkness

Artemis Entreri forms a promising alliance with Jarlaxle as he struggles with his obsession to defeat Drizzt before human aging erodes his skill. Wulfgar drudges about whining like a little b*tch. Drizzt is confronted by a blast from the past just as he starts to feel at home in the world and relapses into self-loathing. This sub-series used to include Servant of the Shard (and the Collector's Edition still does), Jarlaxle's own foray into darkness, but that book has since been reclassified to The Sellswords sub-series.

Ugh... Wulfgar should have stayed dead. He was bad enough before, but now his pathetic angst and incessant whining has made me want to fling this book into the wall on several occasions. Oh look, a whole chapter about Wulfgar wandering around aimlessly. Oh look, another one! ARRGHH!! I gave up and skipped to the final duel between Drizzt and Artemis. I swear Salvatore wanted to kill Drizzt off for good but the Forgotten Realms editors made him write the Epilogue with a gun at his head.

Move along, nothing to see here, just a whole book about Wulfgar sulking and feeling sorry for himself. He meets some chick named Delly, that's all you need to know.

Lesbian pirates, mysterious warriors, and Wulfgar's reunion with his friends. This book is light and fun for the most part, hearkening back to the wistful tone of The Icewind Dale Trilogy, but takes a dramatic nosedive into the abysmal pits of depression in the last few pages. No good deed goes unpunished when Drizzt is involved. Why can't people just be grateful for once?

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The Hunter's Blades Trilogy

Lots of dwarves, very little drow... indeed, very little Drizzt. Even when Drizzt does get screentime, he's often in angsty paladin mode, still recovering from the tragedy of Sea of Swords. There has been a trend for him to grow progressively flatter and more perfect as a character, and this sub-series was meant to remedy that. By the end of the first book Drizzt believes his friends to be dead and reverts to the Hunter survival mode he developed in Exile. It is refreshing to see Drizzt acting alone, waging a war of reckless abandon against orcish hordes.

What's with all the damn dwarves?? I hate dwarves! I hate dwarven politics! I hate snow! GRR!! (BRR?) Dwarves bickering, dwarves revolting, dwarves getting imprisoned, dwarves leaving... May the orcs and giants massacre them all!! Thankfully, the pacing picks up towards the end with a Helms Deep style assault on the town Shallows. I have this book signed by R. A. Salvatore himself! Signed, I say!!

Drizzt embraces his primal Hunter side, forsaking civilized comforts to live barefoot in a cave,  wallowing in angst before an altar he made from Bruenor's helmet that he scavenged from the ruins of Shallows. The carnage he leaves in his wake is awe-inspiringly brutal! I really enjoyed this book - anything that's anything happens here! Obould becoming chosen of Gruumsh, Nanfoodle blowing up a mountainside, Tarathiel getting killed, Drizzt facing off with local drow, Drizzt hanging out with elves, Bruenor getting resurrected, the list goes on...

Bruenor is defending Mithral Hall from scores of orcs! Galen is defending Nesme from scores of trolls! Dagna's dead! Delly's dead! Catti-brie's dead! Catti-brie's not dead (damn)! I really don't give a crap. I'm reading this book for one reason and one reason only: to see Drizzt and Obould go at it. And wow was the the most anticlimactic battle of the century or what? I demand a rematch!!

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The Sellswords

I've had my doubts about this spinoff starring the antiheroes Jarlaxle and Artemis, but the first book alone dispelled all of them entirely. Salvatore has been growing tired of writing about Drizzt non-stop based more on popular demand than genuine inspiration and I believe the fresh plot, dialogue, and ideas in this sub-series show it is a welcome change for him. I certainly love the chemistry between Jarlaxle and Artemis, so you won't see me complaining. Now if we could only have him write a trilogy on Jarlaxle's past. 

This was reclassified from the Paths of Darkness sub-series. Jarlaxle's shrewd wit, intelligence, and charm is more than enough to carry a story, and it is fascinating to learn more about him (although it brings more questions than answers). His inner dialogue with Crenshinibon was one of the funniest things I ever read and his idea to travel the world pretending to be Drizzt is sheer genius! Artemis is the perfect contrast to Jarlaxle's obnoxious flair, and it is interesting to see his more human side be developed.

Each chapter in this installment reads like an episode of Survivor: Dracolich Fortress as party members drop dead one by one. As always, the not-so-subtle tension in Jarlaxle and Artemis' relationship provides a refreshing element of humor... well, that and the rhyming dwarf. I never cease to marvel at Jarlaxle's endless arsenal of tricks, items, and tide-turning resourcefulness. I pity the poor halfling that was nearly blinded after attempting to scan Jarlaxle for magic. Meanwhile, Artemis runs around scowling with adolescent angst and generally hating life.

This final book in The Sellswords trilogy is all about exposition. The circumstances behind Jarlaxle's failed sacrifice to Lolth are revealed, as well as his relationship with House Baenre. Athrogate remembers his family's massacre at Felbarr. Artemis confronts his own past and settles some old scores with the folks of Memnon - but not before becoming apprentice knight of a Paladin order! You meet some memorable characters from the Bloodstone Lands, such as the powerful, disciplined Master Kane, and the hateful, spiteful, stuck-up bitch Lady Christine. The last two pages make me very worried for future Jarlaxle books.

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20

Haven't read it yet, but it looks great!!

Haven't read it yet, but popular consensus says it's better than its predecessor!!

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1

Haven't read it yet....

The Legend of Drizzt Graphic Novels

The "Drizzt Books," now with bold letters emphasizing key words! In my humble opinion, Western comics are far behind the immersive storytelling of Japanese manga, but these are a very welcome companion to those who read the books. I will drool over anything involving Drizzt and pretty pictures.

HOMELAND

Awkward pacing, missing/changed scenes, and corny dialogue aside, this is a godsend to anyone who loves the books. Though it can't compare to the emotion, complexity, and detail of the latter, it brings its own flavor of humor and symbolism to the story. Everyone looks better than I could have hoped, and though Dinin, and particularly Zaknafein, could have looked a lot prettier, Drizzt lives up to an almost anime bishounen standard of beauty that does his book description justice.

See above.

See above.

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See above, except Drizzt looks older and uglier. ~_~

See above.

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