Homeland, Exile & Sojourn

[Xanados]

After having finished Elantris, I realized I actually want some real "traditional" fantasy. I have never actual read this well known work.

What do people think of it? The reviews on Amazon say it's very good.

I'm quite a fan of Dark Elves (As you can probably tell by my picture.)

 

[Steerpike]

Those are pretty good. Actually written after some of the others with those characters. The new Drizz't books, however, suck.

 

[Philip Overby]

I read these books years and years ago. I realize a lot of people aren't fans of R.A. Salvatore, but I've always liked him. You'll probably get varying opinions on his work, but I think if you want some fantasy that is more focused on D&D style, then I can't think of any other series that really is better.

The Icewind Dale Trilogy I liked more than the Dark Elf Trilogy, but I liked the Cleric Quintet even more than those. And I'll always have a fondness for the Dragonlance books.

Sigh...

Sorry, I read these books in Jr. High so it really takes me back.

 

[Xanados]

I'm probably going to pick Homeland up

 

[Sparkie]

Just a suggestion here.

Why not start the Xanados book club thread? I've enjoyed communicating with you while you read Elantris, and I think I'd be able to say the same as you read through the Dark Elf Trilogy. I know I'm not the only one who's read these books. Surely others will want to discuss your take on Salvatore, eh?

Just a thought.

 

[Xanados]

Just a suggestion here.

Why not start the Xanados book club thread? I've enjoyed communicating with you while you read Elantris, and I think I'd be able to say the same as you read through the Dark Elf Trilogy. I know I'm not the only one who's read these books. Surely others will want to discuss your take on Salvatore, eh?

Just a thought.

That sounds like a good idea, Sparkie. I shall start a thread when I find the book in my hands.

 

[myrddin173]

I just recently read the trilogy, and though it isn't my usual fare, found it quite good.

 

[Elder the Dwarf]

Love the trilogy, and anything by Salvatore really. Drizz't is one of my favorite characters of all time, even though the recent character development has pissed me off. I re-read that trilogy last year and loved it even more the second time, but it still isn't my favorite group of drizz't books. Anyways, what I'm trying to say here is read the damn books!

 

[Xanados]

Hm, why exactly is it referred to as the Dark Elf Trilogy on wikipedia when it's the Legend of Drizzt on the books?
Apparently the Legend of Drizzt has many books in it. Are the first three somehow connected more than the others?

Edit : Ah

"The Legend of Drizzt is a series of fantasy novels by Robert Anthony Salvatore that are based in the Forgotten Realms planet Abeir-Toril on the continent Faerûn. Drizzt Do'Urden in the main character of the series. It combines The Dark Elf Trilogy, The Icewind Dale Trilogy, Legacy of the Drow and Paths of Darkness into one series."

 

[Elder the Dwarf]

Correct, but I think you're leaving out the Hunter's Blades Trilogy and the Transitions Trilogy. I personally loved Hunter's Blades, and the only trilogy I haven't liked so far has been Neverwinter. Others here seem to have different opinions though. I started reading with the Icewind Dale trilogy, and that was the first one written, but the Legacy of the Drow would be a better starting point as it is chronologically the first book.

 

[Philip Overby]

I like Sparkie's idea of having a book discussion or book club thread. It could be full of spoilers that way people who haven't read the books wouldn't necessarily want to read it. I was interested in joining in on the Elantris thread but I didn't want to because I haven't read it yet and didn't want to read spoilers.

The first three books are an excellent intro into the dark elf world. So if you're interested in drow culture, it's really good. I prefer Drizzt's later adventures myself.

 

[Xanados]

I like Sparkie's idea of having a book discussion or book club thread. It could be full of spoilers that way people who haven't read the books wouldn't necessarily want to read it. I was interested in joining in on the Elantris thread but I didn't want to because I haven't read it yet and didn't want to read spoilers.

The first three books are an excellent intro into the dark elf world. So if you're interested in drow culture, it's really good. I prefer Drizzt's later adventures myself.

Some hearty recommendations. I am definitely ordering soon!

Also, it was a good thing you never joined in on my Elantris thread because I was spouting out heavy spoilers, trying to suss out a few things here and there!

 

[Xanados]

Just looking at Homeland on Amazon it seems that it's only 343 pages. After reading Elantris with double that amount, I find it quite strange. Is that accurate? I don't own many books that are that small...

 

[myrddin173]

I don't have my copy on hand but that sounds about right.

 

[Xanados]

I don't have my copy on hand but that sounds about right.

Well, I guess that's alright actually. A bit of lighter reading would do me well since I'm going to be starting a big short story. (I aim to have that around 20-30 or so pages.)

 

[Steerpike]

They are all relatively small compared to much of what is now out in the fantasy genre. Most D&D fiction is. Stuff from the late 80s and early 90s more so.

 

[Xanados]

They are all relatively small compared to much of what is now out in the fantasy genre. Most D&D fiction is. Stuff from the late 80s and early 90s more so.

Strange. I would've thought that they would cover more pages since nowadays my generation has the attention span of, well, one who doesn't have any span of attention at all.

Edit:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294

Correct book, yes? I'm quite obsessive when it comes to the order of books. I just need reassurance is all

That is some GOOD art. Most books I see on shelves are of bland and spartan design.

 

[Philip Overby]

Yes that's the first one. You are right to be careful about book order as they changed the name of the series to the Legend of Drizzt. The first three books used to be called The Dark Elf Trilogy. Then the Icewind Dale Trilogy and so on. So yes, the correct order is Homeland, Exile, and Sojourn.

The books are very quick reads, especially if you're used to reading denser stuff.

 

[Steerpike]

If I'm not mistaken, the Icewind Dale Trilogy came first, though the events in those books happen, chronologically, after the Dark Elf Trilogy. I could be remembering it wrong.

Xanados: it seems to me the phenomenon of thick fantasy novels along the lines of Jordan, Erikson, Martin, Abercrombie books like Best Served Cold, etc. is relatively new. There were a few now and again back in, say, the 1980s, but they were largely exceptions to the rule. Books across genres have increased in length, I think, but the increased has been more pronounced in fantasy literature than in other areas.

 

[Steerpike]

BTW - the cover art is by Todd Lockwood, who was a D&D artist going back to when TSR still existed, and was (as I recall) the primary artist on third edition Dungeons and Dragons.