"Homeland" by R. A. Salvatore - a rambling book review

[@JasonThayer-s8h]

Just started getting into these!

[@nancyjay790]

Offering to appease the algorithm. Interesting to reread a book after major life changes and alterations in habits (severely understating I daresay). I've had my own changes in attitude over years, and rereading books from my youth has been interesting. Thank you for your review.

[@gedren_y8775]

As has been previously commented on, the early Drizzt books were heavily restricted by the publisher. This was notably the first loosening of them, because R. A. Salvatore was allowed to actually write a story without the requirement that it be reminiscent of a D&D campaign, and he was also allowed to gender Guenhwyvar. That second point was because magical animals in D&D weren't supposed to be gendered. Where this becomes confusing is that a copy editor on at least the first book of the original trilogy inserted 'he' where Salvatore was instructed to write 'it' when he meant 'she'. Apparently that fool didn't recognize the respelling of Guinevere. Drizzt is very much Galahad. Yes, the inception of the Drow really does have it's roots in some not good things. This is even expressed in the first cover art of The Crystal Shard where Drizzt is depicted with a medium brown skin tone. Drizzt wasn't even supposed to be the center hero of the story, Wulfgar was (his journey actually evokes the Conan movies). It was in the crafting of a narrative that fit the D&D style where Drizzt became the primary protagonist.

[@meander112]

Engagement for the engagement god!

[@RideorDinosaur]

I appreciate you reading the first line of the book, because most of the time a line like that would turn me away, now I can be prepared.

[@nicron8427]

Thank you!!!! For years I've struggled to find reputable YT reviews of this book from my teens. Happy accident that it ended up being a channel I love.

[@mgormley7530]

I loved these books when I was younger. I've been afraid to go back and see if it holds up. thanks for the review!

[@kemikarlscience707]

Read these a long while ago. Started with the Icewind Dale Trilogy, I think they were called. The second book borrows from Tolkien quite a bit. But I enjoyed reading them. Have not reread them in a while. There are some notable retcons from the first trilogy into this but nothing major.

[@HuntingViolets]

Never read these but my martial arts teacher’s kids used to have them and he read them too. A long time ago now.

[@TTRPGSarvis]

I'm glad I commissioned this! I've actually kept current with the series' 39 novels. I have only listened to the audiobook version, so I wonder if that's why the overdescriptions never bothered me. I may actually re-listen to some of the more recent ones to see if it's still a characteristic of Salvatore's writing. Also, as you may be able to tell by my profile picture, I share your love for Jarlaxle.

[@felixcorona13]

Fantastic series

[@strawberryblossommoon]

drizzt demisexual canon

[@highfive7689]

Everyone (adult to knee-huggers) who read those books like Dragons of "this or that" had a totally different world view mindset when the D&D franchise published hundreds of titles. I've re-read several of AD&D, D&D, all the permutations. In any case, the world was different then just like the sixties were different. Fantasy back then was epic where the characters were part of world moving events. D&D and it's other versions were fantasy on a new smaller scale and new adventures as well with places all connected. Now in the 2020s, we may in the US, live the reverse of Berlin Wall, and become isolated from the world politically. Painted all that with technologies that weren't there then. All that affects our views of fiction, where thousands of books parading the same angsts that were important then, at one time was tantalizing. Now it just bores. I've come to that point after collecting a few thousand books in many series from star gate, Star Wars to Star Trek (original to Picard). I've started to give myself permission to let them go. I say this as I just started to re-read my old copies of the Nine Princes of Amber (1930s & 1940s heroic Men fantasy) Like watching muscle men parading, but in print - LoL

[@callisto8413]

I got this book as a gift. Never finished it. Got less than halfway through and gave up. Found it lately and it still has the bookmark on page 100. Right on page 100 I gave up.

[@MsMaddieTheOdd]

My sense is that Salvatore went back and wrote thos when there was a huge demand left the Icewind dale trilogy and no had the time or power to edit him.

[@angiep2229]

The rationale he used to turn down sex bothered me so much and now that I'm older, makes me incredibly angry. Turn down the sex because you're not in the mood. Turn it down because you're ace. Turn it down because you dislike the specific priestess. Whatever. But the insertion of western christian morality with regard to sex is kind of infuriating. But I also wonder if this might not have been Salvatore's fault? This was published under TSR, who had a pretty strict code of ethics not unlike the Hays Code. So I wonder if an editor forced him to include that specific moral value. I love Jarlaxle though. In my D&D group, a few years ago I made a half-drow character who was part of Bregan D'Aerthe (Jarlaxle's mercenary company). I never got to interact directly with Jarlaxle, but another character did get to meet him and take on a job from him. (I was low-key jealous.) Some time after the campaign, my character had a kid in retirement, and I've stated that she sends fanmail to Driz'zt, because I think it's funny. So did the DM. Okay, sorry (not sorry) for being unable to resist the urge to tell you about my D&D characters. D&D is my special interest and has been for like 30 years now.

[@DrewDesign]

Icewind Dale trilogy