The article is noteworthy for mentioning Salvatore's popularity. I'd seen previous claims that Salvatore had sold 10 million books worldwide, which struck me as possibly on the low side compared to Weis & Hickman's 22 million given that Salvatore has, unlike them, had a constant rate of output since the late 1980s and also has a greater profile currently. The article confirms this, stating that Salvatore's sales now stand at 15 million in the United States alone (meaning far higher, maybe twice that much, worldwide). This definitely puts Salvatore in the big league of fantasy mega-sellers, on a par with or just ahead of the likes of Terry Goodkind, Terry Brooks and Raymond Feist.
By all accounts Salvatore is a great guy who has been a major inspiration to a generation of budding fantasy writers and his early books (the first nine or so) stand as fine examples of 'gateway' fantasy books for younger readers looking to break into the genre.
11 comments:
Nice review... i might have to give him a read, since i love fantasy and am trying to write it as well. thx
I absolutely love Drizzt Do'Urden series of books. But there are things that went a bit too far with this character and although I would buy and read all of the books written by R.A. Salvatore, I am afraid that maybe this deal will not push Drizzt's novels beyond an acceptable boundary and to be make only for the sake of sales. I hope not, but come to think of it we after all live in a material world.
Oh dear merciful gods in heaven. SIX MORE DRIZZT BOOKS? Is this not putting Salvatore in danger of assassination?
When there were three books - fine, pretty ordinary gateway fantasy.
When there were six books - well, they're a bit weird, but they're innovative, and may actually be be better-written than the first three.
When there were eight books - OK, this isn't going well, it's getting really repetitive.
When there were ten books - OK, that's it, he's just reprinting the old ones with some names changed why the hell is he still allowed to carry on like this?
When there were FOURTEEN books - well, by then, the people who still liked the books when I had given up had themselves, by now, given up. [Personally I made it to 11, which was an improvement, but not enough of one to get me past the 'imprisoned for a crime he did not commit' blurb on the back of 12]
Then... there were seventeen books. How did that happen? Is somebody still reading these?
WHAT? There's twenty of them!? And the twentieth has seven liches, and a dracolich, and an undead illithid???
And now.... TWENTY-SIX DRIZZT BOOKS? I mean, I know that the original trilogy was a little above average for TSR, but still, did it really deserve TWENTY-THREE SEQUELS???????
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That said, I'm impressed by Salvatore's patience, even if it is bolstered by vast wads of cash. I'm reminded of a cricketer remarking on Lara's first class innings record: "I could never score 500 runs. I'd get bored and fall over." The man must have immense stamina to keep writing sequels with the same five or six characters for thirty years.
I seriously enjoyed the Dark Elf trilogy, was a little disappointed but still liked the Icewind Dale trilogy and then was rather ho-hum with the next 4 books after that. Have not read a Drizzt book since and not sure if I ever intend to. Either way, they're nice enough novels and he's a good enough writer that I can only say congratulations.
That being said, I attempted "The Woods Out Back" and gave up half way through as I found it an appalling piece of utter tripe.
However I did enjoy the Cleric Quintet...
"And the twentieth has seven liches, and a dracolich, and an undead illithid???"
Wow, that sound friggin awesome. (tm)
Drizzt is my favorite character and I consider him a friend and companion. i don't care what anyone says there will never be enough of his story told. so until the day when either he or I fall, Drizzt will always have my sword arm. i look forward to many more adventures, "old friend."
Phew! I need another one after the ghost king!
yeah just finished reading Ghost King and Balling for the last 10 pages.... I read and LOVE the Cleric Quintet and have read all of the Drizzt books....I have and intimate relationship w/ drizzt and cadderly. The ending was wow.... ='( I can't wait for the new ones.... poor regis and Catti
i read part V of the cleric quintent as my first foray into salvatore and while it held my attention and i finished it, i knidah felt like he had a lot of filler in there and was stretching things out. granted, the guy churns out a book every 3 or 4 months, so he has to figure out a way to fill 30 pages, so i get it.
Oh man great news, read all the drizzt books as well as Caderly's 6 books last year, hehe i just couldnt stop once i started i was/am addicted. Atm i am half way into the Demon wars books. When i finished the books i could not believe it was the end and i could not get to continue hehe but now it sounds like i can :) Cannot wait to read more, this has just made my year :D
Jake
Great post. I actually stumble across via Twitter, but nevertheless, I just cracked into the first of the Neverwinter trilogy (finally) and am lovin' it!
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