The Thousand Orcs: Legend of Drizzt: Hunter's Blade Trilogy, Book 1

R.A. Salvatore's 'Drizzt' saga began many years with the Ice Wind Dale trilogy. The original trilogy was an excellent adventure that introduced readers to what would become the Companions of Mithral Hall: Drizzt, Wulfgar, Breunor, Regis, and Cattie-Brie. Since that time, the characters had largely stagnated, not really growing or changing as they moved from adventure to adventure. That changed with 'Spine of the World' and 'Sea of Swords' as Wulfgar began his return from the abyss and his friens began to adjust to the changes that they found in their friend. Finally, in 'The Thousand Orcs' the rest of the cast begins to explore their own inner demons.The novel opens with Drizzt and Co. beginning their trek to Mithral Hall where Breunor is to resume the throne after the previous king died. Along the way, the stumble upon the aftermath of a growing army of orcs, postponing their return to Mithral Hall. This is much to Breunor's delight, as he is not anxious to resume his duties as king, which he views as a very dull lifestyle.Regis, the halfling thief, continues to evolve following the near loss of his arm in a previous novel. He is no longer content to hide behind his friends as they fight for him. The trouble is, he doesn't know how to be more of a help without getting in the way and putting his companions in further danger. As events unfold in the novel, he has some difficult decisions to make.Cattie-Brie, facing a near death experience, makes some difficult realizations that will lead to some difficult decisions in future novels. She and Drizzt, a human and a Drow Elf, have an evolving relationship. But what can become of such a relationship? What will happen as she grows old, but Drizzt maintains his youth, inherent in the elven race? These questions plague both Cattie-Brie and Drizzt and will shape their future for novels to come.This novel has a very Tolkenesque quality to it. Readers familiar with 'The Two Towers,' either the novel or the movie, will recognize several similarities. However, Salvatore resolves things in his own way and does so in fairly satisfying fashion.This book will make the most sense if you have read the previous novels of the series, however, it is not entirely necessary. There is a lot of new material in this novel, that a new reader to the series will be able to grasp and understand without having read any of the previous works in the series. For one, all the old enemies (Entreri, Jarlaxle, etc.) are absent, so no past history is needed to understand the foes. I highly recommend this novel to any fantasy fan.

The media could not be loaded.  Usually I order these as a gift for a friend who is trying to collect the series. Typically they always arrive with small signs of minor wear/damage, so I take diligent product photos/videos. They literally started reading before I could take product pictures.

Filled with action and emotion of the band and leads up perfectly to get you ready to start the next book in the series.

R.A. Salvatore has created one of the best loved and most dynamic charachters in the entire fantasy genre. With the creation of Drizzt, he has garnered legions of loyal fans and praise from high places within the editorial world. I remember back in '97, my senior year of high school, i was sitting in english class reading "passage to dawn" i believe- my teacher walked by my desk and made an offhand comment that he could not stomach the fact that salvatore was now getting his books published in hardcover. He obviously thought that fantasy novels should be confined to paperback where they could be perused by the "common" reader. How wrong he was.Salvatore is a master at his craft. This is the reason he is as succesfull as he is.Drizzt and the gang are back and they are going orc hunting. An alliance has been formed and it threatens the safety of all the humans living in the region of Icewind Dale. Drizzt and Bruenor and Wulfgar and Cattie-brie and even Regis have taken it upon themselves to investigate these rumors of a large army and a threat to the surrounding villages.The book is mostly about the journey to discover what exactly it is that those pesky orcs are up to. Most of the novel takes place on the road and gives us information about where the charachters are now in their lives and the things that weigh most heavily upon their minds. Thoughts are turned toward loved ones and the life that the companions have chosen to lead. Is it a wise one? Will they survive for much longer? Will they all be together in the years to come?I particularly enjoy the monologues that Drizzt delivers as a preface to each part of the book. In this alter ego, Salvatore can ask and answer some pretty deep questions and explore some pretty heavy issues.This book is written well. It is plotted well and the charachters are written in a way that makes them believable and real. They have real problems and real pains- they arent just hulking barbarians and lithe warriors riding in the save the day in the nick of time. The last third of the book is where the action happens and boy, it happens fast. When the dust settles we are left feeling a little hopeless, a little angry and more that ready to devour the next volume in this all new trilogy starring our favorite rogue drow elf.

What happens when you take a fierce, dual wielding dark elf (Drow) and throw 1000 orcs and a few giants at him? Well, you get one bloody mess - that's what.Drizzt, RA Salvatore's premier character joins his friends for a new adventure - one that will finally put the king of dwarves on his throne. Or will it? Dwarves aren't known for sitting quietly while the action is going on and Salvatore uses this to his advantage when he moves this group of adventurers through the Spine of the World. This desolate, hostile environment is not exactly a Sunday stroll through a park and the group knows it. But it is a way to get home and enjoy a little fun on the way.Of course, fun comes in different forms for a group of battle tested fighters - especially when you have a Drow in your party. Thousand Orcs (Book One of the trilogy) shows you that Salvatore still has what it takes to entertain and wrap the reader in a story of what many consider the ideal hero of the Realms. As a Drow, Drizzt is still shunned by many of the surface dwellers and hunted by his own kind for abandoning their way - yet he carries on. Fighting for what is right, protecting his friends, and enjoying what life has to offer.If you are a fan of the original stories of Drizzt (highly recommended read before starting this series), then you will love the Hunter's Blade trilogy.

Very much enjoying the Drizzt series of novels, in fact have now purchased the whole series so I can follow the total legend. R A Salvatore is an excellent story teller. Would recommend to anyone. Honour does not have a price!!

As usual, Salvatore is a great story teller.Suspense, great flow of story. Now "lost time" and great characters with Drizzt and all his old and new friends!To be read if you like heroic fantasy.

Fills my collection great book.

It never fails to astound me just how much Salvatore can drag me into his world and show me how little I know about myself. Through his characters we are able to mirror our own existence and look at our morality and judgement. To those who are unfamilar with the work of R A Salvator this book is exiting and powerful from the onset. And to anyone who has already discovered the author then the usual aplies, battles and fighting throughout, character tension and a host of Orcs to be destroyed, Read it and love it.

Der einfache Weg nach Mithrilhalle wird ungewöhnlich lang. Das liegt nicht nur an den politischen Winkelzügen, die Bruenor zur Stadt Mirabar, dem stärksten Konkurrenten von Mitrilhalle führen, sondern besonders an dem Unwillen des Zwerges sein Abenteuerleben aufzugeben und sich den Pflichten eines Königs zu widmen. Doch dieser Wunsch führt die Gefährten mitten in die verzweifeltste Schlacht, die sie jemals geführt haben. Die endlosen Horden von Orks, die man auf dem Cover bewundern kann, stellt nur die Hälfte ihrer Sorgen dar.Auch wenn unser aller Liebling Drizzt mal wieder Zeit hat sich auf 11 Seiten (2 halbe Seiten = 1 ganze) seinen philosophischen Überlegungen hinzugeben, ist es diesesmal Cattie-Brie, die, vom Schatten des Todes berührt, gefährlichen Selbstzweifeln ausgesetzt ist.Insgesamt ist das Buch keins von R.A. Salvatores ungewöhnlicherern Büchern. Man bekommt in etwa was man erwartet, wenn man eins seiner Bücher aufschlägt. Das ist etwas, das ich ein wenig bedauere. Ich hatte mich daran gewöhnt, dass er sich in den letzten Jahren einen etwas unberechenbareren Schreibstil zugelegt hatte. Aber das ist ja nur der Beginn der Trilogie