The Crystal Shard: The Icewind Dale Trilogy, Part 1 (Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt, Book IV) [Hardcover]

R.A. Salvatore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2005 | Series: Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt, Book IV (Book 4)

The fourth in a series of premiere hardcover editions of Salvatore’s classic dark elf tales.

This new release of the classic R.A. Salvatore novel continues the classic tale of Salvatore’s signature dark elf character Drizzt Do’Urden™. Although this was the first title actually published about Drizzt, it has now been placed in its proper chronological order as fourth in the series. Each title in The Legend of Drizzt series showcases the classic dark elf novels in new, deluxe hardcover editions. Each title will feature all new cover art and new introductions written by those who have become familiar with Salvatore and Drizzt over the years.

AUTHOR BIO: R.A. Salvatore was born in Massachusetts in 1959 and still makes his home there. He has published numerous Forgotten Realms novels with Wizards of the Coast, Inc., most of which have been New York Times best-sellers. He is also known as the best-selling author of the Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones novelization from Del Rey.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

R.A. SALVATORE was born in Massachusetts in 1959 and still makes his home there. He has published numerous Forgotten Realms novels with Wizards of the Coast, Inc., most of which have been New York Times best-sellers. He is also known as the best-selling author of the Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones novelization from Del Rey.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786936134
• ISBN-13: 978-0786936137
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (177 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,158,989 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

R.A. Salvatore has spent so many years winding himself into fantasy worlds that he's still trying to figure out how to unwind. He is the author of more than forty novels and more than a dozen New York Times best sellers, including The Two Swords, which debuted at or near the top of many best seller lists.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book with tons of action & character development!, December 30, 1999

By 

Kevin Hooper "havenmyst" (Salisbury, North Carolina United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Crystal Shard (Forgotten Realms: The Icewind Dale Trilogy, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

This was the first ever public offering of R. A. Salvatore's writing ability. It's no wonder he's written so many others since! He's a great author, and this book showcases his writing ability. It's filled with plot twists & subplots & everything else that makes a story interesting. Anyone who is interested in reading through the Drizzt Do'Urden storyline, I advise reading "The Dark Elf Trilogy" first to get more of a chronological progression in the character's developement, however, nothing is lost by reading this book first. It's a great story by a great storyteller.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Drizzt the Dragonsbane, Demonslayer . . . a great character, March 28, 2000

By 

Peter French (NH, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Crystal Shard (Forgotten Realms: The Icewind Dale Trilogy, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Salvatore knows how to create truely unique and interesting characters. Drizzt Do'Urden is my favorite by far, his fight agaisnt racial walls is intriguing and its interesting how Salvatore makes Drizzt react to it. The Crystal Shard continues directly after the book Sojourn, in the tundra of Icewind Dale. Drizzt, Wulfgar, Bruenor, and countless leaders and people of Ten-Towns fight in a famous battle that made me read for hours straight, wondering waht would happen next. The pure cunning and trickery in this book is both interesting and humerous, I reccomend this book to any D & D fan, and even those just interested in Fantasy books.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Derivative genre fiction but great fun anyway..., January 12, 2001

By 

Nick Kapur (Cambridge, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Crystal Shard (Forgotten Realms: The Icewind Dale Trilogy, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is one of those books you just can't help loving in spite of yourself. This was Salvatore's first book ever, and it shows. The plot is workaday, the writing is uneven and amaturish, and the characters are stereotypes. Even so, Salvatore brings such sincerity and honest exuberance to this tale that you will find yourself getting caught up in the excitment anyway. Ultimately, the characters have such humanity that they transcend the sterotypes that they are and the plot is damn exciting in spite of itself.

From the beginning Salvatore shows the mastery of writing action scenes and creating memorable characters that has made him famous and so beloved as an author. This book is the first in a very entertaining series that is up to 13 books and counting. I've read it three times now and it's still my favorite book in the series despite its faults.