The Highwayman: A Novel of Corona [Hardcover]

R. A. Salvatore (Author)

Book Description

Series: Salvatore, Ra | Publication Date: March 2004

Long ago, in a distant land, a lonely young man struggles to discover who he is and where he belongs.

He carries the blood and magic of two peoples, a sword of unimaginable power, and the staggering potential for great good...or greater evil.

R.A. Salvatore takes his readers back to his signature world of Corona, where he introduces a fascinating new hero destined to become a fantasy legend.

It is God's Year 54, many years before the DemonWars in the land of Corona. The roads are unsafe to travel, where goblins and bloodthirsty Powries search out human prey. In this savage world, Princes feast while peasants starve, and two religions struggle fiercely for control.

Bran Dynard, a monk of the fledgling religion of Abelle, returns from his mission in a far off land with two prizes: A book of mystical knowledge, and a new wife, the beautiful and mysterious Sen Wi.

But the world he left behind has changed, and his dream of spreading the powerful wisdom he learned to his fellow monks is soon crushed. Forced to hide Sen Wi and his precious book, Bran must decide whom he can trust, and where he should now place his faith.

Twenty years later,the situation has grown darker and more desperate. The land is devastated by war, and even the rich and powerful live in fear. Only the masked Highwayman travels freely, his sword casting aside Powries and soldiers with equal ease. The people long for a savior, but is the Highwayman on a mission of mercy...or vengence?

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

R.A. Salvatore's prelude to the Demon Wars Sagas The Highwayman is a stimulating ride into the early history of Corona and the vehicle is the creation a new, Drizzt-rivaling hero. Salvatore spins the tragic tale of an Abellican missionary who returns to Honce from the desert land Behr with wonders from the ancient Jhesta Tu monastery. At his side is his wife, a Jhesta Tu mystic. His dreams of uniting the teachings of the Jhesta Tu and "The Church of Blessed Abelle" are broken against the realities of bigotry and the young Abellican Church's struggle for political favor against the Druid-like Samhaists. But from their doomed union will rise a people's hero--the Highwayman.

This novel is, at its heart, an origin tale and Salvatore takes time to spin his hero's legend. Although the stirring set piece at the novel's launch will let readers know where he's going, discovering how he gets there is a thrill and a pleasure, making this one of Salvatore's most mature and deliberate novels. In the backdrop, fans of the Demon War Sagas will watch the emerging Abellican Church as it grows from virtual cult to the calcified institution of the later books. In all, this is a stimulating addition to the Corona universe. --Jeremy Pugh

From Publishers Weekly

Bestseller Salvatore (The Lone Drow, etc.) returns to the world of Corona with this serviceable, swift-moving tale of sword and sorcery filled with workmanlike scenes of persecution, last-minute rescues and obligatory romances. Long before the Demon Wars, in "God's year 54," Bransen Garibond, an orphaned cripple living with the very monks who were instrumental in the deaths of his clerical father and foreign-born mother, discovers secrets of his past through a mystical book and the healing stones of "the Church of the Blessed Abelle." Soon he becomes a warrior and travels the roads of Corona with a mystical sword seeking retribution. Despite the predictable, episodic plot and a conventional "feel-good" ending, the author does a good job of depicting Corona geography and the amoral ruling class that lords it over a grim society where children may be kidnapped for their genitals and where death is the result of honesty. Fans of Salvatore's unadorned approach and broad caricatures of archetypal figures should be pleased with this carnival of treachery and medieval feudalism. A new Drizzt Do'Urden story, "The Dowry," is an added bonus.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 372 pages
• Publisher: CDS Books; First Edition edition (March 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593150164
• ISBN-13: 978-1593150167
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #437,959 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

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Salvatore at his best, March 5, 2008

By 

Andrew Gray "Beezer Review" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Highwayman (Saga of the First King) (Mass Market Paperback)

The Highwayman by R.A. Salvatore is a prequel novel set in his signature world of Corona. This book is a prequel to the highly acclaimed Demon War saga. The first book in the Demon War saga, Demon Awakens, is a fantastic novel and one I think every fantasy fan should read. The beauty of The Highwayman, is that a reader needs not to have read the Demon Wars books to understand anything that occurs in this novel. There are certainly things that would make a little more sense, such as the gem stones magical abilities, if one has read those previous novels, but it is not overly necessary.

The plot of this book is not really a traditional book plot, in that it really doesn't follow a truly linear path. It is actually broken up into several sections each adding to the story, but being several years apart. In fact, the main plot points are written so well that much of what I normally discuss in the plot sections of my reviews would be considered almost spoilers. So, please forgive me for being somewhat, but necessarily so, vague. Throughout the novel there is a great deal of a political undertow, mostly centering on the church and the progression of a certain faction. There is also the story of a young man who has some severe physical disabilities and how he seeks to make the most of his situation. Fans of the Demon Wars novels will also be pleased to see a further explanation of the Jhesta Tu and some glimpses of who they are. In typical Salvatore fashion, there is also a great deal of the human element and how that impacts choices and decisions.

The characters in this novel and solid and well thought out. There is a wide variety here to almost guarantee that every reader with find something they like. From SenWi and Brother Dynard, to Prince Prydae and Bransen and many more in between. Salvatore has always had a knack for writing gripping, believable characters, and this novel in no different. One thing I was very pleased with is the character development in this novel. Some novels let the story do most of the work and carry the characters through. This novel, almost all the characters develop in some way or another. Salvatore does a very good job of character development with Prince Prydae, in so far that while it is easy to have him as a character, some of his actions and decisions are understandable. I also appreciated the sensitivity that was paid to Bransen and his disabilities and how they are dealt with. It made them feel much more real.

I do have two minor criticisms with this novel.

First, I would have liked to have seen a little more explanation on the gemstones and their uses. Not for me personally, but for readers who this novel is their first introduction into the series. That little added bit of explanation may help a reader or two fully understand what was going on, instead of having an idea of what was going on.

Secondly, the `twist' in this novel is rather easy to spot and was not really much of a surprise factor. I was slightly disappointed that what I thought was going to happen is indeed what actually happened. Yet, at the same time, it made sense to the story and was meant to be. Maybe it could have been hidden a little better, I don't know.

With all that said, this was a great book to read. It's nice to visit a world where Salvatore is not handcuffed by rules and other novels written before him. Where he can `play' the way he wants it to go without anyone telling him no, or that he can't kill a character when it makes total sense to kill a character. In my opinion, the Corona novels are some of the best he has ever written. I don't want to take away from the Drizzt novels as those are what most fans know Salvatore from, but the Demon War books are truly epic fantasy.

If you are a fan of the fantasy genre, do yourself a favor and read this novel along with the accompanying Demon War novels. You won't be disappointed. If you are looking at getting your feet wet in the genre, you could do much worse than picking up this novel. I have enjoyed almost every Salvatore novel and this one did not disappoint me at all. Yet another solid novel. The latest Corona novel has been released and is titled The Ancient and I am eagerly looking forward to wrapping my hands around that one as well.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yet another gem from Salvatore., July 7, 2005

By 

R.M. (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Highwayman (Saga of the First King) (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm a big fan of R.A. Salvatore. First I started out with the Crimson Shadow Series then I became entralled with tales of Drizzt and the rest of the Forgotten Realms crew. Finally I ended up diving right into his realm of Corona.

The main isn't the type who you'd think of as a hero. In fact, due to his physical infirmities early on, you'd think it would be altogether impossible for this man to be the dashing, rogue that the highwayman turns out to be.

I found myself sympathetic to the tale of Prince Prydae. Sure, he showed contempt for the common folk but that's to be expected in a realm based on serfdom. Later on he wasn't such a nice guy but I found myself wishing I could read more of the Prince and his hulking Champion.

I'd definately read another book based on the Highwayman. However, after all the stretching of the Forgotten realms tales from book to book, it was certainly nice to read a book by Mr. Salvatore that I felt had a nice, tidy finality to it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can it get any better?, June 11, 2004

By 

"ra_heller" (Iowa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Highwayman: A Novel of Corona (Hardcover)

It never ceases to amaze me on how well Salvatore can develop his characters. My first impression of this "Highwayman" was an aloof cheesy expectation........I was dead wrong. To my chagrin, Bob has yet to disapoint, granted it is a very quick read, but non the less a very good book.

***SideNote***
If you are interested in obtaining a signed copy of any of Salvatores books, check out his website: www.rasalvatore.com. There is listed his book signings.