The Summoning (Forgotten Realms: Return of the Archwizards, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Troy Denning (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Return of the Archwizards | Publication Date: March 1, 2001

From the depths of the demiplane of shadow comes a new magic so mysterious it confounds even the Chosen of Mystra.

From beneath the dune seas of Anauroch escapes one of Toril's most powerful and ancient evils -- the phaerimm.

From Evereska, the last elven refuge on comes word of invasion.

From nowhere appears a group of enigmatic sorcerers determined to destroy the phaerimm and save Evereska . . . for purposes known only to themselves.

From the author of Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad, Beyond the High Road, and Death of the Dragon (with Ed Greenwood) comes the most Realms-shaking event since The Threat from the Sea.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786918012
• ISBN-13: 978-0786918010
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #222,205 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #64 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Gaming > Dungeons & Dragons

More About the Author

Troy Denning is the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Tatooine Ghost and Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Star by Star, as well as Waterdeep, Pages of Pain, Beyond the High Road, The Summoning, and many other novels. His most recent Star Wars novel is Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Vortex. A former game designer and editor, he lives in western Wisconsin with his wife, Andria.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Powergamers please step forward?, July 1, 2001

By 

"einheriar" (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Summoning (Forgotten Realms: Return of the Archwizards, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

As a fan of the Realms and Troy Denning's books in general, I was eagerly looking forward to this book and in most regards it didn't disappoint.

The book features the return of the ancient Netherese, the escape of the Phaerimm and the endangerment of Evereska, all very interesting story areas that have been in my opinion been sadly neglected and underdeveloped in the past. In addition to these new elements the book also revolves around a tour of "The North" with the characters visiting many of the sites and areas that have been previously been bought to life in the D&D campaign expansions for the North (Dekanter, High Forest, Karse etc). To top it off the book is well written like all Troy Dennings books (though it definitely should have been longer- it needed an extra 100 pages at least to do the story justice!!), with good action scenes, strong plot and interesting characters, including the return of 'Malik' who has to be just about the funniest and coolest servant of an evil god ever featured in Fantasy.

The book also goes out of its way to incorporate the game features of the new 3rd edition game into the story, with the main character being a multiclassed sorceror and the action scenes also kinda reflecting the change in game mechanics (spells, skills etc).

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good start to a series, April 23, 2003

By 

Stefan Gore (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Summoning (Forgotten Realms: Return of the Archwizards, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

"The Summoning" is the first in a three part series of the return of the City of Shade to the Forgotten Realms. Shade has been in the demi-plane of Shadow for the past 17 centuries. The story revolves around an elf desperately trying to redeem himself and coping with a newfound power that threatens to consume him.

This book also has appearances of Elminster and Storm Silverhand. I found Denning's portrayal of Eliminster a trifle annoying.

All in all I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the other two. I think that Denning could have done a better job a fleshing out the characters but he may be saving that for later on the story. This book may not be one of Denning's greatest works but it is still worth reading for any fan of the Forgotten Realms.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book!!, April 17, 2001

By 

"abra-cadaver" (WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Summoning (Forgotten Realms: Return of the Archwizards, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

The Phaerimm are brought out from imprisonment, Elmenster is brought into imprisonment, Khelben Blackstaff gets a hole blown out of His chest, Mind Flayers, Eye Tyrants and Bugbears are manipulated into helping the Phaerimm destroy Faerun (Or at least try to), Shadow Magic is explained (And the evil gods want to learn it's secrets..), Liches do battle, undead knights are avenged, a stone giant that has a soft spot and an elf that sleeps like a human...Troy Denning went above and beyond in this book. A pity the next one wont be out until Dec. 2001. Until then, check in on ol' Elminster and his battle/imprisonment in the 9 hells comming out in aug. 2001.