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Jonathan's Reviews > The Legacy
The Legacy (Forgotten Realms: Legacy of the Drow, #1; Legend of Drizzt, #7)
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R.A. Salvatore is the nicest guy you'll ever meet or talk to online. Seriously. It is impossible to not like the guy. His writing is adequate, though. The Crystal Shard was his first novel. Like Pat Rothfuss, Salvatore has an English/Writing degree, and I compare the two because their writing skill is similar. Rothfuss is full of @*#$, while Salvatore is not--he tries very hard, succeeds and fails in equal measure, and is not full of himself like Rothfuss.
So, while I can follow along with Salvatore, yawning occasionally, and NEVER, EVER, EVER being surprised by any plot twist--they are more like plot curves in a very broad road--the presumption of Rothfuss just starts to anger me after a while. His second novel is absolute rubbish but try to convince the stupid rabid fans. Look, if there are 5 million people willing to pay for Twilight and 50 Shades, that just proves there are a LOT of stupid people in the world. Don't talk to me about preferences and tastes. Someone says to me, "Hey, I like it, shove your opinion" and I say, "You're a moron, enjoy the book." And anyone who actually understands what I'm saying will not disagree. There's rubbish that fails and rubbish that succeeds because twits read it.
Why am I saying this in a Salvatore review? Because, were it not for TSR and D&D, he would have had no outlet. Or maybe he would have done better with his own fresh world instead of profiting on Ed Greenwood's world. Don't misunderstand, I am *NOT* hating on Salvatore. Nicest guy in the world and all that. What I am saying is, his Drizzt novels (has he done anything else?) are like Pocket Books' Star Trek novels. You know what you're gonna get and shouldn't be surprised when the same old stuff keeps getting repeated in EVERY. SINGLE. BOOK.: McCoy and Spock bickering. Kirk making dramatic entrances. Etc, etc...
Such it is with Drizzt. He's a Drow Elf from the Underdark. We seem to be reminded of that every other page. That's dull. That's the broad highway, with the only entertainment to be had is occasionally changing lanes. The problem is, Drizzt was never very interesting in the first place--way back in The Crystal Shard and Homeworld, his origin story. This is "good" "Star Trek" stuff but nothing more. He never takes any chances and the writing never surprises me in the least. All the heroes always vanquish anyone they go up against, with an occasional sacrifice (e.g. Wolfgar) to keep it somewhat interesting.
I enjoy the books nonetheless but am never challenged by them as a reader.
So, while I can follow along with Salvatore, yawning occasionally, and NEVER, EVER, EVER being surprised by any plot twist--they are more like plot curves in a very broad road--the presumption of Rothfuss just starts to anger me after a while. His second novel is absolute rubbish but try to convince the stupid rabid fans. Look, if there are 5 million people willing to pay for Twilight and 50 Shades, that just proves there are a LOT of stupid people in the world. Don't talk to me about preferences and tastes. Someone says to me, "Hey, I like it, shove your opinion" and I say, "You're a moron, enjoy the book." And anyone who actually understands what I'm saying will not disagree. There's rubbish that fails and rubbish that succeeds because twits read it.
Why am I saying this in a Salvatore review? Because, were it not for TSR and D&D, he would have had no outlet. Or maybe he would have done better with his own fresh world instead of profiting on Ed Greenwood's world. Don't misunderstand, I am *NOT* hating on Salvatore. Nicest guy in the world and all that. What I am saying is, his Drizzt novels (has he done anything else?) are like Pocket Books' Star Trek novels. You know what you're gonna get and shouldn't be surprised when the same old stuff keeps getting repeated in EVERY. SINGLE. BOOK.: McCoy and Spock bickering. Kirk making dramatic entrances. Etc, etc...
Such it is with Drizzt. He's a Drow Elf from the Underdark. We seem to be reminded of that every other page. That's dull. That's the broad highway, with the only entertainment to be had is occasionally changing lanes. The problem is, Drizzt was never very interesting in the first place--way back in The Crystal Shard and Homeworld, his origin story. This is "good" "Star Trek" stuff but nothing more. He never takes any chances and the writing never surprises me in the least. All the heroes always vanquish anyone they go up against, with an occasional sacrifice (e.g. Wolfgar) to keep it somewhat interesting.
I enjoy the books nonetheless but am never challenged by them as a reader.
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Draz
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Jul 20, 2017 06:44AM
I have the Icewind dale trilogy, but I'm still on the first book as I've been busy with the Witcher series instead. I will get round to finishing them before the end of the year - hopefully. Lol
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Ah yeah that's a classic trilogy. I enjoyed even more the prequels: Homeland, etc. (His writing improved over the years--Crystal Shard was kind of rough).
I haven't got those ones, I don't think. I will have to see about buying them. I've started the first book, several times, then I always get nostalgic for the games, play those and forget the books hahaha. I will finish them this year.. Eventually!
I have to agree with you about Rothfuss. I do not understand the fascination with his books. I read two of them and practically had to beat myself into submission to continue reading them based off tons of recommendations. The idea he had is fun, and some parts are definitely a joy to read. But they are few and far between.
Kelly wrote: "I have to agree with you about Rothfuss. I do not understand the fascination with his books. I read two of them and practically had to beat myself into submission to continue reading them based off..."I felt the same way reading Wise Man's Fear. "Whyyyy did so-and-so suggest this book?" And then she came back later and said, I can't believe you hate Rothfuss!
There are some interesting ideas in his first, Name of the Wind. I'd compare it to Game of Thrones--#1--which had some very cool ideas but after 600 pages, *NOTHING* happened. I was like...uh...okay? Good writing, but no point to it. And then, book #2, I thought, was complete garbage, nothing like the first one. Similar feeling about Rothfuss's 2nd novel. *NOTHING* happens, at all, nothing whatsoever of any significance. Even the character development is annoying (the #*@# kid is 16 years old for crying out loud, and he's some kind of Cassanova--give me a break).
I think there's a reason for this: I think Rothfuss fancies himself as a 2nd gen George Martin. Well he's off to a great start considering he's not any more readable than Martin is.
And it's unfair to compare either of these guys to Salvatore who writes honest stories. Not too great, really, but millions of fans love them, and that's really all that matters.
