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Title: The Dragon's Dagger by R. A. Salvatore ISBN: 0-441-00078-9 Publisher: Ace Books Pub. Date: August, 1996 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4 (5 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Some of Salvatore's Best Work. . .
Comment: "The Dragon's Dagger" continues Drizzt Do'Urden creator R.A. Salvatore's fantasy saga began in "The Woods Out Back." Like the previous novel, it is clearly a labor of love for its creator, as the main character, Gary, is named after none other than Salvatore's brother, while Gary's wife, Diane, is named after the author's own wife, and so on and so forth. Given Salvatore's connection to this tale, it's certainly difficult not to find the work a little endearing, but at the same time it lacks the punch and pacing of his far superior Drizzt Do'Urden stories (the early ones, and not some of his dawdling later efforts).
The premise is certainly a good one, and carries on that which began in the previous tome. Gary Leger, resident of the mundane Real-earth (or our world) is summoned to return to the magical realm of Faerie (think Middle-earth but less compelling) to slay Robert the Wretched, an evil dragon wreaking havoc in the land. Salvatore keeps things colorful and generally amusing in a somewhat light-hearted fashion, but manages to keep a whole lot from happening during the course of the novel. It has always seemed that all three books in the Spearweilder series could have been condensed into one excellent read, but were instead expanded into a trilogy, very much at the cost of pace.
Again Salvatore's tone is also a little unnerving. One moment Gary is lamenting killing his first human being, while the next he feels like he's taking a vacation from the grim realities of Real-earth. To top of it off, Gary's slaying of this human foe, and his guilt, play no real role in the events of the story, and make one wonder why they were ever included in the first place, since it seems so out of touch with the rest of the novel's good cheer. Salvatore also makes the mistake of becoming a little heavy-handed at times when he expresses his own viewpoints through the main character. It's a little preachy, to be sure.
In the end, though, "The Dragon's Dagger" is a lightweight read (only 300 or so pages) full of interesting characters and a decent helping of adventure that, like its predecessor, is worth checking out.
Rating: 4
Summary: Pure Fun
Comment: I would like to start by saying that Salvatore is a genius. With this trilogy, he not only keeps your interest, but gives you a genuine feeling of really being in the Land of Faerie. He brings in someone from our time and place, puts them in faerie, and then the true magic begins. The Dragon's Dagger is a wonderful story of honor, excitement, and brilliant battle scenes along with some good wit and humor. It's funny, yet it keeps you holding your breath. Definately a can't-put-it-down book.
Rating: 4
Summary: The Dragon's Dagger (2000)
Comment: Back in the day (1994), this was the first novel I read after The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. Even for the VERY best contemporary author that's one helluva tough act to follow (impossible to top or even break even with). Take that and the fact that I obliviously started in the middle of the trilogy, and you would think I would have several complaints. I find it hard to come up with any, however. Aside from The Dark Elf series, this is book 2 in Salvatore's best series. Forget about those Demonwars and that Crimson Shadow (both series are highly trite and uninteresting). Pick this up instead - but DO start with The Woods Out Back and avoid those initial hints of confusion I suffered.
I think one of the reasons this series makes it where so many other Salvatore ventures have failed is because he embraces its wackiness and all its cliches (like Elven archers and Dwarven craftsmen, gentle Giants and wicked witches), and he does so in a comic yet adventurous fashion. I also liked the references to Tolkien which seem a respectable homage to the man who started it all and made this novel possible. Good work, Salvatore. Now if only all your other stuff could be like this and those Drizzt books...
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Title: Bastion of Darkness : Book Three in The Chronicles of Ynis Aielle by R.A. Salvatore ISBN: 0345421930 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 01 August, 2000 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: The Dragon King by R. A. Salvatore ISBN: 0446604852 Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: 01 November, 1997 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Echoes of the Fourth Magic by R.A. SALVATORE ISBN: 0345421914 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 28 September, 1998 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Luthien's Gamble by R. A. Salvatore ISBN: 0446603619 Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: 01 December, 1996 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: The Witch's Daughter by R.A. Salvatore ISBN: 0345421922 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 07 September, 1999 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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