R.A. Salvatore - The Silent Blade

T RANSITIONS

The Orc King
October 2007
The Pirate King
October 2008
The Ghost King
October 2009

T HE L EGEND OF D RIZZT

Homeland
Exile
Sojourn
The Crystal Shard
Streams of Silver
The Halflings Gem
The Legacy
Starless Night
Siege of Darkness
Passage to Dawn
The Silent Blade
The Spine of the World
Sea of Swords

T HE H UNTERS B LADES T RILOGY

The Thousand Orcs
The Lone Drow
The Two Swords

T HE S ELLSWORDS

Servant of the Shard
Promise of the Witch-King
Road of the Patriarch

am Drizzt.

Maybe not every day, and certainly not as much now as when I was in high school, or junior high. But there are daystoo many days, still when Im alone in a crowd. There are days when I dont get a fair shake. There are days when prejudices, preconceived notions, and simple ignorance make me an outcast. And I know Im not alone in that. Who hasnt felt that way?

Who isnt Drizzt?

When a confused young dark elf emerged from the pitiless Underdark and into the popular culture nearly twenty years ago, he was a lone drow who wore his heritage on his skin, but hid a secret hope in his heart. It took enormous courage for a few to see past what they thought he was, to find out who he truly was. And it took courage on his part to let them in. In that way Drizzt became a role model for us all. If he could do it, surely we can too. His world is so much less forgiving than ours, after all.

In January of 1988 thousands of lucky readers were the first to grab hold of Drizzt DoUrden, and twenty years later we cant let him go. But the Legend of Drizzt hasnt just survived for two decades, it has thrived.

Why?

Theyre good stories, sureas fast-paced and exciting as any tale of adventure ever written. Bob Salvatore is a natural storyteller with a well-tuned ear for dialog and a sly sense of humor, but that cant be all, and that isnt all.

Everyone, like Drizzt, is alone in their own skin, and everyone, I think, ultimately wants the same thing. We want to be heard. We want to be included. We want to be accepted. And we want to be loved.

Drizzt achieved those things against the greatest odds. Who would ever trust a dark elf? Who would ever let one of that vile race of monstrous elves into their camp, much less their lives? But Bruenor, Wulfgar, Regis, and Catti-brie did. They listened, they welcomed, and they loved, and not because they were looking for any old drow to bring into their fold, but because Drizzt had the presence, the will, and the courage to win them. He gives anyone who feels trapped on the outside the hope that they can be accepted for who they are, not held off for what they are, by their actions alone.

With that simple but powerful message at its heart, the Legend of Drizzt has been charging forward for two decades, and its that simple but powerful message that will sustain it for a very, very long time to come. Its a unique property of the fantasy genre that given the right message, given the intelligence and sensitivity of a master storyteller, a message like that can live forever. How long have we remembered the Wizard of Ozs simple refrain, Theres no place like home? How long has The Lord of the Rings, with its warning of the corrupting influence of power, been the foundation of the genre? How many centuries have we spent facing our fears of the unknown in the epics of Homer?

Twenty years of Drizzt?

We aint seen nothin yet.

Philip Athans
January 2007

Alustriel

Chosen of Mystra, Lady of Silverymoon.

Artemis Entreri

An assassin from the desert city of Calimport.

Arumn Gardpeck

The barkeep at the Cutlass, in Luskan.

Baeltimazifas

A doppelganger controlled by illithids.

Beornegar

Wulfgars father.

Berginyon Baenre

Brother of the Archmage of Menzoberranzan.

Berkthgar the Bold

Leader of Wulfgars tribe.

Biggrin

A giant.

Bizmatec

A demon minion of Errtu.

Bruenor Battlehammer

The Eighth King of Mithral Hall.

Cadderly Bonaduce

A cleric from the fabled Spirit Soaring.

Captain Bumpo Thunderpuncher

Master of Bottom Feeder.

Captain Deudermont

Master of Sea Sprite.

Captain Vaines

Master of Quester.

Catti-brie

A human woman raised by dwarves.

Chalsee Anguaine

An associate of Dog Perrys.

Clarissa

An independent assassin who also runs a brothel.

Delenia Delly Curtie

A barmaid at the Cutlass.

Dog Perry the Heart

A dangerous but undisciplined assassin.

Dom Quillilo

Leader of the wererat guild.

Donat Thunderpuncher

Brother of Bumpo.

Dondon Tiggerwillies

Once a respected thief.

Drizzt DoUrden

A goodly dark elf ranger.

Druzil

Raiguys familiar, an imp.

Dwahvel Tiggerwillies

The proprietor of the Copper Ante.

Errtu

The demon that tortured Wulfgar in the Abyss.

Giunta the Diviner

A wizard for the Basadoni Guild.

Gromph Baenre

The Archmage of Menzoberranzan.

Guenhwyvar

A panther summoned by Drizzt from the Astral Plane.

Hand

A lieutenant in the Basadoni Guild.

Jarlaxle

A drow mercenary from Menzoberranzan.

Jerek Wolf Slayer

Chieftain of the Sky Ponies tribe.

Josi Puddles

Bouncer at the Cutlass.

Junger

A giant who enjoys killing goblins.

Kadran Gordeon

In charge of the street militia for Pasha Basadoni.

Kierstaad

Son of Revjak, a young barbarian.

Kimmuriel Oblodra

A psionicist of House Oblodra of Menzoberranzan.

LaValle

A wizard known for his magic items.

Marcus the Knife

The chief assassin of Pasha Wronings Guild.

Master Camlaine

A scrimshaw trader who trades in Luskan.

Matron Mother Baenre

Ruler of Menzoberranzan.

Merle Pariso

A battle mage.

Montolio deBrouchee

The ranger who trained Drizzt.

Morik the Rogue