The Icewind Dale Trilogy Collector's Edition (A ...

Amazon.com Review:
We all owe a debt to Akar Kessel, that treacherous chump of a wizard's apprentice, briefly known as the (short-lived) Tyrant of Icewind Dale. Akar started it all when he stumbled across the ancient and malevolent Crenshinibon, the Crystal Shard, thereby kicking off one of fantasy's best and best-loved series--and at its heart, one of the genre's most beloved heroes, the noble dark-elf ranger Drizzt Do'Urden. While surely no Tolkien (who is, really?), Bob Salvatore can take pride in the fact that he's brought legions of enthusiastic fans to the genre--and for anyone who's caught themselves in an embarrassed yawn on page 412 of The Silmarillion, that's not a distinction to be taken lightly. You'd have to be a pretty cold fish for your pulse not to quicken a bit as Drizzt and company lay into yet another ravenous horde of trolls (or giants, or wererats). As an affectionate Terry Brooks says in his introduction to this collector's edition, you could do worse than to have your tombstone say you were a solid, workmanlike writer. And Salvatore, through his superior characterizations and knack for just telling a believable, engaging, and lovable story, transcends even that worthy praise. For fans, this collection unfolds like a treasured scrapbook: The Crystal Shard, where we first meet the band and explore the Dale (with so many unforgettable scenes: Drizzt taking down Errtu, Wulfgar crushing King Heafstaag's head with his bare hands, Bruenor tearing up as he gives Wulfgar the freshly forged Aegis-fang); Streams of Silver, with the heroes fighting their way to Mithril Hall and facing Artemis Entreri for the first time; and The Halfling's Gem, in which old Rumblebelly has been carted back to Calimport (who can forget the flying-chariot pirate fight, or when Drizzt--finally!--sneaks a quick smooch from Catti-brie?). A must-have on the shelf of any Drizzt true believer, or the perfect gift for some young, would-be fantasy fan. --Paul Hughes

What a wonderful world R.A. Salvatore has created here!:
Second favorite trilogy right behind the (The dark Elf Trilogy) I cant say enough about these books. Salvatore has really opened up a new and wonderful world for me to explore. Read the Dark elf trilogy first then read the Icewind dale trilogy and you will be a Salvatore fan for life.

The magic was too weak to support the story:
Bottom Line: Loaner This is the first of Salvatore's books I've read, and it is apparently his first book, which might explain a lot. It's hard to say sometimes from the first book, whether the author's storytelling will get better (or you might be more interested in it) the more books they write. Some do, some don't, and some are hits and misses the whole way through. I was moving along, okay, not riveted to the book, but moving along with it. And then I came to the part with Kessell and the crystal shard, and that just put me at a dead stop, do not pass go point. It was very weak, and the magic (part of the foundation of the story) seemed hokey. It was not believable at all, and if the reader doesn't believe in the story, or world building, or characters, there's a problem. I tried to pick the book up again, and maybe skip past that part, but I just couldn't. I'd recommend for fantasy, Lorna Freeman, Robert Jordan, LOTR of course, Holly Lisle, The Briar King, Cast in Shadow, even Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince.

Pretty good...not great?:
I don't know...I really like the Drizz't series although I have only read these 3 as well as the Dark Elf Trilogy (awesome). It's just that it seems like no matter what happens, 84 wererats or 144 trolls or 1000 duergar dwarves or freaking dragons or falling unconscious in an abyss with thousands of bloodsucking demodands around doesn't actually cause anyones demise. I'm not saying this needs to be like Martin's stuff with every page a question of who lives or dies but damn I wrote off some of the characters so many times that I realize now they are (gulp) invincible! Well, it doesn't matter, if your ready for a good yarn and likeable (for the most part) characters and a nice smooth read then get this series. You will like it. Caution: You must have a tolerance for typos...WOW, there was a lot of them...Haffling...really? It does kind of jar you right out of the moment...Anyways, good stuff. Enjoy.

Icewind Dale Trilogy:
This was my first book by R.A. Salvatore, it was recomended to me by a friend that shares the same interest in Fantacy novels. I admit it took me a couple hundred pages to realy get into it because you are introduced into a new world and there are alot of characters to get familiar with. But with that being said by the time got my feet wet i just couldn't stop reading. Great characters and great story line with plots and action that got me hooked. These books run seemlessly together from one to another like you were reading a 3000 page book, and leaves you still wanting more. The Cleric Quintet Collector's EditionLegacy of the Drow Collector's Edition (Forgotten Realms: Legacy of the Drow)The Hunter's Blades Trilogy Collector's Edition (Forgotten Realms)I have now read all the books in this series and I'm now starting on the spin offs. The Sell Swords Trilogy and The Cleric Quartet.

D & D revisited:
I got interested in this series because of, one, the author who is a very well known name in the Realms story line and two, I played D & D with my 2 sons several years back under the origional rules and magic before any updated or "improved" versions, when we stopped playing I was a 10th level cleric. It took a while to get back into the story line because of the time lag between then and now but after I did the story flowed better and was easier to understand what was going on. It was very predictable at times but, as in the game, there is always a way out if you think about it and use your imagination. I have since ordered other trilogies with Drizzt Do'Urden and enjoy them very much. He is a most interesting character and the stories are fun to read. You can look into the character and his philosophy and, at least to me, see that they relate very much to the way most people think someone should be. Honorable, trustworthy and above all a devoted friend willing to go the extra mile to help his friends, to live his life as he believes, to follow his ideals. Everyone should do that but few do.