R. A. Salvatore

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Every now and then, I like to just read for the fun of a good story. I love good classic literature, but I think I would go insane if that is all I read.

One of my favorite pleasure authors is R. A. Salvatore, a fantasy writer. He has become pretty popular, and for good reason. He crafts good stories, and especially good characters. They are well thought out, not just your generic hero. My favorite, and his most popular, is Drizzt Du'Orrden, the scimitar wielding dark elf. He is a fascinating character. I have read about three books with him in it, and I have about ten to go I think. It will be interesting to see if one character will hold my interest that long.

So, is anyone else a fan? I'm sure some people on here must read books like these.

[moose gurl]

I read a quintet of his works. I don't know the actual name because I bought the collection and it was called "The Cleric Quintet." I can't even remember the name of the main character but I think he had red hair. It was decent, but I've read better fantasy. I'm particular to Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, the creators of the DragonLance series. I only really liked the first two trilogies they wrote, but they are the best fantasy writers I've ever read. Salvatore was good but her just paled in comparison and he wasn't super memorable.

[JBI]

There is nothing really of value in his work. I find his stuff to purely be escapist formulaic work, written for a target adolescent male audience, with no real substance, and nothing worth quoting.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

There is nothing really of value in his work. I find his stuff to purely be escapist formulaic work, written for a target adolescent male audience, with no real substance, and nothing worth quoting.

There's that petentious, snobby, and elitist attitude I've come to know and love. Thanks for putting me in my place.

[Etienne]

Pretentious, snobby and elitist? I don't really see anything wrong with his statement, I would personally simply call it "honest". Why hide your head in the ground? I've read a few of his books when I was a kid, and really, there IS no real substance or anything worth quoting, are you denying it?

[mortalterror]

When I was a young man, I started by reading science fiction and fantasy. At the time, my favorite books were written by guys like Christopher Stasheff, Robert A. Heinlein, or Mercedes Lackey. I was especially enamored of Roger Zelazny and his Amber series. At about that time, I read a number of R.A. Salvatore's books and I have to admit that I did enjoy them.

I see no reason to disparage those books just because now I'm more fond of Hemingway, Ovid, and Shakespeare. While I do believe that one may enjoy other books more, or that they are better written, or have a certain timelessness about them which the formerly mentioned works of literature do not, that does not detract from the value I place on them. For what they are, they are good. They should be considered for what they are not for what they are not. Etienne can hold them to the same higher standard which he holds his own favorite literature to, but one must understand that the authors and audience of such books do not consider those standards relevant.

I would characterize R.A. Salvatore's productions as the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of literary achievement, "happy in that [they] are not over happy, on Fortunes cap [they] are not the very button. Nor the soles of her shoe." There is no shame in being a good man just because other's are saints, and there is much to enjoy about Drizzt Du'Orrden.

[JBI]

Pretentious, snobby and elitist? I don't really see anything wrong with his statement, I would personally simply call it "honest". Why hide your head in the ground? I've read a few of his books when I was a kid, and really, there IS no real substance or anything worth quoting, are you denying it?

Etienne, are you familiar with Rousseau's critique of Moliere's Misanthrope?

[moose gurl]

Hahaha, I have noticed that some users here are pretty pretentious. I don't understand what's wrong with reading something for escapism, or just something fun, even if you know it's not the best writing in the world. Same with music. It doesn't have to be classic to be good, and it sure doesn't have to be good to be fun. Some people need to lighten up. I'm not pointing out JBI on purpose, because this is probably this first time I've thought he said something pretentious, but there are DEFINITELY some people on this board that need to realize that good and fun aren't always the same, and fun IS in fact ok.

[Etienne]

Hahaha, I have noticed that some users here are pretty pretentious. I don't understand what's wrong with reading something for escapism, or just something fun, even if you know it's not the best writing in the world.

No one said anything about it being wrong. I don't care if you watch Pokemon, but if I tell my opinion on it, there is no reason I should be called pretentious for it.


Etienne, are you familiar with Rousseau's critique of Moliere's Misanthrope?

Nope, can you turn on the light?

[JBI]

No one said anything about it being wrong. I don't care if you watch Pokemon, but if I tell my opinion on it, there is no reason I should be called pretentious for it.



Nope, can you turn on the light?
You familiar with the play? Basically it was Rousseau condemning the play for mocking a "perfect" person, one who was purely sincere. Rousseau saw the fact that the audience laughs at him as something disgusting in society, and that society should encourage this sort of sincerity, rather than condemning it.

If you know the play, basically the Misanthrope Alceste gets into trouble for refusing to say that an aspiring poet's poem is good. Which eventually leads to several "humorous" events.

In context, I brought this up because of what you replied, being that it is considered "elitist" and "wrong" to comment on the obvious truth.

[Etienne]

Yes, yes, it was appropriate :D

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I am not so deluded as to think Salvatore is a writer of classic fiction. I never said it was. I pointed out that it was purely fun reading, not a timeless piece of art. I know there is not much substance, or anything worth quoting, and whatever else JBI said. I made this thread wantng to hear from others who enjoyed Salvatore's work. I don't care of someone dislikes him, or thinks he is complete trash, but I find it kind of rude to some onto a thread that was meant for favorable discussion of his work and say it is nothing of value, which is wrong in the first place. Salvatore does not pretend to be a literary master. He makes it clear that he writes to entertain, and with many readers, that goal is reached, and if there is no value in that, there wouldn't be value in much literature at all.

If it was not meant to be snobby, oretentious, etc than I am sorry, but it came off that way. I dislike many authors also, but when a thread is created for thse who want to discuss what they enjoy about the author, I won't come on there and bash him just for the hell of it.

I apologise for any spelling and/or grammar errors. It's late and I don't feel like checking it over.

[JBI]

You came on to a public board and finished your first post off with "Is anyone else a fan?". The question can be answered too ways, yes and no. The first, in order to have discussion would start by being answered which books the reader has read, and why she liked them. The second answer, no, is followed by reasons why the reader ddoes not like the work.

I simply answered your question. I'm sorry to be a kill-joy. How is it snobby to point out the truth. As you said, "I know there isn't much substance, or anything worth quoting..." You post essentially agrees with me, yet tries to accuse me of snobbery.

I find it a weak argument to accuse any detractors of commercial, genre fiction of being an elitist snob. As for me, I didn't say you shouldn't enjoy him, or that he isn't entertaining. I simply stated my opinion, which your above post seems to agree with.

So please, when you come on a board to discuss literature, post a topic to discuss a certain author, don't complain if he isn't good.

I have seen no proof of why he should be discussed, or even why he should be read, presented by you. Please enlighten me, if you wish to discuss this author, and wish to talk about his work. The only thing you have done so far was back handedly praise a mediocre author, and then ranted that I am an elitist for voicing an opinion which you seem to agree with.

JBI

[mortalterror]

I'll say something nice about Salvatore's books, if nobody else will. I liked his assassin character. I forget what the name was, but he had a well developed nemesis relationship with the hero Drizzt Du'Orrden. I think I read a book which was just about him, and I liked that one best. The Drizzt character always struck me as a bit goody two shoes, the Superman type.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Okay, I don't want to dew this out, especially since I am new here, and I don't want to have a bad relationship with any of the members, so I apologize if I took your post the wrong way JBI.

And I am not sure which character you are teffering to, as I have only read Drizzt's beginning saga, but I can see how Drizzt could be a goody-goody character. Have you ever read Waylander? He is sort of an anti-hero you might like.