Rating: 
Summary: Enjoy "Shard" for what it is: Fun Popcorn Fantasy
Review: The great thing about this book is that you can accept and agree with many of the negative comments and still shrug your shoulders, say "who cares" and enjoy this fun book. Believe me, its not a great investment of time to read this book, because you'll breeze through it pretty quickly. Yeah, its got problems: the dialogue can be silly at times, plot twists can pop up without much development, and the characters aren't as well developed as some posters argue. And yet, in spite of all its faults its a very fun read! The plot is quick paced and covers a lot of ground. Salvatore's first novel shows terrific style (which he develops and masters later on). "Shard" is like a large popcorn at the movies: Its not a full course meal, but if you are in the mood for something light, it will satisfy your hunger better than you think. Pick it up, you won't be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: +10!
Review: Salvatore is one heck of a bard! This book, the first in the most readable of all the Forgotten Realms series, is out of sight. Not only does Salvatore layer on a great plot and colorful action and scene, he is a master of character development. It soon becomes clear that we can't help but feel for everyone of his characters. This series launched a worldwide interest in one of the greatest fantasy characters ever also! Drizz't Dourden, a dark elf who explores the meaning of good fully. This book is an emotionally charged, fast-paced read that is out of any other fantasy adventure title. Read it for sure!
Rating:
Summary: The Crystal Shard
Review: In the Crystal Shard we meet a young Akar Kessell, an aspiring wizard, who stumbles onto on of the most powerful objects in all the world, Crenshinibon. This shard was wrought of pure evil, and Akar wants to use it to attack Ten Towns. Our heroes, Drizzt, Catti-brie, Bruenor, Wulfgar, and Regis must somehow save Ten Towns.
Rating:
Summary: Very Surprising
Review: I first came upon this novel thinking very little. I expected it to be nothing more than some typical fantasy trash. I just could not stand "The Hobbit" at all, yet I wanted to venture into fantasy, so a friend (who hasn't read this) referred me to the novel itself. He had mentioned that "Homeland" by Salvatore was better than decent. But still, I was rather skeptical. All in all, this is a tremendously great read.Adventure Value: 9/10- This book contains numerous battle scenes and heroic combat moments Romance Rating: 3/10- Wulfgar the Barbarian does do a little hitting on the female protagonist, but nothing more. Character Development: 7/10- Drizzt, Bruenor, Regis, and Wulfgar are well developed, but there is some slacking on the antagonist: Akar Kessell. Climax: 8/10- The ending of the read draws to a beautiful close. Plotline: 6/10- The plotline was thin at random points, though at times it was as thick as molasses... Creature Feature: 8/10- there are barbarians, goblins, orcs, ogres, giants, and even an ice dragon...it's well done... My overall commentation on this book is that it is very good, and I recommend anyone new to the genre read it soon!
Rating:
Summary: The first of many.
Review: The works of Salvatore are second to none. Deep, emotional, rich and adventurous. The element that drew me un, and may draw others away, is that the series explores emotion and thought, attitude and perception in explicit and painful detail. As well as being a great yarn to curl up to on cold winters night, Salvatore's works are nothing less then a study of the human experience, from the point of view of the outsider. A very, very rich work this book is, as all in the series are. To any and all with an interest in psychology or just plain old adventuring entertainment, I say this is the book for you.
Rating:
Summary: Good for starters
Review: This book was good it would have been better if i had read it first but i read a bunch of other drizzt books before this one i know it was salvatores first one but all the others are much better. The fight scean betwen drizzt and eertu(I cant spell)was the best part in the book. If u want to read a book with all of the cool characters this book is for u but if ur lookin for the best salvatore novle ever this is surely not it but it has a great plot.
Rating: 
Summary: Good for teens
Review: The first book written by R.A. Salvatore, The Crystal Shard is a novel of the Fantasy genre and is set in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms series. It is the first book of the Icewind Dale Trilogy. During the dawn of time, seven liches (evil undead spirits of extremely powerful wizards) created Crenshinibon the crystal shard, the most powerful and vile artefact ever made. Now it has been found in the Forgotten Realms by Akar Kessel, in the remote desolate region of Icewind Dale. Drizzt the dark elf, Bruenor the dwarf, Regis the halfling and Wulfgar the barbarian must unite the forces of Ten-Towns, the only settlement in the dale, and the nomadic barbarians or all of Icewind Dale, and perhaps the Forgotten Realms, is lost. I only picked up this book after reading the preceding Dark Elf Trilogy. Although the blurb was rather uninspiring, with my background interest on Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, I was attracted by the awe-inspiring prelude. As the first of his books, R.A. Salvatore has left many loose ends for sequels (foes survive to fight another day, other adventures are hinted at), but these are plainly visible and therefore, unimpressive. R.A. Salvatore's main merit is the novel idea of his central character - Drizzt Do'Urden, a Drow (dark elf). The Drow are an evil race that live deep beneath the surface and are hated by all good races. However, Drizzt has forsaken the evil ways of his race and has come to live on the surface. In all the books in the line, including The Crystal Shard, one of the main themes is how Drizzt does lots to help others, despite receiving prejudice in return. However, this theme is quite blatant and is not written with the finesse of Jane Austen when she wrote Pride and Prejudice. R.A. Salvatore continues the saga for over 10 novels, allowing lots of room for character development as his writing skill develops. After reading The Crystal Shard as well as many other books, I find that this character development tends to be restricted along only one dimension. Salvatore describes Drizzt as 'stoic' so often that it started to become annoying and distracting. In fact, Salvatore does not seem to have a large vocabulary of adjectives at all. Salvatore. Shrewd readers may notice some slight contradictions as Salvatore 'plays around' with his character ideas. The plot is fast-paced but rather straightforward, especially when compared to eg. Charles Dickens. Although this book is packed with action, a reader with aesthetic appreciation will find that something is lacking. If you found David Copperfield or Great Expectations tedious and boring then this book will give you all the action you want. In fact, this book provides a good starting point into the Forgotten Realms series. However, those who tend to notice to finer points of literature should first read the Dark Elf Trilogy, also by Salvatore. Exclusive readers of high-quality literature will find that this book is composed of absolute garbage, even when compared to other novels in this genre. I sometimes feel that this book should be a computer game instead of a novel.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Salvatore novel I have read so far!
Review: The Crystal Shard was by far the best Drizzt Do'Urden novel I have read so far. I have also just read "Streams of Silver" and am now reading "The Halfling's Gem". The Crystal Shard (though Salvatore's first novel) had the most action. And the fight with Icingdeath and Ertuu was the best! I have heard that Ertuu comes back in later stories and I just can't wait! Streams of Silver was a great book, but it had a little too much meaningless fighting (not that much) like in the trollmoors with the trolls. But that doen't matter! All of the rest of the book dispells the lack of anything less than good! So, if you haven't read this book, you have to buy it. Drizzt Do'urden is the coolest!
Rating:
Summary: Da Bomb
Review: This is a great book. As a matter of fact every book I have read by R.A. Salvatore has been great, and I have read all the Drizzit books at least once and I have not yet been disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: GRIPPING
Review: SALVATORE PUTS THE WORDS TOGETHER SO TAHT YOU CAN ALMOST FEEL AND SEE WHAT HE IS WRITING ABOUT. THE FIRST TIME I'VE READ THIS BOOK WAS IN '97. I'VE READ IT THREE TIMES SINCE THEN. I JUST CAN'T PUT HIS BOOKS DOWN. THEY ENGULF YOU, AND I TRULEY WISH THAT I COULD HAVE LIVED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD JUST TO SEE THE WAY THE PEOPLE WENT ABOUT THEIR DAILY LIFE AND TO SEE ALL OF THESE FANTACY CREATURES. INFRAVISION! THESE BOOKS LET MY MIND SORE THE WAY THAT I NEVER DREAMED POSIBLE.
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