Homeland

Rating:
Summary: One of the best FR books ever
Review: Re-reading Homeland after the first time five years ago brought back much memories. Undoubtedly, some of Salvatore's best works were in his earlier periods.

When the book came out, Drizzt was already a familiar character to to readers of FR novels, having been introduced in the Icewind Dale Trilogy - Crystal Shard, Streams of Silver and The Halfling's Gem. His combat skills with the twin scimitars were already well documented, as well as his faithful friend the magical panther Guenhwyar.

In Homeland, Salvatore attempted to explain the origins of how a drow, traditionally enemy of the surface world, came to be a defender of the weak and upholding justice in the realms. He began with societal description of Menzoberranzan, a mighty drow city where Drizzt's natural family resided as one of the stronger noble clans. Through a combination of macro and micro view of interaction between the drow clans, Salvatore depicted a society where the strongest rule, not only among families, but also within.

Born to a world dedicated to Lloth the Spider Queen, where everything is permissible (except being caught) to further personal benefit, Salvatore showed how a unique combination circumstances shielded the young drow noble was shielded from the despoiling influence of his society until he was sufficiently strengthened physically and emotionally to face the stark truths of everything around him.

Throughout the theme, Salvatore dictated a furious pace of the progress of the young Drizzt through his formative years, learning his place as a page, a warrior trainee and a student in the drow academy where inter-student rivalries were literally deadly, before Drizzt finally took his place as a fully fledged male noble in his clan.

At intervals, there would be a page or two of personal contemplation of Drizzt on his Menzoberranzan years, the lessons he learned, and re-learned upon the benefits of hindsights. These musings serve as an interesting read to readers, allowing them to bring their own mullings to pace with Drizzt's developments. This, is one of the better parts of the book, which overall is an excellent piece of reading.

Rating:
Summary: Drizzt just rocks.
Review: Homeland takes us to the beginning of Drizzt's life and shows us the conditions he had to endure growing up in the Dark Elf underground city of Menzoberranzan. The book takes place entirely in the Underdark city...However, this fact doesn't make the book any less compelling. I couldn't stop turning the pages, even when it was way past time for me to get some sleep.
This book was the first fantasy novel I had ever read, and it got me hooked. Learning about the dark elves, their heirarchy and religion, was so interesting, and Drizzt is the perfect main character, of course. After finishing Homeland, I couldn't wait to start reading Exile.
Buy Homeland. You won't be let down.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderfull
Review: Homeland is the very beginning of Drizzt the famous Dark Elf. This book is different from the Crystal Shard trilogy in that it takes place completly in the underdark of the dark elf city Menzoberranzan. In some ways it was difficult for me to read. Really it was because there is a lot of torture. Dark elves are extremely selfish and cruel. Drizzt and his father we find out are really the only good characters. Although some pages were tough to take it was well wearth it for me. This is a wonderful book about a man who is good that was born into a city of evil and never gives up hope that he will one day escape it.

Rating:
Summary: Best in Series
Review: Spanning all the way back to Drizzt's birth, this is by far the best book in Dark Elf series. Like most I read the Icewind Dale trilogy prior to reading Homeland, and was blown away by the intensity of this book. Salvatore goes into amazing detail about Drizzt's upbringing and the horrific world where he was raised. Above all I couldn't get enough of the emotional bonds and relationships Salvatore creates between Drizzt and his family members. This is by far one of the BEST fantasy novels ever written. Pick it up!

Rating:
Summary: Where to start????
Review: I'm a fairly educated guy, but reading was never my thing...Until I picked up "Homeland".I've always been into DnD, but never really read any books (actually none since ive been out of school). So when my wife told me to read this book, I was a little "ify". I have to admit the first 10 pages took me about 2 days lol, couldnt really get into it. Then... I was forever hooked on Drizzt Do`Urden, and on R.A.Salvatore. I read the rest of the book on the 3rd night, just begging my wife for the next one in the series.

Homeland was an overall excellent book, Great characters, real good story line, and uncanny fights scences. My favorite character...duh. Drizzt. The beginning of many long nights reading started with this book.

So if you havent read this book yet, please pick it up and read it.

And my hat goes off to you Mr.Salvatore,Thank you.

Rating:
Summary: Excells in many areas including twists.. but too perfect?
Review: R. A. Salvatore maybe considered a wizard with his ability to create graphical fighting scenes, characters and an exciting plot with many twists. But some, whilst reading, may think the success of his book, particularly the Dark Elf Trilogy, is really down to one character, Drizzt Do'urdon.

Don't get me wrong, when someone can do something good, and this clearly is the case, he/she deserves to be praised. but many will be rating some of his books as the greatest of all, so I just want to point out a few facts.

This is the first of three books concerning the Dark Elves, and in simplest terms, it's one of the greatest tales of good against evil, with the odds stacked against the one good man, fighting against many evil Elves.

It's all very classic, but from the start, you kind of get the feeling that all will end well, when you have a child: "Born with unique lavender eyes that, when switching to "infravision" stay the same colour." This uniqueness in itself, is an indication of no ordinary child, and it seems the book is really about Salavtore's personal dream that a "special one" will be born into a corrupt world, and still be able to keep his values, and survive the bitterness, greed, and power-hungry monsters that forever try to turn him.

It was an exciting read, and I couldn't put it down. He certainly did well, and I congratulate him myself. But it's not the best book ever, and I think a more "real" character would have grabbed more "real" people...

Rating:
Summary: Great intro to the Dark Elf trilogy
Review: Homeland is the beginning of a great series about a Dark Elf named Drizzt. The stage is set underground in a cavernous world of darkness. This book is all about the birth of drizzt till he becomes a man. Being born in a time when Drizzt's family was busy battle a rival family. The women in dark elf society are dominent over the men. men have no importance in Drow society. It is drow (race of dark elfs), practice to sacrafice the third born male to their evil Spider Queen. But Drizzt there was something special about Drizzt when he was born, he had purple eyes. Because of this he was saved. Drow males either study, fighting or magic. Drizzt fate was decided before he could even walk thanks to his father, drizzt was allowed to train as a fighter. Drizzt grew up to be the best at the scimitars in all the underdark. He was the deadliest drow around. Only one problem, Drizzt hates to kill. There is no word for compassion in the underdark. Drizzt must either kill or be killed all for the sake of the drow deity, the Spider Queen. This book takes you through Drizzts first adventures. There is a lot of fighting. There is great action in this book!

Rating:
Summary: A story that is unmatched...
Review: Homeland was the first Forgotten Realms novel I ever read, after having played Dungeons and Dragons for about a year. Homeland progressed to Exile, Sojurn and the entire series to date based on the renegade dark (drow) elf, Drizzt Do'Urden. It is based in the chaotic and evil city of the drow, Menzoberranzan.

Drizzt is born into one of the high ranking noble houses, on the night that they are to attack another noble house. He is to be the sacrifice to their evil goddess, Lloth - the spider queen.

Throughout the books, Drizzt tries to come to terms with the evils of his kin, and the idealogical differences between himself and the rest of his race. Drizzt finds one island of refuge in his father, but over time, he realises that he cannot remain within the confines of Menzoberranzan.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best book of Forgotten Realms ever published
Review: This book is the first of a series of Book which tell about the main character : Drizzt Do'Urden

A character that is so big that it is almost Forgotten Realm on its own. First novel of a series of 14 books with this Character

I read the books in a loop for 5 years now, and I can't get tired of them. They are great :o)

Sure there is better books to many levels, but none can be as good as my Homeland !

Rating:
Summary: Meets and exceeds expectations
Review: I definitly started this book expecting something similer to the original dragonlance trilogy (Chronicles). What i got was something way different and way better. I havent read the second books yet in this trilogy, but in terms of the first book, this killed chronicles (sorrry wies and hickman).

I suggest this book to anyone who is interested in the fantasy genre and is looking for a book with non stop intense action.