[Cerek the Barbaric]

Originally posted by Attalus: LOL, I think that I'm just jealous, but Salvatore did a few other novelizations, including Star Wars, Episode II. This guy must get up a t six and write all day. But, IMHO, if he had never come up with Drizzt, we would have never heard of him. :greenwithenvy:

Hmmm....maybe, maybe not. He has done several other novels, including some set in his own "gameworld". The Crimson Cape series introduced a halfling duelist who was one of the most intriguing characters I've ever seen in a book.

I agree that he owes most of his success to the Icewind Dale Trilogy. It was his first effort in the Forgotten Realms, and he created so incredibly interesting characters. In fact, after reading The Crystal Shard, I was so impressed with his writing style that I sent him a letter (through TSR, of course). I was very honored to actually receive a letter back from Salvatore himself a couple of months later, and we corresponded with each other for about 1 1/2 years (I also wanted to be a fantasy novel writer). He actually suggested that I avoid becoming a writer unless I was totally committed because of the extreme amount of pressure to meet deadlines whether you have "writer's block" or not.

He was every bit as personable in his letters as his characters were in his books. Alas, real life intervened with marriage and kids and I haven't much time to read novels anymore. Still, I place R.A. Salvatore in the same league as Tolkien. I like his books that much.