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The Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons #1
The Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons, Volume 1
Travel across three worlds with some of the most popular characters in modern sword & sorcery - R.A. Salvatore's Drizzt Do'Urden and Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Raistlin Majere. This volume also features an original Eberron tale by Keith Baker, creator of that world of magic-fueled technology and action-packed intrigue.
144 pages, Paperback
Published July 29, 2008
2 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
R.A. Salvatore
607 books11.3k followersAs one of the fantasy genre’s most successful authors, R.A. Salvatore enjoys an ever-expanding and tremendously loyal following. His books regularly appear on The New York Times best-seller lists and have sold more than 10,000,000 copies. Salvatore’s original hardcover, The Two Swords, Book III of The Hunter’s Blade Trilogy (October 2004) debuted at # 1 on The Wall Street Journal best-seller list and at # 4 on The New York Times best-seller list. His books have been translated into numerous foreign languages including German, Italian, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Turkish, Croatian, Bulgarian, Yiddish, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Portuguese, Czech, and French.
Salvatore’s first published novel, The Crystal Shard from TSR in 1988, became the first volume of the acclaimed Icewind Dale Trilogy and introduced an enormously popular character, the dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden. Since that time, Salvatore has published numerous novels for each of his signature multi-volume series including The Dark Elf Trilogy, Paths of Darkness, The Hunter’s Blades Trilogy, and The Cleric Quintet.
His love affair with fantasy, and with literature in general, began during his sophomore year of college when he was given a copy of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings as a Christmas gift. He promptly changed his major from computerscience to journalism. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Fitchburg State College in 1981, then returned for the degree he always cherished, the Bachelor of Arts in English. He began writing seriously in 1982, penning the manuscript that would become Echoes of the Fourth Magic. Salvatore held many jobs during those first years as a writer, finally settling in (much to our delight) to write full time in 1990.
The R.A. Salvatore Collection has been established at his alma mater, Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, containing the writer’s letters, manuscripts, and other professional papers. He is in good company, as The Salvatore Collection is situated alongside The Robert Cormier Library, which celebrates the writing career of the co-alum and esteemed author of young adult books.
Salvatore is an active member of his community and is on the board of trustees at the local library in Leominster, Massachusetts. He has participated in several American Library Association regional conferences, giving talks on themes including “Adventure fantasy” and “Why young adults read fantasy.” Salvatore himself enjoys a broad range of literary writers including James Joyce, Mark Twain, Geoffrey Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dante, and Sartre. He counts among his favorite genre literary influences Ian Fleming, Arthur Conan Doyle, Fritz Leiber, and of course, J.R.R. Tolkien.
Born in 1959, Salvatore is a native of Massachusetts and resides there with his wife Diane, and their three children, Bryan, Geno, and Caitlin. The family pets include three Japanese Chins, Oliver, Artemis and Ivan, and four cats including Guenhwyvar.
When he isn't writing, Salvatore chases after his three Japanese Chins, takes long walks, hits the gym, and coaches/plays on a fun-league softball team that includes most of his family. His gaming group still meets on Sundays to play.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rasalv...
Salvatore’s first published novel, The Crystal Shard from TSR in 1988, became the first volume of the acclaimed Icewind Dale Trilogy and introduced an enormously popular character, the dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden. Since that time, Salvatore has published numerous novels for each of his signature multi-volume series including The Dark Elf Trilogy, Paths of Darkness, The Hunter’s Blades Trilogy, and The Cleric Quintet.
His love affair with fantasy, and with literature in general, began during his sophomore year of college when he was given a copy of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings as a Christmas gift. He promptly changed his major from computerscience to journalism. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Fitchburg State College in 1981, then returned for the degree he always cherished, the Bachelor of Arts in English. He began writing seriously in 1982, penning the manuscript that would become Echoes of the Fourth Magic. Salvatore held many jobs during those first years as a writer, finally settling in (much to our delight) to write full time in 1990.
The R.A. Salvatore Collection has been established at his alma mater, Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, containing the writer’s letters, manuscripts, and other professional papers. He is in good company, as The Salvatore Collection is situated alongside The Robert Cormier Library, which celebrates the writing career of the co-alum and esteemed author of young adult books.
Salvatore is an active member of his community and is on the board of trustees at the local library in Leominster, Massachusetts. He has participated in several American Library Association regional conferences, giving talks on themes including “Adventure fantasy” and “Why young adults read fantasy.” Salvatore himself enjoys a broad range of literary writers including James Joyce, Mark Twain, Geoffrey Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dante, and Sartre. He counts among his favorite genre literary influences Ian Fleming, Arthur Conan Doyle, Fritz Leiber, and of course, J.R.R. Tolkien.
Born in 1959, Salvatore is a native of Massachusetts and resides there with his wife Diane, and their three children, Bryan, Geno, and Caitlin. The family pets include three Japanese Chins, Oliver, Artemis and Ivan, and four cats including Guenhwyvar.
When he isn't writing, Salvatore chases after his three Japanese Chins, takes long walks, hits the gym, and coaches/plays on a fun-league softball team that includes most of his family. His gaming group still meets on Sundays to play.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rasalv...
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 25, 2020
This book collects stories that were originally published as 48-page (about double issue size) comics. I read them as individual stories instead of the collected TPB. The first two issues focus on the most popular realms created by Dungeons & Dragons, namely Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance. Usually these stories consist of epic journeys spanning a trilogy of novels or more, but somehow they managed to craft a story across two comic book issues?
Forgotten Realms: Dark Mirror
Rather than explore other aspects of the Forgotten Realms, they launch this new series with another Drizzt Do'urden tale by R.A. Salvatore. I don't know if this is original to the comic, or a story pulled from somewhere else. However, I must point out that DDP has already been adapting the Drizzt Do'urdan saga from the beginning, so it's weird to even kick off with this, especially if it's an original short story.
The story itself was okay, it's certainly not very grandiose and it happens well after the original trilogy. However, it's kind of boring. It's pretty much the same rut of a tale R.A. Salvatore keeps throwing at us if you've read his novels, of which I've read quite a few, easily 20. Compressing the story into such a short format is somewhat unsatisfying, but Salvatore tries to convey that usual tale of not judging someone by appearances etc. This time it's just not Drizzt who is being misjudged, but instead a Goblin slave that Drizzt feels compelled to help. This one is a bit of a tragic tale, but there are a number of tragic characters in the R.A. Salvatore universe. Frankly, I think he should stick with writing longer form stories. Or they stop re-launching this material with the same story told over and over.
Dragonlance: The Legacy
The Dragonlance story, on the other hand, was very good. But that is because it was already written in 1987. Now, the unfortunate part of this is that this story requires you to have read the Chronicles Trilogy and Legends. If you haven't this story will feel weird and nonsensical. The story was published in The Second Generation, which is sort of collection of short stories updating readers on the aftermath of the other two trilogies.
This story is the tale of Caramon's son taking the test for magicians and it even brought Raistlin back up even though he had passed by this point in time. I forget the overall outcome of this book, because it's been so long since I read these stories. Either way, sticking it in this comic, which seems to be designed around garnering interest to new readers was, simply, a bad move. I liked the story and thought the adaptation was awesome, but this is a really strange place to put this story. Only people familiar with Dragonlance would truly get this.
Eberron: The Weight of Water
This is just a one off story and I believe it is published in this TPB. It was originally published in Issue 5 of the comic, but for some reason found it's way into this collected volume, probably because there was no place else to really put it.
Eberron is just boring, I'll say it straight out. I'm not familiar with this setting and I realized they tried to launch this whole new idea, but it never really gained much traction. The setting was born in 2002 and "...an avenue for any D&D fan to experience swashbuckling adventure and explore mysterious new territories." This short tale had none of that. In another book I looked up, apparently there's supposed to be airships and lightning trains! I wish that was in here... but no, this basically feels like your standard fair medieval tale that could be set on Earth or in any other Fantasy setting. The story centers around an ambush and using "unsavory tactics" or something... it was pretty ho-hum if you ask me.
Forgotten Realms: Dark Mirror
Rather than explore other aspects of the Forgotten Realms, they launch this new series with another Drizzt Do'urden tale by R.A. Salvatore. I don't know if this is original to the comic, or a story pulled from somewhere else. However, I must point out that DDP has already been adapting the Drizzt Do'urdan saga from the beginning, so it's weird to even kick off with this, especially if it's an original short story.
The story itself was okay, it's certainly not very grandiose and it happens well after the original trilogy. However, it's kind of boring. It's pretty much the same rut of a tale R.A. Salvatore keeps throwing at us if you've read his novels, of which I've read quite a few, easily 20. Compressing the story into such a short format is somewhat unsatisfying, but Salvatore tries to convey that usual tale of not judging someone by appearances etc. This time it's just not Drizzt who is being misjudged, but instead a Goblin slave that Drizzt feels compelled to help. This one is a bit of a tragic tale, but there are a number of tragic characters in the R.A. Salvatore universe. Frankly, I think he should stick with writing longer form stories. Or they stop re-launching this material with the same story told over and over.
Dragonlance: The Legacy
The Dragonlance story, on the other hand, was very good. But that is because it was already written in 1987. Now, the unfortunate part of this is that this story requires you to have read the Chronicles Trilogy and Legends. If you haven't this story will feel weird and nonsensical. The story was published in The Second Generation, which is sort of collection of short stories updating readers on the aftermath of the other two trilogies.
This story is the tale of Caramon's son taking the test for magicians and it even brought Raistlin back up even though he had passed by this point in time. I forget the overall outcome of this book, because it's been so long since I read these stories. Either way, sticking it in this comic, which seems to be designed around garnering interest to new readers was, simply, a bad move. I liked the story and thought the adaptation was awesome, but this is a really strange place to put this story. Only people familiar with Dragonlance would truly get this.
Eberron: The Weight of Water
This is just a one off story and I believe it is published in this TPB. It was originally published in Issue 5 of the comic, but for some reason found it's way into this collected volume, probably because there was no place else to really put it.
Eberron is just boring, I'll say it straight out. I'm not familiar with this setting and I realized they tried to launch this whole new idea, but it never really gained much traction. The setting was born in 2002 and "...an avenue for any D&D fan to experience swashbuckling adventure and explore mysterious new territories." This short tale had none of that. In another book I looked up, apparently there's supposed to be airships and lightning trains! I wish that was in here... but no, this basically feels like your standard fair medieval tale that could be set on Earth or in any other Fantasy setting. The story centers around an ambush and using "unsavory tactics" or something... it was pretty ho-hum if you ask me.
July 4, 2023
This is awesome.
So glad I have the actual books of these, so I can read some more of this world.
So glad I have the actual books of these, so I can read some more of this world.
September 14, 2020
It is a serious mistake to publish a book of four stories from different game settings because most fans will not have played them, like myself, where I’ve only played forgotten realms (like most D&D players). Eberron is not interesting so half of the book was a waste. The story wasn’t even that good as a stand-alone.
The RAS chapter was completely un-original retelling of that same tired story he’s been retelling for 30 years....ugh. It’s not Drizzit, it’s Drizz’t. Really. That ... kind of worth knowing the first time. 30 years ago. But he repeats in every book. And summons his black astral tiger any time he needs help clipping a toenail.
The RAS chapter was completely un-original retelling of that same tired story he’s been retelling for 30 years....ugh. It’s not Drizzit, it’s Drizz’t. Really. That ... kind of worth knowing the first time. 30 years ago. But he repeats in every book. And summons his black astral tiger any time he needs help clipping a toenail.
August 30, 2021
2.5 rounded up. I don't think this stood as a great introduction to any of these worlds but for people who are already deep into them they're some fun stories. Also, Greykell is cool.
December 5, 2021
Great story ok art.
March 20, 2024
The first story was pretty good, but the second and third was incredibly mediocre
March 25, 2021
"Forgotten Realms: Dark Mirror": story 3/5, art 3/5. Artsy art and preachy story and the goblin was just wholesale copied from Dobby the House-Elf of Harry Potter.
"Dragonlance: The Legacy": story 1/5, art 2/5. Dragonlance keeps being incoherent and incomprehensible and the art was meh.
"Eberron: The Weight of Water": story 2/5, art 3/5. Pointless story, OK art.
Total 2.3/5
"Dragonlance: The Legacy": story 1/5, art 2/5. Dragonlance keeps being incoherent and incomprehensible and the art was meh.
"Eberron: The Weight of Water": story 2/5, art 3/5. Pointless story, OK art.
Total 2.3/5
October 28, 2013
As this is a collection of micro-tales, there is bound to be some uneven appeal to almost any reader. Factor in that these stories are comic adaptations based on the game world of Dungeons & Dragons and the readership becomes a bit more narrow. I personally find enjoyment in gaming and feel the storytelling possibilities are definitely there if placed in capable hands. Within this collection, it is difficult to tell if the uneven nature is due to adaptation or mediocre writing.
Essentially, there are three stories of varying quality. The first is an R.A. Salvatore tale involving Drizzt, a character I am becoming more familiar with these days. The artwork for this is my favorite of the three, opting for a painted medium and feeling more illustrated rather than animated. The second tale was one I had looked forward to as this would be my introduction to Tracy Hickman, but the adaptation was not to keep my attention. It felt like a standard story about magic, betrayal, family and never engaged in the way I had hoped. I have more to explore from this author, but this was a letdown. The final author (whose name escapes me) turns in a serviceable tale that feels most at home within the gaming universe here. The art is the most comic book-esque of the the three, but it fits the more action-oriented vibe. Nothing groundbreaking, but enough fun to warrant mention.
Thus far, it is hard to decipher how effective these worlds translate into the realm of comic books. The veneer is clearly tailor made for the medium, but I get the feeling that these might have been cranked off of an assembly line more so than both bigger comic titles of mainstream appeal or creator-owned works where the author/artist team has a vested interest in the book's success, both long term and in the immediate. The idea is interesting and worthy of further attempts, but I'm not certain that this provides the greatest example of its potential.
Essentially, there are three stories of varying quality. The first is an R.A. Salvatore tale involving Drizzt, a character I am becoming more familiar with these days. The artwork for this is my favorite of the three, opting for a painted medium and feeling more illustrated rather than animated. The second tale was one I had looked forward to as this would be my introduction to Tracy Hickman, but the adaptation was not to keep my attention. It felt like a standard story about magic, betrayal, family and never engaged in the way I had hoped. I have more to explore from this author, but this was a letdown. The final author (whose name escapes me) turns in a serviceable tale that feels most at home within the gaming universe here. The art is the most comic book-esque of the the three, but it fits the more action-oriented vibe. Nothing groundbreaking, but enough fun to warrant mention.
Thus far, it is hard to decipher how effective these worlds translate into the realm of comic books. The veneer is clearly tailor made for the medium, but I get the feeling that these might have been cranked off of an assembly line more so than both bigger comic titles of mainstream appeal or creator-owned works where the author/artist team has a vested interest in the book's success, both long term and in the immediate. The idea is interesting and worthy of further attempts, but I'm not certain that this provides the greatest example of its potential.
November 10, 2008
Great book! It was very fun to read. They redid many great D&D stories of past novels from the Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance and Eberron worlds. The art was pretty fantastic as well. I really enjoyed this book.
September 8, 2012
Good stories, good art, good graphic novel. This is what good DnD is capable of.
September 14, 2013
I think it needed one more editing; looking for missing words and crazy sentences. Generally, it was okay.
December 3, 2013
Not my type of art. The story was OK, but not worth re-reading.
September 2, 2015
A nice selection of comic stories set in various D&D campaign worlds - Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, and Eberron. The Realms story (featuring Drizzt do'Urden) is probably the best of the lot. (B)
November 9, 2015
The Drizzt one was fine. The Dragonlance one was boring as hell (but I don't know anything about Dragonlance, so). And the Eberron one was pretty good. I love Eberron.
May 1, 2017
This book comprises three unconnected (as far as I know) stories within the Dungeons and Dragons world. Drizzt was featured in the first story, but I wasn't familiar with the characters from the other two stories. (That's not a complaint.) While I enjoyed each story, they seemed rushed. I would've liked them a lot more if each story was the same length as this entire book.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews