Salvatore hits a home run with latest book, 'Gauntlgrym'

Earlier this week, I finished reading R.A. Salvatore’s latest, page-turning novel, “Gauntlgrym,” and I not only enjoyed the book, but it also felt like a trip down memory lane.

Published by Wizards of the Coast and released on Oct. 5, this 352-page book centers on Salvatore’s most famous character - the drow elf hero, Drizzt Do’Urden – and his sidekick, the dwarf king, Bruenor Battlehammer. Together, they’re on the hunt for ancient Gauntlgrym, the long lost, legendary home of the Delzoun dwarves. For decades, these two battle hardened adventurers have searched for this subterranean kingdom, but only come close when they are swept up in a quest to save thousands of lives from an ancient evil that’s stirring in the bowels of the lost dwarf kingdom.

Like most of Salvatore’s books, “Gauntlgrym” was an almost immediate best seller. Less than two weeks after its release, the book made Publishers Weekly’s hardcover fiction best-seller list, which is a rare feat for works of fantasy fiction these days.

This novel is one of hundreds of books set in the Forgotten Realms campaign world that’s part of the well-known Dungeons & Dragons role playing game. I haven’t dabbled in fantasy role-playing since about the eighth grade (My friends and I actually played a D&D knock-off called “Dragon Quest.”), but some things never get old.

This book was full of action, interesting characters, magic and high adventure. It includes a number of cliff-hanging moments and Salvatore’s trademark, well-written fight scenes. Salvatore, a former nightclub bouncer, is known far and wide among fantasy fans for his highly detailed fight scenes. He writes them like someone who’s taken – and given – a beating or two on more than one occasion.

One of the best things about this book is the portrayal of Drizzt and Bruenor, who are best friends and have traveled together for decades. They know each other inside and out, and Salvatore does a good job of portraying their good-natured camaraderie. If any of you have seen “The Lord of the Rings” motion picture trilogy from a few years ago, you’ll know what I mean when I say that Drizzt and Bruenor reminded me a lot of the elf-dwarf team of Legolas and Gimli from those movies.

Those of you in the reading audience who have already had the pleasure of reading “Gauntlgrym” will be pleased to know that this book is actually the first novel in what is being called the “Neverwinter Trilogy.”

Video and online gamers out there will also be interested to know that these three books are tied in with an upcoming online video game, Neverwinter. The books in the trilogy serve as previews to the settings, characters and monsters in the game, according to promotional materials. The game is set for release in late 2011.

In the end, I really enjoyed reading “Gauntlgrym” and would recommend it to anyone in the audience who enjoys sword-and-sorcery fantasy novels. I definitely plan to read the other two books in the trilogy, and if they’re anywhere close to as good as the first, then I’m in for a treat.