In the Dungeons & Dragons-loving gamers world I’d reckon R.A. Salvatore (homepage) is a household name. After all, he created the biggest hero in the Forgotten Realms setting, the Dark Elf and scimitar slashing hero Drizzt Do’Urden. Being an outsider in the views of men, being dangerous and of the Underworld, and starring in typical sword ‘n sorcery turns epic adventures is apparently all that is needed to capture the heart of every teenage fantasy fanatic.

I’ve read just about every book about the Dark Elf, and at first I enjoyed them. Later on though, me being older, they started aging in the same way that everything David Eddings has produced. Seriously, they are books for old kids with all that comes with that. Love, life and death – it just doesn’t feel real even in concept for the characters in Salvatore’s Forgotten Realms novels. Death is something for monsters, heroes live on forever – no matter how dire their disposition is.

It takes the edge off things, doesn’t it? “They’ll make it” – insert yawn here.

I’d guess Salvatore felt the same way, because when I had finished the First Demon Wars Saga, set in his own signature world called Corona, I couldn’t help but notice the difference in style. Sure, they are pretty straightforward fantasy epics in typical Forgotten Realms style, starring a ranger even (a boring concept to begin with), but with a few differences.

In Corona, love and sexual relationships actually exist, characters have truly negative traits and death is death. Heroes die.

Thank you, good Sir. I’ve been waiting for this.

Finishing the Second Demon Wars Saga, and then reading through the standalone Corona novel The Highwayman, I can’t help but feel that Salvatore has found his heart. The Drizzt novels will continue to sell ridiculous amounts to Dungeons & Dragons lovers and fantasy nerds alike, but the Corona outings are way better.

Because they are more real. More gritty. I think the fantasy genre needs to get down to Earth, to start recognize that its readers aren’t all teenagers. Although I surely can enjoy a classic “farmer son turns God-slaying hero” epic with the mild romantic outings of youth I still can’t get past the fact that I’m an adult now and I’ve gotten a little bigger taste of life. I might be a kid on the inside, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want something bigger, deeper, more important. I require it everywhere else, so why not in a fantasy novel?

The grittier (yes, I feel that word is an adequate description of things) Salvatore is a good example of fantasy grown up. Don’t get me wrong, in my opinion Salvatore has a long way to go before he reaches the top, but being a successful fantasy author he might help to lead others forward.

I’ll review the Demon Wars books as well as The Highwayman at a later date. Now I’m just glad that Salvatore has found his way away from the Drizzt Do’Urden-style.

Next on my bedside? Isabel Allende’s Zorro. It’s always nice to meet senor de la Vega again.

Want to buy Salvatore’s books?

Amazon’s got his books and by buying some of them through this link you’ll give me money. For free!