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Exile: Part 2 (Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt, Book II) Review

Mainly because almost anything is better than 'Homeland'. But in "Exile" Salvatore actually managed to get around the Forgotten Realms cliches, and managed to tell an disturbing and sad tale about loneliness and desperation. Drizzt struggle with his homeland gets more substance here. There is no more 'evil' community lurking in the background, or 'evil' individuals who are up to 'evil' deeds for their own gains. Sure, Matron Malice still plots in the background, there are mind flayers levitating around, and deep gnome who became Drizzt's companion utters so much cliches in a single page that it's a wonder to behold. But...Introspective bits about Drizzt is what really keep this book going.

I still can't imagine anyone but an avid fantasy reader to read this but if you accidentally stumble upon this trilogy, maybe you should do better to start with the second book. After he left Menzoberanzan for good, Drizzt is left alone to browse the tunnels of Underdark and take care of himelf. Solitude, depression, darkness and constant danger take a heavy toll on one's own psyche and Drizzt himself finds out that his personalities are being split. There exist one that faintly remembers ideas that constituted character and identity of Drizzt, and there is another one which is pure survivalist, fighter and a hunter who is driven on basic urges. Drizzt realizes that struggle between individual and the community is the inherent struggle of one's life and that without community there can't be no individual. It is an old proverb of Hegel that mentions dependency of master and the slave. Only after seeing the other model of community (in this case svirfnebli), Drizzt will finally understand that there exist no contest between solitude and community. There exist only contests between different types of communities.

All else that you may find in this book, all action bits and dungeon crawling through the Underdark is there for the genre fan boys, and honestly, you can't really write philosophy with a character as shallow as Drizzt. Or at least not if you want to make him a staple. There are cheesy bits here as well but overall much less of them then in the first book. And, since Salvatore promises and produces straightforward genre-writing, which always does good with certain crowds, one can't but say that "Exile" is far better then "Homeland". Of course, this is not literature in any sort of way. It's pure and this time not-so-mindless fun. So, if you're up to it - dig in.

Exile: Part 2 (Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt, Book II) Feature

ISBN13: 9780786939831
Condition: New
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Exile: Part 2 (Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt, Book II) Overview

As I became a creature of the empty tunnels, survival became easier and more difficult all at once. I gained in the physical skills and experience necessary to live on. I could defeat almost anything that wandered into my chosen domain. It did not take me long, however, to discover one nemesis that I could neither defeat nor flee. It followed me wherever I went–indeed, the farther I ran, the more it closed in around me. My enemy was solitude, the interminable, incessant silence of hushed corridors.

–Drizzt Do’Urden

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Customer Reviews

Two for two - Brian D. Rogers - lacey, wa United States
I continue to read the adventures of Drizzt.

Drizzt had grown since we left him, carving a life out of the rock in the cruel Underdark. With his mystical panther by his side, Drizzt learns not all the horrors of the Underdark live within the walls of Menzoberranzan. The time alone leads the drow prince to "wanting" to be captured by the Svirfneblin, the deep gnomes of the Under dark, just so he doesn't have to be alone all the time. He realizes the capture might not have been the best idea, as even in the precense of the gnome children, his wild "hunter" side comes out when his weapons are in his hands. There is one deep gnome, that Drizzt befriends a burrow warden, who ironically he had met before. The deep gnome, Belwar is warmly written and is an important part of Drizzt's lessons learned.

The treachery of Drizzt's family grows in Exile, as his mother, Matron Malice, resurrects Drizzt's father to hunt him as an undead wraith. Would she have done the same if she'd known the outcome? Exile is filled with horrific sopporting cast, sometimes tragic characters such as Clacker. Clacker is another Underdark creature, who is transformed by a Wizard from a sweet Underdark dwarf called a Pech, into the oversized brainless beast known as a Hook Horror. Salvatore writes Clacker well, and I felt badly about his fate. The Illithids, cerebral creatures with squid like faces would be great on film, there part is a small side step in the adventure, and didnt excite me much. The sudden appearance of the undead father of Drizzt sets up a fantastic sword battle between Drizzt and the spirit wraith of his father, Zaknafein.

The ending of Exile is great, plot twists, deception, hope and fear culminate with a near cinematic crescendo. Heartfelt farewells, and a friend at his side follow Drizzt on his path out of the Underdark. Salvatore is by far my favorite fantasy writer, and makes characters you care about, and want to read more about. Im off to read Sojourn next. A highly recommended read!

Darker and Better! - Brendan Burns - Donegal, Ireland
The follow up to Homelands, this book is darker, grittier and BETTER in almost every sense.

The underdark, drow and illithid's get a great treatment. Characters, locations and battles are what really make this book stand out.

Excellent.

The Legend of Drizzt Continues... - Amy C - New York
It took me awhile to read this second book in the Dark Elf trilogy, but I still very much enjoyed it as I further explored Drizzt and the world he lives in.

A decade after the events that took place in Homeland, Drizzt finds himself battling a hidden foe--Solitude. Drizzt has been wondering the Underdark alone, his only companion, a panther, Guenhwyvar, from the spirit plane; a magical being Drizzt is only able to conjure a few hours a day. But he's not enough to keep Drizzt from losing himself as he travels through the many cave systems. It's not until Drizzt happens upon a group of deep gnomes and listening to them talk amongst themselves that he realizes he must seek those that speak words, even if it's a language he does not understand. Or that death may be what they decide of his fate, rather than a friendly addition to their society. But taking that chance, needing to be amongst others, for Drizzt fears who he is becoming more than he fears death.

To Drizzt's surprise, a deep gnome named Belwar, whom he saved from death in Homland, saves him from death, taking him into his home and offering his companionship and a place among the deep gnomes. But the threat against Drizzt from his former family, the Do'Urden's from Menzoberranzan soon forces Drizzt from his peaceful living and he is once again out in the Underdark, but this time with a friend. Belwar joins him. You see, Belwar has his own inner demons he must learn to concur due to the events in Homeland.

With a few unexpected twists, Exile was another great escape into the world of the Underdark, taking the reader on a grand adventure of peril as Drizzt and his companions battle different foes that await them around every corner. In the end, good always triumphs over evil. The heartless drows of Menzoboranzen do not stand a chance against Drizzt, because in his heart his strong moral convictions hold true, empowering him to fight those which would see him dead.

I loved the way this one ended, leaving you wanting to grab the final book in this trilogy to see how Drizzt fairs. Drizzt has decided the only way to avoid his enemies is to escape to the vast openness of the surface world.

And so the saga continues...

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 28, 2010 11:25:05

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Saturday, August 28, 2010