The Pirate King
category: fantasy, action, author:R.A. Salvatore
book 2 of Forgotten Realms: Transitionsoriginal copyright 2009
read in March 2012
Agamedes' opinion: 6 out of 10: read to pass the time
Well...
Not in The Pirate King.
By half way through the book, the major battle has been fought. Yet that battle is -- as it turns out -- just one "small" step on the way to the "transition" to the reign of the Pirate King. All my preconceived notions have been shattered!
On the other hand, this is a story of the regular heroes of Forgotten Realms, Drizzt and his minor side-kick Regis. Okay, I like them. But I'm not desperate to read about What Drizzt and Regis Did Next.
On the third hand, I am continually amazed at the ability of Forgotten Realms authors to create new and interesting adventures with a limited number of star characters. As a part of a major history -- told as a personal and entertaining story -- The Pirate King does well.
Not as well, in my opinion, as The Orc King. Perhaps I just enjoy a book with a happier ending... Sure, plenty of people do survive The Pirate King. The ending is mostly satisfactory. The book's role as a part of a very long history, however, means that a lot of potential conflict will be left unresolved. At least, unresolved in this book.
The Orc King ended with a new status quo which could encourage peace. The Pirate King ends with a new status quo which will encourage fighting and war. Life -- and conflict -- goes on, in the world of Forgotten Realms.
Drizzt and Regis are just two of a small group of heroes who regularly adventure together. One other member of the group appears for a few chapters... Apparently, he is on his way to becoming a super-hero. Apart from that, the plot maintains a tight focus. People do appear from earlier books but only as part of the main plot. The series of books may form a grand and broad saga; each book is a self-contained story.
If you are a fan of the Forgotten Realms then Pirate is essential reading. If you are not familiar with these realms, well, it's still an enjoyable book to read.
Really, I have to mention the fighting styles...
Not the actual fight descriptions, which Salvatore does quite well. But the style...
Pirate is a Dungeons and Dragons novel; it says so on the back cover. World of Warcraft is a dungeons and dragons computer game. And yes, the fighting styles are so very similar... Fireballs, ice cones, elementals, mage shields, it's all there.
Not surprising, really, this similarity.
Still, it makes me smile :-)
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