Project Realms Reads discussion

Raechel wrote: "Now that it's April we're doing another Drizzt book, right?"

Yep! It looks like Nikki has Streams of Silver lined-up next. That is tempting. I have not read it in twenty years or so. I have fond memories of it. I do worry that older me might be too critical.

Has anyone started it?

Don wrote: "Has anyone started it?"

I had started it earlier this month, but I was also reading the 5e Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden book as campaign prep and it was just... too much Icewind Dale for me, lol. I finished the campaign book the other day (it's going to need some adjustment), and once I finish the atrocious time-travel vampire novel I'm reading I'll pick Streams of Silver back up. I really enjoyed The Crystal Shard so I anticipate I'll like this one as well.

Nice. I have Rime of the Frostmaiden, but have not read through it, yet. Not sure when we'll play it. Once we get back together at the table we are going to finish Descent into Avernus. So, Icewind Dale is a ways away.

While you muddle through Beguiled by Night, I'll try to get through The Crystal Shard real fast (not too fast, 'cause I want to savor it) and maybe we can meet at Streams of Silver and compare notes. :)

Don wrote: " Once we get back together at the table we are going to finish Descent into Avernus."

I'm currently playing that! I'm playing as a warforged paladin. Our DM thought today's game might be our last one but we managed to stretch it out and I think our next game in 2 weeks will be the conclusion. I'm really excited to see what happens!

I started Streams of Silver today and finished chapter three. My progress to date and short review below contain spoilers. Be ye warned.

The four pals left Icewind Dale; Entreri tracks Regis; the pals reach Luskan; Bruenor gets his map and Wulfgar survives a tavern brawl.

A few thoughts: Salvatore is at his best when he is writing about Entreri. The writing in Streams of Silver is better as a whole than The Crystal Shard, which seemed like a rush job. Streams of Silver has writing issues, but it is his second book and it is a little better.

The book has quickly established a solid heading: the pals are on a quest to find and reclaim fabled Mithral Hall. That is good. The Crystal Shard had a lot going on and suffered because not enough word space was devoted to fleshing anything out. It was like a quick history and the crystal shard itself was an obscure MacGuffin. Streams of Silver doesn't have this flimsy device and has the potential to tell a deeper story.

Catti-brie was left behind. We have an all boys club. What a coincidence, as the book was written for young, white, male nerds of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The possibility of a strong female presence seems remote. And, the two females we do encounter in Streams of Silver up to this point (three chapters) are: an aggressive prostitute at The Cutlass tavern and: Whisper, whom Bruenor strikes in the face because he is unwilling to give up (more) money. These female characterizations are startling. I understand the book is thirty-years-old and we can claim how "it was a different time" (see above about young, white males). The vicious helmet-to-the-face of Whisper borders on despicable. It is a shame that a chance at being progressive was missed here. A medieval tavern may offer a place for men and ladies of the night to ply their trade. Forgotten Realms story telling does not need this; then or now. I suppose we could have the same discussion about the Song of Ice and Fire series.

I am going to keep reading. The strength of Drizzt as a character is very compelling despite the flaws of the book. I do not think 'the real' Bruenor would have initiated an attack as described in chapter three. He has a daughter (kinda).