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i_read_whatSo there was a longer than expected break between recaps, primarily because work and NaNoWriMo kicked my ass. Well, work is still kicking my ass, but at least NaNo is done for now. So I can resume doing these recaps.
When we last left off, we had spent exactly one out of four chapters with any of our heroes and three out of four with our decidedly non-compelling villains. Chapter five at least starts us out back with the heroes. Even better, it starts us out with the best of the heroes: the dwarf Bruenor Battlehammer.
So even though we last left off with Drizzt and Bruenor going off together, we start out with Bruenor standing on a mountain alone. He apparently does this so often that the people of the Ten Towns has named this place "Bruenor's Climb".
We get a bit of backstory, and Bruenor's private angst. When he was an unbearded boy the dwarves lived at a place called Mithril Hall, but they had delved "too deep into the bowels of the world and had been driven out by the dark things in dark holes
I feel like that sentence really sums up the writing flaws of this book. There are descriptors that are truly evocative, like "bowels of the world", and then there are some real clunkers. You really couldn't think of something a little more meaningful than "dark things in dark holes", Mr. Salvatore?
Anyway, the dwarves settled instead in the valley between the two northernmost lakes before the Ten Towns even existed. The Ten Towns were good for the dwarves, since the people were happy to trade for the armor and weapons that the dwarves produced. Bruenor is still thinking about what was lost.
For the record, I find Bruenor's angst infinitely more compelling than most of the other characters in this series, at least from what I remember. Probably because, unlike the others, Bruenor has an actual goal.
So anyway, Bruenor is joined by Drizzt, who is a bit of a buzzkill, starting off with "You seek the sights that only your memory can see"
Who talks like that? Fucking elves, that's who.
Anyway, Bruenor insists that it's a sight he'll see again, and heartwarmingly, he says "We'll get there, elf." It's a nice little touch, showing that he sees Drizzt as one of his family and expects him to share in future dream.
Honestly, I'm not sure Drizzt deserves it, because he's a total buzzkill about it:
"In the few years that he and Bruenor had been friends, the dwarf had constantly badgered Drizzt about accompanying him on his adventure to find Mithril Hall. Drizzt thought the idea foolish, for no one that he had ever spoken with had even a clue as to the location of the ancient dwarven home, and Bruenor could only remember disjointed images of the silvery halls. Still, the drow was sensitive to his friend's deepest desire, and he always answered Bruenor's pleas with the promise of 'someday'".
Hmph. Actually to be fair to Drizzt, I suppose, it does sound like he at least asked people about it. But I'm team Bruenor! Go find the dwarven homeland!
So anyway, Drizzt is calling Bruenor's attention to more immediate concerns: the
impending charge of the Barbarians. We're not told exactly how Drizzt learned of this, just that he reported it earlier that day.
Drizzt and Bruenor discuss the towns: they're doomed if they won't stand together. Drizzt thinks they might if the dwarves come, but Bruenor refuses to bring the dwarves in unless the humans stand together. They also talk about Drizzt's reception in the towns, namely the only people who trust him are Regis and the dwarves.
Drizzt gets a speech: 'I do not know why I care,' Drizzt answered honestly. His eyes turned back to his ancient homeland, where loyalty was merely a device to gain an advantage over a common foe. 'Perhaps I care because I strive to be different from my people,' he said, as much to himself as to Bruenor.
'Perhaps I care because I am different from my people. I may be more akin to the races of the surface . . . that is my hope at least. I care because I have to care about something. You are not so different, Bruenor Battlehammer. We care lest our own lives be empty.'
Ugh. I don't dislike Drizzt. But god, his speaking style irritates me. There's something so dramatically ponderous about it. Like you can just hear the deep breath he takes before each statement.
Anyway, Bruenor denies he has any feelings about the Ten-Towns, except for valuing the trade. Drizzt pulls an "as you know, Bob" to give us information that Bruenor already knows:
"'Stubborn,' Drizzt mumbled, smiling knowingly. 'And Catti-brie?' he pressed. 'What of the human girl who was orphaned in the raid those years ago on Termalaine? The waif that you took in and raised as your own child.' Bruenor was glad that the cover of night offered some protection from his revealing blush. 'She lives with you still, though even you would have to admit that she is able to go back to her own kind. Might it be, perhaps, that you care for her, gruff dwarf?'"
Bruenor dismisses that, calling Catti-brie a "servin' wench" who "makes [his] life a bit easier". And Drizzt brings himself up, and Bruenor doesn't really have an answer for that because Drizzt is useless. I'm kidding of course, but Drizzt's point is made and he chooses not to press further.
So anyway, Drizzt intends to warn the town at the next council meeting, and he intends to prepare Regis to help him. Bruenor's skeptical about this, though Drizzt thinks Regis's stone will be of some assistance. We get another bit of dialogue which, to give credit where it's due, rather nicely gives us the information that Bruenor, and presumably all dwarves, is not affected by the gem, while Drizzt can sense its magical properties without being "as you know, Bob" about it.
They then start discussing which towns/councilmen are most likely to agree (Easthaven, Lonelywood), and which ones will make trouble (Kemp of Targos, Konig, Dineval...not sure if they're towns or people) and whether or not Regis's jewel will help. We learn also that Regis told them it was a gift, but both Drizzt and Bruenor are a little skeptical about that.
I notice that neither character is concerned about the ethical ramifications of using a mind-influencing gem. Bruenor's protests are mostly because he doesn't believe it's possible. Drizzt is all for it, which I find really interesting because what I mostly remember about Drizzt in these books is a LOT of pontificating morality. I wonder if this is just because Mr. Salvatore is still feeling out the characters, or perhaps Drizzt has more grey to him than I remember. I guess we'll find out.
Credit where it's due, while the villains are not particularly interesting, he has managed to imbue each of the heroes so far with particularly distinctive voices. Even if Drizzt's annoys me.
When we last left off, we had spent exactly one out of four chapters with any of our heroes and three out of four with our decidedly non-compelling villains. Chapter five at least starts us out back with the heroes. Even better, it starts us out with the best of the heroes: the dwarf Bruenor Battlehammer.
So even though we last left off with Drizzt and Bruenor going off together, we start out with Bruenor standing on a mountain alone. He apparently does this so often that the people of the Ten Towns has named this place "Bruenor's Climb".
We get a bit of backstory, and Bruenor's private angst. When he was an unbearded boy the dwarves lived at a place called Mithril Hall, but they had delved "too deep into the bowels of the world and had been driven out by the dark things in dark holes
I feel like that sentence really sums up the writing flaws of this book. There are descriptors that are truly evocative, like "bowels of the world", and then there are some real clunkers. You really couldn't think of something a little more meaningful than "dark things in dark holes", Mr. Salvatore?
Anyway, the dwarves settled instead in the valley between the two northernmost lakes before the Ten Towns even existed. The Ten Towns were good for the dwarves, since the people were happy to trade for the armor and weapons that the dwarves produced. Bruenor is still thinking about what was lost.
For the record, I find Bruenor's angst infinitely more compelling than most of the other characters in this series, at least from what I remember. Probably because, unlike the others, Bruenor has an actual goal.
So anyway, Bruenor is joined by Drizzt, who is a bit of a buzzkill, starting off with "You seek the sights that only your memory can see"
Who talks like that? Fucking elves, that's who.
Anyway, Bruenor insists that it's a sight he'll see again, and heartwarmingly, he says "We'll get there, elf." It's a nice little touch, showing that he sees Drizzt as one of his family and expects him to share in future dream.
Honestly, I'm not sure Drizzt deserves it, because he's a total buzzkill about it:
"In the few years that he and Bruenor had been friends, the dwarf had constantly badgered Drizzt about accompanying him on his adventure to find Mithril Hall. Drizzt thought the idea foolish, for no one that he had ever spoken with had even a clue as to the location of the ancient dwarven home, and Bruenor could only remember disjointed images of the silvery halls. Still, the drow was sensitive to his friend's deepest desire, and he always answered Bruenor's pleas with the promise of 'someday'".
Hmph. Actually to be fair to Drizzt, I suppose, it does sound like he at least asked people about it. But I'm team Bruenor! Go find the dwarven homeland!
So anyway, Drizzt is calling Bruenor's attention to more immediate concerns: the
impending charge of the Barbarians. We're not told exactly how Drizzt learned of this, just that he reported it earlier that day.
Drizzt and Bruenor discuss the towns: they're doomed if they won't stand together. Drizzt thinks they might if the dwarves come, but Bruenor refuses to bring the dwarves in unless the humans stand together. They also talk about Drizzt's reception in the towns, namely the only people who trust him are Regis and the dwarves.
Drizzt gets a speech: 'I do not know why I care,' Drizzt answered honestly. His eyes turned back to his ancient homeland, where loyalty was merely a device to gain an advantage over a common foe. 'Perhaps I care because I strive to be different from my people,' he said, as much to himself as to Bruenor.
'Perhaps I care because I am different from my people. I may be more akin to the races of the surface . . . that is my hope at least. I care because I have to care about something. You are not so different, Bruenor Battlehammer. We care lest our own lives be empty.'
Ugh. I don't dislike Drizzt. But god, his speaking style irritates me. There's something so dramatically ponderous about it. Like you can just hear the deep breath he takes before each statement.
Anyway, Bruenor denies he has any feelings about the Ten-Towns, except for valuing the trade. Drizzt pulls an "as you know, Bob" to give us information that Bruenor already knows:
"'Stubborn,' Drizzt mumbled, smiling knowingly. 'And Catti-brie?' he pressed. 'What of the human girl who was orphaned in the raid those years ago on Termalaine? The waif that you took in and raised as your own child.' Bruenor was glad that the cover of night offered some protection from his revealing blush. 'She lives with you still, though even you would have to admit that she is able to go back to her own kind. Might it be, perhaps, that you care for her, gruff dwarf?'"
Bruenor dismisses that, calling Catti-brie a "servin' wench" who "makes [his] life a bit easier". And Drizzt brings himself up, and Bruenor doesn't really have an answer for that because Drizzt is useless. I'm kidding of course, but Drizzt's point is made and he chooses not to press further.
So anyway, Drizzt intends to warn the town at the next council meeting, and he intends to prepare Regis to help him. Bruenor's skeptical about this, though Drizzt thinks Regis's stone will be of some assistance. We get another bit of dialogue which, to give credit where it's due, rather nicely gives us the information that Bruenor, and presumably all dwarves, is not affected by the gem, while Drizzt can sense its magical properties without being "as you know, Bob" about it.
They then start discussing which towns/councilmen are most likely to agree (Easthaven, Lonelywood), and which ones will make trouble (Kemp of Targos, Konig, Dineval...not sure if they're towns or people) and whether or not Regis's jewel will help. We learn also that Regis told them it was a gift, but both Drizzt and Bruenor are a little skeptical about that.
I notice that neither character is concerned about the ethical ramifications of using a mind-influencing gem. Bruenor's protests are mostly because he doesn't believe it's possible. Drizzt is all for it, which I find really interesting because what I mostly remember about Drizzt in these books is a LOT of pontificating morality. I wonder if this is just because Mr. Salvatore is still feeling out the characters, or perhaps Drizzt has more grey to him than I remember. I guess we'll find out.
Credit where it's due, while the villains are not particularly interesting, he has managed to imbue each of the heroes so far with particularly distinctive voices. Even if Drizzt's annoys me.