Chronicles of Ynis Aielle — (1990-2000) Publisher: The extraordinary beginning of an epic series brimming with the unbridled action, adventure, and imagination that have made the name R. A. Salvatore synonymous with the best in fantasy! Jeff “Del” DelGuidice was proud of his assignment to the research submarine The Unicorn. But his mission had barely begun when the vessel was sucked into a mysterious underseas void where time stood still, before propelling it forward, through the centuries. The crew surfaced in a strange, magical world changed forever by nuclear holocaust. Here a race of angelic beings had taken pity on the remnants of humankind, offering a chosen few a precious second chance. Thus the Isle of Hope was raised from the poisoned seas and set like a jewel in Earth’s ravaged crown. But the jewel had a flaw, a dark vein of evil. For a sinister expert of the mystical arts had embraced the forbidden third magic, the most deadly sorcery of all. Only Del could defeat it — a hero sworn to peace and fated to wield the dazzling power of the fourth magic…

Spearwielder’s Tales — (1993-1995) Three novels in one volume: The Woods Out Back, The Dragon’s Dagger, Dragonslayer’s Return. From Publishers Weekly: Napping after a dreary day in his dead-end job, Gary Leger wakes to find he has been kidnapped into “the world of the Faerie.” Mickey McMickey, a leprechaun, has brought him to join the quest of Kelsey Gil-Ravadry, an elf who hopes that by following “the legends” he can repair a spear that belonged to an ancient king; the spear has great powers and is able to communicate with its possessor. Gary’s reluctance to go questing is overcome by Kelsey’s simple argument: help me or I’ll kill you. As the trio ventures forth to corral a dwarf blacksmith (to reforge the spear) and a dragon (to supply the fire needed), they find themselves thwarted by the evil sorceress Ceridwen, who sends trolls and goblins to attack them, among other impediments. In this story, which initiates the Spearwielder’s Tale series, Salvatore ( The Legacy ) does not adequately explain for what purposes Kelsey wants the spear or why Ceridwen opposes him. Also, it is discouraging to see Gary working for cooperation among various male creatures — human, elf, leprechaun, dwarf and giant — while the tale offers few female characters, all unappealing and all of whom endanger the quest.

Trilogy                                                                                          Omnibus:
          

The Crimson Shadow — (1995-1996) All three novels in one volume: The Sword of Bedwyr, Luthien’s Gamble, The Dragon King. Available for download at Audible.com. From Publisher’s Weekly: Bestselling Salvatore returns with a pleasant fantasy novel, notable mainly for its attention to detail. Salvatore describes and choreographs battle scenes better than any other contemporary fantasist, as this first tale of the adventures of Luthien Bedwyr amply demonstrates. The naive Luthien plunges into a series of events, beginning with a self-imposed exile from his father’s kingdom of Bedwyr, which has fallen “under the iron rule of King Greensparrow of Avon,” that test his mettle and increase the political stakes for which he must fight. As Salvatore carefully and exquisitely builds his narrative, Luthien, along with the charming Oliver de Burrows — self-described thief with the obligatory heart of gold — finds his actions becoming more consequential, especially in his Robin Hood-like guise as the “Crimson Shadow.” The tale is satisfactorily resolved, but with enough matters left hanging to suggest that readers looking forward to a sequel may well be rewarded.

Trilogy:                                                                                           Omnibus:
          

The DemonWars Saga — (1997-2004) Set in the world of Corona. Publisher: Bestselling author R. A. Salvatore creates an astonishing new world for readers to explore — and an intrepid hero to lead the way: Elbryan Wynden, who must confront the dark tides of destiny in his epic search for justice and peace … A great evil has awakened in the land of Corona, a terrible demon determined to spread death and misery. His goblin armies and fearsome giants ravage the settlements of the frontier, and in the small village of Dundallis their merciless attack leaves behind two shattered orphans: Pony and her lifelong friend, the youth Elbryan. Taken in by elves, Elbryan is raised to become a formidable ranger — a fateful role that will lead him into harrowing confrontation. Meanwhile, on a far-off island, a shower of gemstones will fall onto the black sand shores. These heaven-sent stones carry within them an incredible power — the key to all that is good in the world and all that is evil, and it is up to one young monk to liberate them from the corrupt monastery that harvests them. Pray that they don’t fall into the wrong, clawed hands …

Saga of the First King — (2004-2010) Set in the world of Corona, a prequel to The Demonwars Saga. Publisher: Long ago, in a distant land, a lonely young man struggles to discover who he is and where he belongs. He carries the blood and magic of two peoples, a sword of unimaginable power, and the staggering potential for great good… or greater evil. R.A. Salvatore takes his readers back to his signature world of Corona, where he introduces a fascinating new hero destined to become a fantasy legend. It is God’s Year 54, many years before the DemonWars in the land of Corona. The roads are unsafe to travel, where goblins and bloodthirsty Powries search out human prey. In this savage world, Princes feast while peasants starve, and two religions struggle fiercely for control. Bran Dynard, a monk of the fledgling religion of Abelle, returns from his mission in a far off land with two prizes: A book of mystical knowledge, and a new wife, the beautiful and mysterious Sen Wi. But the world he left behind has changed, and his dream of spreading the powerful wisdom he learned to his fellow monks is soon crushed. Forced to hide Sen Wi and his precious book, Bran must decide whom he can trust, and where he should now place his faith. Twenty years later,the situation has grown darker and more desperate. The land is devastated by war, and even the rich and powerful live in fear. Only the masked Highwayman travels freely, his sword casting aside Powries and soldiers with equal ease. The people long for a savior, but is the Highwayman on a mission of mercy… or vengence?

Forgotten Realms: Legend of Drizzt: The Icewind Dale — (1988-1990) by R.A. Salvatore. Publisher: Icewind Dale. Windswept passes and forbidding glaciers stand at the top of the world. Below them, in the cold valleys, an evil force broods: the magic of Crenshinibon, the crystal shard. Now dwarf, barbarian, and drow elf join to battle this evil. Tempered in the furnace of struggle, they form an unbreakable friendship. A legend is born. Here is New York Times bestselling author R.A. Salvatore’s adventure that introduced Drizzt Do’Urden, the heroic dark elf, one of the most beloved characters in fantasy literature.

Forgotten Realms: Legend of Drizzt: The Dark Elf — (1990-1991) By R.A. Salvatore. Publisher: Drizzt the Dark Elf finds adventure, peril, and awesome magical power as he confronts the underground civilization of the evil race of Drow elves.

Forgotten Realms: Legend of Drizzt: Legacy of the Drow — (1992-1996) by R.A. Salvatore. The Legacy, Starless Night, Siege of Darkness, Passage to Dawn. Publisher: The adventure begins in seeming serenity as we find Drizzt Do’Urden enjoying a rare state of peace. But he did not arrive at this station without leaving powerful enemies in his wake. Lolth, the dreaded Spider Queen deity of the evil Dark Elves, counts herself among these enemies and has vowed to end the drow’s idyllic days.

Forgotten Realms: Legend of Drizzt: Paths of Darkness — (1998-2001) by R.A. Salvatore.The Silent Blade, The Spine of the World, Sea of Swords Publisher: These titles continue the tale of Salvatore’s signature character Drizzt Do’Urden™, one of the most well known figures in the Forgotten Realms setting.

Forgotten Realms: Legend of Drizzt: The Hunter’s Blades — (2002-2004) by R.A. Salvatore. Publisher: Drizzt at his scimitar-slashing best! When Drizzt believes that his friends have been killed, trampled under the feet of a rampaging horde of orcs, the Hunter takes over and the already dangerous dark elf goes feral. Alone in the wilderness against an enemy that outnumbers him thousands to one, the lone drow is the most dangerous being in the unforgiving mountains of the frigid North. But is he as dangerous to himself, as he is to the orcs in his sights?

Forgotten Realms: Legend of Drizzt: Neverwinter — (2010-2012) by R.A. Salvatore. Publisher: Drizzt joins Bruenor on his quest for the fabled dwarven kingdom of Gauntlgrym: ruins said to be rich with ancient treasure and arcane lore. But before they even get close, another drow and dwarf pair stumbles across it first: Jarlaxle and Athrogate.  In their search for treasure and magic, Jarlaxle and Athrogate inadvertently set into motion a catastrophe that could spell disaster for the unsuspecting people of the city of Neverwinter — a catastrophe big enough to lure even the mercenary Jarlaxle into risking his own coin and skin to stop it. Unfortunately, the more they uncover about the secret of Gauntlgrym, the more it looks like they can’t stop it on their own. They’ll need help, and from the last people they ever thought to fight alongside again: Drizzt and Bruenor.

Forgotten Realms: Legend of Drizzt: The Sundering — (2013- ) by R.A. Salvatore. Publisher: This latest installment in New York Times best-selling author R.A. Salvatore’s beloved fantasy saga, The Companions moves Salvatore’s signature hero Drizzt into a new era of the Forgotten Realms. As Drizzt’s fate hangs in the balance, he reflects on the lives of the trusted allies who stood by his side throughout his early life — the friends now known as the Companions of the Hall. Meanwhile, the first stirrings of the Sundering begin.

Forgotten Realms: The Cleric Quintet — (1991-1994) by R.A. Salvatore. This is a separate Forgotten Realms series, but some of the characters from Drizzt appear. An omnibus edition contains Canticle, In Sylvan Shadows, Night Masks, The Fallen Fortress, The Chaos Curse. Publisher: The Cleric Quintet Collector’s Edition tells the tale of the scholar-priest Cadderly, who is plucked from the halls of the Edificant Library to fulfill a heroic quest across the land of Faerûn.

War of the Spider Queen — (2002-2006) by Richard Lee Byers, Thomas M. Reid, Richard Baker, Lisa Smedman, Philip Athans, Paul S. Kemp, R. A. Salvatore (editor). Publisher: While their whole world is changing around them, four dark elves struggle against different enemies. Yet their paths will lead them all to the most terrifying discovery in the long history of the drow, and set them on a quest to save not only Menzoberranzan but the entire dark elf race from Dissolution. The War of the Spider Queen begins here. The first novel in an epic six-part series from the fertile imaginations of R.A. Salvatore and a select group of the newest, most exciting authors in the genre. Join them as they peel back the surface of the richest fantasy world ever created, to show the dark heart beneath.

The Best of the Realms — (2003-2009) Favorite Forgotten Realms stories. By R.A. Salvatore, Ed Greenwood, Elaine Cunningham.