Title : Homeland
Author : R.S. Salvatore
Reading Dates : 25 Dec - 10 Jan 2010Book Summary of Homeland.
Drizzt Do'Urden is the youngest child of Matron Malice of House Do'Urden in Menzoberranzan. As the third son, Drizzt would have been sacrificed to Lolth the Spider Queen if by happenstance his older brother Dinin had not taken an opportunity to assassinate the oldest son Nalfein. Thus, Drizzt is spared and given into the care of his second sister Vierna for the first ten years of his life to be indoctrinated with the precepts of drow society, that of the inferiority of the male to the female. This is followed by another 6 years of service as a servant to the family before he is handed over to Zaknafein, Drizzt's father and weapons master of House Do'Urdern, to be trained as a fighter for another 5 years.
Drizzt is next sent to Melee-Magthere, the school of fighters. Drizzt proves his prowess as a fighter there as he wins the yearly grand melee 9 out of 10 times, losing only in the first year due to treachery. In his last year there Drizzt also meets the magical panther Guenhwyvar, owned by the wizard Masoj Hun'ett, whom he admires for its strength and dignity. His friendship with Guenhwyvar deepends during the time they spent together as part of the mandatory patrol forces which guards the boundaries of Menzoberranzan.
At the same time, Drizzt's disillusionment with his fellow dark elves grows with the realization that their sole motive is to promote themselves and their houses in endless intrigues and wars. Drizzt finally makes the decision to leave his homeland when Masoj attempts to use Guenhwyvar to assassinate Drizzt in the opening salvo of House Hun'ett's war against House Do'Urden. With Guenhwyvar's help, Drizzt not only escapes Masoj's trap but kills Masoj and his fellow wizard, Altor DeVir. When Drizzt returns to House Do'Urden in order to get his father to join him, he finds out that his mother has sacrificed Zaknafein to regain the favor of Lolth. Thus, Drizzt is forced to flee his home with Guenhwyvar into the dangerous Underdark.
Book Review of Homeland.Drizzt is next sent to Melee-Magthere, the school of fighters. Drizzt proves his prowess as a fighter there as he wins the yearly grand melee 9 out of 10 times, losing only in the first year due to treachery. In his last year there Drizzt also meets the magical panther Guenhwyvar, owned by the wizard Masoj Hun'ett, whom he admires for its strength and dignity. His friendship with Guenhwyvar deepends during the time they spent together as part of the mandatory patrol forces which guards the boundaries of Menzoberranzan.
At the same time, Drizzt's disillusionment with his fellow dark elves grows with the realization that their sole motive is to promote themselves and their houses in endless intrigues and wars. Drizzt finally makes the decision to leave his homeland when Masoj attempts to use Guenhwyvar to assassinate Drizzt in the opening salvo of House Hun'ett's war against House Do'Urden. With Guenhwyvar's help, Drizzt not only escapes Masoj's trap but kills Masoj and his fellow wizard, Altor DeVir. When Drizzt returns to House Do'Urden in order to get his father to join him, he finds out that his mother has sacrificed Zaknafein to regain the favor of Lolth. Thus, Drizzt is forced to flee his home with Guenhwyvar into the dangerous Underdark.
Rereading Homeland has taught me some memories are better left alone. The story of the dark elf, Drizzt used to be one of my favourite reads especially the introduction to Drizzt's past and how he first met Guenhwyvvar. This time round however, nothing much seems to be happening. Drizzt's journey from innocent child to an extraordinary warrior is hardly surprising with the early demonstration of his natural talents. Even his nearly single handed combat fights, first against an earth elemental and later on against 2 wizards, which are meant to be a superb show of his prowess are hardly exciting stuff. Ho-hum. Let's hope the next book in the Drizzt saga, Exile, fares better.
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