Order of R. A. Salvatore Books

If fantasy literature had a pantheon of legendary scribes, R.A. Salvatore would sit comfortably among the high gods—his quill forever dripping with drow blood and ancient magic. Born Robert Anthony Salvatore on January 20, 1959, in Leominster, Massachusetts, Salvatore didn’t just stumble into the Forgotten Realms—he carved a legacy through it with a scimitar in each hand. A master of swordplay on the page and philosophy in theme, he’s the creator behind one of fantasy’s most iconic antiheroes: Drizzt Do’Urden, the dark elf with a conscience sharp enough to slice through centuries of tradition.

Humble Beginnings and a Shift Toward Magic

Salvatore’s early life could have easily gone in a different direction. Raised in a bustling Italian-American household—the youngest of seven children—he didn’t initially pursue writing. In fact, his first academic passion was computers. But like many epic heroes, Salvatore underwent a fateful transformation.

It was during a brutal Massachusetts winter in 1977, while attending Fitchburg State College, that he received a copy of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings as a Christmas gift. That single act of literary kindness turned his world upside down. He devoured Tolkien’s mythos, and with it, decided to change his major from computer science to journalism—eventually earning a Bachelor of Science in Communications/Media from Fitchburg in 1981, along with a minor in English. From there, he began weaving worlds rather than coding them.

Breaking In: From Paper Piles to Dungeons Deep

R.A. Salvatore’s literary career began not with a bang but with a pile of rejection letters. His first novel, Echoes of the Fourth Magic, was written in 1982 but would not see publication until years later. His breakthrough came in 1987 when TSR, the publisher of Dungeons & Dragons, took a chance on his manuscript for The Crystal Shard—a novel he wrote in under two months. But here’s the twist: Drizzt Do’Urden wasn’t even meant to be the main character. He was a last-minute addition, an afterthought—a sidekick, even. And yet, readers connected with the dual-wielding drow like lightning striking a dry tree.

What followed was literary alchemy. Salvatore became a dominant force in fantasy literature, penning dozens of novels set in the Forgotten Realms and other realms like Corona and Star Wars’ Expanded Universe. His books, which have sold over 30 million copies worldwide, are known for their fast-paced combat scenes, deeply philosophical musings, and moral complexity—especially in the character of Drizzt, who constantly questions identity, race, violence, and honor.

The Craft and the Controversy

Salvatore is renowned for choreographing some of the most compelling fight scenes in fantasy literature—scenes that read like symphonies of blades. His writing style is cinematic, his pacing kinetic, and his themes quietly rebellious. He doesn’t just entertain; he challenges, poking at societal norms through the lens of dark elves and demon wars.

But even in fantasy, reality creeps in. In 2002, Salvatore made headlines for killing off Chewbacca in Vector Prime, a Star Wars: The New Jedi Order novel. The backlash was so intense that he received death threats. Ironically, he didn’t want to write that death scene—but the decision came from Lucasfilm. He simply wielded the blade.

Legacy of a Wordsmith-Warrior

Today, R.A. Salvatore is more than just a bestselling author; he’s a cultural force within the fantasy genre. He’s also returned to his alma mater, Fitchburg State, as a creative writing teacher and commencement speaker, encouraging young writers to chase the same fire that once ignited his passion.

He lives in Massachusetts with his wife Diane, and they have three children. Despite decades in the literary trenches, Salvatore still writes like a man possessed—whether continuing the saga of Drizzt or delving into new fantasy realms. His influence is everywhere: in RPGs, gaming forums, literature courses, and cosplay conventions. The name R.A. Salvatore has become synonymous with morally gray heroes, edge-of-your-seat action, and rich, immersive world-building.

And the Story’s Not Over...

R.A. Salvatore isn’t done yet. With each new book, he invites readers to question what it truly means to be “good,” to explore loyalty in treacherous lands, and to embrace the outcast within. Because if Drizzt has taught us anything, it’s this: destiny isn’t something you inherit. It’s something you carve out—blade by blade, word by word.