Realms of the Underdark

"Realms of the Underdark" is one of the "Realms" series of short story anthologies. This volume deals exclusively with the Underdark, the subterranean world of amongst things dark elves, Dwarfs and a unique ecology. The Underdark has been made famous by R.A. Salvatore's the hugely popular Dark elf series. Although R.A Salvatore doesn't actually contribute any stories in this anthology some of his characters do make appearances in several stories. Fans of R.A. Salvatore will enjoy this anthology since it fills in a lot of background details about the Underdark and how dangerous it really is. Fans might also notice the differing writing styles between R.A. Salvatore and the other authors but that shouldn't detract too much from the book. After finishing the book it leaves you wanting more... but in a good way.

Well.The book isn't bad. I've enjoyed reading most of the stories.But That's the bad part. They left you wanting more :)_ The stories are great, and, if you don't mind reading just short stories, buy it. I enjoyed the Liriel's story (Elaine Cunningham) the most of all.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the Drow stories, I was quite disappointed that there were only two (if not two, then only three), which was the reason I bought the book. Disappointed as I was, I still read the rest of the book for the heck of it and discovered that the only stories that were worth my time and money were the Drow ones. They're pretty good. One of them was about young Drizzt and Zaknafein (mostly about Zaknafein). The other one was about Liriel. Anyway...If you just want to read the GOOD stories, just read them in the store. Don't waste your money.

The Underdark -- a lightless world of fearsome monsters and evils too horrible to exist anywhere else. This is the world of the drow, one of the most evil and malicious races to taint the Material Plane; the svirfneblin, little deep gnomes who avoid the drow at all costs; and other denizens, most too unspeakably vile to name. But all these creatures are but pawns in the hands of greater powers: authors. Authors like Ed Greenwood, Elaine Cunningham, and Mark Anthony, among others. This book gives you a sample of what the Underdark has to offer and also whets your appetite for longer works the authors have written. Its only drawbacks are that the plots get kind of oppressive after awhile (the Underdark'll do that to you) and the fact that Mark Anthony didn't do justice to RA Salvatore's characters. Other than that, the book is definitely worth reading.