The Summoning: Return of the Archwizards, Book I

This book is very enjoyable. Melegaunt is the best-handled character I've seen in recent fiction. Evidently readers pestered Denning for more of Melegaunt, and for good reason! The rest of the characters were bland and competently handled. Melegaunt really stole the show here! Worth reading for him alone.

I really enjoyed this series. This first book describes how the main character accidently sets an extremely powerful race of evil free and then tries to right his wrong. I disagree adamantly with a previous reviewer who claims that this series portrays the elves as human sex toys. There is some interplay there, but unless you have some serious hangups it is a non-issue.The action in this book is great, as is the character development around Galaron. There isn't as much development of the supporting cast but they are just that, a supporting cast. What I really liked was the interaction between the humans and elves concerning magic. I've always been curious about the elvish high magic and them being a part of the weave, yet Mystra's chosen are all humans. This doesn't explain that but at least we get to see humans and elves interacting in a large, world-changing way, not just in a 5-person band of adventurers or something.The phaerrim (evil race) are awesome too. They were banished thousands of years ago and can basically think of spells to use them (no chanting, hand movements). Since they feed off of magic they want Evereska's mythal for their own. Of course the shadow mage that was released in the beginning along with the phaerrim is just one person in an entire city dating from ancient Netheril. This sets up a gigantic series of events between three very powerful forces: Evereskan elves+Mystra's Chosen; the Phaerrim; the shadow mages. Book two really kicks off this war.

Everyone being overly critical of thsi book is wrong..Read my review of the 2nd book of this series for some good info..So many bad books out there (ex: BG Books novels, a lot of the harpers series etc..), but this one is great. Very Good characters, the evil ones are REALLY evil, not cartoonish (the Phaerimm are unbeliviably powerful Mages, alien like Mind Flayers who use humans and all others like cattle.)The Shadovar are complex, very, very cool as the only survivors of ancient Netheril, and they're back to the FR.Frankly, it was dumb to say that all of Netheril was destroyed, considering all the poweer rthey commanded as ArchWizards; now, with Shar the Goddess with her own source of magic, these Shadovars are NOT steretypical villains, but ruthless opportunists; they can do good, as well as evil.One last thing, I still tingle when the elf mage DRAWS the City back to the Prime from the Plane of Shadow; very well done, very, very cool. BUY This one, they are rare when they are this good (Only early Drizz'zt and Ten-towns novels compare..)

With a great start so far, the Return of the Archwizards trilogy is looking to become a must have for Realms fans.The Summoning not only details the beginning of a very important event (right up there with the Time of Troubles) in the Realms, but also shows that the new 3e D & D rules can be translated into a very fun story. Before, authors tended to stray from the D & D game rules when writing a novel. But so far it looks like Denning is having some fun implementing 3e concepts into the story without actually harming the story. When it comes down to it, it is a fantasy novel. But for those that play the 3e game can appreciate the fact that some of the rules and details from their rule books are finding their way into the stories without sticking out like a sore thumb.It's a fun read with appearances by some popular Realms' figures and some very entertaining spell battles (Khelben gets to have some fun) and I look forward to the next volumes in the trilogy as well as the anthology, Realms of Shadow.

The Phaerimm are brought out from imprisonment, Elmenster is brought into imprisonment, Khelben Blackstaff gets a hole blown out of His chest, Mind Flayers, Eye Tyrants and Bugbears are manipulated into helping the Phaerimm destroy Faerun (Or at least try to), Shadow Magic is explained (And the evil gods want to learn it's secrets..), Liches do battle, undead knights are avenged, a stone giant that has a soft spot and an elf that sleeps like a human...Troy Denning went above and beyond in this book. A pity the next one wont be out until Dec. 2001. Until then, check in on ol' Elminster and his battle/imprisonment in the 9 hells comming out in aug. 2001.