There exists a particular sort of reader—and we suspect you stand among them—who has wandered the Underdark with a certain dark elf, felt the bite of Icewind Dale’s frigid breath, and knows that the finest adventures are those shared with companions of extraordinary courage. If you have followed Drizzt Do’Urden through his many battles and found yourself bereft upon turning the final page, take heart. We have gathered here a collection of tales most likely to rekindle that same fire in your imagination.
Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Ah, but here is a fellowship to rival any in the realms of fancy! The Dragonlance Chronicles transports us to Krynn, where dragons have returned to wage terrible war, and a band of friends—Tanis Half-Elf, Sturm the steadfast knight, Raistlin the enigmatic mage with his hourglass eyes—must become the heroes their world desperately requires.
Published in that fateful year of 1984, this trilogy sprang from the same tabletop traditions that gave us Drizzt himself. The camaraderie between these companions, their banter and sacrifice, shall remind you why you fell in love with Salvatore’s heroes. There is magic here, and betrayal, and that rarest of treasures: characters who feel like old friends.
The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks
We must warn you, gentle reader, that this path leads through darker territories than the Underdark itself. Brent Weeks introduces us to Azoth, a boy surviving in the cruellest slums imaginable, who apprentices himself to Durzo Blint—an assassin of legendary and terrifying repute.
What emerges is a tale of transformation most compelling. Azoth becomes Kylar Stern, and in doing so discovers that the line between shadow and light is far more complicated than he ever imagined. The action here is swift and merciless, the magic system intriguing, and the themes of redemption shall resonate deeply with anyone who has cheered for Drizzt’s own moral struggles against his heritage.
The Erevis Cale Trilogy by Paul S. Kemp
Now we venture into the very same Forgotten Realms you know so well, yet we view them through different eyes—those of Erevis Cale, a butler who harbours the deadliest of secrets. He is an assassin in service to the shadow god Mask, a man caught between two masters and two lives.
Paul S. Kemp crafts one of the most compelling character studies we have encountered in these realms. Cale’s struggle with his divided nature, aided by Jak the halfling and the morally complex Riven, offers that same rich character development Salvatore handles so masterfully. The shadows here are thick, the action relentless, and the philosophical underpinnings surprisingly profound.
The Elminster Saga by Ed Greenwood
One cannot speak of the Forgotten Realms without acknowledging its very creator, Ed Greenwood, and his most famous character. Elminster began as a shepherd boy whose village was destroyed by cruel magelords. Rather than submit to despair, he embarked upon a journey that would transform him into the most legendary wizard Faerûn has ever known.
These novels span centuries of history and reveal the deeper workings of the world Drizzt inhabits. If you have ever wondered about the forces that shaped the Realms, the gods who meddle in mortal affairs, or simply wished to spend time with a magnificently clever wizard, Elminster awaits your acquaintance.
The Finder’s Stone Trilogy by Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb
We hold particular affection for Azure Bonds, the opening volume of this trilogy, which presents us with Alias—a warrior who awakens bearing mysterious magical tattoos and possessing no memory of how she acquired them. Her companions include a halfling bard and a silent, noble saurial named Dragonbait.
Published in 1988, this series captures that same spirit of adventure and mystery that permeates Salvatore’s finest work. The quest to uncover Alias’s origins unfolds with delightful twists, and the bonds forged between these unlikely companions remind us that true friendship transcends all boundaries of species or circumstance.
Brimstone Angels by Erin M. Evans
Here we find twin tiefling sisters, Farideh and Havilar, whose horns and tails mark them as descendants of something infernal, raised by a dragonborn father in isolation. When Farideh makes a pact with a devil named Lorcan, their quiet life shatters most dramatically.
Erin M. Evans has crafted characters of remarkable depth—Farideh’s struggle with the seductive power offered by Lorcan, Havilar’s fierce protectiveness, and Mehen’s gruff devotion create a found family as compelling as Drizzt’s own companions. The moral complexity here is rich, exploring what it means to be judged by one’s appearance rather than one’s heart.
The Haunted Lands by Richard Lee Byers
Thay—that realm of Red Wizards and dark ambition—faces an existential threat when the lich Szass Tam unleashes armies of the undead against his former allies. Standing against this tide of death are Bareris Anskuld, a bard of surprising courage, and Aoth Fezim, a griffon-riding warmage.
Richard Lee Byers offers a different perspective on the Realms, one steeped in necromancy and political intrigue. The action proves relentless, the magical battles spectacular, and the examination of Thayan society fascinating for those who wish to explore corners of Faerûn that Drizzt’s adventures rarely touch.
The Summoner by Gail Z. Martin
Beyond the Forgotten Realms lies another land of magic and spirits, where Martris Drayke must flee after his half-brother murders their father and seizes the throne. Tris carries a secret: he possesses the power of a Summoner, able to communicate with and command the dead.
Gail Z. Martin weaves a tale of exile and return, of learning to master dangerous abilities while gathering loyal companions for the ultimate confrontation. The themes of found family, magical destiny, and righteous vengeance shall feel wonderfully familiar to those who have accompanied Drizzt on his own journey of self-discovery.
Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams
We save for this position a work that George R.R. Martin himself has credited as a primary influence—Tad Williams’s magnificent trilogy following Simon, a kitchen boy thrust into a world-shaking conflict involving ancient enemies and three legendary swords.
This series bridges the Tolkienesque tradition with modern fantasy, offering depth, complexity, and a scope that spans civilizations. Simon’s journey from the castle scullery into the wider world echoes something essential about the fantasy genre’s power to show us that greatness can emerge from the most unexpected origins.
The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
We conclude with a classic, for sometimes one must return to the wellspring. Terry Brooks’s tale of Shea Ohmsford, a young man of elven blood who must wield the only weapon capable of defeating the Warlock Lord, helped establish modern fantasy as we know it.
Published in 1977, this novel proved that the appetite for epic fantasy extended far beyond Tolkien’s own works. The quest structure, the fellowship of diverse companions, the struggle against overwhelming darkness—all elements that Salvatore would later master in his own way first found their post-Tolkien expression here.
Finding Your Next Great Adventure
We have presented these ten doorways into wonder, each offering something slightly different yet all sharing that ineffable quality that makes Salvatore’s work so beloved: the promise of adventure, the warmth of companionship, and the assurance that even in the darkest moments, courage and honour shall prevail.
Whether you choose to wander the war-torn lands of Krynn, train in the deadly arts of the Night Angels, or follow a kitchen boy to greatness, know that the adventure awaiting you is one worthy of the hours you shall invest. For that is the gift of fantasy at its finest—not mere escape, but expansion of the spirit.
