Cover of The Crystal Shard

The Crystal Shard

by R. A. Salvatore · first published 1988

3mentions
1recommended by
3HN commenters
2020–2025first – last mentioned

33% recommend67% neutral

Isolated in the barren stretches of Icewind Dale the villages of Ten-Towns come under attack by a tribe of barbarians. In the midst of battle a young barbarian named Wulfgar ends up owing five years of his life to a grizzled dwarf. With the help of Drizzt, a renegade dark elf, the dwarf strives to mold the barbarian into a warrior with both brawn and brains. Meanwhile, there is no peace for the people of Ten-Towns. The fractioned tribes of barbarians continue to pose a threat, and Wulfgar may be the only person who can avert a deadly battle. But an even more dire menace appears when a weak-

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Mentions per year

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What Hacker News says

  • noddingham · Mar 31, 2020 · Recommends

    I started reading R.A Salvatore's Forgotten Realms books when I was around 12 or 13, starting with the Crystal Shard and eventually working my way through the next dozen or so as they came out. Growing up in rural Texas, I perceived themes related to stoicism, equality, and racism, that, while probably not intended…

    on “Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life?” ↗
  • TZubiri · Jun 20, 2024 · Mentions

    …them up, let's see what amazing arguments they offer for "not talking about AI" " "III. We've Already Seen Extensive Gains From-" When I was younger, I read R.A Salvatore's classic fantasy novel, The Crystal Shard. There is a scene in it where the young protagonist, Wulfgar, challenges a barbarian chieftain.... " Just at a glance, we have business people on one side talking about income and how to increase it.…

    on “Please don't mention AI again” ↗
  • …Telemetry" and "System Collapse" by Martha Wells - "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson (I was surprisingly into it) - "Glass Houses" by Madeline Ashby - "Cover Her Face" by P.D.James - "The Crystal Shard" by R.A.Salvatore (I needed to see what Drizzt is all about) - "James" by Percival Everett (maybe my biggest disappointment of the year) - "Alien Clay" by Adrian Tchaikovsky - "Some Desperate Glory"…

    on “Ask HN: What did you read in 2025?” ↗

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