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The Ancient

R. A. Salvatore

Tor Fantasy

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Searching for his long-lost father, Bransen Garibond is tricked into journeying across the Gulf of Corona to the wild lands of Vanguard, where he is pressed into service in a desperate war against the brutal Samhaist, Ancient Badden.

On an Alpinadoran lake, just below his magical ice castle, several societies, caught in the web of their own conflicts, are oblivious to Ancient Badden's devastating plans to destroy them.

Bransen becomes the link between the wars, and if he fails, all who live on the lake will perish, and all of northern Honce will fall under the shadow of the merciless and vengeful Samhaists.

The Ancient is part of the Saga of the First King, a four-book series that chronicles the early days of Corona, the same world as Salvatore’s bestselling DemonWars saga.

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Prelude
He walked across the windblown ice of the glacier known as Cold’rin, its frozen surface not causing him the slightest discomfort, not even in his feet, though he wore open-toed sandals.
He was Badden, Ancient Badden, leader of the Samhaists, who knew the magic of the world more intimately than any others in the world. Badden was the greatest of them; no creature alive was more connected to those magics than this man. So while he stood upon hundreds of feet of solid ice, he felt, too, the earth below that freeze, where the hot springs ran.

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Author Interview with R.A. Salvatore on his book, The Ancient

Author R.A. Salvatore discusses his fantasy novel, The Ancient.

R.A. Salvatore on writing fantasy

"Hear R. A. Salvatore talk about writing within the fantasy genre. New York Times bestselling author Salvatore is the author of The Bear, The Dame, The Ancient, and The Highwayman as well as Gauntlgrym, The Legend of Drizzt books, including the Dark Elf Trilogy—Homeland, Exile, and Sojourn— and the Demon Wars series, among many others. Find fantasy novels by author R.A. Salvatore at http://us.macmillan.com/author/rasalvatore"

Reviews

Praise for The Ancient

Praise for The Ancient:

"Salvatore, a prolific and increasingly polished creator of fantasy sagas, launches the Saga of the First King with one of his strongest books to date."--Booklist

“Salvatore excels in world-building and creating complex, introspective characters who triumph through wit and determination as well as skill in open combat.”
--Library Journal on R. A. Salvatore

"Bob Salvatore always makes the most fantastic seem real. His heroes become friends we care about, and his foes fascinate."
--Ed Greenwood on R. A. Salvatore

Reviews from Goodreads

Wyatt rated it

Apr 27, 2012

Still about the Highwayman saving the day. There are some really embarrasing scenes and some that should not be said. Magic, trickery, swordplay, sex (doesn't need to be there), and comical parts. ...more

Jeremy rated it

Apr 9, 2012

I found this book to be better than the first one. ...more

Chy rated it

Nov 15, 2011

I did appreciate this one better the second time around because I remembered it was about plot and not the character growth of Bransen, the Highwayman. I mean, Salvatore tries to throw that in, but it's not what the book's about and I had been so hoping for that.

This time, I figured out that's pr... ...more

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About the Author

R. A. Salvatore

R. A. Salvatore is one of fantasy’s most popular authors, with his books frequently appearing on the New York Times bestseller list and more than 10 million copies of his books sold. He is the author of The Bear, The Dame, and The Highwayman as well as Gauntlgrym, The Legend of Drizzt books, including the Dark Elf Trilogy—Homeland, Exile, and Sojourn— and the Demon Wars series, among many others. Salvatore was born in Massachusetts, and earned a B.S. in communications and a B.A. in English from Fitchburg State College. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Diane, and their three children.

R. A. Salvatore