R.A. Salvatorewas born in Massachusetts in 1959. He is theNew York Times-bestselling author of more than forty novels, including the popular Forgotten Realms series, The Legend of Drizzt. His love affair with fantasy, and with literature in general, began during his sophomore year of college when he was given a copy of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings as a Christmas gift. He promptly changed his major from computer science to journalism.He began writing seriously in 1982, penning the manuscript that would becomeEchoes of the Fourth Magic. His first published novel was The Crystal Shard from TSR in 1988, and his novel The Silent Bladewon the Origins Award. He is still best known as the creator of dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden, one of fantasy's most beloved characters.