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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Retreater" data-source="post: 9604168" data-attributes="member: 42040">It's strange coming into it as a guy in his 40s in 2025. And I understand it was written for a different audience in a different time, but it feels uncomfortable. I guess in a different way than reading HP Lovecraft or Robert E Howard, because this is recent by comparison. I've only read the first two books, but the female characters are definitely lacking. It's also uncomfortable how often Drizzt is referred to as "black" and treated differently.[SPOILER="examples"]Like having wizards wanting to take a sample of his skin to see why it's black. Being brought in to a wizard commune to be quizzed about his exotic culture, more like an exhibit than a person. About not being allowed into cities, when the good-aligned queen says "you know, it would just look bad" and he's essentially okay about it. Discussion of his people being slaves. [/SPOILER]I can't help but think "yeah, this has aged poorly." Reading Icewind Dale has essentially been the example I needed to see the racism and misogyny in D&D's history that I thought was being blown out of proportion in recent years. I started reading it for its historic value to the hobby and for a light-hearted adventure story. Now, I don't know if I'm going to finish the trilogy or find something else.</blockquote>