DragonLance – Preludes II Volume One – Riverwind the Plainsman

This book is one of the better ones I have come across so far in this series. During the original trilogy Riverwind wasn’t really a super main character I mean he was there but he played kind of a supporting role. But we were left with a lot of questions.

If you are curious this is the picture of all the books we (my two sons and I) have read so far:

This book clears those up.

We kind of knew that ceremony and tradition were important to the Plainsmen? But how important?

What were the politics that really led to his quest that he was so driven to achieve?

How good of a hunter/survivor is he really.

All of that gets answered.

We also learn more about the Draconians, a race of elves we didn’t (at least I) didn’t know about. Something called the Nightrunners. Kind of these wolves led by a half man/half wolf creature by the name of Kyanor.

There is a strange guy I still have questions about called Catchflea. Still not really sure about his obsession (humorous though it is) with these three acorns.

We also aren’t really sure what of Riverwind’s memories from his quest were part of reality and what were part of an illusion that was cast upon him.

I know it sounds like the book left us with a lot of questions, and it did, but it also cleared up a lot of things.

If I had to rate it on the “should you” read it list. If you like DragonLance and fantasy reading 7 out of 10 must read. If you are deep in DragonLance 10 for 10. Well worth the time and was an actual page turner for me. (Some of the ones in the series really weren’t but this one delivers).

 

DragonLance Preludes Volume 3 – Brothers Majere

This book chronicles some of the time Caramon and Raistlin spent traveling as mercenaries after Raistlin took the tests at the Tower of High Sorcery and before the War of the Lance.

This is now the 15th book I have read in a row, and honestly I was a little let down. I wanted it to dive deeper into the brothers and what drives them. Maybe my expectations were too high, and I will admit to that.

It is set a few months after those famed tests that turned the skin of Raistlin’s skin and changed his eyes to see things only as they die. He is still getting used to his body being shattered and is haunted by dreams of a certain dark elf from those tests.

The brothers are traveling with a Kender which is always good for comic relief (not Tasslehoff).

The trio come upon a town that is having a problem. There are signs up asking for someone to come in and fix it. They quickly discover all the towns cats are missing, Caramon finds it funny and doesn’t care, Raistlin wants to dig into it.

Apparently there is a prophecy involve a gate and the weird missing cats.

The cats are missing because of a gate, a gate that leads to something that could let someone through into this world.

I don’t want to throw any spoilers out because I found this book more predictable than any DragonLance books before.

The Kender of course being a Kender gets into trouble, but also kind of solves the whole problem because of his natural curiosity. The entire book spends a lot of time foreshadowing things we know, which as a reader I guess is ok if you haven’t read the other DragonLance books, but if you have about 1/3 of the book was repetitious.

The one thing I did find interesting, it did start to hint at Raistlin’s thirst for power. Part of me was hoping we would learn more about what drove that, but perhaps in other books later in the series.

This book won’t stop me from reading other DragonLance books on my quest to get through all of them, and yeah I enjoyed it, but I really wanted more from it.

DragonLance Preludes Volume 2: Kendermore

I will say a few things about this book.

First, if you are going to pick apart a book for “not being cannon” or “OMG they rode it off the rails” this isn’t for you. It is a book based on Kender for goodness sake.

That out of the way, it is the most fun DragonLance book I have ever read. If you just enjoy the ride, you will love this thing.

First, as the book opens, Tasslehoff is being escorted back to his home because he violated the Kender code, I didn’t know the Kender really had a legal system so to speak, but they do.

Interestingly, it was because he ran out on a marriage vow, but he can’t really remember her name because they haven’t met?

Weird right?

Now, imagine a few things that you will come across in this book.

Imagine being the mayor of Kendermore and trying to get your citizens to pay attention during a meeting.

Try being a human seeking medical help in a Kender village.

Also, always remember, when following a Kender map, don’t believe everything you see.

Another word of advice, when taking a sailing ship, never ever leave Tasslehoff Burrfoot in charge of that process when he is assisted by Gully Dwarves. Imagine that same group trying to get a cart unstuck from the mud. Hilarity results.

Also, in this book, you will find a doctor that treats people with some “magic potion” that is closer to pure alcohol than anything magical.

I can’t say enough good things about the fun of this book. If you have not read it, and it wasn’t one of the more popular books in the DragonLance series you need to. It wasn’t high adventure, it isn’t “the legend of” it is just fun. Enjoy the hell out of it!!

DragonLance Preludes Volume 1: Darkness & Light

If you have been following along I am on a quest to read (hopefully) all of the books in the DragonLance series. Given how many there are, we shall see if I make it.

So far I have read the following books:

Dragons of Autumn Twilight Nov-84 Chronicles
Dragons of Winter Night Apr-85 Chronicles
Dragons of Spring Dawning Nov-85 Chronicles
Time of the Twins Feb-86 Legends
War of the Twins May-86 Legends
Test of the Twins Aug-86 Legends
The Magic of Krynn Mar-87 Tales I
Kender, Gully Dwarves and Gnomes Aug-87 Tales I
Love and War Nov-87 Tales I
The Legend of Huma Mar-88 Heroes
Stormblade Aug-88 Heroes
Weasel’s Luck Dec-88 Heroes
Darkness and Light Apr-89 Preludes

Darkness & Light is the first in the Preludes trilogy. It takes place five years before the War of the Lance in the Chronicles trilogy and gives us much of the backstory we all wanted after reading those books.

This book focuses mostly on Sturm and Kitiara and their travels somewhat assisted by some Gnomes.

The Gnomes always mean well, and are super good at comic relief but they may not always get you where you want to go by the most direct route possible.

We open up with Sturm and Kitiara practicing their swordsmanship with one another. Kit is obviously the better fighter at this point. As they head out on their travels, after promising to return in 5 years (for the now famous meeting in Chronicles) things don’t go really well from the start.

They are traveling along when Sturm learns a valuable lesson. Never ever fall asleep on guard duty. Had it not been for Kit, the Sturm we all knew in Chronicles would have never made it there.

After a little fight, they get caught in a storm that interrupts their travels. They eventually meet some Gnomes that have a strange method of traveling. They have a ship, powered by lightening that happens to fly.

The only challenge is they end up losing control of the ship (go figure) and end up on Lunitari, the red moon!

I won’t go into what they find there but it does foreshadow the war to come in other books.

No shocker, they do eventually find their way back to Krynn, and at the end, we are treated to how it was that Sturm finally received his father’s armor and sword.

I really enjoyed this book, but anything with the Gnomes is always a joy for me.

DragonLance Heroes Vol 3: Weasel’s Luck

The third installment in the Heroes series of DragonLance books is called Weasel’s Luck. It is set in a time around 100 years before the Chronicles Trilogy and tells the story of Sir Bayard Brightblade.

I found this book interesting because it really dives a bit deeper into the Knights of Solamnia than we have gotten in any of the other books. It also tells a story in a time before Draconians and Raistlin, and the companions.

Like the other books in the Heroes series we got to see how things were before the war of the lance. How did we get there? Before Draconians, before Raistlin, before the giant war.

I love that it filled in some of the details we didn’t have on the Knights. It really was a great story, great fantasy novel and helped me understand more of the lore of the Knights of Solamnia and the Brightblades.

Solid read, not the best of the DragonLance books, but it did keep me and my two teenage sons turning pages.

 

DragonLance Heroes Volume Two: Stormblade

I have been working my way through many of the DragonLance books. The most recent is DragonLance Heroes Volume 2: Stormblade.

I enjoyed the book far more than I thought I would. It is an interesting story that gives some lore about Krynn that I didn’t know, and tells about the forging of a very special sword called Stormblade.

Stormblade is a King’s Sword. It is one of those artifacts that will be the stuff of legend, but this is its origin story.

The sword is forged, then disappears, falling into the hands of a barmaid and then there is a quest to get it back where it belongs. It is a fairly melancholy storyline but I really enjoyed reading it.

There is an irrepressible Kender that makes things funny on occasion and learning more about the Dwarves and their Kingdom makes this not only an entertaining book, but one that really helps you get much of the story of this fantasy world I didn’t know before.

Can the Stormblade be recovered from a land at war? It is a difficult task! One not for the weak of heart!

DragonLance Heroes Volume One: The Legend of Human

While reading the first 9 DragonLance books in the world of Krynn we heard little bits and pieces about Huma. Mostly legend, no one was sure if the stories were true. Now, you can see for yourself.

Huma is human, he goes through the emotional swings everyone does. He is scared, tired, feels defeated, he isn’t sure if he is doing the right thing all the time. He isn’t sure if he can live up to the expectations of a Knight of Solamnia.

There are times he just wants to figure out how to live through the day!

In this book we also meet Magius, and Kaz a Minotaur that Huma befriends and they save one another more than once despite a long standing feud between the Knights and the minotaurs.

I really enjoyed this novel. I think Richard A. Knaak did an amazing job in filling in the blanks I had in the back story of Huma in the time before the Cataclysm.

DragonLance, The Legend of Huma is one to read! You won’t be disappointed.

DragonLance Tales Volume 3: Love and War

This trilogy surprised me in many ways. First and foremost, I usually don’t care for short stories. But what TSR, and the editors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman did (Mostly the editors less so TSR) was to pull together a series of stories that fill in the lore of Krynn in ways I didn’t know I wanted until I read it. Some of these stories have been dramatic, some funny, all have been worthwhile. I am not bothered by the format and enjoyed all three books thoroughly.

If you have been following my posts and social media, I first read these books as a teenager, starting when only two books were available. I now have teenagers and am reading them with my kids.

This is how far we have gotten:

The Short stories in this book are briefly (very briefly) surmised below:

A Good Knight’s Tale by Harold Bakst

An ancient Knight of Solamnia tells a scribe a tale of love and how a protective father wanted to shield his daughter by moving her far from where young men could see her.

A Painter’s Vision by Barbara Siegel and Scott Siegel

This is the story of a barmaid who wanted to get a painting just right, finally on her deathbed she achieves perfection. It is a story of grief, recovery and love.

Hunting Destiny by Nick O’Donohoe

If you read the original Chronicles books you are familiar with the story of the White Stag. This is the backstory that helps you understand what was going on there.

Hide and Go Seek by Nancy Varian Berberick

Tasslehoff Burrfoot is taken prisoner. Anyone who knows Kender knows that this is far worse for the jailer’s mental health than it is for the prisoner.

By The Measure by Richard A. Knaack

When will the Knights of Solamnia finally learn that there are grey areas. Pure right and pure wrong almost never is a thing.

The Exiles by Paul B. Thompson and Tonya R. Carter

A very young Sturm Brightblade and his mother are forced to run from danger, something that doesn’t sit well with Sturm.

Heart of Goldmoon by Laura Hickman and Dezra Despain

We learn the backstory of Goldmoon and Riverwind. A must read for fans of the original trilogy.

Raistlin’s Daughter

There is a legend that Raistlin had a daughter. Raistlin meets a strange woman he is captivated by who is raped and the twins come to her rescue. Does she give birth to Raistlin’s child, or someone else’s? Does the power live on?

Silver and Steel by Kevin Randle

Huma’s final battle with the Dark Queen that we have only ever heard about!

From the Yearning for War and the War’s Ending by Michael Williams

An accounting of the siege of Palanthas from the point of view of a young Knight of Solamnia. Another must read for fans to understand the back story.

DragonLance Tales Volume 2: Kender, Gully Dwarves and Gnomes

DragonLance Tales Volume 2: Kender, Gully Dwarves and Gnomes, is a collection of short stories and a Novella by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. I want to just give a brief overview of each.

Some of these short stories are absolutely hilarious. There are one or two that greatly expand the Universe of Krynn, one that could easily become its own Trilogy, and one or two that I didn’t really care for completely.

I will give a brief overview of each story/novella, and I will keep my opinion to myself on which ones I didn’t care for that much (hopefully).

Snowsong by Nancy Varian Berberick

A younger, pre War of the Lance Tanis, Sturm, Flint and Tasslehoff are trapped on a snowy mountain. What could possibly go wrong when you have a bored Kender who might at any moment wonder off into a snowstorm and freeze to death! Ok, there is a lot more to this story than that, but it is filled with both comedy and adventure.

The Wizard’s Spectacles by Morris Simon

Glasses of true seeing, allowing anyone to read a magic scroll fall into the hands of someone who probably shouldn’t have them. It isn’t necessarily evil that he does, but he is a bit self serving and not every spell goes exactly the way he wants them to go!

The Storyteller by Barbara Siegel and Scott Siegel

A local storyteller tells a tale that a Dragon Highlord isn’t all that happy about. How do the local people who love the story teller keep him from being put to death! Especially when you have Gnomes and Kender involved.

A Shaggy Dog’s Tail

This one did not end how I thought it would. I was surprised just the twist this story of jealousy, revenge, and magic twists and turns.

Lord Toede’s Disastrous Hunt by Harold Bakst

Lord Toede goes on a hunt, and decides it will be fun to hunt a pair of Kender. You have to be careful, they are pretty sneaky, and fearless. It might or might not be all that simple despite how harmless Kender appear!

Definitions of Honor by Richard A Knaak

A young Knight of Solamnia is hired to help a town with a Minotaur problem. It turns out the problem is much different than he expected and he must question just how one defines honor, and what is and isn’t an honorable solution to the problem.

Hearth Cat and Winter Wren by Nancy  Varian Berberick

The pre-war on the Lance companions come upon a wizard who likes turning people into animals and keeping them in that state. We all know Kender have a short attention span, but what happens when you turn one into a Kender. Can you keep track of it long enough to turn it back?

Wanna Bet? by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

Caramon Majere’s three sons go on adventure of their own and end up in a drinking contest with a dwarf. They don’t necessarily win that contest and end up on an adventure of their own. But let’s face it, who ever really wins a drinking contest?

Into the Heart of the Story

Written as a Gnome records the story of the contributions of the Gnomes to the War of the Lance. They have to have their chance to correct the official record as only a Gnome can.

Dagger Flight by Nick O’Donohoe

This is the story of a dagger, from the perspective of the dagger. The dagger goes through some parts of the story you know if you read the Chronicles Trilogy.

DragonLance Tales Volume 1: The Magic of Krynn

DragonLance Tales Volume 1: The Magic of Krynn, is a collection of short stories and a Novella by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. I want to just give a brief overview of each.

I will say up front, I don’t normally go in for short stories but I really enjoyed how this book filled in some blanks I had from my other reading in the DragonLance World. Krynn makes a little more sense now.

 

Riverwind and the Crystal Staff by Michael Williams

I liked the way that Williams used the story to explore the culture of the Plainsmen. The Plainsmen are a proud and independent people, and Williams does a good job of bringing their culture to life.

 

The Blood Sea Monster by Barbara Siegel and Scott Siegel

I liked the way that the Siegels used the character of Duder to explore the theme of fear. Duder is a coward, but he is also a sympathetic character. The reader can relate to his fears, and they can see how he grows as a person as he faces his fears.

A Stone’s Throw Away by Roger E. Moore

I liked the way that Moore captured Tasslehoff’s unique personality. Tasslehoff is a curious, mischievous, and lovable character, and Moore does a good job of bringing him to life.

I also liked the way that the story explored the theme of friendship. The friendship between Tasslehoff and Sturm is one of the most important things in the story, and it is a valuable reminder of the importance of friendship in our lives.

Dreams of Darkness, Dreams of Light by Warren B. Smith

I loved getting to learn more about Pig Faced William. He had a minor role in a different book, and it was nice to learn more.

Love and Ale by Nick O’Donohoe

This story helped us learn a bit about Otik’s brewing process at the Inn of the Last Home, and can be used as a lesson in what not to do.

Wayward Children by Richard A. Knaak

What can I say…Draconians.

The Test of the Twins by Margaret Weis

This was an original ending to a Dragon Magazine article that was originally deemed too dark for publication, but here it is!

Harvests by Nancy Varian Berberick

Another thing that I liked about the story was the way that it showed Anya’s resilience. Anya is a strong and determined woman, and she refuses to give up, even when things seem hopeless. The story shows how Anya’s strength helps her to overcome her challenges, and it ultimately suggests that hope is a powerful force that can help us to overcome even the most difficult obstacles.

Finding the Faith by Mary Kirchoff

I liked the way that Kirchoff captured Laurana’s inner turmoil. Laurana is a complex and sympathetic character, and the reader can see how she grows and develops as the story progresses.

The Legacy by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

The story ends on a hopeful note, and it suggests that grief is a journey, not a destination. This is a message that I think is especially important in today’s world.

This story is amazing, and adds to the Caramon world in large ways. If you liked the first six books, you will love this novella.