[0HV]≡ Read Gratis Dragons of Winter Night DragonLance Chronicles Vol 2 Tracy Hickman Margaret Weis 9780880381741 Books

Dragons of Winter Night DragonLance Chronicles Vol 2 Tracy Hickman Margaret Weis 9780880381741 Books

Download As PDF : Dragons of Winter Night DragonLance Chronicles Vol 2 Tracy Hickman Margaret Weis 9780880381741 Books

Dragons of Winter Night DragonLance Chronicles Vol 2 Tracy Hickman Margaret Weis 9780880381741 Books

Fantasy is a genre that has been taken over by YA (young adult) titles. While many of these are quality stories, a number of them seem formulaic when put alongside really strong fantasy novels. And when I say really strong fantasy novels, I mean books like Dragons of Winter Night, number two in the Dragonlance Chronicles series by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. I first read this novel years ago (likely close to the initial publication date). I'm reading the Chronicles again because I want to see how they hold up; have they stood the test of time? Can I point to them as stellar examples of the genre? Can I use them as textbooks to inform my own writing endeavors?

The answer - in my opinion - on all counts is a resounding, "Aye!"

I'll let you in on a little secret. The first clue that gave me an inkling that the Dragonlance Chronicles were extraordinary came at the end of the series. As I closed the last one I experienced an ache of loss. I would not see these brave souls, whom I had come to know and love, any longer. It was as if dear friends who I had known for years were moving to another place, one far away and unreachable. There was a hole in my spirit. I may have shed a tear, though that is not a manly thing to admit.

Not since reading the Hobbit and the three novels in The Lord of the Rings had I experienced such relationship with fantasy characters.

The intricate plot, the depth of character, the delicately woven social commentary, the action, the love...all of these things (and more) that make up a great fantasy novel are present and I would confidently recommend the Dragonlance Chronicles to any who have not yet discovered the magic, mystery and magnificence of Krynn.


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Dragons of Winter Night DragonLance Chronicles Vol 2 Tracy Hickman Margaret Weis 9780880381741 Books Reviews

Dragons of Autumn Twilight was an easygoing fantasy romp with all the staples goblins, dragons, and a small band of heroes facing overwhelming odds and emerging triumphant. The characters were interesting, with detailed backgrounds preventing Sturm and Raistlin from turning into cardboard cutouts (although Flint Fireforge was, and still is, a rather simple hero).

Weiss and Hickman deftly avoid the trap of falling into the fantasy genre's standard (and unarguably dull) formula of sending heroes on quests, giving what should be long and epic novels an episodic feel more at home in contemporary TV dramas. The quest for Kharas' hammer, held as sacred by the dwarves of Thorbaldin, is given a brief summation at the novel's outset. This allows the authors to focus on the tragedies of war, politics and the heroes coming of age and self-discovery quests. There are far more gripping than any long-winded battle sequences could be, regardless of how well-written they may be. Even Tas, the eternal optimist, undergoes profound revolutions in his character as he learns more about the world, and how his sheltered upbringing and pampered, carefree life did nothing to prepare him for the shadowy underbelly of reality. Perhaps the most profound and apparent theme in this book is the sheer ease with which it is possible to ignore war and the suffering of innocents until the devastation is right upon your doorstep. Taking the path of least resistance is also frowned upon, seen as nothing more than a temporary fix. Appeasement is clearly shown to be the Pyrrhic "solution" it is.

Tanis' human love makes a riveting entrance onstage, and sets things up for zigzags and plot twists in the concluding volume. A key character of crucial importance to the Dark Queen makes a reappearance, although we will have to wait until the final installment to discover what his secrets and potentially cataclysmic impact will be.
The Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy of novels is a trip down memory lane for me. They were my introduction to the fantasy genre when I was 13 years old, so revisiting them after 25 years was an exercise in nostalgia - and an enjoyable one at that.

The novel is certainly not terribly original, nor is it Tolkieneque high heraldic prose. But it doesn't really claim to be either. I was originally written as a series of novels to help sell tabletop roleplaying game supplements and when taken as such, it is quite enjoyable. The characters are archetypical to the point of being stock - but if you buy into it as a pulp fantasy with the same depth as one would find in the old Conan stories, it's a fun ride.

That's the best way to describe these books - a fun ride. Nothing truly revolutionary. Nothing groundbreaking. Just good, innocent fun.
If you love fantasy, these books are for you. They do not possess eloquence of Tolkien who started it all-but in my opinion the writing is very good, characters are easy to relate - and very easy to get attached to, scenery is magnificent, diverse magical critters are abundant, and adventures are so addictive you will want to read all of these books in a row. They are based on Dungeons and Dragons board game which I never had a chance to play and very loosely familiar with. But as I was and still am a huge nerd of the old Might and Magic video games which borrowed a lot of the alternative universe structure, bestiary, and character development from D&D, these books still feel very nostalgic to me and I find it easy to get lost in our heroes' quests, glorious battles, feats of bravery, close brushes with death, studies of magic spells and their subtle love triangles. And I can certainly appreciate constant comic relief of the kender.
As I mentioned in my review for the first book in the series (Dragons of Autumn Twilight), I bought these books for reasons of nostalgia. The writing isn't great. Weis and Hickman got much better in subsequent projects.

As for this book in particular, it's even slower paced, more predictable, and the characters less complexly written than the previous book.

I still enjoyed these books because they take me back to when I started playing D&D. They're great if you're an old Basic D&D or 1st Edition AD&D gamer like myself, or just interested in the older works of TSR. If you're looking for something new and fresh that pops, or something deep and sweeping like LOTR, then you'll be disappointed.
Fantasy is a genre that has been taken over by YA (young adult) titles. While many of these are quality stories, a number of them seem formulaic when put alongside really strong fantasy novels. And when I say really strong fantasy novels, I mean books like Dragons of Winter Night, number two in the Dragonlance Chronicles series by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. I first read this novel years ago (likely close to the initial publication date). I'm reading the Chronicles again because I want to see how they hold up; have they stood the test of time? Can I point to them as stellar examples of the genre? Can I use them as textbooks to inform my own writing endeavors?

The answer - in my opinion - on all counts is a resounding, "Aye!"

I'll let you in on a little secret. The first clue that gave me an inkling that the Dragonlance Chronicles were extraordinary came at the end of the series. As I closed the last one I experienced an ache of loss. I would not see these brave souls, whom I had come to know and love, any longer. It was as if dear friends who I had known for years were moving to another place, one far away and unreachable. There was a hole in my spirit. I may have shed a tear, though that is not a manly thing to admit.

Not since reading the Hobbit and the three novels in The Lord of the Rings had I experienced such relationship with fantasy characters.

The intricate plot, the depth of character, the delicately woven social commentary, the action, the love...all of these things (and more) that make up a great fantasy novel are present and I would confidently recommend the Dragonlance Chronicles to any who have not yet discovered the magic, mystery and magnificence of Krynn.