Originally posted by Brimstone
Tracy Hickman wrote up a nice little article on why there is a discrepency in the timelines. I was impressed with how they did it...it really is a lot more than an "oops" statement. I believe it's either in Leaves from the Inn of the Last Home or Tales of the Lance...maybe both.
But, even with the problems fixed in subsequent products, that doesn't stop authors from using incorrect information.
Dragonlance is not only a setting, it's a modern day mythology. Mythologies tend to have some conflicting tales.
Look at King Arthur, for example. Which version of him is correct? The one presented in First Knight? In Excalibur? Or in the novel Once and Future King? In a way, all these versions are like the blind men describing the elephant. Add the elements together, and you gain the whole.
Such is the case with Dragonlance. Yes, there are some conflicting stories. As long as we enjoy them, though, that's what matters.
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
Look at King Arthur, for example. Which version of him is correct? The one presented in First Knight? In Excalibur? Or in the novel Once and Future King? In a way, all these versions are like the blind men describing the elephant. Add the elements together, and you gain the whole.
.
True, except that nobody sane would consider First Knight a movie about King Arthur.
Cheers,
Cam
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
Hey, it wouldn't be Dragonlance without some discrepencies and retcons, now would it? ;)
Dragonlance is not only a setting, it's a modern day mythology. Mythologies tend to have some conflicting tales.
Look at King Arthur, for example. Which version of him is correct? The one presented in First Knight? In Excalibur? Or in the novel Once and Future King? In a way, all these versions are like the blind men describing the elephant. Add the elements together, and you gain the whole.
Such is the case with Dragonlance. Yes, there are some conflicting stories. As long as we enjoy them, though, that's what matters.
You make a good point in the King Arthur analogy. However, I would say this....
THe Arthur Legends derived over 1500 years ago, in a time where few could read or write nad there was no continuity. We all know how one can take a story, and how it changes from the time it reaches the other side of a review
Today, people can read and write and there is always google searches to remember. I don't think it would have been too much of a request from Margaret Weis and Tracey Hickman to insist that those whom want to write new DragonLance books have to read their novels first, as well as being provided a certain 'timeline' history or notes from the authors to ensure continuity.
If they had done this, it could have ensrued a certain continuity that all flowed smoothly.
But regardless, I enjoyed the KINGPRIEST, ELVEN NATIOSN and other pre-cataclysm books so yes, I enjoyed it
THE YEAS and NAYS of Krynnish Storytelling:
1. No orc or half-orcs.
2. No drow (as in ebony-skinned spider worshippers)
3. Dalamar the Dark has black hair.
4. Raistlin is dead.
5. There have been two cataclysms.
6. The Ergothian Empire came before Solamnia.
7. Bupu called Raistlin the magic man.
8. Sorcerers use Wild Magic/Wild Sorcery and are renegades.
9. No lycanthropes.
10. No orcs ... especially no orcish warbands.
11. Takhisis is dead.
12. Elves suck.
Of course there would be little historical modifications, depending on what Age these future authors set their stories ... but you get my drift.
Originally posted by iltharanos
2. No drow (as in ebony-skinned spider worshippers)
Actually, there were drows around on Krynn. Well, before the 5th Age anyway...
Check DLS4 Wild Elves
OK, granted, they were not "natives", but still...
Originally posted by Mortepierre
Actually, there were drows around on Krynn. Well, before the 5th Age anyway...
Check DLS4 Wild Elves
OK, granted, they were not "natives", but still...
Gone the way of Spelljammer ports in Palanthas, I'm afraid.
Cheers,
Cam
Originally posted by iltharanos
5. There have been two cataclysms.
I'm still debating this one. The Summer of Chaos was bad, sure. I don't think it quite compares to having a fiery mountain dropped on the world and shattering the continent.
Of course, we've had this debate before. ;)
As for Wild Elves, that's considered to be non-canon.
In Stormblade Verminaard is alive even though hes suppose to be dead. And they keep saying the Kinslayer wars happened right after the cataclysm 300 years ago when it happened 250 years ago.
Thats all I can think of right now.
Originally posted by vejono
Lord Soths wrong doings get mismatched in Knight of thr Black Rose and his story Lord Soth.
In Stormblade Verminaard is alive even though hes suppose to be dead. And they keep saying the Kinslayer wars happened right after the cataclysm 300 years ago when it happened 250 years ago.
Thats all I can think of right now.
The Kinslayer Wars? Those occurred around 2 millenia before the 1st Cataclysm.
Originally posted by iltharanos
The Kinslayer Wars? Those occurred around 2 millenia before the 1st Cataclysm.
Yes, that is about accurate.
Also, if we go by Raistlin's description of the Dragon Orbs, they must have been created like A LONG TIME ago, perhaps 2nd DRagon War age. But in the DragonLance sourcebook, they are not created untill about 1200 years before the Cataclysm, which I don't htink is enough time to incorporate them. Why build the High Clerists Tower the way you did with the DragonOrbs only recently created.