The lowdown on Dragonlance Novels - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

The lowdown on Dragonlance Novels

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Sep 01, 2003 4:06:39 Hi all, not sure if there is a seperate forum for novels (couldn't find one when I looked) so moderators please move as appropriate/necessary.

I'm looking for some info on the Dragonlance novels and being relatively new to them I thought I'd come ask the experts ;).

I have as my first DL books, read the Twins series (Legends) and became hooked. I was really interested in Raistlin so then picked up Soulforge and continued on with Brothers in Arms.
Now I really want to get into the 'essential reading' but have a few questions.

1) In the Legends series there were frequent referrals to battles gone past involving Sturm, Caramon, Tanis, Raistlin and all the gang. Could someone tell me in what books these took place so I can get them? I have heard "it all started" in Dragons of Summer Flame....

2) Exactly what was the 'War of the Lance'? Was this what the Majeres and friends were involved in or something else long before their time?

3) Lord Soth. I'd love to read about this guy. In what books did he arise?

4) Exactly what is the 5th age everyone seems to dislike?

If someone could make a brief summary of essential reading including a little bit of what each book covers that'd be great. Thanks!
#2
zombiegleemax
Sep 01, 2003 4:17:44 If you're interested in the Companions' past you may want to read the Meetings Sextet and the Preludes series. There are varying opinions regarding these books, but I enjoyed most of them.

As for The War of the Lance you MUST read the Chronicles trilogy (Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Winter Night, and Spring Dawning). They actually precede the Twins series and were the first Dragonlance Novels written. They are amazing.

You learn a lot more about Soth in Chronicles as well as the book Lord Soth (go figure).

The 5th age is the time after the war with Chaos so basically everything after Dragons of Summer Flame.

For more info Check out www.Dragonlance.com and to be more specific: http://www.dragonlance.com/products/list.asp
It lists all of the novels and gaming products to date.
#3
jonesy
Sep 01, 2003 4:42:29
1) In the Legends series there were frequent referrals to battles gone past involving Sturm, Caramon, Tanis, Raistlin and all the gang. Could someone tell me in what books these took place so I can get them? I have heard "it all started" in Dragons of Summer Flame....

I'd recommend reading Soulforge and Brothers in Arms.

And what started in DoSF?

2) Exactly what was the 'War of the Lance'? Was this what the Majeres and friends were involved in or something else long before their time?

It is detailed in the Chronicles.

3) Lord Soth. I'd love to read about this guy. In what books did he arise?

Chronologically:
Lord Soth, the novel
True Knight, short story in Tales II Book 2
The Chronicles
The Legends
Knight of the Black Rose
Spectre of the Black Rose
Dragons of Summer Flame
The War of Souls

4) Exactly what is the 5th age everyone seems to dislike?

You'll find that very few here dislike the 5th Age. Like Sly said, it's everything after Dragons of Summer Flame.

If someone could make a brief summary of essential reading including a little bit of what each book covers that'd be great. Thanks!

The core books are (in recommended reading order):
The Chronicles (War of the Lance)
The Legends (The Blue Lady's War and Raistlins quest)
The Second Generation (prelude to Summer Flame)
Dragons of Summer Flame (Chaos War)
Dragons of a New Age (the arrival of the dragon Overlords)
The War of Souls (the..umm..War of Souls)
#4
zombiegleemax
Sep 01, 2003 11:10:51 The Chronicles series is THE Dragonlance series. It is composed of three books, Dragons of Spring Dawning, Dragons of Autumn..something, and Dragons of Winter...something. It is the tale that explains where Caramon, Tanis, Raistlin, and a slew of other interesting characters make names for themselves. I'm kind of shocked that you could read Legends with the right feeling before ever reading Chronicles.
#5
zombiegleemax
Sep 01, 2003 13:02:11 Yes, Chronicles and Legends are THE most important ones, I liked the tales trilogy too. Oh, what am I talking about, I love them all!!! (except the Dark Queen, that book blew)
#6
zombiegleemax
Sep 01, 2003 14:11:19
Originally posted by L33t Angel
I'm kind of shocked that you could read Legends with the right feeling before ever reading Chronicles.

The first fantasy book I ever read was War of the Twins, the second of the Legends books. What's funny is that it starts in a really weird place (the tower of Palanthas, if I remember correctly - it has been 14 years), but it still hooked me all the same. I then read Chronicles (well after reading Time and Test ) , and the rest is history...

And one more thing: I'm soooooo ordering the DLCS and AoM after finishing this post!!! :bounce:
#7
zombiegleemax
Sep 01, 2003 17:37:51 Well, Time of the Twins was the first DL book I ever picked up, and I had no knowledge of the DL world before that. It definitely hooked me also and this is why I'm wanting to go back and read all about my favourite character's exploits.
I'm gonna pick up Dragons of Autumn Twilight tomorrow, looks great with it's new cover too.

Thanks all for the replies, and hey btw,if any of you play the D&D CRPG NeverWinter Nights you should check out the Dragonlance project going on there. A huge collaboration between artists, scripters and writers to bring DL onto your screen. I will say it looks amazing from the previews I saw.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Sep 01, 2003 4:06:39	Hi all, not sure if there is a seperate forum for novels (couldn't find one when I looked) so moderators please move as appropriate/necessary. I'm looking for some info on the Dragonlance novels and being relatively new to them I thought I'd come ask the experts ;). I have as my first DL books, read the Twins series (Legends) and became hooked. I was really interested in Raistlin so then picked up Soulforge and continued on with Brothers in Arms. Now I really want to get into the 'essential reading' but have a few questions. 1) In the Legends series there were frequent referrals to battles gone past involving Sturm, Caramon, Tanis, Raistlin and all the gang. Could someone tell me in what books these took place so I can get them? I have heard "it all started" in Dragons of Summer Flame.... 2) Exactly what was the 'War of the Lance'? Was this what the Majeres and friends were involved in or something else long before their time? 3) Lord Soth. I'd love to read about this guy. In what books did he arise? 4) Exactly what is the 5th age everyone seems to dislike? If someone could make a brief summary of essential reading including a little bit of what each book covers that'd be great. Thanks!
#2 zombiegleemax Sep 01, 2003 4:17:44	If you're interested in the Companions' past you may want to read the Meetings Sextet and the Preludes series. There are varying opinions regarding these books, but I enjoyed most of them. As for The War of the Lance you MUST read the Chronicles trilogy (Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Winter Night, and Spring Dawning). They actually precede the Twins series and were the first Dragonlance Novels written. They are amazing. You learn a lot more about Soth in Chronicles as well as the book Lord Soth (go figure). The 5th age is the time after the war with Chaos so basically everything after Dragons of Summer Flame. For more info Check out www.Dragonlance.com and to be more specific: http://www.dragonlance.com/products/list.asp It lists all of the novels and gaming products to date.
#3 jonesy Sep 01, 2003 4:42:29	1) In the Legends series there were frequent referrals to battles gone past involving Sturm, Caramon, Tanis, Raistlin and all the gang. Could someone tell me in what books these took place so I can get them? I have heard "it all started" in Dragons of Summer Flame.... I'd recommend reading Soulforge and Brothers in Arms. And what started in DoSF? 2) Exactly what was the 'War of the Lance'? Was this what the Majeres and friends were involved in or something else long before their time? It is detailed in the Chronicles. 3) Lord Soth. I'd love to read about this guy. In what books did he arise? Chronologically: Lord Soth, the novel True Knight, short story in Tales II Book 2 The Chronicles The Legends Knight of the Black Rose Spectre of the Black Rose Dragons of Summer Flame The War of Souls 4) Exactly what is the 5th age everyone seems to dislike? You'll find that very few here dislike the 5th Age. Like Sly said, it's everything after Dragons of Summer Flame. If someone could make a brief summary of essential reading including a little bit of what each book covers that'd be great. Thanks! The core books are (in recommended reading order): The Chronicles (War of the Lance) The Legends (The Blue Lady's War and Raistlins quest) The Second Generation (prelude to Summer Flame) Dragons of Summer Flame (Chaos War) Dragons of a New Age (the arrival of the dragon Overlords) The War of Souls (the..umm..War of Souls)
#4 zombiegleemax Sep 01, 2003 11:10:51	The Chronicles series is THE Dragonlance series. It is composed of three books, Dragons of Spring Dawning, Dragons of Autumn..something, and Dragons of Winter...something. It is the tale that explains where Caramon, Tanis, Raistlin, and a slew of other interesting characters make names for themselves. I'm kind of shocked that you could read Legends with the right feeling before ever reading Chronicles.
#5 zombiegleemax Sep 01, 2003 13:02:11	Yes, Chronicles and Legends are THE most important ones, I liked the tales trilogy too. Oh, what am I talking about, I love them all!!! (except the Dark Queen, that book blew)
#6 zombiegleemax Sep 01, 2003 14:11:19	Originally posted by L33t Angel I'm kind of shocked that you could read Legends with the right feeling before ever reading Chronicles. The first fantasy book I ever read was War of the Twins, the second of the Legends books. What's funny is that it starts in a really weird place (the tower of Palanthas, if I remember correctly - it has been 14 years), but it still hooked me all the same. I then read Chronicles (well after reading Time and Test ) , and the rest is history... And one more thing: I'm soooooo ordering the DLCS and AoM after finishing this post!!! :bounce:
#7 zombiegleemax Sep 01, 2003 17:37:51	Well, Time of the Twins was the first DL book I ever picked up, and I had no knowledge of the DL world before that. It definitely hooked me also and this is why I'm wanting to go back and read all about my favourite character's exploits. I'm gonna pick up Dragons of Autumn Twilight tomorrow, looks great with it's new cover too. Thanks all for the replies, and hey btw,if any of you play the D&D CRPG NeverWinter Nights you should check out the Dragonlance project going on there. A huge collaboration between artists, scripters and writers to bring DL onto your screen. I will say it looks amazing from the previews I saw.