Dragonlance Chronicles

Last updated
Dragonlance Chronicles
Author Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Genre Fantasy
Publisher Random House/TSR, Wizards of the Coast
Published1984–1985
Media typePrint
No. of books3
Followed by Dragonlance Legends

The Dragonlance Chronicles is a trilogy of fantasy novels written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, which take place in the Dragonlance setting. This series is the first set of Dragonlance novels, and is followed by the Dragonlance Legends series.

Contents

The three books in the series are Dragons of Autumn Twilight (November 1984), Dragons of Winter Night (July 1985), and Dragons of Spring Dawning (September 1985).

History

The Dragonlance Chronicles novels were based on a series of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) game modules. [1] The Chronicles trilogy came about because the designers wanted novels to tell the story of the game world they were creating, something to which TSR, Inc. (TSR) agreed only reluctantly. [2] Soon after Tracy Hickman came to TSR in 1982, management announced the intention to develop his series of dragons based role-playing adventures. [3] Hickman's storyline was chosen for the Dragonlance books due to the 12 part storyline. [4] Hickman's proposal resulted in the Dragonlance Chronicles, which led to his association with Margaret Weis. [3] Weis was assigned to edit Hickman's "Project Overlord", as it was initially called, a novel intended to be coordinated with a trilogy of AD&D modules. Weis and her new partner, Tracy Hickman, worked to plot the novel; they had hired an author, who didn't work out, but by that time, Weis and Hickman were so into the project that they felt they had to write it. [5] Jean Black, the Managing Editor of TSR's Book Department, picked Hickman and Weis to write Dragons of Autumn Twilight and the rest of the Dragonlance Chronicles series. [6] : 16  The storyline of the original Dragonlance series had been plotted and outlined before either the novel trilogy or the games were written. [7]

Synopsis

The plot of the Dragonlance Chronicles is centered around the conflict known as the "War of the Lance", [8] in which the Heroes of the Lance march to fight against Verminaard, the lord of the draconians, and the dark goddess Takhisis. [9] While the main events of the war are covered in the original trilogy of books, some later released books occur during the same time period, such as War of the Lance. [10] Several game modules for the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing game were also released that expanded on the events of the war, such as Dragons of Glory and Dragonlance Adventures . [11]

Dragons of Autumn Twilight

A group of old friends and new companions meet and begin their journeys to become the Heroes of the Lance. They enter Xak Tsaroth, find the Disks of Mishakal, are captured, meet Gilthanas, invade Pax Tharkas, meet Elistan, who becomes the first cleric of Paladine, incite a subsequent slave revolt, and kill a Dragon Highlord.

Dragons of Winter Night

The companions continue in their journeys to become the Heroes of the Lance. They travel to Tarsis, which is destroyed in an ensuing dragon attack, split into two groups, one of which goes to Silvanesti only to find it ravaged by a nightmare caused by a Dragon Orb, the other to Icewall Glacier where they kill a Dragon Highlord and take his Dragon Orb. The former group succeeds in obtaining the Dragon Orb and ending the nightmare. The latter group is attacked as they escape and are stranded on Southern Ergoth, an island where they meet numerous elves. Eventually, they travel to the tomb of Huma, where they meet Fizban and a silver dragon in disguise. The former group travel to Sancrist Isle, where Sturm becomes a full Knight of Solamnia, a Dragon Orb is shattered, and a dragonlance is forged. The identity of another Dragon Highlord is discovered. The dragons attack, but are driven off with new dragonlances.

Dragons of Spring Dawning

The group continue and conclude their journey in becoming Heroes of the Lance.

Reception

Jason Heller, of The A.V. Club , wrote a positive review of Dragonlance Chronicles, remarking that while the novels were not very original compared to previous fantasy works by J.R.R. Tolkien and Fritz Leiber, they filled a void for new gamers in 1980s by introducing fantasy fiction archetypes in a rich, cohesive setting. [12]

Reviews

Film

The Dragonlance Chronicles have also been adapted as an animated movie entitled Dragons of Autumn Twilight , starring Michelle Trachtenberg, Kiefer Sutherland, Michael Rosenbaum, and Lucy Lawless, and directed by Will Meugniot. "Dragons of Autumn Twilight" was released on 15 January 2008.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job interview. Tracy Hickman met his future writing partner Margaret Weis at TSR, and they gathered a group of associates to play the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The adventures during that game inspired a series of gaming modules, a series of novels, licensed products such as board games, and lead miniature figures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracy Hickman</span> American writer

Tracy Raye Hickman is an American fantasy author. He wrote the Dragonlance novels with Margaret Weis. He also wrote role playing game material while working for TSR and has cowritten novels with his wife, Laura Hickman. He is the author or co-author of over 60 books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margaret Weis</span> American fantasy novelist

Margaret Edith Weis is an American fantasy and science fiction author, of dozens of novels and short stories. At TSR, Inc., she teamed with Tracy Hickman to create the Dragonlance role-playing game (RPG) world. She is founding CEO and owner of Sovereign Press, Inc and Margaret Weis Productions, licensing several popular television and movie franchises to make RPG series in addition to their own.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kender (Dragonlance)</span> Type of fantasy race

Kender are a type of fantasy race first developed for the Dragonlance campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role playing game published by TSR, Inc. in 1984. The first kender character was created by Harold Johnson as a player character in a series of role-playing adventures co-authored by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis. Weis and Hickman's Dragonlance shared world novels introduced the kender to readers and players alike, largely through the character Tasslehoff Burrfoot, who became one of the main protagonists in the series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raistlin Majere</span> Fictional character from Dragonlance books

Raistlin Majere is a fictional character from the Dragonlance series of books created by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Raistlin played an extensive role in the two main series of books, particularly in Dragonlance Legends in which he was both primary protagonist and antagonist. He is twin brother to Caramon Majere, half-brother to his protective sister Kitiara uth Matar, and a significant member of the Heroes of the Lance. In the animated movie adaptation, Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Raistlin was voiced by Kiefer Sutherland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sturm Brightblade</span> Fictional character

Sturm Brightblade is a fictional character from the Dragonlance series of role playing games and novels, based on the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons franchise. The character was created by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman and is published by Wizards of the Coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tasslehoff Burrfoot</span> Fictional character

Tasslehoff Burrfoot is a fictional character of the kender race from the Dragonlance series of novels, written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. He was born in Kendermore. His parents are unknown and he has few known relatives. He has a sister, and also claims to have an Uncle Trapspringer. He has three uncles, by the names of Remo Lockpick, Bertie, and Wilfre. He also has a cousin, Latchlifter Furrfoot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caramon Majere</span> Fictional character

Caramon Majere is a fictional character from the Dragonlance books. He is depicted as a fighter and is one of the main characters in Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's first Dragonlance trilogy, the Dragonlance Chronicles. Caramon and his brother Raistlin Majere's relationship was explored in the NY Times Best Seller Twins Trilogy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goldmoon</span> Fictional character

Goldmoon is a fictional character from the Dragonlance fantasy series of novels and role playing games, originally published by TSR, Inc. and later by Wizards of the Coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverwind</span> Fictional character

Riverwind is a fictional character appearing in the Dragonlance series of Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game supplements and novels, created by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman and published by TSR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitiara uth Matar</span> Fictional character

Kitiara Uth Matar is a fictional character appearing in the Dragonlance campaign setting created by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. She is the daughter of a disgraced Solamnic Knight named Gregor Uth Matar and his first wife, Rosamun. She is also the half-sister of both Raistlin and Caramon Majere.

Tanis Half-Elven is a fictional half-elven character in the Dragonlance series of books, which were published by TSR, and are now published by Wizards of the Coast. He is first introduced in the book Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, in Chapter 1: "Old Friends Meet. A Rude Interruption." They introduce him saying that he was half-elven, armed with a longbow and a sword and wearing leather armor.

<i>Dragons of Autumn Twilight</i> 1984 novel by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

Dragons of Autumn Twilight is a 1984 fantasy novel by American writers Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, based on a series of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) game modules. It was the first Dragonlance novel, and first in the Chronicles trilogy, which, along with the Dragonlance Legends trilogy, are generally regarded as the core novels of the Dragonlance world. Dragons of Autumn Twilight details the meeting of the Companions and the early days of The War of the Lance. The novel corresponds with the first two Dragonlance game modules, Dragons of Despair and Dragons of Flame, but with a different ending. It introduces many of the characters that are the subject of later novels and short stories.

<i>Dragons of Winter Night</i> 1985 novel by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

Dragons of Winter Night is a fantasy novel by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Based on the Dungeons & Dragons gaming modules, it is the second book in the Chronicles Trilogy, preceded by Dragons of Autumn Twilight and followed by Dragons of Spring Dawning. It was the second Dragonlance novel, being released in 1985. It is the second novel in the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy, which along with the Legends Trilogy introduces the Dragonlance world. Specifically, it details the darker days of the War of the Lance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurana Kanan</span> Fictional character

Laurana Kanan, is a fictional character, one of the Heroes of the Lance in the Dragonlance fantasy series, written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, originally published by TSR, Inc. and later by Wizards of the Coast. One of the most beautiful women on all the world of Krynn, she is a skilled fighter, a brilliant tactician, and an inspirational leader, though she is also headstrong and willful and often allows her heart to rule her head.

The DL series is a series of adventures and some supplementary material for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role playing game. These modules along with the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy of novels, which follow one possible adventure series through the modules, were the first published items that established the Dragonlance fictional universe. The original DL series was released from 1984 to 1986, with the final two modules added to it in 1988. In the 1990s these roleplaying adventures from the original series were collected and revised for 2nd Edition AD&D as the three DLC Dragonlance Classics modules. There were also versions of the module series released in 1999, 2000 and 2006.

<i>Dragons of Despair</i> 1984 book by Tracy Hickman

Dragons of Despair is the first in a series of 16 Dragonlance adventures published by TSR, Inc. (TSR) between 1984 and 1988. It is the start of the first major story arc in the Dragonlance series of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) role-playing game modules, a series of ready-to-play adventures for use by Dungeon Masters in the game. This series provides a game version of the original Dragonlance storyline later told in the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy of novels. This module corresponds to the events told in the first half of the novel Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Its module code is DL1, which is used to designate it as the first part of the Dragonlance adventure series.

This is a complete list of works by American science fiction and fantasy author Margaret Weis.

References

  1. ↑ Margaret Weis (November 2003) [1998]. "Forward". The Soulforge (1st ed.). Lake Geneva, WI: Wizards of the Coast. ISBN   0-7869-1314-2.
  2. ↑ Archer, Peter (2004). "Dragonlance". 30 Years of Adventure: A Celebration of Dungeons & Dragons . Lake Geneva, WI: Wizards of the Coast. p. 64. ISBN   0-7869-3498-0..
  3. 1 2 Hickman, Tracy (April 1987). "TSR Profiles". Dragon . Lake Geneva, Wisconsin: TSR, Inc. (#120): 90.
  4. ↑ Cinemagine Media, Ltd. "Official Dragonlance Movie Site" . Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  5. ↑ Varney, Allen (January 1998). "ProFiles: Margaret Weis". Dragon . Renton, Washington: Wizards of the Coast (#243): 120.
  6. ↑ Shannon Appelcline (2011). Designers & Dragons. Mongoose Publishing. ISBN   978-1-907702-58-7.
  7. ↑ Tracey Hickman quoted in "Chronicles: a novel idea". Dragon #91. TSR. IX (6): 44–45. November 1984. ISSN   0279-6848.
  8. ↑ Niles, Doug and Tracy Hickman (March 1986). "More Dragons of Glory". Dragon (107): 89.
  9. ↑ Wienecke-Janz, Detlef, ed. (2002). Lexikon der Zauberwelten - Gandalf & Co (in German). Wissen Media Verlag. p. 62. ISBN   3-577-13505-0.
  10. ↑ The TSR Book Department (February 1992). "Novel Ideas". Dragon (178): 79–80, 118.
  11. ↑ Breault, Mike (September 1987). "The Game Wizards". Dragon (125): 70–72.
  12. ↑ "The first Dragonlance novels gave Dungeons & Dragons a new dimension". A.V. Club. 13 Jun 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  13. ↑ "Science Fiction Chronicle 1994-02: Vol 15 Iss 4". DNA Publications. February 1994.
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