Dragonlance Novels, questions?

[SpiritWarrior]

So I am re-reading the old DL series, and actually loving it. Now, I know they wrote some new-ish ones about the kids of the main characters but I don't know how far they went and so was wondering just what would be the logical series to read next, where I wouldn't miss anything per se.

So I have the following questions.

1) What comes next after these? Chronicles, then Legends (Which I like alot, lot more) then what?

2) Are there any good sole novels that kinda fill in the gaps in between? I'm speaking of related stories such as "Dalamar the Dark", which wasn't great but you know what I mean. I am trying to discern the "frill" novels from the ones worth reading. I see they released some annotated versions which I don't really care for.

3) I am interested in Lord Soth's story too. I know he had a Ravenloft novel, anyone ever check it out? Was that the only other one he was featured in?

4) I have read Soulforge and Brothers at Arms, now I am looking to move forward past the twins novels and into the future, but I don't want to bother unless these new books are original and not rehashed versions of old stories, y'know?

5) Uh, more of a DL-fan question I guess. Was the Kingpriest a mage? You know, he had this charisma spell around him and all. Or was that just a clerical spell of some form that made everyone love him? Seemed a bit odd to do, he didn't seem a bad man just...misguided.

[CerebroDragon]

1) I read them in the order of Chronicles then the Twins Trilogy, with it being entirely optional as to how far you went after that. I think those two are the most essential reading. I dabbled with most of the Preludes and the first two Tales series after that. However, this was a long time ago now.

2) Legend of Huma (Legends), Dark Heart (Meetings Sextet) or any of the Preludes based around the characters you like the most - you'll most likely find something to enjoy or despise as the case may be. Perhaps either the Elven Nation or Dwarven Nation trilogies for more general history, or the Tales stuff for dip in and out late night reading.

3) Never read Knight of the Black Rose, though friends used to tell me all about it with some excitement back in the day. I may pick it up at some point.

4) Ok, sure. I haven't read those that you mentioned. I lost my faith after the disappointment of Dragons of Summer Flame.

5) Hmm. From memory I think he was more of a powerfully charasmatic HighPriest than a mage, and a very awe-inspiring one to his audiences.
Being one of the catalysts to the Catalysm, he was deluded by the self-righteousness of his own visions more than anything else though. I could speculate on how that can be reflected in a real context, but I'll leave that to the individual.

I haven't read Dragonlance for years. Always enjoy thinking back and reflecting the role they played in getting me to love reading though. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 03-30-2007, 02:06 AM: Message edited by: CerebroDragon ]

[Nightwing]

I loved Dragon lance but could not get into the continuing novels. Itried to read the new ones with the kids but the writting style has change a little and I did not feel they had the same flare as the original charaters. I did not get that deep into it however.

[SpiritWarrior]

Right, this is my fear. I felt that Chronicles was written for a younger audience, and while it was OKAY it wasn't anything special. But I loved Legends to bits, and Soulforge etc. were very nice. This is why i am re-reading the Legends trilogy now. It is a much darker tale, and it has alot less cliches.


I like Weis and Hickmans writing style when they are catering to adults and not attempting to dumb anything down. In this case, their books have so much charm that I can truly get lost in them, and have problems putting the books down! Thanks for the replies, but still if I wanted to be an absolute stickler for keeping things in a logical timeline, what book would I pick up after Legends?

[Dragonshadow]

Have read Knight of the Black Rose, and quite liked it.

[EDIT: for awful spelling]

[ 03-31-2007, 05:35 AM: Message edited by: Dragonshadow ]

[Balintherlas]

Well here's a list of the books in order:
The Chronicles Trilogy
The Legends Trilogy
The Second Generation
Dragons of Summer Flame
War of Souls Trilogy
The Dark Disciple Trilogy (The third book isn't out yet)
There are also many preludes books about the original companions and they're adventures before the War of the Lance. Also, I believe Weis and Hickman are working on a new trilogy that fills in the gaps of the Chronicles story, the first book being "Dragons of the Dwarven Depths" which is out now.
To the question about Lord Soth he does have his own book it being "Lord Soth" I believe and it is in the Heroes and Villains series. It details his life and how he became a death knight.
There is also the Chaos war series, and Doom Brigade was the first book that I read in Dragonlance.

[PurpleXVI]

Chronicles and Legends are the only ones worth reading, even they are honestly rather painful, but anything after that in Balintherlas' list is where it just starts to get agonizing.

I think I had a seizure trying to read Dragons of Summer Flame.

[SpiritWarrior]

Lol, why? I have heard some bad and some good about the newer books. But yes, I am well aware of the authors' tendency to conform to the younger audience and to play heavily on cliches.

That said, when they aren't doing it, they can weave quite a charming tale.

[CerebroDragon]

Well...when you open your mind a little and consider for the first time someone reading a Dragonlance story, it doesn't seem quite as cliche'd no?

I think our reading experiences will significantly colour how we come to view and value them. Attempting to objectify this view and impose it on others is futile when everyone will be coming from a different set of reading experiences.

Admittedly for me now there is a certain amount of regression that is required to read and enjoy Dragonlance without being critical, but having said that I'll never impose my values of what I'm reading on to others, because for someone somewhere, the stories have that initial magic that our first fantasy tale has. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Just a couple of thoughts.

I stopped after Summer Flame - but have been tempted back to the world several times by friends who tell me some of the later writings on Raistlin may capture my interest. (being my sentimental favourite character)
We'll see. Maybe one carefree summer day down the track!

[Balintherlas]

Well the War of Souls trilogy is in my top 5, especially the last in the series, when Soth turns down Mina and the Queen, favorite part of maybe any book I've read. Also, I recommend the first two books of the Dark Disciple trilogy, there is more suspense and mystery in there than any of they're other books I think.