Knights are all gone, and the Dragon's are dead.. (Dragonlance Series in general)

Member Name: Aerith

Product:	Dragonlance Series in general
Date:	26/09/01 (117 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good read, come as one entire set, plenty of action and spin offs to keep you occupied

Disadvantages: Dated? Nah...

Being an English student I spent a lot of time cooped up with books. Not to say that I don't study anymore, ee' gods, do I study and ove those books. mmmhmmm!
But like I said, Books are a primary part of my life. I spend time worshipping the little bleeders.. but Fantasy books are paramount to all others in my view. When lovelorn and hormonal girls spend their time reading Catherine Cookson's books, I'm there with a meaty fantasy, biting into it and loving the richness of the story. Spotty teenagers off with their horor/real life stories, I'm cheering on the proud knights, wrapped up in magic and walking the same roads that the characters do. Okay, so what If I'm batty about Fantasy, someone has to be? Right?

One of the first sets of books I ever read in the true adult fantasy genre, were the Dragonlance series when I was nine. I understood it completely from the moment it began. I don't know who these people are but to create a world so rich in detail, so lovingly crafted that the man hours spent doing it boggled me! Krynn was this worlds name, and it's inhabitants ranged form the proud and haughty elves <Silvanesti, Qualinesti or the Kaganesti> to the cheerful, light fingered Kender of Kenderhome.

It all began on a dark, windy night. The friends were finding their way to the Tavern in the trees of Solace, to meet those long gone, and new friends yet to be made. Those we first meet in the First book of the dragonlance are thus:

Tanis Halfelven: A half elf who is eschewed by eves and humans alike. A hunter/tracker of sorts and the natural leader of the party.
Flint Fireforge: a grumpy olf dwarf with too many years behind him and a liking for ale.
Sturm Brightblade: The son of a Knight of Solamnia, one day also seeking to join the order. Proud and noble, he bears his families pride and his own mistakes.
Raistlin Majere: A sickly Red Mage with small powers that are fast growing. Has golden
skin and sees death/time's effect upon everyone, sees nothing but death.
Cameron Majere: Raist's twin bother, and unlike the frail mage is tall, strong and LARGE. Hearty and hale to a fault, he follows his twin everywhere. A warrior.
Tasselhof Burrfoot: A kender, with light finger's Tas is a great friend of Flint's and is always by his side. Gets into trouble due to his natural curiousity, constantly.

They meet:
Goldmoon : Daughter of the plains, a barbarian <so called> child of the chieftan and the high priestess. Was worshipped asa goddess, and has come on the run with a blue crystal staff shrouded in mystery.
Riverwind: Her tall, dark, and silent companion, Riverwind is protective of his intended bride, Goldmoon and distrustful of anyone but plainsmen.
Tika Waylan: a barmaid at the Inn, she runs away and follows Tanis and the others in the second book.
Laurana: Daughter of the Kig of the Qualinesti <sun> elves, she runs away in the first book to follow Tanis whom she believes herself to be in love with.

These form the basis of the side against the dark forces that threaten Krynn. These dark forces come in the shape of Tahkisis... and the good shadowed by Paladine, the platinum dragon/star knight and saviour of good. Their journey begins with the company running away from fight in the inn at solace, into the water and over cliffs to a city long forgotten and buried. In this city <can't remember it's name -__- > they find not only the true bearer of the blue crystal staff but also a large black Dragon. The company, having faced the Qualinesti elves, the forest of the dead and draconian armies of Tahkisis, inevitably, go on inside. In due course, Goldmoon finds herself trying to save the company, Raist consumed by his need for this "book" and a strange old man called Fizban is not all he seems...

I won't ruin the ending for you, it wouldn't be fair now, would it?
^__^

However, I can tell you that later on in the books war strikes down upon Krynn and all the dragons, good <metallic coloured ones< and evil <any other colours> fight one another, and the personal lives of the characters become inseperably entangled to weave a tale you will never read the like of again.

Dragonlance is such an experience. It is smoothly written with good direction of the characters and their feelings. I would advise you read it, if only for the fact that TSR helped bring this plan, this epic story to fruition and someone, anyone should read this and appreciate it for the masterpiece it is. It is an entire newworld, where thousands of civilisations live, where your dreams are real! Dragons. Magic. Swords and Sorcery!
It's all in here. I am sorry If I am raving about this, but it's truly brilliant!

Try it, you might be pleasantly surprised, for a book written so long long ago in the days of yore...

'Rith xxx, DungeonMaster ^__~

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