Throughout a weeklong celebration of Dragonlance, there will be profiles for some of the important characters in the Chronicles, which is the original trilogy, and the books that started it all. So far we’ve discussed Tanis, Laurana, and Stum, Caramon and Raistlin, and Tasselhoff Burfoot, Flint Fireforge and Tika. We’ll finish off our introductions with Fizban, Pyrite, Goldmoon, and Riverwind.
Image credit: Larry Elmore
Fizban:
Lovable old fool, or something far more important? There is definitely more than meets the eye to this character. Ostensibly an aging, absent-minded mage who can never seem to remember the words to his favourite Fireball spell, and is seen at the side of the road arguing with a tree, he is something of a figure of fun. Constantly losing his hat and never remembering his name, Fizban’s relationship with young kender, Tasselhoff Burfoot, is particularly endearing and at times hilarious. He immediately reminded me of Tolkien’s Gandalf in the early stages of The Fellowship of the Ring, a kind of mentor character, who appeared to be just too aged and befuddled to really have any power or significance. What a great way to stay unremarkable and underestimated if you didn’t want people to pay much attention to you. Fizban appears exactly when needed, and haphazardly affects the events all around him, ultimately for the better, although at the time it always feels like he has caused a calamity. In fact events surrounding Fizban always appear to be a little out of control, but without giving away the major spoiler about Fizban, I think I can safely say that there is method in his madness! -Sue Bavey
More books featuring Fizban:
He shows up here and there. The rest the reader will have to discover on their own.
Image credit: Jeffrey Butler
Pyrite:
Pyrite is introduced to us in Dragons of Spring Dawning, when we are told that an old man and an aged golden dragon are happily napping in the middle of the Plains of Estwilde, apparently oblivious while dragon armies go about their business nearby. He is the longest living golden dragon and swore to Paladine that he would protect Huma back in the days of the Third Dragon War, back when he was a fierce warrior. He has long forgotten his actual name, but Pyrite is what the younger dragons affectionately call him. Pyrite, the mineral is often known as ‘Fool’s Gold’ and since Pyrite the dragon is a golden dragon and accompanies doddery old Fizban, this is a clever name for him.
By the time we meet Pyrite in Dragons of Spring Dawning he is a forgetful, almost toothless, but brave old thing, still thinking that he is in a battle protecting Huma. He mostly lives on oatmeal these days, due to his lack of teeth, he is deaf and his vision is dimming, but he remains intelligent, when mentally present in the here and now. He seems to be a good match for his rider, Fizban. Fizban has to leave Pyrite and makes him into a tiny golden statue which Tasselhof Burfoot is then able to keep in one of his pouches and carry around quite easily, without anyone suspecting he has a dragon on his person! -Sue Bavey
Image credit: Larry Elmore
Goldmoon:
Goldmoon is a difficult character to talk about. In some ways, she functions as a plot device at the beginning. She is the bearer of a mysterious staff that everyone and their brother is either after, or being accused of hiding. That being said, she ends up being far more, becoming an integral part of the group, as well as being responsible for finding out what happened to the gods of Krynn.
Goldmoon is smart, strong, and compassionate, the last being a trait that can be somewhat lacking in some of the other characters. It allows her to view things from a different perspective. I love seeing a female character that is strong without losing any emotions. While not being an early favorite of mine, I’ve come to appreciate her much more over the years. -Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub
More Books Featuring Goldmoon:
Dragons of a New Age trilogy by Jean Rabe
War of Souls trilogy by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Image Credit: Clyde Caldwell
Riverwind:
Riverwind is quiet, and he is stoic. He can be hard to get a handle on at first. Once he feels at ease with the group, though, you learn he’s someone that will always be there when needed. Not only that, he provides a window into this world. Things would not normally need explaining between a group of people who have known each other as long as the other companions have, but through Riverwind we learn a lot about how these characters tick. When Riverwind asks Tanis why he is called “half-elf” instead of “half-man” the reader gets a deeper look into Tanis’ psyche. This isn’t something anyone who has known Tanis would ask, so Riverwind adds much to the books just by being there.
We first meet Riverwind at the Inn of the Last Home (which I would love to visit, by the way). He travels with Goldmoon, the love of his life. Their relationship isn’t one I love, to be honest. He spends a good chunk of Dragons of Autumn Twilight being a bit of a jerk to her. Their relationship matures in subsequent books, however, which feels awfully similar to the way relationships can be. -Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub
More books featuring Riverwind:
Riverwind the Plainsman
The Magic of Krynn
About the Contributors:
Sue Bavey: Sue is an English mum of two teens living in Massachusetts with husband, kids, a cat, and a bunny. She enjoys reading all kinds of genres, especially fantasy, historical fiction, and thrillers.
Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub: Jodie is the creator of the Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub blog and a contributor to Grimdark Magazine. She either lives in Florida with her husband and sons, or in a fantasy book-she’ll never tell which. When she’s not reading, Jodie balances her time between homeschooling her hooligans, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and lamenting her inability to pronounce “lozenge”.
As with other successful fantasy series, the best example being Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance has strong ties to Dungeons and Dragons. The original novels were written to tie into several D&D Campaign modules, after all. In fact, in the original Dragonlance D&D modules players would choose one of the characters from the novels to play, as opposed to creating their own.
Eventually, Dragonlance stopped being made into gaming modules. The novels continued to be written, however, and the world expanded. New characters, ages, and storylines continue to be introduced. That sense of inclusion though, the one that draws a person into table top role playing games, continues in the novels. At the moment, you can find Dragonlance source books in the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons edition, and the 3.5 edition, although Dragonlance characters often make appearances in other D&D editions (the most recent edition is 5th). I am hopeful that Dragonlance will play a larger role in any new D&D editions. That would be amazing
If you have never played Dungeons and Dragons, I suggest you give it a go. It gets a bum rap, I’m assuming because it involves “playing pretend”, but who says we have to stop using our imaginations once we become adults? Readers use our imaginations every time we open a book.
I was fortunate to join Behind the Pages, Fantasy Book Nerd, and Sue Bavey on a Dragonlance Advanced Dungeons and Dragons gaming session, run by author and Youtuber Rob Edwards. Check it out below (and please ignore the fact that I am a singularly unconvincing Tanis).
Image Credit: Larry Elmore Logo Credit: Wizards of the Coast Banner Credit: Fantasy Book Nerd
Throughout a weeklong celebration of Dragonlance, there will be profiles for some of the important characters in the Chronicles, which is the original trilogy, and the books that started it all. So far we’ve discussed Tanis, Laurana, and Stum, as well as Caramon and Raistlin. Today, let’s learn a little bit about three more beloved characters: Flint Fireforge, Tika Waylan, and Tasselhoff Burfoot.
Image Credit: Clyde Caldwell
Flint Fireforge:
The first time I read the Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends trilogies, I immediately followed them up with Kindred Spirits, a book that features Flint heavily. If I didn’t already love Flint, that book would have done the trick. He’s always been there for Tanis, a character who sorely needs a friend.
That caring nature doesn’t stop with Tanis: Flint takes on a grandfatherly role for the entire group. He’s the sort who grumbles incessantly (and don’t you dare try to put him on a horse!), but he’s also the backbone of the group. I love that grumpy old dwarf so much!
-Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub
Image Credit: Valerie Valusek
Flint Fireforge:
Flint is an experienced fighter, with many years under his belt. He can come across as gruff, but this grumpy old man is full of heart. He doesn’t like boats, mind you, and will grumble quite often if he is forced to go in one. Heck he will grumble about many things when one thinks about it. To be fair, it is really quite understandable: he just wants to retire from questing, he’s been away from his home for so long. But when danger presents itself in the end he will have your back, even if he grumbles about it.
Reorx’s Beard! He can’t let these youngsters go off and get themselves into trouble or worse killed can he?
Tanis’s oldest friend, Tasslehoff’s truest friend and companion Grumpy as heck with the biggest heart
-I Can Has Books
More Books Featuring Flint Fireforge:
Flint the King
Kindred Spirits
Image Credit: Larry Elmore
Tasslehoff Burrfoot:
If you ever come across our little Kender friend Tas, be sure to hold your purses and other goods near you and/or out of sight. Because it might just happen that you “drop” something and he will just happen to pick it up. He’s not a thief, just extremely curious. This curiosity can lead to some interesting and possibly dangerous adventures. So keep your eyes open, he may be tiny but look for blue leggings, they seem to be his favorite item of clothing and he wears them all the time. So if you are lucky to befriend him and you ever need a lock opened he’s your guy, there is the possibility of getting into trouble but Tas is braver than you realize because Kender don’t know fear only wonder.
He is loyal beyond words. A true friend is he.
-I Can Has Books
Image Credit: Artist Unknown
Tasslehoff Burfoot:
Watch your pockets! And your knapsacks. And handbags. And anything not nailed down, locked up, or perched high above. Wait. That stuff’s not safe, either. But Tas promises he’s just borrowing it.
Tasslehoff Burrfoot, loveable Kender. Tasslehoff Burrfoot, bane of many an existence. Tasslehoff Burrfoot—one of the most entertaining characters to ever grace the page of a book. I think what endears me most to Tas is his unconditional caring. He genuinely enjoys the people with which he keeps company. He cries along with them, laughs along with them—even when they tell him straight to his face that he’s annoying. (Looking at you, Flint…) He’s the master of Taunting. He heads straightforward into adventure—because you never know what treasures will be ripe for the—borrowing. He promises he’ll return it someday. At the end of the day Tas is always there for his friends—be it on purpose or accidental—and having him in the ensemble not only brings some comic relief, but an almost child-like look at life in an increasingly violent and dangerous world. Sure, there might be Death Knights and dragons chasing them down, tricks and traps around every corner—but that pales in comparison to the treasures Tas is bound to find within every dungeon, cave, or, you know…a street stall selling books that just happen to be right there in the open. He’ll only hang onto the priceless magic tome for a little while, he swears. At least, until he finds something more intriguing…
– L.A. Wasielewski
Image credit: Larry Elmore
Tasslehoff Burfoot:
Here’s the thing: Tas is great. I think he often gets viewed as comic relief, a character not to be taken seriously, but that’s a simplification of who he is. Sure, he tends to find the positive (and often funny) side of most situations, he might “acquire” things in dubious ways, and his stories are not necessarily believable, but his very nature allows for the best relationship dynamics. His friendship with a certain gully dwarf is golden, and the way he and Flint interact is one of the best things about the trilogy. Not for nothing, but it’s a Tas scene that makes me bawl each time I read it, despite knowing what’s coming.
All kender are struck by wanderlust at some point, and Tas is no different. In fact, he manages to traverse the length and breadth of Krynn many times throughout the Dragonlance series, appearing in more books than perhaps any of the other companions. I’m always happy to see him. I know I can rely on him to bring a smile and some unexpected wisdom.
-Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub
More books featuring Tasslehoff Burfoot:
Wanderlust
Kendermore
Image credit: Larry Elmore
Tika Waylan:
I feel like out of all the heroes of the lance, Tika gets the least amount of attention. But you know what? Let’s turn that around. While Tika may not be the strongest amongst the heroes, I certainly view her as one of the bravest. Before war descended on Krynn, Tika grew up at the Inn of the Last Home. As an orphan, Solace and the bar were all she knew. And yet, when the time came down to it, she joined a crew of warriors and magic casters to try and save the world. Tika may have been the underdog, but she refused to back down. She showed readers that it’s worthwhile to put your whole heart into something. And if you happen to meet her by reading Dragons of Autumn Twilight, you’ll be able to see just what she was able to accomplish.
-Behind the Pages
Image credit: Larry Elmore
Tika Waylan:
Tika plays an important role in the storyline. While she might be viewed as a side character, she is the first character mentioned in the prologue. Deadly with a skillet- er, shield- with a quick tongue and a fiery temper, Tika keeps Caramon’s head above water when he feels like he’s sinking. She’s brave in many ways, and rarely complains.
-Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub
More books featuring Tika:
Time of the Twins (Dragonlance Legends book 1)
Dragons of Summer Flame
About the contributors:
Behind the Pages: Hello everyone! My name is Tabitha and I run a review blog called Behind the Pages. I am an avid fantasy reader, but dabble in other genres from time to time. I love writing and talking about books. Dragonlance is my absolute favorite fantasy series and I am so psyched to be a part of Dragonlance week.
I Can Has Books: Carrie (ICanHasBooks) can be found surrounded by tomes as books make up the foundation of who she is and possibly her home ,which is in desperate need of more walls for shelving, because like her name says I can has books? Yes Carrie, yes you can. When she is not reading, she can be found roaming around Azeroth (Wow Classic as her computer currently sucks), walking in graveyards or wandering in the woods. If you would like to follow her around:
Author L.A. Wasielewski: L.A. Wasielewski is a gamer, nerd, baseball fan (even though the Brewers make it very difficult sometimes), and mom. When she’s not writing, she’s blasting feral ghouls and super mutants in the wastelands, baking and cooking, and generally being a smart-ass. She’s very proud of the fact that she has survived several years with two drum kits in the house—and still has most of her hearing intact.
Books 1&2 of her adult epic dark fantasy Alchemist Trilogy are out now, with Book3 due to debut Autumn 2021.
Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub: Jodie is the creator of the Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub blog and a contributor to Grimdark Magazine. She either lives in Florida with her husband and sons, or in a fantasy book-she’ll never tell which. When she’s not reading, Jodie balances her time between homeschooling her hooligans, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and lamenting her inability to pronounce “lozenge”.
Logo Credit: Wizards of the Coast Image Credit: Larry Elmore Banner Credit: Fantasy Book Nerd
This week is a celebration of the fantastic book series, Dragonlance. The characters are all unique and well-developed, so of course they deserve introductions. So far, Tanis, Laurana, and Sturm have been discussed. Let’s talk about Caramon and Raistlin Majere today.
Image Credit: Larry Elmore
Caramon Majere:
DragonLance. I don’t remember if I encountered the book first, or the (Advanced) Dungeons and Dragons adventure. Either way the two are inseparable in my mind. It was a unique idea, creating novels and games that told the same story. Letting you experience the same adventure in multiple ways. The first module, Dragons of Despair (DL1), covers about the first half of the novel Dragons of Autumn Twilight. I owned and enjoyed both back when they first came out, but I couldn’t tell you where my copies went.
I’ve been listening to the audiobook of Dragons of Autumn Twilight of late, savouring the nostalgia. It’s let me see the book in a new light — and learn that potentially I’d been mispronouncing “Caramon” and “Draconian” for years. The book works better than it has any right to. The attempt to dramatize the mechanics of D&D rules and adhere to the terminology of the game in the book does necessitate quite the balancing act. When Raistlin, the party magic-user, uses fine sand as a material component for his Sleep spell, you can almost hear the dice rattle. Is it more or less too distracting to read that if you aren’t a D&D player?
The books do rise above these limitations, however, thanks to some deep world-building, fascinating lore and some truly memorable and likable characters. The kender, Tasslehoff, the aforementioned wizard Raistlin, Tanis, Goldmoon and the rest. But the character I am most drawn to on this journey though the book is Raistlin’s twin brother, Caramon.
Caramon Majere may not be as cool a character as his spell casting twin brother or as quirky as Tas or even a leader like Tanis. Caramon’s strength is in his right arm and his big heart. He’s a likable, affable giant of a man who seems adept at making connections. He’s the centre of it all. Not always the centre of the action – though often that too – but his relationship with Raistlin is a core element of the books. He has strong ties to Tanis, he is half-brother to Kitiara, and even Sturm notes that it was Caramon he first felt kinship with when he arrived in Solace.
Caramon is loyal. Loyal to his friends, but first and foremost loyal to his brother. If you need his help, Caramon will give it, as long as Raist doesn’t need him first.
His failings are all very human. He’s a little too fond of food and drink. Far from stupid, he does tend to favour action over intense planning sessions. And yes, he does spend a lot of time ignoring his brother’s… let’s say foibles… but that’s family for you.
Basically, if I can bring this back around to D&D, he’s the perfect player character. And that makes sense. Even now the most common choice for D&D character is Human Fighter with a big sword. And that, friends, is the big hearted, affable giant Caramon Majere.
To hear this excellent profile read aloud and discussed by author Rob Edwards, click Dragonlance Caramon Majere
-Rob Edwards
Image Credit: Daniel Horne
Caramon Majere:
Kind and charismatic , Caramon Majere is everything his twin brother is not. He’s probably the most likable character of the group, although perhaps not the brightest. With his easy going nature, Caramon could be in danger of being overlooked as a character. What keeps that from happening and makes makes him a fully developed character is his relationship with his brother.
Caramon’s brother, Raistlin, is weak and sickly. He relies on Caramon to be his physical strength when his own strength gives out. Caramon is loyal to each of the companions, but he would betray them all if Raistlin gave the word. Caramon is his physical strength, but Caramon relies on Raistlin for direction. Without having someone to care for, someone to tell him what to do, would Caramon survive? Or would he find himself adrift?
This dichotomy makes for an engrossing relationship, and one that bleeds over into Caramon’s interactions with all the companions. Ultimately, Caramon is more than a meat shield; he’s a complicated character who, for good or ill, wears his heart on his sleeve.
-Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub
More Books Featuring Caramon:
Time of the Twins (Legends trilogy)
Brothers in Arms
Image Credit: Larry Elmore
Raistlin:
I can think of no character in the history of fantasy books more incredibly written than Raistlin Majere. Margaret Weis’ creation of this character may very well be the most valuable gift the fantasy community has ever been given.
Powerful. Arrogant. Mysterious. Purposefully difficult. Ill-tempered, yet caring. (Sometimes…usually when it’s to his benefit.) Complex. Frail. Manipulative. Helpful. Crabby. Calculating. Intelligent. Observant. Awe-inspiring. Terrifying. The layers of this magician run so deep, I don’t think we’ll ever peel them all back—and that’s the beauty of Raistlin.
I was trying to come up with some complex character analysis and kept coming back to the one simple fact that everything about Raistlin is perfect—even down to his negative traits. He’s crafted in such a way that it all melds together masterfully. He makes readers love to hate him—but care about him in the same breath. He treats his brother like garbage, yet will be there to help him if his life is in danger. He manipulates those around him, enrages them to the point of exasperation. But beneath those heavy robes and golden skin, there’s a man who is constantly haunted by his own mortality and weaknesses, whether he wants to admit it or not. And those factors drove him—to, well, read the books…
-L.A. Wasielewski
Image Credit: Larry Elmore
Raistlin Majere:
Raistlin, Raistlin, Raistlin, my dear old wizarding pal. How I like you and dislike you, all at the same time! If I was doing a forensic history of Mr. Majere, I would conclude that this dude has issues! Not little issues like he might be a bit unrealistic at times or he might be a bit uncouth. No, he has full blown personality issues. He is a total narcissist, and if I was putting him in the DSM – 5 or ICD -10 diagnostic criteria, he totally fits the bill for Narcissistic Personality Disorder. My evidence, he is Deficient of conscience; unscrupulous, amoral, disloyal, fraudulent, deceptive, arrogant, exploitive; dominating, contemptuous and vindictive. However, not all the time! Raistlin is more complex than that. At times, he can be gentle, kind, playful and also show all the opposite qualities listed above. For instance, just think back to the part in the Dragonlance Chronicles when Raistlin et al, take on the disguise of travelling performers. At this point, Raistlin is almost likeable. He appears carefree and believe it or not, he is even nice to children. What? Raistlin, nice to kids? You are kidding right? It just shows doesn’t it? Even the most seemingly unlikeable characters have a good side and are more complex than what we think, and that is most true of Raistlin. One of the most complex characters in modern fantasy. I was first introduced to The Dragonlance Chronicles back in the 90’s by a friend who was really into D&D. At this point, I had read loads of fantasy, stuff like David Eddings, Tolkien, David Gemmel, Piers Anthony, Stephen Donaldson and Raymond E. Feist to name but a few. On the whole, I had come across lots of wizards, Gandalf and the crew, and most of them fit the bill of being generally bumbling old men. However, this belied the power they exerted and they could at once be powerful and terrible and I liked that juxtaposition of their characters. However, it was not until I met Raistlin in The Dragons of Autumn Twilight that I had any inkling that they could be different. Here was a guy that was similar in age to myself at the time. He isn’t particularly heroic or even likeable. He can be snarky, petty and vindictive. It went against the grain of most of the other wizards that I had read at the time. He wasn’t interested in the greater good. He was interested in what he could become and how he could get there. Not particularly admirable qualities, but a refreshing change. In some ways, he reminded me of one of my favorite characters, Elric the Enchanter. They are both similarly afflicted by their frailties, both needing to imbibe some sort of concoction to keep themselves alive (although Elric managed to find Stormbringer and that ate the souls of those he killed and then transferred the power to him), both on the arrogant side and both had odd skin tones. Although that is where the similarity ends It’ s interesting watching Raistlin’s journey throughout the original Dragonlance chronicles, how he develops from his begrudging reliance on his brother Caramon to becoming an individual that relies on nobody but himself. One of the things that is quite admirable is that Raistlin never shies away from his own actions. He always maintains ownership of his actions whether right or wrong, and you have to say, he never lies. He may not give the whole truth, but he never lies. He will always tell you the truth, regardless of whether you want to hear it or not. One of the other characteristics that I like about him is his constant skirting of his personality. At times, he will happily wear the robes of neutrality, at others, he will wear the robes of darkness, similarly reflecting his roles within the books. At times, he will be the protagonist, at others the antagonist. I suppose looking at it, Raistlin probably started my love for grim dark fiction. Here was a character that was not particularly likeable, but could carry the weight of the story on his shoulders regardless of his lack of affability. That is not to say that he can’t be funny. He can, but it is always tempered with that underlying snarkiness. On top of that, let’s not forget Raistlin’s power. He is definitely one of the most powerful wizards in fantasy, and this tapped into my love for beings that could warp the very essence of reality and transform it into something completely different. So there we have it. Raistlin in a nutshell!
-Fantasy Book Nerd
Image Credit: Larry Elmore
Raistlin Majere:
There have already been two fantastic descriptions of Raistlin. However, I love him so much that I’m going to add my two cents’ worth anyway.
Raistlin is cunning, he’s smart, he’s untrustworthy. He’s known as “the Sly One” for good reason. He’s also brilliantly written and his story arc is what spawned my love for morally ambiguous characters.
Raistlin is the twin of the affable Caramon. The uncanny side of the coin, Raistlin is everything Caramon is not. He has made readers uncomfortable since his conception and I think I know why. He takes the parts of us that we all prefer to keep hidden- our jealousy, bitterness, anger, and hunger for power- and proudly brings them into the open. He isn’t a “good guy”, but he’s not your typical “bad guy” either. He doesn’t apologize for who he is, and he never hides it. He is the epitomy of a morally gray character.
Raistlin can be very cruel, which is especially evident in his interactions with Caramon. He’s also capable of great compassion. He understands what it’s like to be looked down on or bullied. His relationship with his twin is a codependent one, and is developed amazingly well throughout multiple books. Caramon is the physical strength of the frail Raistlin, but Raistlin is Caramon’s will and purpose. It’s hard to say who needs the other more.
Raistlin can’t swing a sword, nor can he shoot a bow. He’s a magic user, extremely skilled in his art. Oh, and did I mention that he has hourglass eyes and golden skin? I’m not explaining, I’ll leave that to the books. Let’s just say, Raistlin is hardcore. However, it’s his complexity of character that makes him one of my favorite characters of all time. Certainly, he’s my favorite magic user (sorry, Gandalf).
-Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub
More Books Featuring Raistlin:
Time of the Twins (Legends trilogy)
Soulforge
About the Contributors:
Rob Edwards: Rob Edwards is a British born writer and content creator, living in Finland. His podcast, StorycastRob, features readings from his short stories and extracts from longer work. He writes about coffee, despite not drinking it, spaceships, despite being down-to-earth, and superheroes, despite everything.
His debut novel, The Ascension Machine was published in 2020. His short stories can be found in anthologies from Inklings Press and Rivenstone Press.
A life-long gamer and self-professed geek, he is proud of his entry on wookieepedia, the result of writing several Star Wars RPG scenarios in his youth.
Fantasy Book Nerd: Fantasy Book Nerd here! As you can see from the name, I might have a bit of a thing for fantasy. I know, shocking isn’t it? I don’t know what gave it away! Anyway, if you liked what I wrote, you can find some more reviews on www.fantasybooknerd.com. Don’t be scared, I don’t bite, and neither does Frank – The skelebog jester who guards the site. Oh, and I also occasionally post on Gingernuts of Horror.
Author L.A. Wasielewski: L.A. Wasielewski is a gamer, nerd, baseball fan (even though the Brewers make it very difficult sometimes), and mom. When she’s not writing, she’s blasting feral ghouls and super mutants in the wastelands, baking and cooking, and generally being a smart-ass. She’s very proud of the fact that she has survived several years with two drum kits in the house—and still has most of her hearing intact.
Books 1&2 of her adult epic dark fantasy Alchemist Trilogy are out now, with Book3 due to debut Autumn 2021.
Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub: Jodie Crump is the creator of the Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub blog. She either lives in Florida with her husband and sons, or in a fantasy book-she’ll never tell which. When she’s not reading, Jodie balances her time between homeschooling her hooligans, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and lamenting her inability to pronounce “lozenge”.
Logo Credit: Wizards of the Coast Image Credit: Larry Elmore Banner Credit: Fantasy Book Nerd
This week I’m celebrating the brilliant fantasy series Dragonlance on my blog. I’m being joined by some amazing book bloggers, authors, and YouTubers. The Dragonlance series isn’t just brilliant, it’s huge. I’ve shared my suggested reading order, which you can find here: Dragonlance Books- Where on Krynn Should You Start? You’ll notice, though, that I stuck to the main storyline when discussing reading order. That’s because, aside from that main storyline, a good chunk of the books can be read in different orders. Here are a few of my favorite side novels, ones that don’t necessarily add to the main storyline, but are still fantastic novels.
The Legend of Huma (Heroes Volume 1) by Richard A. Knaak:
“To the west Huma rode, to the High Clerist’s Tower, on the back of the silver dragon. And the path of their flight crossed over a desolate country where the dead walked only, mouthing the names of dragons.” (blurb on back of book)
I love this book because it takes what was a legend only mentioned in the Chronicles, and weaves it into a full story, rich and nuanced. Richard A. Knaak is a pretty stinking good writer, too!
Kindred Spirits (Meetings Sextet Volume 1) by Mark Anthony and Ellen Porath:
When Flint Fireforge, dwarf and metalsmith, receives a wondrous summons from the Speaker of the Sun, he journeys to the fabled elven city of Qualinost. There he meets Tanis, a thoughtful youth born of a tragic union between elf and man. Tanis and Flint, each a misfit in his own way, find themselves unlikely friends. But a pompous elf lord is mysteriously slain, and another elf soon meets the same fate. Tanis stands accused, and if his innocence cannot be proven, the half-elf will be banished forever. Solving the mystery will be a perilous task. Time is on the murder’s side, and he is not finished yet. (taken from Amazon)
This was one of the very first books I read after the Chronicles and Legends. I really love seeing the genesis of Flint and Tanis’ relationship. If I hadn’t already been a huge fan of Flint, this book would ensured that I became one.
Flint the King by Mary Kirchoff and Douglas Niles:
Before the War of the Lance The peaceful life of Flint Fireforge is disturbed when he is forced to leave Solace and return to his dwarven homeland to investigate his brother’s murder. As he delves into the mystery, unexpected allies and unseen enemies join the fight of truth against treachery. Flint soon discovers that to bring his brother’s killer to justice, he must either die or become king. He’s not sure which choice might be worse. (taken from Amazon)
At the beginning of the Chronicles, the reader learns that each of the main characters is meeting up again after a five year separation where they each went their own way. This is the story of what happened during Flint’s five years before the events of the Chronicles. It’s a fun adventure, but also a sweet and touching story. You’ll notice that this is the fifth Preludes book. These don’t have to be read in order since each book follows a different character prior to the events of the Chronicles. They’re all worth reading, though.
The Doom Brigade and Draconian Measures (Kang’s Regiment 1 and 2) by Margaret Weis and Don Perrin:
War can get a fellow killed. The fearless draconians of the War of the Lance have retired from the field of battle to a pleasant valley in the Kharolis Mountains. Well, it would be pleasant, if it weren’t for some dwarves, whose irritating feuding prevents the draconians from realizing their greatest hope – the ability to continue their doomed race. When the dwarves discover a map leading to a fortune buried in the dwarven kingdom of Thorbardin, the draconians are swept up in a feverish race for treasure. Little do both sides realize that they are part of the strange and terrible destiny descending upon Krynn during the Summer of Flame. A desinty that includes the children of Chaos…the fire dragons! (taken from Amazon)
Both of these books are so much fun! I love the idea of telling a story from the point of view of the villains, and these books are great. The rollicking fun and adventure doesn’t stop from start to finish. I won’t post anything about the second book for fear of spoilers, but it continues in the same vein.
TheSoulforge by Margaret Weis and Brothers in Arms by Margaret Weis and Don Perrin (The Raistlin Chronicles):
A mage’s soul is forged in the crucible of magic. Raistlin Majere is six years old when he is introduced to the archmage who enrolls him in a school for the study of magic. There the gifted and talented but tormented boy comes to see magic as his salvation. Mages in the magical Tower of High Sorcery watch him in secret, for they see shadows darkening over Raistlin even as the same shadows lengthen over all Ansalon. Finally, Raistlin draws near his goal of becoming a wizard. But first he must take the drea Test in the Tower of High Sorcery. It will change his life forever – if he survives. (taken from Amazon)
No spoilers given.
First, let’s just all ooh and ahh over that fantastic art on Brothers in Arms, done by Daniel R. Horne. Wow! The Soulforge is absolutely genius, and the follow up is just as great. You really can’t go wrong with any book bearing Margaret Weis’ name on it. I love seeing more about what makes Raistlin tick.
The Dragons of Krynn, The Dragons at War, and The Dragons of Chaos (the Dragon Anthologies) edited by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman:
Three anthologies of Dragonlance lore: highlighting the familiar and beloved characters (and creatures), while filling in some intriguing gaps of lost Dragonlance history. (taken from Amazon)
I’m always a little iffy about short story collections, but the majority of the stories in the Dragon Anthologies are really good and help to flesh out this already well developed world.
There are many, many excellent side novels (for lack of a better term). Go explore! Tell me which ones you enjoy!
Welcome to Dragonlance Week! This week the Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub blog will be celebrating all things to do with this amazing fantasy series. Be sure to enter the giveaway (here) for a chance to win one of two Chronicles Trilogy sets.
Dragonlance is different from your average fantasy series in several ways. One of the things that makes Dragonlance stand out is the truly incredible artists that have lent their talents to the art of Dragonlance throughout the years. From Larry Elmore to Brom, the range of artists, and the varied artistic visions are definitely worth taking a closer look at. Here are just a few of the excellent artists you can find sharing their work with Dragonlance:
Larry Elmore: Like most readers, I immediately think of Larry Elmore when Dragonlance artists come to mind. His artwork has graced the covers of the Chronicles, as well as many other novels, calendars, full sized prints, etc. In my mind, he’s synonymous with Dragonlance.
Credit: Larry Elmore
Credit: Larry Elmore
Clyde Caldwell: With a very distinctive style, Clyde Caldwell contributed much to the art of Dragonlace. His scenes tend to be action packed and his dragons are pretty stinking cool.
Credit: Clyde Caldwell
Credit: Clyde Caldwell
Jeff Easley: Another artist that comes to mind when I think of the art of Dragonlance (or fantasy art in general) is Jeff Easley. I’m not able to use correct terminology when it comes to art since I’ve actually had my toddler tell me my happy faces look wrong, so I’ll just stick with saying it’s awesome. He won the E. Gary Gygax Lifetime Achievement Award this year, and it is definitely deserved.
Credit: Jeff Easley
Credit: Jeff Easley
Todd Lockwood: I am sure Lockwood’s art is pretty recognizable: not only has he done many pieces for Dragonlance, you can also find his work on the covers of R.A. Salvatore’s books. He’s done some of my favorite Dragonlance covers. I’m a huge fan of the way he portrays Raistlin in particular.
Credit: Todd Lockwood
Credit: Todd Lockwood
Brom: Most fantasy aficionados know who Brom is. His art has a dark and gothic feel to it. While Brom mostly lent his talents to the Dark Sun gaming setting, he has contributed to Dragonlance every now and again.
Credit: Brom
Credit: Brom
Matt Stawicki: Matt Stawicki has done a ton of Dragonlance art. Fans of the Magic: The Gathering card game can find his work there as well.
Credit: Matt Stawicki
Credit: Matt Stawicki
The following artists aren’t quite as prolific in the Dragonlance setting, but their contributions are nonetheless fantastic. A few of them are personal favorites.
Kevin Mccann:
Credit: Kevin Mccann
Keith Parkinson:
Credit: Keith Parkinson
Jennell Jaquays: I love this particular piece so much that I have a stained-glass version of it. Yep, I’m a nerd.
Credit: Paul Jaquays
This is in no way a complete list of the amazing artists who have contributed to Dragonlance. A great book to check out for more excellent artwork is Masters of Dragonlance Art. There is some seriously incredible talent in the world of Dragonlance.
For those of you who have thus far managed to escape my gushing: the Dragonlance Chronicles was my gateway to adult fantasy. They have everything I look for in a book of any genre: excellent world building, engrossing writing, and absolutely incredible characters.
Growing up, I was one of those kids who thrived on fairy tales. I never wanted the dragon to be defeated (because dragons are cool!), but I loved the adventure aspect, and the acceptance of the impossible. As I got older, books like St. George’s Dragon, and East of the Sun, West of the Moon, gave way to Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern, Jane Yolen’s A Diversity of Dragons, and Patricia C. Wrede’s Enchanted Forest Chronicles. They scratched an itch, but were more of a next step than a new beginning.
I’ve always been an advanced reader and around fifth grade or so, those books were replaced with things like Dracula and The Picture of Dorian Grey. I had no idea that fantasy books- the kind I liked- existed for adults too.
I stumbled across the Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman when I was in sixth grade. Those amazing books with dragons, dwarves, mages, kender, and adventure aplenty, complete with complex, flawed characters. I immediately fell in love. I read those books to death.
One of the many wonderful things about the Dragonlance series is it’s huge. There are the Chronicles, where I started. Then the Legends, and (at this point) upwards of one hundred other books written by several separate authors. The world is built so incredibly well that there are more stories to be told, and more characters to follow on adventures. The world of Krynn is fully developed. It’s so easy to insert yourself into those books and feel like you’re battling the Dark Queen, your own darkness, or even grasping for power.
These incredible books rekindled in me my love of the fantasy genre. I read Tolkien, Tad Williams, David Gemmell, Sean Russell, R.A. Salvatore, Patrick Rothfuss, and so many others. I loved them all. The rest, as they say, is history.
I reread the Dragonlance Chronicles and the Legends at least once a year, and I’ve done so for the last twenty years. I could probably recite them from memory by now. There’s something comforting about opening a book you love and know almost by heart. It’s like seeing old friends again. When I’m having a bad day, or just need a bit of a break from things (I’m looking at you, 2020), I pick these books back up.
The news that Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman will be returning to Krynn with new novels soon naturally necessitated a huge amount of geekery on my part. What better way to celebrate the great news than to have a Dragonlance Week on my blog? Some amazing authors, youtubers, and bookbloggers have been more than generous with their time, making this week an awesome love letter to Dragonlance. There are opinion pieces, character profiles, giveaways, a Dragonlance roleplaying session, and an interview with author Margaret Weis herself. Grab your pack, watch out for draconicans, and let’s go on an adventure!
—————–Giveaway!!—————–
Two people will win physical copies of the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy. The giveaway is international.To enter, comment below. And if you’ve already read the books, will you tell me who your favorite character is? I’m curious. Winners will be announced on Sunday, April 11th.
Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub 