A classic of the High Fantasy/RPG genre. A fun read. ( )

Dragons of Autumn Twilight is one of many novels written by co-authors Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis. It is set in the mystical world of Krynn, where the true gods of ancient times are lost and evil beings walk the lands promoting new religions.
The story begins with the reunion of some friends. Five years before they had left their home of Solace and gone on separate quests to find proof of the true gods. The companions are Tanis Half-Elven- the wisest and the leader, Flint Fireforge- a dwarf that is over one hundred but a great warrior, Tasslehoff Burrfoot- a well meaning kender that never gets scared, Sturm Brightblade- a disgraced knight who has been searching for his father, and finally the twins Cameron and Raistlin Majere. Cameron is a great warrior, Raist is a mage.
They are all very discouraged when they see that none of them have found what they searched for. Their hopes rise, however, by the appearance of a barbarian woman and her companion who carry a blue crystal staff with true healing powers. The evil that has corrupted the land force them to flee, however, when people begin chasing after the staff. The companions travel to where one of the barbarians found the staff, and there they uncover what they thought had been a myth- dragons.
At the end of this installment in the Dragonlance Chronicles, the companions realize that the return of the dragons means the return of the ancient goddess known as the Dark Queen. Together they prepare for the longest fight of their lives.
The cover art for my copy of this book is very descriptive. It has a lot of color and is a picture of the sleepy town of Solace where the companions meet. In front of Solace stand Flint, Tanis, and the barbarian woman Goldmoon. There is not a part of the cover that I do not like. I recommend this book for people who like fantasy novels, as well as those who like stories about dragons like Eragon. The Dragonlance Chronicles are a good read for science fiction lovers as well. ( )

I read this book in my early teens and absolutely loved it. I read the next in the series as well and the third book became the first book I ever waited for to be published because it hadn't come out yet which very much confused me at the time...

Obviously a fantasy novel, loosely based on the Dungeons and Dragons universe. If you don't like swords and magic, this is so not for you. If you like a fun romp with interesting characters fighting goblins and ogres and dragons in an attempt to save the world, then welcome home. ( )

Takes me back to high school... I loved these stories and will likely read them again some day. ( )

A few weeks ago, I was facing the prospect of the end of the spring semester and the approach of summer. The heady realization broke over me that I would be free to read something I wanted to read, rather than something for class, and as I dug through my memory of what we owned that I would like to read, a lightbulb fired above my head. I wanted to return to the DragonLance Saga, books that had practically raised me, teaching me the difference between good and evil, my moral code, and a great many other things. Excitedly, I went to our library to find the Chronicles series... only to discover that we did not actually own them.

Presumably, I initially checked them out from the library, but it really surprised me that I hadn't purchased them before now. Therefore, I made a shopping list of books I needed to own, and when April and I made it to Barnes & Noble, I picked up a half a dozen must-have books for DragonLance lovers.

The first of these is Dragons of Autumn Twilight, first published in 1984. The book begins heavily in media res, as the Companions return to the Inn of the Last Home, having parted ways five years ago to search the land for signs of the old gods. The reader is immediately given numerous hints to their past, hooking our attention into the book and making it hard to put down. It is a fast read, flowing quickly and smoothly, and is a clear demonstration of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's mastery and profound partnership.

The Companions quickly find themselves thrust into the middle of a war, and the book delves into the lives of these normal people turned heroes in a fashion not seen in today's literature. It seems that, these days, the heroes are practically superhuman, indestructible and uncannily intelligent. In DragonLance, the heroes never sought to be such, and they serve because they know it is the right thing to do. They do so out of love, and the theme of death is not shied away from.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight is the beginning of the series, and as such is something of a mystery. If you don't mind having the answers revealed slowly through some of the most masterful storytelling yet to be seen in fantasy fiction, I heartily recommend picking up the DragonLance Chronicles. ( )