A shared world book of short stories set in the Dragonlance world. Not that good. ( )

Raistlin is my favorite character from the original trilogies. So, I was delighted to find this "prequel" of an adventure before the Chronicles took place. The brothers future issues with each other can be seen, even in this time, and it lays a foundation for what we know to come. This is a simple adventure the two embark on, but it reveals more about their years before they become heroes. ( )

Shortly after passing the Test at the Tower of High Sorcery, Raistlin, Caramon, and a kender, Earwig Lockpicker, find themselves wandering fairly aimlessly, their bankroll desperately low. A sign posted to tree offering 10,000 pieces of steel was too much temptation for them to skip, although they would later wish they had never seen the sign. The bizarre city of Mereklar had problems - bigger than anyone imagined. And the city wasn't the only one with problems. As the twins quickly found out, very few people were interested in having the twins assist the beleaguered city. From the City council that wanted them gone, to the assassins trying to dispatch them at every turn, to the cat-like beast roaming the city, to the populace, looking at Raistlin with a mixture of hatred and fear. The only one who appeared to want them in Mereklar is the city Councillor, the regal Shavas who seems to offer each of the companions what they most truly desire. Shavas is not what she seems, however...

In my opinion, this volume was by far and away the best of the Preludes series. The backdrop of the story was a little weird (Mereklar having been built by the gods of neutrality, having been tricked by the gods of darkness, but influenced by the gods of light... weird stuff), but the story itself was consistent with what we know about Krynn. One of the more interesting components was the introduction of a demi-god; the first one I'd encountered in the DragonLance realm. I was also impressed by Raistlin's compassionate gestures towards Caramon - I wish it was in his nature to be more like that...

Read 10/2007 ( )