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Title:
Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Series:
Dragonlance Chronicles #1
Author: Margaret Weis &
Tracy Hickman
Rating: 1.5 of 5 Stars DNF@49%
Genre:
Fantasy
Pages: 412 / 202
Words:
151K / 74K
Publish: 1984
I
would have enjoyed this much more 30-35 years ago. I probably would
have eaten it up with a spoon, both hands and tried to use my feet to
shove even more in. And I would have had very fond memories of it,
which might have tided me over a re-read today.
However,
none of that happened, so I went into this completely unblinkered and
seeing this from my perspective of “now” without any nostalgia
glasses or youth. It was not pretty.
This
was written for teenagers without experience. The characters are all
supposed to be almost 30, and in some cases, much older, but they all
ACT like teenagers. They fight amongst themselves, they are jerks,
they scream and holler at the worst possible times, they play “jokes”
that are mean-spirited and they don’t think about anybody but
themselves as individuals. Plus, at one point they all get a ride
from a group of Pegasi that are supposed to take them right to the
place they need to go to prevent a world ending evil from happening
and the pegasus leader is like “nope, it’s too evil, we’re
dropping you off here because it is too dangerous. Sorry/not sorry!”
and they have to traipse through an impassable swamp. It was
ridiculous.
I
talked about the characters being jerks to each other, but one in
particular really annoyed me. His name was Raistlin and he was a
wizard and a brother to one of the other members of the party who was
some sort of warrior’y kind of guy. Raistlin was a selfish son of a
bastard from the get-go and despised everyone in the party, including
his own brother, because they didn’t have the knowledge he did
(which he’d spent years learning and paying a massive physical
price for). He was physically sick a lot, but also I’d say he was
mentally sick and emotionally sick. He was the kind of character I
could see becoming a Saruman kind of figure.
Plus
there was more stuff and I realized at the 200 page mark that I was
just feeling miserable with this. So I dnf’d this and will not be
trying another Dragonlance book ever again. That being said, this is
something I would recommend to the teen crowd because I think reading
the Fantasy genre is good for the developing teen mind. It is raw
fuel for their mind, just like an entire pizza is fuel for their
body. I’d probably die if I tried to eat an entire pizza now ;-)
★✬☆☆☆
From
Grokipedia
Dragons
of Autumn Twilight follows a group of longtime companions who reunite
in the treetop village of Solace at the Inn of the Last Home after
five years apart, amid rumors of returning dragons and the apparent
abandonment of the gods. [5] [6] Their gathering is
disrupted by the arrival of two Plainsmen, Goldmoon and Riverwind,
who carry a mysterious blue crystal staff capable of miraculous
healing, suggesting the possible return of divine power to
Krynn. [5] [6] When draconian soldiers serving the
Dragon Highlord Verminaard attack Solace in pursuit of the staff, the
companions flee together, joined by the Plainsmen, and are guided by
a seemingly senile old wizard named Fizban as they escape
downriver. [6]The group's perilous journey leads them through
haunted forests and devastated lands, including the ruined village of
Que-shu, where Goldmoon and Riverwind confront their past
losses. [6] Directed by visions and aided by the
Forestmaster and her pegasi, they reach the flooded ruins of Xak
Tsaroth within a critical timeframe. [6] There, they
navigate treacherous depths inhabited by gully dwarves and
draconians, culminating in a confrontation with the black dragon
Khisanth, guardian of the staff's origins. [6] Goldmoon
employs the staff against the dragon, destroying it but apparently
sacrificing herself; the gods revive her and grant the Disks of
Mishakal, platinum discs inscribed with the true teachings of the
good deities, marking the rediscovery of divine magic. [6] The
battle causes further destruction to the city, forcing the companions
to escape with the sacred disks. [6]Upon returning, the
companions find Solace and surrounding areas occupied by the
Dragonarmies. [6] Captured and enslaved, they are
transported in a caravan where they encounter Tanis's elven cousin
Gilthanas and Fizban again; elven attackers aid their escape. [6] The
group reaches the elven kingdom of Qualinesti, where tensions arise
over Tanis's heritage, but the elves agree to assist in disrupting
the Dragonarmies by freeing slaves held at the fortress of Pax
Tharkas. [6] Joined by Tika and later Laurana, they
infiltrate the fortress, navigating traps and guards while
encountering the enigmatic Berem, a man with a green gemstone
embedded in his chest. [6]In the climactic confrontation at Pax
Tharkas, the companions battle Dragon Highlord Verminaard and his
forces. [6] With Fizban's intervention stripping
Verminaard's clerical powers, they defeat him, leading to the
liberation of the enslaved people and a partial collapse of the
fortress. [6] Goldmoon and Riverwind marry in the
aftermath, offering a moment of respite as the companions prepare for
the escalating war against the Dragonarmies. [6] The
narrative unfolds as an episodic quest that begins with a reunion and
the discovery of the blue crystal staff, progresses through trials
that restore divine knowledge, and culminates in the dramatic
liberation at Pax Tharkas. [6]
Major
characters
The major characters
in Dragons of
Autumn Twilight center
on the Companions, a diverse group of longtime friends who reunite in
Solace and become known as the Heroes of the Lance, each bringing
distinct backgrounds, personalities, and interpersonal tensions that
shape their bonds. Tanis Half-Elven, the half-elf ranger and de facto
leader, grapples with his heritage as the son of a human brigand and
an elf maiden, feeling like an outcast among both races and often
hiding his pointed ears in human society. [6] [7] His
conflicted nature is deepened by past romantic connections to the elf
Laurana and the ambitious human Kitiara Uth Matar. [6]Sturm
Brightblade, a principled Knight of Solamnia, stands as a classic
idealist in a morally ambiguous world, marked by his strong sense of
honor, melancholy outlook, and kind-hearted nature, often clashing
with more cynical companions through his rigid adherence to chivalric
values. [6] The twin brothers Caramon and Raistlin Majere
provide stark contrast within the group: Caramon is a physically
powerful, good-hearted warrior who loyally protects his brother,
while Raistlin is a frail, brilliant, and deeply bitter mage whose
past suffering has fostered cynicism, arrogance, and ambition,
tempered by rare moments of tenderness toward those close to
him. [6] Their inseparable bond reflects complementary
halves, with Caramon's straightforward strength offsetting Raistlin's
intellectual intensity and vulnerability. [6]Flint Fireforge, an
elderly hill dwarf craftsman, serves as a gruff mentor figure and
source of comic relief, frequently complaining about his age and
prone to pratfalls, though his experience and loyalty anchor the
group. [6] Tasslehoff Burrfoot, a kender driven by
insatiable curiosity and fearlessness, acts as the group's
lighthearted rogue, "borrowing" items without malice while
displaying surprising empathy and social awareness that balance the
party's heavier tones. [6]Goldmoon, a plains barbarian cleric
bearing the sacred Blue Crystal Staff, carries the weight of
rediscovering true divine faith, portrayed as aloof yet burdened by
responsibility and tragedy, while her partner Riverwind is a
protective, suspicious warrior whose devotion to her is complicated
by their shared hardships. [6] Their arrival introduces
spiritual renewal to the companions, contrasting with the group's
more secular dynamics. [6]Supporting figures include Tika
Waylan, a brave barmaid who evolves from inexperience to capable
fighter amid fear and growth; Fizban, a doddering yet mysteriously
powerful wizard who offers comic relief and enigmatic guidance;
Kitiara Uth Matar, the skilled and ambitious warrior tied to Tanis
and the Majere siblings through family and past; Lord Verminaard, the
ruthless Dragon Highlord and primary antagonist; and Elistan, a
cleric who emerges as a key spiritual leader. [6] The
companions' relationships are defined by constant bickering rooted in
personality clashes—such as Raistlin's cynicism against Sturm's
idealism, Tanis's stoicism versus Tasslehoff's irresponsibility, and
the twins' interdependence—yet underpinned by profound loyalty and
willingness to risk everything for one another.
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