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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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