Customer Reviews

The Annotated Chronicles (Dragonlance: Dragonlance Chronicles)

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm actually writing this because I finally broke down and bought this collection--and I loved it. I had hesitated because of some of the negative reviews here on this site, but being an old-school Dragonlance fan (I won my first copy of the original novel at a local gaming convention when it first came out), I wanted a hardbound copy, even if the annotations were, as some have claimed, trite.

But I have to disagree. Yes, some of the annotations are fairly obvious--Tracy Hickman does, indeed overexplain some of the writing strategies that he and Weis used. But then again, I teach Creative Writing at the college level, and I only wish that some of my students would find this stuff obvious! What I'm saying is this: if you're familiar with writing tools and rules, some of this will be familiar. But take it with the spirit with which it's intended. C'mon, this is Dragonlance. We're all in this for the fun, right? This is a book that has some of the best lines I've read in a fantasy book--as well as a few stinkeroos. But that's always been part of the charm of these novels. These books weren't written by a professorial linguist like Tolkien--these were D&D junkies, for the most part, putting this together. And you can feel their own excitement, their passion, on every page, and in every character. If that means that some of the annotations become overdone in some ways, so be it.

Besides, some of the notes are very interesting, and as at least one other reviewer mentioned here, I wish there were more of them. There was a lot more information that I've unconsciously stored in my head about the novels that for some reason didn't merit an annotation here--like the fact that the dagger that Tas uses early in the first book...was actually a very powerful magic item (+4 or +5, as I recall--I think I'm getting this either from a short story, or something from Dragon magazine, from waaaay back...) The idea here is that Dragonlance, simply from being not only a series of books, but also a series of D&D game modules, a comic book series, and later a game world in which to explore, was not a static environment. Lots was added later, and some of it was pretty neat. A lot of it, sadly, wasn't. But giving the nod to some of those small, cool details that came later, like that magic dagger, would have been interesting.

And yes, there are too many references to far lesser works of fiction that took Dragonlance's good name and dragged it through the Solace mud. I hated like heck that such a thing happened to what was my favorite series as a teen. But hey, the books are classic, and the fun's still there, waiting to be experienced again and again. And if there's anyone out there counting, let me add my voice to the throngs anxiously awaiting the annotated edition of the Twins trilogy!

All in all, this is a book that is completely and utterly worth your time. Is it equal to Tolkein in literary significance? Admittedly no. Is it more fun? I think so. Even people who don't normally like fantasy novels have read this one and become as enthralled as the rest of us. Sure, its flawed, but heck, its a good time. And that's what's important, right? Long live Dragonlance!

Oh, don't get me wrong: Obviously, I love the DL Chronicles with a passion. It's this annotated addition that I'm not so keen on. It's a cool idea in theory, and maybe it *could* provide fascinating insights into the narrative, but quite frankly, it doesn't. To be fair, there is an occasional pithy observation (Michael Williams has some interesting things to say about his ever-groovy poetry), but these are few and far between; most of the 'annotations' range from painfully obvious to trite and stupid--often both. "The backstory here gives life and direction to the characters," Hickman helpfully informs us near the beginning. Aha! So THAT'S what 'backstory' does! And all this time I thought it was only included because the authors were paid by the word! Thank you, Tracy, for this startling revelation! Geez, is this a first-year writing class, or what? And believe me...it doesn't get much deeper than that. Particular irksome to me is the way the annotators don't hesitate to include plugs for various hideously bad spin-off novels that bear any sort of connection to the story. I mean, come ON, guys! The back cover proudly proclaims the trilogy "THE GREAT MODERN FANTASY EPIC!" and this may well be, but how can we be expected to take such grandiose claims at all seriously if you're willing to make the implicit point that any non-W&H Dragonlance is anywhere near the same level as this? That's just not happening. Bleh.

A companion volume detailing the writing of the Chronicles/Legends (oh god, are we going to have to suffer through the annotated *Legends* if this sells well enough?) could be interesting, but this is emphatically not; instead, it feels like nothing more than the latest in a long line of crass TSR cash-ins. I'd stick with the original, non-annotated Chronicles, if I were you...

The Dragon Lance Chronicles series of books is by far and away the best fantasy series ever written and committed to a printing press. For several years I have been reading fantasy novels and never before was I so inspired by writing as I was by the writings of this amazing duo. Their writing draws you into the characters and makes you feel the pain, and suffering, as well as the joy and triumph of each character as they as they face their trials. This series of books has had a profound affect on my life and in how I define honor and so many other things. I learned so much more about the characters by reading the foot notes in this book it really made me understand the internal struggles that the authors had during the creation of this fantastic series. (They poured heart and soul in and it shows) it was a hard to describe the feelings I felt when I read in the footnotes that the authors included in the annotated edition. I felt a certain kind of kinship knowing that I cried and laughed at the same times as the authors did when they created this epic series. I would recommend this book to anybody period... It was a pleasure to read and I was honored to know that the authors felt close enough with their readers to share their inner thoughts, on this series. Thank you so much Tracy and Margaret

A reviewer once described Dragonlance Chronicles as "Something to read after Tolkien." I couldn't have said it better myself - Weis and Hickman's work is THE classic of the fantasy genre next to Mr. Tolkien himself.

The story begins with the reunion of lifelong friends 5 years to the day after their last meeting. The world of Krynn is in a time of relative peace, the Cataclysm War having recently ended. Each companion meets back at the The Inn of The Last Home with stories to tell, treasures to boast of, and memories to relect on. But it is not long before the cozy ambiance is sharply pierced as the party is sucked into a plot of good versus evil that will change their lives forever...

Dragonlance may sound like a typical fantasy book, but that is because it DEFINED the fantasy genre over 15 years ago. It set the standard for the grumpy dwarf, the confused leader, and the sexy barmaid; countless writers have tried and failed to emulate the formula quite so well. I have personally read the trilogy three time and am still thirsty for more. In fact, Dragonlance is a much more readable book than The Lord of The Rings. The action is non-stop and each character has his own unique personality and traits. The massive length of Chronicles may seem daunting but to me it is one of the few books that justifies it. My only regret having been an illiterate 1-year-old when the first book, Dragons of Auntumn Twighlight, came out in 1984.

Concerning this annotated version specifically, Weis and Hickman do a decent job of rekindling the magic of Dragonlance. There are plenty of interesting comments on the page borders in the beginning and the end but toward the middle, the authors seem to lose steam. Also, BE WARNED, there are actually blaten spoilers within the authors' comments. I guess they assume all their readers are returners but for those who want to get into Dragonlance for the first time, reading this edition will be hazardous.

Dragonlance: The Annotated Chronicles by Margret Weis and Tracy Hickman is a fantasy classic packaged with a beutiful dust jacket and a handsome hardback binding. No price is too high for this amazing work, so please, come into the Dragonlance world.

Reading this book again was a very surreal experience. A friend first got me into Dragonlance about 8 years ago. The first Dragonlance book I ever read was the Chronicles Collection. I instantly fell in love with the world of Krynn and the cast of characters that are forever etched in my memory. Since then I have collected most of the series with special emphasis on the original characters and their families. Though I have never played the board games or got into the fantasy game side of this strange and exciting world, the novels are well written and keep you craving for more. Kudos to Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, the two best writers in my world. This updated version of the Chronicles Saga was very informative, I especially liked the sidenotes. Having read the books before, it was cool to see what the reasoning was for certain plot twists and turns. A great book, about some amazing characters, from a wonderful world!

The Dragonlance Chronicles series of books is one of the best fantasy series ever produced. Written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, and distributed by TSR publishing, this is a collection of what may very well be the three best books I have ever written. The characters are, for lack of a better word, the most real characters I have ever encountered in a series of books. The world is multi-faceted and rich, and the authors have a way of storytelling that is gripping and without fault. These books have changed my life, and they may very well change yours. Of course, if you've read them in their original form, I'm preaching to the choir....In any event, a collection of three true classics. Now, just hit the 'add to cart' button...

I originally read the Dragonlance Chronicles when they were first released. My old paperbacks are badly worn with torn pages and crumbling bindings. They remind me of books in the Great Library at Tarsis...

I could not pass up the opportunity to get a beautiful hardcover edition of this old favorite. The notes from the contributers provide a great insight into the creation of a world. (Finally, you can learn why they killed Sturm!)

There are even a few full-color drawings from the earliest design stages of Dragonlance. I only wish they could have included more of these.

I first read the Chronicles when they first came out 15 years ago when I was in high school. I just finished reading the Annotated Chronicles. While the story remains as captavating as ever, I discovered huge holes in the plot line that my original eye failed to notice years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed the comments made by Ms. Weis and Mr Hickman. Seeing the development of the story set to such a huge background is really interesting. The only comments that really intruded on the story were those by the editor, Ms. Black That's why I gave this edition 4 stars. Her comments start out good (several recaps of parts edited out of the original text) but degenerate into comments that treat the reader like a simpleton, especially those familiar with Krynn and AD&D. If you have not read the Chronicles, DO NOT read this edition. It will spoil the fun.

The Dragonlance Chronicles are quite possibly the best S&S novel series ever produced, and I don't say that lightly considering the others in the genre (with a nod to Tolkien and Moorecock). The characterizations, descriptions, and emotions conveyed by Weis and Hickman are nothing short of phenomenal, and despite the series dropping off a bit in the 3rd book (Dragons of Spring Dawning), the characters are what pull it off. This, along with the Dragonlance Legends series (directly follows Chronicles) belongs in every S&S fan's permanent library.

I borrowed the 1987 Collector's Edition of the Dragonlance Chronicles in seventh grade. It was a paperback, and it looked like it had been dropped in the bath tub by someone. It took me most of the year to read it, and right before I had finished it, the cover came off and disappeared, so the librarian let me keep the book, since it was in such bad shape. It was the best book I had ever read, that was more than five years ago. I recently read it again, and it got even better. I picked up things I hadn't before, and enjoyed the romantic parts more than I had when I was twelve. My copy has just about had it, and I can't wait to buy this new annotated copy. The Dragonlance Chronicles hold your attention so well, you don't even realize that you've read 1030 pages until it's over. The books have every aspect of adventure and love and intrigue and magick, so that is thoroughly enthralling to the reader, both young and old.