Downfall (The Dhamon Saga) (v. 1) [Hardcover]

Jean Rabe (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Dhamon Saga | Publication Date: June 1, 2000

How far can a hero fall? Far enough to lose his soul? Dhamon Grimwulf, once a Hero of the Heart, has sunk into a bitter life of crime and squalor. Now, as the great dragon overlords of the Fifth Age coldly plot to strengthen their rule and to destroy their enemies, he must somehow find the will to redeem himself. But perhaps it is too late.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

It's not easy being Jean. For some Dragonlance fans, the world of Krynn ended with Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragons of Summer Flame. Many Lancers would just as soon forget Jean Rabe's famously awful Fifth Age kickoff trilogy (The Dawning of a New Age, The Day of the Tempest, and The Eve of the Maelstrom), and that's putting it nicely. (Imagine the Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons saying, "Worst fantasy author ever," and you'll begin to understand the enmity that Rabe has generated for herself.)

But Weis and Hickman returned triumphantly to the Fifth Age with Dragons of a Fallen Sun, proving that the reports of Krynn's death were, at worst, an exaggeration. So maybe--just maybe--Rabe deserves a fresh start in Dragonlance, too. Downfall begins a trilogy revolving around Dhamon Grimwulf, former Knight of Takhisis, ex-Hero of the Heart, and erstwhile co-protagonist of Rabe's aforementioned Dragons of a New Age series. Dhamon is on the outs, running around robbing the sick and the weak in cahoots with a kobold, a tattooed half-elf floozy, and a suspiciously powerful thief-wizard named Maldred. (Hmmm, there's something fishy about that guy...) In rolls plate-mail babe Fiona (a spit-shined Knight of Solamnia) and pirate-turned-good-guy Rig Mer-Krel, presumably to clean up Dhamon and set him on the straight and narrow. But faster than you can say "Charm Person," the entire crew ends up on the road together, heading off to bargain with an ogre chieftain, rescue a herd of goats, and ransom Fiona's brother from the black dragon overlord Sable. Or so they think. Quite a few switchbacks and blind canyons here, enough to keep you wondering what's around the next corner, but don't expect emotional, involved Weis-and-Hickman fare: while many Dragonlance fans would consider it damning praise, Downfall reads a lot like a decent Forgotten Realms adventure. --Paul Hughes

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786915722
• ISBN-13: 978-0786915729
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,076,875 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I hadn't read a bad Dragonlance book until..., September 19, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Downfall (The Dhamon Saga) (v. 1) (Hardcover)

...I read this. Absolutely horrid. I read less than 100 pages before I got too disgusted to read anymore. The book doesn't contain any likeable or sympathetic characters. In fact, they're all terrible. I'm not sure which I hate the most: the wanna-be prostitute half-elf or the amoral "hero." The entire cast of "good guys" delights in cruelity without reason and bloodlust. Right, if I wanted to read about people like this, I'd buy Helter Skelter.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars this book is not good, November 19, 2003

By 

T. Harris (Chillicothe, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Downfall (Dragonlance: The Dhamon Saga, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Downfall was the first book I read from Dragonlance realm, big mistake on my part. But I didn't learn and thought the second book of this series, betrayl, would be better. BoyO', I was wrong.

Downfall starts off with the main character, Dhaemon, being an uninteresting and very annoying, it ends the same way too. The plot and the characters were very hard to believe and were even harder to like. After finishing this book it left me with nothing, except a strongly dislike towards dragonlance novels and for a couple of years I refused to read them. But don't worry, I like Dragonlance now.

Even if you have read the core books (chronicles and legends) and are looking for other dragonlance novels, stay clear of this one. It's really horrible.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Good Start, June 24, 2000

By 

Richard Raley "The King Henry Tapes" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Downfall (The Dhamon Saga) (v. 1) (Hardcover)

I must say that Jean Rabe may not be WM and TH but she is turning out to be a very good Dragonlance author. This novel was a good adventure for Dhamon and Rig, it reminded me very much of a Dragonlance game quest (both a good and a bad thing). With this new novel, Rabe's action scenes have also improved far above what she showed in the Dragons of a New Age Trilogy (i.e. she didn't have Rig throw a knife into someone's throat every single fight). I think this book did a very good job setting up new characters as well as reminding us who the older characters are and advancing them. If you like the Fifth Age (both the novels and the game setting) then you will find this novel very entertaining and if you don't then it should still be a good read.