Customer Reviews

Dragonlance Volume 1: Time of the Twins: Dragonlance Legends (Dragonlance Legends, Vol 1)

5 star:		(60)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Time of the Twins is the first volume of the "Legends" trilogy. The story starts 2 years after the finals events of the "Chronicles" trilogy. If you are not familiar with the series, i recommend reading the first book of "Chronicles", "Dragons of Autumn Twilight". While not fundamental to the story, you will experience the tale from the beginning and see what is all about. This will certainly enhance your experience with the "Legends" trilogy, and if you have liked the first books, you will enjoy this new series. They are great books to introduce someone to fantasy. Just be sure to start with the "Chronicles".

Now about this one:

After the War of the Lance, Raistlin, "master of past and of present", reclaimed the Tower of High Sorcery in Palanthas. And now, his ambition knows no limit. His brother Caramon, the kender Tassheloff and Crysania, a cleric of Paladine, will join efforts in an attempt to bring him back to the path of light. But the task is much greater than anyone imagined, dragging them into a cycle no one could have predicted and that will surely shape the future, for better or for worse.

The story is more slow than the "Chronicles" trilogy. It's not about defeating evil armies. It's a great story about one man ambition and the bonds that unite us all, even when we don't realize...

Readers familiar with the series will surely enjoy this book, especially fans of a certain black robed wizard, with golden skin and hourglass eyes.

This, the first volume of the Legends trilogy is as stated above, quite intriguing. Where the Chronicles trilogy propelled the reader through fast paced action and a multitude of characters, Legends enthralls you with captivating intrigue and suspense. The beginning has a few of the "Heroes of the Lance," in the early stages of the book as part of the setup, but then sets off on its own with its primary characters; Raistlin, Caramon and Tasslehoff. We are also introduced to a "Revered Daughter of Paladine" in Crysania. High praises once again for Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman who with this trilogy, prove that they are not limited to stunning action. One almost questions themselves as to whether the authors were planning this trilogy when writing Chronicles or capitalized on several things they set up in Chronicles. In either case, they did it perfectly. The Wizards of the Coast new cover art is quite beautiful as well, even much more so than the original covers.

The premise:

It is now two years after the "end" of the War of the Lance. At the end of Dragons of Spring Dawning, Raistlin went to Palanthas and as the master of past and present he dared the Shoikan grove without fear to enter the Tower of High Sorcery which no one had entered since before the Cataclysm due a curse laid upon it by a black robed mage. Raistlin has now had two years in the tower to study and become even more powerful than he was at the end of the Chronicles. He's also been devising his plan for the future...

At the end of the war, Caramon and Tika returned to Solace to be married. Unfortunately for Caramon though, he's fallen on hard times. Crysania "Revered Daughter of Paladine," has some plans of her own as she met with Raistlin and these two begin making their own plans of each other. The lovable Kender, Tasslehoff Burrfoot gets deeply into the story with humorous antics as well.

Combine these characters and small points of the plot and what we have is another outstanding book written by these authors that will compel you to hurriedly pick up the second book of the series, especially with the highly dramatic ending.

I would highly recommend this trilogy, even if you've not read the Chronicles, but it would be good that you do so. {ssintrepid}

This is the Wuthering Heights of the fantasy genre. Yes, it's DARK; No, there's not much 'action' and swords, but SO WHAT? It's an incredible piece of psychological fantasy literature that you can read and enjoy over the age of 12 and be blown away. IS there a more engaging portrait of an anti-hero? The end of the third book breaks your heart -- but more importantly this trilogy is about the human psyche, ambition, love, greed, power, and the human soul. I thought the Chronicles were OK, but this trilogy made me lose my entire mind. Make fun of D&D nuts everywhere, but this will make you EAT your thoughts/words.

There's no saccharine ending here, folks -- it's tragedy in the grand fulfilling sense of the word. It's life.

If you've cut your teeth on the likes of George RR Martin, Robin Hobb, Tad Williams, & Stephen R. Donaldson, this series is a PLEASANT and fabulous surprise. We've all been there -- whether your disillusioned like Crys, or bound & determined for revenge like Raist, there's a little bit of both of them in ALL of us. Which, of course, is the general theme.

And as for the "Was Raistlin really inlove?' debates.... oh PLEASE, you mean to tell me you buy the whole Cameron/Tika, Sturm/Alhana, Silvara/Gilthanas -- hello, let's fall inlove in all of five minutes relationships, but Crys and Raist leave you WONDERING? Grow up, read this, grieve, grow up some more, and read this flippin' series again.

It's a good book, even a very good book. How can it be bad though? We have met, again, our old friends Tas, Caramon and Raistlin, and even Tanis is giving a guest appearnce. We learn more about the complicated realationship between the twins, that now grow into a thrilling and dark mixture of love and hate, light and darkness. We learn, or we think we learn, more about the depthes of Raistlin's soul, the most complicated character in the 'Dragonlance' Saga.

Yet, it is only a good start, it's getting better all the time, until the great "Test of the twins". If you've read the Chronicles, you owe this book, and the rest of the series, to yourself.

Being the sequel to the Dragonlance Chronicles, the Legends series takes the reader on a wonderful dark and dangerous journey through time, focusing on the twins Caramon and Raistlin. Well, maybe we have some stereotype characters here in the book, but the story is awesome. It isn't really important literature (something like the ring books), but it is a story where most people can't wait to turn the next page. From my point of view, it is even better than the first series. It's lovely.

For all those who have ever read, or are planning to read Dragonlance, I have some insight to share. All of the books are enjoyable, but there are only 7 that matter... the 4 Chronicles (especially the first 3), and the 3 legends books. This book 1 the first of the latter series, and is truly enjoyable. Not as much action as the chronicles, but for true dragonlance fans that doesn't matter. The subject matter is different, and equally as compelling, but on a more personal and spiritual level. This book deals with arguably the most famous dragonlance character, Raistlin, and his brother Caramon. It is the single-most important and compelling relationship in the Dragonlance saga, and for that reason alone, this book is a must read. Plus it is a hell of a book, and it tells the story of the culmination of Raistlin's power and ambition which, behind the war of the lance, is the most thrilling topic in the world of Dragonlance.

I think this book is great! I was hooked by the spell of this book and it's words. Marvelously written probably because of Raistlin, the greatest mage of Krynn in his time. Raistlin is my favorite character of the whole series since he is full of mystery and power. The mage is an ambitious, strongwilled, and intellegent perfectionist who loves getting his way. He and his twin are as different as the sun and the moon which is so interesting. I think I like Raistlin because he is like me in many ways and that I can relate to him in many things. I also like the way Margaret Weis spun romance into the book that is intrancing in my point of view. I love the cover of the book and I think that it fits extremely well with the books. I hope the next book will be just as good as the first!

Time of the Twins is the first chapter of the exciting trilogy called Legends. In this novel you are subject to a more intimate setting with only 2 or 3 main character instead of 6 or 7 like the Chronicles trilogy. The twins Caramon and Raistlin are portrayed here as well a new character Lady Crysaina, a cleric of Paladine. Without really spoiling anything for you,here features a more pathetic Caramon, an even more ambitous and way more powerful Raistlin, and Crysania, who is gets caught in spell of love (not literally) by the black robed mage. Tassehoff is in here as well (like he is in every major Dragonlance saga) and provides excellent humor and even does quite a few amazing things. This also features time travel in a not so sci-fi fashion and the past of Krynn is involved which is very interesting. Also this novel presents another Black robed elf named Dalamar, who is quite popular with the Dragonlance fans. Also Margret Weis and Tracy Hickman has excelled in their writing (its amazing to note that the Chronicles was their first novel) and displays literature and writing techniques flawlessly with amazing amounts of detail and imagery.
This book provides a familar but also amazingly different atmosphere provided by the Chronicles Trilogy, If you had read the Chronicles Trilogy then you MUST buy this book!

I fell in love with the dragonlance novels when I was in high school, when I was into the AD&D thing. It has been years since i read these books and dusted them off again. If you love fantasy you will love this book. I love Raist- thats hard to say from a born again Christain- but I do. this book is great As all the Weis-Hickman books are

Just finished reading this book and found it quite different than the Chronicles. But that doesn't mean it wasn't good. A lot less action packed that the Chronicles, its battles are ones of the mind. Each character struggles with the choices that they must make, even Raistlin has his moment of stuggle. I must admit it started to get frustrating, I would be thinking "When is this ever going to go anywhere?" then Tas would say something that would break that frustration and the next thing you know you have the next clue. Tas goes through a change in this book that is quite interesting. Then it ends leaving you dying to pick up the next book, even more so than the Chronicles. If you enjoyed the Chronicles and are a fan of either Raistlin, Caramon or Tas, then pick this up, I guarantee you will nto be disappointed.