Customer Reviews

Dragons of a Fallen Sun (Dragonlance: The War of Souls, Volume I)

5 star:		(97)
4 star:		(56)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Perhaps the influx of new characters and the diminished role of the olders ones gave this book a distinctly different flavor from the other DL novels by Weis and Hickman. Certainly Dragons of a Fallen Sun breaks the mold of the Legends and Chronicles, which delve into character with much more depth. Some of the old heroes are still around, granted, but they are pushed into the background by new ones, or by those previously-undeveloped charaacters like Gilthas and Silvanoshei. Unfortunately, either because of the lack of character-development or the comparatively-bland and uninteresting personalities or simply 15 years of Dragonlance history, the new heroes do not command the same attention as do the old. The only saving grace is Palin, who has undergone some significant changes, reminiscent of another Dragonlance legend.

Except for some bright patches offered by Tasslehoff's antics, this is a darker novel, filled not only with the decay of Krynn without its gods but also of its classic heroes. This is unfamiliar territory, even more so than Summer Flame. In a way, much of what was familiar to DL fans has vanished, replaced by a new, alien world. Part of this is due to the drastic changes instituted by the Fifth Age storyline, one which (until now) has paled in comparison to the richness of classic Dragonlance. But another factor which has completely altered the aspect of Dragonlance is the writing style of Weis and Hickman. It has been mentioned that a lot of the book was synoptic and plot-oriented, and that has indeed contributed, but Weis and Hickman are breaking new ground, writing about characters which do not have 15 years of history, which do not seem like old friends to them, but strangers, and this has affected how the reader views the characters--not with the familiarity of two trilogies, but the awkwardness of a first meeting.

Plot-wise, this book has certainly sown the seeds that will revitalize the Dragonlance series. However, given the relative lack of character-development, there was insufficient story-development to truly compensate. Weis and Hickman seem to have but one cookie of creativity to offer their readers, and are trying to dole it out slowly, giving us only the barest crumbs. While this may whet our appetite for the remaining books of the trilogy, the lack of completeness in this first book is evident. Not only have we been left hanging, but there is no sense even of a partial resolution. Granted, this is only the first book, but without a firm bite, without being able to truly sink my teeth into this trilogy, I don't feel as drawn into the world as I was, for instance, when the Legends series was released.

Still, this was a good, albeit somewhat disappointing novel, in part because it could not fulfill the expectations after four years away from the world, in part because it only somewhat salvaged the mishaps introduced by the Fifth Age storyline, and in part because it has such a rich legacy to live up to.

I have to begin by admitting I was a touch disappointed with Weis & Hickman's last Dragonlance book, Dragons of Summer Flame. It was quite good overall, up until the end, where it seemed like the authors deconstructed everything they had built for Krynn over many years in a few rushed pages. This book, however, picks up where that one left off, and generously contains references to the many changes Krynn has undergone since the Chaos War and the many novels written since about the new 5th Age of Ansalon. In fact, the authors communicate most of this background so successfully that it is easily understood by those purists like myself who've mainly read Weis & Hickman's Dragonlance books but not the others. Also, the way all this material is incorporated is quite inspired, and never gets in the way of the story these authors want to tell, but in fact actually enhances the story. With this book, Weis & Hickman are steering Krynn into a hopefully exciting new direction (just in time for the 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons RPG, it seems, for all you roleplaying gamers out there). The characters, both old friends and new, are as richly developed and interesting as we've come to expect from Weis & Hickman. There is also a high level of sophistication to the story, causing the reader to question many of the sometimes disturbing miraculous events taking place, as some of the characters do, and wondering why other characters don't question these events. What is good and what is evil is very blurred in this book and keeps the reader guessing and very intrigued-- reminding me of some of the sophisticated ethical concerns in the Darksword trilogy, which were equally involving. There are also haunting scenes late in the book reminding me of Fire Sea, the fine fourth novel of the Deathgate Cycle. Note, these aren't repetitions as much as they are new treatments of themes these authors enjoy exploring, and the reader along with them. They top all this off with a wonderfully gripping "triple cliffhanger" that will make the months long wait for the next book a thoroughly agonizing one. Dragons of a Fallen Sun is full of fresh promise for the world of Dragonlance. I sincerely hope it lives up to its promise to be perhaps the best Dragonlance trilogy since the wonderful Legends series (which I recently re-read for the "Nth" time and thoroughly enjoyed once again!). I highly recommend this book to Dragonlance fans everywhere, and to those who haven't experienced Dragonlance's wonders yet, as well (but please don't pass up the original Chronicles or Legends trilogies, new readers!). The hardcover edition did have some minor copy editing errors-- typos and the like, but hopefully these will be corrected for the paperback release. Not a perfect novel, but a very good one and full of inspiring promise for the future of Dragonlance.

This book is the first of the WoS series and is not related to Rabe's 5th age series. The story explains how the heros of the old age and the new are trying to survive and cope with the lost of the gods, magic and under the the rule of Dragon Overlords.

DoFS goes into great extent to explain what has happend ever since Chaos War and the current leaders of different nations and order. Which is a good fill in for those who have not read DL ever since DoSF.

The new characters are well designed and unlike "The Chronicles" the characters are much easier to digest since they are spread into small groups of 2-3 rather then a huge group of eight. Which also allows the readers to witness events that is happening on different parts of Anasalon.

The most attrative feature of this book is the mystery that are left unsolved even till the very end of the book. If you think that Dragons of a Fallen Sun will solve the questions you have about 5th age, think again.

Dragons of A Fallen Sun is certainly one of Weis and Hickman's better Dragonlance novels. The authors wisely decide to dispense with thier older characters as main players (with one notable exception) and provide us with a vibrant set of characters who tend to be highly complex. Despite the physical distances of the characters involved, Wies and Hickman mostly manage to keep the narrative flowing with few disorienting leaps in setting. Though things begin to become a little confusing and disjointed near the ending, it dosen't keep the book down. The plot itself, while perhaps spending too much time on exposition of facts longtime readers will already know, is appropriatly paced and is fittingly ominous. One is left eager for the next book, especially with the ending cliffhanger. A good read and worthy purchase for any Dragonlance fan. Now if we can just dump this Fifth Age nonsense once and for all, we'll be good to go.

I couldn't help but be disappointed by this book. Perhaps a little background on myself is in order: of every long-spanning fantasy series, Dragonlance has always been the one I've felt was most sacred. I could never completely "grok" the slightly juvenile feel of the worlds evoked by Mercedes Lackey, Eddings, or Salvatore. And the complex, disconnected worlds of Zelzany's "Amber" often left me cold. For me, Dragonlance has always been the perfect balance of maturity (re: not insulting your intelligence quite as often as other fantasy books do) and good old-fashioned sword-and-sorcery fun and epic swagger.

While Dragons of a Fallen Sun is a welcome relief from Rabe's 5th Age work (not horrible work, but nothing special, either)Weis & Hickman fail, for the first time ever, to evoke that special sense of magic and wonder that keeps me coming back again and again to their special blend of fantasy.

I remember the joys I had reading the Death Gate Cycles, Rose of the Prophet, and the Darksword. I remember the breathless fascination in which I read the strongly evocative Star of the Guardians series.

None of this was present; on both this work and the Starshield novels, the duo feel like they've lost a step.

One of the biggest problems is I can't seem to fully empathize with the newer characters the way I did with Tanis, Flint, Raistlin, Caramon, or even Palin and Steel Brightblade. I mean, how many of us felt like we knew Dragonlance characters better than many people in real life? Mina and the like don't evoke that for me.

I apologize if this review was not helpful. I suppose I have delineated very well what this novel is lacking. But that's because I myself am not certain exactly what magical element this book is missing. It is certain not cheap, shoddy writing at all. The political intrigue, as always, is top notch. But the intangibles... ah, I do not know. Perhaps if the Gods have left Krynn, so too has the muse left W & H.

I don't know what's happened with Weis and Hickman since the Twins Trilogy and the Deathgate Cycle series. I don't know if it's just that I've gotten older, or if they've lost their touch. Dragons Of A Fallen Sun, though readable, just doesn't have that old magic I felt when I picked up their first Dragon Lance book.

The biggest turnoff to this book are the characters. While Tas can still make me laugh, most of the other characters are stale and never grow. Granted, they've got a few more books left to do that in, but they came across annoying in this book, especially Silvan and Palin. However, there are some well fleshed out characters that must be noted: Marshall Medan, the human Knight of Neraka placed in charge of Qualinost, who has come to love the ways of the elves so much that he does everything in his power to save them. Medan is definitely the strongest character in the book, and it would be nice to see much more of him in the upcomming books. Mina, the herald of the One True God, is also a pretty good character, but it's hard to get a handle on where she's coming from (which is good).

The other problem I had with the book was the way everything had changed from the last book to this one. Tas, for one, should have stayed dead. I love the little kender's antics, but come on, write ONE book without him! I felt like the only reason he was there was so the authors could fall back and their bread and butter instead of going through the effort of creating a new character. Also, the readers are left floundering to figure out what is really going on with this whole backwards world plot. Very confusing.

So, if you're a Weis and Hickman fan, then you'll enjoy the book, though you may be a little dissapointed. The familiar characters that return in this book are not the same ones we remember from before (especially Palin). However, if you've never read Weis nad Hickman, you will not be too impressed by this new trilogy and should definitely start at the beginning: Dragons of Autumn Twilight.

If any two writers can save the lagging interest in the 5th age its Weis and Hickman. This dynamic duo continue to prove that they are perhaps one of the greatest writing teams in the history of fiction.

This book was written and put together extremely well. Dragons of a Fallen Sun does a great job in coving the background of what has happened in the 5th age as well as tying it all together with the end of the 4th age and the chaos wars. The introduction of some very interesting new heroes and villains along with some old favorites makes for a great combination and bridge into the new age.

There were times I felt I knew what was going to happen next, and I must admit sometimes I was wrong. The plot twists and turns and keeps the reader wanting more and more. One more chapter became my favorite saying over two days. I wait in anticipation for the next book in the series to be released. Once again Weis and Hickman have me hooked on dragonlance

Having been an enormous fan of the first 2 trilogies and having suffered through some of the shlock that spun off of them, I was thrilled when it was announced that Weis + Hickman were returning.

Sadly, having just finished Dragons of Summer Flame + the War of Souls trilogy, I am sorry to report that this third trilogy is truly awful. There is no sense of drama, strong emotion, or even a believable storyline.

Remember the awe and grandeur that their wonderful writing imbued in Raistlin, Takhisis, Paladine, Alhanna and the Shoikan Grove? Completely missing from their latest work. Worse their writing even diminishes their stature as these characters/entities are treated almost like ordinary beings.

It is incomprehensible to me how W + H could have written this horrible collection after the wonderful stories in their first 2 trilogies.

This sequel was worse than "Scarlett", the little-known sequel to Gone with the Wind, and that's saying a lot. Worse than The Phantom Menace even.

I think that many true Dragonlance fans that loved W + H's earlier work will hold in their hearts that the story of Krynn ended with Test of the Twins, a powerful and emotional book that beautifully capped off an epic tale of sacrifice, honor and pride. (Or perhaps The Second Generation, which was not too bad)

So save your money, don't buy this book and re-read Chronicles and Legends if you miss the world of Krynn.

Finally, a breath of fresh air in a musty old room of the Dragonlance world! I am an avid fan of Krynn but the recent turn of events in the Fifth Age has made me quit reading the series. I mean no disrespect for the authors--old hands like Douglas Niles, Nancy Varian Berberick and Richard A. Knaak--it's tough to continue in the tradition of the creators and original authors of this wonderful, wonderful tale. Although I did feel that in this book, Weis and Hickman did get synoptic, it was necessary in order for them to restamp the true flavor into the series. It was like taking the threadbare plot of Fifth age and sewing over it to repair the damage done. True, one could probably tell where the rough spots in the cloth were but one could also feel the magnificence of the job they did, so much so that some spots even felt that they were brand new--Silvanesti, for example. Characters such as Gilthas and Silvanoshei seem like they are going come big in the next two books and I like the way Gerard is set up too. Mina is, of course, intriguing to say the least--especially the identity of this One God. I'm not sure if others saw this but Laurana may take another leading role in the events to come as might Goldmoon, although the poor Plainswomen has been used so much--and badly at that--that she is one of the areas in the tapestry that had to be reworked to feel like the real Goldmoon again. I also feel that somehow, the old heroes, with the exception of Laurana, are bound to call it a day, live or die. Their time is past and I think Weis and Hickman do a good job of setting the scene for their swansong. Once again, thank you, Margaret and Tracy, for reawakening the spirit of Krynn in me and instilling hope in me for the first time since the Fourth Age. If it were anyone else, I would give it four stars. But because the authors managed to single-handedly rescue the damage done to Ansalon all by themselves in a single 627 page novel, I commend their effort. For all you fans and newbies to Dragonlance out there, be sure you never miss a word written by these true greats.

Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman may be pushing their Dragonlance fame too much that they may be unraveling the great two trilogies they have made: the Chronicles and the Legends.

Dragons of a Fallen Sun may be a good read for die hard Dragonlance fans like me, but for those who are getting a first glimpse of this world through this novel might find themselves asking questions this novel or even the last two volumes of this trilogy may never bother answering.

Readers may find themselves re-connecting with favorite Chronicles characters like Tasslehoff, Goldmoon, and Caramon, and given new personalities to analyze and enjoy, but one would notice from the plot and world-changing events, that the two writers are trying once more to create a world totally different from before. Magic is gone (or so you would think). A mysterious woman named Mina talks of a new nameless God. And the Dragons are now rulers of the god forsaken world.

All this may not be even existent though, because the writers have once more used the time element that has created more confusion than consistency in their sequel to the Darksword trilogy, Legacy of the Darksword.

If you're a Dragonlance die-hard fanatic, this book is probably worth reading. If not, try out Dragonlance Chronicles or Legends before even thinking of buying this book.