THE DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Dragons of Autumn Twilight, a classic work of high fantasy, marks the beginning of a remarkable 6-book tale (the Chronicles Trilogy, followed by the even more magnificent Legends Trilogy), which greatly increased the interest in the Dungeons & Dragons game throughout the 1980's. It certainly does contain more than a few stock fantasy elements (e.g. dragons, elves, dwarves, an unlikely group of friends somehow being chosen to stop the conquest of Evil...). However, the straightforward, simple way in which the tale is told and, even more so, the distinct, "real" nature of most of its characters set it apart from the paperback fantasy pack.
Another wonderful aspect of the trilogy is the title s... Read More
Dragon Wing by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
The Margaret Weis/Tracy Hickman novels make up one of those corners of the Fantasy genre that you either enjoyed in your teens (and remember fondly)... or you didn’t. I have to admit that I’m of the latter camp, and while I strongly suspect that there was a time when I could have greatly enjoyed Dragon Wing, that time has passed me by. These days, I’m a little too jaded and I’ve read a few too many works in a very similar vein. Dragon Wing isn’t bad, necessarily, but I’d be lying if I said I particularly like it.
It starts well, mind you, as master assassin Hugh the Hand is employed by the king for that most politically frau... Read More
Elven Star by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Elven Star, second novel in THE DEATHGATE CYCLE, is almost exactly the same as book one, save that the progression of the plot’s quality is inverted. That sounds confusing, I’m sure, but I will explain. In case the reader didn't look at my review of Dragon Wing, my thoughts were more or less as follows: fun YA premise, good world-building, somewhat simplistic characters, and it all came crashing down into rushed nonsense right at the end. Elven Star has the same fun YA premise, similarly decent world-building, and even more simplistic characters. The only difference is that it starts as rushed nonsense and evens out to something more focused and enjoyable right at the end. All in all, I can't say that there's been much qualitat... Read More
Fire Sea by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
In Fire Sea, the third novel of the seven-book DEATHGATE CYCLE, authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman finally seem to find their footing. Where the plots of the first two novels often felt haphazard and clunky, Fire Sea has a relatively streamlined sequence of events that not only makes sense but takes care to involve its setting and characters. What's more, the clichéd fantasy archetypes from the first two are largely set by the wayside. In fact, there aren't any elves or dwarves at all in this one, and Haplo — the only truly interesting character from the first two books — at long last takes over as formal protagonist.
What's that,... Read More
Serpent Mage by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Serpent Mage, book four of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's DEATH GATE CYCLE, is not as good as its immediate predecessor but also manages to be significantly superior to the first two installments in the series. For the most part, the focus on Alfred and Haplo continues to be a good move and the tension is certainly ratcheting up as we get closer to the endgame, but on the other hand this one just didn't feel as tightly constructed as the more gripping Fire Sea.
Following our cliffhanger ending last time, Haplo's master has discovered that his disciple is lying to him. He c... Read More
Well of Darkness by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
I bought Well of Darkness in hardcover years ago in the bargain bin. I should have left it there. I have tried starting it three or four times, and I, for the life of me, cannot get past the second chapter. It is totally boring and un-engaging, and I instantly disliked the characters I was reading about. Therefore, I really can’t say much more about the book. I rarely get so turned off so early in a book, and Weis and Hickman have written some pretty entertaining stuff (Dragonlance), if not high literature. I loved Dragonlance back in the 1980's when it came out, but I couldn’t stand this thing.
So, my view is, don’t read Well of Darkness. Mine is finally ... Read More
Mistress of Dragons by Margaret Weis
Mistress of Dragons is an interesting story with some likable heroes and excellent villains. The heroes are the humans and their dragon allies, but the humans don't realize that dragons are their friends because the villains are a couple of dragons gone bad. Very bad. The good dragons concoct a plot which uses humans to conquer the bad dragons. Mistress of Dragons ends with an unexpected plot twist.
This story is well-told, though it annoys me how often Margaret Weis omits conjunctions from her sentences. But if that doesn't bug you, and you don't mind a rape scene, you'll probably enjoy this book. Interestingly, it has a lesbian love affair, which seems ahead of its time for a book published in 2003.
I listened to Mistress of Dragons it on audiobook and it was read well and the story is compelling enou... Read More
The Dragon's Son by Margaret Weis
This typical middle novel concerns the twin sons born to Melisande: Marcus, the son of the King of Idlyswylde, and Ven (short for Vengeance), the son of the dragon who (in the body of the human Grald) raped her.
Most of the book focuses on the development of both boys from age 6 to 16. Neither of them know about the other. Ven is half dragon (his legs are dragon's legs) and is being raised by Bellona (Melisande died at the end of Mistress of Dragons). Bellona keeps Ven hidden from the world as best she can. He is, of course, frustrated and lonely and feels like a freak. Marcus is a bastard prince who lives in luxury but possesses some form of Melisande's Dragon magic, so he kind of feels like a freak, too. The rogue dragons Grald and Maristara are looking for the boys, but Draconas watches the boys from afar and occasionally intervenes when necessary, telling the boys not... Read More
Master of Dragons by Margaret Weis
Master of Dragons, the final book in Margaret Weis's Dragonvarld trilogy was a tasty but sloppy finale — like a cheesecake that didn't quite set.
This last book wraps things up, as we knew it would, and everything is finally well in the world, as we knew it would be. There are some fine moments (Draconas showing tenderness to a female dragon, Ven finds a family, Marcus falls in love) and even some hilarious ones (Draconas darning socks, Evelina's ironic fate). Characterization, especially of the bad guys, continues to be a high point, and the writing is nothing brilliant, but certainly pleasant enough.
But this otherwise entertaining novel suffers from internal inconsistencies:
On page 38, Draconas is said to wear "the guise of a human male in his ... Read More
Fantasy Magazine was folded into Lightspeed Magazine in 2012, but it came out of retirement in October 2014 for the Women Destroy Fantasy issue, one of the stretch goals of a Kickstarter for an all-women edition of Lightspeed. I was one of the contributors to the Kickstarter, and, as my review last week revealed, I greatly enjoyed the Women Destroy Horror issue of Nightmare Magazine that was another stretch goal of the same Kickstarter. I’m pleased to report that the fantasy issue is just as “destructive” and enjoyable.
Cat Rambo guest-edited the new fiction for this issue of Fantasy. Her editorial remarks on the difficulty of seeing the shape of a field when you’re smack in the middle of it. You can see fine details, but the overall structure, size a... Read More
November 24th, 2014.
Terry Weyna |
Carrie Vaughn,
Cat Rambo,
Delia Sherman,
Elaine Cunningham,
Emma Bull,
Kameron Hurley,
Kat Howard,
Kelley Armstrong,
Margaret Weis,
Nalo Hopkinson,
Rebecca Guay,
Sofia Samatar,
T. Kingfisher,
Terri Windling |
Short Fiction |
SFF Reviews |
2 comments
Gen Con, which I attend nearly every year, is the largest RPG/Gaming convention in the world. For the last few years I have gone primarily as the eyes and ears of FantasyLiterature.com. The fantasy genre and game playing have been hand in hand since the 70's, and maybe even further back if you count the various forms of story-based play acting and parlor games that have been played over the centuries. Gen Con is the culmination of all things Fantasy and game related. There are bigger conventions out there, such as Dragon Con and Comic-Con, but neither of those is as singularly focused on one element of the genre.
My goal when attending Gen Con for FanLit is to capture some images of crazy costumes, find out about upcoming Fantasy games, and meet cool Fantasy enthusiasts. This year I was only able to at... Read More
More books by Margaret Weis
Star of the Guardians — (1990-1993) Publisher: As a corrupt Commonwealth rules the galaxy through the might of its armies, its most influential general — a renegade Guardian of the deposed Starfire royal line — pursues the rumor of a hidden heir to the throne and searches for a woman he loves and is destined to destroy.
Mag Force 7 — (1995-1998) With Don Perrin. A spin-off from Star of the Guardians. Publisher: Weis (the Dragonlance series, etc.) returns to her Stars of the Guardians series (The Lost King, etc.), this time collaborating with military expert and first-time author Perrin, formerly of the Canadian Defense Department. Cyborg Xris and the six other members of his mercenary Mag Force 7 team are back as well, seeking to foil a plot to assassinate the galactic ruler, King Starfire. High-tech combat and violent death permeate the narrative, which initially focuses on Xris’s mission to do away with his former colleague, the transsexual Darin Cowan/Darlene Mohini. Xris, who was once wholly human, believes that Cowan betrayed him, leading to the accident that left the Force ruler imprisoned in a cyborg body. When a foppish, drug-using member of the team is kidnapped during that mission, the Force discovers the plot by the Knights of the Black Earth to kill the king. Adventures and misadventures, leavened with plot twists, humor and ample quotes from Sun Tzu, follow. Unexpectedly subtle yet filled with fast-paced action, this above-average space opera will please Weis’s many fans.
Dragon’s Disciple — (1996-1998) With David Baldwin. Testament of the Dragon is an illustrated novel that introduces the world of DRAGON’S DISICPLE. Dark Heart is the first novel in the series. The planned sequel was cancelled because of the death of David Baldwin. Publisher: Someone, or something, is ripping the hearts from living men. Justinian, Lord Sterling, has lived for centuries, serving an ancient entity known only as the Dragon. Immortality is Justin’s reward. But to keep it, he must keep killing. Lt. Sandra McCormick is a dedicated cop, a loner whose job is her refuge from a twisted past. But to keep it, she must stop the killing. Two loners, each stalking the other. Each destined to be the other’s savior — and downfall. For love, unexpected, unstoppable, draws them together. And love is the one vice the Dragon will not allow….
The Angel Books — (2007-2008) With Lizz Weis. Publisher: Once a dedicated soldier of the Knights Templar, Derek de Molay was betrayed and killed. So instead of an eternity in Heaven, he has decided to battle the Dark Angels of Hell. But as the war between good and evil rages, he is summoned back to the mortal realm to protect a woman standing too close to the edge of darkness. Rachel Duncan has never felt this way before. A mysterious man is intent on seducing her with expensive gifts and trips on his private plane, yet it is Derek, a breathtaking stranger, who tugs at her heart. With him, there is laughter, light … and love. But Derek tells an impossible, insane story, though deep in her heart she knows it to be true. Now Derek and Rachel must race against time to save the mortal souls of mankind… and each other.
The Dragon Brigade — (2011-2014) With Robert Krammes. Publisher: A new epic military fantasy series — by New York Times bestselling author Margaret Weis and Robert Krammes. The known world floats upon the Breath of God, a thick gas similar to Earth’s oceans, with land masses accessible by airship. The largest of these land masses are ruled by the rival empires of Freya and Rosia. Magic is intrinsic to the functioning of these societies, and is even incorporated into their technological devices. But now a crucial scientific discovery has occurred that could destroy the balance of power — and change the empires forever.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE BOOKS BY MARGARET WEIS.
More books by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Darksword — (1987-1997) Publisher: Born without magical abilities in a magic world, Joram flees to the Outlands after being exiled from his village, and joins the scholar Saryon, practitioner of the outlawed arts of science and creator of the Darksword.
Starshield — (1995-1996) With Tracy Hickman. Publisher: Created by the bestselling team of Weis & Hickman, Starshield introduces their newest fantastic universe with an unforgettable, magical, grand adventure! Rebellion threatens to rock the very foundation of civilization. If the wrong side wins, the people will be at the mercy of minds with no conscience or humanity. The only hope for freedom lies with the Mantle of Kendis-dai, a relic reputed to hold the power of absolute Truth. But the Mantle of Kendis-dai is long lost in the mists of myth and time… if it ever really existed at all. Merinda Neskat, dedicated to the pursuit of Truth above all, is determined to find the legendary Mantle. The key to her quest is a group of lost Earthpeople, led by the feckless Jeremy Griffiths, who holds knowledge he shouldn’t have — and doesn’t understand. Together, Merinda, Jeremy, and his companions set off on a dangerous race against time and deadly enemy forces, seeking a mysterious world that holds the secret that can save them — or destroy the path of civilization forever.
Rose of the Prophet — (1988-1999) This omnibus edition contains all three of the original novels: The Will of the Wanderer, The Paladin of the Night, The Prophet of Akhran. Publisher: Since time began, twenty Gods have ruled the universe. Though each god possessed different abilities, each was all-powerful within his realm. Now one of the Gods has upset the balance of power, leaving the others scrambling for control in the new order… Here is the epic tale of the Great War of the Gods — and the proud people upon whom the fate of the world depends. When the God of the desert, Akhran the Wanderer, declares that two clans must band together despite their centuries-old rivalry, their first response is outrage. But they are a devout people and so reluctantly bow to his bidding. Enemies from birth, the headstrong Prince Khardan and impetuous Princess Zohra must unite in marriage to stop Quar, the God of Reality, Greed, and Law, from enslaving their people. But can Khardan and Zohra keep from betraying each other? Can their two peoples maintain their fragile alliance until the long-awaited flowering of the legendary Rose of the Prophet? Against the powerful legions of the evil Amir, Khardan and Zohra fight to save the desert people — a fight unexpectedly joined by an exiled wizard named Matthew and the mysterious powers of his alien land.
Dragonships of Vindras — (2008-2012) Publisher: Skylan Ivorson is a sea-raider of the Vindras, an undefeated champion of the Torgun clan, and eventually the Chief of Chiefs of all Vindras clans, an honor he truly feels he deserves as one who has been blessed by Skoval, the god of war. But sometimes a blessing is a curse in disguise. Skoval and the other ancient gods are under siege from a new generation of gods who are challenging them for the powers of creation… and the only way to stop these brash interlopers lies within the mysterious and hidden Five Bones of the Vektan Dragons. It will be up to the Vindras, the dragon-goddess’s champion, to undertake the quest to recover all Five. The fate of the Old Gods and the Vindras’ people rests on their recovery, for this is not only a quest to save the world — it is also a quest for redemption. Filled with heroes and heroines young and old (as well as human and non) spanning locales of exotic adventure in a magic-forged world, this is a series that fully illustrates the mastery of world-building and storytelling that has made Weis and Hickman into the bestselling fantasy co-authors of all time.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE BOOKS BY MARGARET WEIS & TRACY HICKMAN.
(1948- )
