Book 1), Dragon Wing (The Death Gate Cycle

As you have seen with others, the Kindle version is rife with typographical errors. About location 200, and I am done with it. A few errors are expected but "ar rows", really? The fantasy names have been swapped back and forth a few times as well, so if you are a new reader (as I am, and - being the first book- you would expect others to be) you are left going "wait, what is this place called?". I can't review the books content as the technology has ruined it, in this case. Save yourself some frustration and pick up the paperback or something.

Like other people have posted, the Kindle version is full of very distracting typos. If the Kindle is meant to help immerse people in their reading, more quality control should be exercised on the content to keep it from negatively affecting that result.

I LOVED LOVED LOVED, the Darksword series by these same authors...sadly, Dragon Wing completely failed to capture my imagination and entertain me. I will not be reading the rest of the Deathgate Cycle. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, GO READ THE DARKSWORD SERIES!!!!

An ancient war ended when four new worlds were created from the elements of the old one. The series eventually touches on all of them, but this volume focuses on the world of air. Humans and elves fight on floating islands, while dwarves toil away in blissful ignorance on the lowest levels, tending to a giant machine.

The story begins with an assassin, hired to do a job he doesn’t fully comprehend. Next the audience meets an inquisitive dwarf, struggling to understand the world around him, much to the chagrin of his people, who value submission. The story itself is fairly simple at first, until treachery and misfortune unite the characters in common cause, forcing them to work together to survive, as governments plot their demise. The cast steadily grows, as new characters become entangled in the plot, but the story manages it well, transitioning between perspectives with masterful timing. The characters themselves are well developed, if a bit cliché, and their story, while familiar, is still an entertaining read.

+Strong Setting
+Strong Descriptions
*Strong but familiar characters
*Strong but familiar plot
-Some Confusing Scenes

3.5/5

Dragon Wing is a 1990 fantasy novel by Dragonlance core authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, and the first in the seven-volume Death Gate Cycle. Here, in one of four realms created following the apocalyptic sundering of the earth, an assassin is hired by the king to kill the prince, a dwarf works for social reform among his people, and the vanguard of a powerful, long-imprisoned race foments discord while searching for his erstwhile captors.

In Dragon Wing, Weis and Hickman have taken the old, worn blocks of fantasy fiction - elves, dwarves, dragons, wizards - and constructed something very interesting. The vertical world of Arianus is imaginative in terms of both its geography and its denizens. Yes, a number of characters wander too far into caricature at times, and if the evil wizard had a mustache, he would twirl it every chance he got, but the protagonists feel natural: there are no real heroes, only people with conflicting agendas, and for the most part, their arcs are well handled (although in the interest of time, Limbeck's arc falls rather by the wayside at the end in a manner the reader may find disappointing).

This lack of an obvious hero (apart from Limbeck) gives the book suspense and uncertainty, and the authors use it to good advantage, as the plot takes several nice turns. Dragon Wing also shows evidence of a well-thought-out magic system, which is vital to fantasy of this sort.

While Dragon Wing does a lot of obvious setup for the rest of the series, it also works well as a stand-alone novel (in fact, the protagonist of the series doesn't appear until page 120, and is never more than a supporting character). The world building - and there's a fair amount of it - is never unduly expository. There are footnotes, an appendix, and sheet music, but most of the backstory and setup are incorporated naturally into the story itself (given the inclusion of four distinct worlds in this series, the authors are forced to paint much of Arianus with broad strokes and vignettes, but it suffices).

In the end, while it has some rough edges, Dragon Wing amounts to considerably more than the sum of its parts. It's immersive and cleverly done, and it practically begs further reading of the series.

Dragon Wing is a 1990 fantasy novel by Dragonlance core authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, and the first in the seven-volume Death Gate Cycle. Here, in one of four realms created following the apocalyptic sundering of the earth, an assassin is hired by the king to kill the prince, a dwarf works for social reform among his people, and the vanguard of a powerful, long-imprisoned race foments discord while searching for his erstwhile captors.

In Dragon Wing, Weis and Hickman have taken the old, worn blocks of fantasy fiction - elves, dwarves, dragons, wizards - and constructed something very interesting. The vertical world of Arianus is imaginative in terms of both its geography and its denizens. Yes, a number of characters wander too far into caricature at times, and if the evil wizard had a mustache, he would twirl it every chance he got, but the protagonists feel natural: there are no real heroes, only people with conflicting agendas, and for the most part, their arcs are well handled (although in the interest of time, Limbeck's arc falls rather by the wayside at the end in a manner the reader may find disappointing).

This lack of an obvious hero (apart from Limbeck) gives the book suspense and uncertainty, and the authors use it to good advantage, as the plot takes several nice turns. Dragon Wing also shows evidence of a well-thought-out magic system, which is vital to fantasy of this sort.

While Dragon Wing does a lot of obvious setup for the rest of the series, it also works well as a stand-alone novel (in fact, the protagonist of the series doesn't appear until page 120, and is never more than a supporting character). The world building - and there's a fair amount of it - is never unduly expository. There are footnotes, an appendix, and sheet music, but most of the backstory and setup are incorporated naturally into the story itself (given the inclusion of four distinct worlds in this series, the authors are forced to paint much of Arianus with broad strokes and vignettes, but it suffices).

In the end, while it has some rough edges, Dragon Wing amounts to considerably more than the sum of its parts. It's immersive and cleverly done, and it practically begs further reading of the series.

Dragon Wing is a 1990 fantasy novel by Dragonlance core authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, and the first in the seven-volume Death Gate Cycle. Here, in one of four realms created following the apocalyptic sundering of the earth, an assassin is hired by the king to kill the prince, a dwarf works for social reform among his people, and the vanguard of a powerful, long-imprisoned race foments discord while searching for his erstwhile captors.

In Dragon Wing, Weis and Hickman have taken the old, worn blocks of fantasy fiction - elves, dwarves, dragons, wizards - and constructed something very interesting. The vertical world of Arianus is imaginative in terms of both its geography and its denizens. Yes, a number of characters wander too far into caricature at times, and if the evil wizard had a mustache, he would twirl it every chance he got, but the protagonists feel natural: there are no real heroes, only people with conflicting agendas, and for the most part, their arcs are well handled (although in the interest of time, Limbeck's arc falls rather by the wayside at the end in a manner the reader may find disappointing).

This lack of an obvious hero (apart from Limbeck) gives the book suspense and uncertainty, and the authors use it to good advantage, as the plot takes several nice turns. Dragon Wing also shows evidence of a well-thought-out magic system, which is vital to fantasy of this sort.

While Dragon Wing does a lot of obvious setup for the rest of the series, it also works well as a stand-alone novel (in fact, the protagonist of the series doesn't appear until page 120, and is never more than a supporting character). The world building - and there's a fair amount of it - is never unduly expository. There are footnotes, an appendix, and sheet music, but most of the backstory and setup are incorporated naturally into the story itself (given the inclusion of four distinct worlds in this series, the authors are forced to paint much of Arianus with broad strokes and vignettes, but it suffices).

In the end, while it has some rough edges, Dragon Wing amounts to considerably more than the sum of its parts. It's immersive and cleverly done, and it practically begs further reading of the series.

Dragon Wing is a 1990 fantasy novel by Dragonlance core authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, and the first in the seven-volume Death Gate Cycle. Here, in one of four realms created following the apocalyptic sundering of the earth, an assassin is hired by the king to kill the prince, a dwarf works for social reform among his people, and the vanguard of a powerful, long-imprisoned race foments discord while searching for his erstwhile captors.

In Dragon Wing, Weis and Hickman have taken the old, worn blocks of fantasy fiction - elves, dwarves, dragons, wizards - and constructed something very interesting. The vertical world of Arianus is imaginative in terms of both its geography and its denizens. Yes, a number of characters wander too far into caricature at times, and if the evil wizard had a mustache, he would twirl it every chance he got, but the protagonists feel natural: there are no real heroes, only people with conflicting agendas, and for the most part, their arcs are well handled (although in the interest of time, Limbeck's arc falls rather by the wayside at the end in a manner the reader may find disappointing).

This lack of an obvious hero (apart from Limbeck) gives the book suspense and uncertainty, and the authors use it to good advantage, as the plot takes several nice turns. Dragon Wing also shows evidence of a well-thought-out magic system, which is vital to fantasy of this sort.

While Dragon Wing does a lot of obvious setup for the rest of the series, it also works well as a stand-alone novel (in fact, the protagonist of the series doesn't appear until page 120, and is never more than a supporting character). The world building - and there's a fair amount of it - is never unduly expository. There are footnotes, an appendix, and sheet music, but most of the backstory and setup are incorporated naturally into the story itself (given the inclusion of four distinct worlds in this series, the authors are forced to paint much of Arianus with broad strokes and vignettes, but it suffices).

In the end, while it has some rough edges, Dragon Wing amounts to considerably more than the sum of its parts. It's immersive and cleverly done, and it practically begs further reading of the series.

Bestselling authors, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman have come together to produce an exciting new fantasy series ~ the death gate cycle. Published the year I was born, Dragon Wing was one of the first fantasy books that I read as a child (alongside JRR Tolkien, Mervyn Peake, Anne McCaffrey and Barbra Hambly) to name but a few. An eternal love for this genre was formed, as I discovered tales from far-away lands where danger and magic collided in an altogether enchanting experience beyond my wildest imagination. It was the inspired, creative vision of both authors and the extensive world-building that really captured my interest and so pulled me into a magnificent story. Once you have begun to read `Dragon Wing' and journeyed across the vast world of Arianus, you will not want to leave this spellbinding place, and so book 2 (Elven Star) will be next on the list.

Long, long ago, Sorcerers of matchless power split a world into four realms ~ sky, stone, fire and sea. Then they vanished. As the ages passed, so did the magic weaken. Magicians learned to work spells only in their own realms, and forgot the secrets of the others. Now only those few who have survived the perils of the labyrinth and traversed the Death Gate know of the existence of all four realms...and even they have not unraveled all the mysteries of their sundered world...
Dragon Wing is the tale of Arianus, the realm of sky ~ a world of airborne islands where humans, elves, and Dwarves battle for control of precious water. It is a tale of treachery and deceits, of breathtaking wonders and bold adventurers, and of secrets from the dawn of time.

The sheer scope of this fantasy creation; of the four different realms and their diverse cultures and history, is utterly awe-inspiring and so luxuriously rich. Unlike modern fantasy, this older masterwork proves just how intricately detailed it can be and how there are many works (like this one) which seem to be of such great magnitude as to transcend present stories. The substantial plot complete with its range of varying races, creatures, customs and cultures is simply exquisite and which many high/ epic fantasy readers will delight in. I strongly urge you to look back to past writers (some of which sadly do not grace our bookshelves anymore and have been replaced by modern/ contemporary works and authors), as they show us the true essence of fantasy fiction in all its glory. Likewise, if you are new to this genre or are interested in fantasy/ well-written literary works, then look back and who knows what you might discover!

I don't mind stereotype characters, as long as they're interesting and make for an interesting plot. Dragon Wing's characters, and the book itself, did neither.

We have Hugh. Oh my God, Hugh is a tough assassin who cares only for money. Yawn. Unfortunately for Hugh, he never gets any more than that. That is his entire character. The only changes he ever sees is because of some sort of magical mind-control from this one kid he's hired to kill named Prince Bane (I'm not kidding, that's seriously what he's named) and yada yada yada... Hugh is the most one dimensional character I've ever seen. Plus, what kind of fantasy-novel name is Hugh anyway? These authors badly need to take a page from Ursula LeGuin. Or an entire book. Preferably an entire book.

Then there was the whole segment with the dwarves and their "Kicksey Whinsey". I'd say that was a borderline racist stereotype but I'm not sure what race it was even supposed to represent. A bunch of dwarves go around and live their lives based on the whims of some badly-named machine, performing their badly-named daily activities. There's a badly-named revolutionary leading a badly-named group to try to throw off the oppressive blanket of society and the machine...only it's all supposed to be comical, because they all act like little children. It's like some dwarven version of 1984, only it has the writing quality you'd expect from monkeys. The dwarf segment is the sort of thing you'd expect to see in a D&D game where the DM thinks he's being really funny and clever, but everyone at the table just wants to punch him in the face.

I had to stop after that (halfway through the book). The low quality of writing made me so disgusted that I couldn't go any further. That's the first time a book has done that. Dragonlance (by the same authors) may be the lowest common denominator of fantasy, but at least it's finishable. This is just disgusting.

Or maybe it was made for the 11 year olds out there who find the dwarf thing 'funny' and would overlook boring one dimensional stereotype characters.

The first contemporary fantasy series I read was The Death Gate Cycle by frequent collaborators Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. That was many moons ago and years after having discovered and micro-read The Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit, which remain the classics of the genre. The Death Gate Cycle, however, sucked me in to further read and explore the genre. Years later, with the follow-up reading, this book is still marvelous.

Weis and Hickman have written many more books either jointly or individually. Unfortunately however, none of them come close to the series at hand. While many consider the Dragonlance series to be their best, and they are indeed good, the seven books, which begin here, remain unmatched.
Humans, Welves (elves) and Gegs (dwarves) occupy the realm of sky, Arianus, but not together or in peace. The Sartan have mysteriously disappeared and legends of the Patryn are withering in time. The human Mysteriarch have abandoned their human brethren and withdrawn to the unreachable High Realm, but something is afoot. The Death Gate has opened.

With plenty of action and rich characterizations Dragon Wing - Volume 1 is both a fast-paced story and the foundation for the six books that follow and complete the series. Much to the authors' credit it is not obvious who is good and who is evil.

As an aside, with Tracy Hickman being a Latter-Day Saint, the Sartan's Musings at the book's end introduce the name and concept of Elihn, God In One, which is almost literally a variation on the Mormon Elohim, God The Father.
Adorned with great cover artwork and including tablature and explanations on magic Dragon Wing is a superb fantasy book.

Not that Tolkien was a bad writer, but his influence, I feel, was a very bad thing. Before he rose to fame, you had Michael Moorcock, you had Fritz Leiber, you had whatsisface (the Conan guy)--all of them wrote epic fantasy, and none of their works had much in common. AFTER Tolkien came to power--well, you have Terry Brooks, Raymond Feist, Tad Williams, David Eddings, Robert Jordan, ad nauseum, all writing epic fantasy that bares a striking resemblance to ol' JRR. So now not virtually every book in the genre supersaturated in Tolkienisms, which is all very well for some, I suppose--but pity those of us who thirst for some *original* fantasy in the epic tradition.
That's what's so great about the Deathgate Cycle: it's epic fantasy, and it owes absolutely nothing to Tolkien beyond the elves and dwarves. It's long, but not bloated--no verbose Homeresque descriptions--and the worlds are stunningly original and well-thought-out--more than any others since, dare I say it, Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings is really epic poetry in novel form, and thus it follows that the characters fit rather neatly into simple archetypes--not so here; W&H's characters are people, and it's oh-so-refreshing. Battle scenes are thankfully sparse, and, thank the gods, none of them are choreographed in excrutiating, Salvatore-like detail. In all, the series is truly amazing.
Unfortunately, this, it would seem, was it--I don't know if the effort involved in writing these seven books caused them to burn out or what, but Weis and Hickman have produced nothing of note since. Sigh...oh well...be sure to check out the equally-gripping Rose of the Prophet if you dig this, and if you're up for it, hell, go ahead and read the good-if-not-great Darksword trilogy, and the duo's appealingly raw and unpolished Dragonlance novels. That's all I have to say.

Not that Tolkien was a bad writer, but his influence, I feel, was a very bad thing. Before he rose to fame, you had Michael Moorcock, you had Fritz Leiber, you had whatsisface (the Conan guy)--all of them wrote epic fantasy, and none of their works had much in common. AFTER Tolkien came to power--well, you have Terry Brooks, Raymond Feist, Tad Williams, David Eddings, Robert Jordan, ad nauseum, all writing epic fantasy that bares a striking resemblance to ol' JRR. So now not virtually every book in the genre supersaturated in Tolkienisms, which is all very well for some, I suppose--but pity those of us who thirst for some *original* fantasy in the epic tradition.
That's what's so great about the Deathgate Cycle: it's epic fantasy, and it owes absolutely nothing to Tolkien beyond the elves and dwarves. It's long, but not bloated--no verbose Homeresque descriptions--and the worlds are stunningly original and well-thought-out--more than any others since, dare I say it, Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings is really epic poetry in novel form, and thus it follows that the characters fit rather neatly into simple archetypes--not so here; W&H's characters are people, and it's oh-so-refreshing. Battle scenes are thankfully sparse, and, thank the gods, none of them are choreographed in excrutiating, Salvatore-like detail. In all, the series is truly amazing.
Unfortunately, this, it would seem, was it--I don't know if the effort involved in writing these seven books caused them to burn out or what, but Weis and Hickman have produced nothing of note since. Sigh...oh well...be sure to check out the equally-gripping Rose of the Prophet if you dig this, and if you're up for it, hell, go ahead and read the good-if-not-great Darksword trilogy, and the duo's appealingly raw and unpolished Dragonlance novels. That's all I have to say.

Weis and Hickman created a great novel for the Death Gate Series. This first novel takes place on Arianus, in which there are three realms(low, middle and high). In these three realms, the main inhabitants are humans, elves, and dwarves, who are confined to the lower realm.
Humans and elves habitate the middle realm, while the dwarves live solely on the lower realm. In these realms, there are islands of land that float in the air. There is no land forms found on the ground. This realm is known as the Realm of Air.
The novel starts with the hiring of a human assassin to eliminate a child. However, in the assassins journey across the middle realm, he also joins party with the butler of the young child. The butler, assassin, and child end up in the lower realm, where they meet a mysterious human named Haplo.
This human is a magician that original walked the world. However, these magicians were imprisoned in a labyrinth by the Sartan, a more powerful type of wizard. Haplo has escaped the labyrinth, and has a job of causing chaos in the world. However, he finds that his mortal enemy, the Sartan, is within his grasp.
This is an intriguing novel that starts off very simply, but weaves complexity and detail throughout the novel. It will keep you turning the page, trying to figure out what is going on. It is highly enjoyable.

Known mostly for their "Dragonlance" novels, Maragaret Weis and Tracy Hickman write an original and fun novel outside of that series here. "Dragon Wing" is the first book of "The Death Gate Cycle," a series of seven books. In this novel the authors open up the whole series, introduce the world, and some characters very precisely. I enjoyed this book immensely and I'm sure that the next books in this promising series will be just as good as volume one.
Many things take place in "Dragon Wing." The book starts off with an assassin being rescued from being executioned and he is then presented with a task assigned by the King. He is being asked to murder the King's son, the Prince himself! Meanwhile, a Geg (Dwarf) is going against the major religon of his people and will begin to change the way the world looks at everything. From the first grabbing pages to the very last, where some of the plot is wrapped up, though the reader will be in suspense for the next novel, this extraordinary novel entertains.
One of the most inventive and "cool" things about this book is the world that the story takes place in. The world is broken up into four realms, fire, stone, water, and sky. This book only takes place in the sky part of the world, but I'm sure that the future novels of this series will get into the other realms. The sky world is comprised of three different levels, the low realm, the mid realm, and the high realm. Within these realms are many islands that float in the air. People build, live, and work on these "islands in the sky" as if they were on a regular world. The three races in the book are the Gegs, Humans, and Elves. It is interesting to see how they travel in the world (using big magical ships) and how they react with one another.
The main characters in this novel are very enjoyable to read about and are likeable. You actually care what will happen to these people by the end of the book, so you keep reading. However, these characters were not entirely original. One of the characters was your typical prince; his servant was heroic, so that was a bit orignal; the assassin is an adventurer type; and Limbeck was probably the most original of the characters. There are many other characters that come in between as well. An interesting thing that Weis and Hickman do is their portrayal of elves. The elves in this book are not your typical elves as they are not kind and thoughtful. These elves have an attitude and are mostly mean.
With an inventive plot, fun characters, and an interesting world "Dragon Wing" doesn't disappoint. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series. For a fantasy fan that is looking for a bit of originality in their reading this novel cannot be beat.
Happy Reading!

Dragon Wing begins with an assassin being whisked away from his own beheading by a messenger from the King. When the assassin, Hugh the Hand, is taken before the King, the King has an unusual request: he wants Hugh to kill his ten-year-old son, Bane. In the meantime, a group of dwarves (Gegs) is starting to turn from their normally peaceful lifestyle to revolt against the elves who have enslaved them for generations. And in the midst of all these subplots, we have two god-like representatives from ancient races, sworn enemies, destined to meet again. This all makes for an excellent fantasy novel, especially when written by notable fantasy writers like Weis and Hickman.
The storyline was my favorite part of this book. The plots and subplots kept the book moving with hardly any downtime between exciting events. The book skipped back and forth between characters enough to keep things interesting, but not enough that it was jarring. Although they were the usual fantasy characters, the personalities and the interactions between them made the characters come alive.
I would highly recommend this book to any epic fantasy enthusiasts. However, I believe people who don't normally read fantasy would enjoy this book as well. There's little violence and no sex, and I think the subject matter is safe for kids.

This series (starting with Dragon Wing, of course) was the first fantasy novel I'd ever read. My husband was "into" fantasy and recommended it to me. It was not what I expected at all and I have read the entire series twice since then.
Dragon Wing is the first of seven novels in the "Death Gate Series." Long ago powerful sorcerers called the Sartans sundered Earth as we know it into four separate planets -- air, fire, stone, and water. Onto each planet they placed dwarves, elves, and humans, and of course many of their kind to watch over everything. They also created a prison world for their ancient enemy, the Patryns. I don't want to give away anything from the novel, but that is the set-up for the series.
A problem with most fantasy novels is the "good vs. evil" plot. It's all so formulaic. Evil is dark, good is light. Even "The Wheel of Time" series and the "Lord of the Rings" series, the two most popular fantasy series, succumb to this pitfalll of fantasy writing. The Death Gate series has a much more intricate plot. There's no "dark one" trying to take over the world. It's more true to life in that there is no clear-cut right and wrong.
If you decide to start this book, I want you to know what you're committing to: after the first fifty pages, you will be sucked in and forced to read the entire series. All other aspects of your life will seem trivial except for what is happening in your book. The plot becomes more and more intricate until everything will suddenly come together marvelously for a beautiful climactic ending.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. This is just a review of the first book. There's only one real problem with the first book: it's not clear who the main character is. First I thought it was the dwarf, then Hugh the Hand. But ignore the review that says it's just a set-up for the series. Actually, the world on which this book takes place is my favorite of the four, because it is the most developed. This is an excellent book to start reading fantasy. The only problem is that it will spoil you. I haven't found any fantasy novel or series that is better, and since The Death Gate Series I have read a lot.
Bottom line: read it, but know what you're getting into and make sure you have plenty of time to be addicted.

This book looks truly impressive in hardcover. Alas, the store doesn't have it. Dragon Wing is the first in a a series of seven books of the Death Gate series. Along with wonderfully fleshed characters and grand imagery, I was pleasantly surprised to see that not one bit of standard fantasy material is to be seen, anywhere. There are no standard dragons, no standard goblins or magic. The rest of the series is all the more fascinating. This part details the journeys of Hugh, an assassin, through the world of Arianus, a land of floating land, one of the four elemental realms created by the Sartan wizards millennia ago, after the real world has suffered a horrible fate. Another trait of this book is that it's not the classic happy lit-up fantasy in the style of Ed Greenwood, but more of a chilly, muddy fantasy in the style of Norton's Witchworld, that really conveys the overall atmosphere. How wonderful to see an author break away from their regular routine (Dragonlance, in this case), and create a totally new world.

In 'Dragon Wing' Weiss and Hickman create yet another fantastic world populated by all sorts of strange beings, injected with their usual flair for humour and action. The ambitious series it begins is distinguished by its starting over three more times, as three other worlds are introduced in the sequels.
If you continue reading the series you'll will find each subsequent world as unique as the first (particularly the third, in 'Fire Sea'), but I found the closing trilogy disappointing. I had hoped for a melding of characters from each world and how they would react to one another, but they mostly remain seperate tales, the storyline continuing to jump between them.
Weiss and Hickman seem tired of the series by the fifth and especially sixth book when the characters of the second lower themselves to 'Three Stooges' humour and the lead villain loses his shine. The seventh is noticeably short but ties up loose ends sufficiently, except for the annoyingly inexplicable presence of a character from another series the team has written.
'Dragon Wing' itself lives up to the duo's previous work. The series as a whole does not, but Weiss & Hickman fans won't mind. If you are unfamiliar with the authors, I recommend starting where they did: 'Dragonlance Chronicles: Dragons of Autumn Twilight'.

Margret Weis and Tracy Hickman have done it again with this excellent start to the Deathgate Cycle series. We are introduced to the usual species...humans, elves, and dwarves (called Gegs). However centuries ago, a human race known as the Sartan sundered the world into four sections (earth, fire, air, and water) to prevent their ancient enemies the Patryns (another human race) from ruling the world. The Sartan then sent the Patryn into a special prison known as the Labyrinth. The Sartan hoped to teach them the errors of their ways as the Patryn slowly made their way to the Labyrinth's exit. Then the Sartan went about to set up the new worlds they created but before they could finish, they all just vanished.
"Dragon Wing" takes place on the world of air known as Arianus. Land masses float in various orbits in the air in one of three realms...the Low Realm (occupied by the Gegs), the Mid Realm (occupied by Elves and Humans), and the High Realm (occupied by the powerful human wizards known as Mysteriarchs).
After many centuries, the Patryn have begun to escape the Labyrinth (which after the dissappearance of the Sartan became alive and evil) and are looking for revenge. Haplo is dispactched through the discovered Death Gate into this realm of air to learn everything he can about it and if there are any Sartan present there. While here, he encounters an interesting variety of characters including the human assassin Hugh the Hand, the strange and clumsy human Alfred, the curious Geg Limbeck, the mysterious child Prince Bane, and the powerful mysteriarch Sinistrad.
This is a well written book and an exciting entry into the strange new fantasy world created by Weis and Hickman. They successfully take fantasy writing to a new level here and while this book answers a few questions, it raises many more. I recommend this book to fans of Wies and Hickman, Tolkien, and fantasy.

Dragon Wing is the first book of the DeathGate Cycle, and possibly one of the best series books on the market today. Wies and Hickman team up again to write this amazing book, full of action, adventure, intrigue, death, destruction. The main character in this book, a man named Haplo, is sent by his master to survey a world in which his master hopes to one day conquer. On this world, Haplo must face an evil mage, and must team up with a deadly assassin in order to enevitably save the world.The plot and action in this book are deeper than i could ever hope to explain, the book will keep you hooked from cover to cover.
This book is definately one of the best books on the market today. Wies and Hickman show that they dont have to stay in the Dragonlance realm to write an exciting, and emotional book. If you are a fan of Wies and Hickman, or just a fan of fantasy itself, this book, and the rest in the series are a must.

This is truly Weis and Hickman's greatest achievment .It is even better than Dragonlance ,and that is saying something.There is much more intrigue ,much more uncertanity ,much more character description.I was also pleased by there extensive detail in the dwarves ,or Gegs .Barely any authors put that much detail in dwarves ,they usually stick to the elves.But anyway ,here is the plot :The world has been sundered into four realms ,sky ,stone ,fire and water .On Arianus ,Sky realm ,Three things are happening at once :Hugh the assasin is hired against his will to kill a prince .Sinistrad the wizard is planning to conquer Arianus .Limbeck the dwarf has challenged the beliefs of his people and has decided to lead them in regellion against the "Welves ".Any fantasy fan should read this ,and continue the series .I began the second book several days ago and it's even better .

This review is for the entire series. The story ia about a furure human world that is divided into humans, elves and dwarfs. There are two waring races of super humans called Sartans and Patryns. The Sartans imprison the Patryns in a horrible Laberynth. The Sartans then divide the world into four forms. The story centers on Haplo , who was sent by his master to find out about these four worlds and to seek revenge on the Sartans. In Dragon Wing he visits the first world that consists of floating Islands. In the first four books of the series Haplo goes to each of the four worlds. The final three books basically close out the series.

The death gate cycle is a very and complex fanatasy series about Humans, Elves and Dwarves as they fight to restore thier world.

I still remember the first time I came across these books. Or, to put it more accurately, I still remember hounding friends so that I could read out all seven. Who could care about assignments when Haplo and Alfred were so much more intriguing?

Overall, I can rate this series among the best fantasy books- or series- that I have ever read (and believe me: I've read a LOT). The characters are so alive and diverse, drawing you into their stories, their minds, and even at times, their hearts. You feel their pain, their happiness, their devastation. Add those factors to a plot that keeps you guessing and points in each book that will have you reaching for those tissues, and you have the makings of a remarkable series.

The only reason I give this series four stars instead of five is because of several inconsistencies- barely noticeable on first reading, but they tend to nag at you on second and third, when the plot isn't as compelling and the characters not quite so overwhelming. Still, I will keep on recommending it to any fans of the fantasy genre- or even those who'd like to dip their toes into it for the first time.

Dragon Wing is a great introduction to the Death Gate Cycle. Maragaret Weis and Tracy Hickman to world building to a whole new level when they wrote the Death Gate Cycle. They have demonstrated their sheer imagination and skill as they wrote this book. The book starts off slow but that is only because you have not become acquainted with everything yet. There was an interesting array of characters in which they all had complex and unusual backgrounds. The setting of the book was the most unique part of the book.The stage is set on the floating islands of the world Arianus. The climax of the book was a major disappointment, but the following books more than make up for this let down. If you like the Dragonlance Saga then this is more than worth your while to read!

Dragon Wing is an excellent story for any fantasy lover to read. Being young, I can say that it is easy reading and a great story. Although Dragon Wing can never compare to Tolkien's works, it comes in a close second on my list. The style in which the story is written reminds me slightly of Victor Hugo. The characters never are quite what they seem at first, and there is a mystery to everyone. At first, the story starts out slow, but when Limbeck starts challenging the beliefs of his people and when Haplo(my absolute favorite character) arrives, the storyline picks up. Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman have definately claimed their spot among the best with this series opener.

I read this book from November 1990-April 1991. And was severely impressed of the depth and scope of this book. It was a hard read, but when I got to Elven Star, I knew this wasn't your average series. I now have 6 books in the original hardcover, and this one in SFBC hard cover. It's one I despratly would love to find in hard cover. This book has no comparison in the imaginative world that it is presented within. It is highly recommended.!! So much so my email address is inspired by the series. I told a friend about this book, and from the way I said and told her about it, she said she can't believe she had never heard of it. She now has 6 of the 7 books now. :)And she loves it!!

Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman do a great job of world building in this series of novels. Dragon Wing is one of the best in the series, although you don't quite get to appreciate the elaborate world they've built until several books in.

The prose and style don't quite reach the same level as Robert Jordan or JRR Tolkien, but the story should sufficiently grab the attention of most fantasy fans.

Compared to many fantasy books, Dragon Wing of Death Gate cycle is very different,complex and original....
It's very different from other work of Weis like Dragonlance or Nightshield.
This book take place in a world where the Patryn (a human race) and one guy ( Haplo ) who is summoned by his lord because he must go in the world of sky,or I should say in this existantial plane ( because there is four world: sky, stone, water and fire) to create chaos before the arrival of his darklord in the world of sky.
And then the story take place in the Sky plane of the Death Gate when an assassin is summoned by a King to kill his own heir because he is not the real son of the king ( he have been change one night by a Mysteriarch, this one being the most powerful of his kind and want to control the Mid realm - because the race of the mysteriarchs have hide long ago in the High realm to let there blood pure and didn't want to see their power diminish with non-wizard human blood - )
And then you have the Low Realm where the dwarf people live fooled by elves who have make them think that they are gods and then Haplo arrive in the low realm and make a rebellion with the dwarves who are very angry to know that elves ( they call them Welves ) are false gods and then Haplo make chaos like he wants....
Well, i don't want to give you the rest of the story because it is not interesting to read a book that you know all the story....
I've never seen a story so well-developped in a while
The story does not contain many fight but you must understand that this is the first book of a serie of seven and with a complex world like this, you must well place the world before putting action and i'm sure it will make the story stronger in the other books of the Death Gate Cycle...
The story have is own originality because they invent many words and it's making the book more agreeable....
Complex and delightful...five on five!
With this book ( or maybe the whole Death Gate cycle - i'm reading the second now ), Margaret show us that she can make many good and strong books of fantasy.

Weis and Hickman have created a very unique and intriguing world; one in which all the land masses are floating on different planes, and water is scarce on all but the lowest levels. The story is very good, but at times a little confusing and hard to grasp because of the complexity of the world. There are many questions left unanswered which is a little frustrating. The characters are well developed but its very hard to relate to them or really care what is happening to them, which makes it difficult to get into the story at times.

The story, Dragon Wing, by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, was phenomenally written. The plot is woven with irregular changing perspectives thrown in, along with countless ties to previous chapters which shows tremendous thought included in this masterful piece of literature. They include many cliff-hangers, inevitably leaving readers desperate to finish the story. The lands the characters travel in are easy to comprehend, despite being completely different than any we have heard of before, because their descriptions give captivating details to quench any possible questions on any matter we could possibly have.

Weis and Hickman create a whole new world, several, in fact, to expose their fans to, and frequently add references to their character's surroundings, never forgetting the environment they had mothered. Many elements in the story could never have been included if not for their story's landscapes. A chaotic theme is conveyed throughout the book; for example, an order is given to Haplo, a main character in the beginning of the novel by the Lord of the Nexus, to create chaos in every place he sets foot in. Two realms are already in the start of turmoil when he comes to the three realms, and he quickly causes the chain of events leading to the rest. He even leaves a fellow to ensure and lead the war that would make bedlam in the last realm. Haplo leaves almost invisible marks on the other populations' future, but they change the outcomes dramatically, which leaves the reader stunned at the complexity of Haplo's role.

The book is meant to leave the reader wanting more, for it is only the first in a seven-book series. The main problems given in the story, however, are resolved, and the reader is assured that the rest, with the knowledge of more to accompany, will be solved in the next installments. Weis and Hickman prove a book cannot be judged purely on sight, for while their book covers are quite hideous with faded colours over a rather unfavourable design, their novel is vibrantly written and designed to invoke complicated emotions.

In all probability, people who read the first of the Death Gate Cycle books and like it, are going to want to read all of the books in the series (regardless of any flucutation in the individual books' ratings). Ditto for the reverse: if people don't like the first book, then they're probably not going to want to read any of the other books in the series. Thus, instead of individual book ratings, I've rated the whole series and given a short blurb on any specifics for each book.
Overall, this is a very good series. The authors were amazingly creative in coming up with this concept and the books are well-written, extremely interesting, and internally consistent (mostly -- see below for some exceptions). I highly recommend this series of books for everyone. My comments for the indidual books follow:
Vol. 1 -- Dragon Wing: This book covers the exploration of Arianus: the realm of Air. It introduces us to the two main characters (Haplo and Alfred) and many of the recurring characters throughout the series. It's a well-paced, well-written book that's an excellent reresentation of what to expect in most of the rest of the series. Essentially, if you like this book, you'll like the other six books. If you don't like this book, then there's no sense in reading any of the others.
Vol. 2 -- Elven Star: This book covers the exploration of Pryan: the realm of Fire. Alfred is entirely missing from this book, and Haplo isn't really the centerpiece. Instead, the book is mostly written from the perspective of the mensch and of the newly introduced (and recurring) Zifnab. The one possible weakness in the book is that Weis/Hickman wrote it such that the structure of Pryan itself is more of a mystery than Arianus was in the first book.
Vol. 3 -- Fire Sea: This book covers the exploration of Abarrach: the realm of Stone. Once again, both Haplo and Alfred are present. The characters and areas presented in this book are key elements for the entire series. An interesting book, but not a very happy one at all.
Vol. 4 -- Serpent Mage: This book covers the exploration of Chelestra: the realm of Water. Both Alfred and Haplo are on this world. But, for the most part, they follow separate plot lines. There's a lot of action taking place throughout the book and Weis/Hickman introduce some actual Sartan (besides Alfred). They also bring in an ancient evil to balance the ancient good introduced in the previous book. The most irritating thing about this book is that it ends in a cliff-hanger. The previous books tied up their worlds' activities fairly nicely. Not so in this book. It ends at a very inconvenient spot.
Vol. 5 -- Hand of Chaos: This book returns Haplo to Arianus and the people he met there earlier. Whereas the first four books of the series cover the exploration of the four realms, this book starts the synthesis of the various threads from those books into a movement towards closure. It's a good book, but, unfortunately, it doesn't do anything with Alfred. The previous book left Alfred heading towards a bad end. This book doesn't do anything with that. So, while reading the book, you constantly have this little voice in the back of your mind going "what's happening with Alfred?" Irritating.
Vol. 6 -- Into the Labyrinth: This book ranges across just about all of the worlds of the Death Gate. It brings all of the various threads from the other books to a head. Most importantly, it finally does something with Alfred. The unfortunate thing about this book is that it contains a lot of technical errors (or, more specifically, contradictions). For instance, in Dragon Wing, we're told that a person needs to be familiar with an area to use a transportation spell to get to that area. Yet, very close to the beginning of the book, one of the characters uses such a spell without ever having been to her target location. There are also several instances where the characters COULD have used such a spell, but don't. Likewise, there are problems with replication spells. In Fire Sea, Haplo and Alfred use such a spell to replicate enough food for a large group of people. Yet, in this book, no one seems to consider using a replication spell to produce more of some food. But, later on, those same people are using that same spell to replicate weapons. Plus, at one point, Xar uses a spell to just materialize both food and drink for a party. But, if such a thing is possible, why do the Patryns hunt and, apparently, farm in the Labyrinth? Also, the size of the Labyrinth seems wrong. From the previous books, it's taken hundreds (if not thousands) of years for various Patryns to traverse the hundreds of Gates in the Labryrinth. Yet, in this book, from the very beginning of the Labyrinth they can see the results of things happening at the Final Gate. There's also the problem of how people at the center of the Labyrinth would know anything about the Final Gate.
Vol. 7 -- Seventh Gate: This is the conclusion of the Death Gate series. Unforunately, I didn't much care for it. Basically, it comes across as being pretty sappy. All of a sudden, Haplo and Alfred are best buds and want to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony. Most of the various threads are tied up adequately (if not very satifyingly). But, the sudden push towards liberal "peace, love, and harmony" is trite. Of the seven books in this series, this one is the least good. Once again, I didn't much care for the tone of this book. But, since it adequatly ties up most everything that needed tying up, I'm not going to downgrade the whole series because of that.

Dragon Wing is an original fantasy story that introduces the world where the continents are floating. The main characters are a thief, a prince, a servant, a revolution leader, and a man from a place no 1 knows of. This is a good book that is good for anyone that dose not has too much trouble reading. My favorite chapter in the book is when The 2 godlike begins meet and argue because if they fight they will be found out. Also the Dwarf finally decides that he is going 2 lead his people 2 war.

Bestselling fantasy authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman (The Dragonlance Chronicles) have created an epic fantasy saga telling a compelling story of sundered worlds, magic, war and friendship, reminding readers, yound and old alike, the universal message of tolerance and its importance.
Millenia ago, on earth, during an age of dust, long after the human race as we know it had dwindled and died out, human sorcerers with the powers of gods battled for control of the earth and the weaker Mensch races - elves, humans and dwarves. The Sartan, wizards of light, fought to keep the world from falling into the hands of their opponents, the ruthless and cruel Patryns. When all seemed lost, in a desperate attempt to create a new order, the Sartan sundered the old planet earth into four elemental worlds: Air, Fire, Stone and Water. Into these realms they have removed those Mensch people who have survived the cataclysmic sundering, in order to start a new life for everyone there forever. The Sartan have used their powers to imprison the Patryns in a deadly, ever-changing prison world: the Labyrinth. Then, they themselves have retired to live in the new worlds and watch over the Mensch races.
Now, millenia afterwards, the Patryns have begun to break free of the Labyrinth. Xar, the mighty Patryn lord, was the first one to cross the Labyrinth's final gate into the twilight realm of the Nexus, a beautiful haven planned by the Sartan for the use of those Patryns "rehabilitated" by the Labyrinth. Xar promptly takes up the legacy of the Patryn race: the goal of world domination.
The young Patryn Haplo is sent by his lord to tour each realm and report the situation of the worlds, while trying to further warring among the Mensch races. Haplo must also search for traces of the Sartan, whether they are still living in the four worlds, but he must not make it known to them that their ancient enemies are freed of their prison.
The first realm is Arianus, realm of Air. A world of floating islands made of coral rock, where water is scarce and constant war is raged between humans and elves, while dwarves, living in the lower regions of the world, act as caretakes of an island-sized machine with a mysterious purpose, the wonderous Kicksey-winsey.
In this world, Haplo and his faithful dog will meet Bane, the crafty ten-year-old human prince who is much more than he seems. Hugh the Hand, the assassin travelling with the prince, who was actually hired to murder the boy. Limbeck, the inquisitive, nearsighted dwarf who searches for the truth among the myths and ignorance of his people, slaving under an inoperative machine. Limbeck's fretful girlfriend, the dwarf-woman Jarre. And Alfred, Prince Bane's clumsy, apologetic chamberlain, whose constant fainting and bumbling about show him to be a weak old man... or is he?

I think that this book is an excelent begining to the series. It does a good job at introducing the charictors and gives the reader a feel for the books. So many questions are left unanswered at the end you just HAVE TO read the rest of the series. While I was reading it I only put it down when I absolutly had to. IT was exciting, touching, spellbinding, and constantly leaves tie reader hanging and longing for more. All in all, I would say it was an excelent and must read book.

I will say that when I started reading this series, I was hoping for something much like Weis & Hickman's previous series: Dragonlance. What I found out was that I didn't know what I wanted to begin with. This book was very much different from that great old saga, but every bit as good. I thought the authors did a great job of transitioning the character of Haplo. Nothing was sudden, it was a gradual change of attitude and ideology over the course of the entire series from hate and vengance, to understanding and compassion (even though the hard determined edge never left). The other characters were fairly good, even though Bane was incredibly annoying, and Zinfab was a deliberate play on Fizban, who was the god Paladin in disguise during the Dragonlance series. I never really understood, and don't think that it was explained in any way, why Zinfab always made references to pop culture from the late 1900s, but that is only a minor gripe. The story was really good, and extemely intricate. Wies and Hickman obviously put a lot of work into creating the settings, and explaining why they were the way that they were with stunning originality. This book was pretty good, but the series as a whole was great. I consider myself somewhere between a casual fantasy reader, and a hardcore fantasy reader, and I thought these books were worth every penny, and every minute spent reading.

I'm rereading this series for the first time since I was a kid, and while it is typical spell & sword, which I got very elitist about during college, they are amazing stories. It's not written in fancy prose and it doesn't really have some deep message, but it is an absolutely amazing tale. It's hard to rate this book as a stand alone, because it's not worth mentioning without the rest of the series following. I've heard this series accused of unnecessary verbosity numerous times, but I don't think they waste any ink. Haplo has to be my favorite character in any novel I have ever read, and I can't fathom how some of these reviewers could despise him or claim that he has no character development. Even in this first book his characterization is beatific and endearing.
I recommend reading all 7 books to everyone I know who will read spell & sword fantasy.

This book is absolutely amazing! I have been an avid fantasy and fiction reader since I was a child, and there are very few books that can compare to this novel. Margaret Wise and Tracy Hickman have done a wonderful job at writing the Dragonlance series and this series is equal, if not better, than the Dragonlance books. The plot is well developed and amazingly intricate, and everytime the reader begins to understand something, that supposed "truth" is swept from their grasp. It constantly makes you think and try to understand what is going on in the book. However, even better than the develpment of the plot is the development of the characters. The main character of the series is Haplo, a Patryn who is trying to secure the four worlds for his master. Haplo is an amazingly complicated character and the first book only begins to delve into his intricacy. However, Weis and Hickman use this character to display deep and meaningful truths about humankind. Haplo's race, the Patryns, have grown up in a place where what we consider vices have been switched to virtues in the battle to stay alive. Anger is used to fuel a body so that it may continue fighting to the bitter end; lust has taken the place of love because of the fact that your loved one may not survive until the morning; pride makes a person seek perfection so that he may live through the day. All these are viewed in a negative light to us readers, but in the Labrynth, these emotions are needed to survive. However, with Weis and Hickman's skilled writing, a sense of understanding rather than loathedness can be felt while reading about the Patryns. Why, though, can we feel good about what occurs in the Labrynth if all those virtues are horrible sins in our eyes? This is where the authors slip in their message: we cannot judge anyone because we can never and will never know the entire situation that they have gone through. Another charater used to portray a theme is the bumbling Alfred. The poor butler can never seem to make his body do his bidding, and he is always passing out at the first signs of danger. However, later in the book it is revealed that Alfred is part of a race like the Patryns. Both are a type of demi-god race with powers incomprehensible to the average human's mind. The Sartans, as his race is called, had been fighting the Patryns for centuries until the world was sundered into the four realms. The Sartans put the Patryns in a type of prison to help them become less evil (which later turned into the deadly Labrynth) and started to rule the four realms. However, the lesser beings, the dwarves humans and elves, did not respond kindly to even the unimposing rule of the Sartans. The elves and humans began to fight while the dwarves turned into a helpless race. The Sartans could not do anything to stop this chaos, for they had trouble of their own. They couldn't communicate with the other realms and decided to wait for a while for a message from the other realms. The went into an enchanted sleep and never awoke, except for Alfred. This is such a powerful message that every reader should be able to understand: we are not in ultimate control, no matter how strong we think we are. "The best laid plans of mice and men/Gang aft aglay."

The idea of a world sundered by ancient wizards into floating islands makes me think of the excellent "Shattered World" by Michael Reave, a wonderful novel that presents an interesting world with true depth. In Dragon Wing, Arianus, the realm of air, has a superficial feel to it. Occasionally, random facts are presented in footnotes but the history and culture feels empty and artificial. The plot takes a long time to develop, the dialogue of the characters is stilted, and the authors seem unable to hold a consistent tension.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I am not a fan of the dragon lance books, by the same others. The story was interesting and had multiple plots that wound together. As others have written in review the first two thirds is very good and I was a little disappointed with the ending. I will try the next though. I read it quickly for the story was quite interesting.

This book was great. I loved how all the characters seemed to change at the end. My favorite character was Haplo. Just the fact that he could do anything he wanted with his magic was cool. I kind of wish that there were more magic in it though. I'm now reading Elven Star and am planning on reading the whole series. I can't wait to see what happens in the other realms. I would highly recomend this series and especially this book.

Dragon Wing begins perhaps one of the most imaginative fantasy series of all time. The ideas, the themes, and the worlds themselves show to be the result of an incredible talent and imagination. It's the story of a race of humans known as Patryns, who are capable of powerful magic, equaled only by their enemies the Sartan. The Sartan sundered the world and imprisoned the Patryns in the Labyrinth, but now the Patryns are free and eager for revenge. But the story is not that simple. Throughout the series, one finds that good and evil are purely based on point of view. The line between good and evil is blurred in the traditional Weis-Hickman style. A wonderful series of books, full of action, suspense, and wonder. I would recommend no book higher.

This series was completely different compared to the Dragonlance series. I really appreciated how much in depth that Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weiss put into this series. For anyone who loves fantasy, this is a must read series! I have been a fan of these writers for a very long time and if you are a fan and happen to have not read this series yet, YOU MUST! I find myself coming back to it and rereading it frequently. I did not purchase this series on the store but I have all of the books prior to them ever having a kindle or even the store.com. Check it out and find out for yourself if you really enjoy the work of two amazing authors!

Excellent start to an excellent series. I mean, wow! Weis and Hickman just bombard you with amazing new places, characters and ideas. Nothing less that a classic. And to the person who complained about the lack of battles: have you ever considered that "combat" is not part of the definition of fantasy? Go back to your R.A.Salvatore and leave Arianus to people who can appreciate it.

Dragon Wing breaks with traditional Tolkin influenced works in more ways then one. Weis and Hickman's superb characterization goes far beyond convention, and unlike most other Fantasy authors' black/white version of good and evil, Weis and Hickman create a universe in always changing shades of grey. Dragon Wing begins the Death Gate Cycle in Arianus, the world of air where war always threatens the mench (elves, humans, dwarves). This makes Arianus the perfect world for the patrons (a major Weis and Hickman addition) to conquer. This book is full of unbelievable twists that you will never expect. Read Dragon Wing and the rest of the Death Gate Cycle to follow the adventers of Haplo, Alfred, Hugh, Bane, the culturaly diverse mench of all four worlds, the arrogantly powerful patrons, and their sworn enemies and eternal duplicates(though neither will admit it) the Sartan.