Volume One (Dragonlance Chronicles Book 1)

If one tries hard enough, you can find similarities of LOTR in the works of Danielle Steele.
I got the series of books when I was a teenager and this was the first of the genre that I read. Now I'm in my thirties and still pick them up from time to time. These books are simply good fun. The action is fast and the characters are great. I still have not found better authors who keep the story moving while establishing plot and background.
It starts off with a reunion of friends after a five year quest to find evidence of the old gods. This is a neat trick, because it establishes background and characterization by having characters observe each other, comparing what they were like and what they are like now while still moving the story along. They meet two unfortunates which is the catalyst of the plot.
They chemistry and pace is something akin to the old Star Wars movies and X-men. Meaning that each person has a specific use that contributes to the team and are more or less stumble onto the forces working against them.
But the best thing about this book. TALKING DRAGONS! For some reason I really enjoy fantasy books with these guys and the books run rampant with them. Yes, it's juvinile and I couldn't tell you the difference between high and low fantasy, but when talking dragons enter the picture, the book picks up in my mind. Sorry if I have spoiled anything, but the books ARE called Dragonlance so........
In summation: The books are good for all ages (parents, my brother started reading them when he was 8), the authors juggle ensemble better than a Guy Ricthie film and there are talking dragons. This book opens you to one of the most prolific literary "worlds" than has been the inspiration for 75 + books. Buy them and enjoy!

Dragonlance. More than any other fantasy book, this series has spawned spinoffs and copies. Its not hard to see why. Although the book starts shakily, prgressing at breakneak speed through the first book and not even bothering to start to develop the characters. Rather, the book tells the story of a classic dungeon raid into the almost unpronoucable Xak Thsaroth, with a minimum of description but a hell of a lot of swordfighting. (The one exception to this is the touching final exchange between Raistlin and Bupu. This is a fantastic sequence and one of the best parts of the whole series)
Once into the second book, however, the story vastly improves. Time is taken to examine the relationships and the characters, particularly those of Tanis, Laurana, Goldmoon and Riverwind. The change of pace is welcome and you become just involved enough with the charcters to start emphathise with them.
In conclusion, the book is a fine read, especially the final book. Granted, the plot is simplistic, the characters are wafer thin and plot is simplistic, but the imagination is there and the world is fantastic in the true sense of the word. And that's all that drove Tolkiens novels too, as far as I remember.

This has been my first time out with a Dragonlance novel, and I couldn't be more pleased. I had tried to read this book months back, but couldn't get past the first page. I'm not sure why. But when I picked it up again just last week, I found myself reading beyond the first page. And I'm glad I did. It's great. At first, I thought maybe I was missing something; I felt that with each character that was introduced, I was supposed to know who they were - I thought maybe I had entered the middle of a series (my boyfriend later assured me that this WAS the book to start with, as far as all of the Dragonlance books that contain these characters). After I found that out, I enjoyed the book even more. I love a lot of the characters. Of course, Tasselhoff - the carefree kender - is my favorite, but I'm so intrigued with the mysterious Raistlin, that I can't wait to get onto the books in the series that are focused on him (the Twins series, and the Raistlin Chronicles). I haven't been this interested in a fantasy series since Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series (although, I can't seem to get past the third book with that one), but these are about half the size of those books, which is good. A lot of fantasy authors feel they need to go on for a thousand pages with lots of images and description, but so far, this one's just cutting to the chase. If you've ever seen the billions of Dragonlance books in a bookstore, want to read one, but don't know which one to pick up, I highly recommend this one. It is well-written, it's a good story, and it will make you want to run out and buy the rest in the series. It's definitely a great way to begin the Dragonlance series.

This is your typical fantasy adventure story and that is precisely why many kids and young adults will love it; they can relate to the characters and story. The writing style is easy and the pace "fun" and keeps you involved every step of the way. There might be loose holes here and there but it'll serve the purpose unless the reader has to have every single detail written.

The characters are very likable and each has their own characteristics just as most RPGs would. My favorite is Tas and Flint as I find myself relating to them a lot more. And don't be surprise if you find yourself shedding a few tears because that's how the story is set up to be :)

I won't go into too much detail as there are plenty already. Give this simple, light but very enjoyable and memorable series a shot. You will most likely not regret it. For the kids, they'll find similarities in RPG games no doubt :) Enjoy!

At first sight this book might seem loaded with cliches: its a part of a saga, it has goblins, dragons, and unicorns, and, quite naturally, the protagonists are a "band of unlikely heroes" (a despondent knight, an overprotective tribesman, a sorcerous princess, a wise but tortured leader, a grumpy dwarf, a sinister mage, and a naive, fearless hobbit-type character fill the extensive cast of heroes). So how does the first book in the Dragonlance Chronicles manage to hold its own, and, moreover, become a long-time bestseller? It has a believable, cohesive plot, it is communicated in a clear, precise language, it is filled with brilliant imagery, and it doesn't try to mimic the modern world (unlike the hundreds of "pagan fantasy" novels that are flooding the market today).
The first novel about the world of Dragonlance was created out of the AD&D game, which enjoys quite a number of interesting settings. Nevertheless, this is legitimate fantasy (I wrote this sentense for the people who sneer at the mention of role-playing) at its highest. Whether Tanis and friends are dealing with undead, ancient temples, dragons, or other obstacles, we, as the readers, are always treated to sophisticated ethical dilemmas and intelligent thinking.
However standard the plot might seem (an old evil rises once again) by fantasy standards, it seems fresh and interesting, because the novel doesn't focus on any one aspect of fantasy - there's mystery, suspence, thrill abound, open-mouthed awe, romance, drama, pretty much everything. The characters are living people, rather than sword-swinging smart-mouthed automatons.
Oh, a word of warning: there are over eighty books set in the world of Dragonlance. And not all of them are good. Try and be intelligent.

I don't normally give four stars just one or five but I felt that that may be misleading in this case. You should read this book. I have trouble reading due to several learning disabilities and if you can relate to that then you know how seldom readable books are found, this is one of them. I didn't give it five stars because the authors made the same mistake that was made in the second season of Lost the TV show: they introduced new characters. This would no be a problem in moderation, but they just throw too many new ones at you. Its too bad because the whole time you really want to get back to what founded the book. In defense of the authors, this is part of a trilogy so they needed to make us ready, but it still steals some momentum from the narrative. Fortunately, this happens in the latter part of the book so I say pick it up because you are going to love it. Even sections of the book where the characters are resting or having some down time are fantastic; what a testament to the abilities of these marvelous authors.

It’s a subject of debate what books launched the fantasy novel craze, but Dragons of Autumn Twilight is certainly a contender. The book is a nice break from modern fantasy, which has become increasingly obsessed with a single hero and a trite plot line. Instead the book features a band of protagonists, ranging from an ordinary barmaid to the first antihero- a tortured mage with eyes that force him to watch everything age and die.
The action packed plot does not lend itself to easy summary. A group of adventurers is meeting again after five years of exploring, but their plans are taken off track when a couple arrives bearing a holy staff. Unlike much other fantasy, the staff is not the magical item that will save the world, although it does provide a clue about the roots of the inevitable war that’s brewing.
The book does feature the classic fantasy races, in fact it was adapted from role-playing sessions played by a group of gamers running an AD&D module. The tortured mage, Raistlin, was inspired by one of the gamers who decided to run with his mage character to the point where he only spoke in a whisper. It’s a credit to the writers that the transition from gaming to novel doesn’t show in the storytelling. The fact that it was born in role-playing is a cool tidbit, once you know it’s there you can see how the plotline, formed by a series of quests, follows the classic AD&D module style.

Aside from being groundbreaking, and featuring an involved, plot driven narrative, the writing is superb. Descriptions are rich and inviting without being overwhelming or wordy. The book is a collaboration between Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis and the presence of two talent authors is apparent only in the level of writing that is produced. The movement of the story is seamless and the voice is unified, the technical and artistic prose is the only evidence that multiple sets of man hours were poured into the work. The quality of writing, combined with the fact that it was revolutionary, make this a great solution to bad fantasy.

[...]l

The book Dragons of Autumn Twilight is one of the best written fantasy books ever. Not since J. R. Tolkien has an author created such a believable world. When you sit down to read this book you are transported into the story with the charactors. The book begins in the "Inn of the Last Home" in solace. Seven friends are meeting after five years. They all went to find themselves and evidence of the gods returning. The seven friends are a odd set of friends the leader being Tanis Half elven who has to wrestle with the fact that he was created out of an act of violence on his mother, by a human male.The rest of the group consits of a magiciam Raistlin and his twin Caramon. The two seem like they are one whole person together but apart two halves, one with brain one with brawn. Then you have the fun loving Kender Tasslehoff and the always grumpy Dwarf Flint. Also in this group is the hated Knight Of Somania Sturm. Whose people are blamed for the gods leaving.The other two are plainsman who wander into the inn with a blue crystal staff that sets the whole story in motion. Now to find out what happens you will have to read the book. And dont forget to pay attention to the storyteller in the Inn of The Last Home he is the cause of the staff causing all the problems.

The book Dragons of Autumn Twilight is one of the best written fantasy books ever. Not since J. R. Tolkien has an author created such a believable world. When you sit down to read this book you are transported into the story with the charactors. The book begins in the "Inn of the Last Home" in solace. Seven friends are meeting after five years. They all went to find themselves and evidence of the gods returning. The seven friends are a odd set of friends the leader being Tanis Half elven who has to wrestle with the fact that he was created out of an act of violence on his mother, by a human male.The rest of the group consits of a magiciam Raistlin and his twin Caramon. The two seem like they are one whole person together but apart two halves, one with brain one with brawn. Then you have the fun loving Kender Tasslehoff and the always grumpy Dwarf Flint. Also in this group is the hated Knight Of Somania Sturm. Whose people are blamed for the gods leaving.The other two are plainsman who wander into the inn with a blue crystal staff that sets the whole story in motion. Now to find out what happens you will have to read the book. And dont forget to pay attention to the storyteller in the Inn of The Last Home he is the cause of the staff causing all the problems.

I will probably have to sleep with an extra rune of protection tonight after giving a rating of just 3 stars to this novel, an act punishable by being jailed with a kender for an hour (inside joke...you will understand after reading the book).
The reasons for the rating are three:
This is the first book, and the first book that the two co-authors wrote together. There are some places where the newbie dancing partners stumbled on each other's toes.
More importantly, the writing is not that great. The characters are too simple (and too IDIOTIC...I wonder how any band of travelers who do some of the utterly stupid things some of the main characters do could possibly survive). Furthermore, the writing is a bit simplistic. HOWEVER, the actual story is _VERY_ good. If you are looking for a really good gift for a young child, one who might not be so annoyed with poor characterixation and simplistic writing, then I would highly recommend this book. The overall story becomes quite long and involved. Furthermore, any fantasy buff really should have read this saga.
If you do choose to buy this, which I give my reserved recommendation towards, you should probably simply buy the annotated chronicles, not because they are annotated, but because they are reasonably price hardcover version.

This was the first fantasy book I ever read... back some 15 plus years ago. I haven't stopped reading since.

This novel jump starts the world of Krynn and the Dragonlance franchise. I was never a 'gamer' so I didn't have any preconceived notions on what to expect. Yet, what I found was a rich world, with facinating characters.

The entire story takes place over three book, this being the first book it has a few things to 'set in motion', some of which you don't fully appreciate until the last pages of the third book.

During this trilogy you will laugh, you will cry and you may be so mad you will slam the book down only to come back later. These books are a roller coaster ride that which is rarely seen in the fantasy genre. Weis and Hickman do a seemless job of combining their writing talents to to captivate the reader into reading well past 3 AM when they need to be at work by 7 AM!

If you are comtemplating reading this trilogy, give the first book a shot. After all, what have you got to lose? I think you lose more by NOT trying it.

This book was the first written in what became the "Dragonlance" series of Fantasy novels. It tells the story of eight adventures who after a chance encounter at the inn in their home town are sucked into a grand adventure to safe the world. It seems that five years early seven friends from the town of Solace each went off individually to find evidence that the "true gods" had returned to the world. It is now five years later and none of them have found any such evidence. But when they return to the inn in Solace they meet a barbarian woman named Goldmoon whose husband Riverwind has recovered a mysterious blue crystal staff. It doesn't take long before they are being hunted by the authorities as well as a mysterious new evil.

I first read this book when I was in the sixth grade at the tender age of twelve. I have to say fifteen (fifteen!) years later the book still holds up. The book is well written and the adventure moves quickly. The authors have created an interesting group of characters, some of whom you immediately like (Tanis) and others that you immediately dislike (Raistlin). They have also created a diverse and interesting world for these characters to adventure in.

These books were originally proposed as companion books to the "Dragonlance" series of AD&D roleplaying games. The authors freely admit in the back of the book that some of their ideas for the plot come directly from roleplaying sessions. As a result you can practically hear the AD&D dice roll as you read this book. In some of the action sequences at the beginning of the book it is much more painfully obvious then at the end. It doesn't take anything away from the plot but it does add a different element to the reading.

In the end, if you are looking for an adventure fantasy read that is not going to tax you mentally then this book is the way to go. It has a good plot that keeps you interested and characters that you can care about.

This first book in the wonderful Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy introduces a world that people have come to truly love. The world of Krynn has given rise to what must be a hundred novels that loyal fans gobble up. This loyalty is inspired mainly by these first three books in the saga, starting with Dragons of Autumn Twilight. It was the first Dragonlance book I read (as it should be everyone's) and it is the one I will always remember most vividly. The introduction of some of the coolest characters in fatasy literature and their crazy adventures through a new and unique world fighting draconians, goblins, and dragons. Tas, Flint, Tanis, Caramon, Sturm, Raistlin, Goldmoon, and Riverwind will always be the classic fantasy heroes to me, whom I can compare and relate heroes from other books. These characters are not the unrealistically superhero-like and unstoppable players like in some other books (Drizzt for example) but are instead very life-like (as far as fantasy goes) with some pretty major faults of their own.

It is interesting to see how the writing style of Weis and Hickman has changed over the years and its obvious that in this first collaborative book they tried very hard to stick to the AD&D format which actually might take some good away from this first book of the series. Overall though, this book and this series is one of the greatest fantasy stories I've ever read and has become a classic that every fantasy fan should read.

What is it that makes this Fantasy work so much better than all the rest? One can only answer that after reading it for oneself. BUT, I'll try to explain a few things as best as possible.
As with every other fantasy novel created, the reader will open to the first page and be introduced to a new, vast world known as Krynn. Wasting very little time(Meaning, not wasting PAGES to describe meaningless scenery), our new heroes are introduced. Ok, now, with many novels, I personally have found myself picking out a favorite central character and accepting the rest simply because. NOT the case with this book. Each character introduced had their own special qualities that can get on instantly attached from start til way after finish. Whether you like the small, mischievous characters with innocent kleptomania and optimism Or the dark soul type with boundless ambitions to attain power, these characters are definitely for keeps. There are still more characters with other elements to them that WILL keep you hooked, but I won't spoil them all.
Plot is also another key. No time is wasted getting this story going(Disappointed readers of Robert Jordan will definitely find this a golden quality). A mysterious pair wanders into a tavern bearing a relic of immense interest. So interesting, that evil has been immediately drawn to it. Within a heartbeat, our 8 characters are on the run for their lives and to protect the mysterious couple. Little do they realize just what an adventure they, and the rest of Krynn, are in for.
What else? Its a New York Times Bestseller . . . so what? I've seen my share of "Bestsellers" that definitely do not deserve such an honor. This one, however, does deserve it. The book makes amazing use of magic, gods, warriors and dragons. This is the kind of book you'll hate to put down. You'll find yourself lost in this book as the story deepens and develops into one of the greatest tales ever told. Still have doubts? Kick'em in the gut and throw them aside. Get this one. You won't be disappointed with this or with the books that follow. This one's definitely for keeps.

I first picked up this series about 15 years ago, and I have to say, time hasn't diminished it's appeal. If you are a fan of Fantasy you HAVE to read this series.
The plot of the novel may not be the most ingenious, but it is one which hooks the reader right from the start. The "hero's are barely introduced before the action begins. Trust me, this isn't a book in which the plot takes hundreds upon hundreds of pages to get moving. I particularly liked the fact side plot of the Gods returning to Krynn combined with the return of the Dragons.
The characters are quite well developed and intriguing. Whether it's the cursed Wizard Raistlin or the heroic Knight Sturm Brightblade, each character will grow on the reader by the end of the novel. Personally I loved Sturm, but each and every character is perfect. I also liked the humour added by Tasselhoff and the Dwarf, Flint. Finally, each character has a dark side to him/her which I found refreshing. Even though they are the heroes, they are quite reluctant.
I am sure you will enjoy this book enough to continue on with the series. Rating: 5 Stars only cause I couldn't give it more.

This book is definitely worth a read, as are some of Weis and Hickman's later books. The beginning is not very original, and will have you wondering where you've heard this before. It's a bit like Lord of the Rings at first, but once you get further into the book, you'll see it branch off into its own story.

It lags a bit at certain times in the book, but I was never bored with it. The characters all have very interesting personalities, with Raistlin, the mage, being my favorite. Most of the book is from Tanis's point of view, which is fine with me because he has a complex personality and background, and you'll enjoy reading about him. Plus, not seeing the story from everyone's point of view (most of the time) keeps the story focused, as you could get confused easily with all the different companions. Then, when you get a glimpse into another character's point of view, it's exciting to see a different perspective, and always leaves you questioning.

While I think there are a few weak points in the writing where I felt detached from the characters, for the most part, the reader plunges into the action right beside everyone else. I've enjoyed some of the authors' later books (The Darksword Trilogy, The Death Gate Chronicles), and it was interesting to see how they wrote years before those books came out. This is more of your typical heroes go on a quest against evil kind of book, but the classic storyline is a good one. Anyone who likes these authors or wants to read a classic fantasy should read this ;).

Dragons of Autumn Twilight starts the Dragonlance series and, while it is not perfect, it is a fun easy read for anyone interested in fictionalized accounts from the D&D world.

As a semi-retired D&D player it was a joy to read a saga based on the D&D rules and world. While it might seem odd for veterans to think of Fireball as a high level, difficult spell, the 'real world' use of D&D rules added to the enjoyment of a fine fantasy story. The authors make D&D a believable place.

As the editorial review pointed out, there are a few cliches, and here and there the book seems a little weak (some important characters are thrown in late, without enough differentiation to make them easy to keep strait), these faults are easy to overlook since the story is quite good and characters are memorable and interesting.

Parents can rest assured that while there is violence (there is a war on, you know), there are suggestive scenes, and a brutal rape is mentioned (but not described), the book would barely rate PG-13 if it were a film.

It's no wonder this book has spawned something like 100 others - Dragons of Autumn Twilight leaves you wanting to read more of the story of these characters, and this place.

I first read the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy when I was about 14 or 15 years old and I really enjoyed it for the exciting adventures and for the battle scenes. I'm now 23 and I just finished reading it again for the second time. All I can say is that I loved it even more this time around, mainly for the superb character development. Chronicles succeeds on so many levels because Weis and Hickman take you deep into the main character's psyches. Thus, although the story is epic and sweeping in its scope (good vs. evil with the fate of the world in the balance), it is also imbued with a deeply human and personal quality which makes you (or at least made me) laugh at, get angry at, cry with, and sympathize with the main the characters. You walk away from this series really feeling that, whether you like them or dislike them in the end, you actually know the characters. Personally, I was furious at Tanis during the last part of Dragons of Winter Night and almost all of Dragons of Spring Dawning, but in the end you really see that Tanis is a man with flaws like us all. In the process of reading, I would have preferred that he forget Kitiara and give himself to return Laurana's love way back at the begining of Drag. of Winter Night, but he had to have a wrestle with his own demons before he could choose which woman he was going to give his heart to. At the end of the story, Tanis is a much more real and substantial character for the whole mess in the middle. I give this example because it is character development such as this (for good or for evil) that elevates the Dragonlance Chronicles far above most fantasy novels, and indeed even above the clichés inherent in its own storyline. If you want to read one superb and compelling fantasy series, you'd be hard-pressed to find one that is superior to Dragonlance Chronicles (and then read Dragonlance Legends as well, its just as good). Start, of course, with Drag. of Autumn Twilight, and after that I don't think you'll have any hesitation about reading the second and third volumes. (One comment concering comparing DL Chronicles to Tolkien: Let's let Tolkien be what he is- the father and pioneer and architect of the epic fantasy novel, and let's let Weis and Hickman be what they are- those who are masterfully building on the foundation that Tolkien laid. Personally, I enjoy both Tolkien's writings and those of Weis and Hickman equally as much, but for different reasons.)

My folks have nearly all of my old Dragonlance books in boxes back home in the basement about 150 or so. I decided to start up the series again but have been kindeling for over 3 years now and won't go back to paper if i dont have to. I don't mind paying for the ebooks because they are great but at about $5.59 each I'm looking at like +$800.00 for a 20ish year old series. I guess if they don't drop the price I'll just pay for postage on a couple of old boxes. !!! the store / Wizards of the Coast! Give us the ebooks for $0.99 on Kindle and I will Buy !!!

What is it that makes this Fantasy work so much better than all the rest? One can only answer that after reading it for oneself. BUT, I'll try to explain a few things as best as possible.
As with every other fantasy novel created, the reader will open to the first page and be introduced to a new, vast world known as Krynn. Wasting very little time(Meaning, not wasting PAGES to describe meaningless scenery), our new heroes are introduced. Ok, now, with many novels, I personally have found myself picking out a favorite central character and accepting the rest simply because. NOT the case with this book. Each character introduced had their own special qualities that can get on instantly attached from start til way after finish. Whether you like the small, mischievous characters with innocent kleptomania and optimism Or the dark soul type with boundless ambitions to attain power, these characters are definitely for keeps. There are still more characters with other elements to them that WILL keep you hooked, but I won't spoil them all.
Plot is also another key. No time is wasted getting this story going(Disappointed readers of Robert Jordan will definitely find this a golden quality). A mysterious pair wanders into a tavern bearing a relic of immense interest. So interesting, that evil has been immediately drawn to it. Within a heartbeat, our 8 characters are on the run for their lives and to protect the mysterious couple. Little do they realize just what an adventure they, and the rest of Krynn, are in for.
What else? Its a New York Times Bestseller . . . so what? I've seen my share of "Bestsellers" that definitely do not deserve such an honor. This one, however, does deserve it. The book makes amazing use of magic, gods, warriors and dragons. This is the kind of book you'll hate to put down. You'll find yourself lost in this book as the story deepens and develops into one of the greatest tales ever told. Still have doubts? Kick'em in the gut and throw them aside. Get this one. You won't be disappointed with this or with the books that follow. This one's definitely for keeps.

I first picked up this series about 15 years ago, and I have to say, time hasn't diminished it's appeal. If you are a fan of Fantasy you HAVE to read this series.
The plot of the novel may not be the most ingenious, but it is one which hooks the reader right from the start. The "hero's are barely introduced before the action begins. Trust me, this isn't a book in which the plot takes hundreds upon hundreds of pages to get moving. I particularly liked the fact side plot of the Gods returning to Krynn combined with the return of the Dragons.
The characters are quite well developed and intriguing. Whether it's the cursed Wizard Raistlin or the heroic Knight Sturm Brightblade, each character will grow on the reader by the end of the novel. Personally I loved Sturm, but each and every character is perfect. I also liked the humour added by Tasselhoff and the Dwarf, Flint. Finally, each character has a dark side to him/her which I found refreshing. Even though they are the heroes, they are quite reluctant.
I am sure you will enjoy this book enough to continue on with the series. Rating: 5 Stars only cause I couldn't give it more.

This book is definitely worth a read, as are some of Weis and Hickman's later books. The beginning is not very original, and will have you wondering where you've heard this before. It's a bit like Lord of the Rings at first, but once you get further into the book, you'll see it branch off into its own story.

It lags a bit at certain times in the book, but I was never bored with it. The characters all have very interesting personalities, with Raistlin, the mage, being my favorite. Most of the book is from Tanis's point of view, which is fine with me because he has a complex personality and background, and you'll enjoy reading about him. Plus, not seeing the story from everyone's point of view (most of the time) keeps the story focused, as you could get confused easily with all the different companions. Then, when you get a glimpse into another character's point of view, it's exciting to see a different perspective, and always leaves you questioning.

While I think there are a few weak points in the writing where I felt detached from the characters, for the most part, the reader plunges into the action right beside everyone else. I've enjoyed some of the authors' later books (The Darksword Trilogy, The Death Gate Chronicles), and it was interesting to see how they wrote years before those books came out. This is more of your typical heroes go on a quest against evil kind of book, but the classic storyline is a good one. Anyone who likes these authors or wants to read a classic fantasy should read this ;).

Dragons of Autumn Twilight starts the Dragonlance series and, while it is not perfect, it is a fun easy read for anyone interested in fictionalized accounts from the D&D world.

As a semi-retired D&D player it was a joy to read a saga based on the D&D rules and world. While it might seem odd for veterans to think of Fireball as a high level, difficult spell, the 'real world' use of D&D rules added to the enjoyment of a fine fantasy story. The authors make D&D a believable place.

As the editorial review pointed out, there are a few cliches, and here and there the book seems a little weak (some important characters are thrown in late, without enough differentiation to make them easy to keep strait), these faults are easy to overlook since the story is quite good and characters are memorable and interesting.

Parents can rest assured that while there is violence (there is a war on, you know), there are suggestive scenes, and a brutal rape is mentioned (but not described), the book would barely rate PG-13 if it were a film.

It's no wonder this book has spawned something like 100 others - Dragons of Autumn Twilight leaves you wanting to read more of the story of these characters, and this place.

I first read the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy when I was about 14 or 15 years old and I really enjoyed it for the exciting adventures and for the battle scenes. I'm now 23 and I just finished reading it again for the second time. All I can say is that I loved it even more this time around, mainly for the superb character development. Chronicles succeeds on so many levels because Weis and Hickman take you deep into the main character's psyches. Thus, although the story is epic and sweeping in its scope (good vs. evil with the fate of the world in the balance), it is also imbued with a deeply human and personal quality which makes you (or at least made me) laugh at, get angry at, cry with, and sympathize with the main the characters. You walk away from this series really feeling that, whether you like them or dislike them in the end, you actually know the characters. Personally, I was furious at Tanis during the last part of Dragons of Winter Night and almost all of Dragons of Spring Dawning, but in the end you really see that Tanis is a man with flaws like us all. In the process of reading, I would have preferred that he forget Kitiara and give himself to return Laurana's love way back at the begining of Drag. of Winter Night, but he had to have a wrestle with his own demons before he could choose which woman he was going to give his heart to. At the end of the story, Tanis is a much more real and substantial character for the whole mess in the middle. I give this example because it is character development such as this (for good or for evil) that elevates the Dragonlance Chronicles far above most fantasy novels, and indeed even above the clichés inherent in its own storyline. If you want to read one superb and compelling fantasy series, you'd be hard-pressed to find one that is superior to Dragonlance Chronicles (and then read Dragonlance Legends as well, its just as good). Start, of course, with Drag. of Autumn Twilight, and after that I don't think you'll have any hesitation about reading the second and third volumes. (One comment concering comparing DL Chronicles to Tolkien: Let's let Tolkien be what he is- the father and pioneer and architect of the epic fantasy novel, and let's let Weis and Hickman be what they are- those who are masterfully building on the foundation that Tolkien laid. Personally, I enjoy both Tolkien's writings and those of Weis and Hickman equally as much, but for different reasons.)

My folks have nearly all of my old Dragonlance books in boxes back home in the basement about 150 or so. I decided to start up the series again but have been kindeling for over 3 years now and won't go back to paper if i dont have to. I don't mind paying for the ebooks because they are great but at about $5.59 each I'm looking at like +$800.00 for a 20ish year old series. I guess if they don't drop the price I'll just pay for postage on a couple of old boxes. !!! the store / Wizards of the Coast! Give us the ebooks for $0.99 on Kindle and I will Buy !!!

I am not going to get into the plot in this review...basically I wanted to just give this book 5 stars...Anyone who knows fantasy knows all about Tanis, Tasslehoff, Caramon, Raistlin and Flint...I am not going to bore anyone with a recital of the plot... (even thought its fantastic) The Chronicles and The Legends trilogies are the pinnacle of what any writer should strive for...Characters that we all care about... I can honestly say that i wept when 2 main characters fall... (they shall remain nameless in case someone has been hiding under a rock for 20 years and hasn't read these books)

The Great thing about this series is that there is so many prequels and tangential tales published that one could delve into the magical world of Krynn for years... but we have to remember that Krynn would not be as magical (both figuratively and literally) if it were not for the companions...

Buy this series if you haven't read it... No one can love dragons without knowing this story...

Thank You Tanis, Tas, Raist, Strum, Riverwind, Caramon, Flint, Goldmoon and the people of Solace...

Oh yes, and Thanks to Mrs. Weis and Mr. Hickman

The characters in this book are so real it's amazing! You can reach into this world & touch these people. Even when you're not being told what they're saying or thinking, you know!
You can hear them anyway. You can literally hear the old dwarf grumbling with every step. Most of these characters are silent-types but you can HEAR their troubled thoughts.
The best parts about this story are: It's about the characters, not dragons or monster. The fantasy elements are only the settings, not the story(something a lot of fantasy & sci-fi writers could learn from).
Unlike Jordan, Weis & Hickman don't overdescribe. They are able to paint you a graphic picture without slowing down the pace of the story with un-necessary details.
And the best part of the story is once you step into the world you won't want to leave. The characters will become like friends & the world they live in will be like your second home

There are a minute number of books out there in any given genre that deserve elevation above the top ranking. In this case 6 stars and beyond. Weis and Hickman's entire first Dragonlance Trilogy deserves such.
In some respects they are on the same plateau as Tolkien having created and defined an entire sub-genre - the D&D sub genre - that has spawned a vast library of games, characters, books, figurines, pictures etc. etc. that is truly awesome.
The plot of this book has been stated many times in the hundreds of reviews so I won't go into an extremely well trodden path. What Weis and Hickman have achieved, and so few authors do, is create a set of characters where every reader can identify and sympathise with at least one of them and feel a sense of true pathos and exhilaration as we follow their story. A blend of war and peace, anger and love, sadness and joy, 'Dragons of Autumn Twilight' has defined a generation of fantasy fans and irrevocably made an indelible impression on a genre that was has so much potential for the imagination.

Okay, I admit it. Back in junior high school, I was a gaming nerd. But before that, I had been a fan of fantasy literature. So, when the Dragonlance novels came along, it was like manna from heaven, this brand new mixture of Dungeons & Dragons and the fantasy novel.

One of the things my young self enjoyed much about Dragons of Autumn Twilight, the first of the Dragonlance novels and one of (if not the) first of the novels based upon a role-playing game, was that explanations for the game rules actual found their way into the story and fit quite naturally.

The story itself was also decent, and the characters were iconic and interesting. Actually, I felt the characters were one of the big strengths of these original Dragonlance books.

But no, this was not great literature. Not even great fantasy literature. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't great. I have read worse over the years, but I've read a lot better, too.

Readers who enjoy media-tie-in novels, especially those based upon roleplaying games, can thank this book for really kicking off the whole trend. Unfortunately for writers, over the years there has grown a stigma about stories based upon role-playing games; it seems a lot of editors are not interested in such stories, especially if those stories are based upon the writers' own gaming experiences. That's fine with me, because I usually don't write directly from my gaming experiences and besides, there are some editors who do enjoy such tales and are willing to buy them.

This book blew me away the first time I read it, about 3 years ago. The authors Weis and Hickman are incredible writers and give people a bond to thier characters. Both myself and all my friends who have read this book feel this way. No book I read before or since has even come close to the perfection of this book, exept the other 3 books of the series. For those of you you enjoy fantasy greatly and have or even have not played TSR's role playing game Dragonlance I recomend this book and the rest of this 4 book series. The other 3 books Dragons of The Winter Night, Dragons of the Spring Dawning, and Dragons of the Summer Flame(which I believe passed Dragons of the Autumn Twilight) are incredible, of course before reading Dragons of the Summer Flame you should read the "Legends" trilogy(also by Weis and Hickman). All in all probably my second favorite book of all time. Second only to Dragons of the Summer Flame.
Even the titles of the first 3 books show the decent into the darkness of evil, then the return of the light.(Twilight-Night-Dawning)

Does your lip curl at the mere mention of
anything that has the remotest connection to
Dungeons and Dragons? Good. Why play
the game and risk getting trapped inside
never-ending mazes of boredom when you can
simply turn a page and let Margaret and Tracy
share their already-acclaimed adventures with
you? When you play a role, it's only the mind
you already know revealed to you. Rather,
get inside
someone else's mind. You'll want to more
often. Just page through the book and find one
of Michael's poems. Take one moment to skim
it. It would speak for itself
much better than I could.
The enjoyment you obtain
from reading the first book of this series will
persuade you to
create more time for you to read the next ones.
And then you probably won't have the time to
play D&D, much less the inclination

I'm virtually speechless where Dragons of Autumn Twilight, by Margret Weis and Tracy Hickman, is concerned. I'm just beginning to read it... for the fourth time... if that says anything about how good it is. I guess I'll lay it down in order.
1. Amazing Characterization- Weis and Hickman describe, but not over describe their characters. You get to know them gradually and aren't told things about them directly. For example Flint is allergic to horses, this is never told to the reader directly by the author but in the very first chapter Flint sneezes and a horse rides out of the brush, again he sneezes constantly during a wild ride with a herd of centaurs. Also the characters are not completely 'good' with maybe the exception of Strum, the Knight. Raistlin has evil tendencies, and Caramon will do anything, and I mean everything, to protect his brother. Some characters you don't 'meet' in this book. But they are spoken of excellently so that when you meet them you feel as if you knew them already. This is probably the best part of this book. The people within it are like real people. They have limits and fears and problems just like the rest of us... well, theirs consist of dragons and evil gods but you get the idea.
2. (I'm only on 2 ?!? I'll make them shorter I promise)Beautiful Setting- Very, nice places are in this book and though I love Tolkein he does get a bit long winded on setting. You can tell that Weis and Hickman know Krynn. They describe very well the quirks of this land. It is a real place when you read, every detail you can imagine and it's wonderous to be able to see such a place in your mind.
3. Devious Plot- I loved the way this book flows. Each event rolled into the next and it never got too cliche for me. Sure, it started in a tavern but what good adventure story doesnt begin around ale? The book was riddled with smaller conflicts all adding to a general build fully emcomapassed by the 3 books of the DragonLance Chronicles. The mortal villans are believeable in their actions and motives and the immortals have motives that are just as power-hungry as the mortal villan's and their descicions are just as fickle it seems.
To wrap this rant/review up... I highly recommend this book... I enjoyed it so much the first time i read it again and the best part is that each time i read it i come to appreciate the true art that it is... Don't pass this by it's more than worth the $7.99 I paid for it and you can probably get it cheaper online so bonus!
Alrighty, enjoy

I never believed that a hard core reader of classic literature like myself could get so firmly hooked to a work of baseless fantasy. But alas, Margeret Wies and Tracy Hickman have my undivided devotion to thier amazing accounts of Dragons and warriors; of love and loss, of deciet and bravery, of sword and magic, of courage and glory. Hats off, to the authors for creating such a fantastic world and such vivid and marvelous characters who simply take you awat on a wild, roller-coaster ride of adventure on the wings of mighty dragons and mightier ambitions. Exceptional characterisation and incredable story-lines make Dragonlance a life-time experience. All other Fantasy novels fade in comparison to Dragonlance. And there simply hasn't been a character with more mystique, more charisma or more strength of character then Raistlin Majere. Bravo, Margeret and Tracy, for creating Raistlin.

Bottom-Line: If you are a lover of the fantasy genre, the "Dragons of Autumn Twilight" is definitely a book you want to read.

There is something infinitely relaxing and I dare say invigorating about loosing yourself in a great book, no matter its genre. But there is something really special (for me) about a book that takes leave of this world and transports me to another realm altogether, populated with characters that are not known to this world but are nonetheless familiar. A world where magic and magical creatures are the norm; where dragons are real and come in assorted colors, and God's and Goddesses battle for the souls of men, and dwarf alike.

Such is the world of Kynn as told in the "Dragons of Autumn Twilight" the first book in the DragonLance Chronicles series written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman and commissioned by TSR, the folks responsible for fantasy role playing game Dungeons & Dragons.

The story centers around a group of eight reluctant heroes and old friends, who separated and have now come back together because evil is afoot in the land once more. The evil is personified in the guise of the Goddess Takhisis, known as the The Queen of Darkness, one of the three God's creators of the world. Takhisis has begun her unleashed her plans to incarcerate the world under her flag and dragon of blackness.

Meanwhile, Paladine, the God of Light, attempts to hold her back and appears in many guises throughout the story, but his most noble persona is that of a gold dragon. The Third God, Gilean, remains neutral in all conflicts, using his powers to keep the pendulum that swings between darkness and light in check; his persona is a white dragon.

The companions--Half-elf, a Knight, a retired Dwarven metalsmith, barbarian Princess, a barbarian warrior, a gold-skinned mage and his twin warrior brother, and a Kinder--are drawn together by Devine intervention (Paladine) and begin a journey into lands held by elves, evil dragons, and armies of clerics and mages with immense and supernatural powers. Their mission: retrieve the mythical DragonLance in an effort to stave off darkness. Their journey will take them into the midst of the conflict consuming Kyrnn, but the struggle is one well know for it is the eternal battle between the forces of light those of against darkness.

"Dragons of Autumn Twilight" is a beautifully written book that drew me in from the first page. Weis and Hickman are a gift writing team and they have crafted a book that takes the reader to Krynn and make you part of that world. The heroes, whom we get to know well, are flawed and quintessentially human, vested with as much emotional baggage as any human would be; that is the familiar the hook. The unfamiliar are the dragons of all colors: gold, white, silver, copper, bronze, red, brown and black. Unfamiliar as well are the Elves of Silvanesti, Qualinesti, and Kagonesti, the mountain dwarves of Thorbardin, the hill dwarves, and wizards, both good and evil.

Checking in at some 447 pages "Dragons of Autumn Twilight" is a lengthy book, but well worth the effort. The book is shot through with some of the most beautiful poetry I have ever read, being specially commissioned for the book. Also the beginning of each chapter is marked by a picture that gives the reader a sense of what is to come within; clever.

If you are a lover of the fantasy genre, the "Dragons of Autumn Twilight" is definitely a book you want to read. No review can do justice the sweeping vista that unfolds with the pages of the book; it must be read, and read again the fully appreciate the depth of its story.
Principle Characters (descriptions from the book):

Tanis Half-Elven: (reluctant) leader of the group. A skilled fighter who detest fighting, he is tormented by love for two women--the tempestuous swordswomen, Kitiara, and the enchanting elfsmaiden, Laurana.

Sturm Brightblade: Knight of Solamnia. Once revered in the days before the Cataclysm, the knights have since fallen into disgrace. Strum's goal--more important to him than life itself--is to restore the honor of the knighthood.

Caramon Majere: Raistlin's twin brother, warrior. A genial giant of a man, Caramon is the exact opposite of his twin. Raistlin is the one person he cares for--and the one person he fears.

Raistlin Majere: Caramon's twin brother, magic-user. Though his health is shattered, Raistlin possesses great powers beyond his young age. But dark mysteries are concealed behind his strange eyes.

Goldmoon: Chieftain's Daughter. Bearer of the blue crystal staff, her love fro tribal outcast Riverwind, leads them both on a dangerous quest in search of the truth.

Riverwind: Grandson of Wanderer. Given the blue crystal staff in a city where death flew of black wings, he barely escaped with his life. And that was only the deginning...

Tasslehoff Burrfoot: Kender, "handler." Kender--the nuisance race of Krynn--are immune to fear. Consequently, trouble just seems to follow them home.

Flint Fireforge: dwarf, fighter. Tanis's oldest friend, the ancient dwarf regards the youngsters as "his children."

Other Books in the Series:

Dragons of Winter Night (DragonLance Chronicles, Vol. II)
Dragons of Spring Dawning (DragonLance Chronicles, Vol. III)

Before reading "Dragons of Autumn Twilight", I had been told it had a reputation as one of the finest novels based on Dungeons and Dragons ever written, and that it was good enough to stand on it's own as fantasy outside the world of gaming fiction. Having now read it, I found it was more like revisiting a somewhat well-run D&D game rather than a landmark fantasy epic.
Plotwise, the book cruises through a few pivotal weeks in the lives of nine main (and another four or five secondary) characters as they catalyze the greatest war that the planet Krynn has ever seen. In the nine, you find your typical D&D adventuring gang, some fighters (including a barbarian and a paladin), a rogue, a cleric and a mage. All we really needed to make this the stereotypical gaming group would be a bard - we've even got the standard backgrounds, romantic entanglements and character conflicts.
It's basically fluff, but it's certainly readable. Having been a former gamer, I found it nice to go back and escape into a D&D world briefly without having to write up a character concept or worry about whether or not I stocked up on trail rations in the last town. As a fantasy fan, I found it nice to have a good, old-fashioned meat-and-potatoes story of good vs. evil. However, the Tolkien and George R.R. Martin fan in me wanted a lot more from the characters. None of them really hit three-dimensionality and only one or two even made it past being total stereotypes. Even the story was rather straightforward - betrayals and love triangles happened rather than being formed and, in most cases, came completely out of left field.
Ultimately, I recommend this book to the fantasy fan looking for something very light to read on the beach during summer vacation or the lonely D&D fan missing his or her group. If you're looking for something more substantive, though, stick with Tolkien, George R. R. Martin, Robert Jordan or even Terry Pratchett.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight was an excellent book about eight friends working together to help save "Krynn", their world. Although this book would mostly be great for all ages, I would suggest it for age eleven and up. This is because it has some foul language and some mature situations that wouldn't be acceptable for younger readers.

The characters are well described, and well thought up. It really makes you think and use you imagination, but it is pretty easy because everything is described. Plus, there is always action happening.

Overall Dragons of Autumn Twilight is a great book about friendship, love, and peril. The authors use mystical creatures (Elves, Dwarves etc.) as well as humans to make the story more interesting. The rest of the books in the trilogy are just as good as Dragons of Autumn Twilight.

Even from the beginning-where all the companions meet again, and also meet Goldmoon and Riverwind-its a page turner. I dont want to say to much and give away anything to new readers, so I'll keep this short. I started from the wrong end of the chain. I started with Dragons of a Fallen Sun, I didn't know what Dragonlance was, so I thought it might be okay to read. Well it was great, and I just had to start from the beginning of the series. In this book, you see how strong the companions love for eachother is, and how far they would go. All the characters are described very well, and thats why this book has a perfect five stars, with about 250 reviews. As of now, I'm reading Dragons of a Spring Dawning (I read Dragons of a Winter Night) and it is also great. Dragons of a Winter Night is kind of lacking in some places, but it has the greatest ending, so bare through the tough parts, and you'll be happy you did.
Jesse

Too many years ago for my mental comfort I used to play Dragonlance. At the time I read the Dragonlance Chronicles and I recently decided to go back and pay a visit. It was much what I remembered, and actually it fared badly with the number of quite good fantasy books I've read since.

It does read like fictionalised role-playing sessions. The team are several different people with different reasons for what they do and I'm really not sure that in the real world they would be anywhere near each other.

Still it's fun to revisit, and it reminds me of my college years, I still like Raistlin and the team of half-elf, dwarf, kender, dark mage, barbarian, warrior and knight have appeared in a lot of books since. The cliches are the but many of the cliches started here. The Draconians are interesting and the path to the truth is starting to become clear.

It's an interesting story but it's not the best. Worth the journey back but I'm not sure I want to read more soon. Someday I may but sometimes forward is the only way to go.

I don't remember how long it has been now since the first time I laid eyes on the Dragons of Autumn Twilight; I couldn't tell you the date of the first time I cracked the spine, or the first time I sat up for hours glued to the pages, or the first time I fell in love with each and every one of the characters. I can tell you that since that first time, I have re-read this book, as well as it's two equally excellent (if not, in fact, more magnificent) sequels, Dragons of Winter Night and Dragons of Spring Dawning. I do know that it was the Dragonlance series that first turned me on to the fantasy genre. I mean, I had read The Hobbit before, for school, and I'm sure there were other books, but none of them have surpassed the excellence captured between the covers of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's amazing Chronicles Trilogy. I have come to turn to these books as a kind of support system. I can recite parts of them verbatim, and if I am ever feeling sad or lost, I can pick up any one of the dog-earred copies of these novels and turn to certain pages-- for instance in Xak Tsroth when Bupu first falls in love with Raistlin (she keeps insisting on trying to give him a dead lizard to cure his magic-related illness)-- that can always bring a smile to my face. Or, if I feel hopeless and have lost all faith, I can read the part when Goldmoon first uses the staff of Mishakal to save the life of her beloved Riverwind, who was just hideously burned by the black dragon Khisanth. I cannot emphasize enough how much these books mean to me, or how entertaining of a read they are. And to make matters even better, this trilogy is only the beginning!! In fact, the Companions introduced in this book go on to populate the world of Krynn over the course of the Legends Trilogy, the Lost Chronicles Trilogy, and other additional spin off series such as The Chaos War. It never fails to make me smile when reading a new Dragonlance book and a reference is made to one of the original Companions. If you love fantasy, if you love dragons and elves and high sorcery, if you love forbidden love and forgotten realms and gods that walk the earth-- if you love any of these things, then these books will thrill and excite you (I hope) as much as they have me. Welcome to the world of Krynn. Be prepared to sit back and enjoy. Perfect to keep you company in front of a roaring fire on a cold winter night, or underneath the sun during a beach vacation. The Chronicles trilogy provide warmth and amusement, old-fashioned chivalry and never-forgotten jealousy, love and loss and friendship that never dies. Oh, and did I mention the dragons? :-) I promise you will love it. Dive in.

This was recommended by a friend so I wanted to like it but the immensely immature writing style couldn't let me enjoy the plot. I managed to get through the firs 100 page hoping that it will grow on me but love just didn't come.... It also irritated me that it wanted to be Tolkenish by littering random songs and poems throughout the book. What a joke! Tolken was a linguist. The verses came first to him, some say he wrote the books just to put a story around them. The verses in this book are not even written by the author. No surprise since he can't even write a book!

This book and the whole Chronicles trilogy was my first introduction to fantasy. I remember reading these babies back when I was in elementary school. I must admit that when I came back and read them they weren't quite as good as I remember but I suppose that was inevitable. Fantasy now seems to be more sophisticated, more mature like Kushiel's Dart and other titles. Still, there is a place for simple fantasy. After all, if I want to read stories with people banging I'll pick up a romance novel. On the other hand if I I am in the mood for fantasy then this story and other like it fill the void nicely. Cutting to the chase I would have to say that this is a definite grab for fans of old school fantasy but those of you with a taste for more adult reading will likely want to try George R.R. Martin's Game of thrones with it's fleshed out charcters, intricate storylines(and much, ahem, banging).
P.S. Raistlin is one of the coolest charaters of all time.

Definitely a great fantasy epic and one of my personal favorites, The Chronicles Trilogy- Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of Spring Dawning, brings to life the ultimate battle between Good and Evil in the World of Krynn. The books are so incredibly well written that the reader feels that they have been transported to another plane of existence and are actually present among the characters, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, sensing what they sense. The authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman have truly outdone themselves and have presented us with a masterpiece of literature the likes of which we have seen only in JRR Tolkien's work and RA Salvatore's The Dark Elf and Icewind Dale trilogies. A GREAT trilogy indeed and a must read along with Margaret Weis' Legends trilogy! Duty, honor, bravery, magic, dragons and heroes are all about. One should seriously start thinking about maybe turning them into movies!

I first read this series back in the late eighties and at that time thought it was simply the best fantasy series I'd ever read. A re-read of this the first novel, simply reconfirms that opinion for myself. To think what Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman started here with Chronicles is simply astonishing, considering the number of novels released since this outstanding series started it all!
From what I've read, they and a few others were playing a game of Dungeons and Dragons and came up with the idea for this first of many series. In doing this, they too must've been amazed at how good their fantasy writing was. Their style of writing, to say the least, is very fluidic with scene after scene, chapter after chapter flowing into one another beautifully.
Back when I'd originally read this and a few of the other early series, for some reason I'd stepped away from the fantasy realm. I can probably attribute seeing The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Rings to re-instilling a desire to once again delve into this genre.
The premise: MINOR SPOILERS
Welcome to the magical world of Krynn where every kind of fantasy and mythical creature is a possibility. A group of life long companions who, five years prior had chosen to take leave of each other to search in many directions for signs of the ancient true gods.
Their time of separation is over and they are reuniting in their home town of Solace. Upon their arrival, they find false prophets have taken control of their home town and that they are literally at the epicenter of where a new war is beginning.
Through chance and fate, they meet with new companions and that that meeting will take them on a whole new quest. This new quest will bring the group to many strange new places with peril lurking over their shoulders at every turn.
What follows from this point for the reader is the first of one of the finest fantasy trilogies written since Tolkien set out to write the Lord of the Rings trilogy. You will quickly find that every character is extraordinarily well written, with a "soul" to their words and thoughts. There are few, if any, dull spots in this story, even as the writers clearly must get the reader from one spot to another, they inject a fair amount of humor and well placed dialogue to do so.
If you're a fan of fantasy and have never read this series or, like myself and have read this once before, I highly recommend a first time reading or a reread of this exceptional trilogy! {ssintrepid}

Dragons of Autumn Twilight is an excellent five star adventure book written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. It is suitable for mature kids and adults of all ages. I like this book because it really describes the emotions of the characters well and has a beautifully described setting. This book is also the first book in the exciting saga, Dragonlance. It is about Tanis Half-Elven, the main character, who is reunited with his friends, Flint Fireforge and Sturm Brightblade. They have vowed to meet in the next four years only after vanquishing all the evil they could find. But there is a new evil force roaming in the land of Krynn, which is more powerful than any other being they have ever faced before. Will they succeed in their goal of defeating it? You can only find out by reading Dragons of Autumn Twilight! The most exciting part of this book is when Tanis and his friends come face-to-face with Lord Verminnard, the evil force they have tracked for so long!

This is the first dragonlance book I have read though I do read a fair amount of fantasy. Having finished the book last night I have to say that while the book was entertaining, I don't really anticipate that I'll continue this series to its subsequent novels. I did want to give it a fair chance though so I finished book one. Here are my pros and cons:

Pro: Good characterization - The personality traits of each of the main characters were well-developed and consistent throughout the book, making at least the characters believable as individuals. I tend to favor character-centric stories so this resonated with me. Tas the kender and Fizban the mage were particularly amusing and added to the book's entertainment value.

Simple prose - This one is a two-edged sword. On the one hand I wasn't having to go back and re-read sentences that threw me or included details that were difficult to understand on a first pass, but on the other hand it was often too simplistic, having the feeling of a children's story or at best, young adult.

Cons: Not a lot of plot - It did just seem as though the companions travelled from place to place and encountered different people and things, both good and bad. There wasn't really a sense of growing action and the climax, while there was one was, well, fairly anti-climactic.

Lack of Tension - I never got the feeling that any of the companions were in any real danger. You always knew that whatever it was, they'd get out of it somehow, even if quite ubelievably. The lack of tension made the book play out softly.

Lack of Grit/realism - The book was entertaining but on a different level from those that I generally consider really good reads. This book was to books like GRRM's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series what Teenage mutant ninja turtles cartoons are to the Sopranos. It's entertaining, but you won't get lost in it. You'll never feel like you "know" the characters or take part in their lives and you certainly never vest yourself into "feeling" what they feel. It just doesn't engage on that level. It just wasn't believable.

In conclusion, the book is more of a fairy tale than a fantasy and almost seems geared to a younger audience than one may be led to believe. On the other hand, it's rated very highly and has been a bestselling series for a long time now, so take from this what you will. It's entertaining, but I've certainly read much much better.

You can't judge a book by its cover, eh? Back in 1990 my cousin and I got into all things fantasy, mostly because we loved the 80's fantasy movies like Willow, Legend, Dragonslayer, etc., but because we wanted to further our love of fantasy into reading novels, which we had heard were always better in book form. man, were they right!

Being total fantasy literature newbies, we literally went to the bookstore and decided to get into any fantasy series that looked appealing to us. We didn't know of any authors in the genre, what any of it was about or anything, so I just walked in and looked around for a bit and the first thing that really caught my eye was the artwork Larry Elmore did for the covers of the Chronicles trilogy. The colors and detail in the artwork instantly drew my eye to the books and I picked them up and read the synopsis on the back. It sounded interesting, so I bought the entire chronicles trilogy. Which I did just by chance... I had no idea that was the first trilogy in the series, so I guess I just lucked out and picked the right ones to start with. By 1990, there were already quite a few novels out, so it's cool I started where I was supposed to.

When I got home I read Dragons Of Autumn Twilight and COULD NOT put it down. I had read few books by that time, and to sit and read a whole book in an entire day was something I never thought I could do until that day. The way Weis and Hickman described battlefields, how lovingly they described the detail of each and every dwelling the story took place in, and most of all, how much I ended up caring about those original Comapnions... man, I was and still am in love with those books. My cousin happaened to pick up a Forgotten Relams trilogy when he was in the store, and after we both finsihed our books, we swapped trilogies. Forgotten Realms didn't appeal to me nearly as much, so I decided to get into the Dragonlance novel universe as much as I could after that, and after reading my Dragonlance novels, my cousin did the same!

Over the years I read a lot of other fantasy from the likes Mercedes Lackey, Robert Jordan, George RR Martin, the Discworld books and a ton more, but none of them appealed to me as much as the Dragonlance universe. I own all 200 plus Dragonlance novels now and I can honestly say that they all range from good to excellent except for like 5 of them, mostly the ones written by Roland Green. It's amazing how the qaulity has stayed so high since so many authors have added their input to the world of Krynn.

Is Dragons Of Autumn Twilight and the Chronicles trilogy the best Dragonlance has to offer? No, that honor goes to Weis and HIckman's newest Dragonlance trilogy The Lost Chronicles. These are novels that revolve around what the original companions did between the books in the Chronicles trilogy. These books are extremely well written, and also far more adult oriented than the early novels. But as good as the new Chronicles is, they can't compare to the memories of reading Autumn Twilight for the first time. Nothing can.

So at this point there are 167 other reviews of this book on the store, why should you read this one? Simple, I'll give you the straight dope on it.
To start, the three Dragonlance Chronicles (I'm reviewing them together) are a strongly recommended read. I've read many of the other reviews here and there is commonly reference to how this book is clichéd, how it "stole" from Tolkien, and most popularly, how the characters are either amazing or flat. Permit me to address these concerns...
This is a standard fantasy epic. A group of heroes, diverse in skill and personality, meet and decide to face the growing evil in the world. They eventually find out they are among the chosen and meet the most powerful beings in the land, and inevitably face the evil and defeat it. To say this is cliché is in itself cliché. If you are a fantasy reader you are obviously not averse to authors adopting conventions, any more than fans of other "formula" genres are (Crime, Law, Romance, etc). It's like giving a poor review to a car because the engineers had the lack of creativity to give it four wheels and to put the steering wheel on the same side as all the other cars.
As far as stealing from Tolkien, I have this for you: whatever. Tolkien defined a genre and others have followed in his footsteps (hence the reason it is a genre). Keep in mind that Tolkien didn't exactly invent elves and goblins either, but adapted and shaped them to his own purposes. While this trilogy isn't as much of a milieu piece as Lord of the Rings, it has other strengths. As far as exploring the environment itself, you can see the visible hooks throughout the series for the other (future) books to latch onto. There are now over 100 if you really want to explore the world of Krynn.
And finally we come to the characters. I strive to be objective of others opinions, but to say these characters are flat is ludicrous. The depth these authors have achieved is that of long books with one or two characters, not the 6+ this one utilizes. Are the characters themselves cliché? Yes. Keep in mind this world is defined by and for a role-playing game, where you are given finite choices of roles to play. To step outside those roles would cause dissention among both readers and players. However, instead of begrudging these boundaries, the authors revel within them. We find the conflict of the characters themselves with these roles, something rarely seen in this genre. Sturm, the knight, is bound by a code and not only do we see the conflict of a rigid code with a changing world as we would expect, but we see the struggle of the character himself with his beliefs. I won't go through each character but suffice it to say that several are explored in depth, especially Weis' "signature" (or for those more cynical, "franchise") character Raistlin. For most, we find their strengths, weaknesses, fears, loves and hatreds. To ask more is a little much I would say.
The above points are valid discussions, but most people seem to miss the real strength of this series, perhaps because they were too concerned about evaluating its "quality". To put it plainly, its fun! I read these books soon after they came out in the mid-80's, and have just re-read them, finding myself surprised to find they were as enjoyable now as they were then. On top of the character development, we have lots of action in various environments; we have an appropriate amount of comic relief that is well spaced and spread among a few characters. We follow the characters through times of happiness and times of horror. I'll make no claims at this point of how good or bad Weis and Hickman are as writers, but I can say they know how to tell a story.
So the short and sweet of it is: read the books and enjoy them. If you aren't so overly concerned with ranking them and evaluating them (as you should never be on a first reading), just follow the tale as the authors spin it for you. I can say that you will definitely have fun if you let yourself. I would give it 4.5 stars, but that isn't an option, so I'll round it up to 5.

This is the book that cemented my love for the sci-fi/fantasy genre as a kid. Going back and reading it now as an adult, yes, it has some warts, and isn't at the literary level of Tolkien, but as a 12 year old, it had me enthralled, and the Dragonlance series had me eagerly checking the book stores for the newest novels. I still have my original paperback copy (I think the price on it was $2.95,), and it now survives in my tent trailer as campground reading material.

This book, indeed the series, was linked to a series of tournament-quality Role Playing modules published by TSR, and is thus a direct spawn of TSR's extraordinary role playing game. Dungeons and Dragons started as a game that allowed players to enter an "adventure novel" world, roughly outlined by a Dungeon Master, and act out their own adventure story a la Conan the Barbarian, Bilbo Baggins, Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, John Carter from Mars, etc. In Dragonlance series, the circle is closed, with a game adventure translated into a fantasy adventure novel. Weis and Hickman do a creditable job of capturing the essence of the RPG's fundamental premise: a diverse, multi-racial group of adventurers pursue a common goal. In this case they also pursue victory within the context of a Continent-wide war built along the same general guidelines as Tolkein's War of the Ring.
Strengths: The action sequences, and the comic relief provided by Flint, Tas, and the gully Dwarfs. The fact that some characters die. Characterization of Tanis and Raistlin, and to a lesser extent, Caramon. Weaknesses: A logic defying use of steel as a unit of currenty. The reason gold/silver/copper were media of exchange in pre-banknote days was that they, particularly gold, do not breakdown and corrode with the speed of other metals, and they lend themselves to being made into beautiful jewelry more easily, being soft metals. Plot development a bit simple, however limitations are imposed by the genre. You must accept the D & D worldview of magic, demihumans, and other monsters without a lot of explanation.
A good adventure, and certainly a big hit with D & D players.

I have been a fan of the Dragonlance Series, and particularly the Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman series' for many years. Not only have I bought many copies for friends, but I have recommended them to more people than I can count while working at a major bookstore. I have never had a complaint. This is the begining of a great series of books which introduces a vast world, with a history and way of life that is very well developed. The authors were the creators of the Dragonlance module for Dungeons and Dragons, so the development of the world was very important.

I have recommended this book to people ranging from Grandparents to 5th graders and I have always heard praise. Arguably, the books get better the further down the series you read, but this is by no means a "poorly written book" or anything else that people have said.

Allow me to address a few of the complaints that people had. One person had a problem with some of the grammar... well the thing is... this is fantasy and so the traditional rules do not matter as much. It is possible that different races have better or worse grammar than other races. For example: Gnomes in the Dragonlance Universe talk very fast and are long winded... so in the books it appears tobeallmergedinonelongword. This does not mean that the publisher or editors ommitted spaces. Also, some have said that the writing style is not as good as other authors: Like R.R. Martin, Goodkind, Lackey, Jordan and others. Well, they are quite a bit shorter and yes they are quite different, but to me they are apples and oranges.

Now, the things that I liked about the Chronicles Trilogy. First, and foremost just about everything you can think of is in these books. There is humor from a race called Kender (natural theives who are so innocent-minded that they don't even realize that they are stealing... and have no fear) and Gnomes, Action from battles between many of the races of good and the races of evil, romance between a couple of different couples (there is nothing gratuitous). All of the bases are covered by this trilogy which begins with Autumn Twilight.

This book was based on the ACTUAL roleplaying of each character. After Weis and Hickman developed the Dragonlance Campaign setting they decided to play-test it, and the result of this is more than just an author sitting down to write a book, but actually living the book in a sense.

Lastly, this book introduces a world from which all of the Dragonlance books are spawned. In the Chronicles Trilogy you hear about legendary heroes like Huma and there is actually a book about the legend of Huma, you will hear about Minotaurs and there are books about Minotaurs (set in Krynn) so this is not some couple books and that's all, there is a whole world with a history and customs, locations (and even recepies... like Otik's Spiced Potatos) to explore and read about.

There is a reason all of these books were NY Times bestsellers... and it's not becuase there are a few fanatic fans. Everyday I see more and more people reading fantasy books and I always hear that people have read and enjoyed Dragons of Autumn Twilight.

Then again... this book is not for everyone, and there are bound to be people who don't like it, I would say... give it a try at least. ENJOY!

When friends, companions and warriors return to the predetermined meeting point after several years all is not well in the land. Half-elf Tanis, Tas the jolly Kender, Sturm the chivalrous knight, Flint the dwarf and the twins Caramon and Raistlin are back home, yet they have come by neither answers nor been met with peace.

The land of Krynn is overrun by mysterious creatures called Draconians who serve dark masters and worship darker gods. Where this malevolence comes from is not yet clear. Armed with magic and abetted by the appearance of dragons no race is safe from the menace.

Dragons Of Autumn Twilight is fast-paced, colourful and seeks to establish the characters involved. The early work of frequent co-authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman is rough around the edges and endures several coincidences too cosy with the story such as imprisonment behind bars of bamboo, dragons who fail to kill or wicker dragons which fool the troops, but not our heroes. The story also bears the occasional close resemblance to the famed Lord Of The Rings saga given its races, quest, travels and even a fortress full of evil troops surging out in the reverse direction of our protagonists. There is even a nod to the authors' future books, The Death Gate Cycle Of Reincarnation series, when an absent-minded yet powerful aging mage becomes the companions' road-fellow.

The Chronicles, Volume 1 is fun, swift and packed with the fundamentals of the genre, yet could also be considered imperfect and obvious.

The enormous Dragonlance saga began with the well-earned success of this first book of the Chronicles trilogy. It quickly establishes a set of central characters so interesting, yet completely different from each other, you'll remember them clearly years afterwards at the mere mention of their names.
This novel is blessed with the best comic relief (Tasselhoff, the perfect innocent) and most intense, complex magic-user (Raistlin) I've yet encountered. 'Autumn Twilight' is almost imcomparable for its unusual combination of relentless comic-book action while producing such fantastic character development.
More descriptive violence than necessary, but quick paced reading, vivid scenes, wonderful shifts between light and dark tone, not to mention its unforgettable characters, easily earn this book five stars.

I read this ages ago but the well-crafted story stuck in my mind. Coming back to it has brought more awareness and appreciation for the authors. In addition, the many messages are most relevant to today’s peoples.

If you look at this book, then you might believe what you have in you're hands is a Lord of The Rings rip off. After all, it contains dwarves, elves, all of the essential things. Well, you would be wrong. Dragons of Autumn Twilight, the first of three begins with lifelong friends meeting in a bar within their home town, but their quiet evening of reminiscing is interrupted by 2 mysterious wanderers called Riverwind and Goldmoon. Goldmoon saves a man's life with a mysterious rod, after the man falls into a fire. As it turns out, goblins are after the rod for reasons unknown, so after saving the man's life, she gathers together Tanis, Sturm, Raistlin, Caramon, Flint, and Tasselhoff to help her escape the town before she is Goldmoon and Riverwind are both killed. Upon escaping the city, the group is in danger, as now they are being followed by the goblins. They venture across the land of Krynn, until they reach a forest in which Raistlin unleashes his powerful magic. By the end of the first book[ the book is divided into 3 parts] much has happened. When book two begins, they open a slave caravan, and release many prisoners. They then go to a castle where a great battle begins, and one of the prisoners they released from the slave caravan by the name of Fizban dies. I don't remember everything that happened in tis book, as I read it about 2 years ago, but I do remember that there is an extremely gory part in which Riverwind is severely injured. This is a wonderful book, and I advise you to read it now.

These characters, often collectively referred to as the Companions will be with me for the rest of my life. Also read the Legends trilogy and Dragons of summer flame if you like this trilogy. I like Tolkien but i think this trilogy is better. Instead of wading thrugh page after page, chapter after chapter of Tolkien trying to describe a tree in a new way, these characters jump off the page coming to life. There are many great characters in this unique world. Sturm's nobility and Raistlin's duality make them strong contenders for best character but Tanis is my favorite. His self-doubt really gets me, he isn't sure he's as noble as Sturm but i think he is. Tanis is a quiet, contemplative man, all he wanted was a sedate life. He never wanted to be a hero or a warrior like Sturm and Caramon did and he achieves a complexity and maturity i've seen rarely in a fictional character in a fantasy world. Tanis is the leader and kind of carries the trilogy. There is a moderate grittiness and a certain level of realism in the characters here never achieved by Tolkien.

I had just finished reading Lord of the Rings triology when somebody recommended Dragonlance books.
It sounded more like children's tale but I decided to give it a try. Later I realized I like it more than Lord of the Rings, even if the plot seems to be 'inspired' from it.
The book talks about an unlikely group of companions, Tanis the half elf, Caramon the big warrior, Raistin, Caramon's twin and a magic user, Goldmoon and Riverwind the barbarians, Tas the cheerful kender and Flint the brave dwarf, who come together to save the world from the evil queen and her dragon armies.
The companions find themselves sucked into the war between good and evil and there's only one way to get out of it...their death or worse, eternal slavery of the evil queen.
Definitely among the best fiction I have read.
It is worth the money...BUY IT!
Follow up reading: Dragons of Winter Night (book 2 of 3)

The story begins much like a typical Dungeons and Dragons adventure, with the characters gathering and setting out for a quest for no obvious initial purpose. Part One of the book is fairly linear and straightforward, whereas Part Two contains more twists and turns and is more engrossing.
Like a typical RPG game, there isn't a lot of logic in the storyline. What seems more striking is the lack of attention to realistic time and space scales: people walk across vast distance in a couple of days, and a warrior pulls down a lift which can elevate his full weight.
However, for fantasy role-playing fans, the book should be good entertainment on the whole, as it is very smooth and well-written. Most of all, the characters are likeable and represent a fair sampling of archetypal fantasy heroes.

I read these books when I was younger, when I read fantasy for the action, and I hated them. I gave them another try when I was older, starting with Dragons of Autumn Twilight, and I fell in love. This book begins a sweeping epic that you never want to see come to an end. My favorite character is Tanis, who is pulled in two different directions all the time because of his half-elven heritage. The characters in this book are well written, and there is always a sense that the story is going somewhere. The story is easier than LOTR, but the underlying thems of good and evil are there. But in Dragonlance, there is a twist. Sometimes good people do evil things, and sometimes evil people do good things. These characters are not as black and white as Tolkien's, they seem more human. Now that LOTR is a major movie hit and I see people reading it everywhere, this is the book that I recommend that they read next.

Picking up this book, to introduce me into the characters of the world of Krynn, I found myself wrapped up in the book and could not stop. Weis and Hickman take you on a wild ride with wizards and warriors, elves and dwarves and of course, the curious kender. Long time friends and the appearance of a mystical staff, bring the our companions into the scene, ready to fight whatever battles await them. Though all have come from different backgrounds, they are bound together by their many differences with their own cultures. I highly recommend the book because by reading, you will find that it relates to this world with all its prejudices and myths and stereotypes that are proven to be true or untrue as the case may be

The dragonlance series is one of my favourites when I was a teen - and Chronicles is what made me an avid reader. The characters are interesting and each is different (although they are fantasy archetypes and so most never reach a filly 3d status), Tas offers humour and the trials of other characters offers tragedy and heartbreak. Its relatively short compared to some other fantasies (Wheel or Time and Game of Thrones), and not as difficult to read as say Lord of the Rings - as such its an easy enjoyable read.

I do think coming back to them 15 years on they aren't as good as I remember. Many of the characters are rather 2d fantasy archetypes now that I've read other series, and sometime I think there is far to much telling nor showing. For example one character later becomes a General and we are told their soldiers will follow them even to death.... why? What inspired such loyalty. Seriously, one chapter the character is named General and the next has the unquestioning allegiance of an army? Why not develop it? Show the character earning their loyalty through leading them to some amazing victory.

Anyway, despite its flaws I still loved it, its a good series and still one of my favourites.

If you liked it I would highly recommend Dragon Wing (The Death Gate Cycle, Book 1) by the same authors.

After reading some of the reviews on this book, I have to come to the conclusion that Dragonlance fans are either young or stupid. Can't anyone really say anything clever about the books? Well, perhaps the series ain't the kind to inspire high-class prose. But even though I don't consider myself a fool, I did enjoy the six first DL books. Especially the first two volumes of the Chronicles are like the ultimate RPG-adventure, with unbelievable incidents and dangers following one another. A rich world, stable characters and so on. Later the level has dropped: Dragons of the Summer Flame is about the most horrible book I've ever read. But that doesn't in any way lessen the worth of these classic books.

I don't tend to read fantasy as much as I did as when I was younger, but this one really sucked me in all over again. I felt right at home in Solace and didn't want to leave! The authors' language and style of writing are as succinct as they are expressive. They paint a marvelous and inspiring scenery. I felt as if I myself was there. It's a lot of fun to get to know the cast of caracters, follow them along, and fall in love with them. I actually stared talking to them and dreaming about them. I can't wait to get through the next three!

I never put spoilers in my reviews.
These authors are 2 of the greatest. You feel what their characters feel, believe in their well built world, care what happens as you frantically turn the pages to keep up. Along the way, you learn some fundamental truths.
Read, read, read these books.

So, I've finally going to review Dragons of Autumn Twilight. I've wanted to do this for a long time, it is a fantastic book. I first heard about it from a friend, who was mainly describing Raistlin's character. I picked up an omnibus edition, and got sucked into the fantastic world of Krynn. Now, for those who don't know Dragonlance was a setting created for the famous fantasy roleplaying game Dungeons and Dragons. This novel, Dragons of Autumn Twilight along with the other two novels in the series were based on Dungeons and Dragons game that the authors participated in. I also believe it was a milestone in fantasy literature. Remember, this novel came out in the 80s. Back when it was written it was not cliched; as some reviewers claim. I still don't believe it is cliched, it is a fantastic novel. This novel is very different from Tolkien. There is a larger cast of characters, all well developed. They range from The grim yet noble Sturm Brightblade, the cheerful and naive Tasslehoff Burrfoot and one of my favorite characters of all time The sarcastic and dark mage Raistlin Majere. I honestly like this book better than the Fellowship of the Ring, and I am a huge fan of Tolkien. This novel is paced better going from scene to scene and holding my interest, Whereas the Fellowship becomes a bit drawn out in the beginning. Also this book contains some amazing imagery. Undead warriors, Dragon-Men, a Unicorn, and multiple dragons. This is on top of a sense of a world steeped in history and legend. I highly recommend this novel.

My son wrote the following mini-review:
A team of eight "friends" join together in a quest for the dragon-slaying weapon -- the mythical dragonlance! Along the way, they encounter love, magic, friendship, and a lot of fights with the ominous draconians. Will they vanquish or be vanquished?
Because I received the trilogy as a gift, I was obligated to finish at least one of the original Dragonlance titles. At first, I didn't really want to, but when I had fifty pages under my belt. I was hooked. I liked the sword fights, magic, and the dragons themselves. The small print and a whopping 441 pages make this book slow going but fun to read. I recommend it to anyone ten or up.

I have never been a fan of fantasy stories, films or novels. I was recommended this book by my mother, of all people. I finally, after having been suggested it 10 or 12 years ago, decided to give it a read. It is an excellent story, fast paced and enthralling. The contrast between the characters and how well they work together is masterful. I admit, I don't care for the songs or poems of the varied peoples in the story, but they are easily skipped and don't, in my opinion, cost the reader anything in ignoring them. If you have the time and the inclination, I can't recommend this one highly enough.

When I first encountered this book in a library I bought it because I was curious. Fantasy is not a very famous genre in my country. I had already read The Lord of the Rings so I knew more or less what fantasy was all about.
Well, I must say I was wrong. Only when I read this book I realized how much I had been missing by not having bought this wonderful piece of work before, even if it was in English... I mean, the story is amazing, the characters have life, substance, they're wonderful, and the images are breathtaking.
I can't say much more than hasn't been said before about this book. I just can say that, after reading the Chronicles, Krynn has become my second home...

Though the plot of this book is not always persistent (looks like W. and H. weren't completely sure what will happen next), they say writers never control their caracters absolutely. Generally, this book is very interesting, full of action (perhaps a bit too much of swordplay for me), with the intriguing plot and well-defined, original, bright personages. Raistlin and Tasslehoff are the best, of course. Bupu is extremely poignant, while Fizban... well, read the book and you'll get the idea. I was very delighted by the fact that I've finally found the heroic team with one bad guy in it (As we see later in "The Test of the Twins" Raistlin isn't that bad though, yet nevermind.) This book more hints at things than directly talks about, but it is a real masterpiece and should be read by any fantasy fan. Later books get more serious and persistent, but simultaneously somewhat lack the freshness and nonchalance of the first one. Buy it, you won't regret.

This is one of my all time favorite books. I got this for my 16th birthday and devoured it and completely fell in love with the whole series. This one has been read multiple times by me. Now, about 30 years later, I've read it again and found a whole new appreciation for the world and the writing. I am viewing some thing with a different perspective than when I was younger, but totally enjoying my delve back into this world.

It was this book that started the Dragonlance and led to the 25 years of excellent fanasty writing. Weis and Hickman are such a great and talent team. When I first read this book over 15 years ago, I was blown away. The book is actually two parts, the first part being the finding of the greatest gift and the second part being finding the leader for the greatest gift. I jsut love the relationships that were created in this first and come to life in the next parts. I cannot say how great this book is; it is an easy read but written so well that it leaves the reader with a powerful message about good vs. evil, love and the meaning of sacrifice. I would recommand this novel to any reader but if you are a fanasty nut, this is a must read right up there with seeing the Star Wars Trilogy or reading the Lord of the Rings.

For someone who plays Dungeons & Dragons like I do, you will find that this series of books is the game come to life. You can almost hear the dice rolling, especially in the begining of this first book.
The world is Krynn and its about to go through an unfortunate string of events which will drag our group of adventurers through hell and back. Each has thier own demons and issues to work through, and its pleasing to watch each one struggle and grow.
To be honest I loved this series of books and I found that the detail of the world and the interesting-ness of the characters keep the pages turning. Read the whole series including the Legends trilogy - you won't be disapointed.

Okay, okay, so it's just another piece of pulp fodder written for the Almighty Dollar, but I can't help loving this book! Even years after reading it, I still enjoy rereading once in a while. It's a nice solid piece of escapism, and there's nothing wrong with that! Personally, I think the characters in the book, while they may be cookie cutter and stereotypical, are so richly developed that it's easy to get attached to them. Let's face it, you can have the most original storyline, the deepest insights, the most fiendish plot twists, but if you can't identify with the characters, the story is worth nothing. That's about the whole of it.

I devoured this book when I was 13, but reading it a decade later, it seems ok for a fantasy novel. Nothing outstanding, nothing dreadful except for strange leaps in the plot/conversations, and over-foreshadowing. I don't regret reading it, but I don't feel a need to continue the series.

I have been a reader ever since I was born. My father read books to me until I could read on my own, and unlike many other kids, I kept reading. And I loved every minute of it. These books are beautifully written with complex, interesting characters, which is a quality I value greatly. In order for a book or TV show to be truly good, the characters cannot be simple and flat. The same goes for the plot. The Dragonlance book series ventures far from these adventurers, but never leave their birthplace of Krynn. And I wouldn't want it to. If you want to read about the plot, then you can read another one of these lovely 200 reviews. I don't feel the need to repeat it. I just wanted to say how I felt.

I have to admit I was a little reluctant to read this book.
I've had a little prejudice toward books based on gaming but now after reading this masterpiece, I'm hooked on dragonlance!Weis and Hickman have successfully transported me to the world of Krynn.When I first started the book, I thought this would be quick undemanding tolkenish fantasy read with your humans,dwarves and elves battling against evil.I was wrong! Weis and Hickman's novel, Dragons of Autumn Twilight is more complex than that.You have a diverse group of friends: Tanis-the noble half elf/half human who is a great leader and who is torn between two women: warrior maiden, Kitiara and elfwoman, Laurana.
Sturm Brightblade-the knight of Solamnia who seeks to bring back honor to knighthood.Flint Fireforge, the gruff but lovable dwarf.
Caramon-the giant warrior with the heart of gold.Tasslehoff Burrfoot-the comical kender and last but not least, Raistlin.
Caramon's dark twin brother who is powerful but secretive mage.These heroes come together in what they thought would be a peaceful homecoming but instead they meet up chieftain's daughter, Goldmoon and her lover Riverwind.Goldmoon carries a powerful blue crystal staff with awesome magical powers.These heroes soon find themselves battling sinister draconian soldiers and terrifying dragons to save their homeland from a invasion from evil minions of the queen of darkness! The authors have created a stirring saga of loyality of friendship.The passion of true love and passionate fight against evil.The world building skills are considerable as you get a history lesson of this beautiful but troubled world.A the complexity of characterizations are outstanding.Characters like Raistlin, the dark mage who quiet and who seeks power through spells even after his obession destroys his body and distances himself from his friends and Tanis a quiet but effective leader who can lead his friends into battle but cannot make decisions of the heart.This novel also has scenes of fierce battles, witty bantering between tass and Flint and touching romance between Goldmoon and Rivewind.A unforgettable saga of adventure awaits you in this book so turn the first page and be enthralled!

This was the real ending of the Dragonlance Trilogy- before the Second Generation came in and botched things up and the Saga got overrun with bandwagon writers. Weis and Hickman created a masterpiece here, and I have personally read it more times than I can remember. Action, Romance, and a good old fashioned battle between good and evil. This is a fantastic addition to any bookshelf for a fantasy or action lover. The only reason this book doesn't rate a perfect 10 from me is, well, it ended. Dragonlance is a beautiful place to visit, and most of us dedicated fans would like to stay there. A heart pounding read

Dragons of autumn twilight was a good story, but the writing style was NOT that impressive. There was no character development and no character emotion put into the characters (I am speaking in general). The beginning of the story went by so fast, putting them in a different place almost every single chapter, and the places were not very cool.
I gave the book three stars because of, what I said in the first sentence, it was good story. Not the main story line of the eight or nine travlers (with exceptions, Raistlin), but the story of the whole world. The gods which almost destoryed the world, children's tale's coming true, evil lurking all around the world, and the dark mystery which is Raistlin. All these elements made me keep turning the pages.
If you are looking for a fun easy action adventure to read this is your book.

I'm usually wary about female writers who write fantasy. I always though dragonlance would involve too much romance and very little action. Boy, was I wrong! This series has me hooked. The wonderful thing is, especially, if you are a roleplayer, you get to follow a group of people through their adventures just like in roleplaying games.
This book though a part of a trilogy, can be considered a complete story. Nowadays many writers prefer to leave you hanging in the end of their books, wanting you wait for the next one, which is always frustrating. But not this one. If you don't want to get into dragonlance, which I doubt will happen after reading this one, you can stop right after this book and call it a good story.
The world of Krynn is in peril. The evil dragons under the control fo the god, the Dark Queen, have begun their invasion. But the good gods of old have not forgotten their people even if they have been pushed aside. This is where we begin to follow 6 adventurers - an elf ranger, a mage, a thief, a knight, a cleric, and barbarian- unwillingly pulled into this conflict but believe in honor and sacrifice and love.
Get this book. You will enjoy it.

The first novel of the Chronicles Trilogy and of Dragonlance itself is an amazing debut of magic, wonder, and excitement. This book is of course archtypical but then again its the novel that was losely based on Dungeons and Dragons. But to say its nothing but a roleplaying game book is selling it short. Dragons of Autumn Twilight has its errors in writing but the themes and points given in the story is well mature and thoughtful. The characters (who indeed are archtype like-the cleric, the half elf, the mage, etc) are very character driven, each individual and each likeable in their own way. Much of then novel is driven with expierences the reader can relate to such as self doubt, questioning, and hope. The novel is indeed a good vs. evil story but has factors such as divination, corruption in organized,religon-which is very real today, and extreme prejudices. This and many other factors deem Dragonlance to be unique and equaled to other brilliant books (LOTR, Shannara, WOT,etc). Also this novel brings about the debut of the very popular character Raistlin which if this novel alone was about just him you should still buy the book. Raistlin is indentifable due to his weak and frail nature,his looks, and the fact that he is hated because he is a mage but his ambition and his drive is intriguing. Without spoiling the novel, the story brings about an action-filled quest to discover the truth, the hardships of responsiblity, and what it means to have faith. Plus it has Dragons in it :). If you do not own or have read this novel than you MUST BUY THIS BOOK!

I first read this trilogy when I was in high-school so many years ago (when TSR still ruled the gaming world) and recently picked up the series again just for the heck of it. Upon cracking open the cover, I was immediately transported back to the world, the characters, and the stories that I loved so much back in the day.

Perhaps the writing is sophomoric at times, perhaps the plot is a bit clichéd and the characters can be a tad 2 dement ional-but who cares? It is an enjoyable, easy read that takes you away to a world you wish you could live in.

As for comparisons to the Lord of the Rings, I find Tolkien to be too heavy a read at times when I just want to have a light-hearted adventure. If you want hard-core, go read the Rings Trilogy. If you want fun and action, read the "Dragons of..." Trilogy.

At the age of 36, I've finally decided to read this book and I was not disappointed. I agree with many of the reviewers that stated that this book is a little simplistic and cliched, but for me this did not prevent me from enjoying the tale.
I think what I appreciated most about this book was that the story was constantly moving foward. After wading partly through dull novels such as The Dragonbone Chair and Eye of the World before giving up (my insomnia became a thing of the past), reading this book, despite it's flaws, was an absolute pleasure. I have already purchased the remaining 2 books in this trilogy and intend on reading the Twins trilogy as well.
Good stuff.

This was one of the best Dragonlance books i've ever read, not only is the author Magaret Weis but this is where everything starts!!!! I know most of you probably have already read this book but if you haven't your missing out on one of the best fantasy books and series out there. Dragonlance has it all from humor-to romance-to war-from kender to knight. Don't miss out on this book and when your done you'll be so happy you'll start on the next book Dragons of Winter Night and go on to Dragons of Spring Dawning to the Fith AGE. Nevermind that now if you haven't read Dragons of Autumn Twight yet get it now you won't be sorry!!!

This is the Book that Started all for me. In 1984 I was in High School when I was looking for a Book to read at the local bookstore. Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman are The best Writers Ever. The Dragonlance series is my favorite series of books and I've read nearly all of them. From the first word the Story draws you in.

The story is basically Good vs Evil about a group of friends bonded together by a deep friendship, The world of Krynn is rich in detail and history and you come to love the Companions or Heroes of the Lance as the world of Krynn sees them, they are drawn into a brewing up and coming war.
you will meet the Companions, Tanis The Half-Elf, Flint Fireforge the Dwarf, Tasslehoff the Kender, Caramon and Raistlin Majere Storm Brightblade, GoldMoon and Riverwind, and Kitiara (Caramon and Raistlin's Half-Sister.)

My favorite character is the dark mage Raistlin, with the Fun-loving Kender TassleHoff as 2nd favorite.

I highly Recommend this book and the 2 that follow in this trilogy. Dragons of Autumn Twlight, Winter Night, and Spring Dawning.. are the 3 books that introduce you to the world of Krynn.

This is what really got me into fantasy! This book (and the rest of the series) is great! Tanis half-elven (the leader of the group) meets his friends long ago divided , but meet a new barbaric duo, one with a blue crystal staff of healing, and begin their quest for the legendary Dragonlance! They come upon many enimies in the quest, (even a few dragons!) but they slightly get away alive. The Half-elven Tanis, Human Barbarian Riverwind and soon to be husband Goldmoon the Healer, Flint the hot tempered Dwarf and somewhat of a sidekick Tas the Kender (more like thief), and last of all the young Mage Raistlin with a tattered body, all go on the perilous quest for the allmighty Dragonlance! I bet by now you are saying, "What the heck is a 'Dragonlance'?" Right? Well dragons once only myths are now returning to their world, Krynn. The Dragonlance was forged many years back before the Cataclysm to destroy dragons. The party will try to remove dragons from Krynn. Now i spose you are saying, "What the heck is the 'Cataclysm'?" Right? The Cata. was pretty much the destruction of all Krynn. Not very many "things" survived. What did, built up their species in the time they had between the Cata. and the book. I recomend this book for ages 12 or up, or if you kind of like fantasy and want to know what it really is, THIS IS A GREAT BOOK FOR YOU!!!!!!!
Thank you for reading my review and may the Force be with you! Frans (SnArf)

Dragons of Autumn Twilight is a true fantasy classic masterpiece! It is one of best books I've ever read, and I truly cherish it! Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman are two of the best authors of all time! The way they write, you'd think there really was a Krynn and that you'd been there before! The characters are so detailed, you'd think you knew each of them intimately and had shared in all of their adventures! This is not a book to pass by. I think it should be read in schools all across the world - it's sure a lot more enjoyable then reading Lord of the Flies

Dragons of Autumn Twilight is the first Fantasy book I have ever read. Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman are the best when it comes to writing fantasy I believe they have no equal( this is only my opinion) the world of Krynn is interesting and all the characters are interesting Raistlin is my favorite, he is so bad and evil when he wants to be. He does have a softer side to him but he doesn't allways show it. So if you are looking for something good to read you can't go wrong with Dragons of Autumn Twilight buy it and read it you'll be glad you did.

It's a seedy Fantasy Novel good for younger adults i guess. They tend to be very detailed on the sexy part lol.
the character are one-dimensional ....valiant, the dark wizard, the brute and the leader.

The overall story of the series is good even interesting.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight is the first, and by far the best, book detailing the world of Krynn invented by Weis and Hickman. Some additional 80 books have been written in the setting, and only a handful - some of the other ones by the original authors - are worth reading. The characters and settings are magnificently vivid and interesting enough to spark a teenager's love of reading. It certainly did that for me. I practically adored this book and its characters for years. Unfortunately, rereading this as an adult was disappointing. There were too many inconsistencies for believability, even in a fantasy setting.

This is _the_ book that spawned a saga of over 80 books to date. Being a New York Times Bestseller, the quality of the book should be self-explanatory.
The story is set in a world of Krynn, a somewhat peaceful world with magic. As the story progresses, it becomes apparent that an evil force is stirring up in the northern lands. The people believe gods are gone, and now worship a new set of gods. Anyway, enough of the intro.. you'll enjoy much more when you read the book yourself.
The characters are very well developed. All the characters have a detailed past, which explain why they act that way towards the other characters. While they never seem to completely get along, they always work things out.
This fantasy novel is not just killing and fighting against evil. There is humor, sadness, and romance. The humor comes from the kender (an annoying race) named Tasslehoff Burrfoot, who always finds the fun part of an otherwise very frightening or dangerous scene. A magician you'll meet later on in the book also provides good comic relief.
The authors, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, have created a great world for more than enough room for the storyline to progress and expand. The history is rich, and evil is abundant.
This book is the first in a trilogy that started it all. If you are a fantasy reader, you can relate the quality of this book to the likes of Philip Pullman, Terry Goodkind, Robert Jordan, and of course, J.R.R. Tolkien. If you aren't a fantasy reader, this can be an excellent book to start with. If you want more, go ahead - there's over 80 books in the saga, with at least seven of them from Weis & Hickman.

You will definitely enjoy this book! Often times, a reader will establish a "favorite" character in a series such as this, and I assure you that your favorite(s) will be known early on. From the battling Draconians to the hidden and unfolding love story, this "beginning" is the best reading that you will come by in quite a while.. Enjoy the humor of Tasslehoff and follow the complexity of Tanis as well as Raistlin, all of the characters are some of the best laid out in a long while....From this book, your Journey begins...

This review has more to do with the whole seris, than it does with just "DRAGONS OF AUTUMN TWILIGHT."
The seris starts out with "DRAGONS OF AUTUMN TWILIGHT", which is by far the best book I have ever read. It starts out with a meeting of old friends (Tanis Half-elven, Sturm Brightblade, Flint Fireforge, Caramon, Raistlin, Tasslshoff Burrfoot, The Plainsman Riverwind and his companion Goldmoon.) Riverwind and Goldmoon are being chased by Goblins because they have the blue crystal staff, and the Queen of Darkness wants it, which sends the companions on a very dangerous journey into darkness, death and betrail, with one thing bonding them together, HOPE.
The series sends the companions through many obsticals like the Evil Dragon Highords, and their Dragons who at first seem to be impossible to stop, until Tanis Half-elven's childhood friend, Laurana forages krynn's first Dragon Lances since the Caticysm. Combined with the magical Dragon Orbs, which were made during the Caticysm, by the most powerful of wizards in the Towers Of High Sorcery, and only those of the strongest of minds can control these magical orbs. Which Laurana and Raistlin learn to control. Laurana uses the orbs power for good, to help aid them in battle, in which Raistlin, of course uses them to add to his power, which finally leads to his betrayal to his campanions and his twin brother Caramon in their time of need, because the companions are in a ship that is being persuied by a Blue Dragon and It's Highlord, Kitiara, Tanis's former lover, and Caramon, and Raistlin's half sister who is now commander of one of the dark armies of the Queen of Darkness, and like Rastlin thirsts for power. She is after them because they hold the key to the Queen of Darkness's victory. The captin of the ship accidentally sails the ship into the mailstrom, this is when Rastlin uses the orb to save his life and when it also has the power to save his friends, but he doesnt, they ask him many times but he says It will drain his strengh to much, so he leaves them to sink in a whirlpool and then......
Laurana's brother comes back, and to everyones astonishment has came back with the good silver, gold, bronze, and copper dragons, which help them in battle very much and actually start to make everything start to look good until.....

The Dragonlance chronicles is one of the greatest fantasy epics of all time. I have been reading lots of great fantasy over the years, and would you believe, that on January 22nd, 2001, I finally learned of Dragonlance's existence?! Apparently, all my friends have read them and they never bothered to tell me about this masterpiece! Anyway, it's all my fault that a best selling fantasy book series numbering over 60 volumes (I'm including all those little side books) that date back to the early 80's just happened to escape my attention, so I went out and bought the chronicles. After four days of non-stop reading I finally finished, and I felt a kind of... emptiness inside of me. I just then realized it was over, and it hurt, I didn't want it to end! I wanted to find out what happened next! (fortunately I discovered the Legends trilogy) the point is, I never felt that way about a book before! The writing is fantastic! The characters are so well developed! (Believe it or not, I cried when a certain person(s) kicked the bucket. My mom came in and asked me if I was alright, so I wiped my tears and told her everything was fine... after she left I began crying again.) Of all the 'epic' fantasy series' I have read, this one ties the Lord of the Rings as my favorite. Among my other fave series' is 'The Wheel of Time' by Jordan, and 'Lord of the Isles' by Drake. But the most satisfying thing about the Chronicles, is that in FAR less pages, Weis and Hickman make more cool things happen, better develop the characters, and create a better world than Jordan does in his whole nine volume (more to come of course, and I still love WoT)series! Bottom line: Dragonlance = Oh yeah!

Wow...Just wow. So far this one of the_best_fantasy books I have EVER read!! Everything is so amazing. The book is just wonderful, I really really recommend this to anyone and everyone who loves fantasy. From the moment I picked it up I couldn't stop reading, wherever I went I took it with me, the story will grab your attention right from the beginning! Not to mention the inside and cover artwork is very VERY good. I really, really, REALLY recommend this to anyone who's thinking about reading it! ^_^

I remmeber this book was the most amazing tale when i was a kid. I read it recently, and i was a bit taken aback by how easy it was to fly through. Maybe its a bit Harry Potteresque. For a kid, the characters jump out of the pages and take you into the world with them. I dont think ive ever been as encapsulated in a story ever again. I remmeber at the end of the 3rd book crying and crying because i felt all my freinds had just died. Sad eh?
The one disturbing this i heard was the authors are Mormons, and the stuff about "the true gods" is them trying to push their religion is a kind of abstract way.
This may also be complete rubbish.
Anyway, i couldnt bring myslef to give it anything but 5 stars, as it pretty much was the defining series of my childhood.

Admittedly, this series did help quite a bit to bring fantasy fiction into the mainstream. But, that is about all it accomplishes. This series is full of the cockie-cutter stereotypes that most fantasy fiction is founded upon. The authors' grasp of their own details is shaky at best. It is rather obvious that Margret Weis & Tracy Hickman had very little practical knowledge about historically accurate medieval times. The characters sleep in their armor, even in the dead of winter? I must also admit that TSR novels are largely what I was weaned on as a young reader. But, to continue the medaphor, one will find that mother's milk tastes increasingly sour as one ages. Has the milk changed? No. The drinker has only gained a more refined pallatte.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight is the beginning of a phenomenal story of the classic fight of good versus evil. Each character is unique and interesting and the grave seriousness of the book is perfectly balanced by the innocense of Tas, the hearty grumblings of Flint of course then there is Fizban...but he is something all his own. As the group struggles through each adventure you learn to love and hate each one, and before you know it you are done and dying to pick up the next book in the series.

I had never been interested in fantasy until someone bought this book for me. I have had it only a few years and i have to have read the whole series now at least 8 times. No story i have read has kept me coming back for more. The characters in the story bring out your emotions and you feel their losses, triumphs, and tribulations every time you read it. I have read tolkien's fantasies only once, while i return to dragonlance again and again. I would recommend these books to anyone who wishes to enter a romantic fantasy world for a while. These are the some of the best you'll find.

I first read this series when I was in high school, many moons ago and I loved it. I thought it was the best fantasy setting ever, in fact in my mind it was much better than Tolkien. I know...I know before anyone flies off the handle let me explain.
Fantasy can be compared to rock n' roll, the Beatles were the first and started it all,even though they borrowed from influences before them as did Tolkien. Like the Beatles, Tolkien should receive his due as the first but just like rock n' roll there have been those that have done it better since the Beatles. I feel the same about Dragonlance. I thought the races and history was much more interesting and well thought out.
Yes some of the characters are cookie cutter and some of the story is predictable but that doesn't mean it's not a good read.
I don't understand these reviewers who complain that this or that fantasy novel is too predictable, it's high fantasy! Just like romance novels, mysteries and westerns. Fantasy is just another genre, if you read much fantasy as many claim then you should be able to tell from the plot summary whether your going to be reading a so-called cliche or not.
With novels like this it is just a good read with the classic fantasy races given a new history and story line, read it for that and I guarantee you will enjoy it.

These books are the original fantasy adventure stories. They are a classic must-read for every fantasy lover. The only complaint I've heard from others is that this is 'cookie cutter'. Make no mistake, these books were the first. All the other stories that came were copied from this one. Some claim that the characters aren't deep enough - Its actually quite the opposite. This is one of the few book series that you can see the parents, the children, the entire life of the characters and their impact on their world. Give this book an honest chance and allow your inner kid, the one who dreamed of adventure and becoming a hero, re-emerge and really enjoy these books!

I thought Dragons of Autumn Twilight was a thoroughly enjoyable book. The beginning of the book will be a little slow since the author is spending most of that time giving detailed descriptions on the main characters but it picks up quickly. It is left open for the next in the series but the ending is satisfying enough for the end of the first book. There is a lot that happens that makes the story seem hopeless, but there are other characters that are comic relief and create a feeling of hope. There are dwarfs, elves, dragons and other people and creatures. Some are easily recognized but others are not. It was a very fun fantasy book.

After reading the Dragon Prince and Dragon Star series, I was looking forward to the Chronicles series. I was very excited to read this series because I use to play the old rpgs such as Dark Queen and Death Knights and Heroes of the Lance. This book itself confirmed that Hickman and Weis know what they are writing about. I hope every book they write in Dragon Lance is as good as this one. From the beginning the action never stopped. While the companions search the ancient city for the only hope humans have left in finding the gods.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight is the first of a series of books that introduces you to the world of Krynn and different creatures, such as trolls, dwarves, kenders, ogres, gnomes, and elves.

In the beginning, the main characters are Tanis, Raistlin, Caramon, Sturm, Flint, and Tas. Tanis is a half-elven, Raistlin is a human mage, Caramon is Raistlin's brother and a skilled warrior. Sturm is a noble warrior who dreams of becoming a Knight of Solamnia. Flint is an old dwarf who is skilled at crafts and fighting.

Tas is a kender, and kenders mean trouble. Things just "happen" to "fall" into their pouches. Later in the story, they meet up with Goldmoon and Riverwind, two plainsmen who are the last survivors of their people. They also bring Tika along after she follows them into a dangerous area. She is the bartender of an inn where they were supposed to meet. They also "recruited" a few more people for their quest to stop the dragonarmies, the army of the enemy. When I say recruited, I mean people join them against their will.

This book has an exciting plot, and also has a lot of action and humor. It also tells what each person is thinking so that you learn all about the way they act and who they are.

When I first started reading this book, I thought it was really boring and confusing. But then, after a few minutes of reading, I immediately understood what was going on and it was suddenly interesting. I would recommend this to anyone 6th grade and older, because it is harder for younger people to understand what is happening in the beginning.

I am extremely envious of anyone reading this series for the first time. I love all these 4 & 5 star reviews that talk about how bad these books are. They all still rate them high and point out they've sold millions. All the things they point out are the reasons I love the series. Raistlin remains my favorite character of all time.

When my eyes first fell upon this book, the title itself made me extremely curious. On further sight of the artwork on the cover i was hungry to look inside. After finishing the boook, my fingers were still trembling. My heart was beating fast and i was having problems controlling my urge to read the book again, to make sure i had read everything and not missed anything out. In my mind i was thinking 'This book is absolutely brilliant-I WANT MORE!' You might think this a little extreme, but any one else who has read it, thinks the same. It simply is ["that good"] The authors place you in a world that seems so real, that after reading the book, youd be able to fully illustrate it within your mind in great detail. The characters within the book are wonderfully constructed, each one being entirely different, yet you can relate to each one as if they were real people. Each one has a different story, a different attitude towars life, but they never seem out of place with each other. Their relationships with each other during their advntures brings you closer to them, so you feel for them when something doesnt go right. Emotionally you will FEEL for these characters, which is a trait any good book needs to make you do. Sadness, Anger, happiness, laughter, are but some of the emotions you will feel as you travel with them. The fluidity of the writing is also a point need to be raised when reading the book. The style of writing of these authors is themost fluid i have ever read. It never falters, never has too much detail or words too complicated that it breaks up a sentence. You will never want to put the book down, EVER once you start reading it. Their is great attention to detail, especially towards Raistlin and affliction and the interaction between him and Caramon, his twin brother, is beautifully written aswell. Lastly Tasslehoff Burrfoot, who is perhaps the best character within he book is by far the best character ever developed in a book. Buy it, borrow it, what ever you do just read it!

I absolutely loved this book. My only gripe is during a scene involving an army of skeletons it is hard to understand what is happening. Only that small portion of the book is poorly written. Overall this book was great! I especially like the well though out background of the universe. Also, one of the writers is LDS.

From the fist page to the last, every single character, every single villan, every single battle and adventure is just marevelous, there are just very few books that can include fantasy, romance, adventure, personal conflicts, real character interactions in which each of their decisions and actions have an impact on the rest of them and the story as a whole. You'll just get thrilled with this great fantasy novel and you won't stop reading it until you're done, and I guarantee it will be no more than a couple of days.

I loved this book! There were many reasons why I felt that this book was so good. One of those reasons is that the way the authors wrote the book that he and she tried to keep it so that it would have some relavance to actual feelings and thoughts while still keeping the classic out-of-the-ordinary fantasy subjects such as mystical monsters and races of people that you would never think of in your wildest dreams. The story has excellent set of characters that have a very deep background in their imaginary world and complex emotional thoughts and feelings. The story also had a great sense of time so that you wouldn't have to spend days trying to figure out what time you were in, this kept a nice,organized plot. There were so many conflicts that were physical and emotional that you actually got the feeling of being there with the characters, joining them in their many struggles to say alive while living a decent life of constant joys and sorrows. Even though many people are not fans of fantasy they may still enjoy this book just because much of what is thought and said has to do with what you may experience in your every-day life. So I encourage everyone to at least read the first couple of chapters just to feel for themselves what I felt when I read this wonderful piece of modern american literature.

Now, I'm not a huge fan of fantasy books anymore. I used to be, but I grew out of it I guess. But a few years ago the DragonLance books by Margeret Weis and Tracy Hickman were my favorite reads. A few weeks ago I was bored and wanted a nostalgia trip, so i dig out "Dragons of Autaumn Twilight" and I began skimming through the pages. It was only a few seconds later that i sat down and was once again captivated by this wonderful adventure. Expecting to find cliches I instead fell in love with the same old characters again. I read it in two days, and then I moved on to volume two. Although Autaumn Twilight is my least favorite of the chronicles series, it is still a powerful introduction, but it never comes close to being as good as the next two in the series. READ THIS BOOK! Even if you don't like Dungeons and Dragons (i haven't played it in years but i still love the original dragon lance books) you'll probably love this book. Just one word of advice: Don't waste your time reading other Dragonlance books that are written by authors other than Margeret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Weis and Hickman are the only authors who write the Dragonlance books well. So if you see a Dragonlance book written by these excellant story tellers pick it up! Start with the Chronicles and then read the Legends. Everything else bores me but this series is far from boring!

Dragons of Autumn Twilight is about a half-elf , a kender, a dwarf, a human knight, a human warior and his tiwn brother is a Mage(my favorite for ambition and sacrifices for his one true love), two barbarians, and an elven princess are all brought together by the working of a god to stop a war that is about to come, so this adventurers make sacrifices for the good of the world and sucede in banning the evil goddess for the world once again. This must be read by all DL fan

This is an interesting and well written book along the lines of an R.A. Salvatore creation. If you're tired of the regular sword and sorcery bit then this may not be the book for you, but for those of you who can't get enough this is a witty, fantasy-filled read with enough scale to make you want to keep on reading.

I read this book late in my life (21) most people read it during their high school years. I bought this book for my boyfriend and ended up getting curious after he started to describe it. This is one of my favorite books of all time

This is the first book in the DragonLance books. There are other books that have come out that explain earlier than this but this is the first one you should read.

You follow a group of unlikely heros...their quest...well save the land of Krynn. Chaos, deceit, love, tragedy, surprises all interwine in this book.

The authors have the greatest way of writing, they make it so you can taste the food, smell the air and see the surroundings all without over killing you with boring details.

Ive never been into sci fi books but this has changed my mind. You have the clasic make up of unlikey heros. The half elf warrior named Tanis, the unusual twins Raistlin and Camaron, the first being a tortured Mage whos power is just starting and the latter being a high spirited warrior with strength you could dream of. Flint the drarf who is grumpy and adds to the comic side of the story along with bravery and honor. Tas is the kinder, he's the back bone of humor and is so light hearted about all the death and destruction around him that at times you think the poor thing is on drugs but no its the kinder way. Sturm is the kinght and is all you can imagine what one should be, brave, corageous, caring and his one track mind of saving the day. The barbarian star crossed lovers named Goldmoon and Riverwind come from the Plains. She's the chieftans daughter and her love is beneath her in the familys eyes. Together they flee on a personal mission.

Meeting one night at the Inn the heros worlds clash together whether they like it or not and work together to take down the evil that is planing on taking over Krynn.

Dragons, magic, love, betrayal, blood, guts, swords, crazy old wizards and evil clerics all are included in this fantastic book. Its a must read, You will get hooked :) stick with Wies and Hickman and you'll be alright :)

"El retorno de los dragones", as it has been translated into Spanish, is one of the funniest and more interesting novels I have ever read. I am not a fan of the fantasy-fiction genre; I haven't even read "The Lord of the Rings", which in my opinion is quite a boring story. I do not like that childish point of view of Saint JRR, and I do not like playing role, either. However, the Dragonlance Chronicles (not only the first volume but also the whole thrilogy) has got my heart. I read it a couple of years ago, and I am doing it again just in order to remember such a dense plot. I have never get bored whilst reading any of the three books which the series consists of. I have been able to understand complicated personalities which go further than simple characters who fight against each other. Tasslehoff is not a stupid hobbit, he's an extremely clever, funny and riotous kender; warriors are not almighty people who can just take their blades and hit whoever they want to (and as a matter of fact, they DIE. May God Have Sturm with him). The magician, Raistlin, is my fauvourite novel character. As for the other members of this fellowship, they are great. Weis and Hickman manage to introduce all of them without boring the reader (and they are many). To sum up, you'd better read this book and the other two. You will enjoy yourself, even if you HATE, as I myself do, this kind of story.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight is an action packed fantasy novel
that is worth reading over and over. I have read the book
five times myself. Dragons of Autumn Twilight is the first
book Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman (the famous, best-
selling, fantasy writing duo) ever wrote together, and it
is magnificent.

This book (and this trilogy) is the greatest fantasy written
since J.R.R Tolkien penned "The Lord of the Rings".

After almost eight years removed from having first read the book on the recommendation from a friend, I can still feel the magic of this awesome tale that began years ago and still continues to wow its audience. I have read all of Weis and Hickman's books and though i know how it will end, the excitement never leaves. From Tanis's trouble with his home and dear, noble friend Sturm, to the mysterious bond between Raistlin and Caramon, the love of Riverwind for Goldmoon, to the peculiar relationship between Flint and the joyful Tasselhoff, over and over I have read this book and over and over the magic remains. Once you embark on this epic journey, you will never stop. For those interested in the true classic of all Fantasy books (yes Mr. Jordan I know you stole from this series, every bit as much as Goodkind stole from you) the Chronicles and the books that follow are the true legends of their respective genre.

I enjoyed this book very much and I intend to order--and read--the other 2 books in the series. The characters are interesting and there are a few new races included. I will be very interested to see what happens in the other 2 books in the series. I can also see some influence of D and D in this book, and presumably in the others as well.

This is my second time through this novel, the first being about 12 years ago. Reading the book again was like coming back to an old friend. I don't know what makes one fantasy novel successful while others aren't, but this one has great characters and a great background. I've read about ten of the Dragonlance titles, and I was surprised at how well this one foretells what will happen in the rest. Since it was the first, I expected to find a few more inconsistencies or things the authors didn't quite think through until later. That is not the case. Anyway, this is a very entertaining novel. There is comedy, adventure and romance, all of the necessary ingredients for a great fantasy romp.

This book was the first novel that I ever read - way back in 1989, at 9 years old. It hooked me into the world of Krynn and inspired me to start playing D&D. Throughout the series I laughed outloud, I shed tears at a few key deaths, and I read these books instead of doing homework.
Granted that was 14 years ago. I just reread the book, and I was sorely disappointed. The characters maintain their vitality and intrigue, which is definitely the book's strong-suit. The locations are interesting to imagine, and the history of the world feels robust and realistically layered and complex. But the writing itself leaves a lot to be desired. I couldn't help but cringe at the repeatedly overused adjectives and the painful moments of unabashed silliness.
Also, upon reading it again I have now realized how much of it is allegory for much Mormon lore! I won't go into details, but it's pretty thinly veiled. I grew up Mormon, and the religion has left a bad taste in my mouth ever since I left it 10 years ago, so finding such things in this book makes it less enjoyable.
I would recommend this book to people who don't roll their eyes easily, or are young and easily impressed, or are looking for simple and easily digestible escapist fiction. It truly is a great story and a fascination world, despite all the flaws.

The book that started it all for me. I absolutely love the dragonlance series and have read very few subpar books from the world (I've ready roughly 45+ full books). I still look back on the days when I first read this trilogy fondly, the characters, action, and story really come together to make this an enjoyable read that I just couldn't put down.

I was first introduced to Dragonlance my senior year in high school. I had spent the previous summer reading many Forgotten Realms novels, while at the same time listening to my friends rave about the world of Dragonlance. Dragons of Autumn Twilight was actually my second Dragonlance novel I read (the first one being Kindred Spirits) and from beginning to end, I enjoyed it. Dragons of Autumn Twilight is a great start to a wonderful trilogy. It was unforgettable characters, unique landscapes, and powerful villains.

I just recently finished reading Dragons of Autumn Twilight for the 5th time, and still I find myself being spellbound.

Hi! This story has to be one of the best I have read in quite a while. I tried to read Ann McCaffrey and, well, was dissappointed. Then I read the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, which I greatly enjoyed but it left me wanting something. After which I read the Wheel of Time Series. I loved it, but it was a hard read. This book is great for those who have a harder time reading, or are just too lazy to read Robert Jordan (like me ^_^). The style itself is very close to that of The Hobbit. There are many differences, though. I read this book for a book report, but I had to finish the trilogy. Now I have to present it to the class and the three are blending in my head and I can't draw lines where one stops and another begins. This is a good thing: The transition from one book to another is very smooth, unlike Wheel of Time where I had to read fast and furiously to catch up to where the story started. O.K. Enough with my long winded speech of how wonderful entering the world of Krynn is through the imaginative writings of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. I think that everyone should at the very least give this story a try, whether or not you're a fantasy lover.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight was the first fantasy novel I ever stumbled upon at the bookstore shelf and I could not have hoped for a better introduction. 8 years and 20-odd Dragonlance books later, it still stands as the best. Without going into too much detail, suffice it to say that the world of Krynn is the most well-conceived in all of fantasy literature (and that includes middle-earth). The most amazing thing, though, is the depth of the characters and the way that Weis and Hickman can make even ordinary conversations between them spellbinding. Not to mention that Raistlin is probably the coolest character ever. If you're looking for a good introduction to fantasy literature then look no further.

Let me note that I got dragged kicking and screaming to this novel. I recently read the War of Souls trilogy and loved it. I had been putting off reading any Dragonlance novels for years as I assumed they were all schlock. Well, the War of Souls proved that these novels were interesting, well-written, and fun. Based upon my good experience in reading that triology I decided to start at the beginning and see what came before the War of Souls. I just finished DoAT and while i enjoyed it, parts were incredibly slow and I struggled to push myself through it. While I still plan to read the next 2 books in this trilogy I've switched gears for a bit and I've just started Raymond Feist's newest triology, Talon of a Silver Hawk. I think I'll finish that series before heading back to Ansalon.

To me, this is the Dragonlance book that started it all. This is where the, arguably, most important characters in the Dragonlance series really come into play, and start on their greatest adventure ever. Weis and Hickman do an excellent job of using rich, vivid wording to bring out all of Krynn's features. If you like this book, I can guarantee you'll like its sequels: Dragons of Winter Night and Dragons of Spring Dawning.

I made the mistake of going into the Dragonlance world in the second trilogy. It confused the hell outta me.
Dragons of Autumn Twilight really cleared things up. I laughed when i finally found out who Flint was, Tas spoke of him so much in the second trilogy. Speaking OF Flint and Tas, i always found their friendship very strange, i think if this were real life(some fans might argue that it IS real life), Flint would have killed Tas by now. He certainly wanted to enough.
Tanis wanst portrayed well enough in the second trilogy and his character too, was given color for me in this book.
Sturm...the scene where they are in the cage to be taken to the slave mines, Tanis comments to himself about Sturm's frequent fights with Deep Depressions. I think this gave Sturm a bit more character, put him past just a stone guardien of the Oath and Measure.
All in all, this is a worthwhile book to start with, and NOT dissapointing at all. Leaves you wanting more.

I have looked at the Dragonlance series for a long time, wondering if i should read them or if they would be the kind of books that turn into more of a science fiction genre and have impossible plots, the kind you really can't get into! Well, this is not that kind at all. the plot was easy enough to follow without being boring, and it was wonderful. perhaps the best book i have read! i REALLY look forward to all the others.

Great book!!! I was hooked from the very first page! Anyone who likes fantasy should read this! All three books are wonderful. The story line flows smoothly, the characters are real, and the action is just enough to keep you wondering, "What's going to happen next?" I've read it over and over and have never gotten bored! A must for your personal library! Once you read the first chapter, you'll want to read the entire series

I very much liked this book. It always keeps me thinking and unlike most books, I didn't know what was going to happen next. It kept me surprised and on the ball because of all the new things that keep happing. I never wanted to stop reading it, but I have a busy life so I had to do many other things or I would have tried to read in all in like a few days.

Weis Margaret did a wonderful job making many things of them to encounter on there way of there original journey. One of the only things I didn't like was that I lost track of some of the characters it seemed like they just left and you didn't know what was happing to them or anything at all. Other then that, she did a great job.

I would definitely refer this book to any one who likes fantasy. It is at a good reading level for most people to read it I missed some things because I had a limited time to read it and I was so busy. But any young adult I think would really like it. For it is challenging to remember what all that is happening, but still easy enough for most any one to read.

I received this book as a gift this past christmas, and I haven't been able to put it down. I have recently finished this novel and am moving on the second in the series of three. I found the character of Raistlin to be the most intriguing, but I also loved the conflicts between Tasslehoff (a kender theif), and Flint (a dwarf). At first, I was a bit reluctant to read the novels, because I have always found the fantasy genre to be (Though a huge fan of Dungeons and dragons)a bit hokey. but as soon as I opened it up, I just couln't put it down. The pace of the book flows quite nicely, and the two authors do a good job of creating a mood and a setting for this world. It also touches on important issues, such as religion and war, and I'm glad to see that a book can be set in medevil times and still touch on today's issues. though the book was near perfect, nothing deserves five stars in my eyes. historical inaccuracies and a sprinkling of that old time hokeyness glare from the prose at various times (The Plainsman survives after the dragon's attack at the cities ruins? Puh-leeze!), but even they can't bring down this otherwise brilliant work.

This is the first book in the chronicles series. If you havent read these books you are missing out on a lot. What starts out to be a innocent meeting between friends, turns into a fight for the very life of everyone on Krynn. These friends must face dragons, and various other creatures on their way to save their very lives. But this book is definately a must read. Buy this booK! you will not be disapointed!

so yes, at first glance, this appears nothing more than a "lord of the rings' knock off. in a way, i suppose it may be considered as such, but when you really get into the story and character interaction and development, you realize it is a story unto itself.
dragons of autumn twilight is my go to book. i must have read it at least a dozen times, and been happy to do so, each and every. i have read the entire series (not including all the offshoots that derived from the original series) and i can honestly say, hands down (whatever that means)that this is my favorite series of books. thats all.

Excellent book, I reading again after 24years and seeing things I missed from the first time I read the book. I know I need to read the other two while it is still fresh in my head. I liked these books the first time I read them and I love them even more now. For some who has no background in this mythos, it is ideal to start with this book or the Legend of Huma.

This book by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman is fantasy literature at its best. Some "fantasy fans" say this book is generic fantasy.(a quest to save the world, unlikely heroes) But they are utterly obtuse. This book is more than just fantasy, it helped me realize the evil sides of the world and of people. In terms of the plot, it exceeds other fantasy trilogies without contest. My favorite character is the frail human mage Raistlin. Throughout the whole book, I always waited to see what Raistlin would say and do next. Also, the other characters: Tanis, Flint, Sturm, Tasslehoff, Goldmoon, Riverwind, Caramon, Laurana, and Fizban are extremely interesting throughout the whole trilogy. After reading this masterpeice by Weis and Hickman I was inspired to read all Dragonlance novels. After reading several other Dragonlance books, I always think of this one being my favorite because it is when you get introduced to all the characters of Krynn.

This book was about Tanis half-elven,Raistlin and Caramon Majere, Tasslhoffe Burrfoot,and the rest of the dragonlance gang. They meet a lovely young barbarian girl ,Goldmoon,and her lover and body gaurd Riverwind with the blue crystal staff of Mishakal. Join on their quest to Xaz Tsarath. You will be surprised and amazed no matter what you have a taste for this is a great book

DoAT is the first of three in the cornerstone trilogy of the Dragonlance Saga. This book and the two following is a work so excellent, I'm at a loss for words. This book deals with the concepts of good and evil. Of a few people from a small town that suddenly is thrown into the business of being heroes. this story has everything and it's simply impossible to put it down once you've started reading it. The characters is one of the many great assets of this book. they are very believable, complex characters, and getting into their thoughts is priceless. It helps the reader feel every bumb on the road, every moment of happiness and dispair and makes the book so incredibly captivating. for all fantasy readers, this book, this trilogy is an absolute must. I cannot say enough good things about it. In short, go order, go read!
Est Sularus Oth Mithas

I was looking through the bookstore one day, and this book caught my attention. I took it home to read, and in the end, it turned out to be my favorite book ever, and what I consider the best DL book out there on the market. You really became attached to the characters (RAISTLIN FOREVER!), and I thought that the plot was terrific. A must read for any fantasy reader.

I read this book almost 10 years ago and it is still one of my favorite books. This book is where you should start if you've heard of the Dragonlance saga but are not sure where to start. The story tells the beginnings of the War of the Lance and introduces the reader to the classic characters from the series (Tanis, Raistlin, Tas, etc)
If you love Jordan's THE WHEEL OF TIME, or Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS, then you won't be dissapointed by this book!

Dragons of Autumn Twilight, the first book of a series that has, in some places, become a legacy, is one of the best in its kind.
With excellent prose, wonderfully developed characters (I love Tas ^_^), moving situations and a lot of laughs, this book's got something for everyone.
Though the plot is a little too...orthodox, I still say it'd be hard to get a fantasy book any better than this.
*gives it a six thumbs up*

The narration makes the Audible version nearly unbearable. The last three books I listened to on Audible had excellent narrators. They were reading to tell a story. This narrator is reading to get paid.

I really enjoyed this book as a young adult. The characters are well done and well written. And the world is very interesting. It is staple fantasy, elves, dwarves, dragons ect but its a very engaging book to read. A great series. This would make an incredible TV series or movie with CGI. Be warned DO not buy the Animated movie, it is horrible!

This book to me was what I expected. Elves, Dwarves the typical half breed human, dragons etc. I found this book (I hate to use this word) cliche. I didn't really find the story all that interesting. To me the characters felt.. boring for lack of a better word. The story progression was decent. I did feel though that, they movie around the continent fairly quickly without much happening. First they are at a tavern, then a lake, then a strange forest and they fly to a burned down village near some mountains. I feel it skipped around to much without anything important going on. I especially liked how boring the part of the book where they're in the "dying" Elven kingdom. What a drag it was. Perhaps this isn't my genre of read, but I felt like this book was written for a 6 year old. These, of course, are just my opinion.

This being the series that first hooked me on fantasy work, I have read and re-read all of this trilogy, plus bought all the other books to go along with them. The characters were believable, in-depth and you felt like old friends after reading it just once. Laughing and crying with them came as natural as breathing, and drew quite a few funny looks from people around me as I read them anywhere I could spare a few moments to read. For anyone looking for a new author to read, this trilogy is a MUST!! I would also recommend most of their other series as well. The Death Gate Cycle was excellent, as was the Darksword trilogy, and who can forget the Rose of the Prophet trilogy? My review centers more on the authors themselves than just the books...but know that it is money well spent to purchase any book of theirs!

I was fortunate enough to pick this trilogy up in its collector's edition, a couple of years ago. This was the first fantasy book I had ever read and is what hooked me on the genre.
If you have not read this story, you must go out and get the book. Out of the three books there is no singular one that stands out above ther rest. I loved them all.

This is, in my words,is the best Dragonlance book ever... way better than Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series (which I have read and own). In my short life,I have read and thoroughly enjoyed the DL series. This, my friends, is a classic masterpiece. It would be a shame for everybody not to own and read this book . I reccomend this to anyone, 12 and up.

This is, in my words,is the best Dragonlance book ever... way better than Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series (which I have read and own). In my short life,I have read and thoroughly enjoyed the DL series. This, my friends, is a classic masterpiece. It would be a shame for everybody not to own and read this book . I reccomend this to anyone, 12 and up.

If you are looking for adventure,"Dragons of Autumn Twilight" would be exactly what you have been searching for! It is an emotional story about a group of friends that must defeat the evil dragons of thier fantasy land, and the master that controls it. I must also add that the other books that follow it in the volume will grasp you as well.

Dragons once again plague the land of Krynn. Rumors of war are spreading like fire through a grass field. There will be a special meeting on Krynn like there hasn't been for thousands of years. Eight people from across Krynn come together for a reason they do not know and could not understand. Little do they know they will become companions for the rest of their lives... Battling dragons, the awful race of draconians birthed from the dark arts of Takhisis' clerics, hobgoblins and ogres alike, the companions live through it all.They go through all of this to posess the famed Blue Crystal Staff. Death, darkness, love, hate. All of these follow the companions like a tracker on a trail. I give this book a 10 all the way because of all this. Adventure, drama, tragedy, this book has it all. If you like fantasy, you will love this book as much as I did.

I happened to pick up this jewel by chance. I was looking for a series that I can spend my time enjoying and would keep me interested. ((I went through books like water)) I believe this is the best choice I could have possibly made. Don't let the LOTR similarites ((companions of different races out on a quest against evil)) fool you! There are enough twists and turns along the way that will keep you engaged.

This has something for everyone... plot, character development, imagination. The heroes of the tales can easily be related to. ((Raistlin being my personal favorite.)) I started early high school, but can be read by a younger or older audience as well.

6! This book is amazing! I am not sure, but I think this was the first fantasy book I have read. I also have read it 5 more times afterwards too! Well the Dragons have risen to strike Krynn. I must say this is one of the best fantasy books I have read. Suspense, action, adventure, this book has it all! Buy it, rent it, JUST READ IT!

I read this book in the Annotated Chronicles, which is all three of the trilogies together. (Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of Spring Dawning.) Anyway, this is a great book and I simply loved it. The way the story builds up on itself is amazing. I highly recommend this book to any fantasy lover.

This is, in my words,is the best Dragonlance book ever... way better than Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series (which I have read and own). In my short life,I have read and thoroughly enjoyed the DL series. This, my friends, is a classic masterpiece. It would be a shame for everybody not to own and read this book . I reccomend this to anyone, 12 and up.

If you are looking for adventure,"Dragons of Autumn Twilight" would be exactly what you have been searching for! It is an emotional story about a group of friends that must defeat the evil dragons of thier fantasy land, and the master that controls it. I must also add that the other books that follow it in the volume will grasp you as well.

Dragons once again plague the land of Krynn. Rumors of war are spreading like fire through a grass field. There will be a special meeting on Krynn like there hasn't been for thousands of years. Eight people from across Krynn come together for a reason they do not know and could not understand. Little do they know they will become companions for the rest of their lives... Battling dragons, the awful race of draconians birthed from the dark arts of Takhisis' clerics, hobgoblins and ogres alike, the companions live through it all.They go through all of this to posess the famed Blue Crystal Staff. Death, darkness, love, hate. All of these follow the companions like a tracker on a trail. I give this book a 10 all the way because of all this. Adventure, drama, tragedy, this book has it all. If you like fantasy, you will love this book as much as I did.

I happened to pick up this jewel by chance. I was looking for a series that I can spend my time enjoying and would keep me interested. ((I went through books like water)) I believe this is the best choice I could have possibly made. Don't let the LOTR similarites ((companions of different races out on a quest against evil)) fool you! There are enough twists and turns along the way that will keep you engaged.

This has something for everyone... plot, character development, imagination. The heroes of the tales can easily be related to. ((Raistlin being my personal favorite.)) I started early high school, but can be read by a younger or older audience as well.

6! This book is amazing! I am not sure, but I think this was the first fantasy book I have read. I also have read it 5 more times afterwards too! Well the Dragons have risen to strike Krynn. I must say this is one of the best fantasy books I have read. Suspense, action, adventure, this book has it all! Buy it, rent it, JUST READ IT!

I read this book in the Annotated Chronicles, which is all three of the trilogies together. (Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of Spring Dawning.) Anyway, this is a great book and I simply loved it. The way the story builds up on itself is amazing. I highly recommend this book to any fantasy lover.

A half-elf ashamed of his heritage. A knight whose goal is to restore honor to his people. A woman who has received a strange gift, a staff of magical healing powers. A man whose fallen in love with the leader of his tribe. A mage with a dark secret. The mage's twin brother, a powerful fighting giant. An old dwarf who is an old friend of the half-elf. And an irrepressible kender. These eight must save the world, but before they can save the world, they must learn to understand themselves. If you love to read books where each page opens a new idea into your mind, you'll love this book. This book will open up new ideas into your mind, and fill your heart with a sort of excitment, a liking, or maybe even a hatred, towards certain characters. Be prepared for non-stop reading excitement at the max.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight is a book that does its job well. It entertains and keeps you turning the pages. It is an easy read and doesn't take itself too seriously. While there is certainly some of the darker aspects of life in this book (war, death, etc.), it by no means distracts from the more light hearted aspects of the book. Don't get me wrong, you should go in expecting all the ingredients of an epic fantasy that most have come to expect. However, you should not expect Tolkien or the intricate back drops of Robert Jordan. This is a more concise, fast paced romp which I think most will appreciate. So, buy it new or used, check it out from the library... whatever you have to do. If you like fantasy and need something to take your mind off things, then pick Dragons of Autumn Twilight...you won't regret it.

The Dragonlance Chronicles are my favorite books ever. I could not get enough and they inspired a life long fascination with fantasy. They are great for any age group and will pull you in hook, line, and sinker. A+

Although I've read this book many times and I started more than 10 years ago,I can't get enough.The only reason I'm writing a review is to give tribute to my all time favorite series of books and quite possibly authors(W & H).To anyone who is just starting this book or the whole fantasy genre,you've come to the right place.I must warn you however that by reading this book you will form an addiction.This addiction will cause you to lose sleep,lose weight,possible blurred vision,and the constant need to say "shirak" whenever you're in a dark room(the latter will become known to you as you read the book).If you can handle this brief list of symptoms,and possibly more,dive in and be prepared for a whole new world.

the book seems very good. i would reccomend it to young teens and adults alike. fantasy lovers will love it. the whole trilogy reads just like the hobbit and lord of the rings. i personaly love stories with an unlikely band of heroes in a fantasy world. (i myself am writing a novel about a boy age 18 who is caught in a shipwreck and is traped on a fantasy filled island, which isn't an island at all but a twisted dream. the rest is about the people he meets, the places he goes and mosters he fights.)

Honestly this is one of mt favour books of all time. But the narrator is good with dialogue but bad with descriptions. Check out the audio of Terra Soul by S.J. Abraham
for great audiobook narrating.

Well when I read these books 16 or so years ago.I never thought they would serve as a guide for my life.I always loved Tas.He wasn't the smartest,but he never gave up on anything.And what he says to Fizban in Pax Tharkas it always makes me think of myself.Pg 426 Annointed verson "I asked my father once why kenders were little,why we weren't big like humans and elves.I really wanted to be big." "What did your father say?" asked Fizban gently. "He said kenders were small because we were meant to do small things.'If you look at all the big things in the world closely' he said 'you'll see that they're really made up of small things all joined together' That big dragon down there comes to nothing but drops of blood,maybe.It's the small things that make the difference." So as you read this wonderful work remember, These were not people who sought to become Heroes but people who did what they could to help.

This is really a wonderful book in the finest tradition of fantasy. It is about a group of heroes who go out on a quest to defeat a GREAT EVIL. LOLOLOL.....I can already see some of you hardened fantasy fans groaning. But wait, there is hope. Weis and Hickman are able to breathe such life into this cliched setting that you can't help but become enthralled. And yes, the characters are straight out of a D&D campaign, but the authors succeed where others would fail in giving them each distinctive, captivating personalities. This is the first of a trilogy, so be prepared for an ending not close to being wrapped up. Overall though this book and the entire trilogy is pretty good.

When the friends all come to meet eachother in Solace (exept for Kit) and then have to leave in a rush because of saving Goldmoon and Riverwind from death, this has just gotta be a great book. Some wellknown expressions from the book: Tas:It wasn't me, honest! Flint: Damn rattlebrained kender! Raistlin: Shirak

A so-so attempt at authorship, I had a hard time sticking with this book. Having read lots of military and sci-fi military fiction, as well as history, I had a hard time buying into some of the precepts that establish the Dragonlance "universe". From the legend of some of the characters, the song, the descent into the lost world, and the whole valuable commodity thing just didn't ring true with me.

Regrettably I bought large trade paperback containing the first three books in the then new Dragonlance series introduced to the fantasy audience at the time. A friend tried to warn me about the purchase from a bookstore that is no longer there anymore. But, TSR had seemed to put a lot behind the product, so I took a chance on it.

The scope of imagination injected into these written works is impressive, but the execution of the story doesn't hold up for me, and therefore does not pass muster in terms of flavor descriptiveness and getting to the story with aplomb while carrying the flavor.

In short, it's not the well written, the world established is not that robust and interesting. But, that's my personal taste. Check my previous reviews to see my position on similar products, and then decide. For those who disagree, well, there you go.

But, don't say I didn't warn you.

Definately one of the best fantasy series ever. The plot is amazing and every book is phenomenal. I wanted to ask however, if you could please e-mail me and let me know if there are any other trilogies in the Dragonlance series that are written by Margaret Weis, besides the Chronicles and Legends trilogies.

Normally a sci-fi reader, I read this book with great reluctance at my friend's insistance. How wrong I was! Even when my heart was set on this being a terrible book, the book quickly drew me in and lifted the pall from my heart. I loved this book! It has the right amount of action and character development that is so rarely achieved. I am now working on the entire, 80 book series. I could rave more, but I have to leave for the bookstore!

Yet another long epic fantasy book, Weiss and Hickman's first entry in their Dragonlance series has nothing new to offer fantasy fans. The abundant cliches are only outnumbered by the large group of uninteresting characters that undertakes a journey that's already been taken countless times before.
The plot revolves around a core group of adventurers: a half-elf/half-man leader, a hobbit-like thief, a mysterious magician, his warrior twin, an out-dated knight, a pair of barbarian lovers, and a grumpy dwarf. They undertake a quest to stop an evil cleric who, under the command of the Queen of Darkness, has started a war between good and evil.
A large problem with this book is that their are too many characters. Along with the main eight characters, many more join in the quest. By the end, there are about thirteen heroes to keep track of. Unfortunately, this ridiculous number leads to some dull character development, as if the two authors ran out of personalities to write. Instead of turning into three-dimensional characters that we would care about, each character only has a few traits. For example, Tanis the leader doesn't like to fight. Sturm the knight is always suspicious of Raistlin the magician. Caramon the warrior is always hungry. I found Sturm to be a pointless character who was almost identical to Caramon. One trait that I found to be annoying was the fact that everyone was quite fearful most of the time. Though it was more realistic having the group be afraid of the dangers they faced, reading about how scared each character was everytime they entered a dark cave took the excitement out of the book. Even Tas, a character who lacked the emotion of fear, seemed scared at times.
Weiss and Hickman try to incorporate some originality into their group of adventurers. Instead of being close friends, everyone in the group mistrusts each other and bicker over one another. However, this book has far too many fantasy cliches that aren't put to good use. Flint the dwarf is identical to the dwarf from R. A. Salvatore's Forgotten Realms novels or Gimli from "The Lord of the Rings". The heroes' leader conveniently finds a magic sword that can slay dragons. Elves are mistrustful of all other species, dragons are large and in charge, and an evil goddess is the main villian. It seemed as if the authors were using these cliches as rules to write their book, causing the end product to seen like another by-the-numbers fantasy.
There were some elements that made this book far from dreadful. Raistlin, the dark magician, is the most interesting character by far. He could easily carry a full story on his own. Other interesting characters were Fizban, the bumbling mage and Tas, the lovable kender. The action is well done and fast-paced. I hated the draconians, however, and found myself wishing for ogres or more goblins.
Compared to Salvatore's Dark Elf series, this is a weak start for a trilogy of books. The only reason I'm going to read the next installment is because I had a little case of impulse buying and bought the next trilogy of books in the series, so I have to finish the first trilogy before I can go on. I'd rather reread "The Crystal Shard".

This book is the essence, and masterpiece in the Dragonlance series. It is possibly the best fantasy book ever written, with a unique blend of interesting characters that you grow to love, plot lines that offer every conceivable luxury to a reader, and timeless relationships. Throw in a setting (Krynn)unparalleled by any other fantasy writer (with the exception of J.R.R. Tolkien), and you have an epic book. To me, this book is to fantasy literature what Star Wars was to film making. To say it is a must read is an understatement. I would recommend it to people of any age, as the money spent on it will pay itself off in the first 5 minutes of reading. The best book, in the best trilogy, I have ever read.

After reading the book, Dragons of the Autumn Twilight, I was so truly in awe of the story. I really need to say that after reading my second Dragonlance book, my eyes were opened to another world of imagination and fantasy. This was a book that I really loved,along with all of the wonderful characters. My favorites being Raistlin( of course), and Tas and Flint and Tanis and Goldmoon and ......... I would like to thank all of the authors of the dragonlance series from the very bottom of my heart, for bringing me the joy of believing in dragons,and all that these books say. I love them all, and I truly would recommend every reader to read every single one of these books,( as I plan to of course!) Thank You! Happy Reading!

Best Fantasy series that's ever been written....period! The first law or The black company are on all the list, those suck compared to these. They have nothing to do with The Lord of The Rings, these type of characters are what fantasy is! They have everything, read them you won't regret it.

After I read this book, I immiediately ansked my dad for the next one, and thus ended up reading the whole series. The main characters, Tanis Half-elven, Goldmoon, Laurana, Tasselhoff Burrfoot, Riverwind, Kitiara, Flint Fireforge,Sturm Brightblade, Caramon and Raistlin Majere, and other unforgettable characters, go on wonderful but haunting adventures together. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes reading big advanced books. People who read little books like RL Stine and others that small should try this, but this series is for the big readers. Big books for big readers.

My first real fantasy book. I've never read anything like that before so I didn't know what to expect and was quite worried about the flow of descriptions and the story going quite slow.
However I was very surprised to discover that none of my worries happened! The book is nice and the story is definitely well written and not slow at all.

I credit the DragonLance Saga for really drawing me into the world of reading. Any teacher would recommend any book that keeps his or her students reading for pleasure outside of school, and this book did it for me. Dragons of Autumn Twilight and the rest of Chronicles are the only books I've ever read twice for fun. The characters are dynamic, even if it does not seem apparent in the first book, and you'll soon identify with each one for different reasons. The pacing is intuitive and even the "slow" parts are engrossing. This is one book I will always recommend and will always find a space on my bookshelf.

Hi, i'm a new one in fantasy world, if someone knows where Lithuania is and just a bit of it's history, he/she can understand that it's a very young country and there are just few fantasy books in original language. It was the first i've read in original language and i liked it very much.

Dragon Lance is a great book. Some of the words are difficult but not too hard. There are great characters in this book. Tasslehoff "steals" the show, or as he would say "borrowed it." Tanis is the main character. He is half-elf and half-human and very wise. My favorite character is Raistlin because he uses a magical staff to help him. The writers created a whole new world, called Krynn. They made all new creatures. The world is amazing! I wasn't into reading books until my brother gave this book to me. The fights they get into are crazy, but they usually get out of them.

I would recommend this book to any one that likes magic and sword fights, because this book is full of them.

This is, in my words,is the best Dragonlance book ever... way better than Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series (which I have read and own). In my short life, I have purchased and read every Dragonlance book, with the exception of The Doom Brigade. I reccomend this to anyone, 12 and up.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy. It keeps you reading, because you need to find out if the Companions get out of Xak Tsaroth alive or if they defeat Lord Verminaard. I have read many other books by these authors, and they are all as exciting as this.

Yes the characterization was slightly weak, and the introduction a little slow, but overall this is a great book eventhough its not the best one in the trilogy, Dragons of Winter Night is my favorite. Even though I have read and enjoyed classical literature by Huxley, Orwell, Fitzgerald and Shakespeare I still love this trilogy. I think it has nothing to do with the refinement of one's palette but rather taking things for what they are, not what they could represent. I think this trilogy tought me a lot about self sacrifice and so forth. I highly recommend this book and the trilogy. Put away your reservations about historical accuracy and other irrelevent things and pickup this great book.

I started the Chronicles series when i was in 7th grade. Since then I have read over 50 of the Dragonlance books. The main 8, however, are still the best, with no comparison. The Chronicles, Legends, Second Generation, and Summer Flame are a few of the best books in print!!!

This book is one of the best books I have read and I have read a lot. This books keeps who in a trance as you read about the heroes and about mythical dragons. After you read this captivating book you should really read the sequel to it,"Dragons of Winter Night".

I first read CHRONICLES when I was a freshman in college, that was 15 years ago. I have read these glorious books at least six times through since! My 10 year old son and I are reading them through now and he is enchanted with the world of Krynn! He is going solo with the second book now that we've finished the first and, like me, he stays up too late reading about the twins, the kender, the dwarf, the half-elf and co.!
I promised him that when he finished the CHRONICLES that I would introduce him to MIDDLE EARTH via "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy (which, by the way, is THE greatest fantasy epic of the Millenium :->)! CHRONICLES runs a close second though!

The first time I read this book was about 14 years ago (I was 12 years old) and I remember being completely drawn into the Dragonlance universe. So much so, that I ended up reading many other books about the world of Krynn. Recently, I picked up a copy of this book and got ready to be immersed in a world of fantasy once again. But, this time around, I was very disappointed.
My first disappointment was encountering how very poorly written this book is. And, it is not just this book, but many others in the Dragonlance universe share the same fate. The descriptive words and conversations become a long a string of clichés and overused adjectives. The word "smile" is at least found two or three times on every page, often preceded by the words "crooked" or "half". Weis and Hickman's descriptions often become repetitive; the conversations many times leave the reader feeling diluted or lacking, rarely is there a middle ground. The authors' poor use of language becomes a burden on anyone who can read at a junior high level; so much that it becomes more aggravating to read rather then enjoyable.
The characters are not enjoyable to read about and impossible to connect with on any level. They are stereotypical creations of the D&D gaming world, bound by the limitations that are set in the rules of the game instead of their own personal traits. They quickly become dry and stale and very rarely show any type of personality. The authors' try to paint pretty pictures of emotion and character depth in this book, but more often then not, this attempt fails and is quickly forgotten about.
The plot is actually the only redeeming factor about this series but is quickly brought to its knees by other faults. The world of Krynn has the potential to be a well-developed world, which has depth, detail, and could captivate any reader. Unfortunately, what it doesn't have is authors who know how to write it.
Overall, the book is probably better suited to younger readers, probably no older then 15. The characters often act like teenagers, which is what probably drew me in to the Dragonlace world many years ago. The maturity of the characters was something I could relate to. I would rate this book 1 star, but since it entertained me once, it should get another for effort.

I first read this book years ago and it has just seem to have got better every time I have read it. The characters are in depth and the detail in the setting is immense. It is a tribute to the authors who have written great books that give life to the world of Krynn.

This series is AWSOME!!!!!!!! I think this book is the BOMB! Being the first book I've ever read by Weis and Hickman, I'm really pleased with what I've discovered. I will definately recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy and science fiction.

I loved this book. It is very easy to relax and read it while taking a bath or walking from wherever. I loved the characters, they were very heartr warming and sweet, except my main man Raistlin who with out a doubt holds his own twist on intrigue. I loved reading about him. Any way, this is the start of a great journey, and one I will retake over and over. Just one must pay attention to every detail it comes in handy later! Hehehe^_^. Any way I gotta fly, Nabeth(my dragon) is having a fit. Peace!

i love the dragonlance chronicles series! i have never read anything this great in my life i can't wait to finish the series! if you don't like this book or the others you're crazy! all the characters are great! my favs are- tas, flint, and fizban!

The fundamental problem with this novel is that there are way too many characters to follow, and thus too little character development. There is Tanis the conflicted half-elf, Sturm the moody knight, Flint the crusty dwarf, Goldmoon and Riverwind the mysterious barbarian lovers, Tasslehoff the mischievous kender, Raistlin the cunning mage, and Caramon the burly warrior. That is way too many major characters, even in fantasy where ensemble casts are common. Much of the action is formulaic, as the authors try to set up the major conflicts for the following two books. Unfortunately, the title is the best part of this overly cliche effort.

I first read the Dragonlance Chronicles when I was a Dungeons and Dragons-playing teenager. Back then I would have said this was an excellent series, but I was looking at it through the biased eyes of a D&D fan.

Twenty years later, I have read them again for purely literary pleasure, and I have to say, these books stink. As others have pointed out, it isn't really the plot, nor the setting that fails, but the writing and the characterization.

If you are a fan of cliches and overdramatic dialogue, this series is for you. I write this review to agree with what others have said in complaint of this series. I suspect that those who rated this book 4 or 5 stars have never read Tolkien, M.Z. Bradley, or Tad Williams.

If you are a D&D fan and want some light reading or background to a Dragonlance campaign, then read these books.

If you are looking for serious and well-written fantasy, pass over this series.

I found this book in a pile of my sisters collection of fantasy, fiction, non-fiction and more. I selected this out years ago, and it pulled me into the Dragonlance series. I have now read over 5,000 pages in Dragonlance books!
-Jon Fillmore

The minute I started to read this book, the action took me in! Within the first 25 pages there was a battle. This book is action-packed, humerous, and serious in some parts. It has the basic good vs evil plot to it, however, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman were able to draw it out into a wonderful series of books. I highly recommend this book to ANYONE who likes the fantasy genre. If you love this book (which I find it hard to believe if you don't), then you'll love Dragons of Winter Night (book 2), Dragons of Spring Dawning (book 3), and possibly even Dragons of Summer Flame (book 4). READ THIS BOOK!

OK,yes, the magical fantasy world thing has been done before, but never like this.Wies and Hickman have a wonderful way of putting you right in the middle of the action. The story is complex and detailed. It leaves you wanting to know more about the world of Krynn and it's inhabitants. The charectors are complex too-from the grim and slightly evil mage, Raistlin to the light-hearted kender, Tasselhoff Burrfoot (my personal favorite). This story isn't all blood and battle either-there's also love and friendship and brotherhood. I would reccomend this book to anyone who enjoyes fantasy/science fiction novels. I know you'll enjoy it-it certainly has me hooked!

This book takes very little time to get to the action/fighting part. Just as the companions reunite, they get into trouble. The plot is easily followed and the events are believable. The kender creates some of the most humorous scenes. Tasslehoff is just a fun person to be around with. If it weren't for Tanis, that kender would probably get into a lot more trouble. Then Tas would bring the trouble back to the companions, whether they want it or not.

This book is great it is full of adventure and it doesn't bore u with introducing the characters i dives into the story and lets little thing help you understand and form a picture of the character and his past. It truly is a great book.

This book is great it is full of adventure and it doesn't bore u with introducing the characters i dives into the story and lets little thing help you understand and form a picture of the character and his past. It truly is a great book.

I first read this book 10yrs ago and have re-read it since along with the restof the dragonlance books. But the first 3 books of the series is my favorite. Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman are the best fantasy writers today. The Story is of the Companions and them trying to stop the Queen of Darkness from ruleing all Krynn. Each of the characters is interesting to read about. My Favorite is Raistlin, then Tas, Then Tanis. All in all the dragonlance books is a great series of books to read.

Whats this I hear? The ramblings of irredescent souls trying to stray me from the path of Weis & Hickman Fantasy? The Chronicles are the best books I have ever read. At my late teens I now manage a personal library of nearly 1,000 books, and never have I read any books as well written, exectuted, etc. Tolkein was good, Weis & Hickman better. Oh, they want to mate with dead vampires, goodie.(The Lords Of The Ring #?) Raistlin Majere blows his enemies away in the black robes, YIPEE! (Chronicles) Get the picture? The Hobbit, pure classic. Chronicles, simply the best. By the time I am through reading Dragons of Spring Dawning(the last in the chronicles) I am ready to start reading Dragons of Autumn Twilight (the first chronicle) all over again! Eternal Reading Value!

I tell you now that not a single other book was more appealing to me than Autumn Twilight. I'm a 13 year old teenager and I read this book in a week. I would have read it faster but school. That was about 3 weeks ago. Now, I've read the whole Chronicles trilogy and starting over again with it. If it hadn't been for Autumn Twilight, I would have never came to know Tanis(my favorite male character), Sturm, Tas, Flint, Caramon, Tika, Laurana (my favorite female character), Raistlin, Riverwind, and Goldmoon. I love these books!

I'm glad to see that this book is being released again! I bought it 7 years ago, and ever since then, I've been reading Dragonlance books! Believe me, this book will pull you right into the world of Dragonlance. This is a classic that you SHOULD NOT pass up!

THE BOOK IS SIMPLY WONDERFUL. THE WRITINGS OF WISE AND HICKMAN ARE SUPURB. THE MAGIC AND MYSTERY OF KRYNN IS BROUGHT TO LIFE IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT IS ACTUALY BELEIVEABLE. AND THE CHARACTERS ARE WONDERFUL. I ESPECIALY LIKE RAISTLIN.