Dragons of Autumn Twilight: Dragonlance: Chronicles, Book 1

Dragons of Autumn Twilight is the first of a four-book set of Dragon Lance Chronicles. These books are based on a set of video and/ or computer games (I don’t do that many games, so am not sure which) designed by one of the authors. There are apparently several other sets of books by the same authors set in the same universe, and many, many other similar books by other authors as well. This type of book has the potential to be very good, or possibly very bad. I would say this one is reasonably good.The character development here is pretty good, although it is better for some characters than for others. I suspect that by the end of the fourth book, we will know at least most of the characters very well.There are a lot of standard fantasy game features in the story. There is an adventuring party with members of several races and professions (a half-elf, a dwarf, a creature known as a Kender that somewhat resembles a Hobbit but has a few unique qualities of its own, and several humans, one of whom is a mage and another, the only woman in the original party, who is eventually declared to be a cleric).Most of these people are known to each other already and have already been questing separately to discover the answers to their own riddles as well as a cure for the problems besetting their world. So far, they don’t seem to have been all that successful, but they need to make serious progress fast, especially on saving the world, because their world, Krynn, is going to hell in a handbasket quickly.A mysterious old man is waiting in the tavern for them. He doesn’t appear to be quite all there, but on the other hand, he seems to know exactly what is about to happen. It looks as if he is responsible for bringing the anger of the authorities down on them so that they have to flee the town before they even have a chance to visit their homes. But later on, he turns up again, still appearing as clumsy and incompetent as ever. I suspect, however, that this is all an act and that he knows much more than he is telling, because he is instrumental in getting them out of the dungeon at Pax Thatkas even though he appears to die in the process.Several of the characters either don’t get along well or don’t trust each other at first. The two characters who are new to the group, the ones they call the plainsmen (and also sometimes refer to as barbarians, although these two seem to be more civilized than some of those who are doing the name-calling) are at first looked on with suspicion, but the woman, Goldmoon, who is a cleric and healer and later seems to fuse with a goddess is unfailingly polite and gentle, although the mysterious blue staff she carries puts them in danger since the High Dragonlord Verminaard, their principle enemy in this book, is looking for it for himself.Another questionable character is their mage, Raistlin. Everybody is convinced that there is something dark in his character, and it seems that the ordeal he underwent to become a mage, which nearly killed him and severely damaged his health, has brought this out. But, although he isn’t very sociable and prefers to keep to himself, when push comes to shove, he always seems to be doing his best to keep the company safe and further their business. One example is during their visit to the ruined city of Xak Tsaroth where they encounter the Gully Dwarves. Their own Dwarf, Flint, has a really low opinion of Gully Dwarves, and, indeed, their personal hygiene (or lack thereof) and low intelligence don’t do much to inspire love. But Raistlin sees that they are familiar with the passages in the old city that might lead to the items the company is seeking to find there, and he befriends the creatures (in part by casting a spell on them). Their adventure with the Gully Dwarves is by far the funniest part of the book. But it is also interesting how gentle and respectful Raistlin is of Bupu, one of the Gully Dwarves who seems most familiar with the parts of the city they need to get to and who aids them in getting the items they need.In the course of their adventures, the companions visit several areas, including a spooky forest, the land of the Elves, and a fortress called Pax Tharkas, where the prisoners from Solace are taken after the dragons burn Solace down. They also manage to kill three dragons.In the end, though, even though Goldmoon and Riverwind are finally able to marry and everything is peaceful, at least for about a minute, most of the company is still downcast, because, though they have gotten in a few good licks against the forces of evil, these forces still look as if they are winning. There are more dragons out there, and doubtless more evildoers ready to use them. Plenty of room for another book – or three.

Read this book 33 years ago I guess and I just bought it again for my kids! Love dragonlance, the world, the dragons, Tiamat, the heroes… and Lord Soth :)

It is an action-packed book! One of my favorites! The entire series is wonderful! Can't get enough of Tasslehoff! Definitely read it!

This was the first real novel that I ever read, as a kid. Quite surprised by how much I remembered.

Wow! This story was brilliantly written! The authors had a magical way of transporting me into their fantasy realm through their beautiful words. I found myself greatly identifying with Tas, the kender, a true sanguine like myself. This was a spirited adventure that made me want to jump into a D&D campaign of my own to see if the experience would match the wonder of this story. I look forward to reading the next adventure!

Reading this as a child, it caught me in its magic, hope and pain. Reading as an adult, I can remember that kid. I still enjoy it. It is a truly timeless tale and well written though not complex. A good and well spent reading.

I started this series almost 30 years ago, I have read it couple of times since, but has been a good 15 years. This story still amazes me with the writing, story telling and memories it brings back to me.

Author's Margret Weis & Tracy Hickman brings us the opening of the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy with Dragons of Autumn Twilight. This review is for the audible edition read by Paul Boehmer. As the story opens we find that the companions return to their home town and the tavern where they said go by five years before. Tanis the half elf, the knight Stern, the mage Rastlen, (the twins who have their own spin off books) and they are joined by new companions. As the companions reunite Tanis notices that the woman that he loves is not among them and then they start hearing of the Dragonlord Verminard and the soon find that as they have gone on their quest that Verminard has concord their home town. This sets off a race for the companions to either create or find a legendary Dragonlance, the only weapon that could save their home and families from the darkness that has taken the land. This is a great book and I'm very glad that I have this audible edition and I'm looking forward to listing to the next book in the series Dragons of Winter Night. I highly recommend this book to all Fantasy fans.

I first read this book 35 years ago, when I was 12. In those 35 years, school, university, love, loss, marriage, children, cars, mortgages and jobs have all made life much more…stressful…mundane…human.This book is just as magical to me now as it was all those years ago. The mortgages and jobs and kids are still there, which in a way makes me love this book even more, as it gives me the opportunity, if even for a few moments, and to remember that life is more than making money and paying bills.

Terrible reading! Never heard a reading this bad! I love these books so much, but this man who reads it ruins everything! I'd better off having it read by a robot, even a robot would do a better job of it! He emphasise in the weirdest places, pauses in the most inappropriate times, he seems unfamiliar with the text, the context and everything in general and it makes the great story soundblike a dumb, dilettante jumble of words because of it! I am deeply disappointed and annoyed. Can't even understand how could this reading be paired up with the books, when it is clearly the poorest quality possible! I wish I had listened to the sample before I bought all 4 of the books with narration. I wish I could get back my money for it! Shameful job!

This reads like someones D&D game in book form. The characters don't really work well together, and are not very interesting (other than the kender), with the usual comic dwarf to rub salt in to the wound.Maybe if I had read this when I was 11 it would have seemed better.I got half way and gave up.

Like many of the other reviewers, this book was my teenage introduction to fantasy and as such will always be a five star. Having read it again for the first time in over twenty years I can still say it creates that feeling of amazement and enjoyment. But how would I review it if I didn't have that history?The story does have holes in, and often depth is sacrificed for pace, but it's unapologetic while doing it. Modern fantasy has become epic of scope, with complexity, detail, intrigue, blood, and sex, which is great for those who have grown with the genre over the years. The beauty of Dragonlance (and Forgotten Realms) was that the back-story came later and could be indulged in as much or as little as desired. It's also aimed at those who first grappled with goblins and took the persona of a dwarf through D&D or Fighting Fantasy, which gives it almost instant accessibility.In many ways the Dragonlance world grew with its readers and players and was a reflection of them as well as it's creators/authors, and so we all feel an attachment to it. It's not perfect but it is the book that provided me (and seemingly other reviewers) with that 'Wow!' moment that created a lifelong fantasy fan.

The first time a read this book I was about 12 years old and I liked it. I decided to get an e-version and re-read this classic. It was a mistake. Now that I am a grown-up I realise how badly this book is actually written. The plot is flat, the dialogues are cringing and the characters are just the worst stereotypes you can find in a fantasy book. The female characters are actually a bit insulting for any woman reading the book and the male characters aren't any better. There are much better fantasy books out there.