Dragonlance Chronicles by Weis and Hickman

[Guest Karana Majin]

Here's the next set of books I wanted to discuss. I read these in junior high/high school and I thought they were brilliant. However, when I went back and read them again as an adult, for me, they didn't withstand the test of time very well. They seemed somewhat juvenile, although parts of it still affected me very strongly (such as Sturm's heroic act, etc).

 

How do others feel? Do you have a favorite scene?

[JenniferL]

Yeah, I find I don't like Weis and Hickman's writing nearly as much as I used to. But they still rank amoung my favorite "reading experiences". I love Tasselhoff, of course. Tas's adventures were always my favorite. Sturm's death makes me cray and I disagree with the author on Raistlin's feelings for Crysania. I'm a sap.

[ilgross]

Tasslehoff, would have to be one of the funniest characters ever written...He's Great.

[LordDaemonDracos]

I'm with ya there hun. When i first read those books back in junior high, they were great, by the end of highschool I just couldn't enjoy them. Though I still enjoy the character of raist.

[Guest Karana Majin]

So many people love Raistlin. Why? Is it because he is so conflicted? So tormented? He is so mean to his brother, that I find it difficult to empathize with him. But I enjoy reading about him.

 

My personal favorite was Sturm... last of a dying breed, but true to the end. His death makes me sob like a baby.

[Jeppit Groccin]

I've always been a fan of Tasslehoff myself. Always carefree and careless and somehow manages to save the world. Three times.

 

As for Raistlin and Caramon, I always liked Caramon better, but I suppose that's what drives a lot of people to like Raistlin anyway. People seem to love the pathetic one in a group, but I always thought that Caramon needed Raistlin more then Raistlin needed Caramon. That was never more evident than in the beginning of the Twins trilogy when Caramon is back in Solace with Tika and is drunk off his ass all the time.

[Ozhammer]

I think in many ways they made fantasy become mainstream. I had read The Hobbit, but never really given any thought of any more books besides that. We had the geeks in HS who all read Dragonlance, Anyway, one of those "geeks" was being picked on by some bullies one day, and I stepped in to seperate the scuffle, and I told this nerd to sit next to me on the bus, so I could kinda look out for him. Anyway, he intorduced me to the world of Krynn, which has lead me to here I guess. Damn his dweeby ass!

They are simplistic, but therein lies their charm. Its escapism. I dont want to learn a whole history and language to understand a story. Thats why I enjoy David Gemmills books as well. You know what you are going to get, a rollicking good heroic story with average people with ordinary frailties and fears.

[JenniferL]

I think Raistlin is the ultimate nerd revenge fantasy. He is physically weak, intelligent, sarcastic, girls don't like him, etc. He thinks the other Companions only put up with his fraility and caustic wit because of his handsome, charming twin. Then he goes evil and gets god-like powers. I think many of us can emphasize with that sort of character.

[Ozhammer]

I always empathised with Tanis, even though I thought he was a real handbag alot of the time. Abt the same time I was reading it I was involved in a love triangle similar to his. And I chose the "bad" girl (Kitiara). What a mistake that was!!! PSYCHO!!!

[Jackalyn]

Yeah, Dragonlance is fun. Quite frankly what I think is the most touching moment out the chronical besides Sturm's death. Is Tas's in Dragons of summerflame. that was so sad! :cry: