The Annotated Chronicles (Dragonlance: Dragonlance Chronicles)

Classic literature means different things to different people. While the Dragonlance Chronicles will most probably never be considered in the canon of classic literature, it has an important place in molding how we perceive the genre of fantasy today. Tolkien will always reign supreme as the father of modern fantasy. His works set the standards for much of what was to follow in the genre and they managed to break the barrier between fantasy and classic literature. What Dragonlance did for the genre is to move fantasy into the mainstream public eye. I wouldn't necessarily say that Dragonlance is a part of the foundation of modern fantasy, but I would consider Dragonlance (especially the Dragonlance Chronicles) to be a keystone in the gateway to the popularity of fantasy in modern culture today.The late 70s and early 80s were a tough time for D&D gamers. Controversy about the game was rampant and it was associated with satanism and other negative images by many people who simply did not understand the game. The Dragonlance Chronicles were the first novels released by TSR. These books brought the magic of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign to the masses in a way that introduced people to the genre without them realizing that what they were reading was a stylized version of actual D&D gaming.I think that what stood out most to me was that these books were no longer tucked away in the back corner of my favorite Walden Books or B. Dalton Booksellers in the mall. I discovered them in a full-fledged display at the front of the store near the register. I admit, I was a little late to the party, the display was advertising the release of Dragons of Spring Dawning, but it was displaying all three books of the Chronicles in their splendid glory. Thick paperback novels with spectacular cover art by Clyde Caldwell that begged the adolescent me to pick them up and find out what exactly they were about. Within seconds, I was asking my dad if I could get the first one of the series and I was hooked from there.Looking back on it now, the marketing of these novels was brilliant. The artwork, stylized Dragonlance logo and fact that the only mention to Dungeons & Dragons was in a small blurb at the bottom of the back cover (to let those not in the know in on who the heck TSR was) were all brilliant moves in my opinion. All this led to a huge franchise, with many authors who contributed along the way, calendars, merchandise and even a film (although I cringe to mention it.) What it also led to were many other franchises of novels from TSR: The Greyhawk Adventures, Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft and many other fantasy settings saw runs of novels. I also feel that the impact outside of TSR extended throughout the genre and led the way to the popularity of fantasy that we see in fiction, film and television (and almost every aspect of merchandising imaginable) that we enjoy today. When I was growing up in the 70s and 80s, fantasy films were few and far between for someone who was enthralled by the genre. We had the Conan films, Beastmaster, Dragonslayer and several other films that, while usually campy, served as the staple for encouraging game play and our hopes for future films. Now, fantasy is everywhere in film and television and I feel that a big part of that is due to the popularity of the original Dragonlance Chronicles.In regards to the novels themselves, I feel that they are well written, enjoyable pieces of fantasy fiction that really take the reader along with them on their journey. The real strengths of the novel are the beloved characters that are developed throughout the series. These characters became both our heroes and our friends and we truly mourned when one of them was taken from us. The adventures in these novels are exciting and fun and the stories move quickly with rarely a dull moment to be found. I highly recommend this series for fans of the fantasy genre. They are written in a style that is appealing for almost any age and are a good entry point for those who haven't read much fantasy and are interested in getting into the genre.

It took some time, but I finished Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis's The Annotated Legends, which for a while was their last DragonLance book. (Sort of. The Annotated version was released after their return, but the three books annotated in here were the last they wrote in the setting for several years.)I'll be honest, while I enjoy this trilogy, it doesn't change the fact the themes tend to hold a mirror up to things I'd rather not ponder half the time.The trilogy is focused on the relationship between the twins Raistlin and Caramon, who were very prominent in the Chronicles. As Raistlin took on the black robes of evil and became "The Master of Past and Present"at the end of that trilogy, the twins have drifted apart by the start of these, which start roughly two years after, as Caramon, the big warrior has fallen to alcoholism. In the meantime, Raistlin is busy manipulating Crysania, a Cleric of Paladine (who's likely to take over the church when Elistan dies.) Mind you, the twin's half-sister, Kitiara, is busy plotting her own war, which ends up getting the plot going.You see, Raistlin's entire plan in this is to take Cryania back 500 or so years to the Cataclysm, then jump her ahead 100 years to a point where she'll be the only cleric in the world. Thus the Queen of Darkness will be weak enough for Raistlin to defeat and take her place as a god. (The trick being the portal to the Plane of the Abyss can only be opened by a powerful mage of evil and a powerful cleric of good.)Crysania believes she can redeem Raistlin, which leads her into some of the most hubristic acts a good character can make. And she pays for it, and eventually sees her faults, but it takes 3 books. Caramon spends 3 books getting sober, getting in shape, and eventually becoming his own person. Raistlin spends 3 books reaching the zenith of his power, and then finding out exactly how empty his desire is. Kitiara spends 3 books plotting to help the winner. And Tasslehoff, who ends up back in time against all proscriptions against created races going back, spends 3 books being comic relief, even if he is the force that ends up grounding the rather lofty nature of everyone else's Hero Journeys. (Races created by chaos are not supposed to be allowed to go back in time, since they allow time to be changed. Although, had Tas not gone back, the series would have ended at the end of book 2, since that's when the mountain Zhaman exploded with Raistlin's mentor in it.)(Yes, time travel and paradox play a large role, particularly in the second volume. The third volume shows us first the results of Raistlin's victory, then shows us how they shift it to a more optimal timeline. It's like Back to the Future, without a DeLorean.)But yes, the focus on everyone's hubris and personality flaws is painful all the way around, even with a "happy ending". In terms of the Annotations, Ms. Weis doesn't say as much in the book as she did in the Chronicles, while Mr. Hickman expands quite a bit on Campbell and his view of the characters, and how all of this sets up the further revealed cosmology in the next trilogy after the horrible book. Still worth reading.

The annotations are really insightful and fun to read. It’s a great peek into the minds of the authors and the history of the writing of this amazing trilogy. If you have already read these books and love them as much as I did, you’ll really appreciate this version. It’s so worth it!

I love these Annotated Chronicles! Reading little snippets in the margins of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman’s thoughts on certain scenes and how they came about are fascinating.It’s filled with epic storytelling and unforgettable characters! This series is the Star Wars of fantasy!This tome is precious! Coming back and reading these books again as an adult has filled me with a lot of nostalgia. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone!!

It was in my early teens that I first read the original Dragonlance trilogy. This wonderful set of stories is fully in the Tolkien tradition and would certainly be more accessible to the modern reader than such works as Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.This "annotated" addition is good for people like me who are revisiting Krynn after first reading the books 15 years or more before. First time readers will NOT want this edition, as the side notes give too much information away that will be revealed toward the end.The notes are mediocre. It looks in places like they were really pushing to come up with something to say, and in at least one place the notes make no sense (Tracy Hickman's comments on the obsidian stone in Godshome is one example -- it is midafternoon in the story and yet he claims in the notes that it is a starless night!).Dragonlance Chronicles deserves the place of respect it has earned as a well-crafted fantasy trilogy.

What can I say, all in one place. Annotate - very interesting in places & funny in others. Love these books - Tas is so funny!

What can I say, all in one place. Annotate - very interesting in places & funny in others. Love these books - Tas is so funny!

Regalato a mia sorella, da appassionata di Dragonlance ad appassionata di Dragonlance. Il regalo è stato molto gradito - la trilogia la conoscevamo già (letta da adolescenti) ma questa edizione annotata in lingua originale è proprio ben fatta - ed essendo usata, era in ottime condizioni.