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About Dragons in the Archives
A collection of the best Dragonlance short stories from Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.
This anthology showcases 20 years of storytelling in the Dragonlance world by gathering into a single volume the most popular stories written by the New York Times best-selling authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Their tales have defined the entire Dragonlance saga from inception to the present day, from the Chronicles to the War of Souls and beyond. Drawn from various Dragonlance anthologies published over the last two decades, each classic story now features an introduction from a Dragonlance author. Each introduction will be different and will share that author’s perspective on the past 20 years of Dragonlance tales.
Review
Intro
Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. It is Misham, Gildember 28th, my name is Adam and today I am going to give you my Spoiler review of Dragons in the Archives. I will be spoiling the story, so if you don’t want to know it, stop watching now! I would like to take a moment and thank my collaborator patrons, the Heroes of the Lance, and invite you to consider becoming a patron or member of this channel by visiting the links in the description below. You can even pick up Dragonlance gaming materials using my affiliate link. This is my perspective only, and if you have any thoughts or disagree with mine, I invite you to share them in YouTube chat.
The Best by Margaret Weis was first published in The Dragons of Krynn and begins with Gondar, King Frederick’s seneschal, meeting with the four best dragon hunters in the land. King Frederick’s brother the Duke of Northampton lured the king to his keep then held him for ransom. Gondar and the King’s subjects came up with the payment only to have it stolen by a great red dragon when they attempted to deliver it. The Dwarf among them confirmed a similar tale. They all are planning on exacting revenge and getting their money back and more loot to share, but n one knew where the lair was… until now. Gondar leads them to the lair, where they scale the walls, sneak inside, destroy the skeletal minions of the dragon, enter his lair only to find him absent. Or so they thought. Gondar was actually the Red dragon all along! He revealed himself and murdered everyone. He no longer has to worry about the best dragon hunters catching him snoozing.
Honor and Guile by Margaret Weiss was first published in Dragon Magazine #243 and is about three thieves who try to rob the citizens of Solace. They learned that during the threat of a goblin attack, the citizens hide their valuables together, with only the transporters and the sheriff knowing where it is stowed. They say they saw goblins massing for an attack, and try to be the transportes, but the sheriff doesn’t know them, so he chooses a teenaged Caramon and Sturm to join him in hiding them. Cardamom promises to not reveal the location at the Sheriff’s questioning, and says he will close his eyes so he won’t know in the first place. He ends up giving himself a concussion by running into a tree. Raistlin comes to help and needs to get some ingredients for medicine to help his brother, who is taken to the Inn of the Last Home with the other townspeople. Raistlin leaves with Sturm to get the ingredients and they are attacked by the thieves. Raistlin fakes knowledge of the treasure’s location, and leads the thieves into a bog of quicksand. Sturm insists on saving them and Raistlin reluctantly helps. They return the thieves to the Sheriff and Sturm and Raistlin have a respectful exchange, which is very rare between the two.
Remembering Dragonlance by Jeff Grubb is a short reflection on early TSR and his interactions with Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. It didn’t present any new information that wasn’t already in the Annotated Chronicles, or extrapolation of others’ reflections of early TSR.
The Silken Threads by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman was originally published in Tales II, Volume One: The Reign of Istar. It is about how the gods perceive the actions of mortals in the grand scheme of the river of time. It is set in the days prior to the cataclysm with the good clerics being removed from Krynn. Akar a black robe wizard, is approached by Nuitari on behalf of the Queen of Darkness. He tells him that if blood of a virtuous is spilled on the bridge to the lost citadel, the dark clerics in the Abyss will return to Krynn and allow Takhisis to rule in the aftermath of the Cataclysm. Akar hires goblins to kidnap a Knight of Solamnia. Nicholas is the Knight. He has a twin Nikol, a female who is much like her brother. Their healer Brother Michael is a cleric of Mishakal, and is offered a chance to leave Krynn, but is in love with Nikol, though he can’t act on it. When Nicholas is kidnapped Nikol and Michael chase after him and come across Raistlin/Fistandantilus. He is planning on stopping Akar in order to remain the most powerful wizard on Krynn. He uses Nikol and Michael to do it and ultimately stops Akar. Nicholas dies and is reunited with Paladine. Nikol and Michael are left alone in the days prior to the Cataclysm, and Raistlin departs with knowledge of what a twin is willing to do for their other half.
Dragons of Ancient History by Douglas Niles is Douglas’ recollection of TSR asking all of the game designers to come up with a dragon centric game module or three, and everyone put theirs together, but the new guy, Tracy ‘something’ as he referred to him went above and beyond. He crafted a history, twelve modules rather than three, and the novel tie-ins. There is nothing new about his tale, but it is nice to hear from another seminal game designer about Dragonlance’s genesis.
True Knight by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman was originally published in Tales II, Volume Two: The Cataclysm and picks up the story of Nikol and Michael just before the cataclysm. They are met at their keep by Lord Soth on his way to Istar, asking for water for his horse and himself. They give it and Nikol is amazed by the true knight. They believe he would succeed in saving everyone until the cataclysm struck. Michael knew Soth failed and Nikol refused to put any shame on the knight. They married in the cataclysm’s torment. They struggled in the aftermath of the Cataclysm, eventually leaving for Xak Tsaroth, Michael’s home, in search of the Discs of Mishakal. He believed they would explain why the gods seemed to have abandoned Krynn. Once there the temple doors wouldn’t open, and an old woman, possibly Mishakal’s avatar, said it wasn’t time, but that she would be waiting. She directed them to Palanthas for answers, adn they believed the discs were in the great library, so when they arrived they saw the Revered Son, a heretic priest who worshiped the Kingpriest and spoke against the true gods, was building up a mob. They threw the knights out of palanthas and actually killed elves and half elves and their children. Fearful for the Library and Discs, Nikol and Michael traveled to the High Clerists tower, but were met by Lord Soth. They fearfully stood up to him about his failure and South blamed Paladine for his torment. Nikole seemed to believe him over the truth and once they met the Knight of Solamnia at the High Clerist Tower, they were about to be attacked when Lord Soth approached, chiding them and saying Nikol was the only true knight among them. The knights fled and Nikol and Michael returned to the library, broke in and was taken to a room by Astinus. They saw the volume of Lord Soth’s history, learned the truth as Lord Soth appeared. He revealed that there was a tiny part in him that felt sorry for what he had done but was furious to be questioned, so it seemed he burned the book and vanished as Astinus reentered the room. He opened the library doors and Nikol went to defend the temple alone. As she was being attacked by the mob, Lord Soth appeared and fought at her side. He believed the only two true knights left had to defend his history so others could learn from his mistakes. The mob left and in the aftermath, ichael learned that the truth he sought was in his heart, not the discs and left to live with his mother’s people, the plainsmen. It is revealed they are the ancestral parents of Wanderer, who is the grandfather of Riverwind.
They Were Not Yet Famous by Michael Williams is another reflection piece but focuses on Tracy and Margaret;s friendship and even stating that michael owes his writing career to Margaret!
The Story that Tasslehoff Swore that He Would Never, Ever, Ever Tell by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman was originally published in Tales Vol. VI: The War of the Lance. At its core, it’s about a father, Owen Glendower, Knight of Solamnia, who is worried about his son, Gwynfor Glendower, a new Knight. This is 10 years after the War of the Lance, and the Knights and heroes of the lance are convening in Huma’s Tomb to honor the memory of the heroes and share stories. Owen collapses and Crysania explains that he has a secret that is eating away at him, and we find out that Tasselhoff Burrfooot knows it as he was with him, but promised Fizban that he would never tell it, hence the title. He ends up telling it to save Owen and it is about how Tas and Fizban watched Theros Ironfeld throw and break a dragonlance against a wall, sharing that they were not magical with Flint Fireforge. Flint told him not to tell anyone as it may be the belief that they are real that allows them to win the war. Tas and Fizban end up running into Own who was in Huma’s Tomb and looking for Derek Crownguard, and since Fizband and Tas were en route to the Whitestone Council, they decided to travel together, and gave the Dragonlances that they took from Theros and Flint to Owen. The tree ended up supposedly getting lost, only to run into a whirte dragon sharing his plans to raid Ownens keep. Owen decides to fight the dragon and Tas shouts that the Dragonlances’ aren’t real. This shakes up Owen who is knocked around by the dragon, breaking his sword and a dragonlance before telling Fizban and Tas to run while he faces the dragon for a diversion. He wields the Dragonlance and kills the dragon with it. Revealing that belief and need are what makes the Dragonlances magical and that the magic is within the knight wielding it and not the lance. This thought scared Owen as a father for his son and made him sick. Once the truth got out he recovered and his son shared his belief in them and they had a beautiful moment that made me tear up thinking about my own fears for my son. Fizban seemed to be more of a twit in this story than ever before, which kind of bothers me, and the magic of the lance being within you and not the lance is in contrast to the game, but I like the lore of it.
A Dead Dragon in the Road by Jean Blashfield Black is an 8 step remmebrance of forcing TSR to turn to novel publishing for Dragonlance IP and not just stick with Gamebooks. She knew it would mean the end of Tracy and Margaret’s time with TSR, but it was for the betterment of fantasy fans everywhere.
Master Tall and Master Small by Margaret Weis and Don Perrin was originally published in The Dragons of Chaos. This story is about Master Tall, a secret silver dragon, and Master Small, a Knight of the Rose who are hunting an ancient black dragon named Basalt Blackdragon. They knew that he loved playing chess, so they set up a tournament in the Bread Bowl (an area around Goodlund) and offered players the chance to win the beautiful chess set if they won against Master Tall. No one could, and eventually a mysterious and talented chess player named Blackshanks who was Basalt in disguise came and beat Master Tall. Sir Michael, the Rose Knight revealed himself and as the black dragon was transforming into his true form they Silver dragon and Knight attacked and eventually killed him. They then left the chess set for the mayor to honor the battle.
Demons of the Mind by Margaaret Weis and Don Perrin was originally published in Tales of the Fifth Age: Relics and Omens. I was not expecting this story and I read it all with tears streaming down my face. It is about Gemel Lathhauser, a veteran from the Chaos War who lost his arm battling a Chaos Minion. He was the sole survivor of the battle and left his sword as a grave marker. He is suffering from phantom pain from his lost arm gripping his sword and PTSD from the battle mixed with survivors’ guilt. He is trying to dull the pain he is suffering from in Dwarven Spirits. While not in his right mind he is beating his wife Jassar who refuses to leave him to die. She is trying to make ends meet for her and her husband working as a waitress at the Inn of the Last Home, but her attention is on her husband and she drops a massive amount of dishes. Tika wants to keep her because she identifies with her pain from Caramons drinking days. Cardamom wants to fire her till he finds out why Tika wants to keep her. He decides to help Gemel and takes him to collect his sword and commissions a special box to help Gemel psychologically let go of the sword and manage the loss he is suffering from. He pretends Raistlin taught him magic and with a mirror in the box, Gemel sees his other art in the box and finally lets go of the pain. I love this story because no one pretends teh work Gemel has to do is over at this point. He will still have to fight and work through his trauma. Cardamom blew me away with this and I know it is fantasy, the situation is all too real for far too many veterans.
Arguments, Anger, and Tears by Larry Elmore is a reflection of the early day sof dragonlance as he was the art director, and he focuses on the development of dragons and the individual characters. Whoever painted them first set the stage for the character or monster.
The Raid on the Academy of Sorcery by Margaret Weis was originally published in Tales of the Fifth Age: Rebels and Tyrants. This is an explanation of how the Academy of Sorcery was destroyed and Palin Majere was captured. It starts with Cyan Bloodbane ordering his draconians to raid the Academy of Sorcery but lead the militia of Solace to think they will be raiding Haven, then Solace to draw them away from the town. Palin leaves with the militia to face the draconians. Caramon learns the truth and takes the children away from the academy, leaving his grandson Ulin and his love interest and former teacher at the academy Lucy to defend it. Ulin is a master Alchemist and invents black powder. He sets charges all over the academy to bury the many powerful artifacts contained therein that the draconians are after. The powder fails to explode as Ulin and Lucy escape through a secret passage. Palin learns of the diversion and returns to solace to find them outside the passage and Draconians near. The draconians in the academy cast a lightning bolt to break the lock and ignites the black powder kegs, blowing up the academy. The draconians near the passage capture Palin and Ulin and Lucy can do nothing but stand by and watch. Ulin is devastated about his invention and the power of it, so he destroys his notes on how to make it, and they let everyone believe the dragons destroyed the academy.
Growing Up Dragonlance by Jamie Chambers is a reflection of his love for Dragonlance games, and his fathers introduction to it. Later his meeting of other game designers and authors and finally Weis and Hickman. Then being invited to head Sovereign Press for the D20 Dragonlance materials.
The Traveling Players of Gilean by Margaret Weis and Aron Eisenberg was originally published in The Best of Tales, Volume One. This is a story about a dark elf who is torn between traveling to Palanthus or seeking to join the traveling actors troup, The Traveling Players of Gilean. He sees a flier and travels to a performance called Cast From The Light about Dalamar being cast out of Silvanesti. It brings him to tears, then he tries to talk to the producer Sebastius who says he is expecting him, and that he is the son of the god Gilean and brother to Astinus. He says that every actor who joins must give up their soul to inherit the soul of the role they play. They are immortal during their time with the troupe, and the elf who just performed is leaving, making an opening for this elf. He reluctantly agrees and joins as the symbol of the troupe, a black lotus, appears on his arm, and he feels his soul slip away. This is what good writing and acting is all about, leaving yourself and your biases to share with someone else, to portray experiences you could not have. I believe the elf in the story is the author themselves and their experience in telling Dragonlance stories. This is the tradition of humanity as passed down from our primitive ancestors, and it is why we are touched so intimately by events that we are so foreign to. Because the human experience echoes in everything we do from traditional art, to storytelling and even design.
Through the Dragonlance Years with Mararet Weis and Tracy Hickman is a series of interviews at different points before and after the War of Souls trilogy. They reflect on the beginnings of Dragonlance and the transition from the Fifth Age team to the War of Souls era.
I am glad I took the time with this anthology, so thank you to those who suggested it. It is not a ‘must read’ between books, as the Jean Rabe trilogy does a better job of bridging the Dragons of Summer Flame and the War of Souls, but it is nice to get a feel for the Weis and Hickman taste of Dragonlance through the ages.
I would recommend this for anyone who loves Dragonlance and has not read all of it’s anthologies, or anyone who simply loves Weis & Hckman’s writing.
Outro
And that’s it for my review of The Second Generation. Have you read the collection? Do you enjoy the reviews I am putting out there? Feel free to email me at info@dragonlance-saga.com or comment below.
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This channel is all about celebrating the wonderful world of the Dragonlance Saga, and I hope you will join me in the celebration. Thank you for watching, this has been Adam with DragonLance Saga and until next time Slàinte mhath (slan-ge-var).
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