[Staffbearer]

I read Dragonlance Chronicles (loved it even though the ending is shady.. I like that).. but now I hear there is a dragonlance legends that preceeds the adventures of chronicles.. can someone help explain this. Is this a necessary component to the series? I like weis and hickman (deathgate cycle is a classic to me).. so i'm expecting good work if i pick up this series..

let me know..

[Bond]

Well first of all Legends comes after the events in Chronicles. If you liked Chronicles and you like stories about wizards, magic, and especially power--being staffbearer I presume you likely are--I think you might enjoy Legends even more than Chronicles. BTW I haven't read The Death Gate Cycle but most would probably say Weis and Hickman's Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends are their classics.

[This message has been edited by Bond (edited February 13, 2002).]

[wastra]

I'll say this about weis and Hickman...for the most part, their books seem to be geared more for the younger readers- they are very rpg-heavy, and very simple (ESPECIALLY Drangonlance). But Death Gate Cycle was a pretty good series, definitely their best.

[Vitriol]

Well first of all Legends comes after the events in Chronicles

Do they? I read The Legend of Huma a long time ago, but I thought it was set way back in history.

[Ramz]

Doesn't legend take place before chronicles? Huma and Kaz are Legend books and they take place wayyy before the Chronicle series...right?

[Lamanai]

Those characters are both definitely way before Chronicles, but they're not part of the Legends series.

The Legends series documents Raistlin, Caramon, and Tasselhoff's adventures after the chronicles are complete.

[Vitriol]

Ooh, you're right. Legend of Huma and Kaz are both part of the Heroes series.

[jbcohen]

I agree with what has been said here, but as the resident Dragon Lance freak I have advice and resources at my disposal that would be of great assistance here. Thus here is what I know:

First the novels. What has been said is true. Legends follows the Chronicles is sequence. There is a generally excepted way to start the saga and get hooked like I have been. This sequence is: Chronicles, Legends, Raistlin Chronicles and Dragons of Summer Flame. where you go from there is really depends on what you are interested in. There are approximately 120 Dragon Lance novels and there are more coming out all of the time.

Next for a reading list. Below is a web page that is generally excepted as the reading list to follow to get through the Dragon Lance saga. The web page is http://www.dragonlance.com/products/reading.cfm. This page will give you all of the information that you need on in what order to read the saga.

Next, I would recommend that you look at this board for information as you have been doing but I would also recommend that you go to this message board and speak to the real Dragon Lance experts there are a few people over there that are absolutely amazing in there knowledge of the Dragon Lance saga. Want to know the size of a Draconian's head or the distance between his pincers where fully flexed? They probably know the answer to these questions and more over there. The web page for the forum that I am talking of is at: http://boards.wizards.com/community-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?category=10

Also look at the Wizards of the Coast two Dragon Lance pages:

This one is the web page on Dragon Lance specifically: http://www.wizards.com/books/main.asp?x=dragonlance/welcome,3&b=dragonlance&ab=t

This one is shows all of the Dragon Lance novels: http://www.wizards.com/catalog/index.asp?s=sub_cat,dragonlance

These addresses go directly to the web page concerened. You can access all of them from the main Wizards page at http://www.wizards.com.

My personal advice for those that are interested in reading hte Dragon Lance saga is to read the following sub-series in this order:

Chronicles
Legends
Raistlin Chronicles
Meetings Sextet
Preludes
Preludes II
Dragons of a Summer Flame
Second Generation
Bridges of Time
Dragons of a New Age
War of Souls

I agree the Death Gate Cycle is a good series to read, but my only problem here is that if you start with Dragon Lance Chronicles you should go through the reading list before branching out to something like the Death Gate Cycle. The links that I have provided will help get you on your way.

If you need any more information please do not hesitate to post another question, I am always glad to help out.


Hope this helps.

[Bond]

Jbcohen which did you prefer: Death Gate or Chronicles and Legends? How would you compare the two? Also have you read Rose of the Prophet? How would you compare that to the other two? Thanks ;-)

[Warewolf]

JB,

I have just one correction to your reading order: I think Second Generation (SG) should be read before Dragons of Summer Flame (DoSF). It introduces all of the main characters from DoSF and explains some of their history. DoSF refers to this history quite often and readers who haven't read SG might be a little confused. At best, they wouldn't get as much out of DoSF as they would if they'd read SG first. Just my two cents.