Preludes (Dragonlance series)

{{Short description|Series of Dragonlance novels}} '''''Preludes''''' is a series of novels comprising two trilogies set in the Dragonlance world of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game.

==''Darkness and Light''==

{{Infobox book | | name = Darkness and Light | image = DarknessAndLight.jpg | caption = First edition | author = Paul B. Thompson & Tonya R. Carter | cover_artist = Jeff Easley | publisher = TSR, Inc. | release_date = 28 September 1989 | media_type = Print (Paperback) | pages = 377 | isbn = 0-88038-722-X | congress = CPB Box no. 1733 vol. 8 | oclc = 19829030 }}

'''''Darkness and Light''''', written by Paul B. Thompson and Tonya R. Carter, is the first volume in the ''Preludes'' series. This novel details the travels of Kitiara and Sturm before the beginning of Dragonlance Chronicles, as they seek to find news of Sturm's father, and eventually admit their attraction for each other.<ref name="Dragon141">{{cite journal| last = Kirchoff| first = Mary| authorlink = Mary Kirchoff| title = The Game Wizards| journal = Dragon| issue = #141| pages = 68–69| publisher = TSR| location = Lake Geneva, Wisconsin|date=January 1989}}</ref> {{clear}}

==''Kendermore''== {{Main|Kendermore}}

{{Infobox book | | name = Kendermore | image = File:Kendermore.jpg | caption = First edition | author = Mary Kirchoff | cover_artist = Jeff Easley | publisher = TSR, Inc. | release_date = November 30, 1989 | media_type = Print (Paperback) | pages = 346 pp | isbn = 0-88038-754-8 | congress = CPB Box no. 2270 vol. 8 | oclc = 51949936 }}

'''''Kendermore''''', written by Mary Kirchoff, is the second novel in the ''Preludes'' series. In this novel, Tasslehoff Burrfoot is charged with violating the kender laws of prearranged marriage, and forced to return to Kendermore due to the imprisonment of his Uncle Trapspringer.<ref name="Dragon141"/>

In the book, it is said that Flint Fireforge is a mountain dwarf. However, Flint is a hill dwarf who hates the mountain dwarves.<ref name="Dragons of Autumn Twilight">{{cite book |author= Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman |title=Dragons of Autumn Twilight|url= https://archive.org/details/dragonsofautumnt00marg |url-access= registration |year=1984|publisher= TSR|isbn=0-88038-173-6}}</ref>

Denzil is described as a half-orc, while orcs do not exist in the Dragonlance continuity.<ref name="Dragonlance Adventures">{{cite book |author=Tracy Hickman & Laura Hickman|title=Dragonlance Adventures|url=https://archive.org/details/dragonlanceadven00hick|url-access=registration|year=1987|publisher= TSR|isbn=0-88038-452-2}}</ref>

The novel mentions the remains of a werewolf. Lycanthropes do not exist on Krynn.<ref name="Tales of the Lance">{{cite book |author= Harold Johnson, John Terra|title=Tales of the Lance|year=1992|publisher= TSR|isbn=1-56076-338-8|display-authors=etal}}</ref>

===Reviews=== *Review by Scott Winnett (1989) in ''Locus'', #345 October 1989<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?17091|title = Title: Kendermore}}</ref> {{clear}}

==''Brothers Majere''==

{{Infobox book | | name = Brothers Majere | caption = 1989 Paperback edition cover | author = Kevin Stein | cover_artist = Jeff Easley | publisher = TSR, Inc. | exclude_cover = yes | release_date = 14 January 1990 | media_type = Print (Paperback) | pages = 349 (paperback edition) | isbn = 0-88038-776-9 | isbn_note = (paperback edition) | dewey= 813.54 | congress= PS3569.T3714 B7 1989 | oclc= 20957164 }}

'''''Brothers Majere''''', written by Kevin Stein, is the third volume in the original ''Preludes'' series. This novel explores the love/hate relationship between the brothers Caramon and Raistlin as developed in the ''Chronicles'' and ''Legends'' trilogies. Raistlin is unable to forgive Caramon for allowing his ailing mother to die, or forgive himself for his inability to save her with his magic. Raistlin agrees to pursue their mother's last wish, but he is unaware that they are pawns in a power struggle between the gods.<ref name="Dragon141" />

===Reception=== John C. Bunnell reviewed ''Brothers Majere'' for ''Dragon'' magazine, calling it "narrowly the best of the Dragonlance Preludes", and noted that part of the success of the Dragonlance line "has been a product of its carefully stylized atmosphere; Stein captures the mood more accurately than have some recent writers."<ref name="Dragon157">{{cite journal| last = Bunnell| first = John C.| title = The Role of Books| journal = Dragon| issue = #157| page = 92| publisher = TSR| location = Lake Geneva, Wisconsin|date=May 1990}}</ref> {{clear}}

==''Riverwind the Plainsman''==

{{Infobox book | | name = Riverwind the Plainsman | caption = 1990 Paperback edition cover | author = Paul B. Thompson & Tonya R. Carter | cover_artist = Clyde Caldwell | publisher = TSR, Inc. | exclude_cover = yes | release_date = 31 March 1990 | media_type = Print (Paperback) | pages = 313 pp (paperback edition) | isbn = 0-88038-909-5 | isbn_note = (paperback edition) | oclc= 21566927 }}

'''''Riverwind the Plainsman''''' was written by Paul B. Thompson and Tonya R. Carter. It is the first volume in the ''Preludes II'' series, and the fourth volume in the overall ''Preludes'' series. This novel relates the courting quest of Riverwind for the hand Goldmoon. Riverwind, who had fallen out of favor with Goldmoon's father, chief of the Que-Shu tribe, because of Riverwind's belief in the old gods. Riverwind is given the task of discovering proof of the existence of his gods and return with irrefutable evidence.<ref name="Dragon158"/> {{clear}}

==''Flint the King''== {{Infobox book | | name = Flint the King | image = Flint The King Cover.GIF | author = Mary Kirchoff & Douglas Niles | cover_artist = Clyde Caldwell | publisher = TSR, Inc. | release_date = May 1990 | media_type = Print (Paperback) | pages = 308 (paperback edition) | isbn = 0-88038-911-7 | isbn_note = (paperback edition) }}

'''''Flint The King''''' was written by Mary Kirchoff and Douglas Niles. It is the second volume in the ''Preludes II'' series, and the fifth volume in the overall ''Preludes'' series.

The main character is Flint Fireforge, hill dwarf and future War of the Lance hero. In the novel, he returns to his old hometown, Hillhome, where he uncovers a murder mystery that involves a member of his own family.<ref name="Dragon158"/>

''Flint the King'' was the first collaborative writing effort for authors Mary Kirchoff and Doug Niles, with Niles stating: "It doesn't mean that you do only half the work [...] Each of us did more than write half a book, but I think we came up with a better story because of it."<ref name="Dragon158"/> According to Kirchoff, "we assumed that our strengths and weaknesses would offset each other. Doug does great battles and magic, and my strengths tend to be characters and dialogue, and that's worked out very nicely."<ref name="Dragon158"/>

According to Kirchoff, "The first time I tried to make Flint talk, he just sat there with his lips moving. I paced around the house and drank another cup of coffee, but I just couldn't make words come out of his mouth." Her editor suggested she assign some famous personality the role of Flint, and she ended up choosing Wilfred Brimley and Yosemite Sam.<ref name="Dragon158">{{cite journal| last = Larson| first = Will| title = Novel Ideas| journal = Dragon| issue = #158| pages = 80–81| publisher = TSR| location = Lake Geneva, Wisconsin|date=June 1990}}</ref> {{clear}}

==''Tanis: The Shadow Years''==

{{Infobox book | | name = Tanis: The Shadow Years | caption = 1990 Paperback edition cover | author = Barbara Siegel & Scott Siegel | cover_artist = Clyde Caldwell | publisher = TSR, Inc. | release_date = November 1990 | exclude_cover = yes | media_type = Print (Paperback) | pages = 320 (paperback edition) | isbn = 978-0-88038-913-6 | isbn_note = (paperback edition) }}

'''''Tanis: The Shadow Years''''' was written by Barbara Siegel and Scott Siegel. It is the third volume in the ''Preludes II'' series, and the sixth volume in the overall ''Preludes'' series. In this novel, Tanis journeys into the memory of an old mage as his dying request, to search for the lost love of the old man and give her a chance to live on.<ref name="Dragon158"/> {{clear}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:American novel series Category:American fantasy novels Category:Dragonlance novel series