The Soulforge

{{Short description|Fantasy novel written by Margaret Weis}} {{More citations needed|date=August 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox book|  | name = The Soulforge | image = Image:Soulforge.png | author = Margaret Weis | cover_artist = Larry Elmore | country = United States | language = English | series = Dragonlance: The Raistlin Chronicles | genre = Fantasy | publisher = Wizards of the Coast | pub_date = January 1998 | media_type = Print (hardback & paperback) | pages = 408 pp | isbn = 0-7869-1314-2 | preceded_by = | followed_by = Brothers in Arms }}

'''''The Soulforge''''' is a fantasy novel written by Margaret Weis and set in the Dragonlance campaign setting. The novel was first published in January 1998, and covers the early life of the character Raistlin Majere.

== Plot summary == The story begins from Raistlin's childhood, and follows his progress through magic school. Many things occur that foreshadow the great power that he would one day attain, and offer an explanation as to why he is often vindictive and power hungry. The book concludes with Raistlin's test at the Tower of High Sorcery of Wayreth. The account of the test conflicts somewhat with a story that appeared in one of the books of the Dragonlance Legends trilogy, but gives a much more detailed account of how Raistlin came by his golden skin and hourglass eyes, and also how he bested the ancient archmage, Fistandantilus, from the time before the fall of Istar.

== Inspiration == Margaret Weis has acknowledged Terry Phillip's ''The Soulforge'' gamebook for ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' as the inspiration for the novel.<ref>{{cite book |last=Weis |first=Margaret |authorlink=Margaret Weis |title=The Soulforge |series=The Raistlin Chronicles |orig-date=1998 |year=2003 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |location=Renton, WA, USA |isbn=0-7869-1314-2 |page=Acknowledgments |quote=I would like to acknowledge the work of Terry Phillips, whose original Adventure Gamebook, ''The Soulforge'', was the inspiration for my story.}}</ref>

== Cultural references == Power Metal band Blind Guardian wrote a song about the novel, titled "The Soulforged", on their album ''A Night at the Opera''.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}

==Reviews== Review by Wayne MacLaurin (1998) in SF Site, May 1998, (1998)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sfsite.com/05a/soul32.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001119173000/http://www.sfsite.com/05a/soul32.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 19, 2000 | title=The SF Site Featured Review: The Soulforge }}</ref>

== Footnotes == {{reflist}}

== External links == *[https://web.archive.org/web/20031211105641/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dlnovel/865120000 The Soulforge] at the official Wizards of the Coast website *[http://www.gamebooks.org/show_item.php?id=132 The Soulforge Adventure Gamebook] at [http://www.gamebooks.org Gamebooks.org]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soulforge, The}} Category:1998 American novels Category:1998 English-language novels Category:Dragonlance novels