Dragons of the Dwarven Depths (Dragonlance: The Lost Chronicles, Vol. 1)

Book Description

The Companions are back!
In an untold story from the War of the Lance, the companions have saved the refugees of Pax Tharkas and led them to a hidden valley. For a time, they are safe, but the forces of the Dragon Army are in pursuit.
As Tanis and Flint seek out a haven in the dwarven kingdom of Thorbardin, the rest of the companions face their own challenges. Raistlin is strangely drawn to the haunted fortress known as Skullcap. Sturm seeks the legendary Hammer of Kharas, the forging tool of the fabled dragonlances, while Tika Waylan must make a perilous journey to rescue those she loves from certain death.

Customer Reviews:

Good book.......2007-09-10

I have been a Weis and Hickman fan for many years now. I was very excited to find out that these books finally got written to fill in all the missing pieces of stories spoke of in other books. First off I will agree with a few of the other reviewers. There are a handful of type-o's in this book. Missing quotes, misspelled words, missing words etc. HOWEVER, none of which are so bad that it makes the book not worth reading. I have found about 10 or 11. It could be worse, none the less, the book is still worth reading. I also have to disagree when people say the characters don't act like they did in other books. I think this is no where near correct. All of the characters are just like they were years ago when I first read of them. NOTE* This book has little to no character development it is NOT meant for that. It is a continuation of books previously written. If you are thinking of reading this and have not at the very least read Dragons of Autumn Twilight, hold of and read that first. Having said what I have, this is a great book and I highly recommend it, granted you read it in the correct order according to the other related books. Enjoy.

a trulely great book.......2007-09-07

i just finished this book and i got so caught in the excitement that i couldent take my eyes off the pages anyway this book is mostly aboat refugees trying to escape the dragon highlord vermeneered or something i forgot how to spell his name as i was saying they are trying to escape from him with 800 slaves that he forced to mine and make weapons. the plot is, is for these refugee's to find thorbidden a city under the mountain named cloudseeker [a dwarven city]. they try to get the refugees of 800 males females and children into the safety of the city but as little as they know theres a war undergroun to find the sacred hammer of khares. tas raistlin sturm and tanis also flint [main charcters]. they try to agree with the dwarven thanes [rulers of thobidden] to let the refugee's in thorbidden.they find out that the sacred hammer of khares the one they have to get to get the refugees in thorbiddin is also the only one that can forge the dragonlance's [a magical sword]to defeat the dragons and draconins [half lizird half man beast's]. so now u got the main idea i hope u enjoy the series like i can :) :) :).

Good read, but definitely a little off.......2007-06-07

Dragons of Dwarven Depths takes place in the period between Dragons of Autumn Twilight and Dragons of Winter Night.

Pros:
Like many have said, it's visiting with old friends
It is a well written book, as you would expect of Weis and Hickman
It's almost 600 pages, so you get your moneys worth!
Fills in some gaps in the original Chronicles trilogy

Cons:
For the first half of the book, the characters are written nearly exactly the same as they were in the original trilogy, however, in the second half, some, particularly Sturm and Caramon, seem different than the characters we know and love. While the characters do grow and change through the original trilogy in a fairly smooth manner, if you add this novel in, it would seem that they jump all over the place.

The story follows a similar path. While the first half seamlessly picks up right where it left off in Autumn Twilight, in the second half I found myself saying "That doesn't make sense" when I thought about the beginning of Winter Night. Without giving anything away (if you have read the original trilogy), the second half of the story deals with the companions acquiring the legendary Hammer of Kharas. In Winter Night, Sturm points out that they had recovered it, and the Dwarven essentially wouldn't agree to house the refugees without the companions turning it over. He's ticked, and Tanis isn't much happier about it. While that storyline is somewhat followed, the way it is written, it doesn't seem like any of the companions should be that upset that the Dwarves ended up with it. Also, it doesn't make sense why Elistan is then presenting it in the beginning of Winter Night.

By the end, I really felt like I was reading a novel written by one of the countless authors that have contributed to the series. Those authors tend to go off on their own tangents, or ignore various statements/facts presented in the original trilogies to make their stories work, which I find highly annoying.

That being said, it was still an enjoyable read, and far better than most of the non-Weis/Hickman novels in the series. I look forward to the second installment.

You can never go Home again..........2007-05-06

Or so the old saying goes...The dynamic writing duo of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, proclaim otherwise, however, in their 'new' trilogy chronicling the 'lost'adventures of the Heroes of the Lance. Dragons of the Dwarven Depths is a great corollary off the original Chronicles storyline. The plot revolves around Flint's recovery of the Hammer of Kharas and Riverwind's evacuation of the Pax Tharkas slaves. Despite including the beloved Heroes, this book is really carried by the villians. The brilliant Draconian mage is exceptional in his role as primary villian in the story and I found myself reading on to see his reaction to certain situations despite the fact that I knew what the overall outcome was of the tale.
Weis and Hickman have done it again, they have created a great story populated with memorable characters!

Welcome Back!.......2007-04-27

Another great story in the world of Dragonlance!

I was so sad at the end of the War of Souls trilogy, as I thought it meant the end of the world of Krynn for me... I was wrong, and I celebrated the day I found out that Margaret and Tracy were writing prequels. However, after the Star Wars debacle, I was slightly concerned that this was going to be a "Phantom Menace". I am glad to say it is not.

This book takes place between Autumn Twilight and Winters Night, and revolves around Riverwind's evacuation of the Slave of Pax Tharkas after the rebellion, and Tanis, Raistlin, Sturm Caramon, Flint, and Tas's search for the Hammer of Kharas - used to make the Dragonlances. This book focuses largely on Flint, which awesome considering that he played a much diminished role for the majority of the series. Flint leads the companions in the search and has to deal with the dwarven bureaucracy and xenophobia in Thorbardin. Compounding the difficulty is an especially clever and ambitious draconian who has fooled the world into thinking Lord Verminard still lives. I swear, fans of Tas will love this book - as always he has some of the best lines and gets himself into the strangest situations.

My only criticism, [which is not aimed at the authors] and one shared by many reviewers, is the abysmal editing. There were missing words, spelling errors, type-o's and so forth. While this does not detract from the well-conceived plot, it does slow the natural flow of the read. Hopefully the publishers will take an extra week for editing on the next instalment.

Anyhow, this was a great read for fans of the series!

Relic113

Drama Is Her Middle Name: The Ritz Harper Chronicles Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

Drama is her middle name
Pretty Good
I love the story Couldn't wait to read the next book
Surprising...
Shock Jock!

Drama Is Her Middle Name: The Ritz Harper Chronicles Vol. 1
Wendy Williams , and Karen Hunter
Manufacturer: Harlem Moon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 076792486X
Release Date: 2006-06-20

Book Description

Shock jock extraordinaire Wendy Williams lets loose with the first in a series of novels based on her alter ego, the divalicious radio DJ Ritz Harper. Ritz puts the s in shock and the g in gossip, and Drama is her middle name.

Ritz is a suburban girl on the outside, but inside she’s a hustler’s hustler who’s masterfully maneuvered her way into the spotlight after ruining the career of a well-respected newswoman (and former college friend). Ritz’s “exclusive” rockets her to the top of the ratings, and she’s rewarded with her very own show. Like a talking Venus flytrap, she verbally seduces her on-air guests, only to have them for lunch as she spews gossip about their lives.

Ritz becomes the darling of the station’s afternoon slot. But what happens when Ritz goes from drive-time diva to drive-by victim? Has Ritz bad-mouthed the wrong person? Has her signature cat-and-mouse “bomb drop” been dropped on her instead?

As Ritz lies crumpled on a city sidewalk, all she can think as she struggles to maintain consciousness is “Who did this to me? Who?”

Readers will salivate as they try to figure out where the fictional Ritz ends and the real-life Wendy begins. Wendy will involve her millions of listeners by asking them what should happen to Ritz, which will be revealed at the beginning of the next novel, scheduled to be published in fall of 2006 for Christmas.

Customer Reviews:

Drama is her middle name.......2007-10-03

I don't know if I have this book. I recieved one book and it was not what I requested and I sent it back. Because I requested a paperback. All the books I requested were paperbacks. I only have one the books.

Pretty Good.......2007-08-03

I read this book in one day. It was entertaining, although it was also predictable. I still enjoyed. I try to listen to Wendy Williams every day. There is no denying that Ritz is the part of Wendy. I was thinking about going to pick up part two and read it over thid weekend. Good quick read:)

I love the story Couldn't wait to read the next book.......2007-05-24

Great story well written. Coundln't wait to read the next book.

Surprising..........2007-04-18

I was so glad that I bought this and part two together. The book was good. It held my interest and was very New York.

Shock Jock!.......2007-04-01

I purchased this book months ago because I wanted to read Wendy William's contribution to the literary world especially as it's a work of fiction.
I've just now had a chance to read it....
I wasn't impressed with the first couple of chapter's but being the trooper that I am, I stuck with it.

Ritz Harper is a radio shock jock who, much like Wendy, dishes out the dirt on unsuspecting celebrities during her radio show "The Ritz Harper Excursion".
Delilah Summers and Pastor Edwin Lakes JR are just two "victims" who's lives are left in shambles after being "exposed" on the show. Of course she gains many, many enemies as she climbs the ladder to success, but which one of them wants her dead?

I'm glad I continued to read and I want to know who wants Ritz Harper dead! The intern Jamie; does she have something to do with it since she is dating Derek, brother of another of Ritz's "victims"? Or did Delilah put a hit out on Ritz?
Even better maybe Pastor Lakes "stately" mother got the devil in her and played shoot em up!

Well I just don't know but I am really curious, so much so that I ran out to Borders and copped six books and you guessed it The Ritz Harper Chronicles #2 "Is the Bitch DEAD or what? Is one of them!

I liked the story but we'll see how it all pans out....

Stay tuned...lol.

Locksie
ARC Book Club Inc.
[...]

Average customer rating:

The Dark Knight in his original style!
Graphic SF Reader
Holy Bat-stories
How Batman Really Began
Awesome

Batman Chronicles, Vol. 1
Bill Finger , and Bob Kane
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1401204457

Customer Reviews:

The Dark Knight in his original style!.......2007-09-30

First off, I must say I purchased this book when my friend Anthony Tollin mentioned that the first ever Batman story was a retooled story from "The Shadow." So, I had to see how much the original Batman mirrored the Shadow. Well, after reading "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate" (Batman) and then reading "The Partners of Peril" (The Shadow), I have to agree with him. Bill Finger (the original writer for Batman, Kane was the artist) used the Shadow's story as the script for his first Batman adventure. Check out the new reprint of The Shadow #9 for more details on The Shadow's original story.Lingo And Partners of Peril: Two Classic Adventures Of The Shadow

Ever since, I have been able to spot the Shadow story elements and influences in many other stories. Instead of taking away from Batman, it adds to the fun by allowing me to enjoy one of the first superheroes as well as imaghine how the story would have been if the hero were the Shadow instead. Sort of a "Two-for-one" special. Almost every story in this first archive could have been Grade-A pulp novel and been just as great as it was a comic.

Overall, a great chance to see the first year of Batman stories in the correct chronalogical order and see his evolution from a gun-toting fighter into the superb detective.

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Some old fashioned Batman goodness. Batarangs, Hugo Strange, the Joker, Robin. Plus some funny bits of course. Bruce Wayne sitting around with a pipe and smoking jacket. Some great quotes from the Batman, too : "quiet, or papa spank". Or, "nice legs, for an old lady", while chasing The Cat.

Holy Bat-stories.......2007-05-07

There's no Chapter 1,2,3,ect.
You get a lot of full exciting stories with your favourite caped crusader.
I wish they had this when I was a kid.
Enjoy

How Batman Really Began.......2007-01-20

In my opinion, the current-day DC Comics version of Batman just doesn't add up right. The Batman portrayed in this wonderful, complete and full-cover volume is the Batman I know and love.
Initially (as portrayed here), Batman was a take-no-prisoners criminal-killer, much like The Shadow. When Bob Kane and Bill Finger ushered in the debut of Robin (the Boy Wonder, yes we know), the comics became more of the put-the-crooks-in-jail-and-basically-let-them-escape-again kind of formula.
These comics mark the debuts of Batman (Bruce Wayne) and Robin (Dick Grayson) of course, but also Commissioner Gordon, Professor Hugo Strange, the Cat (later Catwoman) and Batman's arch-nemesis, the Joker.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of pop culture, comic books and Shadow-like "superheroes."

Awesome.......2006-12-17

It's great to look back on the history of Batman and see how it started. Some of it is corny but there are flashes of brilliance that made Batman a classic figure.

Word Biblical Commentary Vol., 14, 1 Chronicles (braun), 359pp

Average customer rating:

Word Biblical Commentary Vol., 14, 1 Chronicles (braun), 359pp
Roddy L. Braun
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0849902134

Book Description

The Word Biblical Commentary delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars of our day who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology. These widely acclaimed commentaries serve as exceptional resources for the professional theologian and instructor, the seminary or university student, the working minister, and everyone concerned with building theological understanding from a solid base of biblical scholarship.

Average customer rating:

Good kick back reading
Vintage Superman
Loses a star due to the lag between volumes
NOT THE GREATEST, BUT VERY GOOD.
Man of Socialism

Superman Chronicles, Vol. 1
Jerry Siegel
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1401207642

Book Description

Presenting an exciting new way to experience the rich history of the Man of Steel -- affordable trade paperback collection that will ultimately collect every Superman adventure, in color, in chronological order!THE SUPERMAN CHRONICLES VOL. 1 reprints the earliest stories from ACTION COMICS and SUPERMAN, featuring the first several adventures of the Man of Steel by Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Customer Reviews:

Good kick back reading.......2007-09-11

It's nice to read Superman's early stories. This is the way, he is supposed to be. Excellent kick back reading.

Vintage Superman.......2007-08-16

This is a collection of the earliest Superman comics, they are in color and affordable. I would consider these a must own for any Superman fan. Overall production value, although not flashy, is excellent and the stories are classics. This is where it all started.

Loses a star due to the lag between volumes.......2007-02-19

Almost a year after the release of Volume 1, DC finally gives us SUPERMAN CHRONICLES VOLUME 2, continuing the admirable but somewhat laughable effort (at this rate, at least) of reprinting every Superman appearance in chronological order. This book features classic tales from Action Comics #14-20 and Superman #2 & 3, from 1939-1940. All stories are written and illustrated by Superman co-creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Keep in mind that these are some of the earliest adventures of Superman from comics' Golden Age, so the style is very direct, almost to a fault. Looking back on them, there's no real narrative complexity or character development - more like Siegel and Shuster were simply producing stories to fill a demand. It actually seems that the boys from Cleveland weren't quite sure what to do with their fantastic creation now that he was finally in comics. Superman didn't have much of a rogues gallery at this point; instead, he deals with white-collar criminals and thugs, with everyone behaving similarly to what was seen in the Superman TV series of the `50s. The only remarkable villain is the Ultra-Humanite, whose appearance in the final story of this volume is something no fan of James Robinson's THE GOLDEN AGE will want to miss. In any case, you're experiencing comics history in the making, getting a look at stories that your parents or grandparents enjoyed as kids, and gaining an understanding of why comics caught on as they did in a world that had a need for fantastic heroes. Even though these stories may be somewhat bland, they have an appeal that can't be ingnored.

I just wish DC would speed up their reprinting of these stories so that readers don't grow old before the Golden Age stories wrap up. There are certainly plenty of stories and other characters to choose from to keep these books coming. Get it in gear, DC!

NOT THE GREATEST, BUT VERY GOOD........2007-02-02

The Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told volume two is out, containing nine stories from throughout Superman's long and colorful history. Are these truly the greatest Superman stories? Probably not. The real goal of the DC editors seemed to be to select one story from each decade as opposed to honestly giving readers the best stories. It's more a decade-by-decade sampler of Superman. Good stories no doubt but you could find better I'd argue.

The first story seems to be included more for its historical significance rather than its greatness. "The Mysterious Mr. Mxyztplk" was originally presented in Superman #30 from 1944 and features Superman's first encounter with the troublesome imp from the 5th dimension. Mxyztplk is presented as a cartoon-like character, content to play practical jokes and far removed from the most sinister personality of the modern day character.

"Superman's Other Life" from Superman #132, 1959 presents an interesting "what if" story. Batman feeds all data about Superman into a super-computer called the Univac (which sounds more like Hoover's latest model...) and Superman can visually see how his life might have been if Krypton had not exploded and he was sent to Earth. It's actually an interesting story though hindered by Wayne Boring's art who I never much cared for due to his blocky character appearances.

Superman #141 gives us "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac" a pedestrian title for sure but a solid story written by popular Sci-Fi author Edmond Hamilton. Includes early Curt Swan art.

I'd say my favorite story in the book is "The Secret Revealed" from Superman #2 (2nd series) by John Byrne. Luthor is delving into Clark Kent's mysterious past and goes so far as to kidnap and torture Lana Lang. When all his data is processed by computer it reveals that Clark Kent is Superman. Luthor refuses to believe this as he thinks no person could hold such power without abusing it. A truly chilling look at Luthor's twisted personality.

Jonathan Kent is the true star of "Life After Death" from Superman 500. As Jonathan fights for life in a hospital, his spirit travels far and wide to try and return his son to life after being killed in the battle with Doomsday.

These aren't the greatest Superman stories ever but then again, ask a hundred people to give you their top Superman stories and you'd get a hundred different answers. Most of the stories are very good, a few are exceptional, and a few are ordinary. Great cover by Alex Ross!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

Man of Socialism.......2006-11-04

I hate Superman. I have always hated Superman. This has nothing to do with my childhood years and my brother always calling Superman before I could get a chance to. I just hate Superman. Too damn good. Too patriotic. Too one-dimensional. Too authoritarian. I always gravitated to the more grey area heroes like Batman, SPider-Man, Daredevil, Dr. Strange. This being said, Superman Chronicles is a wonderful collection and allows the scholar to see Seigel and Schuster's creation in its original context. This has opened a new window on the character for me, and for that, this book is worth exploring if you have ambivalence toward the Superfascist.

Hope's Flame: Dragons of Spring Dawning, Vol. 1 (Dragonlance Chronicles, Part 5)

Average customer rating:

Great Book

Hope's Flame: Dragons of Spring Dawning, Vol. 1 (Dragonlance Chronicles, Part 5)
Margaret Weis , and Tracy Hickman
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0786930993
Release Date: 2003-12-30

Book Description

The third Dragonlance novel in the trilogy that launched the entire Dragonlance novel line, Dragons of Spring Dawning, has been adapted to a format specifically targeted at young readers. The novel has been divided into two volumes, Hope's Flame and A Dawn of Dragons, that are sized and edited to fit the young reader market. These titles contain brand new cover and interior art and finish up the release of young reader adaptations of the entire Chronicles series.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2005-02-22

The whole Dragonlance series is awesome. This book is very good like the rest of the series. I recommend this book to everyone.

Mage Chronicles, Vol 1: The Book Of Chantries, Digital Web (Mage The Ascension)

Average customer rating:

2 Good Setting Books In 1
Good, but only for collectors

Mage Chronicles, Vol 1: The Book Of Chantries, Digital Web (Mage The Ascension)
Steven C. Brown , Phil Brucato , and Robert Hatch
Manufacturer: White Wolf Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1565044150

Customer Reviews:

2 Good Setting Books In 1.......2003-07-12

This is a compilation of two early Mage supplements. The Book of Chantries is about the guild houses of the Awakened and the Digital Web is about the virtual reality realm of the Virtual Adepts and the Technocrats. Overall, this is a good bundle for players and storytellers interested in exploring and creating settings for their games.

The Book of Chantries was about a handful of Tradition, Technocracy, Nephandi, and miscellaneous strongholds. This was a very old book that still painted the Technocracy as a repressive and antagonistic group. Over looking this, the chantries detailed were very interesting for all of the factions. The section on how to create your own chantry should be especially useful for players and storytellers. The sample story was not bad but didn't really show how life in a guild house was like. The Book of Chantries may be old and outdated, but it's rules can be easily updated for Mage 2nd Edition and Revised.

The Digital Web (1.0) was another setting book like the Book of Chantries but it was about virtual reality. Considering the fact that this book was released in the early/mid-1990s, it's still quite good for modern games. It introduced an entirely new playing field for technomancers and traditionalists alike. There were rules on formatting sectors and how to use magick in virtual reality. The overall feel of the realm was similar to those described by William Gibson in his cyberpunk novels. Instead of the Internet, cable modems, high-speed network connections, the book talked about BBSs and modem dial-ups. This was understandable considering those were the cutting-edge fascinations of computer users at the time. The information on the Spy's Demise and the two sample stories were interesting. Overall, the Digital Web was a fun read with many neat ideas. It must have been revolutionary for Mage the Ascension back in early days of the game. This book has since been revised and released as the Digital Web 2.0.

Good, but only for collectors.......2001-06-06

This book compiles both "The Book of Chantries" and "Digital Web", older books for Mage: the Ascension, into a single volume. At the time it was released, this book was an excellent deal. Now, it's more for the collector. Digital Web has been revised, and Book of Chantries is good as source material, though you will have to adapt it to the new Revised Edtition ruleset. It's a good book, but you'll have to do some work to make use of it.

Tarnsman of Gor: (#1) (Chronicles of Counter-Earth, Vol 1)

Average customer rating:

Interesting revelation about Tarnsman of Gor (Book 1)
Not Free SF Reader
Tarnsman of Gor 1966
fun read
too sci-fi

Tarnsman of Gor: (#1) (Chronicles of Counter-Earth, Vol 1)
John Norman
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345320344
Release Date: 1984-11-12

Customer Reviews:

Interesting revelation about Tarnsman of Gor (Book 1).......2007-09-08

I've been a follower of John Norman's Gor series for some time. While I'm thrilled to see them in print again I have to admit when I read the description provided it appeared whoever had written it hadn't actually read the book.

" When Tarnsman of Gor was first published in 1966, author John Norman introduced the world to Tarl Cabot, a man ripped from his homeland and cast across space into the savage world of Gor. A world of magic and mystery, where the kidnapped prisoners numbering in the thousands were slaves, and power was wielded by a jealous few known as the Priest-Kings, their will enforced amongst men and women through torture, bondage and often brutal sexual rites."

Which series and/or book was that? Certainly not this one.
If that's what the readers are looking for their sure to be sadly disappointed. The book description is misleading at best.

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Fantasy bondage fantasy. With Robert E. Howard style fade to black no sex, so basically completely pointless. Unless you were looking for something racy in 1928 perhaps. Tarl Cabot is a man from earth, and ends up on another world.

Here, men are manly men, women are tools to be used, and quite often they enjoy it.

Tarnsman of Gor 1966.......2007-08-28

Book 1 of the Gor series.

Plot Kernel - Tarl Cabot, a young professor of English history from a small American college, is abducted in a spaceship while camping in the wilderness. He awakens on the planet Gor, where he unaccountably meets his long-lost father, and is instructed in Gorean language, culture, and politics.

Gor is a caste structured, slave owning society comprised of independent city-states; and the elder Cabot is a high ranking civil official of the City of Ko-ro-ba. This city has a hereditary enemy, the City of Ar, controlled by Marlenus, who intends to subdue and rule all of Gor. Tarl Cabot is trained to fight with bow and arrow, blade and spear, then placed within the High Caste of Warriors and sent on a mission: to ride upon a tarn - a gigantic bird trained for warfighting - and steal the highly symbolic Home Stone of Ar and bring it to Ko-ro-ba.

The theft of the Home Stone of Ar throws the city into chaos and anarchy; but in his escape from Ar, Tarl Cabot is knocked from his tarn by Talena, the High Caste daughter of Marlenus, and the Home Stone of Ar is carried away in the saddle pack as the bird flies off with Talena on its back. Later, Talena shows up on foot without the Stone, and for her own safety, she poses as Tarl's collared slave as he travels back, he supposes, to Ko-ro-ba.

Note: The Gor series (25 volumes in the original series, ending in 1988) is famous for its submissive, enslaved females. There are few, and only brief, references to that aspect of the Gorean world in this, the first book of the series.

fun read.......2007-08-23

it was a fun, fast read. if you are into gorean role play, such as on second life, you are likely to feel almost like you are in your second life when you read the book.

too sci-fi.......2007-01-09

I expected this book to be much more on the erotic side than the sci-fi. I thought it would be more focused on the master/slave relationships, mainly because I know many people out there have developed lifestyles based on Gorean culture. Maybe this book, as the first book of a very long series, had to set the scene and give a lot more background information than some of the later books. Anyway, as a non-reader of sci-fi, I found this book a little boring. However, it was very well-written, and if you do like sci-fi then you will most likely enjoy it. If you're looking for a more erotic read, then you might just want to try to skip right into a book further into the series.

The Light Years (Cazalet Chronicle, Vol 1)

Average customer rating:

The Very Best in Historical Fiction
Magnificent Family Drama
Heir to the great Victorians and E.M. Forster
The whole series is a must-read, from start to finish
Author created an entire world, but too much detail

The Light Years (Cazalet Chronicle, Vol 1)
Elizabeth Jane Howard
Manufacturer: Washington Square Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0671527932

Customer Reviews:

The Very Best in Historical Fiction.......2005-03-30

As a reader whose primary interest is historical accounts and memoirs of World War II, I've shied away from novels about the conflict. I've read some, of course: Mailer's Naked and the Dead, Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-5, Theodore Pleiver's great trilogy about the Eastern Front, for example.

But I had always felt that this war was one that no novelist could understand. Part of this, I'm sure, came from the fact that my parents and their families were victims of the Nazis. I didn't want to be reading something about the war that was "made up." The war was too close to too many of those I loved.

The Novel Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard, however, has changed my attitude to fiction about the war. Reading this novel, I felt closer to the war than I had for a long time, and I am looking forward to reading the other novels in this tetralogy. Howard's knowledge of history and her comprehension of what people must have felt as the war approached are absolutely convincing. It's almost like reading a secret diary of that time.

I've not experienced anything else like her book.

Magnificent Family Drama.......2004-09-12

Having decided it was high time I revisted the Cazalet Family (having read the Chronicles well over 20 years ago), I decided to "read" Book I, The Light Years, by listening to the superb Books on Tape unabridged version. I just loved it, from start to finish, and recommend it highly, especially for chilly fall evenings when one needs a good, meaty story.

The Light Years introduces the reader to three generations of the wealthy, upper-class Cazalet Family, of London and the countryside (the parents' estate) in the uneasy pre-War years of 1937 and 1938. Here, as in so many well-written books about this particular time period in England, we are on the very cusp of a way of life that will disappear forever during the war, never to return. The rigidly structured society, completely ignorant of the lower classes and their needs and wants, was doomed as never before, and that sense of doom is exquisitely portrayed, not in words, but in subtleties all through this first book.

The Cazalets are in a charmed world of their own, and although they are intelligent, mostly kind, very open-minded in many cases, and truly nice people in others, in fact they haven't a clue about what is to come to destroy their world and that of their society. England between the wars was such a tenuous, almost careful time, based on all of the books written about that particular microcosm, and this book seems to capture every essence and feeling, so delicately and yet so unforgettably.

From the most senior Cazalets, the elderly Brig and his wife, the Duchy, to their brood of children: Edward and Hugh, each having fought in World War I (one unscathed, one deeply wounded in body and soul), unmarried daughter Rachel, a lesbian who does not know her own bent, and younger son Rupert, shakily married to a much-younger woman upon the loss of his first wife, each is a true human being facing his or her own fears and doubts against the backdrop of a larger reality.

The daughters-in-law: Edward's wife Villie, grappling with an unwanted pregnancy and trying to ignore her husband's philandering; Hugh's Sybil, always self-effacing in the face of her husband's terrible wounds; and Rupert's silly Zoe, who is terrified of losing him, form the strength of the family along with the matriarch, the Duchy.

But it is the children, all the cousins who gather with their parents at the grandparents' summer estate, who truly speak the hopes and fears of a generation wanting to live a normal life while terrified of a faceless man named Hitler who might destroy it all.

This book stands up to its third reading (albeit by tape) as well as it did the first, and I look forward very much to the second in the series. For those who love generational family novels, The Cazalet Chronicles is a wonderful choice for very happy reading.

Heir to the great Victorians and E.M. Forster.......2004-08-10

If you enjoy Victorian/Edwardian writers like the Brontes, George Eliot and Forster, Elizabeth Jane Howard will be right up your alley. She takes you back to another age (WWII era) and recreates that world so realistically that it's easy to become completely immersed. Putting one of her books down is like emerging from underwater -- it takes me a few minutes to adjust to the light and air of the "real world"!

I love the fact that Howard pulls no punches. Characters and situations are portrayed so honestly and empathetically that it's hard to believe they aren't real.

I am partway through the 4th book in the Cazalet Chronicles and dreading the end -- but I feel confident that unlike most contemporary fiction, I'll be re-reading these books over and over again. (And for me, only Jane Austen and a few of the Victorians usually merit re-reading!)

The whole series is a must-read, from start to finish.......2004-05-01

These books tell an amazing story. I was unable to put them down, and sad when they were finished. I highly recommend these books.

Author created an entire world, but too much detail.......2002-04-13

I enjoyed this book and it made me want to read the others (after having been introduced to the series by Masterpiece Theatre). The author really did create a world here, and follows up with every character, rather than just presenting one main character's point of view. It gave me a feeling of getting to know each person over time, as though I were another guest in the household. Particularly interesting was the backdrop of international events and Chamberlain's appeasement of Hitler over Czechoslovakia. He is almost universally condemned for it today, with the benefit of hindsight. The reactions of the characters, and Britain's being so unprepared for war one doesnt hear about now. The one thing I didn't like was the author's compulsion to mention every single thing that happened, every move that everyone made, every bite at every meal. It got tedious after awhile; some things can be assumed. She should not mistake description of every breath taken for action.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight (The Dragonlance Chronicles, Vol 1)

Average customer rating:

Disappointed
Out of the Darkness of Dragons
The First Adventure
High on Character, low on depth and plot...
A Gathering Of Races - A Clash Of Uneven Forces

Dragons of Autumn Twilight (The Dragonlance Chronicles, Vol 1)
Margaret Weis
Manufacturer: Random House Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

General | Nonfiction | Books on Cassette | Formats | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Books on Cassette | Formats | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Books on Cassette | Formats | Books

General | Books on Cassette | Formats | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Accessories:

Sony WMFX479 Walkman

ASIN: 0394586077
Release Date: 1990-08-04

Amazon.com

Think of it as A New Hope for the world of Dragonlance: Sure, maybe it's a little rough around the edges, maybe it's got one cliché too many, but this baby is pure magic. The first volume in the Dragonlance Chronicles series, this classic from Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman started it all for Krynn, eventually spawning a bestselling 90-plus book series. (And, frankly, you'd do well to stick to the Weis-Hickman titles.) All the heroes that you've likely heard of already--the creepy, hourglass-eyed Raistlin, the noble half-elf Tanis, the comic relief Tasselhoff Burrfoot, the curmudgeonly dwarf Flint Fireforge--they're all here, starting the good fight against the Dark Queen Takhisis as the War of the Lance begins. Pick up Dragons of Winter Night when you're done. --Paul Hughes

Book Description

A Compelling, ground-breaking, highly imaginative tale from the most phenomenonally popular fantasy authors since J.R.R. Tolkien.

Creatures of legend, the dragons have returned to Krynn. Now, the darkness of war threatens to engulf the land. Then hope appears -- a blue crystal staff in the hands of a beautiful bar barian woman. The promise of this hope forces a group of long-time friends into the unlikely roles of heroes: Tanis Half-Elven, their leader, a skilled warrior who detests fighting and is tormented by love for two women; Sturm Brightblade, Knight of Solamnia, driven to restore the honor of the knighthood; Raistlin Majere, the powerful and unsettling magic-user, whose hourglass-shaped eyes conceal dark mysteries; Caramon, Raistlin's twin, a genial giant both loved and feared by his brother; Flint Fireforge, the gruff old dwarven fighter, almost a father to them all; and Tasselhoff Burrfoot, a kender, the nuisance race of Krynn, immune to fear and followed by trouble wherever he goes.

These are the warm, memorable characters of Dragons of Autumn Twilight who bring alive the fantasy world of Krynn, a land millions of listeners will want to return to again and again.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed.......2007-09-21

I will keep this short.

In style and use of the English language I would have to call this one of the worst books I've read in years.

The characters were intriguing and somewhat endearing but the plot rambled on like a bad road trip. Its simplistic writing kept me wondering if I'd picked the book out of the juvenile section. Compared to the work of Martin or Bakker, which I consider astounding, it is extraordinarily transparent. The punctuation, especially the overuse of of exclamation marks in narrative no less, along with inconsistencies and awkward analogies kept reminding me that I was reading a book rather than being allowed to be carried away by the story.

In short, don't waste your time.

Out of the Darkness of Dragons.......2007-06-21

They never expected to become heroes, never desired the war that brought them together, only to shape their lives forevermore, destroying some, elevating others, but nevertheless, mercilessly changing all. It is autumn in the city of Solace. A time when old friends seek to reunite, a time for love and joy, tenderness and care, a time to celebrate the future and ignore the regrets of the past. Only, these typical pleasantries are remiss from the formerly cheerful town of Solace for war is in the air. There is talk of strong and dangerous armies amassing in the north, talk of monsters and ancient beasts arising from their centuries long sleep ready for destruction and vengeance. And, trapped within these turbulent times, are our confused heroes striving to the very last moment to save their beleaguered realm from the evil that is to come; the evil that will usher in the legendary War of the Lance. Strum, a noble Solamnic Knight; Tanis, a dejected half-elf; Tasslehoff, a happy go lucky kender; Flint, a grumpy old dwarf; Caramon, a strong and valiant warrior; Raistlin, a frail yet powerful mage with hidden depths that will one day erupt; Goldmoon, bearer of a healing staff, daughter of Chieftain; Riverwind, Goldmoon's devoted paramour: this is our band of unlikely heroes. Together, these valiant warriors must struggle in a world gone awry, must fight not only the ensuing mayhem but their all too human frailties as well. This then is there story.

Easily acclaimed as one of the greatest modern fantasy epics, Dragon's of Autumn Twilight is well worth the title. Few books there are that can rival it in style, eloquence, depth of characters, and good old fashioned story telling. This is the kind of tale to share with friends and family around the cozy glow of a camp fire, the kind of drama suitable to pass on to one's children and one's children's children. Indeed, the realm of Krynn itself seems to truly exist as if for no other reason than the reader's devoted belief. Whether you, the avid bibliophile, are drawn to fantasy literature or not, Dragon's of Autumn Twilight cannot but captivate and enthrall leading the reader on an adventure that not only spans the narrow gulf of reality, but that of time and space as well taking the reader on delightful adventures filled with lovable characters that soon initiate themselves as one of the family.

Complimented with an imaginative setting filled with myriad fantasy creatures both expected and original, the tale starts as it means to go on allowing the action to take place almost immediately. The reader is never once bored or distracted rather the story works like one of Raistlin's elusive spells, enthralling and captivating the reader to the exclusion of all else. So addictive is the tale, so unique is the drama, and so effecting are the characters that the reader soon forgets all other aspects of life and fully enters into the realm of Krynn battling beside the valiant warriors, suffering when they suffer, rejoicing when they rejoice, and never once forgetting the stakes of the battle for all Krynn hangs in the balance. Will evil triumph or will good conquer?

Provided with a likable cast, the reader soon finds it amazing that half elves, kender, and dwarves, are equally sympathetic as the human characters. Also, the "good" protagonists are never burdened with that sickeningly perfect aura usually subscribed to fantasy warriors. Rather, each character is fleshed out as it they were real allowing that with their strengths weakness also follow making a cast of un-human characters bear the burdens of human emotions. Likewise, the villains are also fulfilled with realistic personalities effectively imbuing them with a more chilling aura. Classic characterization at its finest.

As with all truly good tales, the writing style employed also boasts of perfection. Each sentence is erudite yet easy to understand neither speaking down to the reader nor becoming burdened with unnecessary simplicity but instead choosing to fall in the middle where perfection lies.

The conclusion was shocking, dramatic and intriguing instantly leading the addicted reader onto the second Dragonlance drama, Dragons of Winter Night where the Chronicles series continues to build in suspense and complexity leading the reader on a wondrous journey into the fantastic realm of Krynn where anything is possible.

Final Thoughts: Dragons of Autumn Twilight is a novel not to be missed. Filled with fantastic wonders, epic battles, shattering sorrow and insurmountable joy, it contains everything that makes a novel truly perfect. And, when finished, the joy is further enhanced by even more epic dramas from the realm of Krynn. Highly recommended!

- Crysania

The Dragonlance Chronicles Series:

(1.) Dragons of Autumn Twilight
(2.) Dragons of Winter Night
(3.) Dragons of Spring Dawning
(4.) Dragons of Summer Flame

The Raistlin Chronicles:

(1.) The Soulforge
(2.) Brothers in Arms

The Legends Series:

(1.) Time of the Twins
(2.) War of the Twins
(3.) Test of the Twins

The Lost Chronicles:

(1.) Dragons of Dwarven Depths
(2.) Dragons of a Highlord Sky

The Preludes:

(1.) Darkness and Light
(2.) Kendermore
(3.) Brothers Majere
(4.) Riverwind the Plainsman
(5.) Flint the King
(6.) Tanis the Shadow Years

The First Adventure.......2007-05-28

I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy. It keeps you reading, because you need to find out if the Companions get out of Xak Tsaroth alive or if they defeat Lord Verminaard. I have read many other books by these authors, and they are all as exciting as this.

High on Character, low on depth and plot..........2007-04-27

This is the first dragonlance book I have read though I do read a fair amount of fantasy. Having finished the book last night I have to say that while the book was entertaining, I don't really anticipate that I'll continue this series to its subsequent novels. I did want to give it a fair chance though so I finished book one. Here are my pros and cons:

Pro: Good characterization - The personality traits of each of the main characters were well-developed and consistent throughout the book, making at least the characters believable as individuals. I tend to favor character-centric stories so this resonated with me. Tas the kender and Fizban the mage were particularly amusing and added to the book's entertainment value.

Simple prose - This one is a two-edged sword. On the one hand I wasn't having to go back and re-read sentences that threw me or included details that were difficult to understand on a first pass, but on the other hand it was often too simplistic, having the feeling of a children's story or at best, young adult.

Cons: Not a lot of plot - It did just seem as though the companions travelled from place to place and encountered different people and things, both good and bad. There wasn't really a sense of growing action and the climax, while there was one was, well, fairly anti-climactic.

Lack of Tension - I never got the feeling that any of the companions were in any real danger. You always knew that whatever it was, they'd get out of it somehow, even if quite ubelievably. The lack of tension made the book play out softly.

Lack of Grit/realism - The book was entertaining but on a different level from those that I generally consider really good reads. This book was to books like GRRM's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series what Teenage mutant ninja turtles cartoons are to the Sopranos. It's entertaining, but you won't get lost in it. You'll never feel like you "know" the characters or take part in their lives and you certainly never vest yourself into "feeling" what they feel. It just doesn't engage on that level. It just wasn't believable.

In conclusion, the book is more of a fairy tale than a fantasy and almost seems geared to a younger audience than one may be led to believe. On the other hand, it's rated very highly and has been a bestselling series for a long time now, so take from this what you will. It's entertaining, but I've certainly read much much better.

A Gathering Of Races - A Clash Of Uneven Forces.......2007-04-24

When friends, companions and warriors return to the predetermined meeting point after several years all is not well in the land. Half-elf Tanis, Tas the jolly Kender, Sturm the chivalrous knight, Flint the dwarf and the twins Caramon and Raistlin are back home, yet they have come by neither answers nor been met with peace.

The land of Krynn is overrun by mysterious creatures called Draconians who serve dark masters and worship darker gods. Where this malevolence comes from is not yet clear. Armed with magic and abetted by the appearance of dragons no race is safe from the menace.

Dragons Of Autumn Twilight is fast-paced, colourful and seeks to establish the characters involved. The early work of frequent co-authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman is rough around the edges and endures several coincidences too cosy with the story such as imprisonment behind bars of bamboo, dragons who fail to kill or wicker dragons which fool the troops, but not our heroes. The story also bears the occasional close resemblance to the famed Lord Of The Rings saga given its races, quest, travels and even a fortress full of evil troops surging out in the reverse direction of our protagonists. There is even a nod to the authors' future books, The Death Gate Cycle Of Reincarnation series, when an absent-minded yet powerful aging mage becomes the companions' road-fellow.

The Chronicles, Volume 1 is fun, swift and packed with the fundamentals of the genre, yet could also be considered imperfect and obvious.

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