Bertrem's Guide to the Age of Mortals: Everyday Life in Krynn of the Fifth Age: Amazon.ca: Nancy Varian Berberick, Stan Brown, Paul B. Thompson: Books

Product Description

Come wander the highways and byways of Krynn in the Fifth Age.

If you've ever wondered what kender children learn in school, what the dwarves of Thorbardin eat for breakfast, how the people of Solace elect their mayor, this guide is for you.

Bertrem of the Order of Aesthetics, keeper (since the disappearance of Astinus) of the Great Library of Palanthas, gathers fact and rumor, tales and gossip from across Krynn to answer your questions.

Learn more of the world of Dragonlance, the largest shared-world saga ever created.

Inside This Book (Learn More)

First Sentence
"An army travels on its stomach," is a common saying, but it applies no less to the common man or woman. Read the first page

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Concordance

Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover

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2.2 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)

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2.0 out of 5 stars Nice try, but try again., Nov 5 2000

By

Richard Raley "The King Henry Tapes" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bertrem's Guide to the Age of Mortals: Everyday Life in Krynn of the Fifth Age (Mass Market Paperback)

That's right, two stars, I would have given it more but only two thirds of the book was readable. Any one that has read my other reviews knows that I'm not the biggest Nancy Varian Berberick fan, and this book didn't help her score any points to win me over. You should remember before buying this that it is a source book, if you are coming in expecting some story that gives info on the Fifth Age as it goes along than you are wrong.

What you get is good old information, in a half way cool fashion. The way that the authors did that is that they made it as if they themselves were working for Bertrem in Ansalon, and he was nice enough to give a foreword, notes on the writings, and an afterword. I liked this better than just throwing out info and stats like most source books do.

Now the authors themselves, best to worst (and we all know who that is). First is Paul Thompson, he did a great job, the section about Politics is one of the most interesting source readings about Ansalon ever. Stan as always was funny and solid, but nothing that really kept me reading.

Last of course is Mrs. Berberick. She's not a bad writer, I just don't think she is a dragonlance writer, she is way too descriptive and flowery. An example is "Can we say with certainty that they yet pile up their lovely tresses of silver and golden so they may wear the shimmering veils of sheerest silks flowing from their coiffures as clouds stream round the glimmering sun-shining mountains?"...excuse me? I mean does that really belong in dragonlance? I personally think it is a bit overboard for DL, good for some other novel (romance?), but not in the Dragonlance shared world.

Final Thought: You really have to love the Fifth Age to get this and enjoy it totally, if you have money and want to buy a DL book then go ahead, but don't expect something that will change your view of Krynn.

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2.0 out of 5 stars Fun, but some problems, Nov 2 2000

By

Aaron G. Rhoads "aerosmith5" (Paris, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Bertrem's Guide to the Age of Mortals: Everyday Life in Krynn of the Fifth Age (Mass Market Paperback)

For die-hard fans (like myself) this book is good, I did like the Arms and Armor section, and the games and stuff are cool. What really bothers me is some loss of continuity with the rest of the Dragonlance world. The most glaring example comes as a footnote in the aformentioned Arms and Armor section where Laurana was supposedly standing next to Sturm Brightblade while shooting a dark knight, I assume that means knights of Takhisis/Neraka which did not exist until 20 yr after Sturm died. Also, elves getting married at 20 yrs old or something, I thought they weren't even adults until the age of 80. If you can get past these few problems, though, it really can be an enjoyable read, but for the best filler information pick up one of the Leaves From the Inn of the Last Home titles.

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2.0 out of 5 stars This book has serious problems, Oct 29 2000

By

Louise Martin (Mountain View, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bertrem's Guide to the Age of Mortals: Everyday Life in Krynn of the Fifth Age (Mass Market Paperback)

If you're new to Krynn and you want to learn more about it , go straight ahead an buy this book , it explains a lot of stuff , including a nice amount of history about the various races in the book . However if you have been with Dragonlance for a while and , then pass it up , it has some nice stuff , but it doesn't describe a lot of stuff on the land of the Dragon overlords, talks a LOT about culinary stuff . Doesn't say anything about gnomes or gully dwarves but talks a lot about elves and kenders and ogres and humans , interresting but doesn't fo much for those who read the books and already knew everything about the current situation for the races listed above(except for the ogres) . The authors who wrote this did include a bunch of games and some celebrations and that was a litle original . All in all it is sort of entertaining but if you want to learn about the Legion of steell or the Knights of Nerak or any group ( except the knights of Solamnia) then don't bother picking this book up. I could go on about the weapon section simply talking about clubs and swords, nothing on weapons found only in Ansalon, such as the Hoopack , but I'll just let you choose for yourself....

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Most recent customer reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars This book has serious problems
If you're new to Krynn and you want to learn more about it , go straight ahead an buy this book , it explains a lot of stuff , including a nice amount of history about the... Read more

Published on Oct 29 2000 by Louise Martin

3.0 out of 5 stars For the Love of Dragonlance...
krynn really is a fantastic place. i love the dragonlance books, i really do. i am to the point where it has almost been too much. Read more

Published on Oct 11 2000 by alh1729