|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
|
Product Description
From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up–In Dragons of the Dwarven Depths (Wizards of the Coast, 2006), authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman attempt to fill in some of the gaps in their popular Chronicles Trilogy series. The story picks up after the Companions of the Lance have helped a group of slaves escape from the mines of Pax Tharkas. The group takes refuge in a mountain valley, where they hope to be safe from their former masters. When the illusion of security is dispelled by the appearance of one of their old enemies, the heroes take action. They seek out the lost dwarven stronghold of Thorbardin, hoping that the dwarves that still remain within will give shelter to the refugees through the winter. However, this sanctuary comes with a cost. The Companions are forced to take up a quest for the fabled Hammer of Kharas. The story is weighted with exposition that drags down what has the potential to be an exciting plot. While the characters may be old friends to returning readers, those new to the Chronicles will find them flat and underdeveloped. Sandra Burr's clear, melodic voice guides listeners carefully along the journey. While she skillfully provides distinct voices for a large cast of characters, some of them grate on the ears. This recording will be in demand by fans of the previous books, but it will not draw in new listeners.–Heather Dieffenbach, Lexington Public Library, Beaumont Branch, KY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
From AudioFile
Even a series as well populated as that of the dragonlance universe has gaps. For followers of the series, this first in the lost chronicles fills in background from the war of the lance or, for newcomers, provides a new entry point to the series. Sandra Burr appears to have fun with her characters, bringing humor to the characterizations, clearly reflecting the relationship between Tanis and Flint, and offering a bit of comic relief at times. Her characterizations are descriptive. Her portrayal of the low-level acolytes of the dark queen, who are hissing lizards, almost slithers. Their leaders are more subtly portrayed, an approach that is consistent with their characters. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
--This text refers to the
Audio CD
edition.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Book,
By
This review is from: Dragons Of The Dwarven Depths: The Lost Chronicles, Volume One (Mass Market Paperback)
Not the best novel from Weis & Hickman but it is good to read about the Heroes of the Lance again. If you already read the Chronicles, I suggest to read Dwarven Depths and Highlord Skies between the three novels, it add a little something new and refreshing.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Dragons of Boring Depths.,
By
This review is from: Dragons Of The Dwarven Depths: The Lost Chronicles, Volume One (Mass Market Paperback)
The original Chronicles and and Legends Series are the greatest fantasy Novels ever written (LOTR aside). The "Lost Chronicles" should have stayed LOST. Nothing happens. 439 pages of endless dialogue and wandering around underground fleeing unseen dragons.
I bought the Highlord Skies at the same time hoping to save money on shipping but now reading it feels like homework after the first was such a drag. It's unfortunate to see such a potential storyline with amazing characters wasted like this. I know it's harsh but sometimes I feel authors at their level can start to write for $$$ not passion and inspiration. Cristiano Vancouver, BC
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing. . .,
By
This review is from: Dragons Of The Dwarven Depths: The Lost Chronicles, Volume One (Mass Market Paperback)
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragons of Autumn Twilight was the first "true" fantasy novel I ever read. This was the book that made me fall in love with the genre, and I never looked back! Much like the first girl you kiss, these two authors have always held a special place in my heart. Even though they haven't written anything that really capture the imagination since the conclusion of The Deathgate Cycle in 1994, I always give them the benefit of the doubt and purchase their new books/series. Sadly, since then Weis and Hickman (together, solo, or with other collaborators) have produced works of average quality at best.:-(
Their last Dragonlance offering, The War of Souls trilogy, was a far cry from their popular Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends. This new series, The Lost Chronicles, will explore some of the storylines that were not part of the narrative of the original main sequence. Hence, it boded well for fans eager to see Weis and Hickman recapture their erstwhile excellence. After all, they were going back to their old stomping grounds, the world of Krynn, during the War of the Lance. Honestly, I was pretty excited myself! For fans of the original series, this opportunity to go back in time and once again follow the adventures of the Companions is quite a kick. Characters such as Tanis, Raistlin Majere, Sturm Brightblade, Laurana, and Tasslehoff Burrfoot have all left an indelible mark in the fantasy genre. The predominant problem with Dragons of the Dwarven Depths lies in the fact that there's nowhere near enough material to make a full-length novel. At best, this should have been a novella. Personally, I believe it would have worked best as a short story such as the ones Weis and Hickman came up with for the Tales trilogy. There is so much "filler" in this book. . . I couldn't quite believe it. There are unnecessary portions filling us in on the back story. Given the fact that one needs to have read the original Dragonlance Chronicles, these parts of the narrative are totally obsolete. Add to that the inordinate amount of time spent journeying and I estimate that a good 50% of the novel could be excised without readers losing much of the story. The second shortcoming of this book lies in the selection of the plotline that would serve as its backdrop. The search for the Hammer of Kharas was not part of the original saga, and there's a good reason why it was only alluded to in Dragons of Winter Night. It was only part of the Dragonlance roleplaying modules because the storyline wasn't that interesting to begin with. As I mentioned, not enough material. . . Nevertheless, the narrative flows well enough, though the writing is a bit clunky at times. Although it's fun to be reunited with the characters we have grown to love, the fact that nothing really happens throughout the novel makes it hard to maintain our level of interest. I'm afraid that even Tass can't save this one. My hopes for the forthcoming Dragons of the Highlord Skies are somewhat higher, what with the search of the dragon orb storyline and the presence of Lord Soth. I mean, come on! This one has to be good! Hence, as fun as it is to go back in time and return to the events that marked the beginning of the War of the Lance, Dragons of the Dwarven Depths is a disappointing effort.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
