Dragonlance Chronicles – the Beginning
Dragonlance
When I first picked up Dragons of Autumn Twilight, the first book in the Dragonlance Chronicles series, I thought, “Cool, another fantasy book with dragons on the cover. What could possibly go wrong?” Three days, two forgotten dinners, and one mildly concerned pet later, I had rocketed through Dragons of Winter Night and Dragons of Spring Dawning and officially declared myself emotionally attached to a half-elf, a cranky dwarf, and a wizard who really needed better skincare products.
The Dragonlance Chronicles, written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, are like the ultimate Dungeons & Dragons campaign — if your dungeon master had a flair for drama and an unhealthy fondness for fire-breathing reptiles. The story follows a ragtag group of friends (who clearly never heard of “stranger danger”) as they reunite and find themselves stuck battling ancient evils, evil dragons, and their own inability to communicate like rational adults.
I won’t lie: there are moments when the dialogue feels a little extra, like everyone suddenly decided they were starring in a medieval soap opera. But somehow, that’s part of the charm. Tanis can’t decide if he’s more in love with an elf or his own crippling self-doubt, Raistlin coughs dramatically every third page, and Tasslehoff Burrfoot is basically a medieval raccoon with ADHD — and I say that with deep affection.
What really hooked me, though, was the vibe of the world. Krynn feels lived-in, full of dusty inns, mysterious ruins, and enough random side quests to keep even the most caffeinated adventurer happy. Plus, dragons. So many dragons. Big ones, evil ones, slightly less evil ones… It’s basically a full buffet of dragon-related chaos.
If you love fantasy that doesn’t take itself too seriously — but still punches you in the feelings when you’re least expecting it — the first three Dragonlance books are pure magic. Just… maybe warn your loved ones before you disappear into Krynn for a while. They’ll understand. (Eventually.)