Dragonlance Chronicles – The Beginning for me
Dragonlance – Here B Dragonz
My First Adventure with Dragons, Wizards, and Magic: A Love Letter to the Dragonlance Chronicles
I was a huge reader in my 10–12 year range and I’m still not sure to this day how I found Dragonlance… but after reading it, I fell in love with fantasy. And as TSR hoped when they commissioned the books, I also fell headlong into the world of Dungeons & Dragons. Mission accomplished, corporate overlords of storytelling!
The Dragonlance Chronicles — Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of Spring Dawning — were my gateway to a bigger world. They were my first real exposure to a vast fantasy universe, one packed with dragons soaring through burning skies, moody wizards with questionable health, and sword-swinging companions who were somehow both heroic and hilariously dysfunctional. I was hooked.
Years later, my 12-year-old just started reading them, and it sent me diving into dusty boxes in the basement to find my old copies. (Bonus: I also found an Axis and Allies boardgame and a mixtape labeled “Mello Mix.”) I hope to share the same spark of magic, dragons, and swordplay that first ignited my imagination.
Meet the Most Lovable Disaster Party in Fantasy
Let’s talk about this legendary band of misfits — the heart of Dragonlance — because wow, were they beautifully flawed.
- Tanis Half-Elven: The classic brooding leader with commitment issues and a beard that screams “Don’t ask me about my feelings.” His constant need to point out how different he is might be the first time I came to understand how important it is for people to fit in and why they try so hard. AND how to be different and enjoy it.
- Sturm Brightblade: The mustache of honor. The knight who’s always quoting codes while dodging dragon breath.
- Raistlin Majere: The gold-skinned wizard with the hourglass eyes and a cough that somehow makes him more powerful. Also: definitely not evil. Probably.
- Caramon Majere: Raistlin’s twin and emotional support barbarian. Think big muscles, bigger heart.
- Tasslehoff Burrfoot: A kender with a bottomless pouch, no concept of danger, and all the ADHD energy of a caffeinated raccoon.
- Flint Fireforge: The grumpy dwarf who yells at Tas the whole way and we love him for it.
It’s a cast you remember not because they’re perfect, but because they feel like your first D&D party — messy, loyal, heroic, and sometimes hilariously doomed.
“Too RPG”? Maybe. But Also… Who Cares?
Yes, these books were born out of a D&D campaign. And yes, TSR did want to sell game modules alongside the story. But that’s not a flaw — it’s a feature.
Dragonlance is the fantasy version of comfort food. It may not have the literary gravitas of Tolkien or the worldbuilding density of Sanderson, but it has something more important: heart. Heart, dragons, wizards, magic… and the occasional fireball-induced chaos.
When you’re 12 and flipping through those pages, you’re not critiquing sentence structure. You’re imagining yourself casting spells, saving friends, and fighting evil — often while arguing about what to do next at an inn.
And honestly? That’s the spirit of fantasy.
Why Dragonlance Still Works
There’s something timeless about a story that doesn’t overcomplicate itself. The stakes are high. The world is full of magic. The dragons are real — and terrifying. The wizards have a hierarchy, a dress code, and way too many grudges.
And when the companions fight, split up, and reunite, it feels earned. There’s emotional payoff. Even if you saw the twists coming (or didn’t, because you were 11 and mostly distracted by Raistlin’s mysterious vibe), it hits hard.
The trilogy builds a fantasy world where heroism matters, where friendship is tested, and where adventure never stops.
Passing the Torch (And Maybe the Dice)
Watching my own 12-year-old now dive into the same books I devoured at their age is surreal. It’s like opening a time portal. They’re asking questions I remember having. “Why is Sturm like that?” “Is Raistlin evil or just damaged?” “Why does Tanis make everything awkward?”
It’s a joy to share. And it’s a reminder that fantasy — good fantasy — doesn’t age. Sure, the covers might look a little retro, but the feeling of diving headfirst into a world of dragons, wizards, and ancient magic? That’s eternal.
Final Thoughts from a Battle-Worn Book Nerd
If you haven’t read the Dragonlance Chronicles — or it’s been decades — do yourself a favor. Revisit Krynn. Reunite with the companions. Relive those moments when everything felt new and the next chapter had to be read before bed, no matter how late it was.
And if someone tells you these books are “just glorified RPG tie-ins”? Politely hand them a kender’s hoopak and let them discover what joy really looks like.
Because for a whole generation of fantasy fans, these books were more than just stories.
They were the beginning.
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