Dragons of Autumn Twilight - The Library of the Uncommons

mass market paperback, 444 pages

English language

Published Feb. 1, 2000 by Wizards of the Coast.

ISBN:: 978-0-7869-1574-3

For the first time ever, the Dragonlance novel that started the entire series, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, has been made available in a format specifically targeted at young readers. The novel has been divided into two volumes, A Rumor of Dragons (Part 1) and Night of the Dragons (Part 2), that are perfect for young readers. These titles contain brand new cover art and interior art and are the first in a series of young reader titles that will be adapted from the remaining novels in the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy.

8 editions

Marek reviewed Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis

Does okay after very many years

4 stars

I'd have rated this much higher when I read it when I was young. It was for me, like many little nerds I think, one of the touchstone adventure stories. Very much so for people who were into or got into DnD (I wouldn't for several years after, but not for lack of wanting).

Mostly, it's a quinessential example of stereotypical high fantasy, sword and sorcery. It is a tightly woven string of major fantasy tropes; heroic adventure, fantastical settings and magical monsters. It holds up fine on the action and generally on characterisation.

It falls down mostly on attitudes to women, which are very mixed. On the one hand, the women generally have agency, clear character, and sometimes important roles to play in the plot and advancement of the setting. On the other hand, there is a recapitulation of traditional roles and attitudes that you're less likely …

I'd have rated this much higher when I read it when I was young. It was for me, like many little nerds I think, one of the touchstone adventure stories. Very much so for people who were into or got into DnD (I wouldn't for several years after, but not for lack of wanting).

Mostly, it's a quinessential example of stereotypical high fantasy, sword and sorcery. It is a tightly woven string of major fantasy tropes; heroic adventure, fantastical settings and magical monsters. It holds up fine on the action and generally on characterisation.

It falls down mostly on attitudes to women, which are very mixed. On the one hand, the women generally have agency, clear character, and sometimes important roles to play in the plot and advancement of the setting. On the other hand, there is a recapitulation of traditional roles and attitudes that you're less likely to see in modern fantasy literature. These issues are also true of race, which has thankfully seen huge strides in the genre since, even with further still to travel in many cases.

I re-read this because a friend casually sent a text a few weeks ago, wondering how it would hold up. Lacking motivation to get stuck into more challenging fare I pulled this 30--something-year-old copy of the shelf. I won't be rushing to continue the trilogy, but might get around it over time...