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Dragonlance: The Second Generation #1
The Second Generation
Years have passed since the end of the War of the Lance. The people of Ansalon have rebuilt their lives, their houses, their families. The Companions of the Lance, too, have returned to their homes, raising children and putting the days of their heroic deeds behind them.
But peace on Krynn comes at a price. The forces of darkness are ever vigilant, searching for ways to erode the balance of power and take control. When subtle changes begin to permeate the fragile peace, new lives are drawn into the web of fate woven around all the races. The time has come to pass the sword -- or the staff -- to the children of the Lance.
They are the Second Generation.
An all-new repackaged paperback edition of a classic Dragonlance novel.
This book of five novellas bridges the gap between the Chronicles and Legends trilogies and "Dragons of Summer Flame," While detailing their adventures, "The Second Generation" also sets up key events and characters in future Dragonlance novels.
But peace on Krynn comes at a price. The forces of darkness are ever vigilant, searching for ways to erode the balance of power and take control. When subtle changes begin to permeate the fragile peace, new lives are drawn into the web of fate woven around all the races. The time has come to pass the sword -- or the staff -- to the children of the Lance.
They are the Second Generation.
An all-new repackaged paperback edition of a classic Dragonlance novel.
This book of five novellas bridges the gap between the Chronicles and Legends trilogies and "Dragons of Summer Flame," While detailing their adventures, "The Second Generation" also sets up key events and characters in future Dragonlance novels.
440 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 1995
About the author
Margaret Weis
678 books5,636 followersMargaret Edith Weis is an American fantasy and science fiction author of dozens of novels and short stories. At TSR, Inc., she teamed with Tracy Hickman to create the Dragonlance role-playing game (RPG) world. She is founding CEO and owner of Sovereign Press, Inc and Margaret Weis Productions, licensing several popular television and movie franchises to make RPG series in addition to their own.
In 1999, Pyramid magazine named Weis one of The Millennium's Most Influential Persons, saying she and Hickman are "basically responsible for the entire gaming fiction genre". In 2002, she was inducted into the Origins Hall of Fame in part for Dragonlance.
In 1999, Pyramid magazine named Weis one of The Millennium's Most Influential Persons, saying she and Hickman are "basically responsible for the entire gaming fiction genre". In 2002, she was inducted into the Origins Hall of Fame in part for Dragonlance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
January 24, 2021
Actual rating is 3.5 stars.
This is a collection of five short stories where we move onto the next generation of characters. These new characters are the offspring from characters that are from the first six books. Basically, this is the beginning of the next dilemma and the characters that will be involved in this dilemma.
My theory on whether a reader will enjoy this book depends on how that reader views continuity of characters. There is a lot of retcon for some of the original characters and I can see how this would affect one's enjoyment. For me this retcon only affected one story which I thoroughly hated. I enjoyed the message of these children who are adults and escaping the legacy shadow of their relatives. They have their own identity and about to enter the world. They are learning about themselves while escaping this tremendous shadow that is cast over them because of the deeds of their relatives. This book is a logical next step for the world of Krynn even with the retcon.
Taken on its own without the retcon affecting my enjoyment I liked this book. I thought two stories were terrific especially since I know the role some of these characters will play in the future. One I absolutely hated and the other were nice reads. This book was a nice blend of family drama, adventure with action, and political intrigue. It is a nice read for fans of this universe.
This is a collection of five short stories where we move onto the next generation of characters. These new characters are the offspring from characters that are from the first six books. Basically, this is the beginning of the next dilemma and the characters that will be involved in this dilemma.
My theory on whether a reader will enjoy this book depends on how that reader views continuity of characters. There is a lot of retcon for some of the original characters and I can see how this would affect one's enjoyment. For me this retcon only affected one story which I thoroughly hated. I enjoyed the message of these children who are adults and escaping the legacy shadow of their relatives. They have their own identity and about to enter the world. They are learning about themselves while escaping this tremendous shadow that is cast over them because of the deeds of their relatives. This book is a logical next step for the world of Krynn even with the retcon.
Taken on its own without the retcon affecting my enjoyment I liked this book. I thought two stories were terrific especially since I know the role some of these characters will play in the future. One I absolutely hated and the other were nice reads. This book was a nice blend of family drama, adventure with action, and political intrigue. It is a nice read for fans of this universe.
December 9, 2012
I haven't read this book since high school and being a big Dragonlance fan I decided to give it another read. It was enjoyable but the stories didn't seem on the level of the originals (though there are some nostalgic moments within). While some of the original heroes of the lance are here, the stories mainly focus on their children and it's interesting to see what life direction some of them take.
August 22, 2011
I was a Dragonlance, and by extension TSR, nut in high school and early years of college. At one point, I must have had every Dragonlance novel. I hung out with Dragonlance nuts (we were also Robin McKinley nuts. What? You loved The Hero and the Crown? So did I! So I should read these, huh?). Looking back now, when I have long gotten read of several Dragonlance novels, including this one, I still have to admit that the first six books (Chronicles and the Twins) are good, not great, but good. In particular, because they do examine aspects of good and evil; the last book of the Twins when Raist gives everything up for one thing others would see as worthless is just wonderful.
Dragonlance is still around today, and ever so often I can impress students with "Yes, I know what it is. I like kender." Yet, unlike Terry Pratchett who I have been having a literary affair with for over a decade, or Robin McKinley with whom I celebrated a twentith anniversary, the Dragonlance books didn't have the same staying power, at least the newer books.
In part, it is because of this book. The Second includes original and previous published short fiction. The previous published fiction was great. The fiction created especially for this volume and leading to the next book, I had a huge problem with.
I hate it when writers go back and totally change characters. And that is what Weis and Hickman did. What was worse was who they did it to. In Chronicles, Tanis the half elf is torn between his love for Kitara, a human, and Laurena, an elven princess. Laurena was based on Hickman's wife, and Kitara is a human woman who, it is revealed fights for the evil army. Kitara is also the only dark haired woman in the series. (Tika is a red-head so don't yell at me. Geez). Laurena has long blonde locks, is always rights, and despite being a spoiled princess because a great warrior. Kitara was sexually loose, a skilled fighter though hard work, and came from a dysfunctional family. While I never liked Laurenana the differences didn't really bug me as a high school/ early college student because at least Weis and Hickman shaded Kitara.
In this one book, they ruined that.
It is said that we can never go back, that our prespectives always change with time because we age and we learn. Sometimes that is true, but sometimes it isn't. Sometimes we go back and we like it better. Sometimes we go back and we now hate it. Sometimes, our opinion stays the same. Everytime I read LOTR, I still feel that same thrill. I still dare Moira with the Fellowship. When I watch Errol Flynn's Robin Hood, I still smile. I've been reading McKinley for over twenty years and still respect her. I've been reading Datlow/Windling for the same amount of time and still love the collections. Ever time I read "The Cloak" by Blixen, I'm convinced it is one of the most perfect short stories ever.
Books and series that stay treat their readers, fans, viewers with respect. Pratchett said it best, he would rather have readers than fans. When you look at series or books that would rather have fans (money) then viewers or readers, you see disappointment. Think Star Wars, or even Star Trek. (And no, I'm not taking about books vs. movies here. That's different. SW and ST books are written be different writers, there is going to be a difference. There the characters just need to be in character. I'm taking about old and new films/television).
What ruined Dragonlance for me was this book because of the rewriting of character, of series history, that Weis and Hickman did. They turned Kitara into the sterotypical evil seductress, who sleeps with a holy knight and refuses to marry him, but then discovers she is with child. Something that quite clearly did not happen in Chronicles or in the prequel featuring Kitara and Sturm (the knight in question). Looking back, it seems as if the writers shied away from giving Tanis a bastard son because that would effect the Tanis/Laurenana relationship. However, that son would have mad sense. Additionally, if Kit were so evil wouldn't she just have an abortion, wouldn't a sexually loose woman who is a warrior use birth control? It felt cheap, wrong, and worse insulting, especially when the book came out in hardcover with hardcover prices.
Today, I would add that it is extremely interesting how the evil man is allowed to redeemed himself but the evil woman is made to be even worse. Hmmmm. Was it because she wasn't a blonde? Does peroxide sterlize the soul? Hmmm.
In some ways, I suppose I should thank them. For after them, I no longer followed blindly were writers went. I wanted writers to acknowledge that readers had exceptations and things should make sense. Yes, that means you can't always do shocking twists, but it also means that sometimes you do the difficult thing because it would work. When Weis and Hickman didn't do the difficult and opted for the cheap and easy out, it felt like a bad television show.
If you don't respect your readers, why should your readers read your work? This true of writers and publishers.
Dragonlance is still around today, and ever so often I can impress students with "Yes, I know what it is. I like kender." Yet, unlike Terry Pratchett who I have been having a literary affair with for over a decade, or Robin McKinley with whom I celebrated a twentith anniversary, the Dragonlance books didn't have the same staying power, at least the newer books.
In part, it is because of this book. The Second includes original and previous published short fiction. The previous published fiction was great. The fiction created especially for this volume and leading to the next book, I had a huge problem with.
I hate it when writers go back and totally change characters. And that is what Weis and Hickman did. What was worse was who they did it to. In Chronicles, Tanis the half elf is torn between his love for Kitara, a human, and Laurena, an elven princess. Laurena was based on Hickman's wife, and Kitara is a human woman who, it is revealed fights for the evil army. Kitara is also the only dark haired woman in the series. (Tika is a red-head so don't yell at me. Geez). Laurena has long blonde locks, is always rights, and despite being a spoiled princess because a great warrior. Kitara was sexually loose, a skilled fighter though hard work, and came from a dysfunctional family. While I never liked Laurenana the differences didn't really bug me as a high school/ early college student because at least Weis and Hickman shaded Kitara.
In this one book, they ruined that.
It is said that we can never go back, that our prespectives always change with time because we age and we learn. Sometimes that is true, but sometimes it isn't. Sometimes we go back and we like it better. Sometimes we go back and we now hate it. Sometimes, our opinion stays the same. Everytime I read LOTR, I still feel that same thrill. I still dare Moira with the Fellowship. When I watch Errol Flynn's Robin Hood, I still smile. I've been reading McKinley for over twenty years and still respect her. I've been reading Datlow/Windling for the same amount of time and still love the collections. Ever time I read "The Cloak" by Blixen, I'm convinced it is one of the most perfect short stories ever.
Books and series that stay treat their readers, fans, viewers with respect. Pratchett said it best, he would rather have readers than fans. When you look at series or books that would rather have fans (money) then viewers or readers, you see disappointment. Think Star Wars, or even Star Trek. (And no, I'm not taking about books vs. movies here. That's different. SW and ST books are written be different writers, there is going to be a difference. There the characters just need to be in character. I'm taking about old and new films/television).
What ruined Dragonlance for me was this book because of the rewriting of character, of series history, that Weis and Hickman did. They turned Kitara into the sterotypical evil seductress, who sleeps with a holy knight and refuses to marry him, but then discovers she is with child. Something that quite clearly did not happen in Chronicles or in the prequel featuring Kitara and Sturm (the knight in question). Looking back, it seems as if the writers shied away from giving Tanis a bastard son because that would effect the Tanis/Laurenana relationship. However, that son would have mad sense. Additionally, if Kit were so evil wouldn't she just have an abortion, wouldn't a sexually loose woman who is a warrior use birth control? It felt cheap, wrong, and worse insulting, especially when the book came out in hardcover with hardcover prices.
Today, I would add that it is extremely interesting how the evil man is allowed to redeemed himself but the evil woman is made to be even worse. Hmmmm. Was it because she wasn't a blonde? Does peroxide sterlize the soul? Hmmm.
In some ways, I suppose I should thank them. For after them, I no longer followed blindly were writers went. I wanted writers to acknowledge that readers had exceptations and things should make sense. Yes, that means you can't always do shocking twists, but it also means that sometimes you do the difficult thing because it would work. When Weis and Hickman didn't do the difficult and opted for the cheap and easy out, it felt like a bad television show.
If you don't respect your readers, why should your readers read your work? This true of writers and publishers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2016
My new years gift is giving this book two stars which is extremely generous.
I'm a completionist and feel the need to finish all of the Dragonlance Weis books.
This book contains five novella's that tell the tales of the kids of the Hero's of the Lance.
1. Tells of Kitiara's son
2. Tells of Caramon's son
3. Tells of a story of three of Caramon's sons
4. Tells of the legend of Raistlin's daughter
5. Tells of Tanis's son
They were extremely uneven. Novella two and three were laughable they were so bad (e.g. imagine putting a saying like "Bob's your uncle" into a fantasy novel or turning the struggle of your soul into a slapstick comedy) while novella 1, 3 and 5 were average at best but were readable.
This is one of those books where I determined how many pages were left and divided it up into a week and then my penance that day was to get through the number of pages I was assigned just to finish.
This should be a one star book but I can't make myself give a Dragonlance book one star for the sake of all of the hundreds of hours of enjoyment that I've received from Dragonlance.
I only recommend this for people who enjoy root canals, finals week and Newt Gingrich books.
For all others - take a wide pass on this one.
I'm a completionist and feel the need to finish all of the Dragonlance Weis books.
This book contains five novella's that tell the tales of the kids of the Hero's of the Lance.
1. Tells of Kitiara's son
2. Tells of Caramon's son
3. Tells of a story of three of Caramon's sons
4. Tells of the legend of Raistlin's daughter
5. Tells of Tanis's son
They were extremely uneven. Novella two and three were laughable they were so bad (e.g. imagine putting a saying like "Bob's your uncle" into a fantasy novel or turning the struggle of your soul into a slapstick comedy) while novella 1, 3 and 5 were average at best but were readable.
This is one of those books where I determined how many pages were left and divided it up into a week and then my penance that day was to get through the number of pages I was assigned just to finish.
This should be a one star book but I can't make myself give a Dragonlance book one star for the sake of all of the hundreds of hours of enjoyment that I've received from Dragonlance.
I only recommend this for people who enjoy root canals, finals week and Newt Gingrich books.
For all others - take a wide pass on this one.
September 22, 2016
The Second Generation, as it says, about the children of the Heroes of the Lance: Caramon's three sons, Raistlin's daughter, Kitiara's and Sturm's son, and Tanis's and Laurana's son, Gilthas. The stories about Caramon's sons and Raistlin's can be read in the three first Tales novels, one in each novel since The Second Generation contains 5 stories: those 3 + 2 new ones. New being about Kitiara and Sturm's kid, and about Tanis's and Laurana's kid.
The story about Kitiara and Sturm going on a hike together can be read in Darkness And Light (Preludes series). So this short story is a sort of update, follow-up, fill in the blanks. Steel Brightblade apparently favours the dark side, but Sara (friend of Kitiara, who didn't really want the child, or rather not raise it) wants him to choose good. So Caramon and Tanis are persuaded to go on that trip of trying to convince Steel to do like his father, whom he never has known and is warned against it by Lord Ariakan. Anyway, adventure assured, even both Heroes' reputation is ruined by that at the Tower Of High Sorcery. Which makes me wonder: why couldn't Tanis just explain why they brought Steel to the tomb, to see his father's body? It's all about secrecy, so obviously the Solamnic knights will defend it at all costs. So, yeah, good story, but nothing outstanding, sadly enough.
The story about Gilthas, Tanis's and Laurana's boy, is a bit better, it's easier to feel with Tanis, with Gilthas, what they're going through, how they feel. Gilthas gets lured into the trap of being chosen as new Speaker Of The Sun, but Porthios (Laurana's brother and current Speaker Of The Sun) and his wife/queen Alhana Starbreeze are held prisoner by senator Rahas, who doesn't know he is being misled by dark forces. Tanis and Dalamar meet again, go out to rescue Gilthas from Rahas's clutches, but they fail. Yes, sorry. On the other hand, Caramon said: we raise our children to leave us. Or, preparing them to take care of themselves. Gilthas had to take the vow, else Alhana would have been killed. But he didn't know that that was prevented. By then, it was too late to crawl back. At least Tanis had the chance to make amends with his son, and so any quarrels they had were gone with that last goodbye. But perhaps they'll meet again in Dragons Of Summer Flame, which I'm to read next.
Long story short: a nice compilation of short stories about the Heroes' children. Nothing super, but it was nice nevertheless.
The story about Kitiara and Sturm going on a hike together can be read in Darkness And Light (Preludes series). So this short story is a sort of update, follow-up, fill in the blanks. Steel Brightblade apparently favours the dark side, but Sara (friend of Kitiara, who didn't really want the child, or rather not raise it) wants him to choose good. So Caramon and Tanis are persuaded to go on that trip of trying to convince Steel to do like his father, whom he never has known and is warned against it by Lord Ariakan. Anyway, adventure assured, even both Heroes' reputation is ruined by that at the Tower Of High Sorcery. Which makes me wonder: why couldn't Tanis just explain why they brought Steel to the tomb, to see his father's body? It's all about secrecy, so obviously the Solamnic knights will defend it at all costs. So, yeah, good story, but nothing outstanding, sadly enough.
The story about Gilthas, Tanis's and Laurana's boy, is a bit better, it's easier to feel with Tanis, with Gilthas, what they're going through, how they feel. Gilthas gets lured into the trap of being chosen as new Speaker Of The Sun, but Porthios (Laurana's brother and current Speaker Of The Sun) and his wife/queen Alhana Starbreeze are held prisoner by senator Rahas, who doesn't know he is being misled by dark forces. Tanis and Dalamar meet again, go out to rescue Gilthas from Rahas's clutches, but they fail. Yes, sorry. On the other hand, Caramon said: we raise our children to leave us. Or, preparing them to take care of themselves. Gilthas had to take the vow, else Alhana would have been killed. But he didn't know that that was prevented. By then, it was too late to crawl back. At least Tanis had the chance to make amends with his son, and so any quarrels they had were gone with that last goodbye. But perhaps they'll meet again in Dragons Of Summer Flame, which I'm to read next.
Long story short: a nice compilation of short stories about the Heroes' children. Nothing super, but it was nice nevertheless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2014
This is clearly a transitional work, which sets the scene for the next generation of characters, who are, very annoyingly, named after the friends of the first generation of Heroes. There's Tanis and Tanin, Strum and Strum, Paladine and Palin, Gilthanas and Gilthas - you can see where this is going. It's like there's a serious name shortage in the Dragonlance series. I found this book not as strong as it could have been, which is not surprising given that it's comprised of 5 short, independent stories that give the readers a quick insight into the times of peace that reigned after the War, and a brief introduction to the kids, aka the Second Generation.
The most interesting story, for me, was Palin's journey through the tower of sorcery, in "The Legacy." There was a sweet kind of irony in reading Palin's struggles with magic, which mirrored his uncle Raistlin's. Overall, a decent collection, but not outstanding. It lacks the cohesiveness and strength of the earlier novels.
The most interesting story, for me, was Palin's journey through the tower of sorcery, in "The Legacy." There was a sweet kind of irony in reading Palin's struggles with magic, which mirrored his uncle Raistlin's. Overall, a decent collection, but not outstanding. It lacks the cohesiveness and strength of the earlier novels.
July 11, 2018
This is one of my favorite anthologies that is set in the Dragonlance world. I highly suggest reading the chronicles and legends before reading this, as it will give you those warm nostalgic feelings that DL is known for slapping you in the face with.
Nice to see some old friends again. :)
Nice to see some old friends again. :)
January 27, 2010
I like to read fantasy, but I feel at the same time that I'm wasting my time by not reading something more "mature" or "educational." I'm not a snob, believe me, and I know this sounds ridiculous. Maybe I'm just too hard on myself, and I need to sometimes read just for fun.
The Dragon Lance series by Weis & Hickman really fits the "just for fun" nail on the head. These stories are full of action, intrigue, and humor. They are well written, if somewhat predictable, with good characterization. It's good vs evil adventure at its finest.
This book is a transitional book that consists of 4 short stories/novellas. It is meant to pass the torch from the characters of the previous 6 books to their offspring in the next 6+ books. These stories were entertaining, but lacked the satisfaction of the extended quest that most fantasy novels unfold.
I look forward to reading the next novels in the series.
The Dragon Lance series by Weis & Hickman really fits the "just for fun" nail on the head. These stories are full of action, intrigue, and humor. They are well written, if somewhat predictable, with good characterization. It's good vs evil adventure at its finest.
This book is a transitional book that consists of 4 short stories/novellas. It is meant to pass the torch from the characters of the previous 6 books to their offspring in the next 6+ books. These stories were entertaining, but lacked the satisfaction of the extended quest that most fantasy novels unfold.
I look forward to reading the next novels in the series.
July 15, 2017
This book is a collection of stories - mainly about the 'new generation' - the children of the original companions.
It's difficult for me to be objective about these books because I become so involved in the whole, vast scenario; the characters and their adventures become very real & vital to me, and I find myself unable to make any sensible criticism or comparisons.
What I can say is that, despite being in similar settings, the books are always compelling and innovative - even amusing in some places [especially where kender are involved! :)].
I very much enjoyed 'The Belgariad' but 'Dragonlance' is better and I would place it second on my list of best fantasy - LoTR being the only series that tops it, in my opinion.
It's difficult for me to be objective about these books because I become so involved in the whole, vast scenario; the characters and their adventures become very real & vital to me, and I find myself unable to make any sensible criticism or comparisons.
What I can say is that, despite being in similar settings, the books are always compelling and innovative - even amusing in some places [especially where kender are involved! :)].
I very much enjoyed 'The Belgariad' but 'Dragonlance' is better and I would place it second on my list of best fantasy - LoTR being the only series that tops it, in my opinion.
December 14, 2014
I really like Dragonlance, but I didn't like this new generation or this new incarnation of stories. Maybe you will, I dunno.
If you really liked Dragonlance, take a look. If you're new to the world, stick with the 80s books. But hey - that's just me.
If you really liked Dragonlance, take a look. If you're new to the world, stick with the 80s books. But hey - that's just me.
April 2, 2021
It is a book that I have wanted to read for a long time. Many years have passed since Lance's war. The people of Ansalon have rebuilt their lives, homes, and families. Lance's companions have returned home, ready to rebuild their lives. However, peace in Krynn comes with a price. The forces of darkness are always vigilant. When subtle changes begin to occur, new problems arise. I loved the story, the magic, the dragons, and the knights. Amazingly, a lot of fantasy elements were in the book accurately. I also liked that throughout the book narrated epic adventures. I need to continue reading more books about this saga.
August 17, 2018
A fantastic collection of short stories that flesh out the world of Dragonlance.
August 18, 2016
meeting with the second generation, all the children of the companions we got to know so well is lovely but i think the kids are not taking after their parents!! the forces of evil seem to be rising once again and i wonder whose children will go the way of evil and who of good!! this book has some very humorous bits in it, had me laughing alone with tears down my cheeks like an idiot but the gnomes are so funny!! and we get to meet our very first ogre!! suspense is not missing in this book either especially in the part regarding the son of laurana and tanis half elven!!
April 14, 2015
I liked this book,you get to meet a few kids of the Heroes of the Lance Wars.They get to go on and start their adventures.
December 15, 2017
Like many readers I was a teenage fan of the first Dragonlance trilogies, reading them avidly on release in the Eighties, and playing some of the accompanying modules (made it to DL6).
It's always tricky to return to a series you loved as a kid. You risk disappointment, not least because the series has grown from the 9books I owned (the Tales, the Chronicles, and the Legends) to 200 or so. But couple of years ago I re-read the first six, and fantasy tropes aside, enjoyed the light fun feel to them amidst the current vogue for dark gritty fantasy.
So, the Next Generation.
Clearly the book is a bridge between the aforementioned Twins series, and the Dragons of Summer Flame, which as I understand kicks in a new era. It's presented as a collection of novellas, three of which I think were published before. All five feature the offspring of the Heroes of the Lance, with the slightly irritating feature of naming them after the prior characters in some way (Sturm, Tanin, etc). The stories are variable, and somewhat contrived, but nonetheless mainly enjoyable. Of the five, three were stronger, one okay, and one weak.
Kitiara's Son, and The Sacrifice (about Tanis and Laurana's son, Gilthas) were enjoyable, with a feel of the original series about them. The former suffered with too much exposition, but was quite creative and engaging. Certainly a set-up for the next proper book. The latter was a good story, with a nice mix of political intrigue, good use of characters, and a nicely done relationship between Tanis and his son.
The Legacy looked at Caramon and Palin, and was one I really enjoyed, and the machinations of the mages, and Caramon's double standards re warriors vs mages, held my interest.
The other two tales weren't so well done: Wanna Bet was daft, but harmless enough. Raistlins Daughter... hmmm, really clunky and unbelievable, and a clumsy set-up for the next book. Sure with their imaginations, Weis and Hickman could've done better.
I'm in two minds about the writing. The Dragonlance world (to my stage of reading) felt wonderfully realised and detailed, and develops and evolves in a fairly convincing manner for this type of fantasy. The style of writing is amateur at times, with changing point-of-views and over-use of verb alternatives to 'said' (everything is exclaimed, winced, proclaimed etc etc) which can be distracting. Every dialogue line has to be reinforced with the authors telling you every nuance of reaction, every aspect of thought, and it slows the pace considerably in places.
Minor grumbles, as it has a certain magic and charm to it that have persisted for me since my early days with it. A necessary prequel to the bigger following work, which I'll be heading onto soon.
It's always tricky to return to a series you loved as a kid. You risk disappointment, not least because the series has grown from the 9books I owned (the Tales, the Chronicles, and the Legends) to 200 or so. But couple of years ago I re-read the first six, and fantasy tropes aside, enjoyed the light fun feel to them amidst the current vogue for dark gritty fantasy.
So, the Next Generation.
Clearly the book is a bridge between the aforementioned Twins series, and the Dragons of Summer Flame, which as I understand kicks in a new era. It's presented as a collection of novellas, three of which I think were published before. All five feature the offspring of the Heroes of the Lance, with the slightly irritating feature of naming them after the prior characters in some way (Sturm, Tanin, etc). The stories are variable, and somewhat contrived, but nonetheless mainly enjoyable. Of the five, three were stronger, one okay, and one weak.
Kitiara's Son, and The Sacrifice (about Tanis and Laurana's son, Gilthas) were enjoyable, with a feel of the original series about them. The former suffered with too much exposition, but was quite creative and engaging. Certainly a set-up for the next proper book. The latter was a good story, with a nice mix of political intrigue, good use of characters, and a nicely done relationship between Tanis and his son.
The Legacy looked at Caramon and Palin, and was one I really enjoyed, and the machinations of the mages, and Caramon's double standards re warriors vs mages, held my interest.
The other two tales weren't so well done: Wanna Bet was daft, but harmless enough. Raistlins Daughter... hmmm, really clunky and unbelievable, and a clumsy set-up for the next book. Sure with their imaginations, Weis and Hickman could've done better.
I'm in two minds about the writing. The Dragonlance world (to my stage of reading) felt wonderfully realised and detailed, and develops and evolves in a fairly convincing manner for this type of fantasy. The style of writing is amateur at times, with changing point-of-views and over-use of verb alternatives to 'said' (everything is exclaimed, winced, proclaimed etc etc) which can be distracting. Every dialogue line has to be reinforced with the authors telling you every nuance of reaction, every aspect of thought, and it slows the pace considerably in places.
Minor grumbles, as it has a certain magic and charm to it that have persisted for me since my early days with it. A necessary prequel to the bigger following work, which I'll be heading onto soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2024
The Second Generation is a collection of half a dozen short stories (some written in the 90s, some almost a decade earlier) about the children of some of the characters in the original Dragonlance trilogy. Most of them are fairly low stakes adventures, and some are much better than others. In the stories dealing with the Majere boys and Tanis's son, Weis and Hickman pull of a surprising amount of character growth in a short space (for authors we're used to seeing do much less in novel trilogies), all about young men leaving the nest.
There are two much worse stories, both of which include older women manipulating men into sex (for reasons that I understand retcon a previous book and are retconned in a future book, so completely pointless).
I don't know maybe this is worth reading as a prelude to Dragons of Summer Flame. The Majere boys wacky adventure on the gnome ship was a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed the political intrigue and family drama of the last story. But most of it runs from dull to hammy to downright uncomfortable.
There are two much worse stories, both of which include older women manipulating men into sex (for reasons that I understand retcon a previous book and are retconned in a future book, so completely pointless).
I don't know maybe this is worth reading as a prelude to Dragons of Summer Flame. The Majere boys wacky adventure on the gnome ship was a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed the political intrigue and family drama of the last story. But most of it runs from dull to hammy to downright uncomfortable.
March 23, 2024
What the heck. Despite being less than 400 pages long, it felt like forever finishing this book. It consists of five short stories, all of which are bad, the first and the last marginally less than the three in the middle. Unfortunately, this is where the children of the Heroes of the Lance, the main characters of the next books, are being introduced, so I suppose you can't avoid it if you want to continue the Dragonlance saga. At least, I better be needing some of the information I picked up here in the following books, I would hate for this agonizing read to have been unnecessary!
Tanis is as annoying as ever, I was happy to learn he is growing old, hopefully I won't have to read much more about him.
I feel extremely generous giving two stars, the only reason being I only give one stars to DNFs.
Tanis is as annoying as ever, I was happy to learn he is growing old, hopefully I won't have to read much more about him.
I feel extremely generous giving two stars, the only reason being I only give one stars to DNFs.
October 29, 2023
This is a collection of short stories and novellas. It is intended to set up the stories following the original six Weis/Hickman books. Some of the stories are good and some just “ok.” I haven’t read past this book to know if it is required reading or not. Still, the good ones I really enjoyed.
May 26, 2017
Raistlin's daughter is possibly the worst story ever written. The Legacy and Wanna Bet were great, Kitiara's Son was surprisingly good (because I thought the content was going to make me hate everything--I honestly hate kit so much).
July 24, 2019
3,5
Kahramanların hayatlarını yeniden görmek güzeldi.Ama bazı şeyler çok zorlama geldi yine de keyifle okudum gerçi bu kitapta Tas yoktu :(
Kahramanların hayatlarını yeniden görmek güzeldi.Ama bazı şeyler çok zorlama geldi yine de keyifle okudum gerçi bu kitapta Tas yoktu :(
August 23, 2021
Loved how the story wraps around the characters and how they are developed. Can't wait to continue to the next one
November 24, 2015
***3.5***
I'm glad that Weis and Hickman wrote this collection of novellas since, as my brother in law pointed out, it's their world. They know it best.
I like each novella included in the collection. Each one entertained me and kept me in suspense as I read. I like the characters and how Weis and Hickman develop each member of the previous company and his or her life post War of the Lance. The lives they lead now, including the children they have, make sense for the personality they have in the earlier books. I enjoyed Caramon's children, Tanin, Sturm, and Palin, and their stories most of all, but reading about Kitiara's son, Raistlin's daughter, and Tanis's son also fascinated me.
My main complaint about this book is that the Prologue warns the reader not to believe everything she reads because the stories have become legends as their characters are heroes in Ansalon. Therefore, not everything is fact; much is based on hearsay. That means that not everything really happened in the world of Dragonlance. Some did, and some may not have. As a reader, I find that a little frustrating.
Other than that, I gave it 3.5 stars instead of 4 because of the structure. If it was one continuous narrative, it would have been a stronger work. There is a significant time jump between the first story and the others, and there is a flashback story, but those could have been handled appropriately in a novel.
I do want to read Dragons of Summer Flame now that I'm aquatinted with the characters of the next generation. I'm curious about what happens next in this world. I'm definitely a Dragonlance fan, though. If you're not, you may not find this book so entertaining. I find myself wrapped up in the world, the characters, the mythologies, the stories, etc. It's not for everyone, but it's definitely captured me!
I'm glad that Weis and Hickman wrote this collection of novellas since, as my brother in law pointed out, it's their world. They know it best.
I like each novella included in the collection. Each one entertained me and kept me in suspense as I read. I like the characters and how Weis and Hickman develop each member of the previous company and his or her life post War of the Lance. The lives they lead now, including the children they have, make sense for the personality they have in the earlier books. I enjoyed Caramon's children, Tanin, Sturm, and Palin, and their stories most of all, but reading about Kitiara's son, Raistlin's daughter, and Tanis's son also fascinated me.
My main complaint about this book is that the Prologue warns the reader not to believe everything she reads because the stories have become legends as their characters are heroes in Ansalon. Therefore, not everything is fact; much is based on hearsay. That means that not everything really happened in the world of Dragonlance. Some did, and some may not have. As a reader, I find that a little frustrating.
Other than that, I gave it 3.5 stars instead of 4 because of the structure. If it was one continuous narrative, it would have been a stronger work. There is a significant time jump between the first story and the others, and there is a flashback story, but those could have been handled appropriately in a novel.
I do want to read Dragons of Summer Flame now that I'm aquatinted with the characters of the next generation. I'm curious about what happens next in this world. I'm definitely a Dragonlance fan, though. If you're not, you may not find this book so entertaining. I find myself wrapped up in the world, the characters, the mythologies, the stories, etc. It's not for everyone, but it's definitely captured me!
January 14, 2021
Very Disappointing!
I’m reviewing the audible version so I’ll comment on the narration. It was bad & I mean really bad. Not Ax Norman bad but still it’s pretty bad. The voice actor did not seem to understand that while an author may write “whispering” in the text the voice actor can’t whisper so low you can’t hear what’s being said. So you crank up the volume then it’s back to normal voice, or worse yet loud voice, & your eardrums are shattered. This was throughout the entire book so it made the experience horrible.
This book was so bad on so many levels. While it did have some of the original characters it was mostly about their children. It can be broke down into 4 parts.
Sturm & Kitiara’s son
Caramon & Tika’s 3 sons
The legend of Raistlin’s daughter
Tanis & Laurana’s Son
This breakdown made the book feel very disjointed. The 1st & 4th parts were ok but the 2nd & 3rd were absolute garbage. Maybe it’s me but I’m so tired of the Majere clan at this point reading anything about them is tedious. Caramon is as dumb as ever so of course he raised 2 really stupid sons & a less stupid one that is stunted in his maturity. This stunted maturity comes about the same why Caramon helped to create Raistlin’s anger & resentment. It’s just so tiring! The legend of Raistlin’s daughter was just uninteresting & boring. Everything that happens in it is easily guessed before it happens. No new ideas or thoughts were introduced so really what was the point?
Like I said the 1st & 4th parts were serviceable but nothing more. I certainly would not recommend reading this just for those two parts.
I’m reviewing the audible version so I’ll comment on the narration. It was bad & I mean really bad. Not Ax Norman bad but still it’s pretty bad. The voice actor did not seem to understand that while an author may write “whispering” in the text the voice actor can’t whisper so low you can’t hear what’s being said. So you crank up the volume then it’s back to normal voice, or worse yet loud voice, & your eardrums are shattered. This was throughout the entire book so it made the experience horrible.
This book was so bad on so many levels. While it did have some of the original characters it was mostly about their children. It can be broke down into 4 parts.
Sturm & Kitiara’s son
Caramon & Tika’s 3 sons
The legend of Raistlin’s daughter
Tanis & Laurana’s Son
This breakdown made the book feel very disjointed. The 1st & 4th parts were ok but the 2nd & 3rd were absolute garbage. Maybe it’s me but I’m so tired of the Majere clan at this point reading anything about them is tedious. Caramon is as dumb as ever so of course he raised 2 really stupid sons & a less stupid one that is stunted in his maturity. This stunted maturity comes about the same why Caramon helped to create Raistlin’s anger & resentment. It’s just so tiring! The legend of Raistlin’s daughter was just uninteresting & boring. Everything that happens in it is easily guessed before it happens. No new ideas or thoughts were introduced so really what was the point?
Like I said the 1st & 4th parts were serviceable but nothing more. I certainly would not recommend reading this just for those two parts.
November 16, 2015
I have been a fan of dragonlance and the world of Krynn since junior highschool and back then I enjoyed those novels immensely. Now, years later, I return to reading the works of Weis and Hickman once again, starting by The Second Generation and, I have to admit, I was not as thrilled as when I read some of their works years ago. The book itself is of simple plot and I suspect more of a filler between stories. Some of the old characters return, but in a way that seemed... forced. The writing itself was simple in some places and too formal in others making it hard for me to completely immerse into the story. The plot got too melodramatic for my liking in places. Most of the time, the characters' reactions seemed too dramatic and abrupt. However, I did enjoy the naivety of the book, something that you don't easily find in modern fantasy anymore. It was an easy read and did have a variety of characters. All in all, I think that those who are just beginning to read fantasy should start with novels like this, whereas others who are more experienced in the field would find it hard not to think of this novel as a bit childish.
June 15, 2017
The Second Generation serves the distinct purpose of setting the scene for the fourth Dragons book. It slots in neatly after the epic and highly accomplished War of the Lance series from Weis and Hickman. Each of the five stories is standalone and in each episode the sons and daughters of the original heroes are explored and given an opportunity to taste adventure. The stories don't capture the magic of the full books from Weis and Hickman, but hint at the flavour they contained. As such, Second Generation might be a disappointment to those expecting anything epic, since these tales are not designed to be so in any way. They serve as stepping stones which add some interesting back-story but little more. Definitely for fans, not a book to read otherwise.
July 20, 2022
The Second Generation is an extremely middling chapter in the Dragonlance series.
The novellas contained within feel rather repetitive in their setup and sequencing, to the point that Palin and Gilthas felt like copy-paste characters stuck in the same book together: whiny, rebellious teens who suddenly realise that they should have more respect for their fathers through being shown how flagrantly wrong they are. Like, great job Hickman and Weiss. Very original, putting two versions of the same story in one collection.
For now, I won’t be continuing with Dragonlance. This one was uninteresting enough to sufficiently quell any immediate urge to go on.
The novellas contained within feel rather repetitive in their setup and sequencing, to the point that Palin and Gilthas felt like copy-paste characters stuck in the same book together: whiny, rebellious teens who suddenly realise that they should have more respect for their fathers through being shown how flagrantly wrong they are. Like, great job Hickman and Weiss. Very original, putting two versions of the same story in one collection.
For now, I won’t be continuing with Dragonlance. This one was uninteresting enough to sufficiently quell any immediate urge to go on.
May 7, 2010
If you loved the original six Dragonlance books, just skip this one. It basically craps on whatever parts of the story it does just chew up and re-use in an effort to relaunch the series. The writing is very bland and purely functional, and since it doesn't serve anything worth telling, the book ends up being a bland read on top of a lackluster story and unworthy inheritor of its prequels. Proof that some tales are better off being left where they ended.
February 15, 2022
It's almost embarrassing to mark this down to three stars given that I absolutely wolfed it down between gulps of youthful nostalgia. I must have read some of these stories in my teenage years as they were very familiar to me, but I hadn't read them all. In particular, the story of Gilthas was fresh and exciting - I'd always wanted more from that story. But the three stars are, first of all, relative. The Second Generation is nowhere near as good as the original trilogies, nor as exciting as the epic Dragons of Summer Flame. It does provide the bridge between the two but therein lies its second weakness. This collection is only for the initiated. Without a knowledge of the first books and the character relationships, The Second Generation would fall completely flat. Objectively speaking, the writing is also weaker and more constructed. Weis and Hickman are restricted by the function of these stories - to fill in the gaps and allow them free reign to plunge into the next big adventure. They are very aware of this and, in a foreword, create something of a mythology of Dragonlance storytelling by referencing the hundreds of other stories told about the original companions. These, they claim, may be the truth but the famous Heroes of the Lance have become legends and one cannot trust every tall tale told about them.
What Weis and Hickman do well, as always, is characters. Their transparent affection for their characters is what makes their books such heartfelt fantasy. It's what bridges the gap between escapism and reality. They touch on themes that reflect the real world and, despite the grand dramas they find themselves in, the characters are thoroughly relatable. Caramon and Tanis are both fathers in crisis, a believable struggle given their troubled background. One feels for them strongly as they try to protect their respective sons from the darkness in their own pasts. Sure, everything is a bit contrived. Caramon has a magic-loving son that might follow in the footsteps of his megalomaniac uncle. Steel Brightblade's soul is literally a battleground between the evil of his mother and the goodness of his father. Gilthas is the typical over-protected runaway who wants to rebel against his parent's regime and prove his independence. There is an overwhelming need for continuity, an overdependence on the "blood" they carry that defines their fates. These children of heroes are doomed from the start. While the debates around Tanis and Caramon's dubious parenting skills are touchingly done, one can't help but feel that nature will always win against nurture in this constructed world of destinies and heritage.
Of the five stories, Steel Brightblade's is perhaps the best. The combination of his parent's character is carefully managed (making Steel a great character in the next book) and the infiltration of the evil knights' stronghold is the perfect, tension-building prologue to Dragons of Summer Flame. On the other hand, the ridiculous fantasy-comedy of Wanna Bet? falls rather flat. Comic relief is an important staple of the series (usually in the form of Tasslehof) but here the entire story of Palin and his brothers on the chaotic island of the Greygem is simply farcical. Palin, who develops into another great future character, also has to struggle through the rather forced story of his magical examination. Dalamar, usually such a believably enigmatic character, has to deceive Palin and his father by conjuring up illusions of Caramon's twin. It all seems quite unnecessarily hurtful and, in another internal battle of the soul, Palin's allegiance to the forces of good never seems to be in doubt, removing any tension from the story. However, the little mysteries do add to the mythology of Raistlin - Palin's acquisition of the staff and the fairy tale story of Raistlin's daughter feel like stories that Weis and Hickman wanted to happen but then decided to leave as conjecture. It must have been very tempting to truly give their dark mage such a romantic seduction tale, and to write about his mysterious daughter.
The final story, of Gilthas's abduction and coronation as the elven king, is a lot of fun. While it doesn't play much of a role in the next book, Weis and Hickman did continue the story eventually and stories of elven politics always captured my imagination. Add to that the plots and plans of Dalamar and Tanis, a brilliant pair to put together in such a role, and you have a swashbuckling tale of political intrigue, rescues, escapes and brave sacrifices. The developments between Tanis and his son are a little rushed but, if you've already invested in the characters, it remains believable and emotive. Weis and Hickman created a wonderful world with the original Dragonlance. In this bridge to their second coming, you sense the excitement of revisiting their characters and revealing their fates. That the authors are equally concerned with the fates of their characters is, simply put, what makes the Dragonlance series such successful, empathetic fantasy.
What Weis and Hickman do well, as always, is characters. Their transparent affection for their characters is what makes their books such heartfelt fantasy. It's what bridges the gap between escapism and reality. They touch on themes that reflect the real world and, despite the grand dramas they find themselves in, the characters are thoroughly relatable. Caramon and Tanis are both fathers in crisis, a believable struggle given their troubled background. One feels for them strongly as they try to protect their respective sons from the darkness in their own pasts. Sure, everything is a bit contrived. Caramon has a magic-loving son that might follow in the footsteps of his megalomaniac uncle. Steel Brightblade's soul is literally a battleground between the evil of his mother and the goodness of his father. Gilthas is the typical over-protected runaway who wants to rebel against his parent's regime and prove his independence. There is an overwhelming need for continuity, an overdependence on the "blood" they carry that defines their fates. These children of heroes are doomed from the start. While the debates around Tanis and Caramon's dubious parenting skills are touchingly done, one can't help but feel that nature will always win against nurture in this constructed world of destinies and heritage.
Of the five stories, Steel Brightblade's is perhaps the best. The combination of his parent's character is carefully managed (making Steel a great character in the next book) and the infiltration of the evil knights' stronghold is the perfect, tension-building prologue to Dragons of Summer Flame. On the other hand, the ridiculous fantasy-comedy of Wanna Bet? falls rather flat. Comic relief is an important staple of the series (usually in the form of Tasslehof) but here the entire story of Palin and his brothers on the chaotic island of the Greygem is simply farcical. Palin, who develops into another great future character, also has to struggle through the rather forced story of his magical examination. Dalamar, usually such a believably enigmatic character, has to deceive Palin and his father by conjuring up illusions of Caramon's twin. It all seems quite unnecessarily hurtful and, in another internal battle of the soul, Palin's allegiance to the forces of good never seems to be in doubt, removing any tension from the story. However, the little mysteries do add to the mythology of Raistlin - Palin's acquisition of the staff and the fairy tale story of Raistlin's daughter feel like stories that Weis and Hickman wanted to happen but then decided to leave as conjecture. It must have been very tempting to truly give their dark mage such a romantic seduction tale, and to write about his mysterious daughter.
The final story, of Gilthas's abduction and coronation as the elven king, is a lot of fun. While it doesn't play much of a role in the next book, Weis and Hickman did continue the story eventually and stories of elven politics always captured my imagination. Add to that the plots and plans of Dalamar and Tanis, a brilliant pair to put together in such a role, and you have a swashbuckling tale of political intrigue, rescues, escapes and brave sacrifices. The developments between Tanis and his son are a little rushed but, if you've already invested in the characters, it remains believable and emotive. Weis and Hickman created a wonderful world with the original Dragonlance. In this bridge to their second coming, you sense the excitement of revisiting their characters and revealing their fates. That the authors are equally concerned with the fates of their characters is, simply put, what makes the Dragonlance series such successful, empathetic fantasy.
June 20, 2024
(La siguiente reseña y su valoración están hechas a partir de la lectura tal como fueron propuestas en la edición original americana)
Continúo con mis lecturas del hilo central de la Dragonlance. Esta vez, se trata de un libro conformado por cinco historias, definidas como cuentos, aunque cuatro de ellas están más cercanas a la novela corta (con su división por capítulos incluida) que al cuento o relato corto.
Desgraciadamente, la edición en castellano no se publicó como la original en inglés y solo cuenta con dos historias y unos apéndices. Los editores consideraron que, como los otros tres relatos ya habían sido publicados en las tres recopilaciones de Cuentos de la Dragonlance (al igual que las ediciones originales), no era necesario hacer la misma publicación.
Resta decir que para este cronista es una decisión nefasta (y puramente comercial) que quita mucho valor al libro si no se dispone de todas las ediciones para poder hacer una lectura completa.
En mi primera lectura, hace años, no disponía de los volúmenes de Los Cuentos, por lo que tuve una lectura parcial. Muchos años después, contando con todos los ejemplares, he podido hacer la lectura completa.
Lo importante es que estas cinco historias son determinantes para construir nuevos personajes y una nueva situación en los mundos de Krynn, permitiendo continuar la historia más allá de los personajes originales y la idea inicial.
Todas estas historias tienen en común a alguno de los hijos de los carismáticos protagonistas originales, quienes también aparecen para pasar el testigo y hacer una digna despedida. Han pasado más de 20 años y ahora encontramos a estos héroes en su madurez, lejos de batallas y con pocas ganas de empuñar armas.
A través de diferentes aventuras se revelan partes desconocidas de la mitología y las razas, así como la evolución que ha sufrido el mundo durante este período. La primera y la quinta historia sirven como puente con las historias anteriores.
Por ello, se nota una mejora ostensible en la forma de narrar y en el aprovechamiento del formato de historia corta. En particular, destacaría la quinta historia por su estructura, su escritura y su función como chispa inicial para dar paso a un nuevo mundo y las historias que se escribieron posteriormente.
Los autores quisieron que la evolución de la historia no fuera la obtención de poder por los logros de los héroes (no dudo que la tentación debió de ser grande). En gran medida, como ya se ve en 'Leyendas', la mayoría de los héroes regresaron a sus vidas anteriores, siendo reconocidos por aquellos que los encontraban. La intención siempre fue clara: Dragonlance es una saga de aventuras, héroes y villanos, y los autores deseaban preservar esta esencia original.
No soy muy amante de los cuentos o relatos cortos, pero reconozco que para el objetivo de presentar nuevos héroes, el formato es ideal. Las historias son totalmente diferentes entre sí, incluso en el tono; algunas son más serias y otras más desinhibidas, lo que lleva a una lectura amena y nada cansada. Como es habitual en estos libros, habrá historias que lleguen más y otras menos, dependiendo de los gustos.
Recomendaría esta lectura solo a aquellos que ya se han iniciado con la saga, han leído las dos primeras trilogías y desean seguir explorando la historia central de esta extensa saga. La Segunda Generación no solo expande el universo de Krynn, sino que también ofrece una transición fluida hacia los siguientes libros de la saga, enriqueciendo la experiencia del lector.
Continúo con mis lecturas del hilo central de la Dragonlance. Esta vez, se trata de un libro conformado por cinco historias, definidas como cuentos, aunque cuatro de ellas están más cercanas a la novela corta (con su división por capítulos incluida) que al cuento o relato corto.
Desgraciadamente, la edición en castellano no se publicó como la original en inglés y solo cuenta con dos historias y unos apéndices. Los editores consideraron que, como los otros tres relatos ya habían sido publicados en las tres recopilaciones de Cuentos de la Dragonlance (al igual que las ediciones originales), no era necesario hacer la misma publicación.
Resta decir que para este cronista es una decisión nefasta (y puramente comercial) que quita mucho valor al libro si no se dispone de todas las ediciones para poder hacer una lectura completa.
En mi primera lectura, hace años, no disponía de los volúmenes de Los Cuentos, por lo que tuve una lectura parcial. Muchos años después, contando con todos los ejemplares, he podido hacer la lectura completa.
Lo importante es que estas cinco historias son determinantes para construir nuevos personajes y una nueva situación en los mundos de Krynn, permitiendo continuar la historia más allá de los personajes originales y la idea inicial.
Todas estas historias tienen en común a alguno de los hijos de los carismáticos protagonistas originales, quienes también aparecen para pasar el testigo y hacer una digna despedida. Han pasado más de 20 años y ahora encontramos a estos héroes en su madurez, lejos de batallas y con pocas ganas de empuñar armas.
A través de diferentes aventuras se revelan partes desconocidas de la mitología y las razas, así como la evolución que ha sufrido el mundo durante este período. La primera y la quinta historia sirven como puente con las historias anteriores.
Por ello, se nota una mejora ostensible en la forma de narrar y en el aprovechamiento del formato de historia corta. En particular, destacaría la quinta historia por su estructura, su escritura y su función como chispa inicial para dar paso a un nuevo mundo y las historias que se escribieron posteriormente.
Los autores quisieron que la evolución de la historia no fuera la obtención de poder por los logros de los héroes (no dudo que la tentación debió de ser grande). En gran medida, como ya se ve en 'Leyendas', la mayoría de los héroes regresaron a sus vidas anteriores, siendo reconocidos por aquellos que los encontraban. La intención siempre fue clara: Dragonlance es una saga de aventuras, héroes y villanos, y los autores deseaban preservar esta esencia original.
No soy muy amante de los cuentos o relatos cortos, pero reconozco que para el objetivo de presentar nuevos héroes, el formato es ideal. Las historias son totalmente diferentes entre sí, incluso en el tono; algunas son más serias y otras más desinhibidas, lo que lleva a una lectura amena y nada cansada. Como es habitual en estos libros, habrá historias que lleguen más y otras menos, dependiendo de los gustos.
Recomendaría esta lectura solo a aquellos que ya se han iniciado con la saga, han leído las dos primeras trilogías y desean seguir explorando la historia central de esta extensa saga. La Segunda Generación no solo expande el universo de Krynn, sino que también ofrece una transición fluida hacia los siguientes libros de la saga, enriqueciendo la experiencia del lector.
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