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Dragonlance: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Common questions
When was the Dragonlance concept created?
The concept for Dragonlance was born in 1982 during a drive from Utah to Wisconsin. Tracy Hickman and his wife Laura discussed the idea while heading to a job interview at TSR, Inc.
Who wrote the Dragonlance novels?
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman wrote the central books of the Dragonlance series. They collaborated to write the prologue and first five chapters of Dragons of Autumn Twilight after TSR fired the original author.
What are the five ages of Krynn?
The fictional world of Krynn consists of five ages including the Age of Dreams, the Age of Might, the Age of Despair, and the Age of Mortals. The Age of Despair follows the Cataclysm which obliterates the empire of Istar and marks the War of the Lance.
Who are the Heroes of the Lance?
The Heroes of the Lance include Raistlin Majere, Caramon, Tanis Half-Elven, Tasslehoff Burrfoot, Flint Fireforge, Sturm Brightblade, Goldmoon, Riverwind, Laurana Kanan, and Tika Waylan. These protagonists were created by Weis and Hickman and fleshed out as player characters in gaming sessions at Hickman's apartment.
What are the gods of Krynn?
The gods of Krynn include the High God, the good Paladine, the neutral Gilean, and the evil Takhisis. These deities are opposed by Chaos and serve as the source of magic for clerics and wizards in the world.
How many Dragonlance novels have been published?
The Dragonlance franchise has spawned over 190 novels and has sold more than 22 million copies. A new trilogy of Dragonlance novels was released in 2022 and the series has been translated into more than a dozen languages.
Dragonlance
The concept for an entire fantasy universe was born in the backseat of a car, during a drive from Utah to Wisconsin in 1982. Tracy Hickman and his wife Laura were unemployed and heading to a job interview at TSR, Inc., a company that would soon become the engine of the fantasy role-playing game industry. As they drove, they discussed two ideas that had been simmering for years: a world built to support a long-running storyline, and a world dominated by dragons. This conversation did not remain a casual thought; it became the blueprint for Dragonlance, a shared universe that would eventually spawn over 190 novels, countless games, and a cultural phenomenon that rivaled the most famous fantasy worlds of the era. The idea was so compelling that TSR's marketing department, which felt they had enough dungeons but not enough dragons, immediately embraced the concept. They envisioned a series of twelve modules, each featuring a different dragon, a structure that would eventually evolve into a sprawling saga of novels and games. The journey that began in that car would lead to the creation of the Heroes of the Lance, a group of protagonists who would become icons of the fantasy genre, and a world that would be explored for decades.
The Authors Who Became Heroes
The story of Dragonlance is inextricably linked to the partnership between Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis, two writers who turned a corporate assignment into a literary empire. Weis was initially hired as an editor, but she and Hickman quickly realized that the author TSR had assigned to write the novels was not capturing the vision they had in mind. In a bold move, they collaborated over a single weekend to write the prologue and the first five chapters of what would become Dragons of Autumn Twilight. TSR liked their treatment so much that they fired the original author and gave the assignment to the couple. This decision changed the course of fantasy publishing, as Weis and Hickman went on to write the central books of the Dragonlance series, creating a narrative depth that was rare for the time. Their collaboration was not without its challenges; they faced a rift with TSR in the mid-1980s when the company turned down their Darksword series, leading them to Bantam Books. Yet, they returned to write Dragons of Summer Flame in 1995, and later the War of Souls trilogy, which revitalized the setting and made them literary stars. The duo's ability to balance the demands of a corporate franchise with their own creative vision allowed them to create a world that felt both epic and personal, with characters who were flawed, complex, and deeply human.
The World That Refused to Die
The fictional world of Krynn is a place of five ages, each marked by cataclysmic events and the rise and fall of civilizations. The first age is the time of creation, when the gods are born and Krynn is formed. The second age, the Age of Dreams, is marked by the rapid growth of the world's first great civilizations and the appearance of myriad new races. This era is also marked by three great wars between dragons and their minions. Following the Third Dragon War, in the Age of Might, the Cataclysm obliterates the great empire of Istar and changes almost the entire surface of Krynn. A 300-year depression follows this event, in what is called the Age of Despair. This period also marks the War of the Lance, the central conflict of the original Dragonlance trilogy. When Dragonlance was first introduced to Dungeons & Dragons, events such as the Lost Wars happened during The Age of Despair. Later Age of Mortals novels and game supplements took Krynn into the Fifth Age, the Age of Mortals, where the gods have withdrawn and mortals must find their own way. The world of Krynn is not just a backdrop for adventure; it is a character in its own right, with a history that is as rich and complex as any in fantasy literature. The gods of Krynn, including the High God and his children, the good Paladine, the neutral Gilean, and the evil Takhisis, are opposed by Chaos, who seeks to destroy Krynn. The world is also home to a variety of races, including humans, elves, dwarves, kender, gnomes, and minotaurs, each with their own cultures, histories, and conflicts. The world of Krynn is a place where the lines between good and evil are often blurred, and where the actions of mortals can have far-reaching consequences.
The Heroes of the Lance are the protagonists of the Chronicles trilogy, the first series of Dragonlance books. They were created by Weis and Hickman, then fleshed out as player characters in gaming sessions of Dungeons & Dragons at Hickman's apartment. One player at this initial gaming session was game designer Terry Phillips, who was playing as Raistlin. According to Hickman in the foreword to The Soulforge, "[we] were just settling in to the game when I turned to my good friend Terry Phillips and asked what his character was doing. Terry spoke...and the world of Krynn was forever changed. His rasping voice, his sarcasm and bitterness all masking an arrogance and power that never needed to be stated suddenly were real. Everyone in the room was both transfixed and terrified. To this day Margaret [Weis] swears that Terry wore the black robes to the party that night." The Heroes of the Lance include Raistlin Majere, a powerful mage who struggles with his own inner demons; his twin brother Caramon, a strong but simple-minded warrior; Tanis Half-Elven, a half-elf who struggles with his identity; Tasslehoff Burrfoot, a kender who is curious and mischievous; Flint Fireforge, a dwarf who is a master of his craft; Sturm Brightblade, a Solamnic knight who is a paragon of honor; Goldmoon and Riverwind, barbarians who are the spiritual leaders of the group; Laurana Kanan, an elf who is a skilled archer; and Tika Waylan, a human who is a strong and independent woman. The Heroes of the Lance are not just a group of adventurers; they are a family, bound together by their shared experiences and their love for one another. Their story is one of sacrifice, redemption, and the power of friendship, and it has inspired generations of fans to believe that even the smallest among us can change the world.
The Gods Who Shaped the World
The gods of Krynn are the driving force behind the world's history and the conflicts that shape the lives of its inhabitants. The High God and his children, the good Paladine, the neutral Gilean, and the evil Takhisis, are the central figures in the pantheon of Krynn. Paladine is the god of good, who represents hope, justice, and the light of the world. Gilean is the god of neutrality, who represents balance and the natural order of the world. Takhisis is the god of evil, who represents chaos, destruction, and the darkness of the world. The gods are opposed by Chaos, who seeks to destroy Krynn and bring about the end of the world. The gods of Krynn are not just abstract concepts; they are active participants in the world's history, intervening in the lives of mortals and shaping the course of events. The gods of Krynn are also the source of magic for the world's inhabitants. Clerics derive magical powers from their gods, and wizards derive power from the three moon gods, good Solinari, neutral Lunitari, and evil Nuitari. The gods of Krynn are also the source of the world's conflicts, as they struggle for dominance over the world and its inhabitants. The gods of Krynn are not just powerful beings; they are complex and flawed, with their own agendas and motivations. The gods of Krynn are also the source of the world's history, as they have shaped the world's history and the lives of its inhabitants for thousands of years. The gods of Krynn are not just the gods of Krynn; they are the gods of the world, and their influence extends far beyond the boundaries of the world of Krynn.
The Artifacts That Defined the Saga
Dragonlances are rare and not commonly traded artifacts that play a central role in the Dragonlance saga. There are lesser dragonlances, which are made when only one of the artifacts is used to create them, and greater dragonlances, which are made when both artifacts are used to make them. Greater dragonlances are blessed with the power of Good, unlike lesser dragonlances. There are two sizes of dragonlance. The smaller footman's dragonlance is around eight feet long and functions as a polearm, while the larger mounted dragonlance is around sixteen feet long and most commonly used when mounted on a dragon. The dragonlances are not just weapons; they are symbols of the world's history and the conflicts that shape the lives of its inhabitants. The dragonlances are also the source of the world's magic, as they are used by the world's heroes to defeat the forces of evil. The dragonlances are also the source of the world's history, as they have shaped the world's history and the lives of its inhabitants for thousands of years. The dragonlances are not just the dragonlances of Krynn; they are the dragonlances of the world, and their influence extends far beyond the boundaries of the world of Krynn. The dragonlances are also the source of the world's conflicts, as they are sought by the forces of evil to destroy the world and bring about the end of the world. The dragonlances are not just weapons; they are symbols of the world's history and the conflicts that shape the lives of its inhabitants.
The Media That Expanded the Universe
The Dragonlance universe has expanded far beyond the original novels and game modules, with a wide range of media that have brought the world of Krynn to life. Eight video games are set in the Dragonlance world, belonging in six different genres and released within five years, from 1988 to 1992. These games include Heroes of the Lance, Dragons of Flame, Shadow Sorcerer, War of the Lance, DragonStrike, and the Gold Box trilogy, which are the only role-playing video games based on Dragonlance. The games are not just adaptations of the novels; they are original stories that expand the world of Krynn and introduce new characters and conflicts. The Dragonlance universe has also been expanded through music, with songs by Nightwish, Lake of Tears, Blind Guardian, and Pyramaze that are inspired by the world of Krynn. The Dragonlance universe has also been expanded through film, with an animated film based on the first Dragonlance book of the same name, released in 2008. The Dragonlance universe has also been expanded through comics, with series by DC Comics, Devil's Due Publishing, and Wizards of the Coast that tell new stories and introduce new characters. The Dragonlance universe has also been expanded through audio adaptations, with a German audio adaptation of the Chronicles Trilogy released in 2011. The Dragonlance universe has also been expanded through board games, with Dragonlance: Warriors of Krynn, a wargame that focuses on military battles during the War of the Lance, released in 2023. The Dragonlance universe has also been expanded through new novels, with a new trilogy of Dragonlance novels released in 2022. The Dragonlance universe has also been expanded through new game modules, with Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen, an adventure module for 5th Edition, released in 2022. The Dragonlance universe has also been expanded through new sourcebooks, with the Dragonlance Campaign Setting, which uses the new Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition rules, released in 2003. The Dragonlance universe has also been expanded through new role-playing games, with the Dragonlance: Fifth Age roleplaying game, which uses cards to determine the effects of actions, released in 1996. The Dragonlance universe has also been expanded through new comics, with The Legend of Huma, Chronicles, and Legends, released in 2003, 2005, and 2008, respectively. The Dragonlance universe has also been expanded through new audio adaptations, with a German audio adaptation of the Chronicles Trilogy released in 2011. The Dragonlance universe has also been expanded through new novels, with a new trilogy of Dragonlance novels released in 2022. The Dragonlance universe has also been expanded through new game modules, with Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen, an adventure module for 5th Edition, released in 2022. The Dragonlance universe has also been expanded through new sourcebooks, with the Dragonlance Campaign Setting, which uses the new Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition rules, released in 2003. The Dragonlance universe has also been expanded through new role-playing games, with the Dragonlance: Fifth Age roleplaying game, which uses cards to determine the effects of actions, released in 1996.
The Legacy That Endures
The legacy of Dragonlance is one of enduring popularity and cultural impact, with a franchise that has sold over 22 million copies and has been translated into more than a dozen languages. The first Dragonlance trilogy, Chronicles, launched the Dungeons & Dragons line of novels, with many of its characters spun off into other novels. Along with Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance is TSR's most popular series of novels. According to The 1990s by Marc Oxoby, what is most notable about the series is that "what may at one time been considered disposable, escapist literature" found "unprecedented popularity" in the 1990s. All of the Dragonlance novels remained in print during the decade, turning Weis and Hickman into literary stars and boosting sales of their non-Dragonlance novels. Although the series was initially published in paperback, its success led to hardcover printings. The hardcover version of Dragons of Summer Flame had an "impressive" first printing of 200,000 books. Every Dragonlance novel by Weis and Hickman since 1995 has been released in hardcover, and some previous novels have been re-released in hardcover collector's editions. Dragonlance made TSR one of the most successful publishers of science fiction and fantasy in the 1990s. By 2008, there were more than 190 novels in the Dragonlance franchise. Weis and Hickman's Dragonlance novels have made over twenty bestseller lists, with sales in excess of 22 million. The pair's novels have been translated into German, Japanese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Spanish, French, Italian, Hebrew, Portuguese, Greek and Turkish and have sold well in the United States, Britain, and Australia. Not all critics have praised Dragonlance and its creators, with some arguing that the series is subpar and that the readership is made up of teenagers who completely replace themselves every three to five years. Despite the criticism, the Dragonlance franchise has endured, with a new trilogy of novels released in 2022 and a new adventure module released in 2022. The Dragonlance franchise has also been expanded through new games, comics, and audio adaptations, with a new trilogy of novels released in 2022 and a new adventure module released in 2022. The Dragonlance franchise has also been expanded through new sourcebooks, with the Dragonlance Campaign Setting, which uses the new Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition rules, released in 2003. The Dragonlance franchise has also been expanded through new role-playing games, with the Dragonlance: Fifth Age roleplaying game, which uses cards to determine the effects of actions, released in 1996. The Dragonlance franchise has also been expanded through new comics, with The Legend of Huma, Chronicles, and Legends, released in 2003, 2005, and 2008, respectively. The Dragonlance franchise has also been expanded through new audio adaptations, with a German audio adaptation of the Chronicles Trilogy released in 2011. The Dragonlance franchise has also been expanded through new novels, with a new trilogy of Dragonlance novels released in 2022. The Dragonlance franchise has also been expanded through new game modules, with Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen, an adventure module for 5th Edition, released in 2022. The Dragonlance franchise has also been expanded through new sourcebooks, with the Dragonlance Campaign Setting, which uses the new Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition rules, released in 2003. The Dragonlance franchise has also been expanded through new role-playing games, with the Dragonlance: Fifth Age roleplaying game, which uses cards to determine the effects of actions, released in 1996.