Dragons in the Archives: The Best of Weis & Hickman

by Margaret Weis (Editor/Contributor), Tracy Hickman (Editor/Contributor), Aron Eisenberg

A collection of the best Dragonlance short stories from Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.
This anthology showcases 20 years of storytelling in the Dragonlance world by gathering into a single volume the most popular stories written by the New York Times best-selling authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Their tales have defined the entire Dragonlance saga from inception to the present day, from the Chronicles to the War of Souls and beyond. Drawn from various Dragonlance anthologies published over the last two decades, each classic story now features an introduction from a Dragonlance author. Each introduction will be different and will share that author's perspective on the past 20 years of Dragonlance tales.


Best / Margaret Weis --
Remembering Dragonlance / Jeff Grubb --
Silken threads / Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman --
Dragons of ancient history / Douglas Niles --
True knight / Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman --
They were not yet famous / Michael Williams --
Story that Tasslehoff promised he would never, ever, ever tell / Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman --
Dead dragon in the road / Jean Blashfield Black --
Master Tall and Master Small / Margaret Weis & Don Perrin --
Demons of the mind / Margaret Weis & Don Perrin --
Raid on the Academy of Sorcery / Margaret Weis --
Growing up Dragonlance / Jamie Chambers --
Traveling players of Gilean / Margaret Weis & Aron Eisenberg --
Through the Dragonlance years with Weis & Hickman.

Genres: Dragonlance, Fantasy, Short Stories, Dungeons and Dragons, Anthologies, Science Fiction Fantasy

374 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 2, 2004

About the author

Margaret 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.

Reviews

[Jim C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating is 4.5 stars.

This is an anthology that takes place in the Dragonlance universe. There has been many anthologies in this world and this book picks the most favored short stories from these anthologies into one collection.

I always feel like anthologies end up with a three star rating because there are some stories I like and some I do not. That is not the case with this collection. I enjoyed every single one. There are some stories with the original companions and some stories with a totally different cast. Some of these stories were printed in magazine form and that was the reason I read this book. These stories were new to me as I never read these before. I liked rereading the others too because these stories are the best of the best. Another highlight was there are interviews with the people who were on the ground floor of this universe and they recount their experiences in getting this universe started.

This is probably my favorite anthology in this universe. Every story was riveting as I revisited old friends and met new characters. The only flaw is that it covers a vast time era and this might confuse the reader as the state of the world of Krynn at that particular moment. That is why I lowered my rating the half star.

[Jonathan Scotese · Rating 3 out of 5]

A selection of Dragonlance short stories mixed with behind the scenes interviews.

If you are a big enough fan to want to read the interviews, the stories are reprints you already know/have. If you aren't a big fan, this isn't a good place to start. I feel like they were going for a "Dreamsongs" by GRRM type feel, but didn't quite pull it off.

[Justin Reedmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting collection of stories, most noteworthy are the first (which sadly sets you up for everything to be as good), and a story Margaret co-wrote with Aaron Eisenberg (what!?!).

You will want to be pretty well versed in the series before picking it up though, otherwise you're in for spoilers from all over.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good just not as strong as what I was hoping. Somethingnwws missing for me from what I truly loved about dragonlance.

Good stories just needed a little more.

[Konrad Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

All great stories, but the brief recollections from TSR staff on the creation of the series priceless.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of the best Dragonlance short stories. What's not to love?

[Marco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up reading Weis and Hickman's novels, hence even simple collections of stories like this one manage to stir something deep inside of me: the longing for many nights spent reading as a child, lost into fantastic worlds. Krynn's feels like home, the characters are childhood friends. This anthology collects many stories written in the past 20 years and they witness the creative path of the Dragonlance world. It feels like picking up an old photo album from my childhood.