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Dragonlance: Heroes #6
Galen Beknighted
The Reluctant Knight Returns
Becoming a knight has changed the Weasel very little. Galen Pathwarden is still reluctant to adventure, still out to save his own skin at virtually any cost. But when his brother Brithelm vanishes mysteriously, Galen sets aside his better judgement and embarks on a quest that leads under the earth, deep into a conspiracy of darkness, and to the end of his courage.
Galen returns to imperiled Solamnia in this exciting sequel to the top-selling Weasel's Luck, also by Michael Williams, the bard of the DragonLance Saga.
The sixth and last in this series of recovers of classic Dragonlance novel tales. This attractive new re-release of Galen Beknighted showcases the new look commissioned for the Heroes series. This title is a sequel to another recently recovered title in this series, Weasel's Luck, and is by the same author.
Becoming a knight has changed the Weasel very little. Galen Pathwarden is still reluctant to adventure, still out to save his own skin at virtually any cost. But when his brother Brithelm vanishes mysteriously, Galen sets aside his better judgement and embarks on a quest that leads under the earth, deep into a conspiracy of darkness, and to the end of his courage.
Galen returns to imperiled Solamnia in this exciting sequel to the top-selling Weasel's Luck, also by Michael Williams, the bard of the DragonLance Saga.
The sixth and last in this series of recovers of classic Dragonlance novel tales. This attractive new re-release of Galen Beknighted showcases the new look commissioned for the Heroes series. This title is a sequel to another recently recovered title in this series, Weasel's Luck, and is by the same author.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
19 people are currently reading
1325 people want to read
About the author
Michael Williams
40 books77 followersMichael Williams was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and through good luck and a roundabout journey through New England, New York, Wisconsin, Britain and Ireland, has ended up less than thirty miles from where he began. Over the past 20 years, he has written a number of strange novels, from the early WEASEL'S LUCK and GALEN BEKNIGHTED in the best-selling DRAGONLANCE series to the more recent lyrical and experimental ARCADY, singled out for praise by Locus and Asimov’s magazines. TRAJAN'S ARCH (to be re-released in 2019) and VINE (2018)(Blackwyrm, 2010 and 2012), two recent novels, have been revised and re-issued by Seventh Star Press as part of the new City Quartet. DOMINIC'S GHOSTS (2018) and TATTERED MEN (to be released in 2019) will complete this large and multi-faceted work.
Williams has a Ph.D. in Humanities, and teaches at the University of Louisville, where he focuses on European Romanticism and the 19th century, the Modern Fantastic, and 20th century film. He is married, and has two grown sons.
Of TRAJAN'S ARCH, he says:
“This is a story that kept entering other stories, like rooms opening into rooms in some big, unwieldy gothic mansion, both hard and necessary to tell. It takes a press with venture and backbone to bring it forth, and I believe I’ve found that press in BlackWyrm.”
VINE, a combination of Greek tragedy and contemporary urban legend, was released this summer by BlackWyrm. In this new novel, Greek Tragedy meets urban legend, as a local dramatic production in a small city goes humorously, then horrifically, awry.
Williams has a Ph.D. in Humanities, and teaches at the University of Louisville, where he focuses on European Romanticism and the 19th century, the Modern Fantastic, and 20th century film. He is married, and has two grown sons.
Of TRAJAN'S ARCH, he says:
“This is a story that kept entering other stories, like rooms opening into rooms in some big, unwieldy gothic mansion, both hard and necessary to tell. It takes a press with venture and backbone to bring it forth, and I believe I’ve found that press in BlackWyrm.”
VINE, a combination of Greek tragedy and contemporary urban legend, was released this summer by BlackWyrm. In this new novel, Greek Tragedy meets urban legend, as a local dramatic production in a small city goes humorously, then horrifically, awry.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 5, 2026
I have come to the conclusion that I am just not a fan of Michael Williams, or at least his writing in the Dragonlance setting. I have read nearly all of the ones that he has written, and have been thoroughly unimpressed. This was not the worst of them, but also not the best. (The best was probably Weasel's Luck, of which this book is a continuation.)
That said, this felt like an entirely unnecessary continuation. There is maybe a mediocre novella here, stretched to the required 300-page length that these earlier Dragonlance books all seem to fulfill. Galen Beknighted is at least 50% filler. Parts of Galen's quest to find his lost brother consist of encounters that add little to the story or the characters. There are also other POVs and characters that serve almost no purpose except to take up page count. Even the attempts at humor here fall pretty flat (at least for me).
I know that the bar for the earlier Dragonlance books that were not written by Weis and Hickman is fairly low, but I wish it were a bit higher than this.
That said, this felt like an entirely unnecessary continuation. There is maybe a mediocre novella here, stretched to the required 300-page length that these earlier Dragonlance books all seem to fulfill. Galen Beknighted is at least 50% filler. Parts of Galen's quest to find his lost brother consist of encounters that add little to the story or the characters. There are also other POVs and characters that serve almost no purpose except to take up page count. Even the attempts at humor here fall pretty flat (at least for me).
I know that the bar for the earlier Dragonlance books that were not written by Weis and Hickman is fairly low, but I wish it were a bit higher than this.
October 23, 2011
"It was a weak spot in my armor. For even when I signed on for a squirehood of chastity and service, I figured that it was too much to tackle both virtues right away. So the dalliance with Marigold continued until it became an embarrassment: The cakes she sent to my quarters with her maidservants took on naughtier and naughtier shapes until even the stable grooms would blush when they gossiped about it."
Author Michael Williams is no stranger to the shared Dragonlance world. Williams wrote the poems and songs featured in the flagship novels of the line (The Chronicles and Legends Trilogies) and he has written or co-written several novels for the line (The Oath and the Measure, Before the Mask and The Dark Queen).
Galen Beknighted is the sequel to his previous novel Weasel's Luck ((Heroes Book 3). It was originally published as Heroes Volume II, Book III in 1990 and has now been re-released with new cover art by Wizards of the Coast.
The novel continues the misadventures of the noble rogue Galen Pathwarden that were begun in Weasel's Luck. The opening scenes of the novel see Galen Pathwarden becoming a Knight of Solamnia - an event unlikely enough in itself, but one that changes Galen's character little.
He remains as reluctant to place himself in danger as ever and just as likely to involve himself in unwise escapades through his own misjudgment and folly. However, the plot is truly launched when his brother, Brithelm, disappears under suspicious circumstances. Galen feels compelled to search for him - regardless (or perhaps in spite) of his concern for the safety of his own skin - and becomes embroiled in an adventure that tests the limits of his not-so-great courage.
Galen Beknighted, like its predecessor, marks a departure for Dragonlance novels in that it contains none of the headlining characters and personalities of the world - not even as cameos. That said, this book is still heavily ingrained in the Dragonlance milieu featuring of course the Knights of Solamnia, but also the Plainsmen and dark god Sargonnas. This works to the advantage of the novel as it paves fresh ground in a familiar environment very well.
The wealth of characters in this novel are well written and original personalities that are certainly not cut of the same cloth one would expect from a fantasy novel. Galen himself is an obvious example, a somewhat cowardly and self-serving hero. Galen enjoys good character development from the first novel to this one, and although he remains Galen - he is tested by his love for his brother to think beyond his own needs. The characters around him are just as wonderful, and certainly showcase Michael Williams' somewhat satirical view of nobility and aristocracy.
Although a sequel, the book is self-contained and does not require Weasel's Luck to have been read in order to enjoy it, and neither does it leave teasers dangling at its conclusion.
Although thoroughly enjoyed by this reviewer, Galen Beknighted may not be to everyone's taste. Of course this could be said of any novel, but this book might seem a little too light-hearted and irreverent in comparison to many of its peers, and fans of Dragonlance might be disappointed not to read of any of the great movers and shakers of the Dragonlance world.
Galen Beknighted is a freshly written, light-hearted, light read that is well ingrained in the world of Dragonlance. A refreshing change from the epic struggles and heroic cliches of most fantasy novels, Galen Beknighted presents us with a satirical view of the noble society of the Solamnic Knights and introduces us to a fresh cast of original characters.
Buy this book if you (a) Enjoyed Weasel's Luck or The Oath and The Measure, (b) enjoyed the Arcady Series or the From Thief to King Series (both by Michael Williams); or (c) enjoy the novels or short stories by Roger E. Moore and want to read the adventures of a hero who is less than heroic.
Final Grade: B-
Author Michael Williams is no stranger to the shared Dragonlance world. Williams wrote the poems and songs featured in the flagship novels of the line (The Chronicles and Legends Trilogies) and he has written or co-written several novels for the line (The Oath and the Measure, Before the Mask and The Dark Queen).
Galen Beknighted is the sequel to his previous novel Weasel's Luck ((Heroes Book 3). It was originally published as Heroes Volume II, Book III in 1990 and has now been re-released with new cover art by Wizards of the Coast.
The novel continues the misadventures of the noble rogue Galen Pathwarden that were begun in Weasel's Luck. The opening scenes of the novel see Galen Pathwarden becoming a Knight of Solamnia - an event unlikely enough in itself, but one that changes Galen's character little.
He remains as reluctant to place himself in danger as ever and just as likely to involve himself in unwise escapades through his own misjudgment and folly. However, the plot is truly launched when his brother, Brithelm, disappears under suspicious circumstances. Galen feels compelled to search for him - regardless (or perhaps in spite) of his concern for the safety of his own skin - and becomes embroiled in an adventure that tests the limits of his not-so-great courage.
Galen Beknighted, like its predecessor, marks a departure for Dragonlance novels in that it contains none of the headlining characters and personalities of the world - not even as cameos. That said, this book is still heavily ingrained in the Dragonlance milieu featuring of course the Knights of Solamnia, but also the Plainsmen and dark god Sargonnas. This works to the advantage of the novel as it paves fresh ground in a familiar environment very well.
The wealth of characters in this novel are well written and original personalities that are certainly not cut of the same cloth one would expect from a fantasy novel. Galen himself is an obvious example, a somewhat cowardly and self-serving hero. Galen enjoys good character development from the first novel to this one, and although he remains Galen - he is tested by his love for his brother to think beyond his own needs. The characters around him are just as wonderful, and certainly showcase Michael Williams' somewhat satirical view of nobility and aristocracy.
Although a sequel, the book is self-contained and does not require Weasel's Luck to have been read in order to enjoy it, and neither does it leave teasers dangling at its conclusion.
Although thoroughly enjoyed by this reviewer, Galen Beknighted may not be to everyone's taste. Of course this could be said of any novel, but this book might seem a little too light-hearted and irreverent in comparison to many of its peers, and fans of Dragonlance might be disappointed not to read of any of the great movers and shakers of the Dragonlance world.
Galen Beknighted is a freshly written, light-hearted, light read that is well ingrained in the world of Dragonlance. A refreshing change from the epic struggles and heroic cliches of most fantasy novels, Galen Beknighted presents us with a satirical view of the noble society of the Solamnic Knights and introduces us to a fresh cast of original characters.
Buy this book if you (a) Enjoyed Weasel's Luck or The Oath and The Measure, (b) enjoyed the Arcady Series or the From Thief to King Series (both by Michael Williams); or (c) enjoy the novels or short stories by Roger E. Moore and want to read the adventures of a hero who is less than heroic.
Final Grade: B-
June 13, 2016
Sequels often fall short of the original. Sadly this is the case with the sequel to Weasel's Luck. It's not that this is a bad book, not by any means. But, it lacks the overall subversive tone of the first. Sir Galen, while still amusing, lacks that weasel like ability to dodge trouble. It is one thing to have someone like Galen avoiding trouble and then justifying it with his twisted logic, but to have Sir Galen who is trying to be a good knight takes away some of Weasel's charm. He is still not very good, but he isn't an outright coward.
The book does wrap up a story started in the first novel- what was the deal with those six opals that the Scorpion had? We find that those stones were put into play by Sargonnas, the Dark Consort and the Dark God of Vengance. The revolve around awakening the Worm of Solamnia whioch sleeps below the earth. The rest of it is Sir Galen leading an intrepid group of adventurers to stop the plot. Some old familiar faces make a comeback from his loony clerical brother Brithelm to his older brother Alfric, who is now his squire.
As I said-this is a good story and well written. But, I liked the younger crafty "weasel" not the Sir Galen. Galen is not a good knight, and if I wanted a story about a proper Solamnic knight I'd read about one of the good ones- Sturm, Huma, etc...the true heroes of the story. Galen worked because he wasn't instrumental to the story-just a weasely third son that got roped into the Order when his older brother proved to be a clod and his 2nd brother a mystic. It takes away from the appeal of Galen when he is turned into a knight proper. Still, all in all, this is a good story-it just never measures up to the original. But isn't that often the case with sequels?
The book does wrap up a story started in the first novel- what was the deal with those six opals that the Scorpion had? We find that those stones were put into play by Sargonnas, the Dark Consort and the Dark God of Vengance. The revolve around awakening the Worm of Solamnia whioch sleeps below the earth. The rest of it is Sir Galen leading an intrepid group of adventurers to stop the plot. Some old familiar faces make a comeback from his loony clerical brother Brithelm to his older brother Alfric, who is now his squire.
As I said-this is a good story and well written. But, I liked the younger crafty "weasel" not the Sir Galen. Galen is not a good knight, and if I wanted a story about a proper Solamnic knight I'd read about one of the good ones- Sturm, Huma, etc...the true heroes of the story. Galen worked because he wasn't instrumental to the story-just a weasely third son that got roped into the Order when his older brother proved to be a clod and his 2nd brother a mystic. It takes away from the appeal of Galen when he is turned into a knight proper. Still, all in all, this is a good story-it just never measures up to the original. But isn't that often the case with sequels?
June 2, 2022
Better than the last one. I enjoyed it.
December 12, 2025
While Galen Benighted is a bit better written than Weasel's luck, it's also just a bit boring. Michael Williams has some good jokes turns of phrase, and once again some colourful characters, the narrative just wasn't all that compelling. There was annoying perspective shifts between who and how the story is being told that was a bit jarring. The Namer was kind of a weak villain, Galen lost a lot of his character in becoming normal, a few characters existed just to make fat jokes about and there were a few unsatisfying deaths. The climax and denouement were quite good, but the resolutions to the mysteries were a bit weak. Like, it's fine, but not one of the better Dragonlance books.
April 29, 2016
This novel ranks up there with my favorite of the Dragonlance saga. Though I never really enjoyed the poems that Michael Williams wrote for other books, I do love his prose, especially in this novel.
His setting descriptions alone are so vividly written that I feel as though I am walking through the streets with Galen. As for Galen, the character creation is so complete and so smoothly done that I feel as though I have known Galen my entire life.
One reason why I think I enjoyed this novel so much is because the characters are new to me. So many stories have been written that include the original characters--from main characters to cameo appearances--and they have just been overdone. So many stories have been written about them with so many contradicting characteristics that I almost hate reading about them now. But Galen is new, fresh.
So, I would recommend this book as it is a refreshing read for the Dragonlance saga.
His setting descriptions alone are so vividly written that I feel as though I am walking through the streets with Galen. As for Galen, the character creation is so complete and so smoothly done that I feel as though I have known Galen my entire life.
One reason why I think I enjoyed this novel so much is because the characters are new to me. So many stories have been written that include the original characters--from main characters to cameo appearances--and they have just been overdone. So many stories have been written about them with so many contradicting characteristics that I almost hate reading about them now. But Galen is new, fresh.
So, I would recommend this book as it is a refreshing read for the Dragonlance saga.
March 6, 2016
yet another galen book, a hero I must admit who is not one of my favourites as I still think of him as the weasel but in this book he tried to become a solamnic knight and not just in name only and he redeemed himself by the end of the book! But this book seemed as though it was written by someone under some hallucinogenic drug almost like an alice in wonderland feeling! there is magic and a mix with the spirit world which is very unreal. the only character I enjoyed was the old blind juggler, sargos who saw through his blindness more than the whole lot of others who had full sight!! This book was the last in the heroes series!
June 1, 2010
Read this a long time ago. I didn't realize how funny it was then. I don't think I was boring at 15...
I'll chalk it to a maturing sense of humor.
I'll chalk it to a maturing sense of humor.
November 2, 2018
The first Dragonlance novel I think I've read where I felt ... disappointed. Usually expectations are fairly neutered going in but Michael Williams' [u]Weasel's Luck[/u] really impressed me and I expected more of the same wit and subversion. This time around, though, Williams is content to take characters from the first novel and play them straight. Sure, there's still some humour and at times I laughed out loud - but infrequently. Moreover we get a cookie cutter quest plotline which involves some exotic mumbo jumbo about a Plainsman, some gemstones and memories, enabling Williams to literally "go off on one" a couple of times in a Gene Wolfe-esque way (remember the second story in Fifth Head of Cerberus? Nope, me neither) only there's no overarching schema here. It's still different to your bog-standard Dragonlance fare, but less in a good way this time. Again, we don't get to learn much more about the world of Krynn, heck I rarely felt I was actually in Krynn.
And what was with that random juggler dude and the God. I don't really know. I did like some of the side story about Bayard Brightblade discovering Scorpions revenge and having to quest down in the basement of the castle to stop it flooding. This was too small a portion of the book, unfortunately.
Here's hoping that the next Williams endeavour pulls it back.
And what was with that random juggler dude and the God. I don't really know. I did like some of the side story about Bayard Brightblade discovering Scorpions revenge and having to quest down in the basement of the castle to stop it flooding. This was too small a portion of the book, unfortunately.
Here's hoping that the next Williams endeavour pulls it back.
November 30, 2024
What I liked from the previous book was how Galen finally had some much needed character development towards the very end, but that's all gone in this book; he's instead a completely different character, and so's everyone else
The story is also all over the place, important characters die offscreen, world-changing events happen inbetween chapters with zero explanation whatsoever, and the story completely falls apart towards the end. The dead characters randomly come back to life and then die again, the world-changing events get undone and happen again, and the overall ending is complete gibberish
Even Galen didn't deserve this chapter of his life
The story is also all over the place, important characters die offscreen, world-changing events happen inbetween chapters with zero explanation whatsoever, and the story completely falls apart towards the end. The dead characters randomly come back to life and then die again, the world-changing events get undone and happen again, and the overall ending is complete gibberish
Even Galen didn't deserve this chapter of his life
June 26, 2022
i had read the part one of this as a teen. Then I found this on my shelf, so I burned through it. Like most non-author-controlled franchise-connected novels, it doesn't have a lot of depth. But it was entertaining and had some good moments. Some of the sacrifices or losses lacked the emotional impact they deserved, but there were some unique approaches to the world-ending threat.
Worth a day or two of your reading time if you don't have other goals
Worth a day or two of your reading time if you don't have other goals
December 19, 2020
Much better than Weasel's Luck. For the most part I enjoyed it. I liked Danielle in the first book, so it was wonderful for her to play a larger role in this book.
Galen has grown up, but is still compared and judged by the weasel he was. He has to learn to except himself for who he was, and who he has become for the internal conflict to stop.
Galen has grown up, but is still compared and judged by the weasel he was. He has to learn to except himself for who he was, and who he has become for the internal conflict to stop.
April 25, 2023
2 1/2 stars. I wanted to like this, being a Dragonlance fan but I could not. The writing was boring, characters were not so memorable that I cared about them and there were too many characters to keep track of.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2019
Fun and adventurous. Not bad. =)
October 2, 2019
loved these books as a kid.
worth a reread!
worth a reread!
Read
January 14, 2020Hi
June 23, 2020
Very slow beginning but it pick up later and was enjoyable.
April 13, 2025
Writing is sometimes very funny, but no kender.
October 12, 2008
When I first started this book, I wanted to give it 4 stars. In the middle, it was 3. And now I ended up with 2. Why? The book is ridiculous. And not in a funny way. It's painful to read in places where the plot totally got out of control. Some scenes don't have any other purpose than to add pages and some parts where the author wants to be funny are more than cringe-worthy. What started as a great idea ended up being a piece of trash because of the author's inability to keep a compact plot.
October 22, 2021
After having read the first Galen Pathwarden novel, I can say that I enjoyed the first much more than this second one. The story was fine, but I thought the adventure was a little staid, and there were way too many characters! It’s not like there were too many it was confusing, many of them just didn’t do anything at all. I would forget there were even there sometimes. I did like how Galen matured from the first story though, but not too much to completely change the character.
June 3, 2015
Not as wonderfully witty and superb as "Weasel's Luck," this returns us to the story of Galen Pathwarden, now a knight of Solamnia, and a rescue attempt on his brother Brithelm. It didn't grab me like the first one did, but it was okay. Still the best characters written not created by Weis & Hickman for the Dragonlance world.
June 28, 2015
Un quiero y no puedo... Pensé que me gustaría más que la primera parte, pero el meter cuatro narradores diferentes no le favorece nada a la historia... además de que la traducción está llena de incongruencias.
October 16, 2010
Slow start. Not quite the attention grabber as Huma or Kaz, but still involves a good story. Once you get half way in, you won't be able to pull yourself back out!
March 22, 2013
Galen just isn't one of my favorite characters. I just couldn't get into this story the same way I could others in the series.
November 7, 2016
Awesome continuing of the story Weasel's Luck. Good read
February 17, 2014
Not so much...
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews