Rating: 
Summary: Knowing these characters will help in future...
Review: True, some of these stories were already published in Tales, but if you're like me... so what, how long ago did I read Tales? But to continue on to Dragons of a Summer Flame, you really should read this book, and get (re)aquainted with the characters mentioned. This was designed to be read after Legends... although the timing was years off (lol). However, like I stated earlier, how long had it been since I read Raistlin's Daughter, or any of the others? Too long, that's for sure... when I started to read these novellas, bits and peices came back to me, but I still needed the details filled in. Here you'll find out about Palin, Steel, Tanin, and many more. A necessary read IMO to continue the saga of Dragonlance... and yes, the unpublished stories are worth the price alone. Also, I found that the "preview" of DoSF at the end was a great save... having to order my copy when I was halfway into this one because I was a doorknob and didn't get it sooner!
Rating:
Summary: Knowing these characters will help in future...
Review: True, some of these stories were already published in Tales, but if you're like me... so what, how long ago did I read Tales? But to continue on to Dragons of a Summer Flame, you really should read this book, and get (re)aquainted with the characters mentioned. This was designed to be read after Legends... although the timing was years off (lol). However, like I stated earlier, how long had it been since I read Raistlin's Daughter, or any of the others? Too long, that's for sure... when I started to read these novellas, bits and peices came back to me, but I still needed the details filled in. Here you'll find out about Palin, Steel, Tanin, and many more. A necessary read IMO to continue the saga of Dragonlance... and yes, the unpublished stories are worth the price alone. Also, I found that the "preview" of DoSF at the end was a great save... having to order my copy when I was halfway into this one because I was a doorknob and didn't get it sooner!
Rating: 
Summary: Two good story tellers don't give us their usual product
Review: Weiss and Hickman have created a prodigious body of work based on the mythical world of Krynn. Regrettably, this particular anthology of short stories is inconsistent, in both tone and quality, with their usually fine craftsmanship. As a whole, the collection suffers from a lack of focus, though there are bright spots.'Legacy' is generally well written and focused, yet leaves a great deal unanswered insofar as what was illusion and what was "real" in Palin's test. The young dark Paladin is a plausible product of Kitiara's lifestyle, and a possible, though improbable, outcome of her previously described journey North with Sturm. In a glaring story telling omission, tension is absent and obstacles trivially overcome when a party tries to infiltrate both the Dark Paladin's fortress and the High Clerist's Tower. And the weight of a blue dragon's passengers is utterly ignored. 'Raistlin's Daughter' is well put together. The Search for the Greygem, which includes the sons of Caramon, is silly and blatantly devoid of the detail most Weiss/Hickman tales receive. A ludicrous "PC" theme is added which not only detracts from the lame plot, but utterly ignores the adaptability of people. This story reads like a shoddily produced "Monty Hall" D & D module: hope it was never run at a tournament. A comment on a structural weakness Weiss and Hickman have built into the world of Krynn, steel currency notwithstanding. They can never portray Kender, Gnomes, or Gully Dwarves with any sobriety, and often portray "normal" Dwarves as silly. This is inconsistent with the gravity with which humans and elves are generally portrayed, and leads to an enormously unbalanced world view. It is the fundamental weakness of the Krynn fantasy world, one which they will probably never change. Considering the well designed world presented in the Rose of the Prophet Trilogy, and the absence of sillines in the Dark Sword Chronicles, they know how to do it, they just choose to keep the Kender and Gnomes on the Jar Jar Binks level of character depth: which is a pity. In the Graygem quest, combining this flaw with three characters who are elsewhere treated with some realism, and who represent the continuation of a line of heroes, seems like self-sacrelige on the authors' part. For the non-Krynn veteran, avoid this book, it is far below Weiss and Hickman's normal standard. For Krynn fans, it is worth a look, but best checked out of a library.
Rating: 
Summary: Good stories
Review: When i first heard of this book, i thought it was a novel. But when i bought it i was suprised to find that it was actually a bunch of short stories, dealing with the children of the heros of the lance. That fact didnt discourage me at all as i read the book. Most of the stories were very good, and very entertaining. They were filled with a lot of action, though some of them were emotional. This is a must read before reading Dragons of Summer Flame. It brings to life many of the characters that are big players in that book. I finished this book in a day, it was very well written, and pulls you into all of the stories. I highly recommend it to all dragonlance fans.
Rating:
Summary: Expected something else, pleased nonetheless
Review: When I ordered this book, I was expecting a novel perhaps split into three divisions. The book is five short stories, barely linked with each other. After understanding this is merely a setup book for Dragons of Summer Flame, I was slightly less displeased. The first story is about Kitiara's son who is forging his own path. The love of a mother and two heroes are bent on helping him chose the right path. This novel was excellent. There was not a dull moment and was a very fast read, too fast in points where I wish it would stop and go into more detail. Next, the Legacy. If you've read Tales I, its the same novella. This is the greatest DL short story. It is non-stop suspense with twists and dark secrets around every corner, with impending doom the final outcome. If you do nothing else, READ THIS. You'll really enjoy it. Think I've given too much away? I haven't even see the iceburg of this story in my review. "Wanna bet?" is another repeat from the Tales series. This is the bonding experience of Caramon and Tika's sons. They start out seeking knighthood (Palin simply going along because he is told, and wants to win approval). The journey has a great foreword which leads much to the imagination and stimulates you to read on. The climax was great, but the resolution of events was poorly done. This is the only reason I gave this book 4 instead of 5 (That and they just repeat the Tales series). Raistlin's Daughter is the fourth novella. I don't remember reading this in any Tales trilogy, but I could be mistaken as it has been a while. All I can say about this is wow. The rising actions in the plot are slow and take some pushing at points. Take a few breaks and skim when necessary. The details you'll need will jump out at you. The climax and ending are INCREDIBLE. That's all I can say about that. The Sacrafice is a story that will obviously setup Dragons of the Summer Flame (rather than merely introduce characters and backgrounds as the others). There are some excellent political actions chapters and a few physical/magical displays. You'll really enjoy this novella if you liked the 3rd chronicle, Dragons of Spring Dawning. Overall, I give this a 4 out of 5 stars. Expect to see some repeats if you've read the Tales series. If you haven't though, don't bother with Tales series and just get this book. Its an enjoyable read and setup.
Rating:
Summary: Expected something else, pleased nonetheless
Review: When I ordered this book, I was expecting a novel perhaps split into three divisions. The book is five short stories, barely linked with each other. After understanding this is merely a setup book for Dragons of Summer Flame, I was slightly less displeased. The first story is about Kitiara's son who is forging his own path. The love of a mother and two heroes are bent on helping him chose the right path. This novel was excellent. There was not a dull moment and was a very fast read, too fast in points where I wish it would stop and go into more detail. Next, the Legacy. If you've read Tales I, its the same novella. This is the greatest DL short story. It is non-stop suspense with twists and dark secrets around every corner, with impending doom the final outcome. If you do nothing else, READ THIS. You'll really enjoy it. Think I've given too much away? I haven't even see the iceburg of this story in my review. "Wanna bet?" is another repeat from the Tales series. This is the bonding experience of Caramon and Tika's sons. They start out seeking knighthood (Palin simply going along because he is told, and wants to win approval). The journey has a great foreword which leads much to the imagination and stimulates you to read on. The climax was great, but the resolution of events was poorly done. This is the only reason I gave this book 4 instead of 5 (That and they just repeat the Tales series). Raistlin's Daughter is the fourth novella. I don't remember reading this in any Tales trilogy, but I could be mistaken as it has been a while. All I can say about this is wow. The rising actions in the plot are slow and take some pushing at points. Take a few breaks and skim when necessary. The details you'll need will jump out at you. The climax and ending are INCREDIBLE. That's all I can say about that. The Sacrafice is a story that will obviously setup Dragons of the Summer Flame (rather than merely introduce characters and backgrounds as the others). There are some excellent political actions chapters and a few physical/magical displays. You'll really enjoy this novella if you liked the 3rd chronicle, Dragons of Spring Dawning. Overall, I give this a 4 out of 5 stars. Expect to see some repeats if you've read the Tales series. If you haven't though, don't bother with Tales series and just get this book. Its an enjoyable read and setup.
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