A Book to Suck the Youngins In

[Kastil]

I rarely have to buy my fantasy books as my father is an avid reader (retirement does that) and he passes them down to me. So we get this book from him and look it over. It's called A Rumor of Dragons set in the Dragonlance setting. Interesting ::leafs through a few pages:: Wait a minute! This is just the first book of the original series!! Upon further review, it's not even the whole book. Dad! You bought another book you already read!!!!! But what's this on the back of the book? Hmmmmmmmmm........

Here's what the clever little bastards did. They took the first Dragonlance trilogy and split it into smaller books, two parts for every book, then put it out with the tag for 8-13 year olds. Now I have a nine year old son who has read all but the last Harry Potter book but I must admit one thing. He sees the size of those books and wants to run in terror. What a perfect size this Dragonlance thing is then for him. Plus the fact there is no situations in these books that will cause 'the talk' to happen. Oh yeah, not a girl. Daddy's going to field that when it comes ::remembers what husband is like:: then again, maybe not.

Nevermind the fact I read these books back in high school. What a golden thing to pass down a series you enjoyed to the next generation and see them appreciate it as much as you did. Now if only he'd pick up my LotR books...........

 

[takyris]

I'm not sure I buy the concept of splitting the books in two in order to get kids to read them. Didn't most of us read 'em at a fairly young age at their original length?

I may be misremembering the amount of blood and guts and sex in there, too, but I wouldn't say that cutting it in half automatically qualifies it for the YA section, anymore than if you cut the first half of "A Game of Thrones" into, well, thirds or so.

Not that "Dragons of Autumn Twilight" had as many kid-inappropriate things as "A Game of Thrones", but still -- I'm curious as to whether they edited or retouched it at all.

 

[Dragonblade]

Hmm, its been years since I read these books, but I seem to recall scenes where Caramon kept pressuring Tika into getting it on with him. Lord Soth's cold lust for Kitiara's soul, and other scenes which may or may not be totally appropriate for real young readers.

I guess 12 and up would probably be fine. I don't know about an 8 or 9 year old though.

 

[Dragonblade]

Hmm, its been years since I read these books, but I seem to recall scenes where Caramon kept pressuring Tika into getting it on with him. Lord Soth's cold lust for Kitiara's soul, and other scenes which may or may not be totally appropriate for real young readers.

I guess 12 and up would probably be fine. I don't know about an 8 or 9 year old though.

 

[Elf Witch]

They have done this with the first book in Robert Jordon wheel of time series. I can see how for a younger reader it might be less overwhelming. But I am wondering if they are editing them for content?

 

[Kastil]

Since my son choose the book for a report in school, I re-read it so I could a)make sure he actually read the book, the little con artist in training, and b)he understood it enough to clarify it in book report format.

Doesn't look like they edited it at all. Granted, I didn't go 'down into the dungeon' and dig out Dragons of Autumn Twilight either. As for the Caramon and Tika thing goes, I think (it's been a while) that was in the third book and they haven't, to my knowledge, released those. Even so, back when the original books were written I don't think they were as descriptive as the books currently published are about those 'sticky' situations. I think the whole thing will go over his head (hopefully). I can dream, can't I?

 

[Ghostwind]

According to a letter from Wotc (when they sent me the books to review), the content has been gone through and touched up to be suitable for younger readers.