Dragonlance Chronicles - the Director's Cut

[Razuur]

I really enjoy the original Dragonlance chronicles. I re read them this last year - the first time in 10 years.

I was kind of stunned. It was to my knowledge the first fiction of Weis and Hickman fiction, and I could see how their style has really improved over the years. But what stunned me was comparing my memory to the book.

Never having played through the original modules, I was rather shocked that some rather big events were not in the novels. getting the hammer of Kharas, finding the dragonlance!... etc. I remembered these events happenigng, but was rather disappointed that they weren't in the novels. I know they made it into the Modules, but after 20 years I wonder if the modules apply anymore.

What I mean is, wouldn't it be great if Ms. Weis and Mr. Hickman revisited the original chronicles, cleaned up some areas, filled in the rather large gaps left by modules and released a new version of Dragonlance - maybe in hardcover..

Dragonlance Chronicles - Revised.

What does everyrone think?

I would love it myself. And I think it would sell, big time. Kind of the director's cut of DL:C.

Razuur

 

[Kesh]

Nah, the story works best as it is now. And they came close: pick up a copy of The Annotated Chronicles and The Annotated Legends. These are both trilogies along with notes from the authors and game developers, explaining some of the stuff in the novels. One point mentioned is that they made the decision not to go into detail on things like the hammer, because the first novel was far too drawn out and dry with all the extra details.

They were trying to write novels, not a detailed recreation of the game sessions. And I think they did the rigth thing. The second and third novel in the Chronicles trilogy are much stronger than the first.

 

[Ranger REG]

Dragonlance Chronicles - Revised.

What does everyrone think?

Nah. That's like demanding Christopher Tolkien to revise his father's literary masterpiece.

 

[Aaron L]

I know they made it into the Modules

Razuur

No, the books failed to include these events that happened in the modules. The modules came first, they weren't based on the books. I was always stunned at how many things were left out of the books. Actually, I never cared much for the Chronicles at all.

 

[Mouseferatu]

No, the books failed to include these events that happened in the modules. The modules came first, they weren't based on the books. I was always stunned at how many things were left out of the books. Actually, I never cared much for the Chronicles at all.

Not entirely accurate. The novels and the modules were written concurrently, as I understand it. Neither was "based" on the other--rather, they were both based on the same general ideas, characters, and stories.

It's not any more accurate to say that stuff "didn't make it" from the modules to the novels, anymore than it is to say the reverse.

 

[Napftor]

Nah. That's like demanding Christopher Tolkien to revise his father's literary masterpiece.

His "masterpiece?" Did Tolkien write something besides that Lord of the Rings stuff?

But in seriousness, it's not really the same. Weis & Hickman are still alive to revise. But IMO the Annotated books serve the purpose nicely. A little behind the scenes notes is good enough for me.