Dragonlance Lost Chronicles Canceled ?!?!

[Mark Hope]

I'm 33 years old and I recently just read my first Dragonlance book (Dragons of Autumn Twilight). Do these books get any better than this? I don't read a huge amount of fantasy literature, so I don't really have a baseline I guess. I have read LOTR and some of George Martin's work. These books are fabulous. Dragons of Autumn Twilight isn't even close to these in terms of quality. I don't want to say that it is a bad book, but it's pretty close. It really isn't good. My question is, do these books get any better than this? If not, I have no interest in spending any more time reading these. Is Dragons of Autumn Twilight typical or is it of lower quality than the others?

The first trilogy is derivative D&D fiction with a few bright spots, little more. The second trilogy (Time of the Twins etc) is better, stepping away from its gaming roots into an intriguing, apocalyptic story. I'd stop there, though...

 

[SSquirrel]

I hafta throw my hat into the group of people disappointed to hear the 3rd book is in turmoil. Definitely the last big gap of information from the original chronicles

 

[Kheti sa-Menik]

I just finished both the original series (Autumn Twilight, Winter Night, Spring Dawning) and the Lost Chronicles two books (Dwarven Depths, Highlord Skies). I found the Lost Chronicles much better reads than the originals. Te depth of character was better as was the story. I liked the original chronicles as a storyline and epic tale, but in writing terms, the LCs are better individual books.

 

[Shemeska]

Wierd. First they cancel the final book in one of Elaine Cunningham's FR series, and now they pull the rug out from under a DL novel. I haven't purchased any WotC novel for over a year and a half, but I had DotHM preordered on Amazon.

They're already alienating a sizable fraction of their RPG base from 3.x. The -last- thing they want to do is pull the same act with the folks buying from their novel lines.

I can only wonder what the hell is going on, and how routinely can you make bad press for yourself before heads start to roll.

 

[PatrickLawinger]

Well ...

Okay, if you have ever been involved with freelance writing for, well, just about anything, you know that being on-time is crucial. Publishers are on a schedule too, and the writing is only one part of putting out a book.

The rumor I heard, and it is ONLY a rumor, is that Hickman and Weis were 6+ months late with the manuscript AND were trying to re-negotiate for more money. Now, I am sure that both sides have their own slant to the story. I would guess the truth is somewhere in between.
I am not a reader/fan of the DL series of novels but I know that they have lots of rabid fans that would generate "guaranteed sales." I would guess that WotC can come to an agreement with Hickman and Weis if both sides are reasonable. If they really were late and tried to negotiate for a larger royalty on a late manuscript I can easily see how someone at WotC would be insulted by that and blow them off for a while. Considering the normal publishing lead time, WotC probably doesn't have another open slot until January '09 or later giving both sides time to cool down and negotiate.

Edit: I agree that this is bad press for WotC (again) and poorly handled.

 

[DaveMage]

Tracy Hickman seemed to indicate in the podcast that a late turnover was commonplace for their DL novels.

 

[Umbran]

Tracy Hickman seemed to indicate in the podcast that a late turnover was commonplace for their DL novels.

That may be - but that doesn't make it okay. And the fact that the company worked with it in the past does not morally obligate them to do so now.

 

[DaveMage]

That may be - but that doesn't make it okay. And the fact that the company worked with it in the past does not morally obligate them to do so now.

I agree, but I can see the other side too. If a deadline hasn't meant anything for years, and now, suddenly - with possibly the last book they'll ever write for the line - being late is a huge issue, something's weird.

Personally, I thought the idea for this last series was kind of a reach, and while I had read every other W&H DL series, this one seemed like it was going to the well once too many times, so I have passed on it.

 

[Tinker Gnome]

Wierd. First they cancel the final book in one of Elaine Cunningham's FR series

So that is what happened.

 

[Vocenoctum]

Tracy Hickman seemed to indicate in the podcast that a late turnover was commonplace for their DL novels.

It might also be a simple matter of how late. In the DL thread, it was mentioned that they had contacted WotC about arranging a time to turn in the manuscript and were told not to bother. I'm not sure that means they HAD a completed manuscript or were just close to finished, but that was February, for a July release?

(Granted, we don't know when the July release was set.)

It may be that they were always 3-6 months late and now they were 9-12 months late or something, and that was that.