Being a bit of a completist I’m always interested in learning what’s new in the Dragonlance world. Since Weis & Hickman’s original influence had basically fallen by the wayside in recent years I was intrigued by their new “side-ition” to the original Chronicles trilogy. Expanding on tales skipped over the first time, this volume details the Heroes of the Lance as they meet and befriend the dwarves of Thorbardin. While the dwarves were never my favorite race on Krynn, any full-length novel with the original companions is welcome – more welcome that any of the current-era “Mina” Dragonlance-lite.

This is Dragonlance, trust me.

The concluding volume of the Obsidian Trilogy concludes in a rather unsatisfying way. Trying to slog through an amazingly tedious middle section of the book where young hero Kellen and his colleagues attempt to run a military campaign was exhausting, and the final section consisting of basically one long continuing battle wore thin quickly. Most plot points were resolved, except one huge one – why the story was called “The Obsidian Trilogy” in the first place. There was no mention of the word “obsidian” that I noticed (and I kept an eye out) in any of the three volumes, and the closest connection I could make was that the Demons lived in darkness and were “shadow” creatures. That’s about it.

Disappointing, with some interesting spots. Be prepared to skim through the middle 1/3 of the book.

This book series would make a great TV series – start with a miniseries that shows the day of the Transition, then a season of episodes to tell the story of the first book. (a la the new “Battlestar Galactica”). Then a second season to tell the story of the second book, and so on.

They could follow the characters from the book and introduce new ones if necessary to fill it out. I think it would be fascinating to see the historical characters acted out.

In style it would be a good deal like the 4400 on USA, what with a group of people suddenly appearing from nowhere and re-assimilating back into a society that’s foreign to them, so it would be tough to avoid comparisons there. But if you built it with an end point in mind (end of season/book 3) it might flow better.

Whether you’re right or left, Al Franken is a seriously funny guy – or funnily serious, depending on his mood.

2nd in Dark Tower Series

Book 4 of the Dark Tower series.

Book 3 of the Dark Tower series.

Book 1 of the Dark Tower series.

Isn’t the main character supposed to actually do something?

Audiobook. Nanoparticles wreak havoc in the desert.