Dragonlance: Raistlin Chronicles: Brothers In Arms

by Margaret Weis and Don Perrin

When demand is so great, supplies usually increase to the point of oversaturation. Such is the case with the second part of the Raistlin Chronicles. Raistlin was easily the most popular character in the original Dragonlance Chronicles. This was with both the fans and the creators alike. That is why Dragonlance Legends trilogy focused on the twins. That is why demand was so great to know the origins of Raistlin, leading to the creation of Soulforge.

And now comes Brothers In Arms, a story that takes place between the events in Soulforge and the original Chronicles Trilogy. And it is not a bad book by any means. It simply doesn’t seem necessary. One wonders if Margaret Weis actually felt the same way at the time, considering that half of the book is about the whereabouts of Raistlin’s half-sister Kitiara uth Matar.

With that being said, if one can simply accept that it is a story of a time in Raistlin’s life and that the story is of little overall importance to the overall Dragaonlance Arc, than it is enjoyable. In fact, that might have been the point. It is the one story we have from one of the original authors that is simply Raistlin the Mage and Caramon the brother on adventures.

I think my main problem with the story is that by the end, no one has really changed at all for the better or worse. Sure, Caramon and Raistlin gain experience by joining the mercenary army of Baron Ivor Langtree, and we get to meet some great characters such as the Mad Baron, Horkin who’s a drinking buddy of “Old Luni” (Lunitari, the goddess of neutral magic), the half kender Scrounger, and an ancient dragon from the time of Huma, but that becomes another problem I have usually with prequels. We get introduced to vibrant characters who most certainly would have been around during the War of the Lance, and yet we never hear from them again.

The more important parts of the book lie with Kitiara uth Matar and her rise to power within the Dragonarmies under General Ariakas. It is also her part of the tale that has any long range impact in the Dragonlance world. We get to learn how the good Dragon eggs are found…somewhat. And that is what is disappointing to me. Within this one part of the tale to have impact, the climax of the villains getting the eggs is nowhere to be found.

The writing of the novel is well done, the characters are vibrant and fun to read about, and the storyline is even intriguing in its way. We have the Dragonarmies converging on a little known town called Hope’s End on the basis that they have openly revolted against the king of the area. The Mad Baron’s crack mercenaries, who are as honorable as knights, have also been hired to quell the helpless town, but have to decide where they stand once they discover who their “allies” are. Meanwhile Kitiara uses the battle as a distraction to go with an ancient dragon in human form to find the eggs of the good dragons.

I guess the only real problem I have is with expectation. As part of the Raistlin Chronicles, I expect it to be part of a larger arc. In reality, it’s a standalone book that could have been written about anyone.

Disappointing in that regard, it still is a good read overall.

B-