Dragons in the archives; the best of Weis & Hickman anthology

Dragons in the archives; the best of Weis & Hickman anthology. Wizards of the Coast. 374p. c2004. 0-7869-3669-X. $7.99. SA

Welcome back to the land of Krynn! This short story compilation celebrating 20 years of the DragonLance phenomenon combines some of the best short stories previously published in Dragon magazine and those formerly published in previous DragonLance short story collections. Interspersed among the tales are essays and interviews. An interview with Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman ends the collection with a discussion of the past history of the series and of the future that they foresee for the DragonLance world. "Flashbacks" about the origins of the DragonLance universe are also included as well as a reader's perspective on the series.

Noted as "the best of Weis and Hickman," the tales include two of Weis's favorite stories, "The Silken Threads" and "True Knight," written in honor of two close friends and featuring the noble Brother Michael and the honorable Lady Nikol. "The Traveling Players of Gilean" is noteworthy because Margaret Weis wrote the story with Aron Eisenberg (the actor who played Nog on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine). Familiar and beloved characters abound throughout the collection. Caramon Majere and Raistlin Majere appear in "Honor and Guile" as well as in additional stories in the collection while the humorous kender, Tasslehoff Burrfoot, is spotlighted in "The Story That Tasslehoff Promised He Would Never, Ever Tell."

Each tale is typical DragonLance fare, bringing together fast-paced, addictive stories with likeable characters, while the essays and interviews provide insight into the creation of this beloved world. Nostalgic reading for DragonLance fans, this collection will also be enjoyed by those new to the DragonLance universe. Ginger Armstrong, Prin. Lib. Assoc., County P.L., Chesterfield, VA