Although Guardians of the Lost jumps 200 years after where Well of Darkness ends, it continues the story of the fate of the Sovereign Stone and Dagnarus' (Lord of the Void) designs for gaining the stones' power and taking over the world. There are several plot threads - Dominion Lord Gustav who entrusts the Trevenici youth Bessan, pecwae Bashae and Grandmother with his mission; the unhorsed Dwarf with Trevenici woman Raven journeying to dragon mountain; a Trevenici chief trying to save his village from a void curse as he runs afoul of Dagnarus' army; an elven Dominion Lord and her wizard husband, and a rogue "almost Dominion Lord." Although this second book doesn't have the complexity and character depth of the first, the pace is fast and doesn't become bogged down. The ending is nicely unresolved, leaving the reading hanging and wanting more. A fun and fast read.

Guardians of the Lost keeps up the pace introduced in the first book of the trilogy. Freed from having to build a new world from scratch for the reader, the authors can devote their pages more to new plot and the resulting story flows much better. The book is a very quick read, and at times I almost feel guilty for sucking down this fantasy mind candy, but there is enough creativity in there to keep things honorable. My only complaint is that for a book that purports that good and evil exist in balanced harmony, the bad guys sure seem a lot more powerful than the good guys. As one example, consider the fact that the Vrykrl can communicate with each other over any distance by using their blood knives, whereas the Dominion Lords have no comparable skill. This small complaint is not enough to keep me from yearning for the publication of the third book, however!

200 Years after the fall of Vinnengael, after Dagarus led his army against his brother to become king and claim the Human portion of the Sovereign Stone. 200 years after the human portion was lost, it is found...

Dominion Lord Gustav's life quest comes to in end as he finds the lost Sovereign stone. But all is not well, A Vykral, an undead creature of the Void has followed him. With orders to claim it. And a race to collect all portions of the stone commences.

This book was great. One of Weis and Hickman's best to date! They explain everything in such detail is as almost as if you are there in the fray. The character really come to life, gone are the normal straight forward evil characters. They develope them really well, giving some there own subplots that may well end up playing a huge role in the third and final book in this series.

Do yourself a favor. Pick up Well of Darkness if you have yet to do so. When finished pick up Guardians of the Lost. Then when finished with that, you can eagerly await the release of the third and final book in the Soverign Stone Trilogy (Journey into the Void)

It was only by a fluke that I even picked up the Darksword trilogy, but I must say I enjoyed it thoroughly. It took a lot of effort to get through the first book, but by the time I finished it, I found myself completely engrossed in the story and insatiably curious about the other two books. This is a world that I love, and characters I can relate to!

I was looking at the ages this is recommended for 9-12? What?! This is one of the most serious Fantasy series I have ever read. Weis and Hickman have created a VERY rich and complex world that I personally feel would be above most adults nevermind children. I am not saying they couldn't get anything out of the story, but this is not your average children's tale, let me tell you. I love this book, the world of magic is like a dream that slowly decends into nightmare, but you remember the dream, and you almost want it to continue on, even at the expense of the characters. I am not sure if Simkin is introduced in this book, I haven't read them in a while, but if you read the series only for him, you will not go away disappointed. To this day I quote him and he always brings a smile to my face. I actually don't like the later books as much because too much "reality" ends up destroying the "dream." It's very sad the end, but worth getting to.

This was hands down, the best trilogy I have ever read. The first book is somewhat slow but stick with it. Once you've finished your friends will have to erect a barracade around you to keep you from charging out and buying the 2nd and 3rd. It is good to see that fantasy worlds the like of Thimhallan are not dead. I am currently reading the Death Gate Cycle by these talented authors and I have to say that I love it. These two writers have the ability to create intricate and fantastic worlds, that draw you in and won't let go. If you ready to experience new worlds than go out and buy these books. But be warned reading this book makes it very difficult to do the less important things like shower eat and sleep!!! :

I read Forging the Darksword, Doom of the Darksword, and finally Triumph of the Darksword, wanting to know how it would come out, and hoping, expecting, that it would get better. It did not. The pace drags, the plot fails to hang together, and the characters fail to become real. It was a waste of time reading these, when I could at least have been rereading other, better books in this genre.

This book isn't anything special but it isn't a drag either. The plot is advanced somewhat but the main service it performs is to make a bridge between the opening of the series and the finale. If it were a stand-alone, I would mildly recommend it - as part of a very good trilogy, it's a must read.

I can't even begin to explain how great this book is. It is a terrific sequel to the first in the Darksword series. Without saying to much Joram comes out from under his illusion of having magic and he fulfils the first half of the Prophecy. A must read. I would recomend this book to anyone.

The Dragonlance Saga is the longest-standing TSR series ever, the archetype of "classic" AD&D. With the advent of the SAGA rules system, however, and the absence of Weis and Hickman in the creative process until recently, Dragonlance has taken a turn for the worse. However, this book is a great way to get back to the basics of what made Dragonlance and AD&D great back in the late 80s. Old-timers can play the epic again in a stream-lined, comprehensive book, made new by the inclusion of SAGA-style rules. Classic AD&D rules are also provided, though I recommend giving SAGA a shot, even if you're not into the Fifth Age products. Those new to the Dragonlance series can take part in what made it so great. The Chronicles and Legends novels have seen their third or fourth reprint for good reason.

I do have a few gripes about the material. I suggest that the referee running the adventure be familiar with the novels and make suitable changes as he sees fit. In some ways, this adventure follows the original adventure modules more than it does the novels, meaning that the same inconsistencies exist, even though Dragonlance Classics does include several sections explaining how the plot was advanced in the novels. I advise making some changes to the statistics of the characters to better reflect the novels. If you have any of the expansion material for Fifth Age, you can still use some of it to enhance your use of this product--there are simply a few adjustments to be made, which are not difficult at all.

In short, any Dragonlance or AD&D fan looking for a quality product should seriously consider this one. They are few and far between.

While it's probably more appealing to SAGA Partisans such as myself than to hardcore D&D fans, this deluxe adventure belongs on every DRAGONLANCE lover's bookshelf as a comprehensive guide to the locations and characters of the War of the Lance, as well as one of the best tellings of that era I've yet seen.

I've seen it compared with the original adventures, of which I own about half. In my view, this rewriting lacks some of the encounters and elements of the original, but makes up for that with stronger characters and plotting, tighter continuity, and a greater sense of scope and freedom.

_DRAGONLANCE Classics, 15th Anniversary Edition_ has become my fundamental reference of the last years of the Age of Despair, and I recommend that everyone with an interest in DRAGONLANCE or in epic fantasy campaigning take a look at it.

I own the original adventure series and have played them several times, but this book still gave me tons of new possibilities to explore!My favorite things Steve Miller and Stan! did were the way they interwove subplots throughout--like the way they used Kitiara and her henchmen, for example--the suggestions for using dragons in a DL campaign, and the way they staged the climax in Neraka. It was much better than both in the original adventure series AND the novel! I also liked the way newer book characters like Ariakan and Dalamar have been placed into the storyline. It's also great to finally get maps and adventure material for Kalaman and Port Balifor!The art was also some of the best that has graced the pages of Dragonlance, ever. I don't think the Companions have looked this good since Larry Elmore drew them way back in "Dragons of Mystery." My favorite illos are the one of Tanis on p.13, Tas on p.17, the one of Sturm on p.18, and the ones of Laurana on ps. 23 and p. 208. I also love the picture of Alhana on her griffon on page 153. I hope Daniel Cramer is going to be doing more Dragonlance art.Another very cool aspect of the book is how the writers managed to write it so it works for two game systems, yet still did it in such a fashion that non-gamers can read the book and enjoy it. (Like my roommate is doing.)If there's any complaint, it that some of the maps are a bit hard to read. I would have liked a bit more definition on some of the terrain maps. There are times when it's a bit difficult to tell a lake from a plain, or the ocean from land.Still, this is definately a Five Star effort!

This book gives you a view on one of the most fascinating worlds of fantasy. A world that resamble our on but also so diffrent from it. The story of the wars between poepls and between gods ,the secrets that hide in the desert make you want to know more ,to see it all if only you could. If you ever get to read this book you'll see I was right

This book about the war of the gods is a great one. It deals with how when the balance of nature is diminished, how everybody will do anything, however hateful they are of it, to restore the balance. This is about the god Akhran, god of the desert, who is trying to restore the balance of the gods when Quar, the god of greed, reality, and law, upsets it, by killing of two of the other gods. Two people on the planet, who hate each other more than anything, are decreed to get married by Akhran. They must remain married or Quar will enslave both of their clans. Well, the rest is up to you to read. You can by it here at Amazon Books for a percentage of what it would be at a bookstore, so pick it up, and read.

This book managed to be what few heroic fantasy novels try to be and what even fewer succeed at. It was funny and exciting at the same time. This is so much better than the lousy Darksword books. I did have a couple of problems. First of all, since this was one of the first times we saw a gay character in a mainstream fantasy novel, I with they had not made him so effeminate. Also, the whole set-up with the gods having three aspects (reality, greed and law, for example) seemed kind of forced. We still wound up with the same times, a god of money, a god of thieves, a warrior god, etc. Still that would only take off half a point, and since there is not rating of 4 1/2 I'm going to round up to a five. I'd recomend to anyone that they track this trilogy down and read it.

I have to give all the short story novels 3 stars. There are some stories you won't like but they'll 2-4 really great ones that will make the books worth the price.

... I actually liked three stories in this book. The poem is worthless, and a few more were downright too hard to read and boring, but if I had the desire to stick with them they might have been worthy. Get this book! If not for the stories, get it for the last story written by Weis and Hickman. You will be surprised that a Hero of the Lance makes an appearance! I can't wait to read the next book. Even though the poem in this was horrible, it was better than most early dragonlance books I have read, but I must say Knaak finally has a good story. Unlike his Huma and Kaz books. Bravo Knaak. Maybe he should always write short stories, but he did leave me wanting more for once. GET THIS BOOK!

As I am not a huge fan of short stories, I was surprised to find most of these excellent. 'Colors of Belief' was an further insight as to how the Games of Istar worked after Caramon's experiences in the Legends. 'Kender Stew' was very funny and a nice little story. 'The Goblin's Wish' was my favourite, a saddening tale of how different races banded together to fight Istar. 'The Three Lives of Horgan Oxthrall' was not so good. The scribe's narration is just silly, I think Douglas Niles could've just told the story and got on with it. Far and away the worst story was 'Filling the Empty Places'. I find myself being more and more disappointed by Nancy Berberick's work. Stormblade was okay, but her writing style has definitely gone downhill since. 'Off Day' was hilarious. And finally, 'The Silken Threads' again showcased Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's wonderful talent which puts them at the forefront of the DL world.
Those disappointed by the other Tales books will find this a better one, with more information into a neglected part of Krynn's history.

this book had good characters, but I dont like the whole "lets restore our once great universe to what it once was, and use magic flagrantly when we just can't supply the hard science" motif

Weis and Hickman...Where have I heard those names before? This book has good character development and a well-supported storyline. I rather enjoyed how the authors propose that magic and science coexist in the universe.

This book was pretty good. I say pretty good because I think they could've made the plot a trilogy, which would've made it better. When I got to the end I was like, "Gee, that was short." Still, the physics are believable, the characters well developed, and the universe superb. Readers can sympathize with Griffiths and his crew easily. I did. I also liked the (brief) reapearance of Fizban or Zifnab or whoever he is. A nice touch, which you'll understand if you're a devoted fan of Weis/Hickman. I reccomend it, but not as avidly as others by the same authors.

When asked what their job is, most people will define it in terms of their title or as the list of activities they perform day by day. Never mind that despite all of their honest efforts, they may not be hitting their targeted results. Or worse yet, they may think that as long as they did their part, it doesn't matter that the team may have failed to achieve its goal.

The OZ Principle encourages the reader to challenges that old belief and to take accountability not only for one's individual results, but for the the results of the team. It suggests that "reasons" become "excuses" when we stop trying to overcome obstacles and find solutions. The operative question becomes a mantra of sorts for the truly accountable person as he/she continues to ask, regardless of one's circumstances, "What Else Can I Do?" (to acheive the desired result).

For those who habitually fall "Below the Line", and play the proverbial "Blame Game", this shift in attitude may be a hard pill to swallow. Coupled with the reality that those managers who play the wizards may either be expected to solve all of their people's problems, or may make the mistake of reliquishing their responsibility as coaches in the performance equation. Through a series of real life corporate case studies, The Oz Principle presupposes that, although it may be natural to point fingers, make excuses; to avoid or procrastinate, it is simply not productive. When an individual and/or a team achieves results, it is because they are operating most of the time "Above the Line", climbing the "Steps to Accountability" by finding ways to SEE IT, OWN IT, SOLVE IT, and DO IT. For those who need a dose of motiviation, the awareness of our "joint accountability" for results and the consequences for our accomplishments, or lack thereof, is enough to keep this reader striving to stay "Above the Line"

I highly recommend this book for any front line employee, supervisor, manager, director, Vice President or CEO who cares
about not just doing the job, but getting the results.

I was fortunate enough to be captivated by the title of this book when it first appeared in 1994. I read, enjoyed, and applied the principles of this book in my own professional and personal life. Before saying anything more, I strongly recommend this book to anyone who thinks there is room for improvement in their own life. If you believe you can be a better person by becoming more accountable for all your thoughts, feelings and actions, then you need to read this book. The concepts are not subject to the vagaries of time and society. They are simple truths and common sense.

Rereading the latest edition of The Oz Principle has helped cement its rightful place among "easy to read books that pack an impactful message."

The book follows a metaphor with which we are all familiar. This metaphor allows us all to see how easily we get caught in the role of the victim and how easily we play and perpetuate the blame game in our lives.

The Steps to Accountability are placed before the reader in a way that invites him or her to see a situation for what it really is, own his or her role in that situation, solve the challenges presented by the situation and then to finally proactively act on the situation and do whatever needs to be done.

I have recommended this book to hundreds of people over the years. I have yet to have anyone tell me it was a waste of time to read. Most of the time, people tell me how easy it was to read and grasp the concepts within it.

This is truly one of the few books that has proven its worth professionally and personally over time. I rank it among the top ten best books written on how to get the most out of life.

If you believe in personal integrity, if you believe in honor and virtue in the workplace and home, if you think there is room to improve and grow in your life, then this book is for you. You will always be accountable to yourself. Find out how to make the most of your time.

The book is written for you, the individual, to read and to contemplate. The intent is to help break the reader of the malaise of inaction, which often follows when obstacles to success abound in any endeavor. I found it enlightening and reinvigorating. Through a clever use of analogies to the Wizard of Oz characters, the book leads you to the conclusion that the ability and the authority required to achieve your goals are already within your grasp, just as the Oz characters already possessed their heart, courage, and brain prior to seeking the Wizard. Whether you are a contributor or manager, this book acknowledges that real obstacles exist to accomplishing any worthwhile goal, but points out that successful people and successful teams move beyond excuses and take action to solve their problems. In that regard, I must respectfully disagree with Mr. David Morgan's characterization that this book is a contradiction. The chapters guide you through a structured thinking process that helps you to separate real obstacles from perceived obstacles and to identify actions that will overcome the challenges you face. It also helps dissipate the feeling of powerlessness which inevitably accompanies a lack of progress towards a goal. That is, perhaps, the most empowering facet of the book. I highly recommend reading it.

This is definitely the best Starcraft book so far and totally redeems the Starcraft novel series. If you haven't read any of the novels yet, you should start with this one, since none of the stories are connected. (But definitely DON'T read "Shadow of the Xel'Naga")

Taking place during the beginning of the STARCRAFT game (before BROOD WARS), it follows a band of soldiers through a single battle as they go against the Zerg. The writer really researched the world and portrays everything realistically and in detail (so the book is exciting even if you never played the game). Like how those Terran barracks can spit out marines so quickly.

Sorry Protoss fans - since this is early in the STARCRAFT wars, the Protoss never show up or are even mentioned here. The story follows Aldo through the Confederates' training/brainswiping and spits him out against the Zerg which are finally portrayed realistically.

I found this book amazing because what the writer does is great, the begining is very nice with the beautiful descriptions of the world of bountiful and the end is engrossing and just totally perfect with the story ive never read such a great book, this book is amazing and praticly leaves you in tears at the end yuo really get into it its great all the things the writer has done in the book like starting with beautiful world and a girl but then they get lost to later find out it was all a lie, the story is great and suprises you along the way even if your a starcraft fan this story is much more original then the other two.
BUY THIS BOOK, its amazing!

This is undoubtedly the best starcraft book i've read (and i've read all three). The story follows a confederate marine, Ardo Melnikov, and his squad during their battle against the zerg on Mar Sara. The Protoss aren't mentioned even once in the book, since it takes place so early in the war, but there's still plenty of action and battle. This book is much better than the other two books, and I reccomend it to any Starcraft fan.

This book was quite a good book. I read a lot of books. My favorites are in the dragonlance world. While some of the stories in this book were boring. The remainder were well written and fun to read. This book had just the right mixture of funny stories, and more serious stories. The true demise of toede, had to be one of the funniest. I would recommend this book to anyone who truly loves dragonlance.

This was a fine compilation of tales, with stories that though made no big impact on the history of the series, were interesting and in themselves nice diversions from life. "Wanna Bet?" was an excellent form of characterization that was fun to follow, and narration in these stories was surely what made most of these tales fun at all. My only problem with this was, I read about Kender, and I read about Gnomes, but I failed to find any Gully Dwarves in this story, so it received the rating that you yourself see above.

This book was perhaps one of the best Dragonlance books not written by Margret Weis and Tracy Hickman. It gives a ton of great information, varying from humorous anecedotes that cause a person to simply smile at the small things in life, to deep, moving tales of that ignite some inner flame to stories of high adventure. It was nice to see stories written, for once, that has truly good kender, gnomish, and gully dwarf heroes. However, it should be noted that one tale involves a minotaur, and was very good too. All in all I would say it was a great book, giving a lot of information on Mount Nevermind that has not been seen since 1987 (Gnomes-100, Dragons-0). A must have!