This trilogy was actually the very first set of books I ever purchased. It got me hooked immediately to the fantasy genre. I don't claim to be any expert especially during the time I first read this third volume, but I must say that it is one of the best out there. It is not your a-typical conclusion to a good vs. evil plot. It left me with a feeling of, the best word I can think of to describe it, contentment. It had a sense of closure, but at the same time it makes you excited for more.

Every page was/is a new twist, a new turn to the story. It never fails to grab your attention and make you want to get to the next page NOW! I believe I've read this book, and the previous two, at least 20 times throughout the years, and it just gets better every time.

From Raisltin's fate (or the beginning of it) to Tanis' realization of his true feelings at the end of this volume, it lets you feel like you're a part of what's going on and enables you to relate and feel for the characters. If you've never read this book or the Chronicles trilogy and you consider yourself a true fan of fantasy, then consider this an awakening.

I adore the Dragonlance Chronicles, and the entire Dragonlance series for that matter. But the crazy thing is, I refused to read these books at first. I hated fantasy novels because of a few very bad books I had read earlier in life. My boyfriend finally got me to buy Dragons of Autumn Twilight. It became the first book I ever stayed up reading until the sun came up. While the first is my favorite, simply because it seemed lighter and funnier because everything was just starting, I think Dragons of Spring Dawing was a perfect ending. Like a lot of other people, Raistlin is my favorite character, and I'm glad his character developed into what all of the companions knew he was all along. Oh, and you have to love Fizban, too.

Anyway, now, thanks to three wonderful books, I am a hopeless lover of the entire fantasy world. I'd rave about the Chronicles to anyone any day.

I personnaly think this is an excellent book, except it doesn't deal with Raistlin enough. But it was still a good book and a perfect way to end the Chronicles trilogy and a good introduction to Legends.

For those of you who have read the first two books and are dying from anticipation, Tanis finally chooses which woman he spends his life with. Tas and Flint continue bickering until the end, in more ways than one. Raistlin shows off his real personnality (something I was waiting for). Fizban loses his hat (again). And Caramon beats up some draconians.

If you are a Raistlin and Caramon fan, like I am, this book is necessary. As I have mentoined before, this is where Legends gets started (I know Legends takes place 4 years after this but everything in Chronicles leads up to Legends).

The best part of the book was the very end when Raistlin fulfils the prophecy. Out of everything in Chrocicles those few pages are what realy stood out.

"Someday you, with all your strength and charm and good looks,you, all of you, will call me master" Raistlin, Dragons Of Autumn Twilight

These two authors never cease to amaze me. They are great! Death Gate was one of their earlier works together and even then they put together a great story.

ON Serpent Mage...

Serpent Mage is where the series really starts getting good. We finally get some important information on whats going on..a lot of information of the Sundering....why the hell Alfred's even in these books, we even get a sneak peak at the Sartan who started all this crap.
I personally think this is the best book so far in the series. I havent read the last three yet but this book was great. I was kinda wondering if I was going to finish the series after Fire SEA because it didn't seem MW and TH were giving their best but Serpent Mage has renewed my interest in Death's Gate. I cant really say anything else being that I would give away the story but this another job well done by these two great authors:)!

This is the fourth book of the Death Gate series and final book of the Death Gate Cycle and takes place on the Realm of Water, Chelestra. Alfred emerges from the Death Gate (having just fled Haplo's ship) find's himself in a Sartan chamber similar to the one on the Realm of Air. This chamber is filled with living Sartan which Alfred awakes. He soon discoveres that these are the original Sartan who sundered the world but for some reason can not bring himself to trust them.

Meanwhile Haplo attempt to go to Chelestra without meeting with his lord, Xar. Xar has other plans and manages to get the information about necromancy and the possibility of a higher power out of Haplo. Xar punishes Haplo for his considering the possibility of a higher power as well as punishing him for allowing Alfred to escape. Once his punishment is done, Xar notes with satisfaction that Haplo's mysterious dog is now missing.

On Chelestra, Alfred is surprised by Haplo's dogs appearance at his side. He is also concerned that the Sartan leader refuses to believe there is a higher power and his attempts to hide the truth from Alfred. Haplo makes his way into this world of water when he is shocked to discover that the oceans negate ALL of his magic. Haplo is rescued by a human, elf, and dwarf child who are captives of the powerful and mysterious Dragon-Snakes.

As Haplo learns the truth about the Dragon-Snakes, Alfred learns the truth behind the Sundering. The Dragon-Snakes lead Haplo, the humans, elves, and dwarves to the Sartan and the Sartan leader reacts by threatening to destroy these 'invaders.' As the Dragon-Snakes flood the Sartan city with the rune magic negating ocean water, the leader of the Sartan opens the Death Gate and allows the Dragon-Snakes into the other realms.

This book makes it clear that not all Sartan are good and not all Patryn are evil. Learning more about the past and the fight over whether God (the higher power) really exist proves more interesting than I've made it sound. Fear and arrogance seems to rule both the Patryn leader and the Sartan leader. An excellent read!

This is book four in the series...
Book 1 was pretty good : Book 2 was pretty good as well : Book 3 was really slow

But all three books were laying important ground work.

Book 4 was a good read (I probably read it the fastest of the books so far). Without going into specifics, Book 4 "Serpent Mage" started to give us some of the really important background information that had been missing. A very elaborate job has been done in painting a picture of some key characters and expanding even more on previously introduced characters. Plus, depending on the twists and turns that MW & TH have instore for the readers, we can start to see a picture of the future story line that will be covered in the final three books. I am really looking forward to them.

Dragons of Winter Night is my favorite of the three original Dragonlance novels. This book is darker than the other two, filled with much pain and sorrow. The story picks up several months after the end of Dragons of Autumn Twilight, with the Companions of the Lance continuing their search for the ancient Gods of Krynn. They have been swept up into a war that is begining, and are separated in the city of Tarsis the Beautiful. This is a tale of lost love and lost innocence. Tanis is torn between two women, and Raistlin flirts with the black robes of evil. Across the continent, Laurana and Sturm face many challenges, some leading to glory and some to the sword. The character development is supreme and the plot moves quickly. Watch out, the end of this book will bring you to tears if you have a heart.

Tanis, Flint, Tass, Sturm, Caramon, Raistlin, and the rest are back. Tanis' part must recover the Great Dragon Orbs and Dragon Lance. If they fail to recover these relics, all hope of fighting the Dragon Armies will be lost.

This book is marvelous. It combines humor, love, action, mystery, and suspense to create a perfect novel. For an example of a little humor, When there is no hope of escape from captivity; Tass is stealing things and cracking funny jokes about the guards and such, as they are being taken to the dungeons.

This book is good because it is long, but never boring. This book is a book that you never want to end. Unlike other book it does not progressively get better, it is perfect all the way through! At the beginning when you normaly are getting to know the setting and characters, it jumps you right into a little action and suspense.

I recommend this book to everyone! It is the second book in the Chronicles trilogy so I recommend you read Dragons of Autumn Twilight first.

This novel is filled with love, hate, comedy, and anything you can think of! The story of a strage mixup of characters trying to bring peace back to their world is about to continue. This book is filled with complex characters and magnificent dialogue. A masterpeice without paint is created by two of the worlds best authors.....once again!(It's not the end of my getaway ticket!)

The party of Tanis is searching for the legendary dragonorb so they can control the evil dragons that are currently trying to take over the world with help of their Dragon Highlords. If the party can take over them with the powerfull dragonorbs, they just may save Krynn from all destruction! With the help of Tanis, half-elven, Raistlin, frail mage, Tasselhoff, kender\theift, Caramon, warrior, Laurana, elf maiden, and Flint, dwarf, they try to stop the queen of darkness from taking over Krynn.

A great book for ages 12 and up. Please read Dragons of Autumn Twilight first.

Thank you for reading my review and may the Force be with you!

Frans, (SnArf)

I bought this some time ago, read a few pages, and put it down. Then, about a year later, I was pressed for something to read, so I gave it another shot. I am very glad that I did. This book is the first of seven, and those seven quickly became the most favored books of my collection.

The vastness of these sundered worlds is amazing. The great thing about this book, and the series, is the immersion into the world. The humor of the Gegs (dwarves) is unrivaled because of its innocence. The wars between elven and human are colorful, because the war is for water. A nice irony, since there is ice above the elves and humans (beyond their reach), and the Gegs below are constantly wracked by fierce thunderstorms.

The plot is excellent because so many lines are running at once. And then, too, there are mysteries that are resolved, and others that are carried over. (Example: We learn what the Kicksey-Winsey is designed for, but we aren't told exactly how it operates.)

If you liked Dragonlance, you MUST read this book. The reason, you ask? There is this strange befuddled old man in mouse colored robes in the second book. Let's see, what was his name? . . . Oh yes! It's Zifnab!

DRAGON WING marks the beginning to THE DEATH GATE CYCLE, a series where the first four novels are stand-alones and the action takes place on four seperate worlds. In DRAGON WING we are introduced to the great many races of creatures used in the cycle. There are elves, dwarves, sartyn, and patryn; each race is thouroghly introduced and there is a large aray of characters from each race that grace the story. I liked this book because it managed to go in depth into the minds of the characters, and to create a fast paced, action filled story line all at the same time. There is so much going on in this novel, with it's large and heavily detailed world, that I cannot even begin to synopsize it. All I will say is that anyone who is a fan of fantasy should pick up this book and give it a try. I'm sure you'll be satisfied

Even though this is a paragon of contemporary fantasy, there are a couple good reasons not to read this book.

Don't read this book if you are looking for a simple uncomplicated story that you can read in single digit sittings. This book will absorb you and you will eventually end up reading all seven Death Gate Cycle series volumes.

And definitely do not read this book if you are satisfied with the fantasy novels you have been reading. What you're currently reading may not measure up.

The Authors

The Death Gate Series was written by renown Fantasy and Science Fiction authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. This is the first installment of the most impressive fantasy series I have ever read. In fact the seven volume Death Gate Cycle has set a standard so high, it has spoiled fantasy for me. Hence my title. They created such a unique and creative concept and their writing was so clear and easy to follow (Readers of Tolkien take note)that after ten chapters I was hooked.

Death Gate Cycle

The Setting

The Death Gate Cycle is a seven book series about four mythical Realms, actually five, that were created untold ages ago when a powerful magical race, known as the Sartans, sundered the single world into four realms named after the four elements, Sky, Stone, Fire and Water and a fifth realm, the Nexus, which is a Penal colony for the Sartans vanquished rivals, the almost equally powerful Patryns.

The Main Characters in order of appearance.

Haplo - A Paytryn, explorer/spy
Hugh the Hand - A Human, mercenary/hired sword
Bane - A Human prince
Limbeck - A revolutionary Geg
Jarre - His revolutionary wife
Alfred - Bane's man servant
Haplo's Dog

Background

Good vs Evil

The story revolves around the Sartan and the Patryns. Both races are powerful magicians, the Satan a beneficent people who respect all beings and the nefarious Patryns who want to conquer and subjugate all the races of the world. Eons ago these great and powerful races fought and the Sartan were victorious. Based on some lost plan the Sartan sundered the world creating five realms revolving around the Death Gate. On one of these realms, Nexus, was created a penal colony called the Labyrinth to which the Patryns were exiled. The Labyrinth, which apparently has a life of its own, is a cruel hostile place in which most of the patryns have been exterminated. But finally one great wizard, The Lord of Nexus, escapes into the city(prebuilt by the Sartan) Nexus and starts to help others. And so our story begins;

The Plot

The Patryns are gradually escaping their tortuous prison, The Labyrinth and are now plotting their revenge against their implacable enemies, the all powerful Sartan. Haplo, the great Lords trusted emissary, is being sent out to cause destabilization in the realms, surreptitiously search for the Sartan and to report back all findings to the Lord.

But Haplo is unable to find any Sartan. Where have they gone?

Volume I, Dragon Wing

Arianus, Mid Realm

Hugh the Hand was framed but it doesn't matter. He's about to be beheaded by Three-Chop Nick, an executioner renown for his bungling beheading, when an envoy from King Steven arrives, by Dragon, to save his life.

It seems King Steven has a job for Hugh, a reputed assassin.
Who is the target of this assignment? Why, it's King Steven's own son, Bane. Meanwhile:

Arianus, Low Realm

Limbeck the Geg is also in a predicament. What got him in hot water was that he repeated what he saw.

The Gegs are a race of small people, similar to the Hobbits from another more obscure novel. They are the sole inhabitants of the lower realm of Arianus and their only purpose in life seems to be to mine coralite by use of an enormous, extraordinary machine, the Gegs call Kicksey Winsey, thats just always been there. The real purpose of the machine is unknown but it manages to allow the Gegs to mine coralite and to sell it to the Godlike Elves from the upper realms.

Lembeck, who sees injustice in toiling away for the Elves, saw one of the Elves get killed in an accident taking delivery of a shipment of coralite and informed everyone that the Elves are not Gods, they die just like Gegs, therefore they no longer need to take orders from the Elves. This of course is heresy and leads his banishment to the Steps (the very small islands just below Drevlin, the main island, that are mined for coralite. This is tantamount to a sentence of death as no one ever returns. Meanwhile;

Arianus, Mid Realm

Back with Hugh, who is ambivilent about his new contract, especially after meeting the seeminly endearing youngster 912 year old), takes Prince Bane on a dragon to another location from which they can hike a couple days to Hugh's Elfen dragon ship, "Dragon Wing", however Hugh notices that someone is following. So Hugh waylays his follower and captures Alfred, Price Bane's loyal but timid, clumsy and bumbling chamberlain. But is Alfred what he seems? Hugh begins to wonder when an accident occurs involving a deadly Crystal Tree in which neither Prince Bane or Alfred get even so much as a cut and later when they are airborne on the Dragon Wing, Bane poisons Hugh (he knows Hugh's Mission)with a deadly poison only to be awakened(from death?) by Alfred, primarily,so he can stabilize the falling ship. Meanwhile;

Arianus, Lower Realm, The Steps

Lembeck is Marooned on one of the small unnamed step islands but manages to get his Initials on one of the dig claws to let Jarre, his loyal, loving wife, know where he is. In the meantime the whole island is shaken by something and Lembeck goes to investigate and finds some unknown type of airship has crashed and the occupants, some kind of manlike person, who is severely injured, and a dog, are in imminent danger of getting crushed by a dig claw. Once Lembeck effects their rescue he examines the manlike person(Haplo)and discovers he has tattoos(actually runes) over his entire body and decides, despite the fact the he is near death, that Haplo is a true God. Luckily Jarre is able to send a "help hand" down to Lembeck to rescue him and he brings back Haplo and the dog with him. Meanwhile;

Arianus, Deepsky Descending

Bane's poisoning of Hugh has caused a crisis. It seems Bane is only the step son of King Stephen and is the biological son of Sinistrad, an arrogant mysteriarch of the upper realms, who maintains contact with bane through a feather amulet he wears. It was Sinistrad who instructed Bane to poison Hugh and now the ship is hurtling toward the perpetual storm known as the Malestrom.

The Rest of the Story

Eventually our main characters will all meet up at Drevlin in the Lower Realm and procede to the Upper Realms, where the action and intrigue continue unabated to the climax, which isn't really the climax since there are six subsequent novels, each one, I think is more exciting than the previous.

Authors Note

As you can tell, this is a purposely involved and complex story. The writing is excellent, as is the character development of two of the characters, Hugh the Hand a reputed noblemans son, orphaned and left in the care of the strange austere Kir Monks, and Haplo whose parents were killed in the Labyrinth, while Haplo played dead. As for the other characters, the authors have not deemed much detail other than necessary items such as Lembeck's nearsightedness. Alfred is a central character and an enigma and meant to stay that way at least for a while.

If you decide to tackle this series, Good Reading!

I hadn't read the Chronicles in several years before picking this up, and I was pleased to find that my fond memories of the books that began the Dragonlance saga weren't simply nostalgia. This is a strong story, set in a believable world with unforgettable characters who seem to me like long-lost friends.

This new edition of the Chronicles adds a great deal of commentary from the authors and from other members of the Dragonlance design team. Their annotations add a new depth to the novels, expanding on bits of backstory that were only hinted at in the original text, explaining where they got their inspiration for certain characters and events, providing insight into all aspects of the writing experience. Many of these notes are very interesting, and some are hilarious. My favorite was Weis and Hickman's little argument about Elistan at the beginning of the second book, which I won't spoil for you!

A bit of advice, though, to anyone new to Dragonlance. Be a little wary of the annotations if you've never read the books before, as they will sometimes reveal things that happen later in the story, and nothing's worse than having a book spoiled for you. It's probably better to read through without reading the annotations first.

Now, if only they'd come out with an Annotated Legends...

(EDIT: 21 Feb 2003) For those interested, the Annotated Legends is, in fact, in progress, and is scheduled to be released sometime around September - October [...]. I certainly can't wait!

A reviewer once described Dragonlance Chronicles as "Something to read after Tolkien." I couldn't have said it better myself - Weis and Hickman's work is THE classic of the fantasy genre next to Mr. Tolkien himself.

The story begins with the reunion of lifelong friends 5 years to the day after their last meeting. The world of Krynn is in a time of relative peace, the Cataclysm War having recently ended. Each companion meets back at the The Inn of The Last Home with stories to tell, treasures to boast of, and memories to relect on. But it is not long before the cozy ambiance is sharply pierced as the party is sucked into a plot of good versus evil that will change their lives forever...

Dragonlance may sound like a typical fantasy book, but that is because it DEFINED the fantasy genre over 15 years ago. It set the standard for the grumpy dwarf, the confused leader, and the sexy barmaid; countless writers have tried and failed to emulate the formula quite so well. I have personally read the trilogy three time and am still thirsty for more. In fact, Dragonlance is a much more readable book than The Lord of The Rings. The action is non-stop and each character has his own unique personality and traits. The massive length of Chronicles may seem daunting but to me it is one of the few books that justifies it. My only regret having been an illiterate 1-year-old when the first book, Dragons of Auntumn Twighlight, came out in 1984.

Concerning this annotated version specifically, Weis and Hickman do a decent job of rekindling the magic of Dragonlance. There are plenty of interesting comments on the page borders in the beginning and the end but toward the middle, the authors seem to lose steam. Also, BE WARNED, there are actually blaten spoilers within the authors' comments. I guess they assume all their readers are returners but for those who want to get into Dragonlance for the first time, reading this edition will be hazardous.

Dragonlance: The Annotated Chronicles by Margret Weis and Tracy Hickman is a fantasy classic packaged with a beutiful dust jacket and a handsome hardback binding. No price is too high for this amazing work, so please, come into the Dragonlance world.

I had read Chronicles series several times before picking up a copy of this book, but thanks to the notes within this volume it was like experiencing it for the first time again. Thoughts are expressed from not only the authors, but many people close to the writing of these books and of the Dragonlance setting as well. They provided insight into the views of the characters, events in the story, and even into the minds of it's creators. They don't just stop with insights, however, they also provide information on how events in the story were inspired, some of which leave the reader laughing hysterically. My only complaint would be that occasionally they point out multiple times in a single scene that something is related in more detail in another book in the Dragonlance saga, but this is rare.

It's been about 3 years since I first read this book, and I have yet to forget how I felt when I got to the last page. Hickman's realistic characters and believable social structure go a long way towards the flawless suspension of disbelief. I think people who enjoy science fiction as well as those who just enjoy speculative fiction will both find something in here for their tastes. Hickman does a superb job of discussion the issues at hand without preaching directly to the reader. I just might have to read this one again for pure pleasure!

The Immortals is the first solo venture of Tracy Hickman's that I have read, and I was ultimately pleased with with the writing; although there were some flaws in style and plot development, that caused me to raise one eye brow slightly and ask, "Where are you going with this?"

The Characters in the book have the depth that Hickman fans have come to expect and the over all storyline is all too plausible. The interacting of characters, amazing sense of community and family, and impending doom that builds steadily towards the novel's end will have you caught in a web of emotional turmoil.

This novel was a daring move for Hickman, who's commercial success has been in the realms of Science Fiction and Fantasy. The Immortals may very well be easily classified as science fiction, but the boldness of the message within slaps society so hard in the face that I feel more inclined to classify it as realistic fiction. Remove the floating cars and magnetic force fields, and your left reading about an event frighteningly similar to the worst parts of recent human history; a history with potential to repeat itself.

So why the five stars if the writing was imperfect? Hickman put our emotions in a blender, and pureed our very souls. He left us in fear, dreadful wondering, and at the same time hope; and not just for the characters within the pages. The message is real.

I don't know if Hickman's risk in writing this novel paid off commercially. I do know that the risk paid off in ways that can not be measured, for those of us who have read this book. It's a shame that a publisher with enough courage could not be found to put this book out years earlier, as Hickman had hoped.

It is an understatement to say I am an avid reader. Having read all of Tracy Hickman's previous works, solo or with Margaret Weis, I can not admit I was prepared for how this book would affect me and how I would feel upon completing it. I find Tracy Hickman's novels to be stories about the triumph of the individual spirit and about an awareness and exceptance of ones own place in the grand scheme. The Immortals is such a book, and so much more. I was completely engrossed and compelled by the story. I immediately wanted to share how I felt about what I was reading with friends and family. This is the first book I ever read where I openly discussed the story and overall message over the dinnertable (My parents don't have much use for my fantasy interest). Questions were raised and answered and a deeper understanding was reached. I thank Mr. Hickman for this opportunity to ask the, sometimes, unaskable questions and to create a story where the reader can surely share completely in the author's vision and message. By the end of the book, I must admit, words were hard to come by. Shameless plug: For more book reviews visit the Dog Pound @ 'www.geocities.com/Area51/Lair/3803' ; by Digger

If you loved Raistlin in the Chronicles and wanted more of him (like I did), here's the book for you. 'Time of the Twins' lets the reader in on a little plot crafted by the Mage of mages himself, and knowing the power hungry Raistlin, you can be assured it's cool. The only thing I didn't like about this novel was the drunken Caramon. Weis and Hickman either don't know how to effectively write about a drunk, or they feel they should hold back because of younger audiences. Regardless, it's a must read. Enjoy!

Time of the Twins is the first chapter of the exciting trilogy called Legends. In this novel you are subject to a more intimate setting with only 2 or 3 main character instead of 6 or 7 like the Chronicles trilogy. The twins Caramon and Raistlin are portrayed here as well a new character Lady Crysaina, a cleric of Paladine. Without really spoiling anything for you,here features a more pathetic Caramon, an even more ambitous and way more powerful Raistlin, and Crysania, who is gets caught in spell of love (not literally) by the black robed mage. Tassehoff is in here as well (like he is in every major Dragonlance saga) and provides excellent humor and even does quite a few amazing things. This also features time travel in a not so sci-fi fashion and the past of Krynn is involved which is very interesting. Also this novel presents another Black robed elf named Dalamar, who is quite popular with the Dragonlance fans. Also Margret Weis and Tracy Hickman has excelled in their writing (its amazing to note that the Chronicles was their first novel) and displays literature and writing techniques flawlessly with amazing amounts of detail and imagery.
This book provides a familar but also amazingly different atmosphere provided by the Chronicles Trilogy, If you had read the Chronicles Trilogy then you MUST buy this book!

For all those who have ever read, or are planning to read Dragonlance, I have some insight to share. All of the books are enjoyable, but there are only 7 that matter... the 4 Chronicles (especially the first 3), and the 3 legends books. This book 1 the first of the latter series, and is truly enjoyable. Not as much action as the chronicles, but for true dragonlance fans that doesn't matter. The subject matter is different, and equally as compelling, but on a more personal and spiritual level. This book deals with arguably the most famous dragonlance character, Raistlin, and his brother Caramon. It is the single-most important and compelling relationship in the Dragonlance saga, and for that reason alone, this book is a must read. Plus it is a hell of a book, and it tells the story of the culmination of Raistlin's power and ambition which, behind the war of the lance, is the most thrilling topic in the world of Dragonlance.

I was very pleased with this book. I had a hard time following it at first, because it was the first book in the series that I read, but the Hand of Chaos quickly draws the reader in with it's colorful description of characters and landscape. After reading this book, I was very interested in getting the rest of the series. And after reading the rest of the series(in order, this time), I feel that Hand of Chaos answers questions, develops characters nicely, and still leaves enough suspense at the end to leave me eager to read more.

Ah, the fifth book of the Death Gate Series. This novel has a tough act to follow because of the Serpent Mage and Fire Sea. Although it lacks what the previous two has, this novel is important none the less.

In the novel, the chaotic serpents have found their way into the Nexus and the remaining three worlds due to the fact that the Death Gate was opened. Once the serpents have entered the new worlds, a whole tangled scheme of possibilities now exists. The serpents are talking to Xar, Haplo, and the elves located on Arianus. The main purpose of the serpents is to spread their chaos, and feed off of people's fear.

The novel does not contain Alfred at all, and because of that, the novel lacks some punch. But, it does revive the career of Hugh the Hand. Furthermore, Bane plays an important role in this novel as well. Haplo kind of takes a dejected back seat in this novel, because anything he wants to do will tangle him into a more chaotic web woven by the serpents.

The plot in this novel is complex, yet interesting. The story is told through different viewpoints, mainly those of the dwarves, and Haplo. However, due to the apperance of the serpents, the potential chaos creates a more interesting novel. The main question is: Who is aligned with who, and for what purpose?

Although this novel contains very few Sartan, and absolutely no Alfred, this novel is needed in the series. It will be essential in creating a crescendo in the final two novels. Don't expect the same enjoyment as the previous two novels, but understand it is necessary for the whole series.

Just when I thought it was over, after the first four books (the Death Gate Cycle), it starts it all over again with Hand of Chaos. Haplo has now been to all 4 different worlds and had more than involved himself with the lowly "mensch". Haplo and his clumsy enemy, Alfred, must try to help spread the word of a power far greater than their own. I have enjoyed every Death Gate book because of it's intense storyline, fine characters, and very interesting "history" which is sprinkled for plot progression. These seven books have captived my time since more since Duncan's octology. I had read Darksword trilogy ten years ago when I was in high school, so I am familiar with their work. And this "septology?" has truly caught my imagination off guard, and I wish the rollercoaster had not stopped!

I have never been very much into reviews, but some books just call for it, and Deathgate Cycle's just one of those series. I of course, give Into the Labyrinth five stars for many reasons, other than plot and character development which are always strong throughout the series. As the sixth book of the series, Ino the Labyrinth still manages to surprise the reader and make the "answer" to the story even more confusing than it previously was. And of course, the presence of Zifnab is a plus, as I maintain he is the best character in the entire series. And for those who don't appreciate his references to James Bond and other characters, let me remind you that the four worlds of the Deathgate Cycle were sundered from the Earth which is the world that WE live in now, though it was sundered in a futuristic era. To back this up without having to quote deeply into the book, just let me remind you that Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman indicate that the name "Xar" is derived from "Czar" and ultimately, Caesar from ancient Roman times. But in any case, one thing for sure is: Throughout all of Into the Labyrinth, you'll be wondering how the hell the heroes can possibly save the worlds from the chaos that the Sartans and Patryns created, with the help of the Dragon-Snakes.

I've read all of the books in the Death Gate Cycle and this series is one of the best I've read. A big fan of fantasy and science fiction, I think that Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman have done a marvelous job of weaving this tale--although for me "Into the Labyrinth" went a little slower than some of the other books in the series. All of the elements in the story start to come together and a lot of previously unanswered questions are answered in this book, but if you haven't read the first five books in this series I suggest that you read those before you read this one. You'll have a better understanding of what is happening and I think that you will enjoy the book more.

This Series written by Weis and Hickman is the greatest work of fantasy literature that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. This novel has everything you can ask for, action, answers to questions, and insights on new characters- Xar and Marit. This is the second to last book in the series and the last one is the best but this one is great too, If you havn't had a chance to read this series, you must do so for this is one of the greatest series of all time.

Evlen Star was a great mix of suspense, action, and love. Even better than the first of the Death Gate Cycle. It was a story of segregated races coming together to save themselves from annihilation. The only small problem with Elven Star was the little relation to Dragon Wing(also an excellent book). The only relation was that of Haplo and his dog traveling to a different world. All of the other characters are new. Though they were new, the characters were well-created. Zifnab added a few laughs to a long journey, though sometimes his ramblings were not even close to funny. Another great part of the book was the constant action. There were no boring stretches of the book that were just too boring to read. There was always something happening. I always wanted to keep reading, wanting to know what would happen next. Unless the answers of Dragon Wing are answered in later wolumes, Elven Star could have been made complete with more information on the world of Arianus. After reading Dragon Wing I decided that I would try the next book in the series. After reading Elven Star I know I am going to read all seven books.

In Elven Star you discover the second brilliantly concieved world in the Death Gate Cycle. Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman create the ultimate blend of mystery and comedy. The world is unlike any we've ever perhaps imagianed in our wildest dreams. Everlasting light provides this world with lush growth(understatement). The trees are hundreds perhaps thousands of feet in the sky. The thick moss growing between the trees provide a type of land that the humans and elves live on. Finding the dwarves in areas dug well beneath the moss. Once again the Patryn(Demi-God like magic user) whom you meet in Dragon Wing is exploring the world to find evidence of the Sartan's existance. Instead he finds a new force of great power that challanges even his own. The foreshadowing is excellent, The comedy is unbearable at times,(especially if you've read J.R.R.Tolkien or DragonLance) and once again you find that the need to read on in the series is not an option, its an requirement to satisfy your growing addiction for more Weis and Hickman brilliance

Elven star, like the rest of the books in the series, is a great read. Not only is it full of action and adventure that will leave you breathless, but the character growth and dialogue is amazing. We see more of Haplo's character in this book, but it also centers around the life of the races living on this world of Pyran. Weis and Hickman do an amazing job with this book. They bring to the front a life and death struggle for everyone on the world. The races must band together, but can they? before it is too late? A race of massive Tytans threatens to demolish everything on the planet in their search for their old leaders. Together, a ragtag group of adventurers must flee from these monster's massive power, and help each other stay alive.

And people who say that this book is not needed in the series are sorely dissapointed. If you read this book, and see what is going on, you will realize that stuff that happens in this book is vital to the later books in the series. This book is a definate must, this whole series is great, complete with humor, action, adventure, everything Weis and Hickman are great at. A definate must.