World Famous Comics: Dalamar the Dark (Dragonlance Classics, Vol. 2)
Dalamar the Dark (Dragonlance Classics, Vol. 2)
By: Nancy Varian Berberick Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Average Rating: Binding: Mass Market Paperback Label: Wizards of the Coast Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 310 Publication Date: January 01, 2000 Release Date: January 01, 2000
A talent for magic runs like fire through the blood of Dalamar Argent. Yet he is only a servant in the house of an elvish lord, not worthy of the High Art of Sorcery and denied all but the most grudging teaching.
As war simmers on the borders of Silvanesti, Dalamar will find a way to learn his art. His quest will take him along dark paths toward an awesome destiny.
Phewwwww... I don't remeber much of this book because it's been awhile since I read it, and because I dind'tenjoyed it. I bought it and was happy to have a book about Dalamar, who I liked so much in "Legends", but the book was a huge disappointment. Boring and repetitive, and when it began to be addictive is when Dalamar goes to Raistlin's Tower... where the book ends.
Don't waste your money on it unless you're a really HUUUUGELY ADDICTED fan of the Dragonlance series.
Well done Having been a huge fan of the original DragonLance books back in high school, I couldn't wait to read this one, and it didn't disappoint me. I enjoyed finding out what it was that made Dalamar become the mage he was. If you're a DL fan, I think you'll like this one, too.
Too many inconsistencies with existing DL Had Nancy Varian Berberick played D&D before or read up on Dragonlance before writing this?
One of the most painful moments in this book is reading about Dalamar taking out a Blue Dragon by himself, by casting lightning bolts!
There is also the parts about not one but many dwarven mages running around the realms.
The portion about Dalamar taking the Test at the Tower of High Sorcery was not too bad though.
The book started off well enough. After a prologue which basically recapitulated what readers of Legends already know, the first chapter set Dalamar as a lowly servant in a caste-rigid society of Silvanesti. The elven kingdom was under threat by the dragonarmy - and Dalamar suggested strategy to hit the rear of the enemy when it was clear the elves were overpowered. The strategy was carried out but the sheer might of the dragon against the elves meant it could not turn the tide after all.
The book followed with Dalamar fleeing along with the rest of refugees from Silvanesti to Ergoth where the haughty elves enslaved the wild elves inhabitants of Ergoth.
Through the process, until the elves returned to Silvanesti, the author made repeated shows of Dalamar losing faith and totally put off with the Silvanesti's obsession with the worship of Eli, or Paladine. However, the true clerics had long ago been removed from Krynn prior to the Cataclysm and elven societies were supposed to have given up on the gods as well. They may preserve the memories, but no cleric received any spells until (1) the Dark Queen granted her followers spells, and (2) Goldmoon became a cleric of Mishakal through the staff and the Platinum Discs were recovered. Clearly the author missed out an integral aspect of the settings of Dragonlance. An author may reserve her own creative license, but when writing within an established fictional setting, should either comply or set up her own.
Dalamar: the Early Years This Dragonlance Classics book tells the story of Dalamar's youth in Silvanesti and his eventual calling to the dark arts. He is cast out of his Elven home and left on his own to pursue his fate. He goes to the Tower to be tested, and is willingly used by the leadership of the Tower to complete a task that would allow more than one person the revenge they seek. Berberick's telling is good although her characterization of Dalamar falls slightly short of his personality from what we know of him from other stories. Her perspective of the fall of Silvanost and Lorac's Nightmare is insightful and well written, and ties well into the Chronicles storyline. This is a good book for someone who has already read the core books of the Dragonlance series.
A great addition to the Dragonlance line! This is definitely one of Nancy Berberick's best -- which, as a longtime fan of her writing, is saying a lot. The evolutionary years of one of Dragonlance's most intriguing, disturbing characters are finally revealed, taking the reader through the tortuous process of shaping the man he will become. This book is pure delight, from start to finish, and sure to please the many fans of the Dragonlance line!
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