Once upon a time, when the world was young, we traveled with two people into the depths of history, and the tidal waves of amusement and love for Krynn are still with us today. With the completion of Dragons of a Vanished Moon by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, the bond between fan and author has been completed once again. Not since the end of Test of The Twins have I felt such sorrow to see the end of a wondrous story with such memorable characters that I have learned to love and cherish.

In the end, Dragons of a Vanished Moon has given the fans hope for the gaming of Dragonlance, as we have not seen prior to this point, except when the setting was first released 15 years ago. Weis and Hickman have set up Sovereign Press into a position to do an awful lot for the Dragonlance setting, and I predict that these changes will be seen for many years to come. A time where gaming and novels can co-exist once again and be prosperous, something new to most gamers, myself included.

Unlike Dragons of Summer Flame, this utterly earth shattering series is split up between novels, giving the authors much more breathing room to get their work done. Over the three years that the books have been released, the suspense to see the end has risen to such high levels, that most fans would do almost anything to see how the world of Krynn ends up. The outcome of the novel is worth the investment you might give your local bookshop. This novel is like no other Weis and Hickman adventure.

In book three, we see our same old friends, miserable and depressed because of Mina's great onslaught through Krynn - all in the name of the One God. Mina's role and influences in the world are increasing and with it, comes more land to conquer in the name of the One God. Mina's story in A Vanished Moon has more to do with this One God, whose true identity was revealed in the second book of the trilogy, and the story that Weis and Hickman created is not only different and original but dramatic and totally shocking. In this novel we discover the true nature of Krynn's Joan of Arc, and watching it happen answer all your questions-all. One character that I noticed developed drastically from A Lost Star to A Vanished Moon is Galdar.

Now, Galdar, who is becoming more and more suspicious, discovers the truth about what is going on, and starts to get disgusted? Disgusted isn't really the right word. Worried perhaps, with the love that he has for this red-haired human girl, but it is definitely a form of worry.

Without giving too much away, I can say that the climax of Galdar's life leads to an ultimatum and a complete shock on his part as to who he meets and the commendations he receives for a job very well done.

With the magic being stolen and the wizards of Krynn totally losing all their power, people have begun to turn to the mages who are being affected, such as Palin Majere, and Dalamar the Dark. Why does this long dead Kender reappear and what is to become of him? Not many know, but a few surprising characters can tell you the tale-unfortunately that is not for me to do here, only the masters of authoring, Weis and Hickman can tell this tale! But how often can you go back and change your past and get offered something that you turned down? Not very often. This is given to a few characters and their decisions are not only shocking but amazing. No one is left hanging at the end of this story, you are answered EVERYTHING that may be on your mind.

They got so far, but in the end, well, that you can find out on your own. The story is so well written, that it flows from the book into your mind in an endless flow of elven wine—a wine so smooth that you beg for more, and never place the book down, whenever you can help it.

Dragonlance is back, fellas, and here to stay! In the light of the way the fifth age has come out, if you have been turned off to the way Dragonlance has become, or is turning out you are totally wrong. Everything could be worse, and with our friends Weis and Hickman at the helm, what could go wrong except the redemption of the world we have grown up with, taken with us on vacations and dreamed about in our dreams. Dreams that will always be filled with the might of dragons at war, at play and in flight with the knights they so dearly serve in the skies above the world of Krynn.

I rate Dragons of a Vanished Moon * * * * *

© Copyright Josh Fink 2002 - 2003

Josh Fink is an avid "simmer" and is also the webmaster of the USS Amazon - a unique online fantasy role-players site.

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Rating Scale:
* * * * * = Un-put-downable, excellent reading!
* * * * = Good value, interesting reading.
* * * = Had potential, but could have been better.
* * = Slow, difficult to read, could have been improved.
* = Imminently forgettable.