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Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman along with Andrew Dabb adapted Dragons of Spring Dawning to a comic format, with Julius Gope as the artist. It has been slated for 12 issues by Devil's Due Publishing. Reviewer Ron Miller from indycomicreview.com reviewed the first issue awarded the comic 3 stars noting however as the last book of trilogy it is a difficult starting point for new readers.[[Category:Publication]]Template[[Category:DragonlanceNovel]][[Category:NovelsDragonlance]]
→BOOK 3: Link
{{Publication Infobox|system=Novel|url=|image=DragonsofSpringDawning original.jpg|abbreviation=|series=[[Dragonlance Chronicles]]|publisher=[[TSR]]|itemcode=|author=[[Margaret Weis]], [[Tracy Hickman]]|date=1985|format=|pgcount=|isbn10=0-88038-175-2|price=|preceded by=[[Dragons of Winter Night]]|followed by=[[Time of the Twins]]/[[The Second Generation]]|productblurb=}}'''''Dragons of Spring Dawning ''''' is the third book in the ''[[Dragonlance Chronicles]] '' series, written by [[Tracy Hickman]] and [[Margaret Weis]]. It continues events from ''[[Dragons of Winter Night]] '' and sets up the premise of the ''[[Dragonlance Legends trilogy]]'' trilogy, also written by Weiss Weis and Hickman
===Publication History===
Originally published in September 1985, this novel has seen multiple reprints with the latest reprint in March 2004. [1] <ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dlnovel/860600000| title=Dragonlance Chronicles, Dragons of Spring Dawning, Part Six| publisher=wizards.com| accessdate=2008-04-11}}</ref> The novel has also been adapted into 12 issue comic book series.
===Plot summary===
{{spoilers}}
====BOOK 1====
The book begins with [[Tanis Half-Elven]] in [[Flotsam]]. [[Kitiara]] has recently left for [[Solamnia]] to lead the [[Dragonarmies]] in their failed attack against the [[High Clerist's Tower]], which was depicted in the previous novel and resulted in the death of [[Sturm Brightblade]]. Taking advantage of her absence, Tanis leaves to meet with the other companions again, unaware that he is followed by the [[draconian]] [[Gakhan]], Kitiara's personal assassin. Returning to his friends ([[Goldmoon]], [[Riverwind]], [[Tika Waylan]], [[Caramon Majere]] and [[Raistlin Majere]]), Tanis tells them the half-truth that he was mistaken for an officer by a Dragon Highlord and forced to continue the impersonation for his own safety. Ashamed of having spend the past several nights with Kitiara, Tanis does not tell them she is the Highlord in question. Only Raistlin realizes the [[half-elf ]] is lying at least in part and makes a point of telling him so when they are alone.
Later on, the companions arrive at the ship [[Perechon]], where the mysterious [[Berem]] (also called "the Everman" and "the Green Gemstone Man") works as a helmsman. The ship sails out to the forbidding [[Blood Sea of Istar]], a sea that was created by the destruction of the legendary city of [[Istar]] during the [[Cataclysm]]. At the center of the blood sea there is a perpetual storm over a whirlpool. This whirlpool continually churns up the rich red soil of [[Istar]] from the sea floor and gives the waters the appearance of blood.
Kitiara leads her forces and her dragon Skie to follow the Perechon. Berem panics when he sees the minions of [[Takhisis]]and steers the ship straight towards the whirlpool. Raistlin recognizes Kitiara despite her armor and Tanis tells the companions the full truth of his absence. Although their faith in him has been shaken, the companions choose to continue following Tanis, much to his shame.
The Perechon is caught in the whirlpool and the heroes realize they're doomed. Believing Raistlin's magic is their only hope for survival, Tanis and Caramon find him only to realize he is planning on escaping by himself by using his [[Dragon Orb]] to teleport away. When Tanis asks if he can teleport them all away, Raistlin says doing so would tax him more and possibly cause failure, something he refuses to risk. Believing that Raistlin will not harm his brother Tanis orders Caramon to stop him but is shocked when the mage reveals that he already proved he is quite capable of killing his twin during his test at the [[Tower of High Sorcery]]. Raistlin vanishes, leaving Caramon shocked by his twin's abandonment. Soon afterwards, the Perechon tips over the edge of the whirlpool and the rest of the companions vanish beneath the waves.
Raistlin's spell brings him to the steps of the [[Great Library of Palanthas]], where the great librarian/historian [[Astinus]]lives. Astinus is said to have been the first living thing on Krynn and will supposedly also be the last and he seems to spend every waking moment chronicling the history of the world around him. The strain of working such powerful magic has left Raistlin on the verge of death. When told of his presence, Astinus orders his [[aesthetics]] (a semi-monastic order responsible for the preservation and cataloguing of Astinus's voluminous history of [[Krynn]]) to bring the mage into the library.
As Raistlin recovers his wits, Astinus refers to him as “old friend”, which confuses him and causes him to wonder if they've have met before. Likewise, Raistlin is startled by the fact that he doesn't see the effects of age and time touching the historian's face. Although Astinus claims that they have met before and that Raistlin gave him an object known as the [[Sphere of Time]], he does not go into greater detail than that.
Knowing he will die soon, the mage requests access to the ancient spell books in the Great Library. Astinus grants this, but Raistlin becomes violently angry when he realizes that the spells of these books can't be accessed without "The Key”, a formula that has been lost over the ages because it was so common that no one bothered to write it down. Watching over the wizard who he believes will die soon, Astinus says his good-byes but then accidentally lets slip the fact that the gods [[Paladine]], [[Gilean]] and [[Takhisis]], Queen of Darkness, are possessors of "the Key of Knowledge." Calling upon the spirit of that has helped him before (during the Test) and that has spoken through him before (during ''[[Dragons of Winter Night]]''), Raistlin makes some kind of dark bargain saying "Save me and save yourself." As he vanishes away, Astinus wonders about what evil he has helped unleashed.
=====The Master of Past and Present=====
While exploring [[Palanthas]], [[Tasslehoff Burrfoot]] and [[Flint Fireforge]] have a close encounter with the [[Tower of High Sorcery of Palanthas]]. Flint and Tasslehoff come across the tower while wandering the streets of Palanthas, and despite the feeling of terror that sweeps over them, they get closer than any human being has ever gotten. As soon as the pair come within sight of the Shoikan Grove that surrounds the tower and see the dark cloaked shape that drapes its gates, they flee in terror.
Soon, Astinus encounters [[Laurana Kanan]], Flint and Tasslehoff and relates to them the story of the Tower of High Sorcery of Panlanthas, telling the [[Canon:Elf (Dragonlance)|elf]]-maid that “its history is bound up in your destiny." He explains that the tower was one of the five original Towers of High Sorcery. During the [[Lost Wars]], it was abandoned due to the rising mistrust of magic. But after everyone had apparently left and contemporary politicians were about to take possession, a [[black robe]]mage revealed himself at the top of the tower and proclaimed “The gates shall remain closed and the halls empty until the day that the master of both the past and the present returns with power!” The mage then flung himself onto the gates, dying from impalement as he cursed the grounds and the grove with dark magic.
Not long afterwards, Laurana receives a message from [[Lord Gunthar Uth-Wistan]], leader of the [[Knights of Solamnia]], in which he names her as the new commander of the knights stationed in Palanthas (a political move on Lord Gunthar's part to limit political maneuvering within the knighthood). [[Lord Amothus]] of Palanthas then places her in command of the armies of Palanthas as well, since the city is full of peaceful people and the army has been deemed rather pointless for some time.
With Flint and Tasslehoff's help, Laurana sneaks Bakaris out of the city to the rendezvous point and finds Gakhan and a pair of wyverns waiting for them. Bakaris orders Gakhan to go, leaving him alone with Laurana, who he intends to rape as revenge for his injuries and imprisonment. After a struggle, Bakaris falls on his own knife and dies. The three companions are about to return to Palanthas when they are stopped by the [[death knight]] [[Lord Soth]], of Kitiara's most devoted servants. Soth's power is far too great for the companions and he takes Laurana.
Following their voyage into the whirlpool, Tanis and his companions, along with Berem the Everman (who reveals he only pretends to be mute) find themselves in the ancient city of [[Istar]], which is underwater and now inhabited by [[Canon:Elf (Dragonlance)#Sea elves|sea elves]] who saved them from death. The companions meet the sea elf [[Apoletta]] and her husband, a red robed human mage named [[Zebulah]]. At first Apoletta is reluctant to help the companions or allow them to return to the surface, believing that the war on the surface is none of her peoples' concern. But when Tanis tells her of the Dragonarmies and explains that the good dragons have not been seen, nor even remembered except in legends, she realizes how dire the situation is and relents.
The companions wash up just outside of [[Kalaman]] with only vague memories of the underwater city. They arrive in the city find Tasslehoff who tell them everything that has happened. Returning to Kalaman, Kitiara reveals that Laurana has been taken to the temple of Takhisis in [[Neraka]]. She demands unconditional surrender and that Berem the Everman must be delivered to her within three weeks. Grief-stricken, Tanis resolves to go to [[Neraka]] with Berem and attempt to rescue Laurana. Caramon, Tika, Flint and Tasslehoff agree to accompany him but Tanis refuses to allow Riverwind and Goldmoon to come along as they have a child on the way. Before Tanis leaves, he and Gilthanas come to understanding, as the elf now also understand the pain of love due to the fact that he feels he can't return Silvara's affections as she's really a dragon. Before they part, Gilthanas calls Tanis “brother” and agrees to take over the defense of the city.
====BOOK 3====
The companions depart for Neraka and meet up with Fizban and the golden dragon [[Pyrite]] (who "polymorphs" into a statue so that he can be carried for the trip). During the trip, Berem runs off and is soon tracked to a rock face with a narrow tunnel. Flint is the first through and the first to enter the bowl shaped, boulder strewn valley known as [[Godshome]]. During the chase, Flint's heart gives out and he collapses. Berem, hearing Flint cry out, rushes back to help him and reaches the [[Canon:Dwarf (Dragonlance)|dwarf]] just as Tanis emerges into the valley. As he lies dying, the old dwarf reveals he has had a heart condition that has been acting up and he says farewell to his friends. Looking at Fizban, he claims to at last understand who the old wizard is and asks that he ensure he doesn't have to journey alone. Fizban promises and the old dwarf dies. Fizban then carries Flint to a pool of glassy black rock in the center of the valley, a rock which seems to hold the image of all the stars and moons. Reaching the center of the rock, the pair vanish before Tanis' eyes. In the rock, the constellation of Paladine (which had vanished in the first book of the series) returns to the sky, though when Tanis looks up he still can't see it.
Berem finally decides to tell the companions his full story. He explains he was born near Neraka only a few years before the [[Cataclysm]]. He had a sister name Jasla and one day they discovered a jeweled column half-buried in the ground. This was in fact the foundation stone of the [[Kingpriest's temple]] and it had landed there after being hurled through various planes of existence. When Berem was overcome with greed and proceeded to pry one of the emeralds loose but Jasla sensed the sacred aura of the place. They struggled and Jasla died when she fell against the column. The Queen of Darkness herself then manifested and seared the emerald into Berem's chest as a reward for freeing him, revealing that this column is like a doorway to the Abyss. Jasla's pure spirit, however, remains with the column and she blocks the Dark Majesty's escape, telling Berem to run as a new Temple of Takhisis is built around the site. Since that day, Takhisis's true goal has been to use the Everman to break his sister's enchantment upon the column and fully return to the world.
====Endings and Epilogue====
Exiting the city, Tanis and Lauran meet up with Fizban, Caramon, Tika and Tasslehoff. Fizban then reveals (as Tanis had begun to suspect) that he is really the god [[Paladine]]. Tanis also recognizes him now as the old man at the Inn who first spurred them into action by calling for the guards in ''[[Dragons of Autumn Twilight]]''. Fizban tell tells the heroes that both the good and evil dragons will remain on Ansalon and that balance has been restored between good and evil. He says that good was once the dominant force on Krynn during the reign of the Kingpriest, that this bred intolerance and arrogance, forcing the gods to bring about the Cataclysm in order to humble and temper mortals. Fizban explains to Caramon that the spirit who has helped Raistlin at times (and who Raistiln made a bargain with in the Great Library) is the ancient evil wizard Fistandantilus. But he points out that Raistlin is not being possessed and chose his life and his actions all by himself.
Tasslehoff, learning that Fizban is a God, is heartbroken to realize that he will have to say goodbye to yet another friend. To comfort Tasslehoff, Fizban tells him that Flint waits for him beside the forge of the god Reorx. He also implies that Tasslehoff will be experiencing a time travel adventure soon (which will occur in ''Dragonlance Legends'') and decrees that "Fizban" will now be his name among the kender.
Laurana and Tanis go off alone and Tanis presents her old ring to her again. She throws it away however and tells him that it is the symbol of an immature selfish love, promising that she will make Tanis a new ring, made of steel and gold to properly symbolize their love.
As morning dawns, the companions separate, Tasslehoff to travel to [[Kenderhome]], Caramon and Tika to travel to [[Solace]] and Tanis and Laurana to travel to Kalaman. In the Epilogue, Raistlin marches through the streets of Palanthas in the middle of the night and claims ownership of the [[tower Tower of High Sorcery]]. Dismissing the spirit of the dead black robe, Raistlin proclaims himself to be the master of past and present whose coming was foretold and he settles into his new home.
====Themes====
This final book seems to deal with the majority of characters fully asserting their individual identity and growing up into a different person than they were in the first book. Raistlin is finally a stronger, independent man who doesn't need to lean on his brother for support. Tasslehoff learns fear for others through grief and becomes different from other kender. Tanis realizes that his love for Laurana is the balance of his dual nature. Laurana completely alters her views on the world and on what love means. Caramon seems to be the only one of the companions who is emotionally stuck, unwilling to let go of his brother or to accept Raistlin's capacity for evil.
{{endspoilers}}
====Connections to Other Books====
The ''[[Dragonlance Legends trilogy]] '' trilogy is a sequel to the ''Chronicles '' and detail details Raistlin's next plan to achieve even greater power than he already has. Fizban himself relates part of the plot of that story when he speaks to Tasslehoff about Flint. The ''Legends '' trilogy also goes into greater detail concerning the relationship between Raistlin and Fistandantilus and reveals the final fate of Kitiara.<br>''[[The Second Generation]]'' tells the stories of the children of the Heroes of the Lance that become a new generation of heroes. In ''[[Dragons of Summer Flame]]'' these are the protagonists in a new world-shaking conflict.
====Comic====
Following from the adaption of ''[[Dark Elf Trilogy]]'', the comic adaptation for ''Dragonlance - Chronicles '' was announced beginning with ''Dragons of Autumn Twilight '' in August 2005. NY Times best seller author Margaret Weis stated "We've all been waiting for this! I'm really impressed with Devil's Due and the quality of their artwork and storytelling. This is going to be a great project. I am so excited!" <ref>{{cite web| last = Luce| first = Patrick| date = 2005-06-21| url=http://books.monstersandcritics.com/comics/news/article_8907.php| title=Devil’s Due To Adapt The Dragonlance Chronicles| publisher=monstersandcrtics.com| accessdate=2008-04-11}}</ref> The first issue of last book of the trilogy Dragons of Spring Dawning was a moderate success ranking 187 in the top 300 comics for the March 2007 period. [3] <ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/10404.html| title=Top 300 Comics Actual--March 2007| publisher=icv2.com| accessdate=2008-04-11}}</ref> The latest issue #8 was ranked 206 in the top 300 comics for the February 2008 period.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/12242.html| title=Top 300 Comics Actual--February 2008| publisher=icv2.com| accessdate=2008-04-11}}</ref> Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman along with Andrew Dabb adapted Dragons of Spring Dawning to a comic format, with Julius Gope as the artist. It has been slated for 12 issues by Devil's Due Publishing. Reviewer Ron Miller from indycomicreview.com reviewed the first issue awarded the comic 3 stars noting however as the last book of trilogy it is a difficult starting point for new readers.<ref>{{cite web| last = Miller| first = Ron| url=http://www.indycomicreview.com/AllReviews/DragonlanceChroniclesDragonsofSpringDawning1/tabid/721/Default.aspx| title=Dragonlance Chronicles: Dragons of Spring Dawning #1| publisher=indycomicreview.com| accessdate=2008-04-11}}</ref> ==Reception==In an editorial review, Paul Hughes stated on amazon.com that Spring Dawning is "the final installment in Weis and Hickman's Chronicles series--Dragonlance's undisputed must-read trilogy". He considered the last novel as "a bang-up conclusion to Dragonlance's best-loved trilogy".<ref>{{cite web| last = Hughes| first = Paul| url=http://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Spring-Dawning-Dragonlance-Chronicles/dp/0786915897| title=Dragons of Spring Dawning (Dragonlance Chronicles, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)| publisher=amazon.com| accessdate=2008-04-11}}</ref> The novel was awarded an average rating of 4.06 based on 1218 ratings on goodreads.com.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68378.Dragons_of_Spring_Dawning| title=Dragons of Spring Dawning (Dragonlance Chronicles, Vol. 3)| publisher=goodreads.com| accessdate=2008-04-11}}</ref> ==See also==*''[[Dragons of Autumn Twilight]]*''[[Dragons of Winter Night]]*''[[Dragons of Summer Flame]] ==References==<references/><br>{{Dragonlance}} {{Wikipedia|Dragons of Spring Dawning}} ----{{Publication Breadcrumb/Novels}}<br>{{Canon Breadcrumb/Dragonlance}}
