Book mini-review: The Soulforge
7.4.2008 at 10:52:03 AM
I finished reading The Soulforge by Margaret Weiss on my usual weekly book reading schedule way back when. I just didn't get around to reviewing it. I also didn't get around to picking a new book. Things have been busy around here and I took a book hiatus to play and finish Super Mario Galaxy, which is awesome.
The Soulforge is also referred to by another name, The Raistlin Chronicles, book 1. This is because while it tells the early stories of many Dragonlance characters, the star of the show is the twisted mage Raistlin and also his twin brother Caramon. As an origin story, it works quite well. We get a very good look at Raistlin and why he makes the choices he does in the Dragonlance Chronicles books. He becomes much less of a mystery once you understand his early days.
It's also really cool to see all the main characters of the Chronicles series get together for the first time, which of course shapes their destiny to come. There aren't many insights into most characters, but we do get to see some Tanis and Kitiara drama.
Unfortunately, what holds this book back is the lack of any major conflict. It's divided into several chunks of early Raistlin life and most of these chunks include only Raistlin's inner conflict, which isn't even too strong. There are some very cool moments where his fate is laid out before him and he must make the critical choices that shape his future, but they are over as soon as they came and we are left simply following an ordinary magic-less life. For those unaware, wizards in Dragonlance go through years of training before they can even do their first spell and most of the book is telling Raistlin's story during that time.
The story picks up during the second half of the book. Raistlin is more grown up and willing to take risks with his magic and even goes on a quest to do what's right! He is obviously not what he is to become quite yet. And the book closes with a bang and a revelation that will help you understand some of what happened during the Chronicles books.
While not being specific to just this book, there is a key problem I have with the Raistlin character from a storytelling perspective. Typically, when we are given an underdog character like him, especially one destined to become the most powerful wizard, we get to see him work to triumph over his shortcomings, overcome his enemies with talent and perseverance, and other interesting plot devices that show just how great he is. Aside from his early studies as a youth, we get none of this with Raistlin. I won't spoil too much here, but nearly everything he becomes is owed to pure luck and things getting handed to him, from powerful artifacts to spellbooks filled with the most deadly spells. Instead of feeling like he is this entity to be feared, you feel like any ordinary mage in his shoes--with his luck--would have ended up just as powerful.
Raistlin rant over. Despite all that, if you liked the Dragonlance Chronicles books, you probably already like Raistlin anyway. And it's worth it to read his origins as they don't just explain some of his mystery; they serve as a prequel to Chronicles.
Next on my book blogging list is not actually a novel at all, but the D&D 4th Edition Player's Handbook.
The Soulforge is also referred to by another name, The Raistlin Chronicles, book 1. This is because while it tells the early stories of many Dragonlance characters, the star of the show is the twisted mage Raistlin and also his twin brother Caramon. As an origin story, it works quite well. We get a very good look at Raistlin and why he makes the choices he does in the Dragonlance Chronicles books. He becomes much less of a mystery once you understand his early days.
It's also really cool to see all the main characters of the Chronicles series get together for the first time, which of course shapes their destiny to come. There aren't many insights into most characters, but we do get to see some Tanis and Kitiara drama.
Unfortunately, what holds this book back is the lack of any major conflict. It's divided into several chunks of early Raistlin life and most of these chunks include only Raistlin's inner conflict, which isn't even too strong. There are some very cool moments where his fate is laid out before him and he must make the critical choices that shape his future, but they are over as soon as they came and we are left simply following an ordinary magic-less life. For those unaware, wizards in Dragonlance go through years of training before they can even do their first spell and most of the book is telling Raistlin's story during that time.
The story picks up during the second half of the book. Raistlin is more grown up and willing to take risks with his magic and even goes on a quest to do what's right! He is obviously not what he is to become quite yet. And the book closes with a bang and a revelation that will help you understand some of what happened during the Chronicles books.
While not being specific to just this book, there is a key problem I have with the Raistlin character from a storytelling perspective. Typically, when we are given an underdog character like him, especially one destined to become the most powerful wizard, we get to see him work to triumph over his shortcomings, overcome his enemies with talent and perseverance, and other interesting plot devices that show just how great he is. Aside from his early studies as a youth, we get none of this with Raistlin. I won't spoil too much here, but nearly everything he becomes is owed to pure luck and things getting handed to him, from powerful artifacts to spellbooks filled with the most deadly spells. Instead of feeling like he is this entity to be feared, you feel like any ordinary mage in his shoes--with his luck--would have ended up just as powerful.
Raistlin rant over. Despite all that, if you liked the Dragonlance Chronicles books, you probably already like Raistlin anyway. And it's worth it to read his origins as they don't just explain some of his mystery; they serve as a prequel to Chronicles.
Next on my book blogging list is not actually a novel at all, but the D&D 4th Edition Player's Handbook.
permalink | comments [0]

