Marek reviewed Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis
Does okay after very many years
4 stars
I'd have rated this much higher when I read it when I was young. It was for me, like many little nerds I think, one of the touchstone adventure stories. Very much so for people who were into or got into DnD (I wouldn't for several years after, but not for lack of wanting).
Mostly, it's a quinessential example of stereotypical high fantasy, sword and sorcery. It is a tightly woven string of major fantasy tropes; heroic adventure, fantastical settings and magical monsters. It holds up fine on the action and generally on characterisation.
It falls down mostly on attitudes to women, which are very mixed. On the one hand, the women generally have agency, clear character, and sometimes important roles to play in the plot and advancement of the setting. On the other hand, there is a recapitulation of traditional roles and attitudes that you're less likely to see …
I'd have rated this much higher when I read it when I was young. It was for me, like many little nerds I think, one of the touchstone adventure stories. Very much so for people who were into or got into DnD (I wouldn't for several years after, but not for lack of wanting).
Mostly, it's a quinessential example of stereotypical high fantasy, sword and sorcery. It is a tightly woven string of major fantasy tropes; heroic adventure, fantastical settings and magical monsters. It holds up fine on the action and generally on characterisation.
It falls down mostly on attitudes to women, which are very mixed. On the one hand, the women generally have agency, clear character, and sometimes important roles to play in the plot and advancement of the setting. On the other hand, there is a recapitulation of traditional roles and attitudes that you're less likely to see in modern fantasy literature. These issues are also true of race, which has thankfully seen huge strides in the genre since, even with further still to travel in many cases.
I re-read this because a friend casually sent a text a few weeks ago, wondering how it would hold up. Lacking motivation to get stuck into more challenging fare I pulled this 30--something-year-old copy of the shelf. I won't be rushing to continue the trilogy, but might get around it over time...
