This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Love and War

Taking a step back from the main story arcs of Dragonlance will reveal quite an interesting collection of tales. Readers will encounter new adventures from the companions, as well as side stories from various time periods and lands. Each story focuses on either love or war. And it is all wrapped up under the pretense of a folklorist collecting stories on their journey.

While I always enjoy learning more about the companions, I also treasure the smaller tales in Dragonlance. Sure there is plenty of action and adventure to be had while war breaks out and our trusty companions battle the dark forces, but what happens to the regular folk who are swept up in these times as well? What about the tales of legends readers may encounter on their journeys but never fully come to realize the history behind them? This is the heart of these anthologies and all the extra lore bits I eagerly consume.

It is easy enough for me to say my favorite tale was Hide and Go Seek. Centered around Tasslehoff wandering away and being kidnapped, the kender hilariously tries to wriggle his way out of the situation. But there’s a young boy’s life at stake as well, and Tas with his quick thinking does all he can to free them both. But Tas being Tas doesn't always think things through and places them in precarious situations. This is one tale that will have readers laughing as well as biting their nails waiting for one wrong move to foil any hope the two have of freedom.

My second favorite was Hunting Destiny which focused on the White Stag. Not much is told to the readers when they first encounter this mythical creature in the Dragonlance Chronicles. Sturm reflects on the Stag being part of Huma’s legend, but what is the Stag? Is it merely another beast of the forest, or is much more? Through this short story, readers will learn how the stag came to reside in Darken Wood. The extra lore tidbits thrown in hooked me, and I enjoyed learning about curses and the Forest Master. But this is also a tale to pull at your heart, for it centers around a love that can never be fully realized. And listening to the audiobook each time a verse was sung, the melody was haunting.

If you are new to the Dragonlance world, make sure to read Dragons of Autumn Twilight first. There will be some light spoilers if you read Love and War before starting The Chronicles. I also believe you’ll appreciate the companions' tales much more. A few center on a time before the companions met, giving the reader background information that will show why the characters act as they do in Dragons of Autumn Twilight. I enjoyed each story in this anthology and if you are a fan of the series already, you will be sure to enjoy the side tales and extra lore granted from Love and War. ( )

The 3rd book in the Tales series and so far, imho, the best. Or least bad, however you see it. The focus lies on love and war, be that war as we know it or struggling with feelings or being trapped in a dangerous situation. Love prevails, be that love from a lover, friends, and so on. Several decent stories, though overall nothing extraordinary. There's stuff about dragons, stags, and even the Companions are featured (Goldmoon, Riverwind, Tasslehoff, Laurana, Raistlin, Caramon, ...). Yes, Raistlin apparently made love to someone and became a father. Not such a "wow" story, though. And there's even a telling about Huma against the Dark Queen. Makes me want to read the novel about Huma for a better impression, because the Tales one is rather poor. Michael Williams's effort.. I just couldn't finish it. Was it about Sturm getting killed by Kitiara on the tower? He wrote in such a way that it spoils all the fun. Just tell it like it is and don't use 2500 words to say it was war and war isn't fun. So, again, fairly decent offering, but like the others nothing outstanding. ( )

A book of short stories about...you guessed it....love and war, and occasionally both at the same time. Most of the stories were entertaining and a few were quite nice to read.

I would not recommend this book/series as a place to start if you have not read any other DragonLance books, as you may not recognize the people or events. This would greatly take away from the stories. However, if you have read a few and you would like a quick peak into the characters' lives before and after their novel worthy deeds, I'm sure you would enjoy this.

3/5 ( )

This volume is an anthology of short stories as could be discerned by the name of the series: Tales. In the name of completeness, I'll give micro-reviews of the individual short stories here.

1. Daddy Dearest
After the Cataclysm, a librarian wanders about trying to record the tales and oral histories of Krynn before they are lost forever. He finds an old knight who tells him a tale of the evil a father does to his daughter.

2. Pictures Of You
A tragedy claims the loving husband of a young wife. She spends the rest of her life striving to be worthy of his love.

3. Hunting Destiny
A detailed history of the Darken Wood, the passing of the Heroes of the Lance and the redemption of guardians of the wood. I really liked this little piece.

4. Amber Alert, Krynn Style
A young messenger gets kidnapped. Tas gets kidnapped along with him. It's then up to Raistlin, Caramon, Tanis, Sturm and Flint to discover that Tas has been abducted, track them down and rescue them from a couple of bloodthirsty bandits.

5. Death Knight
A lone Solamnic knight is charged with the defense of the High Clerists tower. So he does the only thing he can do - decimate the Dragon Highlord's entire army. I really enjoyed this one as well - the ultimate sacrifice for one's duty.

6. Young Sturm
We have here the story of young Sturm's flight from Brightblade castle with his mother, her maid and a sergent at arms. They get captured by pirates and delivered into the hands of an evil mage who has a thirst for young, noble blood.

7. Winning Goldmoon
This is the story of Riverwind and Goldmoon's meeting and of Goldmoon's discovery of the True gods of Krynn. I thought this one was also quite good - aside from the rather one-dimensional feel of Loremaster and Hunting-sky.

8. Raistlin's Daughter
Just after surviving the Test, Raistlin and Caramon take shelter from a blizzard in an Inn. Joining them is a mysterious young woman who entrances young Raistlin. There is a way to remove the enchantment, but the price could be death... Quite enjoyable and a bit of a surprise ending, as well.

9. Silver and Steel
The tale of Huma's final victory over the Dark Queen. A tale, also, of the love shared between Huma and his silver-haired companion. A tale, also, of the sacrifice that those two made in order that the world should continue to live.

10. Blind Man's Letter
A veteran of the battle at the High Clerists Tower writes home to tell his younger brother of the true nature of battle and of war.

I thought there were several very strong stories here. There definitely wasn't the same set of Poe-esque shockers as in the first volume. There was more filling in of the details of some of the back history of characters, which I found quite interesting. All in all, well done in my view.

Read 9/2007 ( )

I bought this volume just to read the story, "Raistlin's Daughter," since he's my favorite character from the series. An almost perfect anti-hero. I was happily suprised to find almost all the stories were worth reading as well. Whenever Weis and Hickman are involved, the Dragonlance world seems to be better off. They edit the Tales series of books and nearly all have enough good stories to justify buying the book. ( )