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Dragonlance: Meetings Sextet #4
The Oath and the Measure
Now acquainted with the twins, Caramon and Raistin, who are living in Solace with him, Sturm becomes uniquely flawed in his obsession with high principles. Original.
311 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1993
30 people are currently reading
1579 people want to read
About the author
Michael Williams
40 books76 followersMichael Williams was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and through good luck and a roundabout journey through New England, New York, Wisconsin, Britain and Ireland, has ended up less than thirty miles from where he began. Over the past 20 years, he has written a number of strange novels, from the early WEASEL'S LUCK and GALEN BEKNIGHTED in the best-selling DRAGONLANCE series to the more recent lyrical and experimental ARCADY, singled out for praise by Locus and Asimov’s magazines. TRAJAN'S ARCH (to be re-released in 2019) and VINE (2018)(Blackwyrm, 2010 and 2012), two recent novels, have been revised and re-issued by Seventh Star Press as part of the new City Quartet. DOMINIC'S GHOSTS (2018) and TATTERED MEN (to be released in 2019) will complete this large and multi-faceted work.
Williams has a Ph.D. in Humanities, and teaches at the University of Louisville, where he focuses on European Romanticism and the 19th century, the Modern Fantastic, and 20th century film. He is married, and has two grown sons.
Of TRAJAN'S ARCH, he says:
“This is a story that kept entering other stories, like rooms opening into rooms in some big, unwieldy gothic mansion, both hard and necessary to tell. It takes a press with venture and backbone to bring it forth, and I believe I’ve found that press in BlackWyrm.”
VINE, a combination of Greek tragedy and contemporary urban legend, was released this summer by BlackWyrm. In this new novel, Greek Tragedy meets urban legend, as a local dramatic production in a small city goes humorously, then horrifically, awry.
Williams has a Ph.D. in Humanities, and teaches at the University of Louisville, where he focuses on European Romanticism and the 19th century, the Modern Fantastic, and 20th century film. He is married, and has two grown sons.
Of TRAJAN'S ARCH, he says:
“This is a story that kept entering other stories, like rooms opening into rooms in some big, unwieldy gothic mansion, both hard and necessary to tell. It takes a press with venture and backbone to bring it forth, and I believe I’ve found that press in BlackWyrm.”
VINE, a combination of Greek tragedy and contemporary urban legend, was released this summer by BlackWyrm. In this new novel, Greek Tragedy meets urban legend, as a local dramatic production in a small city goes humorously, then horrifically, awry.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 4, 2015
Though I've seen some criticism on this book I for one have always loved it and consider it to be one of my personal favorite Dragonlance novels. The book has a very Sir Gawain and the Green Knight feel to it which added to my overall enjoyment. It was a well paced book that managed to keep me engrossed throughout it's journey and as for the criticism I've seen about as to the book making Sturm (My favorite of the companions of the Lance) come off as stupid and brash well...People do need to remember that Sturm is very young and green, so to speak, at the point this tale takes place. With age and experience come wisdom and by this point in time Sturm was lacking in both.
All in all a very enjoyable reading experience for me and one of the Dragonlance books I've come back to re-read a few times over the years.
All in all a very enjoyable reading experience for me and one of the Dragonlance books I've come back to re-read a few times over the years.
August 10, 2015
My rating is 3.5 stars.
This is part of the Dragonlance world and takes place before the original trilogy. In this one, we have a prequel for Sturm Brightblade. This one details Sturm's journey as he travels to a forest for a challenge. On the way, he will meet different species and be involved in side adventures. He ends up learning more about his beloved knighthood during this journey.
This book surprised me as I wasn't expecting much from this book. I didn't care for the main foe as the concept is borrowed from another literary work which I know nothing about. In other words, it did nothing for me. What I thoroughly enjoyed was the journey and the ensemble cast throughout this book. The minor characters are fantastic and one pairing's story was touching. I also liked how Sturm learns about his precious knighthood and these anecdotes will form him into the man we see in the original trilogy.
This novel was a solid book and if you are a fan of Dragonlance, I would recommend this book. This book gives a nice insight into the knighthood which has a strong presence throughout this universe.
This is part of the Dragonlance world and takes place before the original trilogy. In this one, we have a prequel for Sturm Brightblade. This one details Sturm's journey as he travels to a forest for a challenge. On the way, he will meet different species and be involved in side adventures. He ends up learning more about his beloved knighthood during this journey.
This book surprised me as I wasn't expecting much from this book. I didn't care for the main foe as the concept is borrowed from another literary work which I know nothing about. In other words, it did nothing for me. What I thoroughly enjoyed was the journey and the ensemble cast throughout this book. The minor characters are fantastic and one pairing's story was touching. I also liked how Sturm learns about his precious knighthood and these anecdotes will form him into the man we see in the original trilogy.
This novel was a solid book and if you are a fan of Dragonlance, I would recommend this book. This book gives a nice insight into the knighthood which has a strong presence throughout this universe.
June 15, 2019
This book explored part of Strum Brightblade's past which was interesting, but I found myself a little annoyed with Lord Wilderness. I was a little disappointed with the ending when it came to Lord Boniface, but I could understand why it ended the way it did. It was nice to explore part of Strum's past and to receive a better understanding for why this character is the way he is. Of the Meetings Sextet books this so far has not been a favorite, but it was fairly good.
February 11, 2014
I have mixed feelings about this book. This story makes Sturm look stupid and brash, which perhaps he was in his youth, but his character in this book is a far cry from the man we later meet in the Chronicles series. The storytelling, however, was really enthralling. Michael Williams' forest imagery was fantastic and reminded me of some of the great imagery in the Chronicles and War of the Souls books. He also gave depth to his characters and pulled some surprises that I didn't expect. I find this to be most interesting because I didn't like Weasel's Luck and Galen Beknighted by the same author mostly because I thought that his characters, even the main ones, lacked depth. I recommend reading this book if for no other reason than because there is a giant, friendly spider who's entire existence turns out to be quite ironic. Okay, that's not really a good reason. Read it or not, it doesn't really matter. I don't think you will learn much about the overall Dragonlance storyline from this book, but it is kind of an interesting read all the same.
December 6, 2021
Parts of this book are heavily influenced by the story of Sir Gawain and the Green knight, but that doesn't mean it's doesn't have it's own original content. And the ending is very poetic. There are a few things in it that make no sense in the Dragonlance universe, such as the inclusion of characters Sturm isn't supposed to meet until chronicles, also including draconians at one point. Also Raistlin already having red robes at the end of the book before taking the test. Otherwise it's a nice little dragonlance story, that shines light on parts of Sturm's past, as well as his relationship with the knighthood and the Oath and the Measure.
Favorites Quote:
"I would imagine," Vertumnus persisted, "that your honor is still there, unless you're bound to lose it over a calendar" pg 247
( you'll have to read the book to understand the context)
Would recommend for anyone interested in this character from the Dragonlance books
Favorites Quote:
"I would imagine," Vertumnus persisted, "that your honor is still there, unless you're bound to lose it over a calendar" pg 247
( you'll have to read the book to understand the context)
Would recommend for anyone interested in this character from the Dragonlance books
June 16, 2019
Me he llevado una sorpresa muy agradable con este libro, la verdad. Si sigo leyendo Dragonlance todavía con tanto por leer no es ya porque los empiece con ganas de una buena novela si no principalmente por cariño cogido a los personajes. Esta saga en concreto narra los inicios de cada uno y aunque no me han disgustado hasta el momento tampoco los cogía esperando historias como las de Weis y Hickman.
Teniendo tanto donde elegir entre los protagonistas dudo que haya mucha gente que tenga a Sturm como su favorito. Sin embargo aunque a veces parezca tener tan pocas luces como Caramon, lo mejor que podemos decir de él es su enorme sentido del honor y su deber a la orden de caballeros de Solamnia.
La historia trata como Sturm deja Solace y a los hermanos Majere para marchar a Solamnia con la orden.
Allí se presentará quién provoca el nudo de esta historia, Vertumnus un caballero/druida/músico que como personaje es 10/10, que será quien provoque la partida de Sturm en esta aventura. Nuestro solámnico hará frente a originales damiselas en apuros, clásicos enemigos como bandidos o draconianos entre otros pero lo más importante serán pruebas a su honor y su fidelidad hacia el Código y la Medida.
Muchos personajes que son increíbles, trama elaborada y contínuamente girando, diálogos y narración estupendos... no sé si al nivel de las crónicas pero desde luego entre los que más he disfrutado de Dragonlance hasta la fecha.
Citas:
-"[..] no puedo mentir y decirte que el camino que te aguarda será fácil. Pero ojalá el Gran Dragón y Mantis te guíen, y el Libro Gris se abra y te muestre su sabiduría."
-"Puedes elegir Sturm Brightblade. [...] Hasta el final de esto y de cualquier cosa, puedes elegir."
Teniendo tanto donde elegir entre los protagonistas dudo que haya mucha gente que tenga a Sturm como su favorito. Sin embargo aunque a veces parezca tener tan pocas luces como Caramon, lo mejor que podemos decir de él es su enorme sentido del honor y su deber a la orden de caballeros de Solamnia.
La historia trata como Sturm deja Solace y a los hermanos Majere para marchar a Solamnia con la orden.
Allí se presentará quién provoca el nudo de esta historia, Vertumnus un caballero/druida/músico que como personaje es 10/10, que será quien provoque la partida de Sturm en esta aventura. Nuestro solámnico hará frente a originales damiselas en apuros, clásicos enemigos como bandidos o draconianos entre otros pero lo más importante serán pruebas a su honor y su fidelidad hacia el Código y la Medida.
Muchos personajes que son increíbles, trama elaborada y contínuamente girando, diálogos y narración estupendos... no sé si al nivel de las crónicas pero desde luego entre los que más he disfrutado de Dragonlance hasta la fecha.
Citas:
-"[..] no puedo mentir y decirte que el camino que te aguarda será fácil. Pero ojalá el Gran Dragón y Mantis te guíen, y el Libro Gris se abra y te muestre su sabiduría."
-"Puedes elegir Sturm Brightblade. [...] Hasta el final de esto y de cualquier cosa, puedes elegir."
February 4, 2021
This book was hard for me not to get frustrated with. Taking creative liberties is one thing. Going away from the lore that affects and sets up the Chronicles is too much. The other 3 books in this series stay true to lore and mesh together on the parts that over lap. Unfortunately this one is way out in left field. It seems as the author hasn't read the other books in the Meetings Sextet series.
The story itself is way out there, I would compare it to old men telling fish stories, true but overly exaggerated. In all the story was ok, but not one I would want to read again.
The story itself is way out there, I would compare it to old men telling fish stories, true but overly exaggerated. In all the story was ok, but not one I would want to read again.
March 29, 2017
This and the Hobbit were the two books which really got me into fantasy. Apart from that, it also got me invested in Dragonlance. Reading it again all these years later makes me wonder what I saw in it in the first place. Every page was a slog and a push to simply finish
March 31, 2015
Oath and measure
Just too ridiculous. Good writing of a truly low quality story. Not up to the author's writing ability at all.
Just too ridiculous. Good writing of a truly low quality story. Not up to the author's writing ability at all.
April 22, 2022
There are points in this book where it's very interesting. And other points where it's an incredible slog.
June 25, 2021
“Nunca más tendrás que volver a elegir”
Al principio me rodeaba un clima de escepticismo. Sturm para mí es igual que Kitiara. Ella siendo más realista, con los pies sobre la tierra, él más idealista, con ideales y objetivos básicamente abstractos, sobre un velo de ilusión, pero al fin y al cabo los dos están en cierta medida obsesionados con el destino de sus padres y con la venganza en el corazón y cegados por sus ideales personales a pesar de que hayan escogido lados opuestos.
“Porque la Medida puede ser una venganza legalizada por las reglas, pero sigue siendo venganza, intrincada y virulenta”
En general, este libro me sorprendió de forma positiva (tengamos siempre en cuenta que Dragonlance no es para los que buscan obras maestras de la literatura universal), y me recordó especialmente en su transcurso a dos relatos cortos de Algernon Blackwood: El Wendigo y El hombre al que Amaban los árboles, entre otras obras. El libro en sí está bien escrito, conseguimos identificarnos con los personajes secundarios, los cuales son piezas fundamentales de la historia -nadie sobra-, tiene una buena estructura en donde se van presentando recuerdos y anécdotas del pasado mezclados con otros puntos de vista y hasta sueños y visiones siempre en momentos bastante oportunos. Las descripciones son bastante detalladas pero sin cansar, giros con bastante sentido, bien pensada; una historia llena de reveses y obstáculos a vencer en la que al final se resuelve todo y concluye de manera bastante satisfactoria.
“-¿Que perteneces a la Orden? Cuando se trata de blandir una espada, nadie es tan imprudente como un jovenzuelo solámnico.”
El lado negativo es el propio personaje principal y su grupo: Los Caballeros de Solamnia.
"-Tampoco oí que el hombre a quien hemos dejado atrás hablara mal de tu preciosa Orden -dijo Mara-. Ves agravios donde no los hay, y encuentras desafíos en el viento y en la lluvia."
Los Caballeros de Solamnia son en realidad una caricatura de los caballeros que conocemos de las leyendas, cuentos, y similares, así que hacen gala de un comportamiento con sus detalles magnificados: necios, impulsivos, llevando la tal caballerosidad a extremos ridículos, faltos de estrategia.
"Todos lo sabemos ya, Sturm. Sabemos lo que la Medida tiene que decir respecto a cualquier cosa, desde la gramática, pasando por los modales en la mesa, hasta llegar a la etiqueta de la esgrima. Hasta el momento, has defendido a la Orden de fantasmas, arañas inocentes y bandidos, y todavía no he oído que ninguno de ellos ofendiera las cosas solámnicas."
Se supone que se rigen bajo “El Código y la Medida”, contenido en 37 volúmenos llenos de normas, lineamentos, contumbres y regras detalladísimas sobre el comportamiento de los caballeros, pero más me parece que hubieran sido ideadas para llevarlos a muertes seguras y sin sentido, puesto que los únicos que se rigen bajo este código son ellos, y, a menos que peleen entre ellos mismos ninguno de sus enemigos -obviamente- lo seguirá. Al parecer, tal código sólo sirve para que ese grupo selecto juegue a ser caballeros, sin una aplicación práctica en la vida real de Krynn, en donde según sabemos, ni siquiera gozan de mucho respeto, sino al contrario.
"No -dijo Vertumnus, su voz un susurro en la mente de Sturm-. No exactamente. -Sonrió de nuevo, Esta vez de un modo más malicioso-. Verás... el Código y la Medida son la locura."
Es difícil seguir la historia sin pensar constantemente que Sturm es un cabeza dura, inmaduro y personificando intensamente todo lo equivocado de la Orden: desconfiando de quien no debe, confiando en quien lo traicionará, prejuicioso, intolerante, irritable, orgulloso, impaciente, arrogante, nada perspicaz.
"-El mayor peligro que te amenaza está en ti mismo -susurró."
De este modo vamos conociendo a Sturm Brightblade y su entorno, sus motivaciones y también vamos entendiendo que en este periodo intenso de su vida él es inmaduro y de verdad nunca tuvo un apoyo suficientemente fuerte que lo ayudara.
“-Y yo deduzco por su actitud que el joven Sturm se ha derrotado a sí mismo -...”
En otras palabras, la mucha o poca inteligencia del joven y sus influencias no fueron suficientes para que él se diera cuenta de lo poco venerables que son en esa Orden que él cree ser su familia basándose en recuerdos y antecedentes distorsionados, y también nos muestra que hay veces que el destino puede ser más fuerte, que realmente el hogar es en donde escogemos, sin importar las percepciones externas, pero también que hay caminos que dejamos pasar y nunca podremos reencontrar.
"Puedes elegir Sturm Brightblade. [...] Hasta el final de esto y de cualquier cosa, puedes elegir."
En conclusión, el autor hace un excelente trabajo al presentarnos a uno de los grupos más despreciables en Krynn, en todo su desagradable esplendor pero nos ayuda también a entender las razones de que sea así al mismo tiempo que acompañamos los inicios de algunos de los llamados héroes de la lanza.
Al principio me rodeaba un clima de escepticismo. Sturm para mí es igual que Kitiara. Ella siendo más realista, con los pies sobre la tierra, él más idealista, con ideales y objetivos básicamente abstractos, sobre un velo de ilusión, pero al fin y al cabo los dos están en cierta medida obsesionados con el destino de sus padres y con la venganza en el corazón y cegados por sus ideales personales a pesar de que hayan escogido lados opuestos.
“Porque la Medida puede ser una venganza legalizada por las reglas, pero sigue siendo venganza, intrincada y virulenta”
En general, este libro me sorprendió de forma positiva (tengamos siempre en cuenta que Dragonlance no es para los que buscan obras maestras de la literatura universal), y me recordó especialmente en su transcurso a dos relatos cortos de Algernon Blackwood: El Wendigo y El hombre al que Amaban los árboles, entre otras obras. El libro en sí está bien escrito, conseguimos identificarnos con los personajes secundarios, los cuales son piezas fundamentales de la historia -nadie sobra-, tiene una buena estructura en donde se van presentando recuerdos y anécdotas del pasado mezclados con otros puntos de vista y hasta sueños y visiones siempre en momentos bastante oportunos. Las descripciones son bastante detalladas pero sin cansar, giros con bastante sentido, bien pensada; una historia llena de reveses y obstáculos a vencer en la que al final se resuelve todo y concluye de manera bastante satisfactoria.
“-¿Que perteneces a la Orden? Cuando se trata de blandir una espada, nadie es tan imprudente como un jovenzuelo solámnico.”
El lado negativo es el propio personaje principal y su grupo: Los Caballeros de Solamnia.
"-Tampoco oí que el hombre a quien hemos dejado atrás hablara mal de tu preciosa Orden -dijo Mara-. Ves agravios donde no los hay, y encuentras desafíos en el viento y en la lluvia."
Los Caballeros de Solamnia son en realidad una caricatura de los caballeros que conocemos de las leyendas, cuentos, y similares, así que hacen gala de un comportamiento con sus detalles magnificados: necios, impulsivos, llevando la tal caballerosidad a extremos ridículos, faltos de estrategia.
"Todos lo sabemos ya, Sturm. Sabemos lo que la Medida tiene que decir respecto a cualquier cosa, desde la gramática, pasando por los modales en la mesa, hasta llegar a la etiqueta de la esgrima. Hasta el momento, has defendido a la Orden de fantasmas, arañas inocentes y bandidos, y todavía no he oído que ninguno de ellos ofendiera las cosas solámnicas."
Se supone que se rigen bajo “El Código y la Medida”, contenido en 37 volúmenos llenos de normas, lineamentos, contumbres y regras detalladísimas sobre el comportamiento de los caballeros, pero más me parece que hubieran sido ideadas para llevarlos a muertes seguras y sin sentido, puesto que los únicos que se rigen bajo este código son ellos, y, a menos que peleen entre ellos mismos ninguno de sus enemigos -obviamente- lo seguirá. Al parecer, tal código sólo sirve para que ese grupo selecto juegue a ser caballeros, sin una aplicación práctica en la vida real de Krynn, en donde según sabemos, ni siquiera gozan de mucho respeto, sino al contrario.
"No -dijo Vertumnus, su voz un susurro en la mente de Sturm-. No exactamente. -Sonrió de nuevo, Esta vez de un modo más malicioso-. Verás... el Código y la Medida son la locura."
Es difícil seguir la historia sin pensar constantemente que Sturm es un cabeza dura, inmaduro y personificando intensamente todo lo equivocado de la Orden: desconfiando de quien no debe, confiando en quien lo traicionará, prejuicioso, intolerante, irritable, orgulloso, impaciente, arrogante, nada perspicaz.
"-El mayor peligro que te amenaza está en ti mismo -susurró."
De este modo vamos conociendo a Sturm Brightblade y su entorno, sus motivaciones y también vamos entendiendo que en este periodo intenso de su vida él es inmaduro y de verdad nunca tuvo un apoyo suficientemente fuerte que lo ayudara.
“-Y yo deduzco por su actitud que el joven Sturm se ha derrotado a sí mismo -...”
En otras palabras, la mucha o poca inteligencia del joven y sus influencias no fueron suficientes para que él se diera cuenta de lo poco venerables que son en esa Orden que él cree ser su familia basándose en recuerdos y antecedentes distorsionados, y también nos muestra que hay veces que el destino puede ser más fuerte, que realmente el hogar es en donde escogemos, sin importar las percepciones externas, pero también que hay caminos que dejamos pasar y nunca podremos reencontrar.
"Puedes elegir Sturm Brightblade. [...] Hasta el final de esto y de cualquier cosa, puedes elegir."
En conclusión, el autor hace un excelente trabajo al presentarnos a uno de los grupos más despreciables en Krynn, en todo su desagradable esplendor pero nos ayuda también a entender las razones de que sea así al mismo tiempo que acompañamos los inicios de algunos de los llamados héroes de la lanza.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2023
I was prompted to reread this after all this time thanks to the release of Vault of the Undying - I don’t recall any stories which were set in the Godsfell Woods of Lemish, but this is set in the Darkwoods, which is the closest thing.
I absolutely adore these early, apocryphal Dragonlance novels (which tended to go off on all kinds of bizarre tangents, depending upon the personal quirks and fascinations of the authors) and this is one of the best. Michael Williams continues to build his own mythology of the Solamnic Knights and the Brightblade lineage, strongly inspired by Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle, intercut with a subplot about an elf prince who has been transformed into a giant spider by an evil mage. The twist of this particular story - - I suspect is also an adaptation of a traditional folktale which I can’t quite recall. The legendary Germanic craftsman Wayland Smith also makes his way into Krynn, along with various bits and pieces of Celtic lore, such as the druidic tree alphabet.
The main theme is along the same lines as the original tale of Gawain’s encounter with the Green Knight - the conflict between ideal codes of chivalry and human limitations (Gawain’s desire to preserve his life causes him to commit his single moral failing) - which is conveyed through the refrain that to the last, there is always choice. The framing story (the tale is being narrated by Sturm to Caramon and Raistlin), as well as one of Sturm’s mystic visions, emphasises the bond between Sturm and Caramon/Raistlin, and the heroic destinies of Sturm and Raistlin - each becoming the ultimate exemplar of the Solamnic Orders and the Orders of High Sorcery, respectively, after making the choice of self-sacrifice.
Sturm and Raistlin are far less antagonistic here than W&H generally depict them, and I suspect that as Williams had been part of the Dragonlance project since the beginning, when the development of story and characters was more collaborative, the characterisations here were modeled on that original conception, where Raistlin was still generally regarded as a friend by all (albeit difficult to get along with), and his genuine love for his brother, support of his friends and defense of the downtrodden were considered equally important aspects of his character, alongside his ambitions.
The foregone tragedies of Sturm and Raistlin are contrasted with the most touching and hopeful scene in the novel -
Williams’ vision of the land of Lemish is wild and dark and primeval - he invents an encounter with a treant which is totally different to any other depiction of such in Dragonlance before or after - and mysteries of other parts of Ansalon are raised but ultimately left unresolved (Angriff Brightblade experienced some kind of divine enlightenment in Estwilde; the evil wizard Calotte remains undefeated deep in the forests of Silvanost) supplying DMs with adventure hooks which can be used to be ensnare even those campaigners who have read the novel and are already privy to the secrets of Vertumnus.
Williams (being "the bard of Dragonlance" himself) also provides a detailed bardic magic system where the powers of the gods can be invoked by sacred musical modes, which is a worthy addition to any Krynnish campaign, especially since the sourcebooks have rarely treated the bard as a viable class option in Krynn.
Curiously, this book goes out of its way to take a side on D&D’s perennial “babyorc goblin dilemma”, with a gruesome massacre of a goblin village being used as one of several incidents which demonstrates the Solamnic Orders’ fall from grace.
As always with these early books, there are a few digressions from what is generally accepted as being “canon” - aside from the main issue of the whole novel later being overwritten by The Soulforge, the Earth calendar is used rather than the Solamnic calendar, and there is also a brief mention of a female draconian.
I absolutely adore these early, apocryphal Dragonlance novels (which tended to go off on all kinds of bizarre tangents, depending upon the personal quirks and fascinations of the authors) and this is one of the best. Michael Williams continues to build his own mythology of the Solamnic Knights and the Brightblade lineage, strongly inspired by Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle, intercut with a subplot about an elf prince who has been transformed into a giant spider by an evil mage. The twist of this particular story - - I suspect is also an adaptation of a traditional folktale which I can’t quite recall. The legendary Germanic craftsman Wayland Smith also makes his way into Krynn, along with various bits and pieces of Celtic lore, such as the druidic tree alphabet.
The main theme is along the same lines as the original tale of Gawain’s encounter with the Green Knight - the conflict between ideal codes of chivalry and human limitations (Gawain’s desire to preserve his life causes him to commit his single moral failing) - which is conveyed through the refrain that to the last, there is always choice. The framing story (the tale is being narrated by Sturm to Caramon and Raistlin), as well as one of Sturm’s mystic visions, emphasises the bond between Sturm and Caramon/Raistlin, and the heroic destinies of Sturm and Raistlin - each becoming the ultimate exemplar of the Solamnic Orders and the Orders of High Sorcery, respectively, after making the choice of self-sacrifice.
Sturm and Raistlin are far less antagonistic here than W&H generally depict them, and I suspect that as Williams had been part of the Dragonlance project since the beginning, when the development of story and characters was more collaborative, the characterisations here were modeled on that original conception, where Raistlin was still generally regarded as a friend by all (albeit difficult to get along with), and his genuine love for his brother, support of his friends and defense of the downtrodden were considered equally important aspects of his character, alongside his ambitions.
The foregone tragedies of Sturm and Raistlin are contrasted with the most touching and hopeful scene in the novel -
Williams’ vision of the land of Lemish is wild and dark and primeval - he invents an encounter with a treant which is totally different to any other depiction of such in Dragonlance before or after - and mysteries of other parts of Ansalon are raised but ultimately left unresolved (Angriff Brightblade experienced some kind of divine enlightenment in Estwilde; the evil wizard Calotte remains undefeated deep in the forests of Silvanost) supplying DMs with adventure hooks which can be used to be ensnare even those campaigners who have read the novel and are already privy to the secrets of Vertumnus.
Williams (being "the bard of Dragonlance" himself) also provides a detailed bardic magic system where the powers of the gods can be invoked by sacred musical modes, which is a worthy addition to any Krynnish campaign, especially since the sourcebooks have rarely treated the bard as a viable class option in Krynn.
Curiously, this book goes out of its way to take a side on D&D’s perennial “baby
As always with these early books, there are a few digressions from what is generally accepted as being “canon” - aside from the main issue of the whole novel later being overwritten by The Soulforge, the Earth calendar is used rather than the Solamnic calendar, and there is also a brief mention of a female draconian.
September 11, 2024
Yes! It's my one Dragonlance book every three years series, continued! (I didn't set out to read them at this frequency, just it has happened to be this way.)
Michael Williams, the poet of the Dragonlance saga, has spun a poetic, elegantly worded tale about Sturm. One question, upon conclusion, about the placement of this story, is: why was this in "Meetings" series? (He didn't meet any of the Heroes of the Lance here, except for a scene at beginning and one at end, and they already knew each other.)
Series placement aside, I thought the story was sufficiently action-filled, world-building-filled, exposition-filled and Dragonlance-saga historical goodies-filled, to make it "work" for me. I also appreciated more of Sturm, given his tragic heroism in the original trilogy preventing us from having more of his story (despite having more of his backstory in Preludes' Darkness and Light).
But, did the story move me as much as other Dragonlance novels? No. It was a solid story, and one obviously written by a master-wordsmith poet, and does help fill in Sturm's back story with his insistence to adhere to the Oath and the Measure rules of the Solamnic Order, but I don't consider it top-tier.
The side characters were fun, but the main antagonist was a bit confusing throughout (Vertumnus).
One of the cool things about the Dragonlance novels are the inside illustrations. They add some much appreciated visuals my mind blends with the text. (However, the cover image, while epic, doesn't depict correctly the scene in the story.)
I plan to read another Dragonlance installment sooner than three years from now, otherwise I fear my book collection will outlive me at this point! Lifelong series read? Yes!
Michael Williams, the poet of the Dragonlance saga, has spun a poetic, elegantly worded tale about Sturm. One question, upon conclusion, about the placement of this story, is: why was this in "Meetings" series? (He didn't meet any of the Heroes of the Lance here, except for a scene at beginning and one at end, and they already knew each other.)
Series placement aside, I thought the story was sufficiently action-filled, world-building-filled, exposition-filled and Dragonlance-saga historical goodies-filled, to make it "work" for me. I also appreciated more of Sturm, given his tragic heroism in the original trilogy preventing us from having more of his story (despite having more of his backstory in Preludes' Darkness and Light).
But, did the story move me as much as other Dragonlance novels? No. It was a solid story, and one obviously written by a master-wordsmith poet, and does help fill in Sturm's back story with his insistence to adhere to the Oath and the Measure rules of the Solamnic Order, but I don't consider it top-tier.
The side characters were fun, but the main antagonist was a bit confusing throughout (Vertumnus).
One of the cool things about the Dragonlance novels are the inside illustrations. They add some much appreciated visuals my mind blends with the text. (However, the cover image, while epic, doesn't depict correctly the scene in the story.)
I plan to read another Dragonlance installment sooner than three years from now, otherwise I fear my book collection will outlive me at this point! Lifelong series read? Yes!
November 16, 2022
I'd love to transport myself back in time and read these books in context. Modern readers are going to find something like this trivial and baffling, whilst 90s readers, I suspect, wondered how we got from the Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends to these slightly odd, surreal tales based on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and featuring an Elven maidens having a romantic dalliances with a giant spider. I think that I, too, would have been perplexed and a little disappointed, though in 2022 I think this is just great of course, it's a Dragonlance book and Williams has clearly been warned not to be too out there with it since it's for teens and fans of, well, Dragonlance, and has instead turned in a manuscript that has a lot of fun with its knightly setting and characters, features an emotionally engaging generational revenge plot (to be fair, I think 50% of these Dragonlance novels are a variation on characters finding or avenging injustices relating to their parents) with some surprise twists and a really-wants-to-be weird Arthurian type wandering to a destination that can't quite be what it needs to be and ends up being an odd road trip with a couple of diversions and an emotional catharsis (a good emotional catharsis, mind).
Three stars then because I loved every minute of reading this, but throughout I just knew that Williams has so much more in the tank. He's pitched and written his own book rather than a book that would please fans of Sturm and the Heroes of the Lance, and personally I'm perfectly ok with that on one level, but on another level it's all slightly problematic for the bigger picture. However, I really do enjoy Dragonlance books of this period for their seeming ability to straddle generic fantasy but also completely ignore the market needs of who they are supposed to be selling to.
Three stars then because I loved every minute of reading this, but throughout I just knew that Williams has so much more in the tank. He's pitched and written his own book rather than a book that would please fans of Sturm and the Heroes of the Lance, and personally I'm perfectly ok with that on one level, but on another level it's all slightly problematic for the bigger picture. However, I really do enjoy Dragonlance books of this period for their seeming ability to straddle generic fantasy but also completely ignore the market needs of who they are supposed to be selling to.
August 20, 2022
Oh Sturm Brightblade how adorable you are in your knightly ways. How could a book about Sturm ever go wrong?
So at Yuletide Sturm and the rest of the knights are gathered when Vertumnus comes in and makes a scene. Sturm draws his blade which makes Vertumnus challenge him to a dual on the first day of spring in the Darkened Woods.
Only Vertumnus actually had other ideas and so did Boniface Crownguard. The former wanted to save him and the latter wanted to kill him. Neither really get what they were trying for.
Along the way Sturm comes upon Mara and Cyrun the huge spider. Even though it isn't as it appears they both join in on his journey.
Along comes Jack Derry who was thought to be the gardener at the tower but he turns out to be someone who helps him out of more than one scrape.
I don't need to tell anyone who reads Dragonlance books that the best scenes were when Sturm was with Caramon and Raistlen. I want more books of those three getting into hijinks. I love the subtle head nod to Tas and Flint. I can't wait to see what book six brings.
So at Yuletide Sturm and the rest of the knights are gathered when Vertumnus comes in and makes a scene. Sturm draws his blade which makes Vertumnus challenge him to a dual on the first day of spring in the Darkened Woods.
Only Vertumnus actually had other ideas and so did Boniface Crownguard. The former wanted to save him and the latter wanted to kill him. Neither really get what they were trying for.
Along the way Sturm comes upon Mara and Cyrun the huge spider. Even though it isn't as it appears they both join in on his journey.
Along comes Jack Derry who was thought to be the gardener at the tower but he turns out to be someone who helps him out of more than one scrape.
I don't need to tell anyone who reads Dragonlance books that the best scenes were when Sturm was with Caramon and Raistlen. I want more books of those three getting into hijinks. I love the subtle head nod to Tas and Flint. I can't wait to see what book six brings.
November 24, 2019
I was pleasantly surprised by Michael Williams and his descriptive flair. Very beautiful language and descriptions. As another reviewer said, I felt like I could see what he was describing. Overall, I'd call it an ok book. Yes, Sturm is pretty different, but I was able to view it as just a younger and more brash version. Perhaps I liked it because I didn't expect to. Perhaps I'm secretly a big fan of weird, random stuff happening. The book has a bit of odd....in it. Either way, I'd say for fans to at least give it a try.
May 18, 2024
Incredible book. It sort of looks like the author is a Jethro Tull fan. 3 nods to Tull in the book are ....on page 157 ....'singing an old song about broadswords & beasts' (The Broadsword & the Beast' album title). The next nod would be the village of "Dun Ringhill" (Tull song slightly different spelling, without the 'h') , and then there's the cover art, not sure if author had anything to do with that,
(in the background on a tree branch is "Lord Wilderness" blowing on his flute on one leg. I'm a huge Tull fan of the old classic music....... so I'm probably reaching.
Great book.
(in the background on a tree branch is "Lord Wilderness" blowing on his flute on one leg. I'm a huge Tull fan of the old classic music....... so I'm probably reaching.
Great book.
February 6, 2018
A great back story for Sturm. A good insight into the Oath and the Measure. How would we all stand up to the moral code of the Solamnic Knights? Is the code a help or a hindrance to living a good life? Is it sometimes better to make choices based on the situations as they arise? The Oath and the Measure can be like a Nanny State gone too far. Sturm is shown alternatives and must make a choice, or at least, know that in all circumstances, there is a choice and the choice is always his.
September 28, 2022
I liked the story although it did feel like a ripoff of the green knight. By the end of the story i was very put off and angry at how the events played out although knowing the character I shouldve seen what was going to happen. But it didnt feel like dragonlance or Sturm for that matter. And overall he learned nothing. Sertumnas comes in at the end and rights the wrong against sturm which felt like lazy writing imo and renders his whole journey pointless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2023
Happy I gave this book a chance
As an avid fan of Dragonlance, I have to admit that although I loved the character of Sturm, the Order and the Oath & Measure were so corrupted, I doubted I would care for this book in the least. I WAS VERY SURPRISED! The mystical character of "Lord Wilderness" and his ties to the order made this a fantastic read. It showed the very best of what the Order was SUPPOSED to be!
As an avid fan of Dragonlance, I have to admit that although I loved the character of Sturm, the Order and the Oath & Measure were so corrupted, I doubted I would care for this book in the least. I WAS VERY SURPRISED! The mystical character of "Lord Wilderness" and his ties to the order made this a fantastic read. It showed the very best of what the Order was SUPPOSED to be!
March 2, 2025
Bardic and druidic magic is back in a setting where they still don't belong, the characters don't behave at all like they should, the "plot twists" are completely nonsensical (seriously, stop trynna convince the readers that spiders are hot and arousing, you creep), and the story and dialogue is mostly inane prose and fluff; you could skip 3/4 of the pages and still be able to follow the plot (what little of it there is)
So, the average Michael Williams novel, I guess
So, the average Michael Williams novel, I guess
November 29, 2024
Das Buch lässt mich etwas ratlos zurück. Es ist an sich gut und flüssig geschrieben. Man erfährt etwas über die Vergangenheit von Sturm und den Brightblades. Und es zeigt sehr deutlich die verkrusteten Strukturen der Solamnischen Ritter. Aber irgendwie blieb am Ende nicht viel hängen. Und die ganze Geschichte um Lord Wilderness will einfach nicht so in mein Bild von Dragonlance passen.
Kein schlechtes Buch, Michael Williams ist ein guter Erzähler. Aber irgendwie nicht so meins.
Trotzdem eher 3 als 2 Sterne.
Kein schlechtes Buch, Michael Williams ist ein guter Erzähler. Aber irgendwie nicht so meins.
Trotzdem eher 3 als 2 Sterne.
May 18, 2019
J'ai eu du mal à rentrer dans l'histoire. Les personnages sont plus difficiles a cerner. Toutefois l'histoire est intéressante et nous annonce le destin de Sturm Brightblade. Pas forcément le plus intéressant des compagnons de la lance mais un héros qui méritait une histoire à pary entière.
September 20, 2022
I actually liked this. Sturm is not my favorite character from Dragonlance but this story really makes me rethink some of that. This is very obviously influenced by the The Green Knight. Do keep in mind this is a young Sturm… be forgiving.
November 5, 2023
This is my favorite of the meetings sextet series by far. Michael Williams did an excellent job with this book. He wrote in such a way that made the pacing feel natural and effective. They way he changed his writing to invoke a mood, feeling, sense of atmosphere, etc is admirable. A great read.
December 10, 2019
Sturm Brightblade. Excellent tale. Great stuff. =)
February 15, 2016
This book was a toss-up for me. the story was enthralling--I loved it. The character--not so much.
Williams does an amazing job with description in this novel. Many times, I felt like I was there with the characters. I enjoyed the book simply for this reason. I wanted to give it 5-stars, but the character-building was horrible.
Sturm is a knight. he has had a lifetime of training. but some of the things the character of Sturm does in this book makes me just hate him. It was not the Sturm that we see later in the series and that is quite regrettable. I could have enjoyed the story even more if Sturm's character in this particular novel had held true to the original Sturm.
Williams does an amazing job with description in this novel. Many times, I felt like I was there with the characters. I enjoyed the book simply for this reason. I wanted to give it 5-stars, but the character-building was horrible.
Sturm is a knight. he has had a lifetime of training. but some of the things the character of Sturm does in this book makes me just hate him. It was not the Sturm that we see later in the series and that is quite regrettable. I could have enjoyed the story even more if Sturm's character in this particular novel had held true to the original Sturm.
July 20, 2015
Young Sturm's adventure had possibilities. Unfortunately, the interesting characters along the way (Vertumnus, Mara, Cyren, and Jack Derry) were not enough to make the story the winner that I had hoped it would be. The limitations of the plot restricted the story too much. Fans of the series, or of Sturm Brightblade, may still want to read it, but the story didn't satisfy me. It stopped me from finishing the series. The editors at TSR did not set the bar high enough.
June 8, 2013
The Oath And The Measure is, na wat moeilijk te doorkomen hoofdstukken en een langdradig einde (heel beschrijvend en pas laat to the point), wel een aanrader als je meer wilt te weten komen over Sturm Brightblade en hoe de regelgeving van The Order zijn leven zowat domineert. Er zit ook nogal wat psychologisch materiaal in het verhaal. Echt schitterend.
October 24, 2011
This is where the meetings tend to go downhill. There is a lack of depth in the latter ones.
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