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Magic: The Gathering
Dragons: Worlds Afire
A collection of four extraordinary works by popular fantasy authors journeys into the magical worlds in the Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Magic: The Gathering, and Eberron universes, in an anthology, complemented by full-color dragon illustrations, that contains all new novellas by R. A. Salvatore, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Scott McGough, a
144 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
5 people are currently reading
628 people want to read
About the author
R.A. Salvatore
606 books11.4k followersAs one of the fantasy genre’s most successful authors, R.A. Salvatore enjoys an ever-expanding and tremendously loyal following. His books regularly appear on The New York Times best-seller lists and have sold more than 10,000,000 copies. Salvatore’s original hardcover, The Two Swords, Book III of The Hunter’s Blade Trilogy (October 2004) debuted at # 1 on The Wall Street Journal best-seller list and at # 4 on The New York Times best-seller list. His books have been translated into numerous foreign languages including German, Italian, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Turkish, Croatian, Bulgarian, Yiddish, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Portuguese, Czech, and French.
Salvatore’s first published novel, The Crystal Shard from TSR in 1988, became the first volume of the acclaimed Icewind Dale Trilogy and introduced an enormously popular character, the dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden. Since that time, Salvatore has published numerous novels for each of his signature multi-volume series including The Dark Elf Trilogy, Paths of Darkness, The Hunter’s Blades Trilogy, and The Cleric Quintet.
His love affair with fantasy, and with literature in general, began during his sophomore year of college when he was given a copy of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings as a Christmas gift. He promptly changed his major from computerscience to journalism. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Fitchburg State College in 1981, then returned for the degree he always cherished, the Bachelor of Arts in English. He began writing seriously in 1982, penning the manuscript that would become Echoes of the Fourth Magic. Salvatore held many jobs during those first years as a writer, finally settling in (much to our delight) to write full time in 1990.
The R.A. Salvatore Collection has been established at his alma mater, Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, containing the writer’s letters, manuscripts, and other professional papers. He is in good company, as The Salvatore Collection is situated alongside The Robert Cormier Library, which celebrates the writing career of the co-alum and esteemed author of young adult books.
Salvatore is an active member of his community and is on the board of trustees at the local library in Leominster, Massachusetts. He has participated in several American Library Association regional conferences, giving talks on themes including “Adventure fantasy” and “Why young adults read fantasy.” Salvatore himself enjoys a broad range of literary writers including James Joyce, Mark Twain, Geoffrey Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dante, and Sartre. He counts among his favorite genre literary influences Ian Fleming, Arthur Conan Doyle, Fritz Leiber, and of course, J.R.R. Tolkien.
Born in 1959, Salvatore is a native of Massachusetts and resides there with his wife Diane, and their three children, Bryan, Geno, and Caitlin. The family pets include three Japanese Chins, Oliver, Artemis and Ivan, and four cats including Guenhwyvar.
When he isn't writing, Salvatore chases after his three Japanese Chins, takes long walks, hits the gym, and coaches/plays on a fun-league softball team that includes most of his family. His gaming group still meets on Sundays to play.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rasalv...
Salvatore’s first published novel, The Crystal Shard from TSR in 1988, became the first volume of the acclaimed Icewind Dale Trilogy and introduced an enormously popular character, the dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden. Since that time, Salvatore has published numerous novels for each of his signature multi-volume series including The Dark Elf Trilogy, Paths of Darkness, The Hunter’s Blades Trilogy, and The Cleric Quintet.
His love affair with fantasy, and with literature in general, began during his sophomore year of college when he was given a copy of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings as a Christmas gift. He promptly changed his major from computerscience to journalism. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Fitchburg State College in 1981, then returned for the degree he always cherished, the Bachelor of Arts in English. He began writing seriously in 1982, penning the manuscript that would become Echoes of the Fourth Magic. Salvatore held many jobs during those first years as a writer, finally settling in (much to our delight) to write full time in 1990.
The R.A. Salvatore Collection has been established at his alma mater, Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, containing the writer’s letters, manuscripts, and other professional papers. He is in good company, as The Salvatore Collection is situated alongside The Robert Cormier Library, which celebrates the writing career of the co-alum and esteemed author of young adult books.
Salvatore is an active member of his community and is on the board of trustees at the local library in Leominster, Massachusetts. He has participated in several American Library Association regional conferences, giving talks on themes including “Adventure fantasy” and “Why young adults read fantasy.” Salvatore himself enjoys a broad range of literary writers including James Joyce, Mark Twain, Geoffrey Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dante, and Sartre. He counts among his favorite genre literary influences Ian Fleming, Arthur Conan Doyle, Fritz Leiber, and of course, J.R.R. Tolkien.
Born in 1959, Salvatore is a native of Massachusetts and resides there with his wife Diane, and their three children, Bryan, Geno, and Caitlin. The family pets include three Japanese Chins, Oliver, Artemis and Ivan, and four cats including Guenhwyvar.
When he isn't writing, Salvatore chases after his three Japanese Chins, takes long walks, hits the gym, and coaches/plays on a fun-league softball team that includes most of his family. His gaming group still meets on Sundays to play.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rasalv...
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 15, 2021
Amantes de los dragones, ¡este es vuestro libro! Se han juntado cuatro grandes para traernos cuatro relatos súper completos en los que se nos presentan cuatro tipos de dragones de los más distintos entre ellos. Dragones buenos, dragones malos, dragones que se transforman, dragones robóticos, dragones que viajan por el espacio, dragones de fuego o de hielo, dragones que lanzan ácido… ¡En este libro los hay para todos los gustos! Y aunque yo soy débil ante el poder de Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman y R.A. Salvatore, debo reconocer que el resto también han hecho un gran trabajo.
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No voy a entrar a hablar del estilo de cada uno de los autores pues todos ellos son magníficos en su registro. Me limitaré a decir que, aparte de que a nivel estético el libro es una maravilla, se trata de una lectura excelente para aquellos amantes de la fantasía que vayan cortos de tiempo. Sus relatos independientes, con la extensión justa para no dejar intrigas sin resolver pero sin abusar de escenas de relleno innecesario, son perfectos para leer cuando la vida no nos da tregua; o bien para desconectar intercalándolos con otras lecturas.
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No voy a entrar a hablar del estilo de cada uno de los autores pues todos ellos son magníficos en su registro. Me limitaré a decir que, aparte de que a nivel estético el libro es una maravilla, se trata de una lectura excelente para aquellos amantes de la fantasía que vayan cortos de tiempo. Sus relatos independientes, con la extensión justa para no dejar intrigas sin resolver pero sin abusar de escenas de relleno innecesario, son perfectos para leer cuando la vida no nos da tregua; o bien para desconectar intercalándolos con otras lecturas.
July 15, 2008
My fiance got this book because of the R. A. Salvatore novelette. I thought it would be a great way for me to kind of get a feel for the other worlds.
All the stories have to do with dragons in a setting that is familiar to the author (Forgotten Realms, Magic, or Dragonlance). Of course I sped through some stories faster then others. And more stories caught my eye but overall I was pleased with the book.
Every story was different, and brought a different element of dragons. I won't go into too much detail so I don't spoil the book but it wasn't just the dragon comes and breaths fire.
The only thing I wish there were was more pictures. From the cover of the book I thought there would be some pictures and such but there was a huge picture before the story and then little tiny pictures every 5-8 pages.
All the stories have to do with dragons in a setting that is familiar to the author (Forgotten Realms, Magic, or Dragonlance). Of course I sped through some stories faster then others. And more stories caught my eye but overall I was pleased with the book.
Every story was different, and brought a different element of dragons. I won't go into too much detail so I don't spoil the book but it wasn't just the dragon comes and breaths fire.
The only thing I wish there were was more pictures. From the cover of the book I thought there would be some pictures and such but there was a huge picture before the story and then little tiny pictures every 5-8 pages.
February 26, 2013
A slim, over-sized anthology of four short stories, illustrated, set in the worlds of Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Magic: The Gathering, and Eberron. This would have been a better fit for me if I was fan of those series, but as it is I've never read anything from three of those four, and I've never heard of the fourth. These stories did not seem strong enough to stand on their individual merits and they frankly bored me. The illustrations were better, but they don't make the book worth owning. (I should have borrowed this from my local library.)
Two stars. Recommended only for fans of the companion series; prose-only anthologies like The Dragon Quintet recommended instead for more general dragon fans.
Two stars. Recommended only for fans of the companion series; prose-only anthologies like The Dragon Quintet recommended instead for more general dragon fans.
November 12, 2012
This is a difficult book to rate because it contains four stories by different authors (Salvatore, Weis & Hickman, Baker, and McGough)who use different settings. I really liked the stories by Salvatore and Baker while I enjoyed McGough's story. However, I didn't like the novella by Weis & Hickman mainly because the man character was annoying. The book is worth checking out if you're a fan of one or more of the authors or settings (Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Eberron, Magic: The Gathering) or if you're a fan of dragons.
October 23, 2024
Overall a good collection of four novellas about dragons, each set in a different world. Individual ratings below:
"If Ever They Happened Upon My Lair" by R. A. Salvatore (Forgotten Realms) 4.0
"Here Be Dragons" by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman (Dragonlance) 4.0
"Principles of Fire" by Keith Baker (Eberron) 4.0
"Unnatural Predator" by Scott McGough (Magic: The Gathering 3.5
"If Ever They Happened Upon My Lair" by R. A. Salvatore (Forgotten Realms) 4.0
"Here Be Dragons" by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman (Dragonlance) 4.0
"Principles of Fire" by Keith Baker (Eberron) 4.0
"Unnatural Predator" by Scott McGough (Magic: The Gathering 3.5
March 26, 2013
A large anthology of four novellas set in four different worlds that shares a common theme - dragons.
The first is in the Forgotten Realms and deals with the infamous duo of Artemis Entreri and Jarlaxle. I've already read this in another anthology and while I enjoyed it then, it was recent enough that I didn't reread it. It provides great backstory on how these two got entangled in Damara.
The second was not enjoyable at all. Weis and Hickman put Tas on the forefront of a comedic adventure... again. There's only so much kinder antics one can take in a lifetime I suppose. There's little here that hasn't been similarly done before, which made it rather boring.
The third is by Baker, set in the city of Sharn, in Eberron. This was an interesting read, and features rather engaging and likeable protagonists. And I got a little surprise by the plot, which was... well, a pleasant surprise.
The final novella is set in Dominaria, but the exact location is unknown (or at least, not to me). This one was rather enjoyable as well and features one of the more interesting antagonists in the myriad worlds of Magic: the Gathering.
The first is in the Forgotten Realms and deals with the infamous duo of Artemis Entreri and Jarlaxle. I've already read this in another anthology and while I enjoyed it then, it was recent enough that I didn't reread it. It provides great backstory on how these two got entangled in Damara.
The second was not enjoyable at all. Weis and Hickman put Tas on the forefront of a comedic adventure... again. There's only so much kinder antics one can take in a lifetime I suppose. There's little here that hasn't been similarly done before, which made it rather boring.
The third is by Baker, set in the city of Sharn, in Eberron. This was an interesting read, and features rather engaging and likeable protagonists. And I got a little surprise by the plot, which was... well, a pleasant surprise.
The final novella is set in Dominaria, but the exact location is unknown (or at least, not to me). This one was rather enjoyable as well and features one of the more interesting antagonists in the myriad worlds of Magic: the Gathering.
January 17, 2016
I saw this at a used bookstore in Pasadena, and as per my new regulations on book buying - I did NOT buy it and borrowed it from the library instead. The illustrations - especially the cover one - were so beautiful and the subject was about my favourite animal - I was guaranteed to enjoy it.
But this is not the case. It turns out I just can't deal with this kind of fantasy. The writing is so unoriginal, unimaginative, basic, uninteresting, and at times, ridiculous. Every character is a hollow caricature of a species or of what is expected of that role. I can't stand the glibness, especially in Weis and Hickman's story. All of these stories dragged in places they shouldn't have. I think it's pretentious that they were called novellas when they were simply just short stories.
It sucks that I have to be so picky with my dragon literature.
But this is not the case. It turns out I just can't deal with this kind of fantasy. The writing is so unoriginal, unimaginative, basic, uninteresting, and at times, ridiculous. Every character is a hollow caricature of a species or of what is expected of that role. I can't stand the glibness, especially in Weis and Hickman's story. All of these stories dragged in places they shouldn't have. I think it's pretentious that they were called novellas when they were simply just short stories.
It sucks that I have to be so picky with my dragon literature.
June 9, 2015
I was only vaguely familiar with the realms of the stories. I thought that that shouldn't matter, the storytelling should shine through. Unfortunately, the first story started out really well but then turned overly complex, while the third and fourth didn't fully capture my Interest. The second story was well written, witty, and humorous. The art throughout the book was amazing, I just wish I had found the other stories worth getting into.
September 1, 2007
Libro con cuatro relatos de dragones de otros tantos mundos de la fantasía épica. Más en
[http://makgregory.blogspirit.com/arch...]
[http://makgregory.blogspirit.com/arch...]
February 11, 2018
Buen relato de Salvatore. Los otros dos dejan que desear
August 19, 2013
Beautiful pictures. Nice stories.
December 18, 2016
I luurrrve dragons. And I love the wizard who can keep a dragon soul alive inside a crystal shaped like a dragon head. Yus.
Is switching POV a D&D thing? Must be.
Is switching POV a D&D thing? Must be.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews