Dragons of Autumn Twilight

Dragonlance: Chronicles, Book 1

By: Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Length: 20 hrs

Publisher's Summary

Lifelong friends, they went their separate ways. Now they are together again, though each holds secrets from the others in his heart. They speak of a world shadowed with rumors of war. They speak of tales of strange monsters, creatures of myth, creatures of legend. They do not speak of their secrets. Not then. Not until a chance encounter with a beautiful, sorrowful woman, who bears a magical crystal staff, draws the companions deeper into the shadows, forever changing their lives and shaping the fate of the world.

No one expected them to be heroes.

Least of all, them.

©1984 TSR, Inc., Cover Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast LLC (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Don’t be deterred

I mostly write this review because I have seen a lot of comments that really criticize the narration. As a book that I read many years ago and enjoyed it was one of the first I ever looked for on Audible. I didn’t get a copy because of these reviews.

Years later I did get a copy, just to give it a try for myself. Granted, I understand why some people have been critical of the narration. It is a little inconsistent, the pace isn’t always appropriate, and there are times when the word emphasized seems completely out of place. I get it. But, it wasn’t THAT bad. It did not prevent me from enjoying the story. You could argue that it could have been better. Sure. Still, the vast majority of the book was just fine and what wasn’t perfect didn’t detract from the story, in my opinion.

It has always seemed to me that Dragonlance books had a reputation as second rate fantasy, and somewhat juvenile. But I find those by Weis and Hickman to be well written, in a fairly intricate world that is interesting, often suspenseful, surprising, and sometimes even funny. I think the books only get better as you read through the series.

If you like stories with dragons, dwarves, elves, magic, and wizards, along with a little humor you should give this a try. Don’t let the narration comments stop you. Just know that it isn’t perfect and enjoy the story.

Poor Narration

What didn’t you like about Paul Boehmer’s performance?

Paul makes the story way to choppy. His narration is very bumpy and makes listening to the story very difficult. After about a couple hours I just couldn't listen anymore.

Painful to listen to

The story was very good, but the narrator had a lot of weird pauses in his reading. It was like random commas were thrown into the book and he was having to adjust for them.

COULDN'T FINISH LISTENING

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Love this book - but will not recommend ANYONE to listen to the audiobook version. I'm so very disappointed and upset that I wasted a credit on it. :(

How could the performance have been better?

I've read this book several years ago and LOVE the series, but I was absolutely disappointed with the audiobook by this reader. I had to stop listening. It was so very poorly read that I couldn't listen to the book itself. When others say "Shatneresque" quality - they truly weren't kidding. Why would anyone hire this person to read an audio book for them? I've never stopped listening before, but I just couldn't continue. It was so distracting. I only gave one star for performance because it wouldn't let me leave it with "0" stars.

Great book. Poor performance.

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

The book was great. The BOOK. It was great when I first read it back in the 80s. This audio performance, not so much. The narrator's attempt to add more drama is a failure. The pauses and stops make the story choppy. If it were a boat ride, I'd be sea-sick. He mispronounces half the names in the books.

What did you like best about this story?

The book, itself, is fantastic. You get a variety of characters and personalities and the scope is epic.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Paul Boehmer?

Anyone that can read and speak English as their native language.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Dragons of Autumn Twilight?

None.

Any additional comments?

As previously stated, the books are fantastic but I wouldn't be able to recommend this audiiobook unless it was re-recorded with a new narrator.

Dissapointing Narration of a Classic Favorite

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Paul Boehmer?

I would have loved to have heard this narrated by Micheal Kramer or Dick Hill or really, almost anyone else. I'm really having a hard time understanding why anyone would go to the trouble of creating a whole new recording and not put in the effort to find a competent reader. The pace is jerky, and comes off almost as an advanced automatic reader program. The dialogue is better than the narration, but this only makes the entire performance more jarring as it switches between dialogue and narration. Another reviewer used "Shattner-esque" to describe the delivery, and I thought that was absolutely spot-on.

Any additional comments?

This book is a classic favorite for a lot of people, so it is very disappointing that a competent voice actor could not have been assigned to do the reading.

Shatner-esque reading distracting

What disappointed you about Dragons of Autumn Twilight?

The narrator randomly changes tempo and inflection between words. The voices are a little better than the story, but the Shatner-esque style of this narrator burns through even during his heaviest intonations.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Paul Boehmer?

Michael Kramer would have been excellent.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment. This narrator makes it very hard to concentrate on the story.

Classic book; terrible narration

Would you listen to Dragons of Autumn Twilight again? Why?

No. Not until they decide to get a competent narrator.

What did you like best about this story?

Classic fantasy based in the world of Dungeons and Dragons. Descriptive language and colorful characters.

What didn’t you like about Paul Boehmer’s performance?

He reads like a robot and emphasized every syllable in every word. He reminds me of some of the folks on NPR..not in a good way.

Any additional comments?

Do not waste your money on this audiobook until they get a proper narrator. Buy a physical copy and read it in your own voice, you will be much happier.

Narration almost ruins the experience for me

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The Dragonlance Chronicles were my gateway to becoming a diehard fan of fantasy novels. I first read them as a kid and if it were not for the amazing story and character development in this series, I might not be the fan of fantasy/sci-fi that I am today.

An absolute amazing adventure ride that every fantasy fan should experience.

Now if only the narration in the audiobook wasn't so atrocious at times. :(

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dragons of Autumn Twilight?

Oh no you didn't!

No spoilers here!

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto......Thank you very much, Mr. Roboto.Not really! Unfortunately Mr. Roboto ruins this audiobook for me. :(

While the dialogue isn't so bad, the narration sounds like a robotic, automated mess at times.If only they could have instead gotten Marc Thompson from the Star Wars

Audiobooks to do these. He is a rock star among narrators! If you haven't heard him yet, you're missing out!

Was Dragons of Autumn Twilight worth the listening time?

Yes, because it is Dragonlance, it is worth the listening time, but it's tolerable rather than being a pleasure to listen to.

Any additional comments?

As I said, would have loved it if this audiobook was narrated by Marc Thompson (or anyone else for that matter). Paul Boehmer is just too robotic at times and it unfortunately detracts from an otherwise epic adventure.

The book itself is a masterpiece IMHO, but the narration leaves a lot to be desired.

Bland Performance Ruins Great Story

Why is Paul Boehmer getting work narrating fantasy? I suffered through his inept performance of Brent Weeks' Way of Shadows Trilogy. I purchased the Dragonlance Chronicles out of love for the story and in hopes that Boehmer had gotten better. No such luck. Boehmer gives us a lesson in diction and pronunciation rather than a dramatic performance. His voice characterizations are weak and often don't fit the character as described in the text. Many are so similar as to confuse the listener about which character is speaking. His pacing is awkward and does not match the action or pace the story demands (i.e. scenes of relaxed conversation are performed with the same level of emotion as scenes of combat and suspense). He punches every word in a sentence as if he went to the William Shatner School for the Dramatic Arts. Arrgh! I love these books but cringe every other minute as I listen to Boehmer's precise recitation of each consonant in every word! I long for a performance of the Chronicles by Steven Pacey or Roy Dotrice, even the original reading by Peter MacNichol was better.

Great story but there are issues with narration

Would you try another book written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman or narrated by Paul Boehmer?

I would certainly try another book written by Margaret Weis and/or Tracy Hickman.

What other book might you compare Dragons of Autumn Twilight to, and why?

This book is basically a Dungeons & Dragons adventure turned into a novel. Imagine the best D&D game you've had, but written down as a novel.

Would you be willing to try another one of Paul Boehmer’s performances?

Probably not. I have a problem with his delivery. His intonation and pacing is often wrong. My main issue is the way he reads the comma after dialogue as a full stop.

e.g. "Take hold of the staff!", Raistlin said.

is read by the narrator as:

"Take hold of the staff!". Raistlin said.

He intones upwards instead of down in these situations , after too great a pause and it grates on me somewhat.

Could you see Dragons of Autumn Twilight being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

It would make a very good TV series.

Any additional comments?

Its a shame Michael Kramer didn't get the job of reading this story.

Disappointed

This was the first fantasy book I ever read, 22 years ago to be exact so when i saw it audible i was excited but the narration was awful. Every character has exactly the same voice and whispers and shouts are the same pitch. Its left down an amazing story and I'm glad I didn't but all the books at once. A real shame.

Fantastic story but unemotional narrative

Where does Dragons of Autumn Twilight rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Pretty high because I just love this classic story, iti s everything that Dungeons and Dragons ought to be, put into story form and brought to life through an exciting storyline and colourful characters that have a depth and life of their own.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Raistlin, always the underdog, always hated and mistrusted yet the only one throughout the entire series with the greatest amount of power... and that underlying sense of moral guidance that redeems his character just at the last moment.

What didn’t you like about Paul Boehmer’s performance?

Terrible, too mechanical and totally unemotional. Every word is enunciated to the last syllable and the timing is well off. This narrator does not have a feel for the story, and it seems he is just narrating a bunch of meaningless words from a page which has been put in front of him for no other purpose than to read it out loud. Ax Norman would have been a MUCH better choice in my humble opinion...

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were many not just one, but to mention a few, the moment when Tasslehof dies trying to open a door for Tika when they are under the spell of Lorac... the moment when Raistlin finally gets the dragon orb under control and the sense of pure ecstasy that he felt once it's knowledge was his... the final battle with the queen of darkness... need I say more?

Any additional comments?

I love the Dragonlance books, they are very well written and there is so much depth and history to the world which is brought to life by the characters under the guidance of the authors. I cannot praise these books highly enough.

Disappointed with the reader

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I loved the books but was very disappointed by the narrator

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He sounded like a robot or digital voice. Had no feeling

Was Dragons of Autumn Twilight worth the listening time?

No

Any additional comments?

I have purchased the trilogy and am no looking forward to listening to the rest of them with this narrator

Dreadful Performance

Stuttering, monotone and slow. There was no rhythm or performance. Unlistenable. The story itself is a childhood favourite and is fantastic.

The Warmest of Warm Fantasy!

I loved these books when they first came out, at the time I would have recommended them to anybody interested in the genre in a heartbeat though now I'd probably caveat that just a little. Firstly though, what's great about them? In essence, what Weis and Hickman did was take their much loved D&D characters and adventures and use them as a basis for their fantasy series. And that shows positively as their affection for the characters beams out at the reader from early on. Just a quick example. Back in her college days, I lent these books to my then-girlfriend who loved them. Later on in the series, there is one extremely sad moment, I won't say when or what but if you read them you will know it when you come to it I promise you. One evening she phoned me and mentioned she would read for a while before turning in, knowing where she was I simply said, "Ok, I'll stay up and talk to you later". She was puzzled but an hour later the phone rang with her in floods of tears . . . It's oddly one of my favourite ever moments from reading fiction even though I wasn't reading at the time! I would say any story that can do that to a pretty intelligent person must have something going for it. It's those lovely characters that will get you and I'll always treasure that moment.

So why would I caveat it now? Well, only for the reason that since those days fantasy has become much more sophisticated and if someone released this now they would likely encounter some criticism. This is very much what I would term classic fantasy which I still love but those brought up with the superbly complex character detailing of say an Abercrombie or the genuinely fine-detailed epic world-detailing of Sanderson might not be so happy with this due to its relative innocence and naivete. Me, I love both, but I could understand some not developing quite the same attachment to these books. Tastes do of course vary and things have moved on in recent decades.

The biggest issue most people seem to have has is with the narration. I do tend to be more forgiving than most I think so bear that in mind but while I agree that Paul Boehmer is no Steven Pacey, RC. Bray or Jonathan Keeble I didn't think he was that bad at all. Give the sample a quick listen, see what you think.

So, wonderful for me to relive this adventure of my youth and I'd love to see these books gaining a bigger audience but mileage will vary depending on what you expect from your fantasy. To me, Weiss and Hickman gave me some special memories and I even used to use these characters in a few stories I told my daughter when she was little. Not sure I can ask much more than that from 'mere' books!

One of my favourite books, awful narration

If you're buying this book, you've probably read it in the past and love it like me.
The narrator almost ruined it for me. He has managed to make all of your favourite characters sound very, very irritating. Tania sounds like a Tory MP. Bupu is a redneck. He's also seen fit to choose very irritating pronunciations of key names mostly by inserting hyphens. Dray-conians really chafes. "Kitchara," grates a lot. Maybe you pronounce these things the same as the narrator, I don't know, but when you've heard them in your head for the best part of 30 years one way and they come out another..... it's not fun.
Should've gotten the guy who is doing Gemmel's work.

Spoilt by dreadful narration.

By chapter 8 I could no longer stand the dreadful robotic, stilted narration and returned the title

A fun story that brought back many memories

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

That headline probably tells you all you need to know about how to approach this review. Myself and this book have a past so my feelings towards it are cradled in the warm glow of nostalgia. To my delight, it held up well, though it certainly has many flaws. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a breezy fantasy romp. It doesn't demand too much from the reader, but it delivers a fun world with strong characters, great action, and a nice smattering of humour to leaven the heavier dramatic elements. At times it is all too clear that the narrative was constructed from Dungeons & Dragons game modules, but there is more than enough merit in the story to make it worthwhile.

What other book might you compare Dragons of Autumn Twilight to, and why?

Magician by Raymond E. Feist. The works of David Eddings. Lord of The Rings. I would compare it to the former two as I discovered them all at the same point in my life. I went from one series to the other and they made wonderful companion pieces. I compare it to the latter as all fantasy inevitably comes back to Tolkien.

What three words best describe Paul Boehmer’s voice?

Clear. Warm. Posh.

Could you see Dragons of Autumn Twilight being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

I have seen it made into a movie; an awful animated one! Watch it at your peril. However, I think that in the right hands it could make a great film.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight

Would you listen to Dragons of Autumn Twilight again? Why?

One of the first books I read when first taking my head out of comics, no pictures to help with the story and yet I could see everything so clearly in my head, the story pulled me along making me finish it as soon as possible. The thing I like most about theses audible versions is that it forces me to a set pace where I can absorb everything and pick up on things I may have glossed over during my pervious 4 or 5 readings of the book.

Did Paul Boehmer do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?

I cant say that Paul did the best job, sometimes it seemed that he was simply reading the lines and as such the necessary emphasises were not in right place and for me this disrupted the flow of the story, however at other times I felt Paul provided gravitas to various situations which drew me deeper into the story. Still I would have liked a greater distinction between the characters such as the grumbling dwarf and the carefree kender