Dragons of Summer Flame

Dragonlance: Chronicles, Book 4

By: Tracy Hickman, Margaret Weis

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Length: 25 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's Summary

Summer has come to Krynn, a summer unlike any before. The sun bears down on land and sea, searing the world with relentless light and heat. Clouds and rain are nowhere to be found, and even the darkness of night brings little relief from the strange and oppressive day.

Meanwhile, those who commune regularly with their gods are uneasy. Every day, their deities become more distant, more difficult to reach. Clerics' prayers go unanswered, and magic goes awry. As the tension on Ansalon builds, estranged cousins Palin Majere and Steel Brightblade search for an explanation. It soon becomes evident that more than just magic is at stake.The fate of all Krynn hangs in the balance.

©1995 TSR, Inc., c. 2001 Wizards of the Coast LLC, c. 2011 Wizards of the Coast LLC (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Boehmer's Back

Would you listen to Dragons of Summer Flame again? Why?

Not for a while. It's a bit of a long sit.

If you’ve listened to books by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman before, how does this one compare?

This isn't Weis and Hickman's best. The story is more streamlined in the Chronicles trilogy, and the character work is better in Legends, but this does a decent enough job of ending an age, introducing a new one, while also devling deeper into Krynn's mythology and paying homage to the characters from both generations. It's an impossible book to do perfectly, but by focusing primarily on the characters Weis and Hickman are able to achieve some emotional impact by the book's end.

Which character – as performed by Paul Boehmer – was your favorite?

First of all, I'm so glad that we've got Paul Boehmer reading these characters and this world again. He gets it in a way that Ax Norman simply didn't (seriously, Audible, what a travesty of a performance!). Boehmer's grown on me progressively since the first book of Chronicles, and what I love is his ability to read everything as though it is the most important, drama-filled scene he has ever encountered. You get a sense that he's crazy about this world and the people in it. And in keeping with that spirit, Boehmer's best character was undoubtedly Tasslehoff Burrfoot, everyone's favorite kender. Tas is one of those characters who so nearly annoyed me all the time in the first book, but by now I just love the guy. It's a testament to Weis and Hickman's writing as well as Boehmer's performance that Tas becomes so endearing over time. He's a tough character to pull of well.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not really, since it would take more than a day. That said, I did burn through this one pretty quickly.

Any additional comments?

Just so everyone's aware, this book is listed as the fourth installment in the Chronicles series, but that's misleading. Luckily I found this out before it was too late and read the books in the right order. If you're curious, here's the correct order:

1. Chronicles (starting with Dragons of Autumn Twilight
2. Legends (starting with Time of the Twins)
3. The Second Generation (collection of novellas that introduces you to some of the new players and concepts in this book)
4. Dragons of Summer Flame

I was pleased

First, let me say that the story is a little disjointed, so read/listen to the Second Generation before this, if you are not familiar with the stories already.

Second, I know many people dislike Paul Boehmer's performance but I enjoy it. His voice is melodious, and he is one of the few male narrators who can perform female roles without falling into a Monty Python-esque falsetto. Also, he does a wonderful Tasselhoff Burrfoot. His voices for Tanis, Tas, Raistlin and Fizzban/Paladine sound like what I've heard in my head ever since reading the books when they originally came out.

My biggest complaint about his narration is how he pronounces Takhisis, but I can deal with it. At least he pronounces Majere correctly.

All in all, this is a fair rendition of one of my favourite fantasy series.

As good as when I read it myself 15 years ago.

I still get a tear from this book. The story started so long ago will always have a place in my soul and this ending was as all endings, bitter-sweet.

Great Book But it should not be called Book 4

Would you listen to Dragons of Summer Flame again? Why?

Yes- wonderful story - some of my favorite characters were in it as well as new ones I loved (some of their sons!)

What did you like best about this story?

The stories Weis and Hickman write together are always amazing and Boehmer did a wonderful job reading it. What I liked best . . . That is too hard to say.

What about Paul Boehmer’s performance did you like?

His voice! Its perfect for the story and when he changes it for the characters it seems natural and adds to the story rather than distracts from it. Not to mention he has a really nice voice to listen to.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It had parts that were sad and because I know these characters from other books I did laugh at things they did (especially Tas).

Any additional comments?

I have an issue with the idea that this is called Chronicles Book 4. It does not have all the same main characters, it is 20+ years later, and a different war!

But it is still a great story.

Not A Great Dragonlance Book

The narration was fantastic as always but this time the story was awful. Usha is insufferable and Palin is written so badly. For a mage that's supposed to be about as intelligent as Raistlin, Palin is dimwitted to the extreme. He's insanely slow to pick up on everything and by the end his love story with Usha is both predictable and exasperating. It would have been so much better for the story and the character if Palin had been a red robe! What a missed opportunity that was!! And for Raistlin to have no magic and Palin to be so bad at it is disappointing in the extreme. That the books ending sets up the War of Souls trilogy is probably the blackest mark against it. They turn Krynn into medieval Earth with fantasy creatures in it but no magic and no gods at the end of this book. It is Disney Star Wars levels of disappointing.

Drug on, too many details

This was a very good plot, but seemed as though it could have been 15 chapters shorter if there was not so many descriptive words used. Narration was on point though.

Made no sense

It's like they never read there other books in the series.
They feel that evil is just as good as good.
The worst book ever written buy them.

amazing characters and a great plot...

these two writers are among the best in fantasy.. it was a pleasure being part of this world.. thank you

the narrator did an astounding job.. look forward to hearing more books he's done.

Well Done

beautifully written and the story was well done I enjoyed to no end for sure

Least favorite in the series...

While good, it felt all over the place. Really enjoyed the first three. this one... so so .

Worth spending the time on.

if you want to get the most out the this great well told story make sure you listen to the prequels first. autumn, winter , spring and second generation at least.

very good book and finished the story well

i really enjoyed this book great narrator and a fitting end to some grest characters

Very Enjoyable!

A great story that rounds of the " Chronicals" series very well. Very happy with the narration, as I have been dissapointed in the past with the narration of some of the DL Audible titles (the War of the Souls books - avoid!) Highly recommended and a good example of an Audible title done well!

Good Continuation

it's like a sequel to the trilogy. Set 20 plus years later with some of the originals plus some new characters. Enjoyable story well read.