The Soulforge

From what I've experienced, a lot of books are able to make the author sympathize with the character--but it's rare for books to be able to make the reader empathize with the character, to actually be the character. Soulforge, honestly, is successful on that very plank.In this book, you'll be given a chance to view the life of one of the most intriguing characters in fantasy fiction, Raistlin Majere of Dragonlance fame. Often times, when we meet a particularly bitter, angry but likeable character we ask "What makes them like that?" and even if the Legends Trilogy gives you an understanding, Soulforge will pull you deeper into the heart of Raistlin and you'll be able to comprehend why he is who he is.But I guess we all understand his nature by now. We understand he's envious of his brother. We understand his ambitions. Now what's so special with Soulforge, for me, is the fact that I was able to feel Raistlin's anger. I was able to understand and perhaps, perceive, that if I were in Raistlin's situation, I'd do the exact same thing. Raistlin wasn't just a 'character', he became someone akin to a real human person.We'll get all the huge doses of Raistlin fame we want from Dragonlance in Soulforge. And if you want more, there's still Brothers in Arms, which is the sequel to this book.

I really enjoyed this book, as I enjoyed all the Dragonlance books I've read to date. There's something special about Soulforge(and its sequel Brothers in Arms) and I think it's because of Margaret Weis' devotion to the character of Raistlin and the effort she puts into making him believable, frightening, but at the same time, heart rendingly sympathetic. Soulforge is the story of Raistlin's childhood in Solace and follows him on his adventures with his friends until the test in the Tower of Sorcery at Wayreth. It portrays him as a gifted, yet tortured young man, quick to learn yet hemmed in by his physical frailties. Yet, in spite of his tendency to say and do hurtful things, he still tries to do what he considers right, though things are confounded by his own ambitions, his own jealousies and the cruelty of the world around him. Despite this, his growing magical power does not go unnoticed by those who have an inkling of the war that is to come...The narrative is great, detailed and often very funny. It goes into a lot of detail and a lot of really great emotional perspectives. After the Chronicles and the Legends, in which Raistlin tends to be slightly horrifying and really mean (though still just so...awesome), it's great to have an account from his pov where you can understand and feel bad for him as a child. It's also great to see what he thinks of certain characters before his, shall we say, cynical and ambitious adulthood, especially Caramon and Kitiara.In short, this is a must for all Dragonlance fans and hopefully all the rave reviews I've read on this site will provide motivation for those who have not yet experienced the singularly engrossing scope of the Drangonlance series, especially the books by Weis and Hickman. Really, Raistlin is quite a cool character...and so are all the rest. They're all great reads, but the Soulforge stood out as one of the best, in terms of quality of writing, plot, and intricacy of character development. Read it!!!

The Soulforge, a novel which tells of the early days of Raistlin and his twin Caramon, is an excellent story which answers a number of questions regarding Raistlin's past. Margaret Weis, one of the authors of the original DragonLance Chronicles and Legends trilogies is at her best when she writes about her favorite character -- the mage Raistlin. All the elements that made the original trilogies is recaptured here and definitely brings back memories of those two excellent trilogies published fifteen years ago.The Soulforge begins with Raistlin at age six and progresses until his taking of The Test at age twenty-one. A number of the Heroes of the Lance also make appearances and meet each other for the first time. This is the only problem with the novel. The purpose of the Meetings Sextet written about ten years ago was to introduce readers to the Heroes of the Lance before their adventures in Chronicles. However, the utilization of the characters and their meetings with/introduction to one another in this novel differs at times from the stories originally presented in the Meetings Sextet. Other than that, this is an outstanding work which warrants a five star rating.We get to see Raistlin progress from a child who was always picked on by others to his being the youngest mage to take The Test. We also learn the origin of Raistlin's magic at an early age, his golden skin tone, the reasoning behind his harsh/untrusting attitude toward others, the cause of his frailty, etc. Overall, if you're a Raistlin and/or DragonLance fan, The Soulforge is a must-read.

WOW. Being a Dragonlance veteran (having read at least 20 books in the Dragonlance series), I was utterly pleased with my experience with the Soulforge.Margaret Weis takes us back in time, to when Raistlin was a budding mage, who from the early age of 6 knew in his heart that magic would rule his life. Raistlin was so real that you could almost reach into the book and touch him, as you experienced the love, hate, and burning desire he had for power and magic. But that's not all - we also learn about his childhood experiences with Caramon, and their love for each other that you just never knew in the Chronicles. The Soulforge ends where Raistlin completes his test at the Tower of Waywreth, and although the story of the test is a bit contratictory/condensed from what we read from other books, it gives us another great legend for us to treasure always in our memories.Margaret Weis does it again, mesmerizing our hearts and minds with these characters that we could swear are real. And after reading the Soulforge, you will see Raistlin with a newfound respect and love, despite of what he becomes in the years that follow.Three cheers for The Soulforge!

Ok, if you are just getting started in the world of Krynn, or are a weathered traveler, then you will love this book. Since Raistlin is a favorite character of mine, I had to add Soulforge to my growing collection. It helps the reader understand why he is the way he is. It finally reveals what really happened during the test in the Tower of High Sorcery. Basically, it is the long awaited story of Raistlin's life. (Thank you Margaret Weis!) It has much the same feel as the Chronicles or Legends. Almost all of the companions are there, taking you back to the days right before the War of the Lance. This is a book that could only be written by Margaret Weis. She brought this character to life and has now done a wonderful job of telling his story.