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Margaret Weis
Margaret Weis
Margaret Weis
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Margaret Edith Weis (/waɪs/; born March 16, 1948) is an American fantasy and science fiction author of dozens of novels and short stories. At TSR, Inc., she teamed with Tracy Hickman to create the Dragonlance role-playing game (RPG) world. She is founding CEO and owner of Sovereign Press, Inc and Margaret Weis Productions, licensing several popular television and movie franchises to make RPG series in addition to their own.

Key Information

In 1999, Pyramid magazine named Weis one of The Millennium's Most Influential Persons, saying she and Hickman are "basically responsible for the entire gaming fiction genre". In 2002, she was inducted into the Origins Hall of Fame in part for Dragonlance.

Early life

[edit]

Margaret Weis was born on March 16, 1948, in Independence, Missouri,[1] where she was raised.[2] She discovered heroic fantasy fiction while studying at the University of Missouri (MU). She said, "I read Tolkien when it made its first big sweep in the colleges back in 1966. A girlfriend of mine gave me a copy of the books while I was in summer school at MU. I literally couldn't put them down! I never found any other fantasy I liked, and just never read any fantasy after Tolkien."[2] She conscientiously avoided buying unauthorized publications of his work, and she related the wars in his fictional world to those in the real world of the 1960s.[3]

She graduated from the University of Missouri in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing and literature.[4]

Career

[edit]

Weis recalled, "Of course, my mother knew I was going to starve with such a worthless degree", so her mother got her a job as a proofreader at a small publishing company in neighboring Kansas City, Missouri. There, she ascended to editor, learned all about the book industry, and found an agent—crediting the job as an unusually good start for an author. She started writing for the low-paying juvenile book market by appealing to librarians with her high-quality, well-researched books.[5][2] From 1972 to 1983 she worked for Herald Publishing House as advertising director and subsequently as director of Independence Press, Herald Publishing's trade division from 1981 to 1983.[4]

Weis's first book is a biography of the outlaws Frank and Jesse James, because Frank had been buried in a cemetery near her childhood school in Independence.[5] In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she wrote children's books about computer graphics, robots, the history of Thanksgiving, and an adventure book at a second-grade reading level for prisoners with low literacy levels.[6]

TSR and Dragonlance

[edit]
Margaret Weis (seated) with Tracy Hickman at Gen Con Indy 2008

In 1983, Weis applied for a job as a game editor at TSR, Inc. that she saw advertised in Publishers Weekly. TSR turned her down for that position, but hired her as a book editor.[2][6] She stayed in the book division, leaving the company as an independent author in 1986.[4][7][3]

One of her first assignments at TSR was to help coordinate, in a chance meeting with TSR colleague Tracy Hickman,[5] Project Overlord, which was to include a novel and three AD&D modules.[2][6] Weis and Hickman plotted the novel and hired an author to flesh out story ideas but who lacked grasp of the characters or plots. Having "lived with those characters for months" and threatened by deadline, the two saved the project.[5][6] She said, "By that time, [Hickman] and I were so into the project that we felt we had to write it." Project Overlord soon became known as Dragonlance.[6][8] With 4 million sales of the first book in the US and UK,[5] it grew into a trilogy of novels, called the Dragonlance Chronicles, and 15 linked modules.[6][8] Jean Black, managing editor of TSR's book department, selected Weis and Hickman to write the series.[9]: 16  She said, "To my mind, what made the project so successful was that everyone was involved in it, excited about it, and believed in it."[6]

After two years of development, TSR released the game module Dragons of Despair in March 1984 and the novel Dragons of Autumn Twilight in November 1984.[10][11] TSR had doubts about the finished novel's sales potential, and attempted to order 30,000 copies before ordering the minimum print run of 50,000. The novel's success prompted TSR to publish more copies to meet demand.[12] The novel was written after the completion of the first Dragonlance game modules. Weis and Hickman found this constraining and made the novel too episodic, so they reversed the process for the next books and completed the novels before the related modules were written.[13]

Weis and Hickman also authored the Dragonlance Legends trilogy, published in 1986.[9]: 16  Their Dragonlance products included novels, game supplements, short stories, art books, and calendars.[2]

The two started moonlighting as book authors, for four hours each evening and through every weekend. Several successful books afforded them to quit TSR and begin writing full-time in 1986.[5]

Entrepreneur

[edit]
Margaret Weis at the Lucca convention in October 2005.

Having left TSR in 1986,[7][3] Weis and Hickman continued as a writing team. According to the Kansas City Star profile of major local authors "transformed" by pioneering fantasy author J. R. R. Tolkien, the duo sought to recapture the reality-grounded and humanized experience of Tolkien literature but without copying or emulating it, so a reader could imagine meeting their original magical characters in a real place like a bus stop and conversing using pronounceable names.[3] She attributed their writing partnership's longevity to specialization, where Hickman was the world builder and storyteller who defines "when the moon rises and which way the winds blow", and she brought characters and substance. He then untangled her unsolvable situations.[5] Weis and Hickman wrote the Darksword trilogy (1986–87) and the seven-book Deathgate Cycle (1988–94) for Bantam Books.[6]

Weis's daily workflow consisted of five hours of writing on the computer, starting at 7:30 a.m., even on holidays, often rewriting anything that had surpassed five hours the previous day, and then thinking about the book through the afternoon. She wrote plot ideas and dialogue scraps upon napkins and envelopes until she got a portable computer, and got nervous if unable to work. She said, "I'd love to do mysteries but I don't have the head for them". She mentally, happily, inhabited her own fictional worlds; and upon completion, suffered "a real depression" due to abandoning characters that seemed realer than most people. Her only vacations consisted of hosting fantasy and science fiction conventions worldwide and befriending her fans.[5]

Weis wrote the space opera Star of the Guardians novels, which she calls her favorite series that she has written. She published a game based on Mag Force 7 from 1994 to 1996.[6] In the late 1990s, Larry Elmore brought his fantasy world of Loerem to Weis and Hickman, which they wrote as the Sovereign Stone novel trilogy, published by Del Rey.[6][9]: 351  From 2003 to 2005, Weis completed the Dragonvarld trilogy for Tor.

In 1999, Pyramid magazine named Weis one of The Millennium's Most Influential Persons "at least in the realm of adventure gaming", and said she and Hickman are "basically responsible for the entire gaming fiction genre".[14] Weis was inducted into the Origins Hall of Fame in 2002, recognized in part for "one game line turned literary sensation: Dragonlance".[15]

Publishing companies

[edit]

In addition to her writing career, Weis was the owner and chief officer of two publishing companies. She formed the company Sovereign Press, with herself as CEO, to publish the Sovereign Stone role-playing game written by her husband Don Perrin with Lester Smith.[9]: 351  To support the setting, Weis and Perrin wrote the short story "Shadamehr and the Old Wives Tale" that was published in Dragon #264 (October 1999).[9]: 352  Perrin left Sovereign Press in 2004 and Weis founded Margaret Weis Productions.[9]: 353  It published an RPG line based on several licenses, including Serenity and Battlestar Galactica, and Ed Greenwood's new solo venture into roleplaying, Castlemourn.

Weis has served on the board of directors of Mag Force 7, Inc., the developer of the Star of the Guardians and Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game (CCGs).[4]

Returns to Dragonlance

[edit]

Weis and Hickman returned to Dragonlance in 1995 with Dragons of Summer Flame. Her next project was a solo novel called The Soulforge, based on her favorite character from the trilogy, the dark wizard Raistlin.[6] Wizards of the Coast published a new trilogy of Dragonlance novels by Weis and Hickman called War of Souls, beginning with Dragons of a Fallen Sun (2000).[9]: 283 

Wizards of the Coast licensed Dragonlance to Sovereign Press in 2002 to produce role-playing game materials for the setting; Weis and Perrin, with Jamie Chambers and Christopher Coyle, wrote Dragonlance Campaign Setting (2003) which Wizards of the Coast published. Sovereign Press was then able to supplement that book additional using material produced under the d20 license.[9]: 353  The license expired in 2007.[16] Between 2004 and 2008, Weis wrote a solo novel trilogy titled The Dark Disciple; the first novel, Amber and Ashes, was published in August 2004. During this period, Weis also co-authored with Hickman The Lost Chronicles trilogy starting with Dragons of the Dwarven Depths in July 2006. There was a fifteen-year hiatus between novels about the Companions before Dragons of the Dwarven Depths was released. After the original Chronicles novels were completed in 1991, the co-authors had a lot of material about them remaining, but moved on to writing about new characters. In 2004, Weis told Hickman she wanted to return to the main protagonists of the Dragonlance world. When the pair contacted their editors, they enthusiastically agreed.[17]

In October 2020, Weis and Tracy Hickman filed suit against Wizards of the Coast for breaching a license for a new Dragonlance novel trilogy.[18][19] Boing Boing reported that "according to the lawsuit, Weis and Hickman agreed with Wizards of the Coast to produce the new novels in 2017, capping off the series and giving fans a final sendoff. But the company pulled the plug in August 2020".[20] The authors see the new trilogy as "the capstone to their life's work".[21] In December 2020, Weis and Hickman filed to voluntarily dismiss without prejudice their lawsuit,[22] and "the filing noted that Wizards of the Coast had not formally answered their lawsuit, nor had they filed for a summary judgement".[23] Weis and Hickman's publishing agent affirmed a few weeks later that a new trilogy of Dragonlance novels was again in development.[24][25] The first novel of the new series, Dragonlance: Dragons of Deceit, was released on August 2, 2022.[26][27]

Personal life

[edit]

Weis met her future husband in high school, married after college, and had two children.[5][28] The mentality of a professional writer strained those relationships. After publication of her first book and ten years of marriage, they divorced due to that stress and to different personalities.[5]

In 1983, she moved to the resort city of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, to work for TSR,[7][3] living in a house converted from a barn.[5] She said she always avoided reading fantasy books[29] since Tolkien[3] to avoid influencing her work, but favored classics like Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, and Sherlock Holmes in any spare time.[5] She often played games at her co-owned store, Game Guild. She cooked for relaxation, and collected cookbooks in her travels, such as recipes of drinks from Dickens books.[7]

In 1993, Weis was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent successful chemotherapy.[6][30] She stayed busy writing The Seventh Gate during treatment.[30]

In 1996, Weis married writer/game designer Don Perrin;[6][31] the two later divorced.[28]

Bibliography

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Margaret Weis

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Margaret Weis is an American fantasy and science fiction author best known for her long-running collaboration with Tracy Hickman, through which they co-created the Dragonlance shared universe and authored numerous bestselling novels within it. Born on March 16, 1948, in Independence, Missouri, Weis graduated from the University of Missouri at Columbia in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature and creative writing. After working in editorial roles for small publishers, she joined TSR, Inc. (the company behind the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game) in 1983 as a book editor in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. There, she partnered with designer Tracy Hickman to develop the Dragonlance setting, beginning with the 1984 novel Dragons of Autumn Twilight, the first volume in the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy. The —comprising , Dragons of Winter Night (1985), and Dragons of Spring Dawning (1985)—achieved massive commercial success, selling over 25 million copies worldwide and remaining in print decades later. The broader franchise, encompassing dozens of novels, short stories, and game supplements co-authored or edited by Weis and Hickman, has sold more than 35 million books in total. Their partnership extended to other acclaimed series, including the trilogy (1988–1989), the Death Gate Cycle (1990–1995), Rose of the Prophet (1989–1990), Star of the Guardians (1990–1991), and Dragonships of Vindras (2009–2013). In addition to her work with Hickman, Weis has authored or co-authored standalone novels and series, such as the Sovereign Stone trilogy (2000–2003) with co-writer Dan Willis, the Dragon Brigade trilogy (2010–2017) with Robert Krammes, and paranormal romances like Warrior Angel (2008) with her daughter Lizz Weis. Over her career, Weis has contributed to more than 100 books, many tied to gaming worlds, and she continues to write new entries, including the Dragons of Deceit trilogy (2022–2024) with and the upcoming Dragonlance Legacies trilogy, beginning with War Wizard (2026). Now residing in with her dogs, Weis remains active in the fantasy genre, blending narrative storytelling with role-playing game influences that have shaped modern epic fantasy.

Early Life

Childhood and Family

Margaret Weis was born on March 16, 1948, in Independence, Missouri. She grew up in the same city, in a family led by her father, an oil executive, and her mother, a homemaker. This mid-20th-century Midwestern setting provided a stable, everyday backdrop to her formative years, where she attended local schools and began exploring imaginative pursuits. From an early age, Weis showed a penchant for , recounting tales to her kindergarten classmates during rest time, even before she learned to read. Her initial exposure to came through popular children's series like and the , followed by the adventurous and fantasy works of , fostering a love for narrative worlds distinct from the fantasy genre she would later embrace. Weis has a sister, Terry Weis Wilhelm. This family environment nurtured her creative inclinations, paving the way for her academic interests in .

Education and Early Influences

Weis attended the at Columbia, where she majored in and , graduating in 1970 with a degree. The university was among the few in the to offer a dedicated degree, providing her with formal training in crafting narratives and analyzing literary works. Her coursework emphasized the study of classic and , fostering a deep appreciation for storytelling techniques that would later inform her professional output. During summer school in 1966, Weis discovered J.R.R. Tolkien's when a girlfriend lent her a copy, an encounter that ignited her lifelong passion for epic fantasy. This introduction to Tolkien's richly imagined world of heroism, moral complexity, and intricate mythologies profoundly shaped her worldview, transforming her perspective on narrative depth and the power of fantastical realms to explore human themes. The trilogy's influence extended beyond mere enjoyment, inspiring her to envision stories that blended adventure with philosophical undertones, a hallmark of her future collaborations. Throughout her college years, Weis engaged in early exercises as part of her degree program, experimenting with short stories and prose that foreshadowed her career in . These academic pursuits honed her skills in character development and world-building, laying the groundwork for her transition into professional authorship. While specific professors' influences are not detailed in available accounts, the structured environment of the curriculum provided the intellectual foundation for her enduring interest in .

Career

Early Publishing Positions

After graduating from the in 1970 with a BA in and , Margaret Weis entered the publishing industry at Herald Publishing House in , a company focused on producing educational and religious materials for the . She began her tenure there as a proofreader in the early 1970s, quickly advancing to roles that built her foundational expertise in the field. From 1972 to 1981, Weis served as advertising director at Herald Publishing House, where she managed promotional efforts for the company's publications, including books and periodicals aimed at and community outreach. In 1981, she was promoted to director of Independence Press, Herald's trade book division, a position she held until 1983; in this role, she oversaw editing, production, and overall operations for trade titles, which included works such as juvenile literature and biographies. Her responsibilities encompassed coordinating editorial teams, handling book production processes from manuscript to print, and ensuring the quality of materials that blended educational content with religious themes. These positions honed Weis's skills in book production, rigorous , and collaborative , experiences that proved instrumental in her later transition to creative authorship. During this period, she also published her first book, a biography of James, under the Margaret Baldwin, demonstrating her emerging writing capabilities within a structured environment. In 1983, Weis left Herald Publishing House, motivated by a personal desire for change as a young divorced mother and a sense that she had reached the limits of growth at the small religious press, prompting a shift toward broader creative opportunities in .

TSR Era and Dragonlance Origins

In 1983, Margaret Weis joined TSR, Inc. as a book editor in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where her prior experience in publishing prepared her for coordinating complex projects within the company's growing fantasy role-playing game division. One of her initial assignments involved collaborating with Tracy Hickman, a designer already at TSR since 1981, on Project Overlord—a ambitious initiative to develop a series of Dungeons & Dragons adventure modules centered on dragons, which evolved into the foundational Dragonlance setting on the world of Krynn. Weis and Hickman co-developed the Dragonlance world, integrating intricate storytelling with gameplay mechanics to create a cohesive narrative-driven campaign unlike previous D&D supplements. This included designing modules such as Dragons of Despair and Dragons of Flame, released in 1984, which introduced key elements like the metallic and chromatic dragons, the cataclysmic history of Krynn, and heroes such as Tanis Half-Elven and Raistlin Majere. The project's innovation lay in synchronizing novelizations with modular adventures, allowing players to experience the story both at the gaming table and through prose, a pioneering approach that boosted TSR's mid-1980s expansion. The culmination of their efforts was the 1984 release of , the first volume of the trilogy co-authored by Weis and Hickman after an initial draft by another writer was deemed unsatisfactory; the subsequent books, (1985) and (1985), completed the saga and sold millions, transforming TSR's fiction line. During this period, the Dragonlance team enjoyed significant creative freedoms amid TSR's boom, fueled by the setting's popularity, but faced challenges including tight production schedules and shifting corporate priorities under new management that emphasized profitability over artistic experimentation. Weis departed TSR in 1986 alongside Hickman, marking the end of their direct involvement in the company's initial era.

Independent Writing Career

Following the success of the initial , Margaret Weis began her full-time writing career in 1986 after departing TSR. That year, she co-authored the trilogy with , comprising (1986), War of the Twins (1986), and Test of the Twins (1986). These novels expand the Krynn saga by focusing on the twins Raistlin and Caramon Majere's quests through time and realms, emphasizing themes of faith, sacrifice, and redemption. Weis and Hickman followed with the Trilogy, published from 1987 to 1988: Forging the Darksword (1987), Doom of the Darksword (1988), and Triumph of the Darksword (1988). Set in the technomantic world of Thimhallan, where magic sustains life but is suppressed by a rigid , the series traces the outlaw prince Joram's forging of a forbidden , blending fantasy with emerging elements in a tale of and identity. A cornerstone of her independent output was the , co-authored with Hickman over 1988 to 1994 in seven volumes: (1990), Elven Star (1991), Fire Sea (1992), Serpent Mage (1993), The Hand of Chaos (1993), Into the (1994), and The Seventh Gate (1994). The narrative unfolds across a fractured by the ancient Sartan and Patryn races into four elemental realms—Arianus (air), Abarrach (stone), Chelestra (water), and Pryan (fire)—as well as the prison realm of the and the Sartan sanctuary of the ; it centers on the Patryn agent Haplo and his Sartan counterpart Alfred as they uncover serpentine threats and grapple with creation's dualities. Weis also pursued solo projects, notably the Star of the Guardians series in the 1990s: (1990), King's Test (1991), King's Sacrifice (1991), and Ghost Legion (1993). This depicts a galactic empire's turmoil through the eyes of Dion Starfire, a young man destined to unite the Blood Royal against a tyrannical regime, weaving with fantasy motifs of loyalty and . In these endeavors, Weis refined her style toward character-centric storytelling, prioritizing internal conflicts and moral ambiguities over binary heroism, while recurrently probing faith's role in shaping destiny amid cosmic forces.

Publishing Ventures

In 2002, Margaret Weis founded Sovereign Press as CEO, establishing the company to secure licensing rights for and produce related (RPG) products under the . The venture began with negotiations alongside , culminating in a license agreement that allowed Sovereign Press to develop and publish materials compatible with the third edition of . This move enabled Weis to regain creative control over the she had co-created, shifting from external publishing dependencies to direct oversight of expansions into gaming supplements like sourcebooks and adventure modules. Key publications under Sovereign Press included the (2003), which updated the world's lore for the d20 system, and the Age of Mortals companion (2003), providing detailed mechanics for post-War of the Souls era campaigns. Weis maintained creative oversight as CEO, ensuring alignment with the established canon while expanding into supplementary products such as the Bestiary of Krynn (2004) and adventure paths like Key of Destiny (2004). These efforts were supported initially by revenue from her writing career, allowing the company to invest in production facilities in Williams Bay, . Business challenges emerged, including complex licensing negotiations with that limited scope to RPG supplements rather than full fiction rights, and internal shifts following Weis's 2004 divorce from co-founder Don Perrin. In response, Weis established Margaret Weis Productions that same year, redirecting focus toward adapting licensed science fiction properties into RPGs. The new company debuted with the (2005), based on the Firefly universe and utilizing the innovative for narrative-driven gameplay. This was followed by the Role Playing Game (2007), which expanded the Cortex mechanics to explore themes of survival and conflict in the reimagined series setting. Through both companies, Weis prioritized maintaining artistic integrity in licensing deals, fostering growth in RPG adaptations while navigating the competitive gaming market.

Later Collaborations and Recent Works

In October 2020, Margaret Weis and her long-time collaborator filed a $10 million against , alleging regarding the rights to the , particularly over plans for new novels and a potential relaunch. The suit was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice in December 2020, with the dismissal formalized in early 2021, paving the way for a renewed partnership that allowed the authors to resume creative work on the franchise. Following the resolution, Weis and Hickman released the Dragonlance: Destinies trilogy through Worlds, marking their return to original storytelling in the universe. The series began with Dragons of Deceit in August 2022, introducing a new heroine navigating the War of the Lance era; it continued with Dragons of Fate in July 2023, and concluded with Dragons of Eternity in August 2024. In August 2024, at , Weis and Hickman announced the : Legacies trilogy, set for release starting in 2026, with the first volume, War Wizard, exploring the early history of characters like the Solamnic Knight Huma and the wizard Magius. This project underscores their ongoing commitment to expanding the Dragonlance saga. Complementing these new works, a 40th-anniversary omnibus edition of the seminal Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy—comprising Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of Spring Dawning—was published by Random House Worlds in February 2025, featuring updated artwork and annotations to celebrate the series' enduring legacy. While no major media adaptations have materialized in the 2020s, discussions around potential Dragonlance projects, including a live-action series involving actor Joe Manganiello, have surfaced amid the renewed collaborations.

Personal Life

Family and Relationships

Weis married on August 22, 1970, shortly after her college graduation, and the union lasted until their divorce in 1982. The couple had two children: son William Baldwin and daughter Elizabeth Lynn Baldwin (also known as Lizz). Throughout her first marriage and early career, Weis managed child-rearing alongside demanding professional roles, where she supported her young family while advancing her writing aspirations. Her son faced challenges with and died by in 2002; prior to his death, he co-authored works with Weis, including Testament of the Dragon (1997). In contrast to her parents' stable household in , Weis navigated these adult family dynamics amid her transition to full-time authorship. Weis's daughter Elizabeth has pursued creative work in fantasy and editing, collaborating with her mother on projects such as the paranormal romance novels Warrior Angel (2007) and Fallen Angel (2008), published by HarperCollins. On May 5, 1996, Weis married Canadian author and game designer Donald Bayne Stewart Perrin, with whom she co-authored several works, including the Mag Force 7 trilogy, and founded the publishing company Margaret Weis Productions in 2001. The marriage ended in divorce around 2003, after which the couple amicably split their joint business ventures, with Perrin continuing in game design and Weis focusing on her independent publishing imprint. No children resulted from this marriage, and public details on their post-divorce co-parenting are limited, though they maintained professional respect in shared creative circles. As of 2024, Weis resides in a converted barn in with her dogs, Tika and Clancy the Hooligan, and remains actively involved in family-oriented pursuits, such as competing in tournaments as part of her team, the Barkbarians. She continues to collaborate with her daughter Elizabeth on writing, reflecting ongoing family support in her career. She has at least one granddaughter (as of 2004). No further marriages are confirmed.

Health Challenges

In 1993, Margaret Weis was diagnosed with and underwent as part of her treatment, during which her hair fell out. Despite the physical and emotional toll, Weis maintained her writing productivity, completing The Seventh Gate, the concluding volume of the Death Gate Cycle, while receiving treatment; she later noted that immersing herself in her fictional worlds and characters provided essential motivation and solace during this period. Her husband offered crucial emotional support throughout the ordeal, helping her navigate the challenges. Weis achieved full recovery, remaining cancer-free for at least four years by 1997, and has since continued her prolific without reported ongoing issues as of 2025.

Bibliography

Major Series and Novels

Margaret Weis's most prominent contributions to lie in her collaborative novel series, particularly those co-authored with , which have shaped epic fantasy storytelling through intricate world-building and character-driven narratives. The (1984–1985), comprising , , and , follows a diverse band of companions—including , warrior Caramon Majere, his mage twin Raistlin, kender , dwarf Flint Fireforge, and cleric Goldmoon—who reunite in the town of Solace on the world of Krynn amid signs of returning dragons and ancient evils. In the first volume, the group discovers the Disks of Mishakal, a holy artifact that restores true faith and clerics, propelling them into a quest against the dragonarmies led by the dark goddess ; the narrative escalates through themes of heroism, , and the complexities of as the companions forge alliances, battle draconians, and confront personal doubts across Krynn's war-torn landscapes. The second book intensifies the conflict with the heroes' separation and individual trials, including Raistlin's growing ambition and Tanis's romantic entanglements, culminating in the discovery of the legendary Dragon Orbs. The trilogy concludes in with epic confrontations at the High Clerist's Tower and the Temple of Neraka, emphasizing redemption, the cost of victory, and the enduring bonds of friendship amid Krynn's cataclysmic . Building on the Chronicles, the Dragonlance Legends trilogy (1986–1987)—Time of the Twins, War of the Twins, and Test of the Twins—expands the saga five years post-war, centering on Raistlin Majere's audacious quest for godhood through the Tower of High Sorcery and manipulations of time via the Device of Time Journeying. In Time of the Twins, Raistlin, weakened from his past trials, conspires with his twin brother Caramon and the kender Tasslehoff to alter history, traveling to pre-Cataclysm Istar to avert the world's downfall while grappling with forbidden magic and divine temptations. The narrative delves into sibling rivalry, the perils of ambition, and the consequences of meddling with fate, as Caramon witnesses the doomed kingdom's hubris. War of the Twins escalates the temporal disruptions, with interventions in the Dwarfgate Wars and encounters with historical figures like the cleric Crysania, highlighting themes of destiny and the fragility of reality. The series resolves in Test of the Twins, where Raistlin faces the Abyss and the ultimate trial against Takhisis, forcing Caramon to choose between loyalty and the greater good, thus reinforcing the Legends' exploration of power's corrupting influence and heroic resolve. Subsequent Dragonlance sub-series, such as the Lost Chronicles (2009–2010), further elaborate on untold stories from the original timeline, maintaining the epic scope of Krynn's lore. The Trilogy (1987–1988), another collaboration with Hickman, introduces a distinctive magic-less in the of Thimhallan, where magical energy, known as the Binding, sustains all life, rendering those born without it—termed the Dead—outcasts. Forging the Darksword centers on Joram, the prophesied catalyst of doom, who survives infancy hidden among Duuk-tsarith warriors and, aided by the empathetic catalyst Saryon, seeks ancient lore to forge a that absorbs magic, challenging the empire's theocratic order. The story weaves philosophical undertones about , the ethics of dependence on technology-like magic, and the essence of humanity beyond supernatural crutches. In Doom of the Darksword, Joram wields the completed artifact amid rebellion and betrayal, confronting his royal heritage and the it precipitates, underscoring critiques of and the of enforced equality through magic. The trilogy culminates in Triumph of the Darksword with interstellar dimensions introduced via the 's shattering, as Joram battles imperial forces and grapples with redemption, ultimately affirming themes of and the perils of absolute power in a magic-saturated society. Weis and Hickman's Death Gate Cycle (1990–1994) comprises seven novels—Dragon Wing, Elven Star, Fire Sea, Serpent Mage, The Hand of Chaos, Into the , and The Seventh Gate—unfolding across a fractured world sundered by ancient wizards into four elemental realms: Arianus (sky and floating continents), Abarrach (stone and underground ), Pyrradistim (fire seas and chaos), and Chelestra (water and submerged cities). The saga follows Haplo, a scarred Patryn agent escaped from the prison, tasked by his lord to explore these realms via the , seeking to reunite the sundered lands and subjugate the rival Sartan race who engineered the division millennia ago. Each volume delves into a specific realm's unique perils and inhabitants—men and elves clashing in aerial hierarchies, horrors in cavernous depths, chaotic elementals in volcanic expanses, and mysterious sea-dwellers—while uncovering , betrayals, and the cycles of creation and destruction. The narrative arcs build to revelations about the ancient war between Patryn and Sartan, emphasizing themes of , the illusion of control, and across divided worlds. The Rose of the Prophet trilogy (1989–1990), co-authored with Hickman, is set in the desert world of Akhan, blending Arabian Nights-inspired elements with fantasy. The Will of the Wanderer introduces Achmed, a djinn granted mortality, who aids the prophetess Khardia in fulfilling divine visions amid political intrigue and magical summons. The series explores faith, destiny, and the clash between mortal ambitions and immortal forces, culminating in The Paladin of the Night with epic battles against chaos and themes of redemption in a theocratic society. The Star of the Guardians trilogy (1990–1991), also with Hickman, unfolds in a space opera-fantasy hybrid universe where relies on mystical "star roads." A Guardian of Honor follows Dion, a young pilot discovering his heritage as the last Guardian, protector of the royal bloodline, amid a threatened by alien invaders and internal betrayal. The narrative delves into duty, loyalty, and the fusion of and , resolving in The Oath with interstellar war and the restoration of ancient orders. In the Sovereign Stone trilogy (2000–2003), co-written with Dan Willis, Weis crafts an epic quest across three realms—Dread, , and the Shadow Cataracts—for fragments of a legendary stone that can unite or destroy worlds. Well of Darkness centers on Dagnarus, a prince whose ambition leads to dark pacts and war, exploring corruption, brotherhood, and the cost of power in a multi-planar setting. The series emphasizes moral ambiguity and grand-scale conflict. The Dragon Brigade series (2010–2017), co-authored with Robert Krammes, features aerial adventures in the seafaring world of Freya, where dragon-mounted ships battle in a post-apocalyptic sky. introduces the elite Dragon Brigade defending against imperial threats, blending elements with fantasy combat and themes of honor and rebellion across three volumes. The Dragonships of Vindras series (2009–2013), with Hickman, follows the Vindrasi people, seafaring dragon-riders, in a Norse-inspired saga. Bones of the Dragon tracks Skylan Ivardsen, a chieftain's son, in quests involving ancient gods, treachery, and the fate of his clan's sacred island, emphasizing cultural clashes and mythical resurgences over four books. Weis's standalone Warrior Angel (2008), co-authored with her daughter Lizz Weis, is a featuring an angel-descended warrior navigating modern supernatural threats, blending with themes of family and divine duty. In a return to Krynn, the Destinies trilogy (2022–2024)—Dragons of Deceit, Dragons of Fate, and Dragons of Eternity—revisits legacy characters like through a new protagonist, Destina Rosemane, who acquires a magical device enabling to avert personal tragedies, inadvertently unraveling the post-War of the Lance timeline. The series explores the butterfly effects of temporal interference, blending with fresh conflicts involving gods, dragons, and heroic lineages, as Destina's quest spirals into threats to Krynn's stability. Culminating in Dragons of Eternity, the narrative resolves the paradoxes with high-stakes alliances and sacrifices, reinforcing Weis's signature motifs of fate and resilience. This trilogy contributes to the franchise's enduring success, with over 35 million books sold worldwide across all series entries. A forthcoming Dragonlance series, Dragonlance Legacies, announced in 2024, begins with War Wizard in 2026, co-authored with , continuing the exploration of Krynn's lore.

Short Stories and Other Contributions

Margaret Weis has contributed several short stories to the universe, often co-authored with , focusing on ensemble casts of characters from the broader series and exploring themes of camaraderie, moral dilemmas, and magical intrigue. One early example is "The Test of the Twins," published in 1984, which delves into the relationship between the mage and his twin brother Caramon, foreshadowing conflicts central to the Legends trilogy. In 1987, Weis and Hickman wrote "Kitiara's Son," examining the legacy of the warrior Kitiara Uth Matar through her offspring, emphasizing familial ties amid war. Other notable pieces from that year include "The Legacy," which highlights themes of redemption among the Heroes of the Lance, and "Wanna Bet?," a lighter tale involving kender mischief and unexpected alliances. These stories, appearing in anthologies like The Magic of Krynn, complement the epic narratives of the major novels by providing episodic insights into character backstories. Weis has also made significant contributions through editing Dragonlance anthologies under her publishing ventures, curating collections that expand the shared world with works from multiple authors. The inaugural Tales series, co-edited with Hickman, began in 1987 with The Magic of Krynn, featuring 14 stories set during the War of the Lance era, including Weis's own "Special Delivery." Subsequent volumes that year, Kender, Gully Dwarves, Gnomes and Love and War, continued this format, compiling tales of quirky races and romantic entanglements, respectively, with over 300,000 copies sold across the trilogy by the early 1990s. Later efforts include The Dragons at War (1992), which focuses on draconic conflicts with contributions from 19 authors, and The War of the Lance (1992), a retrospective anthology tying into the core timeline. Compilations like The Best of Tales, Volume One (2000) and Volume Two (2002) repackage select stories with new introductions by Weis, while Dragons in the Archives: The Best of Weis & Hickman (2003) highlights 20 years of their collaborative short fiction. These edited works, produced through Sovereign Press starting in the 2000s, have broadened the Dragonlance lore without overlapping extensively with her novel-length series. The 2004 anthology The Search for Power: Dragons from the War of Souls, edited by Weis, features stories set in the War of Souls era. Beyond fiction, Weis has provided miscellaneous contributions such as , , and introductions that reflect on fantasy writing and the creative process. In the to Love and War (1987), co-written with Hickman, she discusses the challenges of depicting love in a war-torn fantasy setting. Her introduction to Treasures of Fantasy (1997) explores the enduring appeal of dragons and mythic elements in modern literature. More recently, in A Dragon-Lover's Treasury of the Fantastic (1994, expanded 2001), Weis's introduces a collection of dragon-themed stories, emphasizing dynamics in epic tales. Although Weis has not contributed short fiction to other shared worlds like or Star Wars, her RPG tie-ins, such as excerpts in (1990), bridge her novels to gaming narratives up through the 2020s.
Anthology TitleYearCo-EditorKey Focus
The Magic of Krynn1987War of the Lance-era adventures
Kender, Gully Dwarves, Gnomes1987Humorous tales of minor races
Love and War1987Romance and conflict in Krynn
The Dragons at War1992Draconian and dragon-centric stories
The Best of Tales, Volume One2000Selected tales from early anthologies
The Best of Tales, Volume Two2002Legends and Istar-era narratives
Dragons in the Archives2003Weis & Hickman retrospective
The War of the Lance1992Comprehensive War of the Lance compilation
The Search for Power2004NoneWar of Souls-era shorts

References

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