Love and War
Overview
Love and War is a thematic anthology centered on the emotional core of the Dragonlance world: relationships, devotion, heartbreak, sacrifice, and how all of these things are shaped—or shattered—by war and conflict. The anthology doesn’t just mean “romantic love”—it includes stories of familial love, friendship, duty, and even betrayal.
While the previous anthologies (The Magic of Krynn and Kender, Gully Dwarves, and Gnomes) leaned on adventure and comedy, Love and War leans heavily into character drama, emotional introspection, and the price of war on the human (and inhuman) heart.
This book gives readers glimpses of beloved characters, introduces compelling new ones, and offers some of the most heartbreaking and poetic stories in Dragonlance literature.
Purpose and Structure
This collection aims to:
- Explore how love, duty, and conflict define characters in Krynn
- Show different forms of emotional connection, including romantic and platonic
- Provide tales that blend intimacy and high fantasy, often focusing on small moments in large events
The anthology features ten short stories, each focused on different characters and relationships.
Notable Stories and Summaries
1. “A Good Knight’s Tale” by Harold Bakst
A Solamnic knight recounts a tale of forbidden love between a noblewoman and a knight. The story is romantic, tragic, and speaks to the conflict between honor and desire. A thematic opener that sets the tone of moral complexity.
2. “A Painter’s Vision” by Barbara Siegel and Scott Siegel
A blind painter rediscovers his art and purpose when he falls in love with a mysterious woman who may not be what she seems. This magical realism tale explores creativity, perception, and devotion.
3. “Hunting Destiny” by Nick O’Donohoe
A love story set against a hunting expedition gone wrong, involving elves and humans. As danger escalates, so do the emotional stakes. A tale of reckoning with mortality and regret.
4. “Hide and Go Seek” by Nancy Varian Berberick
A story featuring Sturm Brightblade and the Majere twins, told in their younger days. It involves a prank gone wrong that nearly costs lives. Though humorous at first, it blossoms into a story about brotherhood, responsibility, and bonds.
5. “By the Measure” by Richard A. Knaak
A Solamnic knight must choose between his sworn duty and the life of the woman he loves. This is a deep dive into the rigid code of the Knights of Solamnia, and how it can both define and destroy.
6. “The Exiles” by Paul B. Thompson and Tonya C. Cook
A deeply emotional tale about elven lovers separated by politics, race, and war. One of the most tragic and powerful love stories in the collection, it examines how cultural divides and honor can override personal happiness.
7. “Heart of Goldmoon” by Laura Hickman
An introspective and spiritual story focusing on Goldmoon, one of the original companions. She reflects on her love for Riverwind, their shared journey, and the burden of leadership. A tender and emotional piece from a female point of view.
8. “Raistlin’s Daughter” by Margaret Weis and Dezra Despain
A haunting, enigmatic story—told like a legend—about whether or not Raistlin Majere fathered a child. It’s intentionally ambiguous and poetic, walking the line between myth and memory. It’s one of the most talked-about tales in the Dragonlance fandom.
9. “Silver and Steel” by Kevin Randle
An unusual love story between a young silver dragon and a human warrior. It deals with transformation, sacrifice, and the impossibility of love between races. Echoes themes from the Legend of Huma.
10. “From the Yearning for War and the War’s Ending” by Michael Williams
A poetic, near-mythical piece that closes the collection with an air of elegiac closure. Williams—who also wrote poetry for the Chronicles—delivers a story that feels like a song of longing and memory.
Themes
- Love Amidst Duty – Knights, mages, and clerics must often choose between their hearts and their codes.
- The Tragedy of War – Many stories showcase how love is twisted, prevented, or destroyed by violence, cultural obligation, or fear.
- Sacrifice and Memory – Loss looms large in this anthology—many stories are about remembering what once was, or grieving what can never be.
- Humanizing Heroes – Beloved figures like Raistlin, Goldmoon, Sturm, and Caramon are presented not as mythic warriors, but as people with fears, attachments, and vulnerabilities.
- The Blurred Line Between Myth and Reality – Especially in Raistlin’s Daughter and From the Yearning…, the anthology plays with legendary storytelling—stories may be true, or they may be what Krynn needs to believe.
Tone & Style
Love and War has the most emotionally mature and literary tone of the Tales anthologies:
- There’s less slapstick and more poetry, longing, and introspection
- Several stories are slow-paced character studies, rather than action-packed adventures
- Others are romantic tragedies, rooted in cultural conflict, miscommunication, or the demands of knighthood and religion
Reception
Love and War is praised for its emotional depth and variety:
- Readers love the mythic feel of “Raistlin’s Daughter”
- Critics appreciate the nuanced portrayal of knightly codes in “By the Measure”
- Fans of Goldmoon and Riverwind often find “Heart of Goldmoon” especially moving
However, it’s less popular among readers who come to Dragonlance for epic battles and lighthearted fun. This is a quieter, more emotionally intense read.
Final Thoughts
Love and War is a lyrical, melancholic, and heartfelt anthology that proves fantasy stories don’t always need dragons or armies to matter. Through tales of love lost, love defied, and love remembered, it adds emotional weight and realism to a world filled with gods, knights, and magic.
Recommended for:
- Readers who enjoy romantic tragedy and introspective character work
- Fans of Raistlin, Goldmoon, and Sturm who want to see their more vulnerable sides
- Anyone interested in the philosophy of knighthood, duty, and love