''Test of the Twins'' is a 1986

fantasy novel Fantasy literature is literature set in an imaginary universe, often but not always without any locations, events, or people from the real world. Magic, the supernatural and magical creatures are common in many of these imaginary worlds. Fa ...

by American writers

Margaret Weis Margaret Edith Weis (; 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 ...

and

Tracy Hickman Tracy Raye Hickman (born November 26, 1955) is an American fantasy author. He wrote the ''Dragonlance'' novels with Margaret Weis. He also wrote role playing game material while working for TSR and has cowritten novels with his wife, Laura Hick ...

. It is the third and final book in the '' Dragonlance Legends'', which along with the ''

Dragonlance Chronicles The ''Dragonlance Chronicles'' is a trilogy of fantasy novels written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, which take place in the Dragonlance setting. This series is the first set of Dragonlance novels, and is followed by the ''Dragonlance Legend ...

'' are considered the core

Dragonlance ''Dragonlance'' is a shared universe created by Laura Hickman, Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived ''Dragonlance'' whil ...

novels. The novel appeared on ''The New York Times'' best seller list. ''Test of the Twins'' is also the name of a short story from 1984, the very first Dragonlance tale; it was reprinted in the 1987 collection '' The Magic of Krynn''.

Plot summary

This novel begins where the last one left off;

Caramon Majere Caramon Majere (326 AC - 38 SC) is a fictional character from the Dragonlance books. He is depicted as a fighter and is one of the main characters in Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's first Dragonlance trilogy, the ''Dragonlance Chronicles''. C ...

and Tasslehoff Burrfoot are in a bleak gray world and

Raistlin Majere Raistlin Majere is a fictional character from the ''Dragonlance'' series of books created by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Raistlin played an extensive role in the two main series of books, particularly in ''Dragonlance Legends'' in which he ...

is with Crysania in the Abyss. The novel begins with a short prologue that relates the short ride of Kharas, a dwarven hero who is riding away from a battle. Kharas hears a massive explosion that is a fortress exploding due to magical forces mixing together when Raistlin enters the Abyss and Caramon and Tas go forward in time. Caramon and Tas arrive two years ahead of when they planned to, and discover that an hourglass constellation (hourglass being the symbol of Raistlin) dominates the sky, having defeated Paladine, Patriarch of the Gods and Takhisis, Queen of Darkness. The world is devoid of life, nothing more than gray sludge. They find Caramon's own corpse, and later they find the Tower of Wayreth, a bastion of magic, wherein the only two surviving creatures are, Par-Salian, master of magic, and Astinus, the immortal being that chronicles all of time as it passes, later recording the final moments of the world. Astinus tells Raistlin that he will be forced to be alone for all eternity, and writes that the world ends, but Caramon arrives, changing everything. He receives the last book from Astinus, and is told by Par-Salian that he must stop Raistlin from exiting the Abyss. Afterwards, the scene goes to Raistlin in the Abyss. Raistlin is plagued by magical illusions, but he gains control of himself and sees Crysania. Raistlin faces magically induced trials. Kitiara is seen discussing plans with Soth, and then Tanis is seen speaking to Lord Gunthar Uth Wistan, Grandmaster of the

Knights of Solamnia This is a list of characters in the ''Dragonlance'' series of fantasy novels and related fantasy role-playing game materials. It includes accounts of their early lives in the series. Characters Alhana Starbreeze Alhana Starbreeze, Silvanesti El ...

. The hallucinations return to Raistlin in the Abyss, and a physical barrage assails Crysania when she protects him. Raistlin sees yet another illusion, and in the process of overcoming it, Crysania is severely hurt and blinded. Raistlin refuses to stay with her, as she has served her purpose. Back in Palanthas, Tanis goes to the High Clerist's Tower, where Kitiara appears in a flying citadel, a great castle that magically floats. She flies right over the Tower, however, having no need to take it as she has the death knight, Lord Soth, on her side. Tanis flies to Palanthas to warn and prepare the defense. Caramon and Tas, now in the proper time, arrive at Palanthas. They read Astinus's book and discover that Tanis dies in the battle against Soth. Tas goes to the Tower of High Sorcery at Palanthas to try to save Tanis and Caramon. Tanis and Caramon, accompanied by Tas, take control of the citadel. They then discover from the book that Dalamar is prevented from stopping Raistlin when he is killed by Kitiara. Kitiara gets into the Tower and injures Dalamar, who lethally wounded her. Caramon and Tanis soon arrive. The wounded Dalamar is too weak to battle Raistlin so Caramon enters the Abyss, as he is now the only one who can stop Raistlin. Soth comes to claim Kitiara's body. Raistlin encounters Caramon and is told of his inevitable failure; he gives the Staff of Magius to Caramon that he might close the Portal and stop Takhisis. Raistlin is attacked by the Queen, but he is said to fall into a dreamless sleep, protected from her. Caramon comes out and closes the Portal, having retrieved Crysania, who is still alive. The battle for Palanthas is won by the people of Palanthas at the cost of most of their city. Crysania, now back to health but permanently blind, becomes head of the church of Paladine. Dalamar seals the laboratory where the Portal is for all time. Caramon returns to his wife, Tika, and they are overjoyed to be reunited. Tasslehoff finds a spot on one of his maps that he has never been to and teleports off with the aid of the magical time traveling device.

Characters

, an evil and powerful mage bent on becoming a god. * Crysania, a cleric of Paladine aiding Raistlin. *

, warrior and twin to Raistlin, trying to stop his brother. * Tasslehoff Burrfoot, kender aiding Caramon. *

Tanis Half-Elven Tanis Half-Elven is a fictional half-elven character in the Dragonlance series of books, which were published by TSR, and are now published by Wizards of the Coast. He is first introduced in the book '' Dragons of Autumn Twilight'' by Margaret ...

, friend of Caramon, trying to defend Palanthas. *

Dalamar This is a list of characters in the ''Dragonlance'' series of fantasy novels and related fantasy role-playing game materials. It includes accounts of their early lives in the series. Characters Alhana Starbreeze Alhana Starbreeze, Silvanesti El ...

, apprentice of Raistlin, planning on stopping him. *

Kitiara uth Matar Kitiara Uth Matar is a fictional character appearing in the Dragonlance campaign setting created by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. She is the daughter of a disgraced Solamnic Knight named Gregor Uth Matar and his first wife, Rosamun. She is als ...

, half-sister of Raistlin and Caramon, trying to secure Palanthas to meet him. *

Lord Soth Lord Soth, the Knight of the Black Rose, is a fictional character appearing in the fantasy realms of ''Dragonlance'' and later '' Ravenloft''. He is depicted as a death knight and fallen Knight of Solamnia from the world of Krynn. Development ...

, death knight serving Kitiara, wants her to die so he can truly have her.

Reception

'' Test of the Twins'' appeared for several weeks on ''The New York Times'' best seller list from October 12, 1986, to November 2, 1986. Ian Hewitt, a staff reviewer from d20zines.com, stated the novel "gratifying and compellingly exciting climax to the trilogy" and awarded it an A+ rating. He mentioned that the book had to be taken in the context with the other two novels and is not a stand-alone read.

References

External links

Test of the Twins at the Dragonlance NexusTest of the Twins at the Wizards of the Coast website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Test Of The Twins 1986 American novels American fantasy novels Core Dragonlance novels Novels by Margaret Weis Novels by Tracy Hickman