Test of the Twins

Plot|date=February 2008
Infobox Book |
name = Test of the Twins


image_caption = Cover of Test of the Twins.
author = Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.
illustrator = Valerie Valusek
cover_artist = Matt Stawicki
country = United States
language = English
series = Dragonlance Legends
genre = Fantasy
publisher = Wizards of the Coast
release_date = August 1986
media_type = Print
pages = 330
isbn = 0-8803-8267-8
preceded_by = War of the Twins

"Test of the Twins" is a fantasy novel by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. It is the third and final book in the Dragonlance Legends, which along with the Dragonlance Chronicles are considered the core Dragonlance novels. The novel appeared on the NY Times Best Seller list. cite web
url = http://query.nytimes.com/search/query?frow=0&n=10&srcht=s&query=dragonlance+test+of+the+twins&srchst=nyt&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&submit=sub&hdlquery=&bylquery=&daterange=full&mon1=01&day1=01&year1=1981&mon2=03&day2=07&year2=2008
title = NY Times - Test of the Twins Query
accessdate = 2008-03-08
publisher = NYTimes.com]

Plot introduction

This novel begins where the last one left off; Caramon Majere and Tasslehoff Burrfoot are in a bleak gray world and Raistlin Majere is with Crysania in the Abyss.

Explanation of the novel's title

The novel's title likely refers to the trials, both emotional and physical, that many of the main characters face, and the "Twins" part is consistent throughout the series, referring to the twins Caramon and Raistlin Majere.

Plot summary

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, and a scene is described where Raistlin does battle with the gods, defeating Paladine, Patriach of the Gods and bringing Takhisis, Queen of Darkness to her knees. He destroys all of them, whether they be the gods of light, evil, or neutrality, though only his confrontation with Paladine and Takhisis are documented. 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, has had his lower half transformed into a pillar and has been forced to watch the destruction of the world. Astinus, the immortal being that chronicles all of time as it passes, is also there, 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. The scene briefly goes to Lord Soth, a death knight, who is making secret plots. We then see Tanis Half-Elven, Dalamar, and the aging cleric Elistan meeting to discuss Raistlin. Astinus comes to their meeting as well.

Afterwards, the scene goes to Raistlin in the Abyss. Raistlin is plagued by magical illusions, but he gains control of himself and sees Crysania. Again we see Tanis and his group, discussing Kitiara uth Matar's planned attack. The scene goes back to the Abyss, where again Raistlin faces magically induced trials. Kitiara is seen discussing plans with Soth, and then Tanis is seen speaking to Lord Gunthas, Grandmaster of the Knights of Solamnia. The hallucinations return to Raistlin in the Abyss, and a physical barrage assails Crysania when she protects him. Tanis and Gunthas speak to the Lord of Palanthas, but Tanis is quickly called out to see Elistan, who is dying. Tanis visits him, and on his way out he sees Fizban, an aspect of Paladine, the god Elistan serves, going to claim the body. 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 speaks to Dalamar about Raistlin. Tanis then 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. Tanis sends a letter to Laurana, then receives a magical charm that can temporarily protect him from Soth. He then goes to Gunthas to tell him he plans to fight Soth himself. 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. Tas tries to get Tanis to stop, but only succeeds in stealing the magical charm before Tanis rides off on the dragon, Khirsah, to combat Lord Soth who is now within the city gates.

Tanis comes back after discovering he's lost the bracelet, and Tas convinces him to go the Tower. Caramon has approached the Shoikan Grove, but is nearly taken by undead when Tanis saves him. Tanis and Caramon use the magical time traveling device (which also allows teleportation) to go to the flying citadel as a means of getting into the Tower. Tas is left behind, but in a daring move rescues an injured Khirsah from a black dragon, and then Khirsah flies him to the flying citadel, where he goes to Tanis and Caramon. They meet up with a gully dwarf, and together they 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, and as she would have killed him he hits her with magic that knocks her out. He falls unconscious; Caramon and Tanis soon arrive. Dalamar wakes up but is too weak to battle Raistlin. Caramon enters the Abyss, as he is the only one who can stop Raistlin. Caramon sees Crysania, who is still alive, and takes her up. 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.

The battle for Palanthas is won by the people of Palanthas at the cost of most of their city. Caramon and Tas go and give the future volume to Astinus, who is amazed upon receiving the book he will never write. Elistan is buried and Crysania, now back to health but blind, becomes head of the church of Paladine. Dalamar seals the laboratory where the Portal is for all time. Caramon goes to his wife, Tika, and they are overjoyed to be reunited. Tasslehoff finds a spot on the map he's never been to and teleports off with the aid of the magical time traveling device.

Characters in Test of the Twins

*Raistlin Majere, an evil and powerful mage bent on becoming a god.
*Crysania, a cleric of Paladine aiding Raistlin.
*Caramon Majere, warrior and twin to Raistlin, trying to stop his brother.
*Tasslehoff Burrfoot, kender aiding Caramon.
*Tanis Half-Elven, friend of Caramon, trying to defend Palanthas.
*Dalamar, apprentice of Raistlin, planning on stopping him.
*Kitiara uth Matar, half-sister of Raistlin, trying to secure Palanthas to meet him.
*Lord Soth, death knight serving Kitiara, wants her to die so he can truly have her.

Reception

Dragonlance Legends : Volume 3 Test of the Twins appeared for several weeks on the NY Times Bestseller list from October 12 1986 to November 2 1986. cite web
url = http://query.nytimes.com/search/query?frow=0&n=10&srcht=s&query=dragonlance+test+of+the+twins&srchst=nyt&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&submit=sub&hdlquery=&bylquery=&daterange=full&mon1=01&day1=01&year1=1981&mon2=03&day2=07&year2=2008
title = NY Times - Test of the Twins Query
accessdate = 2008-03-08
publisher = NYTimes.com]

Ian Hewitt, a staff reviewer from d20zines.com stated the novel "gratifying and compellingly exciting climax to the trilogy" and it was awarded 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. [cite web
last = Hewitt
first = Ian
url=http://www.d20zines.com/v7/node/1399
title=Test of the Twins: Dragonlance Legends Trilogy Book 3 Review -- January 25, 2005
publisher=d20zines.com
accessdate=2008-03-08]

References

Further reading

The two other books in the series:

*"Time of the Twins
*"War of the Twins

External links

* [http://dlnexus.com/products/111.aspx Test of the Twins at the Dragonlance Nexus]
* [http://ww2.wizards.com/books/wizards/products/?doc=179640000 Test of the Twins at the Wizards of the Coast website]