New Fantasy From Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
TOR BOOKS ANNOUNCES “BONES OF THE DRAGON,” THE FIRST IN AN EPIC NEW FANTASY SERIES FROM THE CREATORS OF “DRAGONLANCE”
 
A Wonderful New Fantasy Saga Set In A World Of Heroes, Dragons, Gods, and Magic
 
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman—the bestselling fantasy co-authors of all time and creators of the Gaming Fiction literary genre.  First there was Dragonlance™, the role-playing game-based novels that begat a fantasy empire.  Then there was Darksword, an original foray into the genre of Tolkien, Donaldson, and Brooks.  The Death Gate Cycle soon followed; each novel a bestseller.  Now, Weis and Hickman, the creative minds behind these incredible worlds, have teamed up again to write an epic new fantasy saga. BONES OF THE DRAGON (Tor Books; $24.95; National On-Sale Date: January 6, 2009) is the first book in the Dragonships of Vindras series—and an introduction to a new world, a new cast of heroes and heroines, and a new adventure.
 
Renowned for their extraordinary world-building infused with cultural lore and rich characterizations, Weis and Hickman published their first novel in the Dragonlance™ Chronicles, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, in 1984.  Twenty-five years later, this dynamic writing duo has five New York Times bestselling fantasy series. Combined, they have written or co-authored over 100 novels and short story collections.  Together, they have collaborated on more than thirty.
 
Weis and Hickman’s action-packed, utterly riveting BONES OF THE DRAGON brilliantly launches the Dragonships of Vindras saga, an epic six-book adventure in which individual mortals will face tests of faith and character, and both gods and dragons will aid, abet, and battle as they see fit—to ensure their own survival…   
 
PLOT SUMMARY
With BONES OF THE DRAGON, these two storytelling masters have conjured a rich new world of Viking-like warriors who sail the seas in ships powered by dragons in search of untold treasure. When strife and chaos threatens their world, however, they are duty-bound to follow their gods on a fantastic quest that will not only determine the fate of mortals—but the fate of the gods as well.
 
The Vindrasi had once been a mighty people.  They traversed the seas in their winged dragonships, returning home filled with glory and laden with the precious gemstones that they are required give to their dragons in return for their service.  But now those days are long gone.  Vindrasi warriors no longer fight valiant battles against worthy foes.  Their enemies these days are poor harvests, fierce winters, angry seas, and unfavorable winds.  Or so they think…
 
New gods have descended upon the world, seeking to rule it as their own.  The revered Vindrasi gods had not foreseen their coming and they were caught by surprise.  A battle ensued, and the Vindrasi gods were vanquished; one of their number slain.  Now, these ancient gods must depend on the very people who have worshiped them for centuries to help them wrest back their power. 
 
Eighteen-year-old Skylan Ivorson has been blessed by Torval, chief of the gods of the Vindrasi.  He’s the strongest man in his clan, the boldest warrior, and the most skillful with sword, spear, and axe.  He carries himself with pride and confidence, and he considers his eventual ascension to chief of the Torgun his birthright. But Skylan is also young and impetuous, and plays life as he would a game.  He takes huge risks, and makes bold and reckless moves. When he wins, he wins big. When he loses, it’s disastrous.  And it is on his shoulders that the future of his people—and his gods—rests.
 
To win the war against these brash new gods, Skylan and a band of warriors must find and recover the mysterious Five Bones of the Vektan Dragons.  It will not be an easy quest, however, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance.