Mil años antes de la Guerra de Invierno, Elgo, príncipe de los Vanadurin, mató a Dragon Sleeth y regresó a casa con la fabulosa riqueza de la guarida de la bestia muerta. Pero había más en la generosidad que las gemas y el oro, porque el tesoro estaba maldito, y con el tiempo trajo la muerte a nobles y campesinos, guerras entre Hombres y Enanos, luchas y destrucción sin límites.
Ahora, generaciones más tarde, mientras continúa el conflicto, el gran Dragón Negro Kalgalath, aliado con el Mago Andrak, aparece para vengar la muerte de Sleeth y reclamar el tesoro maldito por el Dragón. Contra esta alianza profana, dos enemigos jurados parten para encontrar un arma legendaria perdida hace mucho tiempo: un martillo de guerra de poder incalculable que puede ser la única esperanza de victoria. Peroi ni la doncella guerrera Elyn ni el enano Thork están preparados para los peligros que les esperan en esta misión.

This book was quite good, though the plot resembles, at least in general outlines, parts of the Hobbit. Defeating a dragon and taking its treasure home is only the start of a bad sequence of events. That naturally starts a squabble over the treasure, and leads to more sorrow and individual heroics. I really liked this book, even though it sounds Tolkien-ish, it was well written. ( )

My favorite McKiernan novel. I don't remember much about it now because I read it so long ago but it was great (then). ( )

A thoughtfully written book that only looks like the "sameold sameold" superficially. I can't think of a single other fantasy out there that does a better job addressing the difference longevity makes in how the world gets approached (dwarves vs humans, in this case). McKiernan's style is dense and perhaps not for everyone, but if you want a meaty fantasy read, this is it. ( )

Sleeth the Orm.
That name was enough to rouse any treasure-seeker's interest. The legendary Blackstone, richest of the Dwarven (or, as they called themselves, Chakka) mining holds, had fallen to the mighty dragon centuries before. All attempts slay the dragon and recover the treasure had failed.

Then Elgo, Prince of the horse-loving plains natin of Jord, renowned for his many dangerous and cunning adventures, thought of a way to kill the worm. Incredibly dangerous, bodly daring, he gives the plan a try, and succeeds.

But dragongold always has a curse laid on it, and the curse follows Elgo and the fraction of treasure he manages to get back over the mountains and sea to his steppe homeland. First, the Chakka lay a claim on the gold. Then the claim leads to war.

Then, something out of everyone's expectations occurs. Another dragon, the greatest dragon, Black Kalgalath comes raiding....and then Elyn, Elgo's twin sister, Warrior Maid, goes on a quest to slay him. But Kalgalath has caused the Chakka great grief, also. So they send Thork, Prince of Kachar, the Chakka nation that laid claim on the dragongold, with whom the Jord are currently at war.

The only thing that can slay the greatest dragon is the Rage Hammer, the Kammerling of ancient legend, Adon's Hammer. But who will get to it first?

This is a great read, you'll fall in love with the characters and the world before you realize it. ( )