So, I am finally reading a Dark Sun novel. Back in '92, when we all got into Dark Sun, I never read the adventures or, any novels other than the Wanderer’s Guide and Dragon-Kings. My friends read the books and got into the meta-plot, to the point, that’s all they wanted to play.
Reading Denning’s style, you have to have some knowledge of AD&D and Dark Sun already. I wouldn’t say the book is an advertisement so TSR could sell more Dark Sun box-sets, but, it as a fan-fiction feel.