Relation to gaming modules 

The first scentence of this article states that the book is "based on a series of Dungeons & Dragons gaming modules." but then nothing else in the article explains or expands on this connection. I would think this article coupld be improved by putting some information in on this. Which modules exactly? How closely does the book follow the modules? what are somethings in the book not I the games, and/or vice versa? Which characters were playable and which NPC's? etc. 
I was actively playing AD&D; at the time that Dragonlance was released, I did not play the DL modules but borrowed and read the novels off a friend. My recollection was the books and novels were developed together, though it does seem reasonable that the plots of the novels were based somewhat on the original playtesting of these modules. If this is the case some of the characters were originally played by noteable people, if anyone has info on this would be something interesting. -