World Famous Comics: His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, Book 1)
His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, Book 1)
By: Naomi Novik Publisher: Del Rey Average Rating: Binding: Mass Market Paperback Label: Del Rey Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 384 Publication Date: March 28, 2006 Release Date: March 28, 2006
Product Description: Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors rise to Britain’s defense by taking to the skies . . . not aboard aircraft but atop the mighty backs of fighting dragons.
When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes its precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Capt. Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future–and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France’s own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte’s boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire.
Gift given! While I really like this book, I wanted to share what happened when I bought this book as a gift for a friend. My friend like this book so much that after reading it, she went out and bought the next three books.
You take a risk when you attempt to mix history with fantasy Bottom Line: Try before you buy When I bought this book, I had no idea what it was about...other than it had dragons in it.. I start reading it, and soon discover I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around pairing the Napoleonic Wars and ships at sea with dragons. It didn't make any sense to me, and it didn't feel believable at all. I didn't get past the first couple of pages. Frankly if she had written the book, without the history in it, I might have believed it more... If the story is strong enough, it shouldn't need the history in it.. Or if she used the history (i.e. time period) but made the fiction part like what was going on at sea from the perspective of the ship's crew (characters she created) without infusing the unrealistic fantasy of dragons in it, that would have been better as well. She took a risk, and for me as a reader, it didn't pay off. For historical fantasy, The Mists of Avalon is much better. As for fantasy with dragons, Lorna Freeman (Boderlands series), and Melanie Rawn (Dragon Prince)..and of course there's Harry Potter. For other fantasy, not set in present day, I'd recommend Winterbirth, and The Blade Itself series.
An Exciting Surprise! I picked this up as it looked intriguing, I am always ready for a good dragon tale.... This caught my attention form the first pages. Novik does a splendid job with her characters. History has always interested me, but I know very little about Nelson, Trafalgar or Napoleon. I have only read this one book, but plan on getting the rest. I am hooked!
Another excellent dragon author I am a fan of great Dragon Series, I grew up on Ann Macaffey, Naomi Novik has hit the spot.
Great book! One of the best books I have ever read...I loved to idea of Historic facts...With the addition of an air corp...I like the way she took Dragons and made them more realistic such as fire breathing is a rare gift of only certain breeds...Who would have thought of that...I give this book 5 stars...
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
