MADreads

Dragon fascination

July 29th, 2006 Jane J. - Central Library

The other night I read until 3 in the morning. The book? His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik. What a fabulous read. Captain Will Laurence is an up-and-coming naval officer in the 19th century British Navy. When his ship captures a French one he’s surprised at how hard his opponents fight him. The discovery of a dragon egg makes everything clear. Dragons are powerful allies in the war and the British dragon corps is desperately outnumbered by their French counterparts. Though Will attempts to get the egg to London before it hatches, he’s too late. And much against his inclination Will is bonded with the dragon. Being a dragonrider means leaving his beloved navy and entering a strata of fighting men who are admired and scorned with equal measure by British society. When the dragon asks for a name, Will chooses Temeraire. And a partnership is formed.

Novik’s novel is the first of a trilogy and has been described as a cross between Anne McCaffrey and Patrick O’Brian, a fair comparison.  But I’d throw Jane Austen into the mix as well for Novik’s well-researched portrayal of the 19th century in Britain and the rest of the world (Throne of Jade and Black Powder War).

Entry Filed under: Fantasy