From the Bookshelf of The Sword and Laser…

His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, #1)

Naomi Novik

Start date: December 1, 2013

Finish date: December 31, 2013

Discussion: 2013 Reads

Why we're reading this: The ALT pick for December.
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2013 Reads

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What Members Thought

Jul 22, 2012 Jenny (Reading Envy) rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy, ebooks, read2012

I'd had this downloaded to my Kindle app for years, I think it was free at some point, but I hadn't felt any great incentive to actually read it, because I'm just not a dragon person. I didn't like Eragon, for instance, but that might be because it was written by a teenager without a lot of new ideas. I was intrigued by the end of A Game of Thrones, but am still waiting for Mr. Martin to finish that little series before I delve back in.

I may never be a dragon person. It might just never happen. ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Nov 03, 2008 Carla rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2008, own, portuguese

As incredible as it might seem, I learned about this series due to my passion for Tolkien's books and was pleasantly surprised to know that Peter Jackson might adapt this books to cinema.

I've seen a mention to these books while checking the website of my favourite Tolkien illustrator, Anke Eissman, in which she said she liked it due to the fact that it had dragons in the Napoleonic wars. By this time I've already came across the Sharpe series, by Bernard Cornwell, in which the action takes place As incredible as it might seem, I learned about this series due to my passion for Tolkien's books and was pleasantly surprised to know that Peter Jackson might adapt this books to cinema.

I've seen a mention to these books while checking the website of my favourite Tolkien illustrator, Anke Eissman, in which she said she liked it due to the fact that it had dragons in the Napoleonic wars. By this time I've already came across the Sharpe series, by Bernard Cornwell, in which the action takes place also in the middle of the Napoleonic wars, and since I always had a soft spot for dragons, I kept track of these series. The wait was worth it.

The story starts on board of a French ship conquered by the British, who find a dragon's egg soon to hatch. Since there's no aviator or a dragon's specialist on board, the crew is a bit confused about what to do until the dragon finally chooses captain Laurence to be his handler. Reticently the captain is convinced of his new task, which will change all his life, while getting attached to the dragon.

The author then leads us through the dragon and aviator trainings, in which both learned about each other, building a friendship, but also themselves. We see some conflict between the mentalities of the Navy, filled by second sons and those who wanted fortune, and the Aerial Corps, composed by libertine aviators who, supposedly, were condemned to a hard life. The human characters are quite pleasant to read, as well as the dragons, which are distinct from each others. Actually, I really loved Temeraire, as we accompany his evolution. He seems a little child, getting fascinated by everything and with a huge wanting to know the world. Also the battles are very well done, is like having an RAF before the World Wars.

Quite interesting, this book also innovates and has a well built story, since it takes on two distinct themes, until a certain point, which could work badly. Fortunately that didn't happen. I recommend it to those who like history and a bit of fantasy; to those who ask "who would this bit of history be if there were fantastical creatures?" ...more

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Apr 30, 2010 Brittany rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: dragon-books, historicalfiction, fantasy, favorites

This book is proving difficult to review mainly because there's almost no other way to sum it up than "The Napoleonic Wars as they would have been if everyone had had dragons." And that sounds ludicrous. Now, granted, I did listen to this as an audio book (I had to; it was the only version the library had), and one read by a British man at that. Everyone knows that British narrators make things sound better and smarter than they would otherwise (see Jim Dale and the Harry Potter books. This is a ...more

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Oct 15, 2008 Lydia Presley rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, family, 2010, historic-fiction

Dragons and wars! Napoleon Bonaparte! Battle scenes and wise creatures!

I rolled through this book - scarcely able to put it down from start to finish. I gobbled up every fight scene, every interaction between Captain Laurence and Temeraire, his magnificent dragon.

Here's what I loved most about this series: the Dragons speak! And not only that, they speak well! I felt a little thrill down my spine when Temeraire first addresses Laurence and that thrill repeated itself again and again as I watche ...more

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Nov 08, 2011 Amanda rated it it was amazing

I love this alternate history of the Napoleonic Wars with dragons! Like Anne McCaffrey's Pern series, the dragons have to be bonded to a specific dragon rider, which I also loved because I much prefer the idea of dragons being sentient beings who develop relationships with people, rather than mere animals being bent to human will. This first installment does an amazing job of setting up the world, the way that dragons are integrated into society, and a little tiny bit of historical accuracy. Whi ...more

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May 31, 2007 Matt rated it it was amazing

I think this series is one of those great little secrets that it seems not nearly enough people know about. It centers around the time of the Nepoleonic Wars except dragons exist and are used by both sides in the war. While the concept and plot was great the best part of the writing the unlikely relationship of a ship's captain and a dragon. Novik's writing style is fast paced and entertaining. I recently read that Peter Jackson has purchased the rights to the series for a motion picture. ...more

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