Patrick O'Brian in Mid-Air

[swan_tower]

I'm sure three-quarters of the people reading this journal have already caught at least some of the hoopla over these books, but I finally got around to reading Naomi Novik's elegant alternate Napoleonic novel His Majesty's Dragon. Short form: think Patrick O'Brian, but on dragon-back. My recommendation for it (and its subsequent series) is up on my site.

Comments

[clauclauclaudia]

Cementing my desire to get around to these books. I just heard her interview with the "Dragon Page" guys. Apparently she sent her agent sample chapters and quickly heard back "we like it and we want three of 'em". So I wonder how much the story changed from what she originally intended? Everyone seems to love them, though.

[swan-tower.livejournal.com]

It didn't feel like she had to stretch very hard at all for sequels -- you learn early on in the first book that Temeraire is a Chinese breed of dragon, which quite handily sets up a reason for a Chinese-based plot in book two.

[unforth.livejournal.com]

That sounds awesome...I dig Patrick O'Brian. :)

[swan-tower.livejournal.com]

As do I. Less technical jargon in these books, but they've got some of the same flavor.

Yes, but...

[kniedzw.livejournal.com]

You should read that book by Marie Brennan first. She's just fabu, donchaknow.

Re: Yes, but...

[unforth.livejournal.com]

I have read it. It was spiffy...and I hear there's a sequel coming out. :)