Dragons of Fantasy : Scaly Villains and Heroes in Modern Fantasy Literautre

Rating:
Summary: how to get under a dragon's skin
Review: As a fan of the author, I have all her books and this one is a really good addition to my bookshelf. My rating would actually be 4 1/2 stars, but Amazon doesn't let you give fractions. I only have a few quibbles that would prevent a perfect 5-star review, but let me say what the strengths are first.

I like the way this author writes. She has a conversational style that keeps you interested but still has a lot of good insights into her topics. Sometimes, scholarly, but always interesting. The organization of this book is what I think is really unique. It's divided in two large parts, but there's actually 4 distinct sections. It opens with really valuable information on how to write good fantasy characters, especially dragons. Then it moves on to feature 7 specific fantasy writers. I thought the choices were good because they give a good range of types of writers, from fantasy writers like Ann McCaffrey and J. R. R. Tolkien to people like Jane Yolen who may be better known to the young adult audience, but writes perfectly well for the adult market too, which is also true for J. K. Rowling.

The second part of the book is great for dragon fans who want to know the research into dragonlore that is there for people who want to write about dragons or just to enjoy and admire them. I thought at first this part would be a little tedious, but its probably some of the most interesting parts, especially the way she manages to include little bits about a lot of other writers besides those 7 who are spotlighted. At the end of the book is a section called the Dragon Hunters Toolbox, which is a cool idea I wish had been expanded.

My only criticism with this book is that I wish it has been longer and covered more authors, although as I said I think the choice of those included was good. I would like to read what the author thinks of people like Andre Norton, Robert Jordon, and George R.R. Martin. Maybe there's enough other dragon writers to do Dragons of Fantasy, volume 2? I'd buy it!

Rating:
Summary: great information and a lot of fun
Review: As a fan of the author, I have all her books and this one is a really good addition to my bookshelf. My rating would actually be 4 1/2 stars, but Amazon doesn't let you give fractions. I only have a few quibbles that would prevent a perfect 5-star review, but let me say what the strengths are first.

I like the way this author writes. She has a conversational style that keeps you interested but still has a lot of good insights into her topics. Sometimes, scholarly, but always interesting. The organization of this book is what I think is really unique. It's divided in two large parts, but there's actually 4 distinct sections. It opens with really valuable information on how to write good fantasy characters, especially dragons. Then it moves on to feature 7 specific fantasy writers. I thought the choices were good because they give a good range of types of writers, from fantasy writers like Ann McCaffrey and J. R. R. Tolkien to people like Jane Yolen who may be better known to the young adult audience, but writes perfectly well for the adult market too, which is also true for J. K. Rowling.

The second part of the book is great for dragon fans who want to know the research into dragonlore that is there for people who want to write about dragons or just to enjoy and admire them. I thought at first this part would be a little tedious, but its probably some of the most interesting parts, especially the way she manages to include little bits about a lot of other writers besides those 7 who are spotlighted. At the end of the book is a section called the Dragon Hunters Toolbox, which is a cool idea I wish had been expanded.

My only criticism with this book is that I wish it has been longer and covered more authors, although as I said I think the choice of those included was good. I would like to read what the author thinks of people like Andre Norton, Robert Jordon, and George R.R. Martin. Maybe there's enough other dragon writers to do Dragons of Fantasy, volume 2? I'd buy it!

Rating:
Summary: dragonlover
Review: The chapter on Terry Pratchett is worth the whole cost of this book! Pratchett is my favorite writer and Anne Petty wrote one of the best explanations of what makes him funny and at the same time having genuine literary merit. The other chapters are just as good, especially the one on Tolkien which you would expect. I didn't even remember there was a dragon in the Sword of Truth books, but now I want to go back and reread the books that have Scarlet in them. New perspectives on old faves like McCaffrey, too. The Dragonology chapters are cool too.

Rating:
Summary: how to get under a dragon's skin
Review: Who would have thought there was so much to know about writing about dragons. This was an eye opener, no doubt. Best analysis of Rowling from a completely new angle. Excellent survey of dragons from ancient times to modern. Highly recommended.