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Rating: 
Summary: The Dragon Sorcerer - an original
Review: Much as I like Arthur W Jordin's review of THE DRAGON SORCERER, I must make on small correction -- it is not a reprint of the 1986 novel ROGUE PIRATE, but a new novel based on it, entirely (and significantly) rewritten and expanded. The new book is 10,000 words longer. ROGUE PIRATE was disowned by its author due to the original publisher's horrible editorial tampering, which included such howlers as adding cannons to one scene (in a world with no gunpowder!) and changing references from "sea-serpent" to "sea crustacean". In addition to the novel, THE DRAGON SORCERER also has a half dozen short stories set in the same world added to the end as a bonus.
Rating: 
Summary: Pirates and Dockside Taverns
Review: The Dragon Sorcerer is a collection of short works. The title novel was previously published as Rogue Pirate and the five short stories are selections from the Tales of Slab's Tavern. In the novel, Fel Blackmane was orphaned by an unscrupulous trader at the age of ten. Two years later he joined the pirate band of Aldenius Frago, rising to be first mate and finally becoming the master of his own ship, the Pamah Reach. Soon he gained the reputation of being one of the foremost pirates of his time and aspired to be the King of the Pirates. Fel has enhanced his reputation by performing an impossible task each year. Two years ago, Fel had fought three of the best warships of King Ornay of Zarvoon within a week's time and sent all three back to the king's wife draped in red roses. Last spring he had taken the supposedly impenetrable island fortress of Bar Altibb and had stolen the treasure of the Countess Alna Savina ... and a kiss as well. This year, Fel Blackmane has sailed to the Grayhaven Fair to sell back booty from his recent pirating forays to their former owners. All goes well until they are departing the fair, when a dragon appears out of the sky and attacks the ship. His first mate Ool barely saves the two of them by means of a magic potion. Now Fel is without a ship and crew and he is being sought by the spies and assassins of Countess Alna. Moreover, he craves revenge on the person who sent the dragon to destroy him. He turns to his old friend Aldenius Frago for assistance. In the Tales of Slab's Tavern, Ulander Rasym is the operator of this tavern near the docks of Zelloque. Theoretically he is also the owner, but Slab's ghost still involves himself in day to day functions. Since the tavern is a favorite meeting place between the living and the dead, Slab does share in the hosting of their clientele. Indeed, the problems faced by Ulander and his staff are often quite spiritual, in the ghostly sense. For example, an Oracle of Shon Atasha comes searching within the tavern for splinters from the bones of his god. Then an old acquaintance decides to put Slab on the shelf. Later the betrothed of Deana Ri, the younger sister of the Great Lord, shows up in the tavern with a life or death message for his fiancee. Soon thereafter, the Brothers Lammiat have a quarrel about the foreseen destruction of Zelloque and Nollin takes charge despite Halin's objections. Finally, Ulander and Slab clean up the debris from the destruction and open Slab's Tavern to a wider clientele. All these stories are enjoyable, but still leave something to be desired. Maybe they are too short, for somehow they don't seem to be complete. Nevertheless, they are worth reading. Enjoy. -Arthur W. Jordin
Rating:
Summary: Pirates and Dockside Taverns
Review: The Dragon Sorcerer is a collection of short works. The title novel was previously published as Rogue Pirate and the five short stories are selections from the Tales of Slab's Tavern. In the novel, Fel Blackmane was orphaned by an unscrupulous trader at the age of ten. Two years later he joined the pirate band of Aldenius Frago, rising to be first mate and finally becoming the master of his own ship, the Pamah Reach. Soon he gained the reputation of being one of the foremost pirates of his time and aspired to be the King of the Pirates. Fel has enhanced his reputation by performing an impossible task each year. Two years ago, Fel had fought three of the best warships of King Ornay of Zarvoon within a week's time and sent all three back to the king's wife draped in red roses. Last spring he had taken the supposedly impenetrable island fortress of Bar Altibb and had stolen the treasure of the Countess Alna Savina ... and a kiss as well. This year, Fel Blackmane has sailed to the Grayhaven Fair to sell back booty from his recent pirating forays to their former owners. All goes well until they are departing the fair, when a dragon appears out of the sky and attacks the ship. His first mate Ool barely saves the two of them by means of a magic potion. Now Fel is without a ship and crew and he is being sought by the spies and assassins of Countess Alna. Moreover, he craves revenge on the person who sent the dragon to destroy him. He turns to his old friend Aldenius Frago for assistance. In the Tales of Slab's Tavern, Ulander Rasym is the operator of this tavern near the docks of Zelloque. Theoretically he is also the owner, but Slab's ghost still involves himself in day to day functions. Since the tavern is a favorite meeting place between the living and the dead, Slab does share in the hosting of their clientele. Indeed, the problems faced by Ulander and his staff are often quite spiritual, in the ghostly sense. For example, an Oracle of Shon Atasha comes searching within the tavern for splinters from the bones of his god. Then an old acquaintance decides to put Slab on the shelf. Later the betrothed of Deana Ri, the younger sister of the Great Lord, shows up in the tavern with a life or death message for his fiancee. Soon thereafter, the Brothers Lammiat have a quarrel about the foreseen destruction of Zelloque and Nollin takes charge despite Halin's objections. Finally, Ulander and Slab clean up the debris from the destruction and open Slab's Tavern to a wider clientele. All these stories are enjoyable, but still leave something to be desired. Maybe they are too short, for somehow they don't seem to be complete. Nevertheless, they are worth reading. Enjoy. -Arthur W. Jordin
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