Dragonworld

Rating:
Summary: Imaginative fantasy tale
Review: Despite the generic fantasy title, this is an unusual and thoughtful fantasy story full of realistic characters and interesting cultures. Preiss and Reaves have a great sense of atmosphere and description; it's only too bad that this hasn't been made into a movie.

Amsel is a Fandoran, a member of a hard-working, small-statured race in a fairly bleak land. He is also a loner, a dreamer, and a scientist who studies just about everything. But his life is thrown into turmoil when a boy is found dead, apparently having fallen from Amsel's hang-glider. The boy's father and the inhabitants of the town assume that Amsel is in league with the Simbalese, a wealthy people who look down on the Fandorans. Amsel ends up running for his life to Simbala, in the hopes that he can avert a war. But in Simbala, a similar death has taken place.

It also jeopardizes the position of Hawkwind, a miner raised to royalty by the previous Monarch, and his Rayan lover Ceria. The bratty Princess Evirae, an arrogant royal with clawlike nails and really big hair, takes the opportunity to attack Hawkwind and try to gain the throne for herself. But as the Fandorans and Simbalese clash, a new foe comes from a frosty wasteland -- the colddrakes, nastier cousins to the dragons and led by a huge, intelligent colddrake called the Darkling. Recognizing that the colddrakes will destroy both sides, Amsel sets out to the legendary Glowing Caverns, to find the only thing that can stop the destruction.

It's a fairly straightforward plot, but is made less simple by the character interactions. The Fandorans and Simbalese don't just clash with each other, but with people in their own ranks. Such characters as Jondalrun and Prince Kiorte make mistakes and misjudge people; while readers may not agree with their viewpoints, they will at least understand them. And the villains are thankfully three-dimensional: The Darkling is doing his best for his kind, in the hopes that they won't die out, while Princess Evirae is not so much evil as bratty, scheming and manipulative. When thwarted, she acts like a child. It also shows the dangers of ignorance and jumping to conclusions without proof, as both sides do with circumstantial evidence that leads them to war.

And while almost every dragon idea has been exhausted, Preiss and Reaves manage to make them unusually original. The dragons in this are nearly extinct, but a wise, noble, and somewhat crabby race. The colddrakes are a separate but related species -- sort of like lions and tigers -- who are subservient to the wishes of the dragons. This concept is intriguingly fresh. The portrayals of the different cultures are also good: The simple down-to-earth lives of the Fandorans, the more elaborate and technological lives of the Simbalese, and the gypsy-like Rayans. Preiss and Reaves produce a lot of tiny differences between them, in memorable scenes such as the "voting" of the various Simbalese leaders, the aborted coronation, and a poignant glimpse of a long-dead dragon locked in a glacier. Young adults can read this; there is no profanity or graphic violence, and some hints of intimacy but nothing too obvious.

The writing and descriptions are pretty spare; the dialogue is quite realistic, although sometimes it lapses a bit into the formal prose of most fantasy novels. My main problem is that often the book jumps around too much; several times in one chapter, the focus will shift between several different places. It makes it hard to follow. On a quality level, the paper is thick and smooth, very solid-feeling. The illustrations (which ibook has thankfully retained) are soft-edged pencil drawings that accurately portray people and things in the books. The dragon/colddrake pictures are especially good.

For an unusual, well-characterized tale about dragons, nerdy little heroes, and epic battles, this is the book to get.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful and engaging book !!!!
Review: Dragons are what attracted me to this book originally, and there are dragons in it, two different species to be exact, though I think they did need more time in the spotlight. I hope to see a sequal to this one because it would be a shame to waste such a large and interesting world, we also need to find out more about the dragon's past and their future as well.

Rating:
Summary: A great book about Dragons, MORE THEN FIVE STARS!
Review: Dragonworld is one the select few books that has stuck with me in an extraordinary way. The writing was incredibly vivid and engrossing. And even though I was at first a bit skeptical about the book having illustrations, I found those illustrations helpful in setting the atmosphere.

I am the kind of reader who gets bored relatively easily; but I had no problem remaining interested in this story because once it started, it kept going at a face pace without a moment to spare. I sympathized, empathized and generally *cared* about all of the characters and their relationships with each other. Not only was each character compellingly and realistically developed, they all seamlessly fit into the story with no superfluous or extraneous details.

The story itself is not unlike any reality based situation people might encounter. The misinterpretation of a tragic event by different groups of people leads to an uncalled for and, therefore, even more tragic war. In Dragonworld, it is up to one good-natured man to help right the wrongs to restore peace and initiate understanding and communication. And what an adventure he experiences while trying!

As improvements go, I noticed only two. Firstly, I found the title a bit misleading. A book entitled "Dragonworld" implies dragons. This book had its share of dragon involvement, but not nearly as much as I expected. Quite frankly, I wanted more dragons!! Since these dragons were at the heart of the story, they should have been featured more. Had they been featured more, I would whole-heartedly give Dragonworld five stars. Secondly, the marvelous illustrations were less than marvelously placed. It is inevitable that a page break will interrupt a sentence; but, on top of page breaks, more often than not, the illustrations were placed in the middle of those sentences too. It was very distracting to have a beautifully written sentence interrupted by an illustration.

Overall, Dragonworld is a concise, powerful, riveting and convincing story that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good adventure!

Rating:
Summary: Be Prepared For a Wonderful Adventure
Review: Dragonworld is one the select few books that has stuck with me in an extraordinary way. The writing was incredibly vivid and engrossing. And even though I was at first a bit skeptical about the book having illustrations, I found those illustrations helpful in setting the atmosphere.

I am the kind of reader who gets bored relatively easily; but I had no problem remaining interested in this story because once it started, it kept going at a face pace without a moment to spare. I sympathized, empathized and generally *cared* about all of the characters and their relationships with each other. Not only was each character compellingly and realistically developed, they all seamlessly fit into the story with no superfluous or extraneous details.

The story itself is not unlike any reality based situation people might encounter. The misinterpretation of a tragic event by different groups of people leads to an uncalled for and, therefore, even more tragic war. In Dragonworld, it is up to one good-natured man to help right the wrongs to restore peace and initiate understanding and communication. And what an adventure he experiences while trying!

As improvements go, I noticed only two. Firstly, I found the title a bit misleading. A book entitled "Dragonworld" implies dragons. This book had its share of dragon involvement, but not nearly as much as I expected. Quite frankly, I wanted more dragons!! Since these dragons were at the heart of the story, they should have been featured more. Had they been featured more, I would whole-heartedly give Dragonworld five stars. Secondly, the marvelous illustrations were less than marvelously placed. It is inevitable that a page break will interrupt a sentence; but, on top of page breaks, more often than not, the illustrations were placed in the middle of those sentences too. It was very distracting to have a beautifully written sentence interrupted by an illustration.

Overall, Dragonworld is a concise, powerful, riveting and convincing story that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good adventure!

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I first read this novel about 15 years ago and always wondered why it was never reprinted. It is a well-told tale, enjoyable to read, and in a style reminiscent of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. The characters interact well together and there is excellent depth to them. It is not predictable nor does it fit into the tight little cliched fantasy that is so prevalent today. If you want a solid fantasy read, this is the one for you.

Rating:
Summary: One of the few books I've read 3 times...
Review: I picked this book up from my school library when I was a teenager and loved it. I then went on a search for this book so I could own it. The search took me over 2 years of sporadic looking, but I finally found it. Twenty-five years later I still have that copy and it is one I will keep and eventually share w/ my 3 sons.

The characterizations are crisp and multi-faceted. No one-dimensional ones like in The Wheel of Time series. The heroics are not grand gestures (but can be heartwrenchingly beautiful) and the heroes would not call themselves such. The characters are simply doing what is necessary to suceed.

The plot is reminiscent (to me, at least) of The Hobbit. It may seem a bit standard, but has some wonderful elegant moments. I loved Ansel's bravery and the dragons are marvellous. Why is this book not a movie?!

If you are a fan of Tolkien, Anne McCaffrey's Pern series or the works of Jack Vance, then this book is for you. Give it a try if you want to read fantasy as it is meant to be written.

Rating:
Summary: great idea, substandard delivery
Review: The ideas and themes of the book are original and entertaining, the whole mistaken war and clash between armies is done better than usual, but the entire book seems a little forced and bland in the way it is written. Yes the plot is great to move along with, but the same old fantasy cliche lines and chance encounters feel exactly as they were meant, to inject some excitement into books the authors thoguht were moving too slowly. If there is one reason to buy this book, it is the illustrations. Made by the same man who did the animated Lord fo the Rings movies decades back and quite frequent, they support the text beautifully and could stand on their own as art pieces.
But if there is one reason that should have warded me off of buying this book, it is the title. "Dragonworld"? There aren't enough dragons to make it their world, and the book contains none of the epic writing and plot that woudl make "world" necessary.
If you are looking for a good book to break into the genre, or one for younger readers, this is a good piece, but any experienced fan of fantasy would be best advised to spend their time on titles of higher literary caliber.

Rating:
Summary: For all those dragon lovers out there this is a must read.
Review: Very solid fantasy which rapidly draws the reader into the fully realised world that Preiss and Reaves have created for this wonderful novel about dragons, mystical Pearls, political intrigue, and the attempt at justice for the murders of three children. This novel came highly recommended, and I've a story brewing in my head about dragons and humans. The relationship between these two races has always been of chief interest to me in fantasy literature and one of my chief pleasures from this book was the stately and regal relationship the dragons had with the humans and how myth had obscured the memories and must be reinstated. The political world in this book is crucial in this regard.

The comparison to Tolkien is not unjust, although DRAGONWORLD lies much more closer to THE HOBBIT than THE LORD OF THE RINGS. There simply will never be another LR. We do not get a conflict on the cosmic level here that is the central plot of THE LORD OF THE RINGS. If Frodo fails, the entire world is ensnared in the Darkness of Sauron. If the characters in this novel fail, the cold drakes will prevail. Although this is an assumption, it is a very reasonable one: in as highly detailed a world that Preiss and Reaves create, there most be other societies and cultures present in this particular sphere, and it is hinted at by the one of the characters.

DRAGONWORLD deals with two nations plunged in war when their efforts should be concentrated upon their common foe. The authors guide the reader through these predominant terrains: the farmlands and villages of Fandora, the forests and battlefields of Simbala, and the cold land of the Drakes and their lairs. There also is a good scene of the crossing of the Fandoran troops over the Strait of Balomar, a very dangerous episode where one of the characters get to show their metal and grow in character development.

One of Preiss's and Reave's greatest strengths are creating fully developed characters who, without fail, draw you into the book. Another great facet about this book is there are really no true villains in the work. The worst character is Mesor, who cares only about his personal ambition thru Evirae. Evirae, the best candidate for the central villain, comes off as a foolish young woman who comes across not really as wholly evil but as wholly childish. Her ambition for ruling prevents her from being fully human, and generally the reader does not conceptualise her as formidable evil but a spoiled brat who's playing with a very real, hot fire who needs punished. The Darkling, the chief of the coldrakes, is not truly a villain, for in his mind he is acting in his races' best interest. Your sympathies are stretched to what would be a breaking point in writers who were unable to maintain the realism these characters demand, but Preiss and Reave's pull it off beautifully.

Another great element in this book is how each side most come to terms with people on their own side. Throughout the book, Fandorans are at conflict with Fandorans, and Simbalese in conflict with Simbalese. This book deals with a big pet peeve of mine. Because Amsel has a scientific mind and he can do things which are seemingly at odds with the natural world yet in actuality is only taking advantage of the natural laws, the Fandorans call him a sorcerer and a Simbalese spy. This is partially Amsel's fault for isolating himself, and his character is being developed in this fashion throughout the novel. Those who react in ignorance and do not listen can cause much harm, as this novel aptly illustrates.

The political complexities and the ingenuity stands in sharp contrast with the simple way of life of the Fandorans, and both have much to offer to one another. Preiss's and Reave's usage of the political world in this book is crucial as it supplies much of the tension in the book from the Simbalese end. Hawkwind, the Monarch of Simbala, most constantly deal with the fact that he was a miner who defeated the Kuln* and that he is a commoner who has risen to power by Ephirion's hand, the former monarch. Much of the novel is Hawkwind trying to manage the war effort as well as dealing with these attempted overthrows, and with the help of Ceria, his lover and a Rayan (who is also looked down upon by the Royal Family in particular and Simbala in general), he makes a fascinating monarch indeed, and a fully competent one at that. Because of their skills as writers, Preiss and Reaves have you cheering and hoping and then turning those hopes on their ear and bringing you into another character's situation and hoping they will make it through safe.

As for my own favorite scene, there is a beautiful commentary on art where the soldiers of Fandora must use iron sculptures for weapons. The owner does not want to allow the soldiers to take them. I won't spoil the scene for you. It's a wonderful comment on art and the power and beauty it holds.

Another favorite scene of mine is the voting process in which the Royal Family must decide on how they will react to the invasion of the Fandoran Troops. Great scene, so watch out for it.

As for the ending, it is rather good and keeps you turning the page and the book ends setting up the sequel, which, as far as I know, Preiss and Reaves have not delivered. Le Guin has just this year published an anthology of novellas about Earth-sea (TALES FROM EARTH-SEA) and a new novel (THE OTHER WIND) in that particular series, so never rule out the possibility of letting these excellent writers revealing more of this world to us in the future.

*Kuln: Cave demons that are sadly unexploited, as they sound very interesting and could have made for wonderful characters as villains.

Rating:
Summary: Great Fantasy
Review: When you buy and start reading this book, forget all about other fantasystories. No supergood heroes and superbad villains. No, they're just people, like you and me. Even the dragons have their weak points. But what a fantastic story !!! From the first to the last page a world comes to life, that really could exist. I only hope that there is a good sequel to this story. It is it worth to learn more about this world, where magic doesn't work, but real life does.

Rating:
Summary: Great Fantasy
Review: When you buy and start reading this book, forget all about other fantasystories. No supergood heroes and superbad villains. No, they're just people, like you and me. Even the dragons have their weak points. But what a fantastic story !!! From the first to the last page a world comes to life, that really could exist. I only hope that there is a good sequel to this story. It is it worth to learn more about this world, where magic doesn't work, but real life does.