|
Loading...
LibraryThing recommendationsLoading...
won't like
will probably not like
will probably like
will like
will love Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. Temeraire and Cpt Laurence are ordered back from China, via Turkey to pick up dragon eggs to bring back to England. I loved reading about the overland trip back from China, following the old silk road. They're guided by a British-Nepalese man who delights in being regarded suspiciously, they meet up with a pack of ferals who speak the dragon language, they see the big stone buddahs, and land smack in the middle of Napoleon's campaign in Prussia. The book is fairly evenly split between the trip and the war, and their difficulties in obtaining and safe guarding the eggs are numerous. There were tragedies, life was chancy, and the fire breathing dragon's egg causes them a whole heap of troubles. I liked the journey better than the battles, but enjoyed it over all. (  )1   silentq | Dec 27, 2009 |  I have been enjoying this series about Temeraire, a Chinese Celestial Dragon. Installment #3 tells the tale of Temeraire's return travels from China back to England during the Napoleonic wars. Laurence and Temeraire receive orders to go to Istanbul to retrieve 6 dragon eggs and bring them back to England. Their travels take them through the desert, a Sultan's palace, battlefields in Prussia before their return to England. The commentary of this tale is an very interesting way of showing the social and political issues related to slavery and property ownership. Temeraire's innocence easily shows the reality of the world and how power and abilities can be misunderstood all wrapped up in an adventure for an alternative history. (  ) cyderry | Dec 19, 2009 | I conitnue to love this series, and am looking forward to finishing it. ( ) professoralan | Oct 30, 2009 | Third in the Temeraire series, Laurence and Temeraire are ordered home via Istanbul, to pick up a precious cargo. They set out on an epic overland journey from China, meeting feral dragons, and not a few unfriendly peoples and governments along the way. A fast-paced, masterfully written continuation of the saga. This one doesn't hold up as its own story quite as well as the other two, but well worth reading to continue the story. Temeraire is a unique voice in fiction -- he is so innocent and guileless, but as he becomes more aware of the reality of the world and his own place in it (and his own abilities/power) the plot, as they say, thickens. This is not "mere" fantasy-fiction (which I have nothing against, incidentally) but a subtle political and social commentary wrapped in an irresistible package of adventure and alternate history at its utmost. (  ) heidialice | Oct 26, 2009 | It might have been just my mood, but I felt this was pretty boring. I had to force myself through the last half, because I found I really didn't care what happened to the main characters - no suspense. I knew they'd be OK. Those who die are bit parts, rarely thought of before hand & quickly forgotten afterward. The story line was rote. I actually guessed the route they'd take before they got there & I'm not that much of a historian. It was probably as well written as the previous novels, but just too much of the same for me to really enjoy. (  ) jimmaclachlan | Sep 25, 2009 |  no reviews | add a review
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0345481305, Mass Market Paperback)“A splendid series.”–Anne McCaffrey “Naomi Novik has done for the Napoleonic Wars what Anne McCaffrey did for science fiction: constructed an alternate reality in which dragons are real in a saga that is impressively original, fully developed, and peopled with characters you care about.” –David Weber, author of the Honor Harrington series After their fateful adventure in China, Capt. Will Laurence of His Majesty’s Aerial Corps and his extraordinary dragon, Temeraire, are waylaid by a mysterious envoy bearing urgent new orders from Britain. Three valuable dragon eggs have been purchased from the Ottoman Empire, and Laurence and Temeraire must detour to Istanbul to escort the precious cargo back to England. Time is of the essence if the eggs are to be borne home before hatching. Yet disaster threatens the mission at every turn–thanks to the diabolical machinations of the Chinese dragon Lien, who blames Temeraire for her master’s death and vows to ally herself with Napoleon and take vengeance. Then, faced with shattering betrayal in an unexpected place, Laurence, Temeraire, and their squad must launch a daring offensive. But what chance do they have against the massed forces of Bonaparte’s implacable army? (retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:58:24 -0400) The first test round has been closed. Visit the Open Shelves Classification group for details. |
LibraryThing AuthorNaomi Novik is a LibraryThing Author, an author who lists their personal library on LibraryThing.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wikipedia in English (2)
