Tag Archives: Dragons

The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien

British Literature March 15, 2010 Superfast Reader 6 Comments

Synopsis: An account of the history of the origins of Middle Earth during the First Age. Review: I have tried and failed to read The Silmarillion on several occasions, and I can only credit my success this go-round to the podcast lecture series given by The Tolkien Professor. The early chapters are so dense with information that his interpretation and analysis helped lay the groundwork for me to be able to enjoy later chapters such as “Beren and Luthien” and “Turin Turambar,” to name two…

Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb

American Literature February 4, 2010 Superfast Reader 18 Comments

Synopsis: The dragons who emerged from their cocoons along the Rain Wilds River were not exactly the fearsome creatures of legend hoped for by many, so a ragtag group of outcasts and misfits are hired to escort them upriver, ostensibly to find a legendary dragon city–if any of them survive. Review: It was SO much fun to return to the world of the Liveship Traders series, which was my favorite of Robin Hobb’s three Six Duchies trilogies. I’m aching to reread all of them again,…

The Dragon of Trelian–A Wing of Dragons

American Literature June 3, 2009 Superfast Reader 6 Comments

Today is Day 3 of the blog tour for The Dragon of Trelian by Michelle Knudsen, a book I thoroughly enjoyed. My husband is not an aficionado of fantasy literature. He’s fond of saying, “How do you write a book about a dragon, anyway? Is it like, ‘There was this dragon?’” My poor impoverished dear. Anyway, I love books with dragons. Here are some links to a few other dragon-featuring books I’ve reviewed. For even more, check out the dragons tag. George RR Martin’s Dreamsongs…

Interview With Michelle Knudsen (The Dragon of Trelian)

American Literature June 2, 2009 Superfast Reader 2 Comments

This is Day 2 of the blog tour for The Dragon of Trelian, and I’m delighted to offer an interview with author Michelle Knudsen! Her blog can be found here, and here’s her bio: Michelle Knudsen is the author of 40 books for children. Her best-known title is Library Lion (Candlewick Press), which was a New York Times bestseller and has been translated into several languages. Her latest book is a middle-grade fantasy novel called The Dragon of Trelian. Formerly a full-time childrenâ€™s book editor,…

The Dragon of Trelian by Michelle Knudsen

American Literature June 1, 2009 Superfast Reader 3 Comments

Synopsis: A mage-in-training and a princess psychically linked to a dragon must work together to save the royal family from an evil sorceress. Review: The Dragon of Trelian has a lot of familiar elements, but fortunately it manages to feel fresh. Princess Meglynne is feisty and hot-tempered and imperial, but she’s not just tempestuous. She’s got a core of true courage that’s really appealing. Apprentice mage Calen struggles with feelings of inadequacy, but he’s also prone to an arrogance that tempers his naivete. The dragon…

The Dark Planet (Atherton, Book 3) by Patrick Carman

American Literature May 21, 2009 Superfast Reader 4 Comments

Synopsis: Edgar must leave Atherton, the only home he’s ever known, to finish his creator Dr. Harding’s work on the poisoned Dark Planet. Review: The Dark Planet, a stirring conclusion to the Atherton trilogy of science fiction adventures for middle grade readers, finds Edgar heading off his home planet towards the Dark Planet, where children like him are worked as slaves tilling a despoiled earth. It’s his own journey into Mordor–except the plot of the Atherton trilogy owes more to “Lost” than Tolkien. The world…

Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey

On Reading March 23, 2008 Superfast Reader 16 Comments

Synopsis: A young woman discovers her destiny among a cadre of psychic dragons, and hatches a radical plan to save her planet from a deadly threat using time travel. Review: I wish I had discovered Pern when I was in high school. Dragonflight, one of Anne McCaffrey’s books set in the dragon-strewn world, is perfect YA sci fi fantasy. Lessa is a fantastic heroine whose impulsive acts have big consequences, and the book doesn’t try to achieve too much. It’s difficult to talk about a…

Dreamsongs (Volume 1) by George RR Martin

American Literature December 17, 2007 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

Synopsis: The first of two anthologies featuring short stories by George RR Martin, ranging from fantasy to science fiction to horror to genre hybrids. Review: I am one of those readers who had never heard of George RR Martin before encountering A Game of Thrones, book one in his Song of Ice and Fire series. What I did not know is that Martin has had a prolific career as a short story writer, primarily in the genre of science fiction. Dreamsongs Volume 1 includes some…

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

American Literature October 9, 2007 Superfast Reader 3 Comments

Synopsis: A legendary folk hero tells the first part of his life story, encompassing his early years as a vagabond and his time spent at University studying alchemy and magic. Review: It’s not for nothing that The Name of the Wind has been touted as a great fantasy debut. It absolutely is. I am leery of beginning fantasy series that have not been concluded, but my brother was so enthusiastic about this one that I had to check it out. Patrick Rothfuss’s writing has a…

The Stricken Field by Dave Duncan

Canadian Literature August 16, 2007 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: The fate of Pandemia rests upon the shoulders of Imperor Shandie and his friends, who have spread to the far corners of the world in the hopes of uniting all the races against a common foe. Plus, did somebody say that the dragons are rising? Review: In The Stricken Field, the third of four books in A Handful of Men, author Dave Duncan shows us just exactly how big a task he’s set for his protagonists–and for himself. You see, Pandemia is peopled by…

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