Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Ballantine Books (2006), Kindle Edition, 384 pages
Description
Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors rise to Britain's defense by taking to the skies ... not aboard aircraft but atop the mighty backs of fighting dragons. When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes its precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Capt. Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future--and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France's own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte's boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member tapestry100
I absolutely loved this book. I was trying to decide on a TIOLI challenge book for March (read a book by an LT Author) and I needed something that was more brain candy than anything else, and after reading a couple of other reviews/recommendations of His Majesty's Dragon decided I'd pick up the
Novik takes another look at the Napoleonic Wars in this series, one where dragons are an important part of all armies and their fighting forces. The dragons are harnessed at birth (when they emerge from their egg) with a human rider who becomes their captain, and together they become a fighting force with an entire crew that works to keep the dragon healthy and safe. When Capt. Laurence captures a French ship carrying a dragon egg, at first he imagines only what his share of the prize money will be, but when it is discovered that the egg will hatch before they reach port, the decision is made to try to harness the dragon right on the ship, something that has never been done before, as the Aerial Corps has always handled all eggs and the subsequent harnessing. Much to his surprise, when the new dragonet hatches, it completely ignores the man whose name was pulled to try the harnessing, and instead speaks directly to Laurence and allows him to do the harnessing. Now Laurence must leave the navy and with the newly named Temeraire, must learn the ways of the Aerial Corps. And I couldn't put the book down from here on out.
I loved the growing relationship between Laurence and Temeraire. Instead of just being mindless beasts bent on destruction, Novik has created intelligent and engaging characters in her dragons, and from the moment that Temeraire speaks to Laurence, I was totally lost in their growing friendship and trust. I think this, above and beyond anything else in the book, was what had me hooked from the beginning. There was just something about the way that Novik had Laurence and Temeraire grow closer that I just found totally mesmerizing. The other side stories were just as equally well-written, but it was the experience of watching Laurence and Temeraire grow into their partnership that held the entire book together so unquestionably. Of course, there is so much more to the story than just their growing relationship; there is also their training and the interactions on both Laurence and Temeraire's parts with their new comrades and the battle at the end of the book where we learn the true nature of Temeraire's breeding. It's just all so well put together, I loved every moment of the book and read it in 2 days.
I always enjoy discovering a new author, but to be able to find a book that I can so easily get lost in as well is a complete treat for me, and I can't recommend His Majesty's Dragon enough. I'm anxiously looked forward to moving on to the second book in the series, Throne of Jade. This will easily be topping my list of favorite books of the year.
Show More
first book if I found it at the bookstore. Much to my now pleasure, they had a copy and I went ahead and broke my no new book buying rule for about the 100th time this year and picked it up. Needless to say, the next four are on their way from Amazon now.Novik takes another look at the Napoleonic Wars in this series, one where dragons are an important part of all armies and their fighting forces. The dragons are harnessed at birth (when they emerge from their egg) with a human rider who becomes their captain, and together they become a fighting force with an entire crew that works to keep the dragon healthy and safe. When Capt. Laurence captures a French ship carrying a dragon egg, at first he imagines only what his share of the prize money will be, but when it is discovered that the egg will hatch before they reach port, the decision is made to try to harness the dragon right on the ship, something that has never been done before, as the Aerial Corps has always handled all eggs and the subsequent harnessing. Much to his surprise, when the new dragonet hatches, it completely ignores the man whose name was pulled to try the harnessing, and instead speaks directly to Laurence and allows him to do the harnessing. Now Laurence must leave the navy and with the newly named Temeraire, must learn the ways of the Aerial Corps. And I couldn't put the book down from here on out.
I loved the growing relationship between Laurence and Temeraire. Instead of just being mindless beasts bent on destruction, Novik has created intelligent and engaging characters in her dragons, and from the moment that Temeraire speaks to Laurence, I was totally lost in their growing friendship and trust. I think this, above and beyond anything else in the book, was what had me hooked from the beginning. There was just something about the way that Novik had Laurence and Temeraire grow closer that I just found totally mesmerizing. The other side stories were just as equally well-written, but it was the experience of watching Laurence and Temeraire grow into their partnership that held the entire book together so unquestionably. Of course, there is so much more to the story than just their growing relationship; there is also their training and the interactions on both Laurence and Temeraire's parts with their new comrades and the battle at the end of the book where we learn the true nature of Temeraire's breeding. It's just all so well put together, I loved every moment of the book and read it in 2 days.
I always enjoy discovering a new author, but to be able to find a book that I can so easily get lost in as well is a complete treat for me, and I can't recommend His Majesty's Dragon enough. I'm anxiously looked forward to moving on to the second book in the series, Throne of Jade. This will easily be topping my list of favorite books of the year.
Show Less
LibraryThing member atimco
The Napoleonic Wars. The British Navy. And dragons! I knew this series would be good, but I didn't know how gripping it would be until I had plunged into Naomi Novik's fully realized world of Regency-era fantasy. Temeraire (alternately titled His Majesty's Dragon) owes much to one of Novik's
Captain William Laurence of the British Navy is appalled when his ship takes a French prize carrying a dragon egg about to hatch. Dragons must be presented with their captain immediately upon hatching, or else they'll go feral and be useless to the British cause. But that's the business of the Aerial Corps, not the Navy... or was, until this astonishing turn of events. Impelled by his strong sense of duty, Laurence accepts the responsibility of the dragon when it emerges from its shell and chooses him for its captain. But Temeraire will cost him everything he has ever hoped for, as the life of an aviator is lived outside the pale of refined British society.
I haven't been this enthralled with a series since Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus books, and I love the sense of immersion that a story like this can create. Novik is clearly at home in this historical setting and writes with a smooth fluidity, managing her characters' dialogue and her own narrative voice with equal ease. The subculture of the British Aerial Corps, with all its distinctive practices and wholly believable battle maneuvers, is simply fascinating.
And the characters themselves are lively and realistic, making mistakes and behaving believably in the context of their world. Laurence, initially reluctant to cut short his Navy career to be an aviator, soon learns to love Temeraire as he comes to appreciate the dragon's eager intelligence and warm companionship. Laurence will need all the courage he can muster as he faces the challenge of learning in a few months what is usually many years' training. Napoleon, of course, won't wait, and the British need is desperate. Laurence and Temeraire are thrown quickly into battle — with results that even the most seasoned of the Aerial Corps cannot begin to imagine.
This story is deftly written, with winning characters and a sense of period so intuitively right. I applaud Novik and eagerly look forward to the rest of the series.
Show More
favorite authors, Patrick O'Brian, but does not fail to carve itself a more-than-honorable place in the genre of historic fantasy. Captain William Laurence of the British Navy is appalled when his ship takes a French prize carrying a dragon egg about to hatch. Dragons must be presented with their captain immediately upon hatching, or else they'll go feral and be useless to the British cause. But that's the business of the Aerial Corps, not the Navy... or was, until this astonishing turn of events. Impelled by his strong sense of duty, Laurence accepts the responsibility of the dragon when it emerges from its shell and chooses him for its captain. But Temeraire will cost him everything he has ever hoped for, as the life of an aviator is lived outside the pale of refined British society.
I haven't been this enthralled with a series since Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus books, and I love the sense of immersion that a story like this can create. Novik is clearly at home in this historical setting and writes with a smooth fluidity, managing her characters' dialogue and her own narrative voice with equal ease. The subculture of the British Aerial Corps, with all its distinctive practices and wholly believable battle maneuvers, is simply fascinating.
And the characters themselves are lively and realistic, making mistakes and behaving believably in the context of their world. Laurence, initially reluctant to cut short his Navy career to be an aviator, soon learns to love Temeraire as he comes to appreciate the dragon's eager intelligence and warm companionship. Laurence will need all the courage he can muster as he faces the challenge of learning in a few months what is usually many years' training. Napoleon, of course, won't wait, and the British need is desperate. Laurence and Temeraire are thrown quickly into battle — with results that even the most seasoned of the Aerial Corps cannot begin to imagine.
This story is deftly written, with winning characters and a sense of period so intuitively right. I applaud Novik and eagerly look forward to the rest of the series.
Show Less
LibraryThing member edgeworth
I should have known better than to buy this book, which I did on a whim in a second-hand bookstore because I really felt like blowing some money. And blow I did! Dragons, on the whole, have been exhausted as a source of fantasy, and I have very little tolerance for an author who continues to wring
In Novik's credit, she does at least come up with a slightly fresh (or at least "less stale") idea; Temeraire is set in an alternate Napoleonic era in which dragons exist. My tolerance is cut short here, because that's the limit of her idea: dragons exist, and are used in combat. That's it. History has played out exactly the same, from the Roman Empire to Trafalgar, despite the presence of a secondary intelligent species on the planet. Society does not treat them as such; despite their handlers having strong bonds with them and considering them equals, they are referred to as "beasts," and considered useful breeding stock. The handlers have no objection to this, which is one of many contradictions throughout.
This book is basically chick lit that just happens to feature dragons. It follows the tale of former Navy captain William Laurence and his raising of the titular Temeraire, as they progress through training and eventually have a couple of skirmishes over the English Channel. Although their relationship is one between a hardened military veteran and an enormous monster capable of slaughtering hundreds of men, it struck me as similar to that of an unmarried, middle-aged woman and her sweater-wearing poodle. Laurence bathes him, lavishes him with gifts and jewellery, reads to him, grooms him, talks about his feelings and generally mollycoddles him throughout all tedious three hundred and forty pages. When Novik tires of this, she occasionally takes us on a tour of the exasperating tedium of 19th century British ettiquette.
Overall: wooden characters, a boring plot, and an unoriginal theme to begin with. Thumbs down.
Show More
every last drop out of them instead of coming up with something more original (see: Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines or Emily Rodda's children's fantasy novels).In Novik's credit, she does at least come up with a slightly fresh (or at least "less stale") idea; Temeraire is set in an alternate Napoleonic era in which dragons exist. My tolerance is cut short here, because that's the limit of her idea: dragons exist, and are used in combat. That's it. History has played out exactly the same, from the Roman Empire to Trafalgar, despite the presence of a secondary intelligent species on the planet. Society does not treat them as such; despite their handlers having strong bonds with them and considering them equals, they are referred to as "beasts," and considered useful breeding stock. The handlers have no objection to this, which is one of many contradictions throughout.
This book is basically chick lit that just happens to feature dragons. It follows the tale of former Navy captain William Laurence and his raising of the titular Temeraire, as they progress through training and eventually have a couple of skirmishes over the English Channel. Although their relationship is one between a hardened military veteran and an enormous monster capable of slaughtering hundreds of men, it struck me as similar to that of an unmarried, middle-aged woman and her sweater-wearing poodle. Laurence bathes him, lavishes him with gifts and jewellery, reads to him, grooms him, talks about his feelings and generally mollycoddles him throughout all tedious three hundred and forty pages. When Novik tires of this, she occasionally takes us on a tour of the exasperating tedium of 19th century British ettiquette.
Overall: wooden characters, a boring plot, and an unoriginal theme to begin with. Thumbs down.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Wombat
The Napoleonic era with dragons. These intelligent, talking dragons are extremely rare and serve in the armed forces---the Aerial Corps---of the European (and other) powers. The book follows Will Laurence, a successful navy Captain, who unexpectedly find's himself paired with Temeraire, a recently
All in all an enjoyable read. The author gradually unfolds the world, so half the fun is seeing the details emerge. The plot develops at a leisurely pace, but it never feels slow because of the rich detail of the characters and Novik's alternate reality. That plot as both some obvious and some not-so-obvious twists. The characters were engaging, although the publisher is going completely overboard in comparing Ms. Novik to Jane Austen; she isn't that good...
One esoteric disappointment was the handling of military strategy and tactics. I've often been a bit disappointed by fantasy worlds (both fictional and RPG) that introduce fantastical beasts and powerful wizards and then assume that military conflicts will be fought along the same lines as medieval battles. So I was quite interested to see how the dragons would change (or not) Napoleonic military conflicts. There are certainly differences, some of which are quite believable---communications and scouting change with dragons that can fly 100s of miles in a day. Also because dragons are quite rare, one can believe that many naval and army tactics would be unchanged. On the other hand, the climax of the book (which I won't reveal ;-) centers around an innovative new way to use Dragons in combat. Unfortunately this was completely unbelievable for me, both because it struck me as a physical impossibility and, more importantly, because I couldn't believe that in a world where dragons have existed as long as human civilization, nobody would have thought of it before.
Show More
hatched and rather unusual dragon. We follow Laurence's reluctant transition from Navy to Aerial Corps, his training as an aviator, and eventually his service in combat against the forces of Napoleon. Along the way we meet an interesting cast of characters---some human and some dragon. All in all an enjoyable read. The author gradually unfolds the world, so half the fun is seeing the details emerge. The plot develops at a leisurely pace, but it never feels slow because of the rich detail of the characters and Novik's alternate reality. That plot as both some obvious and some not-so-obvious twists. The characters were engaging, although the publisher is going completely overboard in comparing Ms. Novik to Jane Austen; she isn't that good...
One esoteric disappointment was the handling of military strategy and tactics. I've often been a bit disappointed by fantasy worlds (both fictional and RPG) that introduce fantastical beasts and powerful wizards and then assume that military conflicts will be fought along the same lines as medieval battles. So I was quite interested to see how the dragons would change (or not) Napoleonic military conflicts. There are certainly differences, some of which are quite believable---communications and scouting change with dragons that can fly 100s of miles in a day. Also because dragons are quite rare, one can believe that many naval and army tactics would be unchanged. On the other hand, the climax of the book (which I won't reveal ;-) centers around an innovative new way to use Dragons in combat. Unfortunately this was completely unbelievable for me, both because it struck me as a physical impossibility and, more importantly, because I couldn't believe that in a world where dragons have existed as long as human civilization, nobody would have thought of it before.
Show Less
LibraryThing member meganDB
Does this book have its flaws? Sure, in the same way a beautiful summer’s day has flaws. Oh no, I’m a little sweaty and it’s making my hair stick to my neck. Oh dear, my hand is sticky because my ice cream is melting on it. If things like these are enough to spoil summer days for you, then
Truly, I can not remember the last time I encountered a book that was so much fun to read. Naval hotshot Laurence finds a dragon egg, and when it hatches the baby dragon, Temeraire, latches onto to him. (Think imprinting ala Twilight, but with a bazillion percent less creepy lameness). Laurence is yanked from the navy and sent to the Dragon corps where he and Temeraire learn to fight crime Napoleon. Enjoying this book was effortless. And yes, sometimes when something requires effort you end up loving it all the more intensely (like my oft mentioned favourite House of Leaves), but sometimes you just want to enjoy something without having to try.
And all this talk of Temeraire being easy to read is not a slight against the book, although I can how you might read it as such. You might be picturing characters who are little more than archetypes, short hand stand in for familiar tropes that we know so well we don’t have to guess at their motivations. Perhaps you think the plot is so obvious one barely needs to read the words to know what will happen next.
Wrong! Our hero Laurence is a complex fellow, and not always one hundred percent likable. He’s not a twenty first century man wandering around the seventeen hundreds like many characters in historical fiction seem to be, he is entirely true to the time period (or how I imagine the time period, as truly I am no expert). He is a stuffy and a stickler for rank, he balks at the idea of women in the workforce and heaven help anyone who doesn’t address him with enough respect. But he’s a good man and a fine leader, strict but fair and all that. And it doesn’t hurt that I suspect he’s rather dashingly handsome.
The plot itself, while nothing groundbreaking is certainly not predictable. While you’re always pretty sure that Laurence and Temeraire will come out ok (because there’s like thirty more books in this series) there are moments of genuine concern for the well being of other characters. Admittedly nothing much seems to happen for a great part of the book, it’s mostly Laurence and Temeraire getting to know each other, kind of like the pilot episode of a sitcom. I suspect Novik knew she would be writing more books in this series, and so saw no need to rush things. In the final quarter however things really go mad, with some nicely foreshadowed plot developments playing out and some pretty crazy dragon v dragon air battles. (Novik really excels as concise, clear and exciting battle descriptions, with is a rare skill that should always be valued).
The only real complaint I can lay against this book is the dragon Temeraire seems just a shade too perfect. He’s the rarest most uniquest most bestest dragon in all the world that can do things no other dragon can, and more! But you know what, I’m gonna let that go to. Reading the exploits of super awesome Temeraire reminds me a lot of the unabashed joy in the scene in the first Harry Potter book where Harry flies for the first time. There can be something really enjoyable in watching a character excel, and with his occasional petulance and revolutionary leanings Temeraire isn’t entirely perfect.
Not entirely perfect is true for the book as a whole really, but you can be damn sure that I await the further adventures of Laurence and Temeraire most eagerly, and I’ll let you know if installment two is as much fun as this one.
Show More
perhaps you’re from some alternate universe where most days are perfect in every single way. Likewise, if the flaws to be found in Temeraire (or Her Majesty’s Dragon if you live in other parts of the world) are enough to ruin the book for you them you must be accustomed to some truly spectacular books, and I envy you.Truly, I can not remember the last time I encountered a book that was so much fun to read. Naval hotshot Laurence finds a dragon egg, and when it hatches the baby dragon, Temeraire, latches onto to him. (Think imprinting ala Twilight, but with a bazillion percent less creepy lameness). Laurence is yanked from the navy and sent to the Dragon corps where he and Temeraire learn to fight crime Napoleon. Enjoying this book was effortless. And yes, sometimes when something requires effort you end up loving it all the more intensely (like my oft mentioned favourite House of Leaves), but sometimes you just want to enjoy something without having to try.
And all this talk of Temeraire being easy to read is not a slight against the book, although I can how you might read it as such. You might be picturing characters who are little more than archetypes, short hand stand in for familiar tropes that we know so well we don’t have to guess at their motivations. Perhaps you think the plot is so obvious one barely needs to read the words to know what will happen next.
Wrong! Our hero Laurence is a complex fellow, and not always one hundred percent likable. He’s not a twenty first century man wandering around the seventeen hundreds like many characters in historical fiction seem to be, he is entirely true to the time period (or how I imagine the time period, as truly I am no expert). He is a stuffy and a stickler for rank, he balks at the idea of women in the workforce and heaven help anyone who doesn’t address him with enough respect. But he’s a good man and a fine leader, strict but fair and all that. And it doesn’t hurt that I suspect he’s rather dashingly handsome.
The plot itself, while nothing groundbreaking is certainly not predictable. While you’re always pretty sure that Laurence and Temeraire will come out ok (because there’s like thirty more books in this series) there are moments of genuine concern for the well being of other characters. Admittedly nothing much seems to happen for a great part of the book, it’s mostly Laurence and Temeraire getting to know each other, kind of like the pilot episode of a sitcom. I suspect Novik knew she would be writing more books in this series, and so saw no need to rush things. In the final quarter however things really go mad, with some nicely foreshadowed plot developments playing out and some pretty crazy dragon v dragon air battles. (Novik really excels as concise, clear and exciting battle descriptions, with is a rare skill that should always be valued).
The only real complaint I can lay against this book is the dragon Temeraire seems just a shade too perfect. He’s the rarest most uniquest most bestest dragon in all the world that can do things no other dragon can, and more! But you know what, I’m gonna let that go to. Reading the exploits of super awesome Temeraire reminds me a lot of the unabashed joy in the scene in the first Harry Potter book where Harry flies for the first time. There can be something really enjoyable in watching a character excel, and with his occasional petulance and revolutionary leanings Temeraire isn’t entirely perfect.
Not entirely perfect is true for the book as a whole really, but you can be damn sure that I await the further adventures of Laurence and Temeraire most eagerly, and I’ll let you know if installment two is as much fun as this one.
Show Less
LibraryThing member rosalita
I'm not sure why I've never picked up on this series before. I am enormously fond of Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series, and I have enjoyed Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series of naval life during the Napoleonic wars. It wouldn't be the most inaccurate description to say that Novik
As His Majesty's Dragon opens, Will Lawrence is the captain of a British warship that has just captured a French ship and is in the process of appropriating the loot. He and his crew are shocked to discover that among the bounty is a dragon egg. Dragons, you see, are key weapons in the world's armies, and Britain is going to need every one it can get to hold off the French emperor, Napoleon. For Captain Lawrence, the find is a mixed blessing, especially when the hatched dragonet, Temeraire, chooses him as its handler, a permanent bond. While he earns a large monetary reward for capturing such valuable cargo, it means Lawrence must leave his beloved navy and learn to how to fight from the back of a dragon in the Air Corps.
Amidst all the tension and drama of war, there are also gently comic episodes, as Temeraire passes through the draconic equivalences of infancy, toddlerhood, and adolescence. The bond between him and his captain is quite sweet, and makes them both very easy to root for. Other dragon/captain pairings are equally charming, as are the supporting characters.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of this book was how Novik so smoothly incorporated dragons into real history. At first, I thought it was going to be "oh my gosh what's this giant egg, holy cow it's a dragon, what are we going to do with that" situation, but instead she cleverly builds a world where dragons have always existed in the wild, and have been "tamed" for many generations. It creates a more seamless integration between fantasy and history, and it was fun to read casual references to past (real) battles and the role played by (imaginary) dragons.
I cannot end this review without tipping my cap to Sarah (@beserene), whose recent reviews of each book in the series to date both introduced me to the series and whetted my appetite for tracking it down at the library. I'll definitely be continuing on to see what happens next to Capt. Lawrence and Temeraire.
Show More
has created the apparent love child of those two series.As His Majesty's Dragon opens, Will Lawrence is the captain of a British warship that has just captured a French ship and is in the process of appropriating the loot. He and his crew are shocked to discover that among the bounty is a dragon egg. Dragons, you see, are key weapons in the world's armies, and Britain is going to need every one it can get to hold off the French emperor, Napoleon. For Captain Lawrence, the find is a mixed blessing, especially when the hatched dragonet, Temeraire, chooses him as its handler, a permanent bond. While he earns a large monetary reward for capturing such valuable cargo, it means Lawrence must leave his beloved navy and learn to how to fight from the back of a dragon in the Air Corps.
Amidst all the tension and drama of war, there are also gently comic episodes, as Temeraire passes through the draconic equivalences of infancy, toddlerhood, and adolescence. The bond between him and his captain is quite sweet, and makes them both very easy to root for. Other dragon/captain pairings are equally charming, as are the supporting characters.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of this book was how Novik so smoothly incorporated dragons into real history. At first, I thought it was going to be "oh my gosh what's this giant egg, holy cow it's a dragon, what are we going to do with that" situation, but instead she cleverly builds a world where dragons have always existed in the wild, and have been "tamed" for many generations. It creates a more seamless integration between fantasy and history, and it was fun to read casual references to past (real) battles and the role played by (imaginary) dragons.
I cannot end this review without tipping my cap to Sarah (@beserene), whose recent reviews of each book in the series to date both introduced me to the series and whetted my appetite for tracking it down at the library. I'll definitely be continuing on to see what happens next to Capt. Lawrence and Temeraire.
Show Less
LibraryThing member beserene
Here are some of the many reasons why I love this novel:
1. If Jane Austen and Patrick O'Brian had a literary baby with Anne McCaffrey as their surrogate, it would look exactly like this book.
2. Novik's story reinvigorates the very idea of dragons, which many of us long-time fantasy readers thought
3. The idea of a dragon airforce makes even a pacifist want to run off and join the service. A DRAGON AIR FORCE. Come on, just try to say that you wouldn't jump at that chance. Just try.
4. The period detail of this piece is so precise, and the idea of dragons is so well-integrated, that the entire book really feels like historical fiction. Which means that it feels quite real. Which then reinforces reason #3, above.
5. The novel's characters are well drawn and engaging to the point that one feels bonded with both human and dragon. I cried when... well, I shan't give that away, but you will probably cry too.
6. The story holds up to rereading. This is my second time through, after reading the series back in 2010, and even with the shiny newness worn off, the book still gleams with fantastic ideas, characters, and settings and pulls one in without the crutch of novelty.
If you need more than half a dozen reasons to read this book, you are just being stubborn. Read it. And dream of dragons.
1. If Jane Austen and Patrick O'Brian had a literary baby with Anne McCaffrey as their surrogate, it would look exactly like this book.
2. Novik's story reinvigorates the very idea of dragons, which many of us long-time fantasy readers thought
Show More
had been done already in all possible ways. 3. The idea of a dragon airforce makes even a pacifist want to run off and join the service. A DRAGON AIR FORCE. Come on, just try to say that you wouldn't jump at that chance. Just try.
4. The period detail of this piece is so precise, and the idea of dragons is so well-integrated, that the entire book really feels like historical fiction. Which means that it feels quite real. Which then reinforces reason #3, above.
5. The novel's characters are well drawn and engaging to the point that one feels bonded with both human and dragon. I cried when... well, I shan't give that away, but you will probably cry too.
6. The story holds up to rereading. This is my second time through, after reading the series back in 2010, and even with the shiny newness worn off, the book still gleams with fantastic ideas, characters, and settings and pulls one in without the crutch of novelty.
If you need more than half a dozen reasons to read this book, you are just being stubborn. Read it. And dream of dragons.
Show Less
LibraryThing member PghDragonMan
For many fantasy readers, Anne McCaffery and her Pern books are the yardstick against which all books draconic are measured. Naomi Novik has given us a meterstick with His Majesty’s Dragon and a series of stories with a broader appeal.
Unlike Anne McCaffery’s Pernese dragons, the ones in this
Ms. Novik presents the reader with a lot of background material in the first portion of the book. This provides a lot of depth to the book, as opposed to the Dragonrider series where it is not until the later books that the history of Pern is explained. I found the transfer of 19th century chivalry and military practices to this new fantasy setting very well done. Reading the story, you can easily get lost in the details and imagine this is how things really were.
I wonder if the author can maintain this series and keep it as fresh as this first book seems. I certainly hope so. Being a blend of several popular genres, Temeraire, and the series built around him, should attract a large group of camp followers. I look forward to seeing how this series progresses.
If you like strict historical fiction, this is not for you. If you are a dragon lover, you’ll enjoy this adventure of Capt. Laurence and Temeraire. If you are a fan of Alternate History, this could be a very interesting read for you. Read with an open mind and enjoy!
Unlike Anne McCaffery’s Pernese dragons, the ones in this
Show More
series are of purely terrestrial origin. Clearly the author has done a lot of research into many cultures for the various breeds of dragons you will meet and Namoi Novik also creates a very nice alternative history by blending the use of Dragons into the Napoleonic campaign as a prototype airforce. This is the hook that will grab adventure story readers and fans of classic battles.Ms. Novik presents the reader with a lot of background material in the first portion of the book. This provides a lot of depth to the book, as opposed to the Dragonrider series where it is not until the later books that the history of Pern is explained. I found the transfer of 19th century chivalry and military practices to this new fantasy setting very well done. Reading the story, you can easily get lost in the details and imagine this is how things really were.
I wonder if the author can maintain this series and keep it as fresh as this first book seems. I certainly hope so. Being a blend of several popular genres, Temeraire, and the series built around him, should attract a large group of camp followers. I look forward to seeing how this series progresses.
If you like strict historical fiction, this is not for you. If you are a dragon lover, you’ll enjoy this adventure of Capt. Laurence and Temeraire. If you are a fan of Alternate History, this could be a very interesting read for you. Read with an open mind and enjoy!
Show Less
LibraryThing member lefty33
The Napoleonic wars suddenly became much more interesting. There are people in the militia, ships in the navy, and dragons in the aerial forces.
Captain Laurence was a officer for England's Navy until circumstances bring him a dragon. As the dragon's captain, he becomes a member of the Aerial
Laurence and Temeraire make a remarkable pair. They are well-matched to make interesting reading, especially with Laurence's tendency towards formality and Temeraire's preference for frankness. Their growing relationship is endearing and makes me want a dragon myself.
The secondary characters are also well-developed and fun to get to know. I love Temeraire's fellow dragons and crews. Their unique personalities were lifelike, making the reader as sympathetic to their plights as to Laurence and Temeraire's.
I have never had much taste for history but that does not hamper my enjoyment of this book. While it is essentially historical fiction, the incorporation of dragons makes any otherwise dull historical aspect far more entertaining than a history book. Though I admit I am not familiar enough with the Napoleonic wars to know how closely facts are incorporated nor how far they are distorted.
The many different breeds of dragons are brilliant. Sizes and abilities vary greatly in each breed. The world Novik has created with this book is wonderful in its attention to detail and readability. Of the many dragons stories I have read, this is one of my favorites.
Captain Laurence was a officer for England's Navy until circumstances bring him a dragon. As the dragon's captain, he becomes a member of the Aerial
Show More
Forces, continuously under threat of French invasion. Laurence and Temeraire make a remarkable pair. They are well-matched to make interesting reading, especially with Laurence's tendency towards formality and Temeraire's preference for frankness. Their growing relationship is endearing and makes me want a dragon myself.
The secondary characters are also well-developed and fun to get to know. I love Temeraire's fellow dragons and crews. Their unique personalities were lifelike, making the reader as sympathetic to their plights as to Laurence and Temeraire's.
I have never had much taste for history but that does not hamper my enjoyment of this book. While it is essentially historical fiction, the incorporation of dragons makes any otherwise dull historical aspect far more entertaining than a history book. Though I admit I am not familiar enough with the Napoleonic wars to know how closely facts are incorporated nor how far they are distorted.
The many different breeds of dragons are brilliant. Sizes and abilities vary greatly in each breed. The world Novik has created with this book is wonderful in its attention to detail and readability. Of the many dragons stories I have read, this is one of my favorites.
Show Less
LibraryThing member xicanti
In her entertaining debut novel, Naomi Novik envisions a world where dragons are a part of the army. She does a brilliant job of blending history and fantasy into something that seems plausible and feels real.
This book, (the first in what will hopefully be a long-running series), introduces readers
There are also some great emotional scenes here. Poor little Levitas really tugged at my heartstrings, and I found Laurence and Temeraire’s relationship very sweet. I could really feel the affection between them. They come across as family more than anything else.
And, though there are few of them, the battles are worth mentioning: they’re tense and exciting, with lots of plausible and inventive aerial maneuvers. I got a big kick out of them.
Overall, this was an excellent book. I enjoyed it so much that I rushed out to buy the sequel as soon as I’d finished it. Naomi Novik has crafted an inventive world with so many possibilities. The book combines the best qualities of fantasy, historical fiction, and military fiction, and I hope the series will continue for years to come.
This book, (the first in what will hopefully be a long-running series), introduces readers
Show More
to the main characters: Captain Will Laurence and “his” dragon, Temeraire. Much of the book focuses on their budding relationship as they train to work as a team within the army’s Aerial Corps. While most of the scenes are quieter in nature, with plot taking a backseat to character development, I didn’t feel that the novel suffered for it. The world of the Corps is so well-developed and fascinating that I didn’t feel the need for anything more action-based. There are tons of great little details thrown in, and many creative and unique choices as to the role the dragons play. I especially loved how they were outfitted much like ships, complete with crews. It made the book feel rather like a naval adventure, only set in the air rather than on the high seas.There are also some great emotional scenes here. Poor little Levitas really tugged at my heartstrings, and I found Laurence and Temeraire’s relationship very sweet. I could really feel the affection between them. They come across as family more than anything else.
And, though there are few of them, the battles are worth mentioning: they’re tense and exciting, with lots of plausible and inventive aerial maneuvers. I got a big kick out of them.
Overall, this was an excellent book. I enjoyed it so much that I rushed out to buy the sequel as soon as I’d finished it. Naomi Novik has crafted an inventive world with so many possibilities. The book combines the best qualities of fantasy, historical fiction, and military fiction, and I hope the series will continue for years to come.
Show Less
LibraryThing member lauranav
I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to the rest of the series. The characters, especially the main dragon and rider, are well written. There is great humor and we see normal day-to-day stuff as well as the big battles expected in a novel about the Napoleonic War fought with dragons. I
I enjoyed the book and never felt that I could tell the story before I read it. Yet as I read more, I was smiling and feeling that of course that is what it would be like if there were dragons. Recommended.
Show More
enjoyed the book just as much for the stuff that was left out. A few comments convey the feelings between the Navy and the aviators. A few observations by the main character (Navy unwillingly turned aviator) give us a very good picture of the differences between life as a sailor and life as an aviator. Relationships don't need to be revealed in long, drawn-out explanations, rather left for us to understand. I enjoyed the book and never felt that I could tell the story before I read it. Yet as I read more, I was smiling and feeling that of course that is what it would be like if there were dragons. Recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member silentq
I got this novel through LibraryThing's secret Santa exchange, and I loved it! It starts with a Navy captain capturing a French ship during the Napoleonic wars, and finding a huge dragon egg in the hold. Temeraire bonds with Captain Laurence and his life changes forever. He has to go for training
Show More
as an aviator in the wilds of Scotland, where his strict naval background and high birth are liabilities. As his dragon grows quickly, rushed into training to help defend England from France's incursions, Laurence has to find his own place in the airman's corps. Temeraire is incredibly intelligent, often explaining concepts from the books that Laurence reads for him, and it was sometimes funny and sometimes poignant seeing how Laurence explains politics, duty and social mores to his young dragon. The characters are richly drawn, and the backdrop of war gives everything an urgency. The sexism of the period was deftly handled. I was sucked right into the story and am eager to track down the next book in the series. I also ended up re-reading it as soon as I got to the end, and this time caught a tiny hint about Temeraire's breed. :) Show Less
LibraryThing member heidialice
Temeraire (a.k.a. His Majesty's Dragon) is the story of a dragon (the titular Temeraire) hatched from an egg won in battle during the Napoleonic Wars, and of his unwitting rider, a navy captain named William Laurence. While at first reluctant in his new role, Laurence quickly becomes attached to
Due to a cataloging error, I read this first installment second, which did nothing at all to diminish the impact of this excellent origin story. Temeraire is a compelling character, somewhere between a child and an unpredictable, willful teenager. This is as good as an adventure story gets: fast-paced, rich on description (without getting bogged down in it) and with its share of heroes and villains. Highly recommended for anyone who likes a ripping adventure story, even if they don't usually go for fantasy elements or alternate histories.
Show More
the intelligent and curious young dragon, and embraces his new role and the unexpected freedom that comes with it.Due to a cataloging error, I read this first installment second, which did nothing at all to diminish the impact of this excellent origin story. Temeraire is a compelling character, somewhere between a child and an unpredictable, willful teenager. This is as good as an adventure story gets: fast-paced, rich on description (without getting bogged down in it) and with its share of heroes and villains. Highly recommended for anyone who likes a ripping adventure story, even if they don't usually go for fantasy elements or alternate histories.
Show Less
LibraryThing member dlrichar
Well-written page-turner. This is really a platonic romance between the dragon Temereire and his handler Laurence. The idea of handlers having children for the sole purpose of providing a future handler for a loved dragon is unique. Couldn't put it down.
LibraryThing member Intemerata
Two of my favourite things - fantasy and Age of Sail - in one book: what could be better? And the two are very effectively integrated together: I love the little details like the explosion of the L'Orient at the Battle of the Nile being attributed to dragon fire instead of the powder magazine.
In
In short: not a brilliant historical novel, but a great fantasy one.
In
Show More
terms of overall tone, it definitely comes across as fantasy more than Age of Sail: the focus is very much on the dragons, which seem more fully realised as characters than most of the humans (especially Temeraire himself). Unlike Patrick O'Brian, it's also very obviously looking back at the period through modern eyes.In short: not a brilliant historical novel, but a great fantasy one.
Show Less
LibraryThing member veevoxvoom
Summary: What would the Napoleonic Wars be like if there were dragons? Captain William Laurence of the Navy captures a French ship only to discover that they have a dragon’s egg aboard. The egg hatches and the dragon Temeraire bonds himself to Laurence, so Laurence forsakes the naval life to
Review: The Time review for this book describes it as Jane Austen playing Dungeons & Dragons against Christopher Paolini, and I have to say that’s about as accurate a description as anyone can get. The tone of the book has an old-fashioned nineteenth century feel to it, which floored me because I am such a sucker for tone. As an English Lit major I’ve read books from this time period and while His Majesty’s Dragon doesn’t sound like them exactly, it rings truer than a lot of historical fiction I’ve read. It actually reminds me of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, another fantasy novel set during the Napoleonic Wars that wrote in the style of the times, and I loved that book too.
His Majesty’s Dragon, in addition to being written well, is also well-researched. I believed not only the details about the naval life but also the details about the wars and the customs and even the food. Laurence acts like a man of his time should — he is scandalized by a woman wearing breeches, for example. Overall Novik has done an excellent job of recreating a particular era in history, and then she adds her own twist by adding dragons.
The dragons are really the winners here. Laurence himself is a likable if not particularly memorable character but the dragons like Temeraire and Levitas really made the book worth reading. The dragons have such fantastic personalities and that means a lot to me because I’m not normally a huge fan of the talking animals genre. I prefer humans to dragons, except in this case because while the humans are decent, the dragons are wonderful.
Some of the battles didn’t interest me, and I much preferred the first half of the book where Laurence and Temeraire begin their training to the latter, but in general His Majesty’s Dragon is quite enjoyable and charming.
Conclusion: A promising start to a series that manages to get me to like talking animals.
Show More
undergo training as a member of Britain’s aerial corps.Review: The Time review for this book describes it as Jane Austen playing Dungeons & Dragons against Christopher Paolini, and I have to say that’s about as accurate a description as anyone can get. The tone of the book has an old-fashioned nineteenth century feel to it, which floored me because I am such a sucker for tone. As an English Lit major I’ve read books from this time period and while His Majesty’s Dragon doesn’t sound like them exactly, it rings truer than a lot of historical fiction I’ve read. It actually reminds me of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, another fantasy novel set during the Napoleonic Wars that wrote in the style of the times, and I loved that book too.
His Majesty’s Dragon, in addition to being written well, is also well-researched. I believed not only the details about the naval life but also the details about the wars and the customs and even the food. Laurence acts like a man of his time should — he is scandalized by a woman wearing breeches, for example. Overall Novik has done an excellent job of recreating a particular era in history, and then she adds her own twist by adding dragons.
The dragons are really the winners here. Laurence himself is a likable if not particularly memorable character but the dragons like Temeraire and Levitas really made the book worth reading. The dragons have such fantastic personalities and that means a lot to me because I’m not normally a huge fan of the talking animals genre. I prefer humans to dragons, except in this case because while the humans are decent, the dragons are wonderful.
Some of the battles didn’t interest me, and I much preferred the first half of the book where Laurence and Temeraire begin their training to the latter, but in general His Majesty’s Dragon is quite enjoyable and charming.
Conclusion: A promising start to a series that manages to get me to like talking animals.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mr.mcox
The premise for this book is immensely creative and I'm surprised that I liked it as little as I did. The setting is the Napoleonic Wars, but instead of just fighting with army and navy, both sides also have an arial corps composed of dragons. Here is where the strength of the book becomes a
Show More
weakness. The relationship that one has with dragons in Novik's world is a mixture of the relationship one would have with a dog and the relationship of a spouse as idealized by a teenager. The lead character confides all of his secrets to his dragon, wants to spend every waking hour with his dragon and trusts him completely. At the same time the dragon is completely faithful, always obedient, eager to a fault and not the brightest crayon in the box. An a result, this book is lacking in drama; what could have been an engrossing cross species conflict, instead is a predictable set of interactions. The plot is propelled by tension with the faceless French whom we only meet in battle scenes. Characters in general lack dimension; good guys are good, scoundrels are scoundrels and England must be saved at all cost. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookworm148
His Majesty’s Dragon is set during the Napoleonic Wars in a universe where each nation has its own aerial fleet–– made up of dragons. Naval Captain Will Laurence retrieves an egg from a skirmish that later hatches and claims Laurence as his handler.
The dragons in this book are very fun to
This was a light, quick read that allows you to become immersed in the world without feeling bogged down by a heavy plot. I loved the characters (except one who you will know if you read it) and had a good time learning more about them as the book unfolded. Novik (as usual) nails the pacing for the plot. It has mini climaxes that keep the story from dragging out and moves the plot forward naturally.
While this is a series, I plan to read these books when I am in between others or don’t know what else to read. I don’t feel like His Majesty’s Dragon ended on a cliff hanger and am glad that I finally found a casual series to read. I would highly suggest this book to anyone looking for a relaxing afternoon read or for anyone who wants a series that they don’t have to binge.
The dragons in this book are very fun to
Show More
read about because they all have different personalities, values, and goals. They speak (some multiple languages) and form strong bonds with their handlers. This was a light, quick read that allows you to become immersed in the world without feeling bogged down by a heavy plot. I loved the characters (except one who you will know if you read it) and had a good time learning more about them as the book unfolded. Novik (as usual) nails the pacing for the plot. It has mini climaxes that keep the story from dragging out and moves the plot forward naturally.
While this is a series, I plan to read these books when I am in between others or don’t know what else to read. I don’t feel like His Majesty’s Dragon ended on a cliff hanger and am glad that I finally found a casual series to read. I would highly suggest this book to anyone looking for a relaxing afternoon read or for anyone who wants a series that they don’t have to binge.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mojacobs
A wonderful ripping yarn: Patrick O'Brian with dragons. Loved it. Excellent entertainment, not too silly, went down very well. Am going to order the next one in the series as soon as possible.
LibraryThing member othersam
Dragon-fans, look no further: Temeraire, by Naomi Novik, is ace.
It is the time of the Napoleonic Wars. Captain Will Laurence has his career path in the Navy mapped out, but his plans are resoundingly scuppered when a captured French frigate turns out to be carrying a dragon egg: the creature
The dragon Temeraire himself is a wonderfully appealing character and the book mixes all sorts of unusual influences into its rich fantasy brew: with notes of C S Forester’s awesome Hornblower series in its nautical action, even some Jane Austen social comedy in there as well as all the top-notch widescreen dragon shenanigans you could possibly want, Temeraire (or His Majesty’s Dragon as it’s known in the US) is charming, thrilling and tremendous fun. Take a leathery wing-tip from me and give it a go: it’s one of the best books I’ve read so far this year.
It is the time of the Napoleonic Wars. Captain Will Laurence has his career path in the Navy mapped out, but his plans are resoundingly scuppered when a captured French frigate turns out to be carrying a dragon egg: the creature
Show More
hatches, chooses Laurence as his rider and companion, and a new life in England’s fledgling dragon-based Royal Aerial Corps awaits!The dragon Temeraire himself is a wonderfully appealing character and the book mixes all sorts of unusual influences into its rich fantasy brew: with notes of C S Forester’s awesome Hornblower series in its nautical action, even some Jane Austen social comedy in there as well as all the top-notch widescreen dragon shenanigans you could possibly want, Temeraire (or His Majesty’s Dragon as it’s known in the US) is charming, thrilling and tremendous fun. Take a leathery wing-tip from me and give it a go: it’s one of the best books I’ve read so far this year.
Show Less
LibraryThing member sfcat
A very well written book with interesting characters and ideas. But what I liked best about the book was how novel the idea was. We've all seen the various fantasy dragon books out there, with loinclothed riders; I loved the setting of the alternate history, and the research she put into it. As a
Show More
reader of historical novels, I really felt she worked hard to create an accurate portrayal. I also really appreciated the captain's view, and his initial resistance to this huge change. Show Less
LibraryThing member weisser4
Interesting premise. I think I liked the story but felt as though it was written for the young adult genre.
LibraryThing member imyril
Delightful alternate history with dragons - Temeraire is a joy from his first appearance on the page, but the real delight here is in the bromance he develops with straight-laced Captain Will Laurence. Although it's relatively slow going, Novik is a fine hand at inciting emotional attachment and
Full review.
Show More
evoking the social intricacies of the times. Don't expect too much warfare (I consider this a plus, but those seeking more action-driven military pseudo-history may be disappointed).Full review.
Show Less
LibraryThing member etimme
This book's premise sounded awful, but was executed in a very masterful way. Novik's treatment of the ship scenes was both detailed and effective, and I enjoyed the way Temeraire's rider went from feeling like his duty was a prison sentence to enjoying his new role in the British empire. The
Show More
internal monologue was heavy handed at times, but the story did not suffer for it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Qshio
Yes, I loved this book, and the irony is that had it not been offered free for the Kindle, I never would have read it. Let me be more blunt, actually. Not only would I not have read it, but I would have scoffed at it. "His Majesty's Dragon"?? Come on. At best I would have read the title aloud in a
Show More
mocking tone and escaped the fantasy/sci-fi section with haste. See the cover art? Just like every other magic-y, Lord-of-the-Rings-y, fantasy book you see piling up in bookstores. What's to differentiate one from another? They all blend together into a haze of something that might as well be labeled "for fans of this genre only."But it was free for the Kindle. So I took a look. I checked up on some reviews, and the Washington Post was very favorable. What the hell, I need metro train reading, let's try the first few pages. Hooked. Schooled. It's smart, it's charming, it's subtle. It respects the reader, the characters are fully realized, complete with quirks that are just visible enough to fool you into thinking these people (and dragons) are real. So smart business model. I'll be buying all the rest in the series forthwith. Stupid-sounding titles or no.Oh, and having read the book, the title's not actually stupid. Hmph. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Hugo Award (Nominee — Novel — 2007)
Locus Award (Finalist — First Novel — 2007)
Green Mountain Book Award (Nominee — 2009)
Language
Original publication date
2006-03-26