The Dragons of Babel

by Michael Swanwick

Paperback, 2009

Status

Available

Call number

PS3569.W28 D73

Series

World of the Iron Dragon (2)

Genres

Fantasy

All Topics

Fiction

Publication

Tor Fantasy (2009), Edition: Reprint, 368 pages

Description

Enslaved by a war-dragon of Babel, young Will evacuates to the Tower of Babel where he meets the confidence trickster,Nat Whilk, and becomes a hero to the homeless living in the tunnels under the city. As he rises from an underling to a politician, Will falls in love with a high-elven woman he dare not aspire to.--From publisher description.

User reviews

LibraryThing member kd9

When a writer strings together a series of short stories of varying tones and viewpoints, the resulting novel can only be called a picaresque adventure. I do like Michael Swanwick's writing, which is why I have already read 75% of this novel as short stories. Because of this portmanteau quality I

found most of the novel boring. It is set in a compelling world of elves, dwarves, trolls, and other less familiar non-humans with a mix of magic and technology which is fascinating, but the main story arc is one of the Lost Boy Who Really Is a King and Who Walks Away. I was even more disappointed in Hyperion by Dan Simmons for much the same reason. I don't fault a writer for getting the most mileage out of his stories by publishing them twice, but don't expect me to ignore the glue between the chapters and to be other than underwhelmed by the familiarity of the narrative.

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LibraryThing member selfnoise

Really, really fun (and a great tonic for those who enjoyed The Iron Dragon's Daughter) but it doesn't have the mind-bending greatness of the previous book. Still, thank god he wrote it.

LibraryThing member chaws

This novel is set in the same darkly-drawn baroque world as Swanwick's The Iron Dragon's Daughter. It is a compelling read, but the character development is not as strongly written as in most of Swanwick's other novel-length work.

LibraryThing member TheDivineOomba

This book is set in the same universe as the "Iron Dragon's Daughter". The story is about Will LeFey and his journey from a peasant child in a small village to an adult in a large city. The writing is fantastic, the story is captivating, and the twist came as a surprise. But, I only liked the book

when I should have loved it. Maybe it was that I couldn't connect with the main character, or how everything that happened to Will was so random - or maybe little Esme was just so cute as to be annoying. Parts of me wanted to give up within the first chapters, but the world was so well written and captivating it drew me in and I couldn't stop.

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LibraryThing member cgodsil

I had trouble getting into this, but it dragged me in eventually. Nice complex plot.
Perhaps it is just that Swanwick's writing is deeper than a quick reading suggests.

LibraryThing member mrooks

An interesting book with parts that are magnificently written, and others that, although strange, provide detailed, wonderful glimpses of a strange world. Unfortunately, the story lacks a cohesive narrative, and would be better appreciated by reading each section as its own short story.

LibraryThing member CKmtl

A thoroughly enjoyable journey through an unconventional fey realm. Swanwick's writing is crisp, and his skill at worldbuilding makes me look forward to reading more of his work.

LibraryThing member swampygirl

I finally finished listening to this book last night; it is amazing!
The world that Swanwick has created is gritty urban fairytale perfect. His writing style was what first really jumped out at me, and I really found this story very inspiring.

--

Just reread this book again, and it's still as much fun

as ever.

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LibraryThing member wealhtheowwylfing

Set in the same world as [book: The Iron Dragon's Daughter]. Will is a happy-go-lucky fairie peasant boy--until a draconic cyborg machine of death crash lands in his village. The dragon chooses Will to be his mouthpiece and spy, which makes him grow up very fast and very dark. Eventually, Will

escapes to the city, where he adventures first as a vigilante in the sewers and then as a conman in high society.

Unfortunately, this book doesn't hold together quite as well as The Iron Dragon's Daughter. It began as short stories, and the link between each set of adventures is a bit thin. Will himself doesn't really have a set personality. That said, however, Swanwick is not equalled in feypunk. There is no one else with his verve or craft. Even when he's a little off his game, he's still the best in town.

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LibraryThing member bookbrig

Well, I tried to read it. I just didn't connect with the writing style at all in the first 60 pages, so I'm not going to finish because I have approximately eleventybillion and twelve other books on my to read list. Give or take. Still, I will rec it for teens who are into steampunky sorts of

things.

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LibraryThing member kslade

Pretty good fantasy novel except for come crude language and adult situations. Sort of a cross between Terry Pratchett and maybe Brandon Sanderson? Mostly a fun read.

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