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Title: Dragonworld
ISBN: 1596872330
Author:
Byron Preiss
Publicate Date: 2002-06-25
Publish: 2002-06-25
List Price: $18.00
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $34.77
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $2.85
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Overly Derivative of Tolkien with too many characters
Three factions exist inside this fantasy novel: The Fandorans (a cross between Hobbits and Dwarves, a small people with big hearts), The Simbalans (a human people with elvish overtones, dwelling inside living trees and controlling airships run on magic crystals), and The Cold-drakes (the dragons).
The Fandorans and Simialans blame each other for incidents caused by Cold-drakes, and wrongly war against each other. Eventually they realize a third enemy is behind everything, but read the book if you want to know if they unite or continue fighting on multiple fronts.
The political backdrop and cultural make-up are described in detail, but the story itself contained too many characters. The authors chose an omniscient third person narrator for the majority of the novel, leading to scenes with little suspense or emotional connection.
As a reader, you will view events from the perspective of Talend, Tenniel, Johan, Amsel, Jondalrun, Dayon, Tamark, and others (and that's just the Fandoran section). The Simbalans also have fifteen people who have viewpoints written around them. This leaves the book cluttered and diluted.
I found the political backdrop interesting, but the story itself dragged. Too many characters plotting against each other in Simbala, and the Fandorans basically one personality with a small second dimension of personal quirks. Parts of this book made my eyes glaze, and as a reader of fantasy, I recommend Tolkien, Martin, Brooks, Goodkind, Butcher, Farland, Simon Hawke and many others above this work.
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2: I just can't finish it...
I rarely give up on books. When I was reading the Mists of Avalon, I got so angry at one point in the book I quit reading it. A couple months later I picked it back up and finished it, and now it is one of my favorites books. I learned my lesson, always finish the book, you just never know how it will end up. I have tried reading this book, but I just can't finish it. It doesn't keep my attention. While you're reading it you realize that the storyline and plot should make for a very interesting book, but it just doesn't seem to work. I don't feel a connection to any character, they feel very superficial to me. If I ever get around to finishing it, I may come back and update this review, but that day seems to be far away.
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3: A waste of paper
I bypassed this book for years on the shelves.. It'd catch my eye, then I'd lay it back down again after reading the back. Finally I picked it up, figuring with those two authors it couldn't be that bad. I was quite wrong. It was much much worse.
A cliche ridden book of hobbit-types and dragons. It was done much better by Tolkien and others. Don't waste your money.
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4: Childhood Classic
I read this novel when I was in grade school. It stuck with me into adulthood and I decided to give it a reread to see if it was as good as I remembered. I am pleased to say that it holds up well. A generic title aside, this is a wonderful read. It is a tragedy and a misunderstanding that brings two nations to war, set against the backdrop of the twilight of the age of Dragons. This is the perfect book to get a young person into fantasy.
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5: One of the few books I've read 3 times...
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.
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