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Powell's Staff: New Literature in Translation: June 2022 (0 comment)

June is one of my favorite months, especially here in Portland, where the weather can be beautiful and sunny one minute and a gray downpour with threats of thunder the next. It’s important to always be prepared to take advantage of those rainy afternoons, with a good mug of tea and a great book. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the books in translation released this past month....

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His Majestys Dragon Temeraire 01 - Signed Edition

by Naomi Novik

ISBN13: 9780345481283
ISBN10: 0345481283
Condition: Standard

All Product Details

Mass Market

Staff Pick

At first I was tentative to pick up this book, and to delve into this lengthy series. Now, I wish there was more to come. His Majesty's Dragon is historical fiction with a twist: Dragons exist. They're vital to the success of each nation, a valuable asset to be used when Napoleon comes knocking at the door. What captivated me was the style of storytelling, the diverse cast of characters, and the uniqueness of the dragons from region to region. After the first read, His Majesty's Dragonhad me rushing to get the next book in the series in hand. I could not get enough. The Napoleonic era with dragons, you say? Novik has me saying "Yes, please!" Recommended By Samantha C., Powells.com

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

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.

Review

"[A] superbly written, character-driven series....[W]hat keeps one turning the pages is the urge to find out what happens next to Captain Laurence and Temeraire, characters who win one's heart from the beginning. Bravos for a most promising new author!" Booklist (Starred Review)

Review

"What could've easily been a D&D-inspired mess is, in Naomi Novik's hands, a completely authentic tale, brimming with all the detail and richness one looks for in military yarns as well as the impossible wonder of gilded fantasy. (Grade: A)" Entertainment Weekly

Review

"It's an amazing performance, the first of three books to be published one a month through May. I only hope Novik's prodigious energy and imagination hold up. I know of one ghostly literary presence looking down with a hopeful smile." Chicago Tribune

Review

"[A] terrifically entertaining fantasy novel. Is it hard to imagine a cross between Susanna Clarke, of [Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell] fame, and the late Patrick O'Brian? Not if you've read this wonderful, arresting novel." Stephen King

Review

"Enthralling reading it's like Jane Austen playing Dungeons & Dragons with Eragon's Christopher Paolini." Time Magazine

Review

"The action sequences are terrific, the characters enormously appealing, the style accomplished and ironic, and the promise of future volumes quite inviting." Locus

Review

"A splendid series. Not only is it a new way to utilize dragons, it's a very clever one and fits neatly into the historical niche this author has used." Anne McCaffrey, New York Times-bestselling author of the Pern series

Review

"Just when you think you've seen every variation possible on the dragon story, along comes Naomi Novik to prove you wrong. Her wonderful Temeraire is a dragon for the ages and a fitting companion for the brave, steadfast Will Laurence." Terry Brooks, New York Times-bestselling author of the Shannara series

Synopsis

This first adventure of a new fantasy series introduces the remarkable dragon Temeraire and his heroic captain, Will Laurence, who are thrust into the world of the Aerial Corps, offering aerial support to the British during the Napoleonic Wars. Original.

Synopsis

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."

Synopsis

In the first novel of the New York Times bestselling Temeraire series, a rare bond is formed between a young man and a dragon, and together they must battle in the Napoleonic Wars.

"A terrifically entertaining fantasy novel." --Stephen King

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.

"Just when you think you've seen every variation possible on the dragon story, along comes Naomi Novik. . . . Her wonderful Temeraire is a dragon for the ages."--Terry Brooks

About the Author

An avid reader of fantasy literature since age six, when she first made her way through The Lord of the Rings, Naomi Novik is also a history buff with a particular interest in the Napoleonic era and a fondness for the work of Patrick O'Brian and Jane Austen. She studied English literature at Brown University, and did graduate work in computer science at Columbia University before leaving to participate in the design and development of the computer game Neverwinter Nights: Shadow of Undrentide. Over the course of a brief winter sojourn spent working on the game in Edmonton, Canada (accompanied by a truly alarming coat that now lives brooding in the depths of her closet), she realized she preferred writing to programming, and on returning to New York, decided to try her hand at novels.

Naomi lives in New York City with her husband and six computers. Her website and LiveJournal are at www.temeraire.org.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating 4.7 (13 comments)

`	sarah c , January 15, 2017 I should start by saying I love dragon books. I often have to force myself to read non-fiction or even non-magic related fiction. This is one of my favorite reads from the past year. I stayed up til 3am to finish this book and immediately ordered the next in the series. The dragons have a great personality instead of being background characters (or basically animals). It has some historical fiction that really piqued my interest (Napoleonic) and an exciting, well built other world around that history. I highly recommend this book to others that enjoy fiction, historical fiction, and/or fantasy.
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`	Cora , October 02, 2016 (view all comments by Cora) I was enchanted with His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik. What I Liked: The writing is excellent. I love dragons, so I immediately fell in love with Temeraire, an intelligent dragon who speaks to humans. I found the relationship between Captain Laurence and Temeraire endearing. In many ways, this is a quiet book about a man’s journey into a new relationship, a new career, and a new lifestyle. Novik captures the Victorian manners and sensibilities, especially in Captain Laurence. This probably seems a little odd, but Laurence is a rather uptight, upper-class Brit, who adheres to his class’ sense of morality. Once he joins the air corps, he finds himself among people who are far more casual and challenge his sensibilities. I enjoyed his personal growth and change. He changes but retains his essence. Some have described the characters as flat. I didn't find that to be true. Laurence is a product of his time, and his personality reflects his cultural upbringing. The alternate history is exciting and great fun. What I Wasn’t Crazy About: There was a lack of strong, complex female characters. There were female characters but they were more props than fully developed characters. I found this book fun and engaging enough to continue the series. I would caution readers who are looking for high adventure and continuous war with flying dragons; this isn’t that kind of book.
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`	LauraK , September 29, 2016 (view all comments by LauraK) I adored this book. Temeraire is an absolute gem and this is such a unique story. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
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Product Details

ISBN:: 9780345481283
Binding:: Mass Market
Publication date:: 03/28/2006
Publisher:: PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE
Series info:: Temeraire
Pages:: 384
Height:: 1.05IN
Width:: 4.16IN
Thickness:: 1.00
Series:: Temeraire 01
Series Number:: 1
Number of Units:: 1
Series Volume:: 01
UPC Code:: 2800345481285
Author:: Naomi Novik
Author:: Naomi Novik
Subject:: Science Fiction and Fantasy-Fantasy-Historical
Subject:: Napoleonic wars, 1800-1815
Subject:: Dragons
Subject:: Fantasy fiction

Mass Market

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`	Garrett Fitzgerald , March 31, 2010 Since I was into Anne McCaffrey when I was younger, and into Patrick O'Brien more recently, there was no way I was going to pass this one up. :-) Novik puts a fair degree of science behind her dragons, rather than McCaffrey's they-fly-because-they think-they-can attitude. The characters have realistic conflicts with each other, and when they work them out (or don't), I never got a deus-ex-machina feeling about it.
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`	Elizabeth Lipes , January 01, 2010 This debut novel from Naomi Novik was like a breath of fresh air. Many authors have attempted to meld history and fantasy in their books, but few have done so with the fine attention to detail and rigorous commitment to entertainment that sets Novik's book apart. This first installment in the Temeraire series was a delight from start to finish.
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`	emmejo , September 06, 2009 (view all comments by emmejo) When the British ship HMS Reliant captures a French ship they are shocked to find a dragon egg on board. Their shock quickly becomes worry when they realize that the egg will hatch before long and the hatchling will have to be bonded with a human. When the egg hatches it chooses Captain Will Laurence. Laurence never had any intension of leaving the navy, but he must in order to train his new charge, newly named Temeraire, who is quickly turning into more then a handful. A brilliant alternate history story. The Napoleonic Wars with dragons. I love that the dragons are just as intelligent as people and are really wonderful characters. I love that Temeraire is a bookworm and fond of learning all sorts of new things. The plot is interesting, full of great people and dragons. The author writes so clearly that you feel as if you among the dragons and their masters, learning along with them. Highly recommended to fans of fantasy or historical fiction!
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`	Mary Moore , August 02, 2007 (view all comments by Mary Moore) I'm trying to remember the last time I stumbled over such a good, old-fashioned page turner. Engaging characters, crisp dialog, and a wonderful mix of character moments and fast paced action. And without a hint of preaching, there's a fascinating, running subplot about what roles dragons should play in society. Novik's dragon are more human than many other books human characters with wit, charm, and humor.
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`	Bill , March 04, 2007 (view all comments by Bill) Inventive variation of the dragon genre. Temeraire has the gift of speech, a fighting spirit, and a curious mind. Great start of a wonderful series.
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`	squidfan , February 17, 2016 (view all comments by squidfan) I picked this up thinking it would be the usual entertaining fluff and was instead deeply impressed by the compelling characters, the quality of the writing, the consistent and believable period style, and the coupling of accurate historical detail with fantastical imaginings--not just about dragons but about those people who work with dragons and who display a very modern unconventionality. The human protagonist begins the book, and the series, as an extremely likable and honorable man, very much of his time, and through his association with his dragon--and others--end up having the opportunity to become someone who is well ahead of his time. All this against the backdrop of re-imagined Napoleonic Wars and with enough suspense and battle scenes to satisfy even the most bloodthirsty of readers.
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`	Malory , November 07, 2014 (view all comments by Malory) When this was originally pitched to me, someone said it was the Napoleonic Wars with dragons. It's so much more than that. Both Temeraire, the dragon, and his companion are funny, charming characters set within those times. A great start to the series.
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`	akito_fan , January 01, 2013 This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. It is a fresh and engaging take on dragons, and the writing is so well done, it makes you believe these events actually happened!
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`	Brie Gyncild , January 01, 2011 I enjoyed every word of this book, and came out of it jealously wanting a dragon for my own companion. Novik has vividly rewritten history, imagining the Napoleonic wars with dragons in the military. But she's done more than reimagine the wars - through this book and the ones that follow, she creates a rich, full dragon culture and dragon history - and of course, both culture and history vary among geographical regions.
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`	Kirsten , August 17, 2006 (view all comments by Kirsten) Oh, this was just so much fun! I can't remember the last time I got so much pure entertainment from a new, untried author. This is set during the Napoleonic Wars, in an alternate history where humans and dragons have always coexisted. Captain Will Laurence of His Majesty's Navy captures a French ship carrying a dragon egg -- an excellent prize, since Britain is in need of dragons to flesh out its air force. It becomes problematic, however, when the egg hatches and Laurence is the only master the dragon [kw]Temeraire[/kw] will accept, thus removing Laurence from a comfortable career in the Navy and thrusting him into the hard life of an aviator. There are compensations, however, namely the companionship of Temeraire, who is fiercely loyal, extremely intelligent, and exceedingly curious... I picked this up on a Saturday, and a week later had voraciously devoured not only [t]His Majesty's Dragon[/t], but the two other books in the series as well.
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