Susan Hated Literature

Author: Naomi Novik
Book 4 in the Temeraire series.
ISBN: 9780007256747 DDC:
See also: LibraryThing ; Other reviews ; Novik’s LJ

“Send up another, damn you, send them all up, at once if you have to,” Laurence said savagely to poor Calloway, who did not deserve to be sworn at: the gunner was firing off the flares so quickly his hands were scorched black, skin cracking and peeling to bright red where some power had spilled onto his fingers; he was not stopping to wipe them clean before setting each flare to the match.

Dragons and the Napoleonic wars. What could possibly be better? Well, I suppose there really isn’t too much of the Napoleonic wars in this book. Laurence and Temeraire are back from their trip to China, but they had returned to a plague. The dragons of Britain are ill; some are dead and more are dying. So off they head to maybe track down a cure. And of course they get embroiled in plenty of adventures along the way.

Continue Reading »

Book 3 in the Temeraire
Author: Naomi Novik
ISBN: 0345481305
DDC: 813.6
See also: LibraryThing ; Wikipedia entry ; aarti chapati

The hot wind blowing into Macao was sluggish and unrefreshing, only stirring up the rotting salt smell of the harbor, the fish-corpses and great knots of black-red seaweed, the effluvia of human and dragon wastes.

I can’t say very much about the plot of this book without giving away plot details from Book 2. I enjoyed this more than the second, maybe because I read it straight after and so was more in the mindset of the books, or maybe because I liked the story better, or maybe simply because it is a better book. Whatever the reason, if you liked the previous two books in this series you’ll want to read on.

We get yet more adventures from Temerarie and William, but we also get to see more of the world that Novik has created. Plus feral dragons and Temeraire’s desire to get home and help free British dragons from their almost-slavery.

I think my favourite character of this book is the new dragon Iskierka, although she isn’t a major character Show Spoilers ▼

she is pretty forceful. If the series continues in this manner, light adventure, then I’ll continue to read along.

Book 2 in the Temeraire series
Author: Naomi Novik
ISBN: 0345481291
DDC: 813.6
See also: LibraryThing ; Naomi Novik’s LJ ; Sandstorm Reviews

The day was unseasonably warm for November, but in some misguided deference to the Chinese embassy, the fire in the Admiralty boardroom has been heaped excessively high, and Laurence was standing directly before it.

In the first book of this series Novik introduced the slightly alternate Napoleonic world she had created; one with dragons used as instruments of war. In this book the action moves to China. Temeraire is a Chinese dragon, not only that, but a Celestial, the breed of dragon reserved for the Imperial family, and the Chinese are not too happy that William Laurence is his captain. And from a diplomatic point of view the English government want to keep China happy, even that means sending Temeraire off to China. And because a dragon won’t easily be parted from his captain, that means that Laurence must go too.

I didn’t really enjoy this book as much as the first one, they spent far too long at sea on the transport, and although some of it was entertaining, I felt that it wasn’t as engaging as the first book. Nevertheless it is still very enjoyable and well worth the read.

Novik does a good job in expanding her ‘verse, the Chinese have a very different outlook on dragons, and this begins to impact on the relationship between Laurence and Temeraire, with Laurence wondering if perhaps the dragon would be better off staying in China.

I may not have liked it as much as the first, but I’d still recommend it.

Author: Georgette Heyer
ISBN: 0099465760
DDC: 823.912
See also: Library Thing

The youthful gentleman in the scarlet coat with blue facings and gold lace, who was seated in the window of Lady Worth’s drawing-room, idly looking down into the street, ceased for a moment to pay any attention to the conversation that was in progress.

Bab Childe, renowned beauty, is in Brussels along with many a fashionable person. Britain had been isolated by Napoleon’s earlier campaigns so many took the chance to travel and revisit Europe when he was defeated. But now he is on the move again, prompting the arrival of the red coated officers, along with the rest of Wellington’s “infamous army”.

Bab is the great-granddaughter of Julian Alastair from Heyer’s earlier books. But her is not the only family to make a return, as the Worths also turn up.

As is usual in Heyer books there is a central romance to this novel, but it isn’t your average regency romance, as there is a much darker tone to this book. War and death will do that.

Overall I did enjoy this book, but it didn’t seem to quite fit together, almost as though Heyer wanted to write a serious book about war and Waterloo, Wellington and Napoleon, but at the same time wanted to fit in her romance. Or possibly didn’t want to alienate her publishers/readers. Whatever the reason, this ends up uneven in story and atmosphere. Moving from a light-hearted romance into descriptions of wounded and dying soldiers. Sections work really well. But as a whole the novel doesn’t.

Still entertaining, and interesting, especially if you have any interest in this time-period, because Heyer has a real ability to create a world-view and make it seem realistic, but not as readable as some of her other works.

Author: Naomi Novik
ISBN: 0007219113
DDC: 813.6
Book #1 of the Temeraire series, aka His Majesty’s Dragon.
See also: Naomi Novik’s site; Library Thing

The deck of the French ship was slippery with blood, heaving in the choppy sea; a stroke might as easily bring down the man making it as the intended target.

William Laurence is Captain of the Reliant, an English ship, fighting the French forces of Napoleon. A few weeks out of the post of Madeira he captures a French frigate, but within the hold lies a far greater prize than the vessel herself, for there is a dragon egg. But before he can celebrate his good luck Laurence learns that the egg is near hatching. And the prize money for a feral dragon will be much reduced from that of an egg. It would also be a loss to the British war effort as they are in sore need of every dragon they can fly, so Captain Laurence decides that one of his officers must attempt to harness the beast. However, the officer chosen by lottery does not succeed, and instead Laurence himself finds the dragon talking to him. This could mean the end of life as he knows it, for all know the aviators, those who fly the dragons are not well thought of. They live apart from the rest of society, and their habits are not those of gentlemen, nor indeed to they have the time to spend with family and friends, for they are constantly needed to control their dragons. But despite this fact, he knows his duty and so accepts his new life as the dragon Temeraire captain.

Continue Reading »

Author: Patrick O’Brien

I’ve read a few of these books since seeing Master and Commander: The far side of the world film which was roughly based on two of O’Brian’s books. As with the others this was avery enjoyable read, even if I do tend to skim some of
the more technical ship-related jargon.

I’d actually say that this is my favourite so far, there is a lot of character building, and that is what I like in a book.
On this occasion we journey from the New World to England, and then via
other places, to France. As the title suggests the books focuses more
on Stephen Maturin, but Aubrey is never far away either.

If you’ve enjoyed other Aubrey/Maturin books you’ll like this too

Author: Susanna Clarke
ISBN: 0747570558 DDC: 823.923

A fantastic story about the two magicians who returned magic to England, set in the Napoleonic era, this book is written in a wonderfully dry, humourous fashion. Mr. Norrell arrives on the scene first, he is withdrawn, selfish and more than a little unpleasant. Above all, he desires to bring about the return of magic, yet among his first acts in the book is to put a stop to the theoretical magician’s society of York.

Continue Reading »