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patgundIt's interesting when one finds at the same time, two books by two different authors, with very simular ideas.
And it's also interesting when they're both pretty good.
The theme seems to be "Wooden Ships and Iron Men......and a few extras to boot"
The first one is "Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe" by James M. Ward. Midshipwizard Bithe is a fresh-from the academy young officer reporting to his first posting on on of His Majesties Dragonships, a ship of the line built onto the back of a giant sea dragon. He's not only the latest of a long line of Navy wizards, but the seventh son of a seventh son. Forced to deal with learning to be an officer, commanding a gun crew, and drilling his own powers, Bithe strives to do the best and most honourable thing, even when the risk is violating His Majestie's war orders and risking Court Marshall and death. The series has been described as "Horatio Horblower meets Harry Potter", which is not a bad or surprising description
"Midshipwizard Halcyon Bilthe" is the first in the seires, the second, "Dragonfrigate Wizard Halcyon Blithe" is out in hardback. It's more in the young adults genre, at least in feel, but some of the best fantasy of late is in that genre.
The second book is "His Majesty's Dragon" by Naomi Novik. In a version of the Napolenic Wars, Captain Will Laurence, commanding HMS Reliant, captures a French Ship in combat. While readying a prize crew to send the ship home to England, they find that rarity of rarities, a Dragon's egg. While they try and get the egg back to England before it cracks, Captain Laurence and his officers draw lots in case the egg hatches, as harnessing and naming a newly hatched dragon would mean the officer would be forced to leave the Royal Navy and serve in the Royal Aerial Corps, a group seen by other military officers as lacking the dignity and honor of their services, and shunned by the civilian population to boot. The egg hatches, and Capt. Laurence is the one the young dragon imprints on, forcing him to give up his ship and his beloved Royal Navy and go learn how to fly, fight, and crew as Captain of a dragon named Temeraire, (with it's own officers, riflemen, and crew)
I found this a very easy book to fall into, and had to make sure I only read it in small doses to better enjoy it. The second and third books, "Throne of Jade" and "Black Powder War" are both out in paperback.
And it's also interesting when they're both pretty good.
The theme seems to be "Wooden Ships and Iron Men......and a few extras to boot"
The first one is "Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe" by James M. Ward. Midshipwizard Bithe is a fresh-from the academy young officer reporting to his first posting on on of His Majesties Dragonships, a ship of the line built onto the back of a giant sea dragon. He's not only the latest of a long line of Navy wizards, but the seventh son of a seventh son. Forced to deal with learning to be an officer, commanding a gun crew, and drilling his own powers, Bithe strives to do the best and most honourable thing, even when the risk is violating His Majestie's war orders and risking Court Marshall and death. The series has been described as "Horatio Horblower meets Harry Potter", which is not a bad or surprising description
"Midshipwizard Halcyon Bilthe" is the first in the seires, the second, "Dragonfrigate Wizard Halcyon Blithe" is out in hardback. It's more in the young adults genre, at least in feel, but some of the best fantasy of late is in that genre.
The second book is "His Majesty's Dragon" by Naomi Novik. In a version of the Napolenic Wars, Captain Will Laurence, commanding HMS Reliant, captures a French Ship in combat. While readying a prize crew to send the ship home to England, they find that rarity of rarities, a Dragon's egg. While they try and get the egg back to England before it cracks, Captain Laurence and his officers draw lots in case the egg hatches, as harnessing and naming a newly hatched dragon would mean the officer would be forced to leave the Royal Navy and serve in the Royal Aerial Corps, a group seen by other military officers as lacking the dignity and honor of their services, and shunned by the civilian population to boot. The egg hatches, and Capt. Laurence is the one the young dragon imprints on, forcing him to give up his ship and his beloved Royal Navy and go learn how to fly, fight, and crew as Captain of a dragon named Temeraire, (with it's own officers, riflemen, and crew)
I found this a very easy book to fall into, and had to make sure I only read it in small doses to better enjoy it. The second and third books, "Throne of Jade" and "Black Powder War" are both out in paperback.
