Dragon Knight
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The Dragon Knight is a series of fantasy novels by Gordon R. Dickson (1976-2001). The first was loosely adapted into the 1982 animated movie The Flight of Dragons by Rankin/Bass.
The books tell the story of Jim Eckert, who is whisked from this world into an alternate world where magic is real and deadly.
In the first book (The Dragon and The George) Jim Eckert finds himself in the body of the dragon Gorbash, and must learn to deal with a dragon's-eye view of the world. He must also deal with both the friends and foes that Gorbash has already made. In this world, dragons universally refer to humans as 'georges,' based upon their past experience with St. George and his dragon, hence the title.
Jim finds himself on a quest to rescue his fiancee, Angie, who had preceded him in transportation to the magical world, but is being held hostage by Dark Powers. On the way, Jim and his Companions must fight a band of 'georges' and a rogue dragon, who have sold their services to said Powers and their creatures, who are ultimately planning an attack upon England (and eventually the entire world). He must also must come to realize that the world to which he has been transported is real, not simply a game, and that what he does may have major effects, for good or ill, on the people whose only lives are in that world, and who are just as real as he is himself. At the end of the first book, Jim (or Sir James, as he has come to be called in the alternate world) regains his human form and must decide whether to remain in the alternate world or return to our world and the life of an underpaid junior academic.
A shorter form of the first book was previously published as the short story, St. Dragon and the George.
The first book takes place in a sort of vague never-never land, with little or no connection to real geography or history. Jim acquires the rank of Baron through false claim, which later entitles him to land, an estate, and power over its denizens. In the subsequent books (all written many years after the first) many places from real geography and people and places from real history appear, albeit in altered, fantastic form. The first few pages of The Dragon Knight immediately unearths to the reader Jim a 'magical account' that he had gained not only through entry into the magical medieval world, but by defeating the Dark Powers (albeit not alone), in the first book. As his account grew stagnant, it automatically released itself in such a manner that inconveniently turns him back into a dragon (due to dragon form being the last use of magic directly associated with him), after which he enlists in an apprenticeship under master Mage Carolinus to learn how to control this newfound power. Additionally, his deeds are such that the local dragons come to accept him as one of their own. Jim finds himself in the conflicting societal roles of Baron in direct fiefdom to the English crown, as an upstanding member of a local community of dragons, and an apprentice in magic as well. These three do tend to conflict at times, resulting in journeys of self-discovery and personal growth of the main character.
Though the tone of the later books (from The Dragon Knight on) is rather different than the first, they maintain a sense of humor, and sold quite well. Experienced readers may see similarity to A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, as Jim occasionally draws upon his knowledge of future sciences to aid his and others' efforts, magically or otherwise.
[edit] Initial Cast of Characters
Companions of Book One:
- Jim Eckert (Baron Sir James Eckert de Bois de Malencontri et Riveroak, a.k.a., the Dragon Knight) - Main character, claims to be a Baron upon first contact with a human of the fantasy world he landed in. Responsible for slaying an ogre in the body of Gorbash. Later obtains the land and titles of Sir Hugh.
- Gorbash - The dragon whose body was initially inhabited by Jim Eckert until he could bring the rest of his 'george' form to this world. Not a companion so much as a host.
- Smrgol - Dragon granduncle to Gorbash, prominent figure in the community of dragons. Slew the renegade dragon Bryagh with the help of an encouraged Secoh. Deceased.
- Secoh - Mere dragon whose physique, as well as that of other mere dragons of the area, had long since been poisoned by the presence of the Dark Powers. Indistinguishable from other dragon species but in slight form. Fought alongside Smrgol to kill the renegade dragon Bryagh.
- Sir Brian Neville-Smyth - Responsible for slaying a giant worm.
- Aragh the English Wolf (changed to Aargh from book two onward) - Both capable of speech and an unrepentantly-abrasive character, in the manner of all wolves. Responsible for holding off a host of sandmirks. Lost one leg in the process, though this feature isn't very remarked upon until later in the series. Nearly the size of a small pony, he is in fact a descendant of the dire wolves. And as it is seemingly with all wolves, possesses the uncanny ability to disappear and move without being seen or heard, even under someone's very nose.
- Silvanus Carolinus - Master Mage, one of the three highest rated (AAA+) magicians in the world. Resisted the intangible magical shroud the Dark Powers were trying to darken the battlefield with.
- Daffyd Ap Hywel - Master Welsh longbowman, likely the greatest in the world. Responsible for repelling a swarm of harpies. After a supposedly unerringly-lethal bite, willed himself to live upon hearing love confessed to him by Danielle, the one he sought after.
- Danielle o' the Wold - Archer, daughter to Giles o' the Wold. With Daffyd during the harpy attack.
- Giles o' the Wold and his merry men - Responsible for skirmishing against the forces of Sir Hugh outside the immediate vicinity of the Loathly Tower, which the Dark Powers were using as a nexus.
Villains of Book One:
- the Dark Powers - A malicious force, bearing a grudge especially against humans and magicians, that unceasingly attempts to tip the balance in either history or chance's favor, thus plunging the world into either mundane boredom or uncontrollable chaos. Their place of power is centered at Loathly Tower and all immediate terrain, within England.
- Sir Hugh de Bois de Malencontri and his men-at-arms - Betrayed England to enlist in the services of the Dark Powers. Later fled England. Though allied with them, he turns out to not be so biddable to Their command, an asset which Secoh shudderingly remarks on of the georges.
- Bryagh - Renegade dragon who betrayed the Cliffside dragon community to serve the Dark Powers.
- sandmirks - Matriarchal creatures that impel terror in their intended victims through sonic attack. These sounds have no effect on wolves (who don't bother concentrating on it while killing them), but seem to influence dragons and georges.
- harpies - Flying creatures resembling those in classic mythology, whose bites contain lethal venom.
- worm - A large, mainly-featureless creature with thick skin and many rows of teeth.
- ogre - A gigantic boulder-headed monstrosity with cunning enough for combat, but restricted arm movement due to thick bone and muscle.
Other Characters:
- Angie - Betrothed to Jim, and 'accidentally' transported to the 'fantasy' world, triggering Jim's quest to retrieve her when Grottwold fails to do so remotely. Later married, occupying the Castle Malencontri, and known to locals as 'Lady Angela.'
- Grottwold - University professor of various qualifications, responsible for accidentally apporting Angie physically into an alternate universe during its medieval period. When Jim attempted to follow her through on a lower power setting (to keep his body in his own universe, he found his conscious self took up residence in the body of a dragon.
- Lady Geronde Isabel de Chaney - chatelaine of Castle Malvern, betrothed to Sir Brian while they both wait for her father (Sir Orrin) to return home for permission to marry.
- Dick Innkeeper - Owner of an inn of moderate importance to book one.
Other Entities:
- the Auditing Department - Intangibly-constructed entity of immense influence and wry humor, responsible for keeping track of the magical accounts of magicians worldwide. Called the Accounting Office in subsequent books. Normally reads as being heard three feet off the ground in a deep, bass voice with a touch of wryness, but can on occasion speak through the elements themselves if the situation warrants threat.
- History - A force of nature that influences events in an orderly fashion.
- Chance - A force of nature that randomly influences events.
[edit] The Dragon Knight
Chronological Listing:
- The Dragon and The George (1976, Nelson Doubleday) British Fantasy Award
- The Dragon Knight (1990, Tor Books)
- The Dragon on the Border (1992, Berkley Pub Group)
- The Dragon at War (1992, Ace Hardcover)
- The Dragon the Earl and the Troll (1994, Ace Books)
- The Dragon and the Djinn (1995, Ace Hardcover)
- The Dragon and the Gnarly King (1997, Tor Books)
- The Dragon in Lyonesse (1998, Tor Books)
- The Dragon and the Fair Maid of Kent (2000, Tor Books)
- The Dragon and the...? (200x, interrupted by author death)
- The series' only short story St. Dragon and the George, first published in F&SF Sep '57, was later expanded into the first novel of the series. It's been reprinted in several collections, among them A Dragon-Lover’s Treasury of the Fantastic, edited by Margaret Weis.
[edit] External links
- Dragon Knight series listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Series listing at SciFan
- Series listing at fantasticfiction.co.uk.
- St. Dragon and the George referral at SFSite.com
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