Black Powder War | |
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Author(s) | Naomi Novik |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Series | Temeraire |
Genre(s) | Alternate history |
Publisher | Del Rey |
Publication date | May 30, 2006 |
Media type | Print (Paperback) |
Pages | 400 pp [1] |
ISBN | ISBN 0-345-48130-5 |
Black Powder War | |
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Author(s) | Naomi Novik |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Series | Temeraire |
Genre(s) | Fiction |
Publisher | Voyager |
Publication date | August 2007 |
Media type | Print (Paperback) |
Pages | 400 pp |
ISBN | 978-0-00-721917-9 |
Preceded by | Throne of Jade |
Followed by | Empire of Ivory |
Black Powder War is the third novel in the Temeraire alternate history/fantasy series by American author Naomi Novik.
The story is set during an alternate history version of the Napoleonic Wars, in which dragons not only exist but are used as a staple of aerial warfare in Asia and Europe. The dragons of the story are portrayed as sentient and intelligent, capable of logical thought and human speech. The series centers primarily on events involving Temeraire (the titular dragon) and his handler, William Laurence.
In Black Powder War, Captain William Laurence and Temeraire - along with the surviving members of their crew - are ordered to make all haste and return from the mission to China to Istanbul. There, they are to pick up a collection of three dragon eggs purchased by the British Government.
Led by a guide named Tharkay, the group survives ambush in the Central Asian deserts, befriends a pack of feral dragons in the mountains of Turkestan, and makes its way to Istanbul. Once there they face betrayal and must risk their lives to bring their precious cargo back to the British Isles. Between Istanbul and Britain, however, lies the Grande Armée of Napoleon who has allied with Lien (the albino Celestial dragon) and is on the march to conquer Prussia. Surrounded by enemies, betrayed by allies, the journey is bound with action and despair, hope and anguish.
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