Gork, the Teenage Dragon
 | |
| Author | Gabe Hudson |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Novel |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
Publication date | 11 July 2017 |
| ISBN | 978-0-375-41396-4 |
Gork, the Teenage Dragon is the debut novel by American writer Gabe Hudson.[1] The novel takes place at WarWings Military Academy for Draconum, an elite high school for young dragons. About this novel, Dave Eggers wrote, “No good human won’t love this dragon named Gork.”
The publisher Alfred A. Knopf states: “A love story, a fantasy, and a coming-of-age story, Gork the Teenage Dragon is a wildly comic, beautifully imagined, and deeply heartfelt debut novel that shows us just how human a dragon can be.”[2]
Plot summary
Gork isn’t like the other dragons at WarWings Military Academy. He has a gigantic heart, two-inch horns, and an occasional problem with fainting. His nickname is Weak Sauce and his Will to Power ranking is Snacklicious—the lowest in his class. But he is determined not to let any of this hold him back as he embarks on the most important mission of his life: tonight, on the eve of his high school graduation, he must ask a female dragon to be his queen. If she says yes, they'll go off to conquer a foreign planet together. If she says no, Gork becomes a slave.
Vying with Jocks, Nerds, Mutants, and Multi-Dimensioners to find his mate, Gork encounters an unforgettable cast of friends and foes, including Dr. Terrible, the mad scientist; Fribby, a robot dragon obsessed with death; and Metheldra, a healer specializing in acupuncture with swords. But finally it is Gork's biggest perceived weakness, his huge heart, that will guide him through his epic quest and help him reach his ultimate destination: planet Earth.[3]
Advance Praise
“Gork, the Teenage Dragon combines so many things I count on in fiction I love—great expansive humor, a big-hearted optimism about all that’s possible in the world and in fiction, a very clear moral purpose and a sense of social responsibility—plus a willingness to experiment with the form of writing, to push the art of writing further, and with passion. Gabe Hudson has crafted a very sensitive and very funny book from the most serious of subjects: interplanetary acceptance for giant lizards.”—Dave Eggers, author of Heroes of the Frontier and The Circle
“An epic love story that is wondrous, enchanting, hilarious, and heartrending. This dragon Gork is a direct descendant of Huck Finn and Holden Caulfield, and his voice is a marvel of comic timing and pathos. Gabe Hudson’s satiric gifts and mind-bending imagination place him in the ranks of Kurt Vonnegut and Mark Twain. Gork, the Teenage Dragon is sure to become an instant classic, destined to be loved by all sorts of readers through the ages.”—Akhil Sharma, author of Family Life
"Gork, the Teenage Dragon is jam-packed with outrageous storytelling and soulful humor in the glorious American tradition of Kurt Vonnegut and Mark Twain. Who knew a dragon’s coming-of-age story could be filled with so much humanity? When I finished reading this book, I wiped a tear from my eye, stood up, got drunk, fell down, stood up again and gave the book a standing ovation. Gabe Hudson may well be the funniest writer working today, and the most likely to break your heart."—Gary Shteyngart, author of Super Sad True Love Story
References
- ↑ DeNardo, John (18 January 2017). "2017 Speculative Fiction Book Lineup Continues to Deliver". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Reviews.
- ↑ "Gork, the Teenage Dragon by Gabe Hudson". Penguin Random House. Knopf. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
- ↑ "Goodreads Book, Gork, the Teenage Dragon". Goodreads. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
External links
- "Fiction Beyond Our Borders | Barbara’s Picks, Jul./Aug. 2017". reviews.libraryjournal.com. Retrieved 2017-03-25.