Dragonmaster
omnibus edition, with:Storm of Wings (2002)
Knighthood of the Dragon (2003)
The Last Battle (2004)
category: fantasy, military, author:Chris Bunch
books 1, 2 and 3 of Dragonmasteroriginal copyright 2002, 2003 and 2004,
read in April 2011
Agamedes' opinion: 8 out of 10
I had to rethink that rating, 8 out of 10. First I typed 7... then 8. It's not really a great book. What it has, though, is enough good distinguishing features to lift it just a bit higher than "well worth reading".And another decision: Is it military fantasy? The three stories follow a young man who joins the army, creates an effective dragon air force and fights a whole lot of battles. The military efforts are central to the books. But the books are more than "just" military.
Possibly, the military aspects are just a bit weak for a true military fantasy...
The cover of this omnibus edition says, "A banquet of blood and thunder". That is very true. Yet there is a whole lot more.
One consistent theme is the stupidity of military leaders. The hero notes the stupidity -- and then follows the stupid orders. Perhaps that is a good sign that these books really are "military" fantasy? I kept expecting the hero to win the war by disobeying stupid orders: but that would be pure fantasy.
In fact, the hero works his way up the ranks by the occasional fully sanctioned clever tactics. Clever tactics which still cost lives.
There is no feeling that the author is glorifying war. Yes, the hero -- with his troops -- wins battles. He also loses battles. The dragon fliers mostly enjoy flying. They also die because their flying is into battles. The fliers have tents, food, shelter back from the battle lines. They see and sympathise with the ground troops living -- and dying -- in the mud and blood of battle.
There is also life outside the war.
Life goes on. Or doesn't, if you're living too close to the war. The public support the war, send young people to die in the war. Some make money supplying war goods and black market goods. When the war drags on, public support fades. The promises of early victory become a desire to just get it over. As long as "we" win and the enemy are entirely crushed. But not so crushed that they are invaded by barbarians who will make even worse neighbours and enemies.
There are a lot of issues -- realistic issues -- with the war. The author raises them but does not present any new solutions. Perhaps there are no solutions.
One interesting aspect of the war -- something which may tip these books firmly into military fantasy: Storm of Wings starts the war. In a typical fantasy, the "good guys" would then lose more and more and have the enemy on their doorstep as we read on to book two, Knighthood of the Dragon. In the Dragonmaster books the war quite quickly goes in favour of the good guys. Then reality sets in and the second book is the hard slog of beating the enemy back within the enemy's own country.
The good guys are winning the war. Book two demonstrates that even winning a war involves a lot of brutality and bloodshed -- on both sides. Then, interestingly, book three shows us that the battles may continue, long after the war appears to be over. People who want a war will simply find a new enemy.
Finally, though, the third book turns to the long-hinted home land of the dragons themselves.
The dragons are combination cavalry and air force. Once the war is over, the dragons are simply an expensive nuisance. The hero -- the Dragonmaster -- wants to help the dragons.
In a total change of pace, the hero sets off to save the dragons in their own country of origin. It's a different style of battle, it's fun, it's a satisfying conclusion. Even if I can't quite believe that the enemies of the dragons have really been -- permanently -- defeated...
I enjoyed all three books. The focus is on war but there is attention to the broader picture, the life which continues around, because of, despite the war.
And, okay, I'll classify these books as both fantasy and military.
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2 comments:
April 2015 and I have re-read the first book in the omnibus. My rating -- has plummeted. But why ?
In hindsight, this could be the first *realist* military fantasy that I have read. There is no glorification of war. There is no hero, just a capable soldier. The army is lead by idiots. Everyone dies.
It's depressing.
I read for enjoyment. I rate for enjoyment. Perhaps -- today, years after my first review -- I need more happiness in my enjoyment.
The entire book -- Storm of Wings -- is a series of major and minor disasters. Of largely pointless attempts to follow orders. Of promotion of the hero because he manages to occasionally succeed -- despite the worst efforts of the leaders of his army.
Today, I rate Storm as 5: readable, but only if there's nothing else.
Having read my original review, I shall ignore Knighthood of the Dragons. I have no desire to be further depressed.
I may, however, re-read the third book, The Last Battle... It sounds as though there could be some actual enjoyment in that one. I hope :-)
Okay, now I've reread The Last Battle... It's still a very negative view of the world. Especially of the effect of people on the world. Worse yet -- I can't disagree.
Still...
Villains were defeated and the future will look after itself. A more enjoyable book than the first. Partly because it did end. Though with obvious room for more.
I could also say, What is it with Bunch ? All the time it's demons as chief villains ! Well, in this and the previous book, anyway.
Mind you, that's part of the enjoyment... It's a very human world. With dragons. And with magic. All just part of a very "ordinary" world. Demons ? Why not.
I may have a different attitude to the depressing world view. I till enjoyed the reread.
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