Bone Volume 4: The Dragonslayer

Amazon.com

When Bone first came on the scene, critics raved about it, often mentioning it as being "fun for the whole family." Jeff Smith has always been wary about others labeling his work "for children," partly because he knew that "no topic of human experience--from the introspection of Peanuts or the politics of Doonesbury to the lyricism of Pogo--was beyond the wonderful world of comics." He was also cautious because he knew that the story he was telling was going to deal with issues and themes graver than Saturday morning's cotton-candy cartoons. In Bone: The Dragonslayer, the first volume of the second Bone trilogy, there is conflict, sometimes involving violence. There are forces of evil. There is war. But Bone is neither pap nor pabulum; it is challenging without being obtuse, and yes, even within its fantasy setting, Bone is real. This distinct combination makes it the best kind of children's book. Parents, read this book with your children. You'll find it may turn out to be your favorite book, too.

Book Description

Fone Bone confronts a host of dangers in Book 4 of the BONE saga, The Dragonslayer. He and Gran'ma Ben and Thorn have a terrifying encounter with Kingdok, ruler of the rat creatures. The Hooded One is inciting his army to full-scale war. Someone is continuing to haunt Thorn in her dreams. And then wise Gran'ma Ben disappears. To make matters worse, Phoney Bone has hoodwinked the townspeople into believing that he is a mighty dragonslayer. When he actually does catch the Red Dragon -- much to his surprise -- he must face up to his promise: to slay the dragon at sunrise.

Customer Reviews:

more wonderful reading!.......2007-08-15

I gotta say that once you get into the Bone series, it's hard to stop reading it, and I really enjoyed this volume, which is mostly about the antics and schemes of Phoney Bone as he tries to swindle people out of their money, hurting others along the way as things backfire terribly. Definitely great stuff!

Bone Hits His Stride .......2007-08-13

The Bone series really hits its stride in this volume. Continuing the excellence from previous volumes, the story deepens and builds into a truly great fantasy tale, on par with classics of the prose fantasy world. I'd give this volume more than 5 stars if I could. Highly recommended.

Side note: - While I understand the all ages appeal of the Bone series; I find it odd that these books get shelved (and buried from a wider range of readers) in the young adult sections of the major chain stores. It would be better to shelve them with Graphic Novels or SciFi/Fantasy.

Newcomers will find it easy to jump in........2007-01-06

Jeff Smith's BONE: THE DRAGONSLAYER provides another fine graphic novel in Book 4 of the Bone series. Here the forces of evil are growing - and the roots may be within the Bone family itself. Full-color graphic novel pages entice kids to read the Bone adventures, and even newcomers will find it easy to jump in.

Dragonslayer.......2006-11-04

Action, suspense, mystery, with a winning plot and great characters, this beautifully mastered chapter in the bone series is top notch! I can't wait for the next book in the (assumed nine-part) series to come out!

The Epic Reaches Full Stride.......2006-10-29

The developing relationship between Thorn and Fone Bone hits the rocks as the Valley's political stew finally boils over. The funny adventures of the first two books are things of the past; The Dragonslayer deals with serious issues such as fear, racism, and exploitation. Phoney Bone has once again hoodwinked the gullible humans, becoming their de facto leader. But his bid to steal away with their material wealth gets out of control, and by the volume's potent cliffhanger ending, Phoney will find that he's been playing games with people's lives. Meanwhile, Thorn, Gran'ma, and Fone Bone get separated as the invader in Thorn's dreams pulls her deeper into an exhausted delirium. This book marks a major turning point for her character.

This was likely the most challenging Bone story for Smith to write. The worry-free fun is over, but the story has not yet reached the breakneck pace of the coming volumes, which carry the events of this book to their conclusion. Smith's writing shines here; he manages to keep the political intrigue interesting, even funny, and there's still time for a little action and violence.

Smith has said that this is the best coloring that Hamaker has done in the series, and he's not kidding. A few scenes lit by lamplight are particularly remarkable, yet Hamaker never allows his coloration to interfere with Smith's original art.

If the book suffers at any point, it's in that most of it happens at night, so with the new color, page after page is unrelievedly dark. But it's a dark tale, and Hamaker avoids shadowing anything to the point that it's difficult to see.

Spearwielder's Tale (The woods out back, The draggon's dagger, Dragonslayer's return)

Average customer rating:

A Good Read
Fantastic read for all ages
A great lighter read from Salvatore
Entertaining... waiting for more from Salvatore

Spearwielder's Tale (The woods out back, The draggon's dagger, Dragonslayer's return)
R. A. Salvatore
Manufacturer: Ace Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0441011942
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Book Description

Set in an enchanted world one step from reality, R.A. Salvatore's Spearwielder's trilogy follows the adventures of Gary Leger, who stumbles into a realm of elves and dwarves, witches and dragons-and takes up the magical spear of the land's lost hero.

Now, together for the first time in one collectible volume, these three novels showcase the very best of fantasy and adventure-the very best of R.A. Salvatore.

Featuring:

The Woods Out Back
The Dragon's Dagger
Dragonslayer's Return

Customer Reviews:

A Good Read.......2007-08-16

I thought the beginning was a bit corny and I've read better R.A. Salvatore books. If you are just starting to read the fantasy genre, I would start with R.A. Salvatore's Drizzt Dourden saga and not buy this book until you've fallen in love with his writing. However, if you are a R.A. Salvatore fan or junky I would recommend buying the book. It is still a decent, entertaining read once his characters actually make it to the fantasy land he creates.

Fantastic read for all ages.......2005-08-19

I was first introduced to Salvatore through the Drizzt novels (Dark Elf Trilogy being my first Salvatore books). When I saw this book on the shelf Salvatore's name alone sold me this book.

When I got home and finished reading it, what I found is an unusual tale with an unusual hero. How many fantasy books have you read where the hero doesn't want to be the hero? Where at times the hero bumbles and stumbles and more oftent han not needs to be saved by his friends? I have said it before and I'll say it again, I love heros who have flaws and aren't all powerful.

The Spearwielder's Tale covers the story of three books all encased in one fantastic collection. I won't go into any spoilers here, but this is truly a book for all ages. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

A great lighter read from Salvatore.......2005-01-22

If you've read Salvatore, you probably expect a lot of over-the-top acrobatics in the fight scenes, characters whom are developed through hundreds of pages, and a world that draws you in and never lets go. Spearwielder's Tale has all of these but not to the point of over-doing it so younger readers won't feel overwhelmed by the atmosphere or the depth at the beginning. However, by the end, there may just be another fantasy lover in the world!

If you're expecting a hero as complex as Drizzt, then you're in for a surprise! Gary Ledger, the "Spearwielder," is an unintentional hero who is taken to the land of Faerie from a "gate" outside his home. There, he learns about his role in the world and learns about himself all while "saving the world!" His development is not nearly as deep as Drizzt but then again, he spends most of the books in a land he is unfamiliar with and has little time to develop his past, his full value structure, nor his plans for the future. But, throughout the story, there is enough development for any avid reader to not be asking themselves "why?" certain things are done by the character; a welcome departure from the Drizzt series, I must say.

There is light humor throughout and it isn't distracting in the least as it comes at points in the story when there needs to be a bit of humor. Like Salvatore's Drizzt series, the book is not a laugh a minute by any means but it will keep you in good spirits and repeating the phrase "heeland coos" for a while!

One small note of caution on language: There is a single word that some parents of younger children may not want them reading. It begins with an "S" and is only said twice if memory serves. Other than that, there are a few points that the characters start to curse but are stopped by various means (nothing overly vulgar). If any of these things bother you, you may want to preview the book for your children. But let me say that the context of these are all in a humorous fashion and do not detract in the least from the overall story and any child age 12 and up should have no problems reading this. And almost every "PG" movie has worse language and situations than Spearwielder!

Overall, this is a great read. The Trilogy books each end at a great point but you will always want to keep reading so the "easy pace" you impose on yourself may not be able to be kept! A book per day is the pace I read it at and I could see having read it much faster if I'd had the time. Light? Yes. Worth the read? Very much so!

Entertaining... waiting for more from Salvatore.......2005-01-05

Good read.

This book is not nearly as "deep" as the Dark Elf series (and not meant to be!)but provides an entertaining storyline with good character development. The book covers a wide range of fantasy races... much like other Salvatore releases.

Spearwielder is a lighter read than the Dark Elf books and would hold younger readers' attention as well.

Temple of the Dragonslayer (Dragonlance: The New Adventures, Vol. 1)

Average customer rating:

THIS IS AN AWESOME BOOK!!!!!
This book is GREAT
A Fabulous Fantasy!
Recipe for Fantastic Adventure!
Really enjoyed it!

Temple of the Dragonslayer (Dragonlance: The New Adventures, Vol. 1)
Tim Waggoner
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0786933216
Release Date: 2004-07-01

Book Description

The first title in an all-new Dragonlance series for young readers!

Temple of the Dragonslayer launches a new series of Dragonlance adventures written specifically for readers ages 10 and up. Sized to fit the young reader market, the series features a new band of young companions who band together for friendship and excitement during the golden age of the Dragonlance world. To ensure the appeal of these titles to the proper age group, young readers will be involved in the development of this novel at the manuscript stage. Author Tim Waggoner has written frequently for young readers, and his novels and short stories have been nominated for numerous writing awards.

Customer Reviews:

THIS IS AN AWESOME BOOK!!!!!.......2007-03-01

this is a good book to read when your bored. its easy to get interested in this book, with an awesome plot, awesome characters, and a really interesting series! i've read the whole series and i think this is almost as good as harry potter!

This book is GREAT.......2006-07-08

This book is great.Has a great storyline,great characters, and is fun for kids who enjoy magic, dragons, swords, and fantasy. I loved this book.Also that guy who gave this book 1 star, you didnt even finish the book!

A Fabulous Fantasy!.......2006-05-21

This fabulous fantasy, Temple of the Dragonslayer, by Tim Waggoner, is the first book in an eight part series. The story takes place in the mystical world of Krynn, a world filled with goblins, dragons, ogres, dwarfs, elves and wizards.

The story begins as a young girl, Nearra, wakes up in the forest surrounded by goblins who proceed to chase her deeper into the woods. With no memory of her past, Nearra tears blindly through the forest not knowing why they are chasing her or how she will survive. Alas, the adventure begins!

Along her quest to restore her memory, Nearra is joined by four newfound companions each with their own motivations for making the journey. The friends vow to help Nearra discover her past. But at what cost? The group faces dragons, ogres and goblins on their way to an ancient temple which Nearra hopes will reveal the answers she so desperately seeks. Is all what it seems? Could friends be enemies and enemies be friends?

When it comes to Temple of the Dragonslayer, this book is more than just something to be read, it is something to be experienced. You will need a good block of time to read it though, because once you start, you will not want to put it down! I enjoyed the twists, the turns and the all the action in between. I give this book five stars and think you will too!

Recipe for Fantastic Adventure!.......2005-04-26

Nearra awakens in a forest to discover that she has lost her memories. In moments, she is attacked by goblins and then a green dragon, all intent on hurting her. She manages to escape with the help of others, and assembles a band of curious companions who wish to help her answer several questions, the most important of which is: will she ever get her memories back?

Add these ingredients: a great cast of characters, a sizeable helping of high adventure, an equal sized helping of fun, a smackeral of romance and a pinch of humor in the right places. What you get is this book, a fine example of quest fiction for most ages (10 and up, the back cover says).

Really enjoyed it!.......2004-12-28

My husband and I have both read the original Weis & Hickman Dragonlance books, and so were curious about this new "young adult" series. We borrowed a copy of this first book to read, and were both pleasantly surprised! We definately enjoyed it, and now intend to add the set to our Dragonlance collection.

Average customer rating:

The Dragonslayers
The aventure of the dragonslayer
My Fourth Grade Memories
Dragon slayers
Dragonslayers- AWSOME!

The Dragonslayers
Bruce Coville
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0671798324

Book Description

2 hours, 40 mins.
2 cassettes
Performance by the author and a full cast

To get revenge on King Mildred, Grizelda creates the fiercest dragon the kingdom has ever seen. He is such a terror that he must be killed. Now if only the dragonslayers could stop arguing long enough to face the greatest battle of all!

Customer Reviews:

The Dragonslayers.......2007-05-07

ISBN 0671798324 - I didn't have a lot of hope for this book from the Covilles - in fact, before I read it, I thought Katherine had done a better job with the illustrations than Bruce could have done with the story. I was wrong: both Covilles did a great job!

Grizelda believes that her family was killed and she blames King Mildred. To get her revenge, she creates a dragon more fierce than any dragon before it and sets it lose on the king's town. When news reaches the king, he calls his knights together to get a volunteer to slay the beast. His knights seriously lack in bravery and Elizar, an old squire, ends up being the first volunteer. Joining him is Brian, a young page. While they outfit themselves for their adventure, Princess Wilhelmina has ideas of her own.

Willie's father has offered half the kingdom AND Willie's hand in marriage to the man who slays the dragon, and Willie is not about to let her fate be decided in such a way. Sneaking off in disguise, Willie plans to kill the dragon herself, and win her freedom. The three meet up with creatures of the forest and, eventually, each other. They end up facing the dragon together and everyone, even Grizelda, gets their heart's desire... but how that happens, you'll have to read to discover.

Written for ages 8-12, The Dragonslayers is one of the few kids' books I've read lately that might transcend gender. There's enough action for boys and the character of Willie in the role of heroine ought to appeal to girls. The language is "wrong" for the time period, but absolutely perfect for young readers (lots of "thou"s and "thee"s would only make it hard to read for most kids, so no one will miss them!). The story seems to me to be very tongue-in-cheek, which I think kids will grasp even before adults do. A quick, fun read, as to be expected from any book that begins with the sentence "Do you have the lizard snot?".

The aventure of the dragonslayer.......2007-04-13

Book review: The Dragon Slayer By: Bruce Coville

The Adventure
The Dragon Slayer by Bruce Coville is a adventure book that I would like to recommend to any body that likes reading adventure books. First the witches got the ingredients to make a dragon. Second the king and queen at the castle got news from one of his guards that a dragon had been set lose in the forrest so there daughter Willie said that she would do it for them but they said no. Now Willie is on her way to her room because she was mad at her parents. She is getting ready to escape from the secret passage in her wardrobe. What Willie doesn't know is that the king sent out one of his best guards to keep an eye on her just incase she did escape.

This story takes place in the mid-evil times and people end up fighting a dragon and they have a great adventure. On the way they meat a bear and also a lot of people get hurt. It also takes place in the hot springs that can heal your wounds. It can also bring you back from the dead if you were only dead for an hour or so. It is not the water that heals you it is what the dead do to help.

I would give this book a 7 for how good it was and I would only recommend this book to only kids 10 and younger.

My Fourth Grade Memories.......2006-10-08

I had just entered fourth grade at a new school, and we were going to the school library. I saw this book and kind of thought it looked cool. And it was. I only read afew minutes a day so it took me a week to finish this but it was sure good. I loved the giant spider scene and the battle with the dragon at the end. The reason I didn't give this book five stars is because I recall it being alot less epic then other books I have read at the same level such as: Deltora Forests of Silence or Spiderwick Wrath of Mulgrath. It has been three years since I read that book and I am now working to become an author myself. I will occasionally post small stories on the internet. This is a great book and I hope it will be read for years to come.

Dragon slayers.......2006-06-28

The book I'll tell you about is DragonSlayers. It is a book I really recommend. Eventhough it doesn't have a lot of illustrations. It gives a bunch of detail so that you can make a picture in your head.Introductoin:When Grizelda decides to get revenge on King Mildred,she dosen't go half-way.She makes the fiercest dragon ever seen.Now someone has to kill the thing,but the knights are all to frightened,wich leaves the job to an old squire,young page boy,and the mostwilful princess whoever straps on the sword. The question is Can they stop arguing enough to face the greatest battle of all?

Dragonslayers- AWSOME!.......2006-02-09

Bruce Coville is a masterful author and anyone who likes his stuff will not be disappointed in the least with this one! It is my favorite out of all the ones I've read (and I've read over twenty of his books!). This is a great book for all those who believe.

Overcoming Anger & Other Dragons of the Soul: Shaking Loose from Persistent Sins, With Study Questions for Individuals or Groups (The Dragonslayer)

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Overcoming Anger & Other Dragons of the Soul: Shaking Loose from Persistent Sins, With Study Questions for Individuals or Groups (The Dragonslayer)
Peter Wilkes
Manufacturer: Intervarsity Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Average customer rating:

CINEFEX #6 [DRAGONSLAYER]
Don, Ed Shay
Manufacturer: Cinefex
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OOU3C2

Dragonslayer's Return (Spearwielder's Tale)

Average customer rating:

Oh Dear!
A great conclusion to a great series
The Dragonslayer Returns one last time. . .
Not The Best From Salvatore
Not The Best From Salvatore

Dragonslayer's Return (Spearwielder's Tale)
R. A. Salvatore
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0441002285

Customer Reviews:

Oh Dear!.......2005-07-14

After reading the second book and saying what an improvement on the first, this one slips back into the endless unbelievable fight scenes. (See review on Woods Out Back.)

On the plus side, killing off a goodie character early on, nice touch.

On the down side, he had to go and bring the wife. No, please don't - you resisted in the second book, why? So as in the first book now we have a character newly introduced to the world of swords and sourcery, killing brutal monsters with weapons she's never handled before and adjusting just fine to the new world. Well the husband had prepared her of course. I don't think so!

The other down side - RAS's use of humour to switch the king with a haggis. Just didn't work for me. How would a dumb ravanous beast be a suitable fodder for imitating a king. Wouldn't one of her intelligent pawns (the goblin for example) be much more suitable candidates. Seems to me that the plot was ruined because of an excuse to re-introduce a 'joke' character which was not funny in the first book.

I ended up skipping much of this book just because the fight scenes are so boring and predictable. Generally I found no loss in skipping to the end of the fight and working put from there if anyone had suffered as a result. Of course no-one dies, except the last .. oops!

Les.

A great conclusion to a great series.......2004-11-30

The Dragonslayer's Return starts with Gary looking for a way back to the land of Faerie and the land of Faerie looking at an evil king bent on destroying those who oppose him.

Gary's wife, Diane (he got married after The Dragon's Dagger), makes a splash onto the scene by being a decent fighter and a great puzzle-solver. While she was upset with Gary for ruining their vacation to England, she finally realizes he wasn't just telling tall tales about Faerie. She makes a wonderful companion for Gary as the battle for the safety of Faerie continues to wreak havoc.

Meanwhile, the evil King Kinnemore is trying to rule the land with an iron fist. It's always been known that he was a puppet of Ceridwen the witch, but we finally learn the truth of the relationship. Ceridwen is due to be released from her terms of banishment set by Gary in The Woods Out Back, so her minions of evil are massing to take over the peaceful populace.

While this is the final installment of the series, R. A. Salvatore once again leaves you wanting more. Gary's original companions (Geno, Mickey, Kelsey, Gerbil, and Tommy) don't play as big a role in this book when compared to the first two. Gary and Diane dominate the storyline with their perfect combination of brains and brawn.

Enjoy R. A. Salvatore's Spearwielder's Trilogy and remember this little secret. Gary Leger is Bob Salvatore.

The Dragonslayer Returns one last time. . ........2003-04-30

The final installment in R.A. Salvatore's Spearweilder series, "The Dragonslayer's Return" is, like its predecessors, a good read that sometimes flirts with greatness, but never really lives up to its potential. In fact, as a conclusion to a trilogy, it is somewhat disappointing, although without completely destroying the series.

Obviously Drizzt Do'Urden creator R.A. Salvatore is deeply connected to these books, and feels very strongly about the subject matter. Again we join Gary (named after Salvatore's own brother, presumably) from Real-earth, and his wife Diane (named after Salvatore's own wife), as they embark upon a journey to the realm of Faerie (a shallow version of Middle-earth, essentially) to destroy once and for all the wicked witch who terrorizes the land. What ensues are a lot of heavy-handed war sequences and some smaller battles that are overflowing with Salvatore's zesty action descriptions. Though action is certainly one of Salvatore's strengths, he often gets carried away, and this is particularly true in "The Dragonslayer's Return." The repetitive nature of these action setpieces leads, sooner or later, to boredom, and skimming ahead to read the inevitable outcome.

Most disappointing, though, is the series conclusion, which doesn't pack as much punch as you might wish (and bears an uncanny similarity to a certain sequence in the film, "Conan the Destroyer"). Salvatore seems almost rushed to deliver an ending as well, and deprives his readers of what could be a more emotional farewell between the residents of Real-earth and their Faerie pals. Like a Hollywood film, it seems that once the action is finished, the story races toward a finale, therefore depriving itself of slower, more character-driven moments. This is a great loss to the series - though not a completely crippling one, by any means.

Though Salvatore uses these books to get a bit preachy at times, his messages are generally worthy ones, and his themes mostly adhere to those embraced by his obvious mentor, J.R.R. Tolkien. The characters are vivid and colorful (though, strangely, Real-earth natives Gary and Diane are perhaps the least interesting), and the humor is generally right on the mark. Again, though, Salvatore tries in vain to balance light-hearted fun with the horrors of war and violence, and though the other two volumes in the series suffered similar difficulties, "The Dragonslayer's Return" is the biggest offender. It's a tough balancing act to be sure, and Salvatore, at least during this stage in his career, just wasn't up to the task.

All quibbles aside, "The Dragonslayer's Return" is, like its forebears, a fast read, and though it has its lulls, it's still a good sword `n sorcery novel, sure to retain the fans of the previous tomes. It just gets a bit too self-important sometimes, and never really makes the most of its winning premise. Still, I can't help but recommend it to the world's dreamers, who will almost surely find something to like here.

Not The Best From Salvatore.......2000-08-04

This entire Series is a little juvenile. I read this book and the other tow in the trilogy (The Woods Out Back and The Dragons Dagger) and they were all good. This is an easy read which is part of the reason that I don't think that this is Salvatore's best work. I got the feeling that this might have been one of his earlier attempts before he found his real writing niche. I love all of Salvatore's boooks and am now about 4 books from reading them all. This Particular book and series has great characters. I liked the Leprechan especially. There was a lot of good comedy and there were several fights but these weren't as Dynamic as, say, the Dark Elf books by Salvatore. All in all though this book has a good story, be it predictable at times. I did enjoy this book because the basic premice of the books was good. Somewhat like the Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay who is also a very good writer. This book and this series (Becuase you might as well read the whole series) are worth the time and this would be a good one to read to your kids at night. I hope this helps.

Not The Best From Salvatore.......2000-08-04

Saint George: Knight, Martyr, Patron Saint and Dragonslayer (Pocket Essential)

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Saint George: Knight, Martyr, Patron Saint and Dragonslayer (Pocket Essential)
Giles Morgan
Manufacturer: Pocket Essentials
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Saint George and the Dragon

ASIN: 1904048579

Book Description

A study of the history and mythology of St. George, patron saint of England and among the most famous Christian figures.

Customer Reviews:

Witty, Interesting, fun!.......2003-03-01

This is a 160-page book. When I picked it up I was not expecting a novel, unlike some of the people who have reviewed apparently did. I found this book entertaining and enjoyed filling in the blanks my self and using my imagination; something that some previous people do not apparently enjoy doing. Though this book is not quite as good as Patricia C Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles, it is 160 pages not 255 like the longest in the series, and is definitely at a lower level and is wonderful for that level. I must admit when I ordered this book I did not know it was so small, but found it enjoyable for its purpose and was a delightful easy read. The time period does not need to be stated or identified, and the Characters do develop themselves a little. There is some bloodshed that I remember and someone does get seriously injured and is unable to continue, unlike a previous person said. I found I was disgusted when I read that review and felt like they hadn't even read the book. I also just recently looked at the pages of the book and they have a lot of dialogue so I have no idea what that one person was talking about. The main Character has an attitude but I would not call her conceded! This book was a pleasure to read and I would gladly recommend it and reread it myself. Mostly for ages 8-11

Witty, Interesting, fun!.......2003-03-01

not so bad.......2002-11-05

I agree with the criticisms that the world of DSA is generic and that the characters are also generic. However, I think Calder intended it to be more of a parody than anything else; the names are so generic (the "United Kingdoms") that it makes me think that Calder just wanted to poke a little fun at fantasy. However, if he HAD wanted to do this, he didn't develop it very far...

The plot was pretty straightforward, but it was satisfying (at the very least).

Obnoxious, self-satisfied.......2002-10-24

You can get an idea about the kind of book this is by reading the back cover, especially the passage about "kicking tail." That gives some idea of the quality of this book. With mediocre settings, stereotyped characters, and a ridiculous heroine, this is barely worth the paper it's written on. Only good supporting character manages to save this novella from the trash heap.

The unnamed Dragonslayer has a new apprentice: a cocky girl called merely Jackie, the first female dragonslayer apprentice ever. Together the two of them travel through the land, dealing with dragons and vicious birds, self-proclaimed witches and idiot villagers. But the Dragonslayer has some suspicions about the background of his capable new apprentice.

There's not much plot in "Apprentice," as the characters just amble from one undistinguished town to the next on their little jobs, all of which are done with no blood, injury, death or real effort. A more complex or well-defined plot might have saved the book from the mediocre characterizations or generic medieval world. But the world is a generic one: There's no way to tell where this is,k or whether it's 1000, 1900, or any time period in between. There's a spattering of little kingdoms with little kings, and a lot of idiot villagers straight out of a Monty Python sketch. The dragons seem about as dangerous as garbage trucks.

The book's most glaring flaw is Jackie. She's essentially a rich kid with a big mouth, who ran away to be a dragonslayer because she didn't like the cliched superficial people in the king's court. A comparable situation would be a socialite running away to be a sewage worker, and so Jackie's reasons are ludicrous at best. Jackie's lack of basic manners, civility, and her know-it-all attitude won't endear her to readers in a hurry. The Dragonslayer is the saving grace of the book, smart in a quiet way, with some moments of genuine wit. If only Calder had given the poor guy a name.

The writing style is the worst example of "telling not showing" that I have ever read. Calder frequently informs readers of what the various characters are saying or discussing, but he never bothers to include those little chit-chats in the form of dialogue. The landscapes, villages and people are rarely, if ever, described with any real detail.

"Dragonslayer's Apprentice" is a good read for someone recovering from major surgery, and perhaps taking large doses of painkillers. Anyone else will be too disgusted to finish.

Cute, funny, though no work of art.......2002-07-01

For someone twelve or under, this book would be a dream. No complicated plot to digest, no complex characters to think about, everything completelly laid out for you from the beginning, and no mystery whatsoever. For a well read teenager, however, it was quite tedious. Rather than just developing his main character, and giving me some reason to like and admire her, the author simply assumes I will no matter what, without any backround whatsoever. Rather than creating a vibrant fantasy world and atmosphere for the story to take place in, the author neglects this aspect so completelly that I felt like I was walking around with a blind fold on. Despite all this however, the story was fairly worth it, and little kids will love it.

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