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![]() | Temeraire (2006) (His Majesty's Dragon) (The first book in the Temeraire series) A novel by Naomi Novik |
| "A splendid novel. The plot was excellent, extraordinary in that the reader has no idea where it's leading. Let's hope this is the first of many from Naomi Novik." Anne McCaffrey |
| "Temeraire is a terrifically entertaining fantasy novel. Is it hard to imagine a cross between Susanna Clarke, of Norrell and Strange fame, and the late Patrick O'Brian? Not if you've read this wonderful, arresting novel." Stephen King |
As Napoleon's tenacious infantry rampages across Europe and his armada lies in wait for Nelson's smaller fleet, the war does not rage on land and water alone. Squadrons of aviators swarm the skies - a deadly shield for the cumbersome canon-firing vessels. Raining fire and acid upon their enemies, they engage in a swift, violent combat with flying tooth and claw... for these aviators ride dragons.
Captain Laurence is a satisfied man with a respectable commission aboard the ship Reliant. His career is born from a love for the sea and he takes his duty very seriously
Months before the battle of Trafalgar, on patrol in the Atlantic, The Reliant takes a small French frigate, storm-damaged and possessing a fierce crew unwilling to surrender as easily as they should. On board Laurence finds a dragon egg - a great prize as England is in sore need.
Having spent months on a slow journey from Asia, the egg hatches. A sinewy new-born emerges from the fragmented shell, ignores his harness-bearer, approaches Laurence and changes his life.
Hatchling dragons must be put in a harness immediately otherwise the dragon-young become hard to control - fit only for the breeding colonies. The person chosen to first harness the beast must be an aviator, for the dragon will accept no other captain. The life of an aviator is not a desirable one; reviled by fashionable society, they live hard, lonely lives bound to duty and they frequently die young. Laurence must now join them; duty demands it, though his heart is broken.
But, more astonishing than the dragonet - named Temeraire by Laurence - are the documents found with him, documents addressed to Napoleon from the greatest, most skilled dragon-breeders in the world - the Chinese.
The dragon Temeraire was meant for the Emperor Napoleon himself and promises to grow into no ordinary creature.
Genre: Fantasy
Captain Laurence is a satisfied man with a respectable commission aboard the ship Reliant. His career is born from a love for the sea and he takes his duty very seriously
Months before the battle of Trafalgar, on patrol in the Atlantic, The Reliant takes a small French frigate, storm-damaged and possessing a fierce crew unwilling to surrender as easily as they should. On board Laurence finds a dragon egg - a great prize as England is in sore need.
Having spent months on a slow journey from Asia, the egg hatches. A sinewy new-born emerges from the fragmented shell, ignores his harness-bearer, approaches Laurence and changes his life.
Hatchling dragons must be put in a harness immediately otherwise the dragon-young become hard to control - fit only for the breeding colonies. The person chosen to first harness the beast must be an aviator, for the dragon will accept no other captain. The life of an aviator is not a desirable one; reviled by fashionable society, they live hard, lonely lives bound to duty and they frequently die young. Laurence must now join them; duty demands it, though his heart is broken.
But, more astonishing than the dragonet - named Temeraire by Laurence - are the documents found with him, documents addressed to Napoleon from the greatest, most skilled dragon-breeders in the world - the Chinese.
The dragon Temeraire was meant for the Emperor Napoleon himself and promises to grow into no ordinary creature.
Genre: Fantasy
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Used availability for Naomi Novik's Temeraire
See all available used copies of this book at: Abebooks UK or Abebooks US
Hardback Editions
April 2008 : Hardback
| Title: His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire) Author(s): Naomi Novik ISBN: 1-59606-148-0 / 9781596061484 (USA edition) Publisher: Subterranean Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
April 2008 : Library Binding
| Title: His Majesty's Dragon Author(s): Naomi Novik ISBN: 1-4352-5789-8 / 978-1-4352-5789-4 Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
March 2007 : Hardback
| Title: His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, Book 1, Signed Limited edition) Author(s): Naomi Novik ISBN: 1-59606-146-4 / 9781596061460 (USA edition) Publisher: Subterranean Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2006 : Hardback
| Title: Temeraire (Signed!) Author(s): Naomi Novik Publisher: Harper Collins Availability: Amazon More details... |
January 2006 : Hardback
| Title: Temeraire (Temeraire 1) Author(s): Naomi Novik ISBN: 0-00-721909-1 / 978-0-00-721909-4 (UK edition) Publisher: Voyager Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
January 2005 : Hardback
| Title: Temeraire Author(s): Naomi Novik Publisher: Book Club/ BCA Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
Paperback Editions
June 2011 : Paperback
| Title: Temeraire Author(s): Naomi Novik ISBN: 0-00-745142-3 / 978-0-00-745142-5 (UK edition) Publisher: Harper Voyager Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
February 2008 : Paperback
| Title: Empire of Ivory: Bk. 4 Author(s): Naomi Novik ISBN: 0-00-725873-9 / 978-0-00-725873-4 (UK edition) Publisher: Harper Voyager Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
August 2007 : Mass Market Paperback
| Title: Temeraire Vol 1-3 Box Set With Bonus Poster Author(s): Naomi Novik ISBN: 0-345-48924-1 / 978-0-345-48924-1 (USA edition) Publisher: Del Rey Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
August 2007 : Paperback
| Title: Temeraire (Temeraire 1) [a.k.a. His Majesty's Dragon] Author(s): Naomi Novik ISBN: 0-00-725871-2 / 978-0-00-725871-0 (UK edition) Publisher: Harper Voyager Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
August 2006 : Paperback
| Title: Temeraire (Temeraire series book 1) Author(s): Naomi Novik ISBN: 0-00-721911-3 / 978-0-00-721911-7 (UK edition) Publisher: Voyager Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
March 2006 : Mass Market Paperback
| Title: His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, Book 1) Author(s): Naomi Novik ISBN: 0-345-48128-3 / 978-0-345-48128-3 (USA edition) Publisher: Del Rey Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2006 : Paperback
| Title: Temeraire Author(s): Naomi Novik ISBN: 0-00-721910-5 / 978-0-00-721910-0 (UK edition) Publisher: Voyager Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
2006 : Paperback
| Title: His Majesty's Dragon Author(s): Naomi Novik Publisher: Del Rey Availability: Amazon More details... |
2005 : Mass Market Paperback
| Title: His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, Book 1) Publisher: Del Rey Author(s): Naomi Novik Availability: Amazon More details... |
1980 : Paperback
| Title: Temeraire Author(s): Naomi Novik Publisher: NY Availability: Amazon More details... |
Audio Editions
June 2007 : Audio CD
| Title: His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire) Author(s): Naomi Novik ISBN: 0-7393-5413-2 / 978-0-7393-5413-1 (USA edition) Publisher: Random House Audio Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
Other Editions
February 2009 : Kindle edition
| Title: Temeraire (Temeraire 1) Author(s): Naomi Novik Publisher: Harper Voyager Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
March 2006 : Kindle edition
| Title: His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire) Author(s): Naomi Novik Publisher: Del Rey Availability: Amazon More details... |
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