Dragon and Herdsman: The Fourth Dragonback Adventure [Mass Market Paperback]

Dragon and Herdsman (2006) is the fourth novel in the Dragonback series, following Dragon and Slave. In the previous volume, Jack escapes from the Chookoock family estate with 30 ex-slaves in Arthur Neverlin's shuttle. Although he never gets into the Chookoock computer system, he does discover that the Malison Ring mercenaries had ambushed the Shontine/K'da advance party.

In this novel, Jack breaks into a Malison Ring recruiting office, but is trapped inside. He is rescued from the building by his former associate Alison Kayna. When they reach the spaceport, her ship is invested with Braxton Universis agents, so Jack gives her a ride to Rho Scorvi. She pays for the fuel on the eight day trip.

Alison seems very well informed about spaceships, even discovering the existence of his InterWorld transmitter. Although she is suspicious, Jack keeps secret the existence of Uncle Virge. He also hides the presense of Draycos.

Reaching their destination, Jack discovers that the native Erassvas are symbionts with the Phookas. These creatures have all the physical characteristics of the K'da, but not the intellectual abilities. They can even go two-dimensional on their hosts. Draycos is very disturbed over their good natured, yet animalistic behavior.

Then Malison Ring ships arrive. The Essenay destroys the two Djinn-90 fighters, but vanishes in an explosion. The remaining transport lands and disembarks mercenary soldiers.

Jack takes all the Phookas in the band as well as ten Erassvas for hosts and herds them through the forest. Alison reluctantly tags along. Draycos keeps hidden, but slips out occasionally to scout around and to ambush the mercenaries whenever an opportunity occurs.

This novel reintroduces Alison, the somewhat friendly, and always suspicious, mercenary recruit with too much knowledge of soldiering. Keeping her from noticing the Phookas slipping on and off their hosts is just plain tiring and Jack cannot let her notice the off and on again nature of his "tattoo". Then the "Kodiak" attacks his herd and Alison doesn't have a clear shot.

The slow and unintelligent Phookas raise unsettling questions within Draycos. Are all his racial legends a lie? A silver-gray Phooka with silver eyes starts to follow Jack or himself with a puzzled look. He calls her Taneem, after a childhood friend who has since died in the fighting against the Valahgua. Taneem is very attractive, but DUMB.

Highly recommended for Dragonback fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of derring-do with an alien companion.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Very entertaining story; this book is the fourth in a continuing series. I especially enjoy the interplay between honor, ethics, different cultures, and survival, as well as a great action plot. Please, hurry up and write the next one!

Says Jack in this new "Dragonback" novel. Heh. I plan to steal this for myself and use it as soon as possible.

"Dragon and Herdsman" is the pivotal fourth novel in the "Dragonback" series. In this book, an important truth about the fate of Draycos's people, the K'da, is revealed and so is the true nature of a henceforth mysterious character, Alison Kayna.

This book finds Jack stranded on a planet full of Phooka, which are actually K'da. Their senses have been dulled by living an idyllic life and Draycos is disgusted at first. But he and Jack both soon find that things are more than they seem.

Fans of this series won't want to miss this newest work by Zahn. Things are really getting rolling with this series, which I only just recently started reading. I can't wait to see more!

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