HERE THERE BE DRAGONNES [Paperback]

Here There Be Dragonnes is an omnibus editon of three novels: The Unlikely One, Pigs Don't Fly, and Master of Many Treasures. These three novels are prequels to Dragonne's Eg.

The Unlikely Ones tells of a quest by the girl Thing, the crow Corby, the toad Puddy, the kitten Moglet and the fish Pisky. They meet a hornless unicorn and a cursed knight on the road. All have been hexed by an evil witch and are seeking aid from the Dragon of Black Mountain.

Pigs Don't Fly is the story of Summer, who is orphaned at the age of seventeen. She leaves home with only a few coins, a ring said to be made from an unicorn's horn, and a sledge full of supplies. When she places the ring on her finger, it tingles, but she notices nothing else unusual until her dog starts talking to her. She soon acquires an entourage of a blind knight with amnesia, a winged pig, and other animals. Her journey then starts to become very strange.

Master of Many Treasures is the continuation of Summer's story. She is determined to find her dragon. She forges papers declaring her as an apprentice of Master Spicer sent to Venice to learn the trade. She is pretending to be Master Summer, a boy, for girls aren't allow to become apprentices. Only her dog, Growch, knows who and what she really is, or so she believes.

These tales consists of one independent story and a duology. All three share a common ambiance; all are quest tales, all involve dragons, all concern young heroines who have a certain pragmatic approach to life, and all feature animals of various kinds. The first two also include disabled knights. All have the author's deft touch with characterization.

The heroines of these stories remind me of Kilisha, the young wizard's apprentice, in Watt-Evans' Ithanalin's Restoration. They don't just stand around and worry about the hugeness of the task; these younglings start working on each segment, one after another, until the job is completed.

Some reviewers have criticized one or more of these tales as being either too full of minute details or of being too empty of minute details. Obviously, neither party would be satisfied with the other's recommendations, but the author's more moderate course does not seems to please either party. As for me, I thoroughly enjoyed the author's choices in this matter.

A related criticism has to do with the swiftness of the narrative and thus is related to the previous criticism. The author initally lays a solid foundation for character development and then speeds up the action, but never to a breakneck pace. Once again, I concur with the author. If you don't like her choices, don't read her books. Please don't try to change her, for she can and does produce readable stories. Critics can rarely say the same.

Recommended to Brown fans and anyone else who enjoys spunky heroines who accept responsibilities and thrive on them.

-Arthur W. Jordin

I had stumbled upon Pigs Don't Fly a long time ago, and loved the story. But I always wondered what happened to Summer and her dragon-man. I didn't even know there were more books to the story. Then I looked the author up on Amazon and found The Unlikely Ones, Pigs Don't Fly and Master of Many Treasures all in one big book--it's great! The books all have a strong herione character and many interesting animals. If you love a good fantasy story, with realistic every-day life details (yeah, people actually go to the bathroom, have sex, etc.) and great characters, then you'll love these books. Now I just need to get Dragonnes Eg...I know I won't be satisfied until I have read them all!

I received the book in a very timely manner, it was in very good condition, even better than advertised. Would definitely return again.

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