Thursday, December 10, 2009

Review & Giveaway: The Dragon Book edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozios




Hardcover: 448 pages

Publisher: Ace Hardcover

Released: November 3, 2009

ISBN: 978-0441017645





Recommended for: fantasy readers

My rating: 4/5

My thoughts:
This is a collection of nineteen short stories focused on Dragons, written by many of today's best fantasy writers (Jonathan Stroud, Gregory Maguire, Garth Nix, Diana Gabaldon, Tamora Pierce, Harry Turtledove, Sean Williams, Tad Williams, Naomi Novik, Peter Beagle, Jane Yolen, Adam Stemple, Cecelia Holland, Kage Baker, Samuel Sykes, Diana Wynne Jones, Mary Rosenblum, Tanith Lee, Andy Duncan, and Bruce Coville). The stories range from 10 pages to just over 50.

What I love about short story collections is the diverse views you get to read & the new authors you discover. Along with the typical dragon stereotype, dragons were living as humans, pests and one had them more worm like. Some dragons could talk, some ate people, some helped people. The stories featured some set in the modern day, while others were more like fairy tales or in a real fantasy setting. Of the nineteen stories, there was just two I have to admit skimming as they didn't capture my interest.

This is a wonderful book for people who enjoy fantasy. I wouldn't suggest devoring this book in one sitting as it may be 'dragon overload' but overall was a fun read.

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Thanks to Penguin Canada, I have the opportunity to share this amazing book with TWO lucky winners!

Contest end date: Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

Contest rules:


  • you MUST BE A FOLLOWER to join

  • open to CANADIAN addresses only please (please confirm in your post that you are Cdn or have a Cdn mailing address

  • leave a comment with your email address as I will contact the winner by email. Should you win, you have 24 hrs to respond, otherwise I will pick another winner. (I want to have the winners sent to publisher by Friday the 18th since it's getting so close to Christmas)

  • Additional entries:
    +1 for promoting the contest on your blog (sidebar is fine)
    +1 for tweeting (include me in the tweet @hefollowedme OR pasting your tweet link)
    +1 for commenting on my review (something meaningful)
    +1 for referring a friend (just get them to mention your name & blog)


Good luck everyone!!

9 comments:

  1. I joined as a follower today so I could enter your contest. I live in tiny rural Conestogo, Ontario.

    My fav dragon book is 'The Paperbag Princess' by Robert Munsch.

    heatherdpear at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. OMG
    COOOL
    I would love to be entered.
    I'm an old follower.
    suitejuju(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've got you in my blog roll and I LOVE dragons but don't enter me - I bought the book last month! Well, I don't live in Canada either, I just wanted to say "hi" and thanks for the review.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I live in Canada xD

    I posted the contest on my sidebar here: http://thedmlibrary.blogspot.com

    Great review - I'm really looking forward to reading this book. Such great authors all rolled up in one! I agree though, all at once it could be too many dragons! I'll just savour it..

    alannakurt at gmail dot com

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  5. no such thing as too many dragons ;-) unless you have to feed them! O_O I may be a little biased in my thinking.

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  6. I also love collections like this, I almost always seem to discover a "new to me" author this way. It's also a great way to dip your toe into a new genre that you don't normally read.

    I'm in Cda.

    ctoan72(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Please count me in. I am Canadian and a follower :)

    simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Fantasy is a genre I am attempting to become more familiar with. I find that short story collections are great introductions to other genres. I am actually fascinated by dragons so I think this one may be right up my alley. Great giveaway!

    I am a follower.
    I tweeted (with @hefollowedme)

    Thanks for the chance!
    christinezeg(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. This sounds like a good book, one maybe both my daughter and I could enjoy! Please enter me. Thanks!
    I am a follower. I am Canadian. ( and I actually know where Conestogo is, as I am only about 30 mins away!!)


    lovemykidsandbooks AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete