I sent the comment below to Naomi Novik, but she screened my comment as it contained a spoiler. But it's nice to find someone else who may have read the book to discuss with. (If you haven't read the book, please go no further.)
S p o i l e r This is actually a spoiler even beyond the preview chapter because I bought an ARC off the internet and have devoured it with joy. (Not even feeling guilty, because I let my preorder stand.)
On first read, the use of the use of Temeraire's point of view surprised me. I believe that (excepting the short story about getting at livestock that is available here) all of the Temeraire books have been from Will Laurence's viewpoint throughout. It is quite a distinctive voice, and adds a lot to the books, and I missed it (until it showed up again). But Temeraire's voice has its own charms, especially as it highlights the draconian delight in property and "treasure", and the relative priorities placed on the various changes in Will's life.
Now for the SPOILER part:
The numbers of dragons in the breeding grounds are given as a couple of hundred; but later in the book there are fairly consistent references to 60 dragons, leaving (it seems to me) well over one hundred unaccounted for. Apparently smaller ferals can slip in and out, but one hundred small ferals is still a lot of dragons... and it isn't clear to me if the sixty is meant to include Arkady and his set. Also, I would expect more than just one dragon to be fairly innactive because of age and declining health. So I would expect to find some of them would not or could not support Temeraire, but that doesn't seem to be the case, at least not when SPOILER Will arrives at the grounds SPOILER.
Also, there is reference to a surgeon; does the breeding ground have staff beyond the groundskeepers and herdsmen, such as clerks? There must be reports sent and received, directions for particular cross-breedings; and so on.
I only ask about all of this because everything else is so well thought out, so detailed, that I feel as if I have fallen into that world; that I could look out the window and see those great wings overhead. Then I wonder about numbers and admin and logistics, and land right back here again.
At any rate, this is a wonderful addition to the series, and I can hardly wait for the next book, whatever that may bring.
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timeasmymeasure
Victory of Eagles SPOILER SPOILER
Date: 2008-06-25 07:37 pm (UTC)I sent the comment below to Naomi Novik, but she screened my comment as it contained a spoiler. But it's nice to find someone else who may have read the book to discuss with. (If you haven't read the book, please go no further.)
S
p
o
i
l
e
r
This is actually a spoiler even beyond the preview chapter because I bought an ARC off the internet and have devoured it with joy. (Not even feeling guilty, because I let my preorder stand.)
On first read, the use of the use of Temeraire's point of view surprised me. I believe that (excepting the short story about getting at livestock that is available here) all of the Temeraire books have been from Will Laurence's viewpoint throughout. It is quite a distinctive voice, and adds a lot to the books, and I missed it (until it showed up again). But Temeraire's voice has its own charms, especially as it highlights the draconian delight in property and "treasure", and the relative priorities placed on the various changes in Will's life.
Now for the SPOILER part:
The numbers of dragons in the breeding grounds are given as a couple of hundred; but later in the book there are fairly consistent references to 60 dragons, leaving (it seems to me) well over one hundred unaccounted for. Apparently smaller ferals can slip in and out, but one hundred small ferals is still a lot of dragons... and it isn't clear to me if the sixty is meant to include Arkady and his set. Also, I would expect more than just one dragon to be fairly innactive because of age and declining health. So I would expect to find some of them would not or could not support Temeraire, but that doesn't seem to be the case, at least not when SPOILER Will arrives at the grounds SPOILER.
Also, there is reference to a surgeon; does the breeding ground have staff beyond the groundskeepers and herdsmen, such as clerks? There must be reports sent and received, directions for particular cross-breedings; and so on.
I only ask about all of this because everything else is so well thought out, so detailed, that I feel as if I have fallen into that world; that I could look out the window and see those great wings overhead. Then I wonder about numbers and admin and logistics, and land right back here again.
At any rate, this is a wonderful addition to the series, and I can hardly wait for the next book, whatever that may bring.