Dragon was the first Vlad book to come out from Tor. It was published in 1998, a year after Emmet and I had met Steve Brust when he was guest of honour at Convocation in Cambridge, and when I first read Dragon I did wonder whether he’d written it this way deliberately to stop it being possible for me to read the series in internal chronological order. Dragon is not in the ongoing chronology, but set way back between Taltos and Yendi, with a frame story set immediately after Yendi. In addition to that, it’s told with the beginning of every chapter advancing one part of the story, while the rest of the chapter goes back in time. The book has three timelines within it—the post-Yendi interludes, the beginning-chapter advancing story, and the end-chapter advancing story. You’d think it would be as complicated as hell to read, but it isn’t, it flows smoothly and clearly, but very very out of sequence. This flow works largely because it’s carried by Vlad’s voice at its most brash and bouncy, and partly because it’s the story of a war. This is a different, but equally artificial, device from the cliffhanger-starter method Zelazny used in Doorways in the Sand and it gives me far less whiplash.
Like Five Hundred Years After, Dragon gives us a story we’ve heard alluded to before, the Battle of Barritt’s Tomb. And again, Brust turns some of what we thought we knew inside out. The books do all stand alone, but I don’t know if Dragon would work as an introductory volume. It isn’t one I’d give someone to start out with, I think it probably works best for a reader already invested in Vlad and his story.
Spoilers.
There are a large number of Dragons around, but then there always are. There’s Morrolan and Aliera (and maybe Sethra) there’s Sethra the Younger, there are all the Dragons in the army and most of all there’s Fornia. I think there is always a characteristic member of the relevant House around, as well as Vlad acting like a member of the House, I’ve just realised that quite often it’s an enemy—the Sorceress in Green in Yendi, Loraan in Athyra, Fyres in Orca etc. The only real exceptions are Phoenix and Teckla. In any case, Vlad definitely acts like a Dragon here—he wants personal revenge on Fornia and he joins the army and goes into battle. He develops a sense of honour, and he has fun complaining about the food and the rain and the boredom and the indiscriminate slaughter. Also, he talks about talking to Sethra about tactics and strategy and logistics.
I remain very impressed that Brust does Vlad at different ages and life-stages so well. In Orca we have an older, wearier, warier Vlad, here he’s young and ready for anything, quick to take offence, and not really frightened, yet Vlad does grow within the novel.
Vlad sees what was probably the picture that ended the Athyra reign and started the Phoenix one, as mentioned in The Phoenix Guards, but of course he has no idea of the historic context of what he’s seeing, it’s just a picture to him—unless it is just a different picture of a wounded dragon protecting her young, but I think that would be a twist too many. It’s interesting to see him begin to run Morrolan’s security. Meeting Daymar is interesting too—and especially meeting him through Kragar. (I wonder how they met?) It’s nice to see a little bit more of Vlad and Cawti when they were happy, even if it is a very little bit. It’s interesting to see how Aliera got Pathfinder and got rid of Kieron’s sword. I loved Loiosh being the mascot and everyone feeding him, and I loved Vlad getting used to the awful food. The tricks Vlad plays, burning the biscuits and so on, are also neat. When I think of Dragon it’s the little details that stand out, along with Vlad’s long slow journey across a battlefield. This may be because the chronology of the book requires me to build a structure to hold it in my head to get the shape of the story, and after I’ve finished reading it, even if that was yesterday, it’s work to hold on to that structure.
Jo Walton is a science fiction and fantasy writer. She’s published eight novels, most recently Half a Crown and Lifelode, and two poetry collections. She reads a lot, and blogs about it here regularly. She comes from Wales but lives in Montreal where the food and books are more varied.
If memory serves, this is the book where we find out that Vlad is telling these stories to a machine, and not that long after they happen, either (at least in some cases).
Prior to this he occasionally makes references to a “you” who is reading or hearing his stories, but no specifics are given, so for all we know they could be memoirs he writes in his old age, or something.
Dan Blum — I seem to recall that there’s phrasing in Jhereg which implies that he’s aware his audience is not native to Dragaera (referring to “our native species” and the like).
My fave character in this is the Dragon who just goes from battle to battle, has his own special tent, bedding, munchies and hitting on the girls. Reminds me of when I was in the service. I think if you really want to pick a Dragon from the story as representative, its this guy.
Vlad is funny and esprit de corps is a funny thing. Makes you do things you might not actually think are too smart.
I think there is always a characteristic member of the relevant House around
Except for Jhegaala, yes? I don’t remember there being one of them in that book. (Perhaps my memory is failing me.)
David: I don’t remember one either. But I’ve only read it once.
Dan: The thing I want to know is what “trinkets and useful objects” he’s getting from, presumably, Mr Brust, in exchange for his memoirs. I want to know if we’ve ever seen any of them.
When I first picked up this book, I thought, “Oh bummer, a jump back in time line” but then I read it and found myself really liking it. Like Jo mentions, it’s the little details, the way that they add flavor to the whole, that really makes this book rock.
I didn’t like this book better than Orca (which was full of win, cover to cover) but it continues Steve’s winning streak with Vlad.
Issola I had a hard time getting my brain to digest. I look forward to discussing it here so I can clear some things up.
I have some definite thoughts about the plot of Issola, but I’ll hold off on them till that post.
I forgot about that.
Other than the box he is talking to here, I can’t think of any unusual possessions of Vlad’s except Spellbreaker, and we know where he got that, or at least we think we do. Other than that it’s all assorted weapons, articles of clothing, books, kitchen equipment, a musical instrument (I think), and suchlike. And witchcraft supplies, of course.
This was a brilliantly written book, with the multiple timelines, filling in background information and gaps in storytelling, and serving as the perfect intro to Issola, which was really strong because of the foreshadowing created by this novel.
I had trouble thinking of Vlad as a soldier, and I was happy when he put his talents to their best use instead of trying to fight straight up. It was a very interesting perspective on war for these long-lived Dragaerans who risked their long lives over so little, and addressed the titular House’s issues well.
Vlad really delves into becoming a Dragon more than most of the Houses he involves himself with, holding an irrational grudge, trying to fight honorably, and at the end giving up glory and death to settle things the Jhereg way, and letting the Dragons sort things out amongst themselves.
I wonder if Sethra the Younger has any more role to play in the series. Sure, she has Kieron’s greatsword and is trying to conquer the East, but we know that Norathar is taking power soon and will hold onto it until at least after Vlad is old and grey. I don’t see Zerika or Norathar looking too favorably on her plans, and Sethra, Morrolan, and Aliera will likely have a lot of influence in court from here on. Will they stop her? Or will Kieron’s blade fulfill its destiny?
” It isn’t one I’d give someone to start out with, I think it probably works best for a reader already invested in Vlad and his story.”
It was actually the first book I read about Vlad, because it was the only one in my library, and I could follow it and enjoyed it, but I wasn’t invested enough in it to search down the rest of the series. I only did that when someone I liked reading began talking about the series.
we know that Norathar is taking power soon
Huh? I thought that Norathar acsends about a century after the events in Vlad sequence? I wonder why Zerika would abdicate so early, though. She’d be barely over a quarter of her life-span, no? And wouldn’t an ex-Empress have made a ton of enemies and thus have really slim chances of prolongued survival without the protection of the Orb? Zerika is one of my favorite secondary characters and I wish that we’d have seen more of her.
Anyway, “Dragon” is one of my favorite Vlad books. It is very intricate and emotional and Vlad isn’t quite as unstoppable in it as he is in some other installments.
Re: Jhegaala, true. It also occured to me that a Jhegaala or Jhereg ex-Jhegaala could be one heck of an enemy. I am surprised that we didn’t see any yet.
Also, if Sethra the Younger is conquering the East we have certainly seen no sign of it.
As far as Sethra the Younger goes, I think you’re thinking on too small a time-scale. She knows she’s not going to conquer the East in the next couple of centuries, but there’s plenty of time. Norathar could die, Aliera could change her mind, or Kieron’s greatsword could learn to sing…
Well, Sethra the Y. could have gotten on to a good start in Zerika’s reign already. I mean, she seems to have left the Empire, so what is she doing? Vlad’s visit to the East some years later didn’t show any results of her supposed conquistador activities. Time flows at the same rate for Dragaerans, after all. They may take a long view, sure, but her intentions didn’t sound that way, IIRC.
And then, people of the Empire expect some good wars from the Dragon reign… and what, decades or centuries after Cawti’s and Vlad’s deaths Norathar could change her mind, too.
Strangely, Dragon was the first Vlad book I read (only one available at my library), and it converted me straightaway into fangirlhood. (And then I read Issola next…talk about interesting chronologies. After those two, though, rabid wolves couldn’t have kept me from hunting the rest of the series down).
Question: can you give me a tip on how to devour a book before the month end? I seem not to finish a good book less than a week :)
Kaim: Burn your television and limit your internet time.
thank you bluejo, but I am not going to burn my tv but I will def try limit my internet time
Dan: If memory serves, this is the book where we find out that Vlad is telling these stories to a machine, and not that long after they happen, either (at least in some cases).
I’m not convinced that they’re all being narrated to the same audience. I’ve got specifics, but they’ll go better in the Dzur discussion.
Dragon is one of my favorites in the series. In addition to having an engaging story, the manner in which all 3 timelines converge is fantastic. Even more amazing is the ease in which one can follow all 3 timelines without confusion.
Not to mention that the phrase “scatological culinary advice” appeals to my baser instincts.