science fiction

The Dragon and the Gnarly King - Gordon R. Dickson Book Review

Enter a review
of your own!
Other books by
author Gordon R. Dickson

"The Dragon and the Gnarly King"
Message Board
Gordon R. Dickson Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR: Ursawolf

SCHOLARS:
William Betts  Will B.  Speaker43  
Would you like to be a scholar and make five dollars per review? Click here to submit a review!

Click here for free online dating advice!

Review Summary
This is the seventh book in the Dragon Knight series.

The Earl of Cumberland convinces the King to raise taxes--something that many nobles are very unhappy about. One noble starts hiring knights to attack the Earl's property in revenge. Jim Eckert, the Dragon Knight, is dismayed when Sir Brian, his best friend, offers his services to this noble so that he can earn the eighty pounds his betrothed's father demands as a bride price. The Dragon Knight is drafted by the King's war captain, Sir John Chandos, to counter these hired knights in order to defend the Earl's property, and Jim finds himself facing his best friend in battle. Sir Brian is wounded and Jim uses his magical powers to take him away to Malecontri.

Jim and Angie Eckert's ward, the infant Lord Robert Falon, is stolen away from Malecontri by underground Naturals called Gnarlies. Jim sets out with a rescue party—Sir Brian, Master Archer Dafydd, and Hob—to the Gnarly kingdom. They are joined by a Gnarly prince seeking vengeance against his uncle who killed his father and took the Gnarly throne. When they arrive, they discover that not only has Jim's friend the Mage Carolinus been captured by the Gnarly King, but that Robert's kidnapping is linked to his aunt, Agatha Falon (book #5), in league with Jim's old nemesis, the Earl of Cumberland (book #2). The Earl wants the Gnarlies' help in destabilizing the kingdom so that he can take over as king. It is up to Jim and his friends to defeat the Gnarly King and save Carolinus and Robert.

Ursawolf, Resident Scholar


Detailed literary breakdown of The Dragon and the Gnarly King
Our unique search engine breaks down books and movies into
dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.

New movie search (click here) New book search (click here)
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 30%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%




Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Spying & Investigations Yes
What is main char. doing? - rescue mission/escape from confinement
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - factions fight within govt for control
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
If enemy is a group... - political faction

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - mage/magician
Age: - 20's-30's
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
Terrain - Forests
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to The Dragon and the Gnarly King
Season Of Sacrifice by Mindy L. Klasky
The Vacant Throne by Ed Greenwood
Raven's Shadow by Patricia Briggs
The Gilded Chain: A Tale of the King's Blades by David Duncan
Jingo by Terry Pratchett




Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Try our new Star Wars & Star Trek puzzle pictures! Click here

Advertise with us
Feedback
Star Wars Revenge of the Sith plot spoilers
Hobbits
The politics game
The lawyer game

3 Book search options!
1) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
2) Detailed book search
(click here)
or

3) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot below!

Animal Story

Clones

Coming of age

Cultural problems, alien culture

Explore/1st contact/ enviro story

Family relations

GIANT monster(s)

Horror story?

Inner Struggle

Lifeform altered?

Mental/magical powers focus

Parody

Political power play

Religious overtones?

Repressive society story

Robots, Computers, VR

Romance

Spying & Investigations

Tech./$$$/Info hunt

Time Travel story?

Training/Apprent.

War or Invasion


Games:
Trivia Masters!

Rescue your favorite
scifi characters from
slavery!


Talk to your favorite
scifi characters!


Eating New Yorkers
Computer Game


Pomeranians

Most recent TV & Movie discussions:

Charmed: What's wrong with Rose McGowan's chin? 7/5/2008 11:53:33 AM

Charmed: Is Piper really a Halliwell? 7/5/2008 11:48:59 AM

Doctor Who: Who was the best Doctor? 7/5/2008 4:23:13 AM

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 7/5/2008 2:40:59 AM

Doctor Who: Who was the best companion? 6/30/2008 7:37:52 AM

A Boy and His Dog: A Boy and His Dog 6/30/2008 12:55:48 AM

Lost in Space (TV): What kind of a name is Guy for a guy? 6/26/2008 10:21:30 AM

Lost in Space (TV): Wasn't it obvious that Major West was never going to get any? 6/26/2008 10:17:45 AM

Alien Series: Was Vasquez a lesbian? 6/26/2008 6:57:27 AM

Battlestar Galactica: Do Vipers fly past the speed of light? 6/26/2008 1:27:52 AM


Newest slaves:
Kirsten Dunce (Dunst) 1:03:47 AM
Christina Aguilera 1:03:30 AM
Eva Longoria 1:02:12 AM
Luke Skywalker 1:01:36 AM
Colonel Samantha Carter clone 12:58:26 AM
Monica Lewinsky 12:56:52 AM
Hillary Rodham Clinton 12:56:12 AM
Mariah Carey 12:53:49 AM
Gywneth Paltrow Nichean 12:51:27 AM
Stargate Atlantis Boob Shrink 12:48:45 AM
All slaves
(click here)


Celebrity interviews:
President George W. Bush 6:32:00 PM
Jan-Michael Vincent 2:16:51 PM
Captain Kathryn Janeway 3:47:46 PM
Jack ONeill (Richard Dean Anderson) 1:39:22 PM
Jennifer Aniston (Friends) 5:01:07 PM
All celebrities
(click here)