Book reviews

Dragon and Soldier
Timothy Zahn Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography History
Timothy Zahn Books
New book search
Timothy Zahn Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of Dragon and Soldier
"

Starscape, Jun 2004, 17.95, 299 pp.
ISBN: 0765301253

Teenager Jack Morgan still adjusts to his only known relative Uncle Virge being a computer simulation and his symbiotic relationship with Draycos, who exists as a two-dimensional "tattoo" on his skin or as a three-dimensional dragon. They met enemies attacked Draycos' ship causing it to crash planet side. They agreed to help one another.

Jack and Draycos conclude that mercenaries destroyed Draycos' ship since there was no backup like the military would have employed. Jack joins a mercenary outfit over the objection of Uncle Virge because he and Draycos figure that each of these paid to kill groups keep tabs on the competition.   On the planet Carrion, using the name Jack Montana and with the clever help of Draycos, Jack joins Whineyard Edge's Edgemen, a teen recruiting center. In training Jack meets talented Alison, but soon he, his dragon, she, and others will be sent on a deadly assignment in which no one is quite whom they seem to be.

Mindful of Andre Norton's 1960s outer space adventures for teens of all ages and Star Wars, the second Dragonback adventure is a action-packed tale. Jack provides specialized thieving skills while Draycos furbishes cerebral military tactics. Alison is a wonderful new player while Uncle Virge remains the same as he wants his nephew to disavow the relationship that could kill him.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Dragon and Soldier
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%




Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Spying & Investigations Yes
What is main char. doing? - unraveling a conspiracy
Robots, Computers, VR Yes
Robot, PC, VR Plotlets: - virtual reality
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - student
Age: - a teen
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a futuristic society
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript
Most similar books to Dragon and Soldier
Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars: The Mandalorian Armor by K.W. Jeter
Polaris by Jack McDevitt
Cibola by James H. Cobb
Burden of Proof by John G. Hemry
Venus Preserved by Tanith Lee


Click here for more information about this book


Timothy Zahn Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
chris sandstedt  

SCHOLARS:
ACG  William Hamilton  Alodar  JJ  Timothy Obenshain  Melissa Cole  


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Science Fiction books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot 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



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
Feedback
About us




Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
.
Dave Pelzer 6:52:56 PM
Lurlene McDaniel 5:58:08 PM
Robert Segarra 5:48:05 PM
Jean M. Auel 3:13:06 PM
Lynn and Gilbert Morris 1:31:36 PM
Dean Koontz 12:02:10 PM
Vince Flynn 7:10:39 AM
Lori Wick 12:03:25 AM
Suzanne Collins 9:12:08 PM
George W. Bush 7:53:33 PM
Christopher Stasheff 6:25:29 PM
Jane Juska 5:48:53 PM
Deric Longden 11:53:30 AM
Cecelia Ahern 10:53:33 AM
Lilian Jackson Braun 9:30:43 PM
Donna Fletcher 9:16:54 PM
J.K. Rowling 7:40:18 PM
Lisanne Norman 7:16:47 PM
Barack Obama 7:10:39 PM
Margaret Peterson Haddix 6:23:46 PM

More message boards