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The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll
Gordon R. Dickson Book Review

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Plot Summary of The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll
"This is the fifth book in the Dragon Knight series.

Jim Eckert, the Dragon Knight, has absolutely no intention of attending the Earl of Somerset's infamous 12 days of Christmas celebration. But when the Mage Carolinus, tells him that the Dark Powers may cause trouble, Jim goes to find out what's happening.

On the way to the Earl's castle, Jim and his party discover a group of fellow travelers slain and robbed by outlaws. The sole survivor of the massacre is an infant. Jim and the others arrive at the Earl's place and learn that the baby is actually young Robert Falon, heir to the extensive Falon fortune—and that his aunt, Agatha Falon, is also in attendance at the Earl's celebration, and is willing to do whatever is takes to gain her deceased brother's fortune.

But the biggest problem is the troll Mnrogar, the self-titled King of Trolls who insists that one of the celebration's guests is actually a troll in disguise, come to challenge Mnrogar for his territory. The Earl wants to uncover the hidden troll's identity, but refuses to work with Mnrogar. It is up to Jim, with the help of his friends and an inquisitive hobgoblin, to protect his new ward, get the Earl and the Troll to work together, and find out the motives of an army of trolls surrounding the Earl's castle.
"

Ursawolf, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll
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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 - 60%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10%
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? - unraveling a conspiracy
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - mage/magician
Age: - 20's-30's
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - can cast many different spells
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: - Female
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 - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Terrain - Forests
Earth setting: - 17th century
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - explicit references to deaths
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll
King's Cure by Daniel Hood
Paragon Lost: A Chronicle of the King's Blades by David Duncan
The Myth of Magic by Adam Cole
Krondor: The Betrayal by Raymond E. Feist
Flight of the Nighthawks by Raymond E. Feist


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Gordon R. Dickson Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Ursawolf  

SCHOLARS:
William Betts  Will B.  Speaker43  


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