The Dragon and the Fair Maid of Kent [Hardcover]

Gordon R. Dickson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2000

Gordon R. Dickson has entertained readers for over two decades with his tales of Jim Eckert. Now the Dragon Knight must confront the three disas-ters that lie in wait for any visitor to the English Middle Ages: war, plague, and Plantagenets. The plague is caused by a covert invasion of shapechanging goblins who seek to take over the world. Meanwhile, Eckerts castle is invaded by Plantagenets: Edward III, his son Edward The Black Prince, and Joan, the Fair Maid of Kent. Against the background of a full-scale human-versus-goblin war, these worthies move in a swirl of intrigue and dynastic tension.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this ninth entry in the Dragon Knight series, Jim EckertDformerly a 20th-century mathematicianDhas adapted fairly well to the alternate-world 14th century, where he is not only a knight but an upper-level apprentice in Magick. Having learned to control his ability to change into a dragon, he has also come to practical terms with the world in which he and his wife, Angie, now reside. After toying with Arthurian legend in the previous volume (The Dragon in Lyonesse), the saga now returns to its semihistorical setting, Jim's castle, Malencontri, and its English environs. Sir Jim deals with the domestic (servants, unexpected guests, the marriage of friends Geronde and Brian), the political (machinations surrounding Edward III and his son and heir, Edward, the Black Prince), the medical (the bubonic plague), the martial (war against shape-changing goblins who carry plague-tipped spears) and, as always, dark powers and the "magickal." One of the charms of the series is the author's logical approach to magic. Not only does it follow strict metaphysical laws, there's even a sort of credit limit on how much one can use. The series has always explored the meaning of friendship, love, faith and loyalty rather than focusing on heroics and the high fantastic. This time out, there's about as much napping, tea-sipping and recovering from strenuous magical work and disease as there is swash and buckle. But the readerDwhether new to the series or familiar with itDwill not tire. Comfortably genuine characters, wit, the insightful juxtaposition of modern protagonists, "real" medieval life and the fantastic make for a highly enjoyable read. (Dec. 18)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In Dickson's fantastical alternate history, which began, books ago, as just an excellent joke, the black death has come to England. Jim--now Sir James--Eckert, the time-displaced weredragon, and his lady are trying to devise quarantine and nursing procedures to save their own people and anyone else who will listen. Meanwhile, Prince Edward, the Black Prince of our world's history, comes calling, accompanied by the fair maid of the title, and asking for Jim's help in a rapprochement with the king. The breach between father and son is kept alive partly by the prince's own brashness and partly by the intrigues of the lord chamberlain. In the middle of all this, word arrives that an army of goblins is using the plague as a weapon. Dickson's erudite medievalism shows to advantage here as he spins off numerous plot developments, some humorous, without overwhelming the story. If less than an ideal book to start an acquaintance with Dickson's ongoing course in draconic studies, this is fine fare for advanced students. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (December 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312861605
• ISBN-13: 978-0312861605
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,029,548 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome Back to the Middle Ages., October 17, 2001

By 

Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Dragon and the Fair Maid of Kent (Mass Market Paperback)

By habit I read more than one book at a time. It keeps me from getting bored, and sometimes the odd juxtaposition of ideas gives me something unique for a review. Right now I'm reading a horror story so bad I regret agreeing to review it and a mystery story that makes too great an effort to be literature. It's slow going at best. The third volume is (or rather, was) this, Gordon Dickson's fourth in his dragon series. It took me exactly three days to read this hefty (500+ page) small print book from cover to cover, and I am not a speed reader. The other books just had to wait.

What makes Dickson so good that he has managed to author two major series (the dragon series and the Dorsai series) and innumerable other novels and collections? Personally I would call it superior plot making, intense dedication to details, and yes, heaps of talent. Dickson always takes the necessary time to draw his characters out fully, be they James Eckhart the knight/apprentice mage/sometimes dragon who is the hero of the story or the lowly master carpenter who keeps James in everything from chairs to outhouses. And he goes to know end of trouble to make sure that the reader painlessly acquires enough 14th century lore to make sense out of the goings on.

This volume finds James at Malencontri, his castle, trying to cope with both a plague of Plantagenet nobility and the very real plague which is advancing into James part of England. In addition, Carolinus, James mage master (one of the three AAA+ mages in the world, he'll have you know) is insisting that the King be protected at all costs. The Plantagenets on hand are Prince Edward the Fourth, the king's son and the beautiful Countess Joan, the Fair Maid of Kent. All they want is James assistance in a plot to make Edward the Third fond of Edward the Fourth again. This plot becomes ever more complicated until James finds himself commanded to appear before the King at Tiverton, where Edward III has retired to avoid the plague in London.

While this complexity develops James works overtime to prepare Malencontri against the plague. Since James and his wife Angie are actually visitors from our time who were unexpectedly thrust into the 14th century of an alternate earth, they know something of germs and disease protection. Since magic will not work on diseases, it is this knowledge which it their only hope. In the midst of all this confusion and stress, the EcKharts, their closest friends and Hob (the castle hobgoblin) are off to Tiverton to see the King.

Thanks to Hob, James is able to discover that an evil plot is afoot at Tiverton. Goblins, who are spreading the plague in order to take over the world, have slain the real castle staff and are now running it in disguise. James, due to his commitment to keep the king alive, goes into action. Since this is less that a third of the way into the book, it should be no surprise that Jim manages to use a small handful of men and knights (plus the unstoppable Hob and his buddy the hob of Tiverton) to completely mop up the Goblins and airlift everyone to Malencontri. Unfortunately James comes down with both the plague and magickal exhaustion simultaneously. Does he survive? Of course! Does he spend the rest of the book frantically trying to save Malencontri and the rest of England? You bet, but I will leave the rest of the plot for the reader to discover.

With this, ninth, volume in the series, it is getting a bit harder to simply pick up a volume and follow along. First of all you keep getting the feeling that you have missed several really good books, which you have. Secondly, there is simply too much background after eight solid novels to present enough information to the reader. This isn't all bad though, you will get to read several very good fantasy tales. And if you do wind up reading it first, you will still love it enough to come back to read a second time. Highly recommended.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful fantasy, December 15, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dragon and the Fair Maid of Kent (Hardcover)

Jim Eckert loves his wife Angie who accompanied him when he left the world of his birth and being a mathematician to enter this medieval world. His new home is similar to the history of his old home, but some variance exists. Jim is an apprentice to one of the realm's three only AAA+ Magickians, Carolinus. His mentor is worried that the English King will die soon and assigns Jim to prevent that from happening at any cost.

However, whether he occupies the relatively stupid dragon Gorbash or remains in human form, Jim finds himself dealing with three global disasters. In his birth environs the plague reached Italy a few years later than the foothold it has attained in his new home. France and much of the continent is ravaged. The deadly disease is coming to England soon via a horde of goblins. The Plantagenet dynasty has moved into Jim's Malecontri castle, proving that a man's home is his monarch's castle. Finally, war seems eminent and Jim will be thrust into the middle of the conflict if he is not more careful.

Any time a Dragon novel is released, fantasy readers know they are receiving the very best in the genre. Award winning Gordon R. Dickson keeps his hero fresh while altering fourteenth century history to provide a taut but often amusing story line. THE DRAGON AND THE FAIR MAID OF KENT retains the triumphant nature of the previous novels, which says a lot because the Dragon tales are one of the all time best and long running series in any genre.

Harriet Klausner

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dickson has done it again!, September 22, 2001

By 

Jake White - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Dragon and the Fair Maid of Kent (Mass Market Paperback)

Dickson has developed a series of books that allows the reader of today to say what if...? This unique viewpoint allows for the writer to put a 21st century spin on a classic fantasy novel. Characters are real in a fatastic world.

This time Jim has organized his motly crew to fight the plague which is born by shape changing goblins. He must do this while working around the politics of the middle ages with the King and Crown Prince in his company.

This one has the least adventure and the most politics, but still an enjoyable read.