The Dragon in Lyonesse [Hardcover]

Gordon R. Dickson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1998

In this latest of Gordon R. Dickson's immensely popular adventures of Jim Eckert; the 20th-century mathematician who has come to live in a medieval age where magic works and Jim himself can become a dragon at will, Gordon R. Dickson draws on the richness of the greatest medieval legend of all, the tale of Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.In the legends, after their final battle, Arthur and his knights went to Lyonesse, the land under the sea. Now Lyonesse is threatened by a resurgence of the Dark Powers, those mindlessly malevolent forces that struggle to stop the course of History. And Jim Eckert and his friends are called upon to stop them.Arthur and his court live on in Lyonesse because, even though centuries have elapsed, there are still those who believe in them. But Arthur and his knights are proud, too proud to easily accept help from Jim Eckert and his allies. But they will have help, from Jim in his dragon form, from knight-in-armor Sir Brian Neville-Smyth, from the brilliant archer Dafydd ap Hywel, and from one small hobgoblin. The result is a wild ride, an Arthurian fantasy adventure as only Gordon R. Dickson could tell it.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Dickson's Arthurian series about a dragon knight--twentieth-century mathematician Jim Eckert, who has been thrown back to the fourteenth century and has acquired the ability to turn into a dragon at will--continues. This time Eckert discovers that Lyonesse, the refuge of King Arthur and his knights, is being menaced by a dark power. Arthur and the knights are reluctant to accept the aid of a dragon with magical powers and even more reluctant to draw on twentieth-century knowledge for help. Eckert has to be diplomat, warrior, and puzzle solver all at once, then, and quickly. Dickson's is a distinctly original take on the Matter of Britain (which, to be sure, is supposed to have transpired a good many centuries earlier than in these yarns), distinguished by the humor arising out of the contrast between popular notions about the Middle Ages and its frequently grisly realities. The latest installment is one of the series' best, although readers who know what has gone before will enjoy it most. Roland Green

About the Author

Gordon R. Dickson was the Hugo- and Nebula-winning author of many classics of fantasy and science fiction, most famously the Childe Cycle (also known as the Dorsai series). He died in 2001.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 381 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312861591
• ISBN-13: 978-0312861599
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,161,853 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What fun! Things are starting to move!, October 29, 1999

By 

Kate Fitzsimons ([e-mail]) (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dragon In Lyonesse (Tor Fantasy) (Mass Market Paperback)

A lot of people seem to have some problem with this book, but frankly, I thought it was a change of pace. Jim is still utterly himself, but he's starting to get comfortable with who and what he is. He came in contact with the greatest knights of all time, and held his own by doing things on his own terms. What I'm looking forward to is how he handles the greatest challenge of all - fatherhood. I can't wait to see how Dickson has his dragon knight cope with being "Daddy" to his adopted mideveil son. I'm sure both author and character will rise to the occaision.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My new favorite of the series, September 21, 2000

By 

Gary Huffmaster (UO Student) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dragon In Lyonesse (Tor Fantasy) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a new adventure that differs greatly from the rest in the series. Even if you have disliked the rest of the series you will surely enjoy this one. The dragon knight returns to Lyonesse but has a completely different battle at hand. What makes this book so exciting is the involvement of the real knights of old like Pellinor, Galahad, and more. This excellent book involves Jim, Daffyd, Brian, and Hob of the main characters but even better is the involment from the Arthurian knights. The story goes that Jim has once again become involved in a battle with the dark powers. The difference is that the dark powers have also recruted some of those from the Arthurian legend. This book is sure to please any who has read this far into the series and even those who just want to read this single book. Dickson has written a standout book in his famous series and this is deffinatly it.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The series might drag-on..., October 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dragon In Lyonesse (Tor Fantasy) (Mass Market Paperback)

Each book in the Dragon Knight series is pretty decent by itself, and I've enjoyed every single one of them, but in my opinion, the series needs some rejuvenation...

Time after time, has the Baron James been discovering through someone that the Dark Powers once again 'interfere' amok, and time after time has James been finding some miraculous solution. I have no problems with this as a basis for each book, it's just that it has been written the same way each time, perhaps with a few new characters and some backdrops. The highlights of the series, aside from the first book, have been where Jim has been doing something unusual with magick, fighting a battle, or existing as a dragon.

In my opinion, an expansion of these highlights in the next book would be welcome. Perhaps about the formation of a treaty between England and the local dragons...humans with other opinions building one force, and even dragons who do not wish to be involved with 'georges' forming their own group. This would call for James to switch in and out of dragon form alot, and for, perhaps, an emergence of the mere dragons, lead by Secoh!

Oh, well...we'll see what comes up.

Awaiting the next book,

Hypogryph