The Flight of Dragons [Paperback]

Peter Dickinson (Author), Wayne Anderson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1998

Combining fact with fantasy and science with romance, the authors set out to prove that dragons really did exist. First published in 1979, "The Flight of the Dragon" presents a riveting thesis on how so great a creature as the dragon actually managed to fly. 140 illustrations, 100 in color .

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Overlook Hardcover (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879518391
• ISBN-13: 978-0879518394
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,058,640 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

100 of 102 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The book and the movie are DIFFERENT., August 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Flight of Dragons (Paperback)

Okay, let's set the record straight here. "The Flight Of Dragons" _has no plot_. Some of these reviews are referring to the wonderful characters, amazing plot line, etc. Obviously, these people haven't read the book. This book is a scientific view on how dragons could have actually existed. It gives theories on how they breathed fire, flew, lived, etc., drawing on evidence from story lore and legend. Now, for those of you who are thinking of the _movie_ "The Flight Of Dragons", yes, the movie was based on this book. But it was only based on it in terms of how the dragons were designed. The (very) basic plot and the wonderful characters were taken from Gordon R. Dickson's amazing book "The Dragon And The George". But the book "The Flight Of Dragons" is much different from the movie. For one thing, Peter Dickenson views dragons as lethargic beasts with a dull intelligence. He included a chapter on dragon-slaying, which, to me, was something of the last straw. Also, some of the pictures done by Wayne Anderson are horrific. I especially "enjoyed" the photos in the back of art from around the world----one had a picture of a troll-like "dragon" eating a man's head! . . . Now, don't get me wrong. This is a good book. Some of the pictures are fantastic. And most of Peter Dickenson's theories----especially the one about why there are no fossils of dragons------were really neat. And I love his saying: "Remember. The dragons live. Inside us." It's a decent book. But I spent nearly a year trying desperately to get my hands on a copy, and while it is interesting and a valuable addition to my collection of dragon lore, I was disappointed. But maybe I shouldn't judge something on my own expectations (obviously). But I did want all to understand . . . the book and movie are very different. If you want to re-meet the characters of "The Flight Of Dragons" from the movie, read "The Dragon And The George", an excellent book. And give the book "The Flight Of Dragons" a try. Just don't set your expectations too high!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo to Dickinson for giving dragons a fighting chance!, January 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Flight of Dragons (Paperback)

This is a book for all of you out there who know that dragons are more than just fairytale creations to frighten small children. And for those of you who ARE convinced that dragons belong purely to fantasy, I invite you to come, read, and have your mind changed by this beautiful, engagingly written book. (It's science-friendly, too!) Peter Dickinson does a wonderful job of building up a theory by which dragons could once have truly roamed the skies and terrorized innocent villagers. His ideas are sound, his message clear, and through it all he maintains a tone which keeps the reader asking for more.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Captivating, January 16, 2002

By 

Sarah (Iowa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Flight of Dragons (Hardcover)

This book breathes new life into the world of fantasy. It is a compelling read, but backed with scientific evidence and explanation to make it credible. Also, it is a beautiful book with lots of full-color pictures and illustrations. Whether you believe in dragons or not, The Flight of Dragons is interesting and a wonderful conversation-piece. The book deserves more recognition than it has gotten in the U.S., and I consider myself extremely lucky for having found it in a second-hand bookstore and picking it up there. I had never heard of it before, and have never seen another copy, but I haven't been disappointed. And, by the way, I am NOT interested in selling mine!