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4.0 out of 5 stars
A modern day man who can shapeshift into a dragon, still finding his way in the 14th Century, July 9, 2009
Gordon R. Dickson has been gone for some time now, and - just as with the late great Roger Zelazny and Philip José Farmer - I feel a twinge whenever I pick up and re-read his stuff off my shelf. Sometimes I pause to simply hate that there won't be any more sci-fi epics about the Dorsai or tongue-in-cheek adventure fantasies about the Dragon Knight. It's been a while since I went thru the Dragon Knight books, but I just picked up THE DRAGON ON THE BORDER again, which is third in the series. Just one of those times when you grab whatever nearest book is at hand. And, after having finished reading it and even though it isn't my favorite in the series, I now feel like starting from scratch again, back to the first book The Dragon and the George, work my way up to The Dragon Knight (A Tor book), and so on...
THE DRAGON AND THE GEORGE introduced Jim Eckert and his future wife Angela, two contemporary college teaching assistants from the town of Riveroak who were transported back to 14th Century England, but to an alternate universe 14th Century England where magic works. In this world of honor and armor and wine, Jim was first trapped in a dragon's body but later regained human form with the added ability to shapeshift into a dragon. In fact, he's considered a low level magician, rated D level. After many harrowing adventures - some of which were immortalized into songs and poems - and given the option to return to the 20th Century, Angie and Jim, now become Lady Angela and Sir James, Baron de Malencontri et Riveroak (never mind that only Angie and Jim know where and when Riveroak is) decided to remain in magical olde England.
Getting to THE DRAGON ON THE BORDER, it's been a few years now since Jim and Angie were first whisked away to the 14th Century, and the two have sort of settled in. But the 14th Century is an era of vigorous action, of knighthood and chivalry (and casual abuse of those beneath acceptable pedigree). The Dark Powers are as ever bent on working dark mischief against man and maliciously influencing those two powerful forces of nature, Chance and History. And it seems that Jim has been targeted in particular. The book starts with Jim and his friends doing a kindness, journeying to Castle de Mer near the Scottish border to impart news of the brave death of their companion Sir Giles to his family (referencing an event in THE DRAGON KNIGHT). With Jim are his two staunchest friends, Sir Brian Neville-Smythe, a valorous knight who maintains his impoverished estate solely with his tourney winnings, and Dafydd Ap Hywel, cool and calm man of Wales and master of the bow. Again, Sir Brian and Dafydd prove themselves indispensable in Jim's continuing struggle against sinister forces. Enroute they encounter the Hollow Men, dishonorable ghosts inhabiting armor, and the three dispatch them easily enough. But a bigger surprise greets them at Castle de Mer, when they note that Sir Giles is well and alive!
Sir James soon learns that an incursion of England is afoot, with Scotsmen shaping the invasive force, the French licking their lips on the back end, and all supported by the spectral Hollow Men, who number two thousand and more. Once again it's up to our 20th Century American to thwart the Dark Powers - but aided by Sir Brian and Dafydd, some ornery Borderers, a gruff Northumbrian wolf, and the Little People. And it won't be easy. Jim aims to put a stop to the Hollow Men once and for all. But here's the kicker: as long as even one Hollow Man survives, each slain Hollow Man resurrects within two days. The only way to ultimately defeat the Hollow Men is to slay them to the last man, and slay them all at once. It's a nifty pickle for someone whose magical cachet isn't worth all that much. Can modern-day know how find a way to best the machinations of the Dark Powers?
Gordon R. Dickson has written his share of sweeping epics, mostly in the sci-fi format (The Final Encyclopedia, Volume One of Two (Dorsai/Childe Cycle), The Chantry Guild (Dorsai/Childe Cycle), Time Storm, Way of the Pilgrim, etc.), but in this series, he demonstrates a rollicking, lighthearted flair. I like that while Dickson turns Jim Eckert into a hero, he's not a hero without flaws and weaknesses. Most notably Sir James is quite inept with medieval weaponry, to the extent that his loyal friend, Sir Brian, styles James a mere passable combatant. And, despite his weak magic (D level, such as it is) and 20th Century smarts, living in the Middle Ages doesn't come so easy for Jim. Men back then were more hardy, a vastly good portion of them probably able to kick the shiznit out of Jim. And while the natives may be able to survive imbibing water, for Jim and Angie that sucker's gotta be boiled. And, brother, wine and not water is the preferred drink. So Jim has to always be on guard against getting tipsy. It's just plenty challenging keeping up with 14th Century disposition and customs.
The Dragon Knight novels are grounded by Dickson's wonderfully detailed account of what it'd be like to live in the Middle Ages. I'm assuming the minutiae of 14th Century everday living, minus the magic parts, are as historically accurate as the author can research it, and from what I understand real places and several historical figures are referenced in the breadth of the series. You learn stuff in terms of the customs back then, and how they behaved and thought. For example, I had no idea what a chatelaine was until this series, and Liseth makes a feisty, willful chatelaine of Castle de Mer. Again, although DRAGON ON THE BORDER isn't my top choice in the series, it's still a nice read and rates a 3.5 out of 5 stars. As with the other books it's sprinkled with humor. The disembodied Accounting Office, an ambiguous entity which keeps tab of magicians' magical accounts and which occasionally makes itself heard, continues to be a welcome presence. And, as a twist, the Little People (or dwarves) don't care at all for gold. And, as always, Sir James survives on modern savvy and quick thinking, much of his societal slip-ups resolved by Jim matter-of-factly stating (and I paraphrase), "Well, I do that because I'm a magician."
More acts of derring-do would've been welcome. There's a static feel, as much of the book focuses on Jim simply prepping for the big skirmish with the Hollow Men. This involves his playing politics with the proud Borderers and the mistrustful Little People and setting the stage for playing a key trick on the Hollow Men. Carolinus, the irascible AAA+ rated mage and Jim's mentor, comes in in spots to keep insisting that he can't much help Jim. And, honestly, I don't know that the series needed yet another implacable and blunt talking wolf. Snorrl is pretty much the Northumbrian version of Aargh, the English wolf Jim had met in earlier novels.
However, the big fighty fight at the end does much to make up for the methodical pace. Turns out that the Dark Powers have a backup plan, just in case the Hollow Men are bested. And, so, Sir James is called upon to go above and beyond, to meet an unexpected challenge. Which actually is a normal day for him. Another thing to like is that Dafydd steals a bit of the spotlight, his story arc being tied in to the Little People, who boast long memories. And, for those curious to read more about the Dragon Knight (there are nine books in all), check out The Dragon at War, fourth in the series and which picks up just about where THE DRAGON ON THE BORDER leaves off. For what it's worth, I happen to like THE DRAGON AT WAR quite a bit better than THE DRAGON ON THE BORDER.
Gordon R. Dickson. Roger Zelazny. Philip José Farmer. And you know what sucks? I just found out that David Eddings had also passed away. Death is not cool, brother.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Best fantasy series ever!, March 26, 2008
I highly recommend this book and all the "Dragon and the George" sequels. IT was a wonderful series, written by an amazing SciFi/Fantasy author!
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book, Great Series., December 21, 2007
This is a great fantasy series, the characters and problems they run into are unique and overall writing is proof enough that Mr. Dickson is one of the great Fantasy writers of the past century, i am truly enjoying this.
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