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Robert Kroese
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The Dream of the Iron Dragon: An Alternate History Viking Epic (Saga of the Iron Dragon Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Robert Kroese (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,005 ratings
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DRAGON AWARD FINALIST FOR BEST ALTERNATE HISTORY NOVEL Trapped 1300 years in the past, they have one mission: survive. In the 23rd century, humanity has been hunted to the verge of extinction by an alien race. When an exploratory ship accidentally travels back in time to Viking age Scandinavia, the human race is given a second chance. Pursued by the power-hungry King Harald, the four surviving crew members join a ragtag band of Vikings as they pillage their way across Europe. It will take all their ingenuity, courage and technical know-how just to survive. But survival is only the beginning. To save humanity, they must somehow return to the stars. Thus begins a decades-long effort to teach the Vikings to build a craft capable of reaching space—a ship that will come to be known as the Iron Dragon. THE DREAM OF THE IRON DRAGON is the first installment in the 5-part Saga of the Iron Dragon. "Terrific storytelling, letter-perfect alternate-history, and the highest stakes for humanity imaginable combine to make this a thrilling start to an exciting new Viking saga. Kroese avoids both romanticizing and demonizing the Vikings, showing them to us in all their humanity, while spinning a tale that pulls no punches and leaves us gasping for more." - Lars Hedbor
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  1. Book 1 of 5
    Saga of the Iron Dragon
  2. Print length
    413 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    January 8, 2018
  5. File size
    2073 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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  9. See all details
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Bundle price: Kindle price
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B078WLB2CR
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Culain Press; 1st edition (January 8, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 8, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2073 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 413 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ B095JDTNRF
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,005 ratings

About the author

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Robert Kroese

Robert Kroese

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Robert Kroese's sense of irony was honed growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan - home of the Amway Corporation and the Gerald R. Ford Museum, and the first city in the United States to fluoridate its water supply. In second grade, he wrote his first novel, the saga of Captain Bill and his spaceship Thee Eagle. This turned out to be the high point of his academic career. After barely graduating from Calvin College in 1992 with a philosophy degree, he was fired from a variety of jobs before moving to California, where he stumbled into software development. As this job required neither punctuality nor a sense of direction, he excelled at it. In 2009, he called upon his extensive knowledge of useless information and love of explosions to write his first novel, Mercury Falls. Since then, he has written 34 more novels.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,005 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and well-crafted. They appreciate the historical fiction setting and believable world of science fiction, aliens, and time travel. The characters are well-developed and strong. Readers appreciate the well-researched and detailed science content. The book has fast-paced action and surprises at every corner. However, opinions differ on the writing quality, with some finding it well-written and readable, while others feel there is too much telling and technical details.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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Story qualityHistorical fictionCharacter developmentScience contentPacingTime travelWriting qualityPlot
93 customers mention "Story quality"92 positive1 negative

Customers enjoy the story's idea and premise. They find the plot intense with plenty of adventures along the way. The book is described as a serious sci-fi story about alien invaders. Readers appreciate the unique twist and consider it entertaining, exciting, and thought-provoking.

"...The story has endless fast paces action and surprises at every corner. It is flawlessly written and is a multi dimensional gem...." Read more

"Lost in Space meet the Vikings. I loved it all. Definitely a unique twist getting lost. I enjoyed the range of characters." Read more

"...In sum, it's one of the most entertaining books I've read recently and a terrific example of Kroese's growth as a writer." Read more

"...Anyway, the book's mostly pretty good with an interesting story that blends both science fiction and history...." Read more

50 customers mention "Historical fiction"50 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the historical fiction with its believable science-fiction setting. They find the book engaging, bringing history to life with adventure and historical figures. The story is an excellent start to a series of science fiction books that brings study of past times to life.

"...The story does bring study of gone times to life, and brings it closer...." Read more

"Lost in Space meet the Vikings. I loved it all. Definitely a unique twist getting lost. I enjoyed the range of characters." Read more

"...from other summaries, but Kroese has created a very believable combination of spacemen and Vikings and, yes, that's one of the stranger sentences I..." Read more

"...'s mostly pretty good with an interesting story that blends both science fiction and history...." Read more

37 customers mention "Character development"28 positive9 negative

Customers find the characters well-developed and believable. They appreciate the technological aspect where the characters create weapons and tools with applied chemistry. Overall, they consider the book an engaging read.

"...I loved it all. Definitely a unique twist getting lost. I enjoyed the range of characters." Read more

"...Solidly plotted with good characterization with a good number of characters to care about - and hate...." Read more

"...The characters are not dull or "stick figures," they are quite good, but they're secondary to the point of the book, which is a highly detailed and..." Read more

"...And at the very same time the three main characters were also so interchangeable...." Read more

20 customers mention "Science content"20 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's science content. They find it well-researched, with a good concept and detailed world-building. The book incorporates information about people and events of that time period, providing believable solutions.

"...The lord of the rings gave us all a new and wonderous world to adore, just so epic, and pretty much the same with Harry Potter...." Read more

"...The author truly did his research, and incorporates a lot of information about people and events of that time, but without bogging the story down..." Read more

"...In general, the science is reasonable with only a couple of small things that were obviously wrong or inconsistent..." Read more

"...thought out, NOT predictable (as I just noted), well written, and well researched...." Read more

14 customers mention "Pacing"10 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the book's fast-paced action and surprises. They find the what-if scenario fascinating.

"...no end, the story is so complex and magical, exciting and the action is engulfing and endless. I lack words to do these books justice...." Read more

"...as this sort of story can have, the writing is focused and the action level is high. I honestly couldn’t put this book down...." Read more

"...That slows the pace down. And, finally, it grates that Kroese builds up then kills off characters without compunction...." Read more

"Great characters, action, world-building. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book...." Read more

12 customers mention "Time travel"10 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the time travel aspect of the book. They find it fun and interesting, with a sci-fi world and Vikings.

"...-written, rollicking, sci-fi adventure tale of survival, space and time travel, and making common cause with people previously separated by 1,300..." Read more

"...genre (mostly limited to the BTTF trilogy) but his take on time travel is plausible enough...." Read more

"...There Are No Paradoxes in time travel." Read more

"Fun and interesting take on the thrown-back-in-time...." Read more

22 customers mention "Writing quality"15 positive7 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality. Some find it well-written with interesting characters and plenty of action. They appreciate the readable style with almost no typos and great dialogue. However, others feel there is too much telling, technical details, and anachronisms. The storyline seems implausible at first but becomes more plausible as the book progresses.

"...It is flawlessly written and is a multi dimensional gem. A few times it had me so emotional I was crying...." Read more

"...The story was well thought out, NOT predictable (as I just noted), well written, and well researched...." Read more

"...to be exciting, but I only found it irritating and progressively more implausible...." Read more

"...I needn’t have worried. This is a very well-written, rollicking, sci-fi adventure tale of survival, space and time travel, and making common cause..." Read more

8 customers mention "Plot"3 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the plot. Some find the premise of the kickoff of the series great, while others feel it's disappointing and not a thriller or book of intrigue.

"...Its also not fun to read and after 50 pages I just got bored with the story and well actually the characters...." Read more

"The plot outline sounded interesting, and the start was OK. But all downhill from there...." Read more

"...It's got lots of fighting and politics, but it's not a thriller or book of intrigue. It's about how to build a spaceship...." Read more

"I like the premise of the kickoff of this series...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Joga
    5.0 out of 5 stars Out of my mind in love with the Dragon
    Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    If you trust my word just buy this Iron Dragon series and start reading now. If not, let me try to convince you. I was so excited to keep on after the first book, I did not give myself time to write a review before listening to the second book. I have now bought the third book, but want to write a review before going on. So I am suppressing the urge to hit play. It is hard, I feel I am making a sacrifice. That is how much I want you and everyone else to find this gem.

    I feel like after finding “The lord of the rings” all this time ago, and the first book of Harry Potter. And I don't want to say which book is best. They are all the best, along with this Iron dragon series. The lord of the rings gave us all a new and wonderous world to adore, just so epic, and pretty much the same with Harry Potter. I had stopped reading books at all when I was given the task to read the first Harry Potter book for children all this time ago. I feel it saved my soul, haven't let go of books since then.

    The Iron dragon is more based on the real world though, no magic. The magic of the story is a brilliant author and “it could have happened like this”. Which is why I want to write a review now, maybe not a sentence I can write after the final book. Also if the research of the story stands a closer look (how long it takes to sail between countries etc.), this story should be read in every history class everywhere. The story does bring study of gone times to life, and brings it closer. In a way where maybe more people would consider thinking of gone generations as something more than stone age people with no brain. Now that may not be something that excites you, but no worry. The Iron dragon will be suitable for readers of many genres. The story has endless fast paces action and surprises at every corner. It is flawlessly written and is a multi dimensional gem. A few times it had me so emotional I was crying. But most of the time it had me so engrossed there was no thought other than keeping on. At one time it though had me raving mad at the state of our societies. That even after the industrial revolution, where we have all this high tech, making machines that make our work force obsolete, we still exploit starving children on other continents. Write me a line if you don't grasp what I am talking about. Ok, now I am mad again. But not about the story itself. The story is glorious! I am in love with the Iron Dragon series. It excites my imagination to no end, the story is so complex and magical, exciting and the action is engulfing and endless. I lack words to do these books justice. If you are not yet convinced to read the series, keep in mind life is dull with just one flavor in your mouth, would you eat just one kind of food till end of times? Spice and different flavors make life more fun. And this one has high chance of making your day.

    For those of us that like to listen to our stories, the narrator is just perfect. Somehow, would not have thought so without trying it out.

    And now to the third book. Hitting play.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Debb Lanham
    4.0 out of 5 stars Unexpected and entertaining
    Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Lost in Space meet the Vikings. I loved it all. Definitely a unique twist getting lost. I enjoyed the range of characters.
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  • Agnes Metanomski
    5.0 out of 5 stars An impressively well done mix of science-fiction and historical novel
    Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I had been wondering which book would be my first 5-star read of 2019... well, that question has now been answered!

    Do you like epic science-fiction? time travel stories? vikings? this book has it all!

    The story starts some 200 years in the future, at a time when the humans stands on the brink of being destroyed by an alien race with which they are at war. We follow the crew (or part thereof) of an exploratory spaceship sent to look for habitable planets in which the remnants of mankind could hide, at least for a while, and recuperate. After a series of happenings, they end up accidentally back in our solar system, but in the 9th century AD.

    The action was enough to keep me turning the pages, but the characters are what made me like this book so much. Not only the spacemen, but also the vikings. I really felt like I was in medieval Europe, among the vikings. The author truly did his research, and incorporates a lot of information about people and events of that time, but without bogging the story down with it.

    The next volume is already in the reading queue!
    32 people found this helpful
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  • CaptainRoy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Robert Kroese's best book so far!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This is Robert Kroese's most impressive book so far. For those of you who have read some of his previous series, such as the Rex Nihilo or Mercury books, you're going to be in for a very different experience, as The Dream of the Iron Dragon is not a book in the same humorous mold as the other series.

    I won't belabor the setup, as you can easily get those from other summaries, but Kroese has created a very believable combination of spacemen and Vikings and, yes, that's one of the stranger sentences I've ever written. Solidly plotted with good characterization with a good number of characters to care about - and hate. Given that it's the first book in the series, I'm expecting characters to be more fleshed out in the future, but this novel needed to set up events to come, which it does admirably. The worst thing now is waiting for the next book in the series coming in May 2018!

    In sum, it's one of the most entertaining books I've read recently and a terrific example of Kroese's growth as a writer.
    19 people found this helpful
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  • illiandantic
    4.0 out of 5 stars Make it 3-1/2 Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I'll start by saying right up front that I'd really like to rate Robert Kroese's "The Dream of the Iron Dragon: An Alternate History Viking Epic (Saga of the Iron Dragon Book 1)" at 3-1/2 stars instead of the Very Good 4 stars out of 5 I'm giving it. But, since our ratings have to be integers, and I can't see dropping my rating all the way down to 3 stars, 4 stars it is. Anyway, the book's mostly pretty good with an interesting story that blends both science fiction and history. In general, the science is reasonable with only a couple of small things that were obviously wrong or inconsistent (acceleration and velocity in a chase; gravity in orbit in another; and the biggest one, the powering of a weapon's grade laser). The bigger issues are writing-based. First, the characters, whether the modern protagonists, the alien antagonists, or the ancient Norse, all seem to have the same world-view. It's not that their personalities are the same. It's that their personalities and sensibilities (mostly) all seem to spring from the same place (IOW, language aside, they have no trouble understanding each other). Second, as the book progresses, Kroese seems to get bogged down a bit in the historical background. That slows the pace down. And, finally, it grates that Kroese builds up then kills off characters without compunction. Still, I'm mostly happy with the book and will be reading the next one in the series when it comes out.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Justin T. Robinson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Imagine "The Martian" but the protagonist has Vikings to deal with.
    Reviewed in Canada on January 22, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I'm certainly glad that the next four books in the series are already out, because I'm going to buy all four of them tonight.

    Dream of the Iron Dragon takes it's time setting the stakes in the first few chapters, but then the action kicks in and becomes a constant stream of "how can the spacemen possibly get out of THIS jam?"

    Imagine the survival-puzzle atmosphere of The Martian, but Mars has Vikings, friendly and otherwise. The story also has a sort of dry humour to it that feels very natural under the circumstances.

    Like I said, I'm buying the rest of the series tonight and plan to binge it as soon as I can.
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  • Ron Parks
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent alternate history.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    A great mixture of hard sci -fi and historic fiction. Action scenes well described keeping you On the edge of your seat. Looking forward to where the story goes.
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  • Laurie R
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enthralling Story
    Reviewed in Australia on April 13, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Fabulous characters. Wonderful future and past worlds merging practically. In both times it’s about humans trying to survive doing whatever it takes. Many issues covered. It is a great book. There was a flat spot for me when there was too much technical description for a short portion. Also I really don’t like swearing and this has some. I look forward to seeing how the series continues to twist and turn. I have some Viking in my genes!
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars good book
    Reviewed in Canada on September 12, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    great story
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  • Sam Hart
    5.0 out of 5 stars It sounds cool. It’s way cooler than that.
    Reviewed in Australia on July 7, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The idea for this book sounds like just one of those cool ideas. But it’s way more than that. WAY more. Research and narrative work together to produce something unique and brilliant, and very, very smart. One moment we’re dealing with wrangling communication thorough Old English, the next, bootstrapping technology from the Bronze Age to the early modern, the next, time travel paradox, and every time it’s compelling and smart.
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