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The Dragon
Book by Schoell, William
- GenresHorror
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1989
3 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
William Schoell
76 books42 followersWILLIAM SCHOELL was born in Manhattan where he resides. He is the author of over thirty-five books in various genres, including celebrity biographies (some written with co-author Lawrence J. Quirk); horror-suspense novels; biographies of such people as Edgar Allan Poe and Giuseppe Verdi for young people; and books on the performing arts and pop culture. He has been a radio producer and talk show host, worked for Columbia pictures, and is a blogger, playwright, and activist.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 13, 2021
Absolutely bonkers B movie-style horror, and I loved every minute of it. Well almost, as per the usual for 1980s Leisure titles it could have done with some fat trimming to help with the pacing. Still, this was pretty much non-stop fun after the first hundred or so pages. It's about an archeological dig into a huge mesa in New Mexico, where the team hopes to discover evidence of an ancient, lost underground civilization. They find a lot more than they bargained for, unleashing a horror that's been asleep for thousands of years. Many horrors, in fact, upon themselves and the nearby town.
Much like my last Schoell read, Late at Night, a bunch of characters with conflicting personalities, secret jealousies, etc. are thrown together and they have to deal with each other as well as the outside threat. It's very well done, though certain characters can be a bit "one note" as far as their personalities are concerned, which can get a little grating. Still, anyone looking for a blend of creature features and over-the-top body horror with a touch of Lovecraft should have a good time. Those who like their fiction to be more serious will probably think it belongs in a garbage can.
One look at the cover should tell you which camp you belong in. I say it's a notch above most novels of this ilk.
Much like my last Schoell read, Late at Night, a bunch of characters with conflicting personalities, secret jealousies, etc. are thrown together and they have to deal with each other as well as the outside threat. It's very well done, though certain characters can be a bit "one note" as far as their personalities are concerned, which can get a little grating. Still, anyone looking for a blend of creature features and over-the-top body horror with a touch of Lovecraft should have a good time. Those who like their fiction to be more serious will probably think it belongs in a garbage can.
One look at the cover should tell you which camp you belong in. I say it's a notch above most novels of this ilk.
August 24, 2025
I don’t write reviews.
2025
This was even better than I remember, though my brain did the same thing, made the same pictures, as it did five years ago. This story has everything: giant monsters, parthenogenesis, scientific magic, eugenics, human sacrifice, telepathy, paranoia, lies, fear and, perhaps most terrifying of all, archeology. The characters are very stereotypical, but believably written, though thoroughly unlikable. That’s ok; they’re monster food. (Oddly enough, I read this in August last time too).
“Fetal growths? Monsters? I just don’t believe it! It has nothing to do with this excavation!”
2020
Wow this book. What can I say? The idea is fantastic! I didn’t like the characters though, except maybe the main guy. The balance is rough when you don’t care about anyone, but want to know where the mythological take will take you. I’d still recommend it. I think it would have made a boss John Carpenter movie.
Peace and love to you.
Lizz
2025
This was even better than I remember, though my brain did the same thing, made the same pictures, as it did five years ago. This story has everything: giant monsters, parthenogenesis, scientific magic, eugenics, human sacrifice, telepathy, paranoia, lies, fear and, perhaps most terrifying of all, archeology. The characters are very stereotypical, but believably written, though thoroughly unlikable. That’s ok; they’re monster food. (Oddly enough, I read this in August last time too).
“Fetal growths? Monsters? I just don’t believe it! It has nothing to do with this excavation!”
2020
Wow this book. What can I say? The idea is fantastic! I didn’t like the characters though, except maybe the main guy. The balance is rough when you don’t care about anyone, but want to know where the mythological take will take you. I’d still recommend it. I think it would have made a boss John Carpenter movie.
Peace and love to you.
Lizz
August 25, 2023
The Dragon is the sixth book by Schoell I have read and he has yet to disappoint! While this started off a little slow, and was plagued by some pacing issues throughout, once things started happening it really took off. Our main protagonist, Eddie Drake, earns his daily bread as a photographer and calls NYC home. About six months prior to when the story started, Eddie lost his wife in a nasty robbery on the way home from a party. Still grieving, Eddie has spend the months just moping around and hanging out at a local pub with a group of fellow widowers.
One day an old friend of his, Lawrence, who works as an independent archeologist, calls up Eddie and makes him an offer. It seems there might be an underground city located in a remote New Mexico mesa that Lawrence was tipped off on. Further, he already did an initial dig and it looks very promising. How would Eddie like to tag along and be the official photographer for the dig? Get you out of NYC and away from memories of your dead wife? In the end, Eddie agrees and shortly thereafter, they and the rest of the team fly out to New Mexico.
Well, they do find some fascinating stuff for sure! The only opening to the 'city' rests on top of a mile high mesa and can only be reached by helicopter. Lawrence 'recruited' some locals for the back breaking labor of digging out the site and they find wonder after wonder-- awesome 'cave paintings' dating back 12,000 years! All kinds of nifty artifacts! The team quickly runs into many problems as well, with strange plagues of stinging insects and the entire crew of laborers comes down with a violent stomach illness...
No more on the plotting-- this book needs to be experienced fresh and without spoilers! Schoell tends to populate his books with many subplots, which here, included some romance (is Lawrence really screwing one of his female assistants? That is why his wife decides to come on the dig), the lives of some of the townies who live close to the mesa, and so forth, which constitutes one reason for the pacing issues. Nonetheless, The Dragon does what Schoell claimed to want to do in the afterword-- entertain-- and it does that in spades. Some lovely, strange foo here and Schoell took it much further than most authors would dare. His imagination continues to amaze. Recommended for vintage horror fans and this would make a great beach read! 4 Dragons!!
One day an old friend of his, Lawrence, who works as an independent archeologist, calls up Eddie and makes him an offer. It seems there might be an underground city located in a remote New Mexico mesa that Lawrence was tipped off on. Further, he already did an initial dig and it looks very promising. How would Eddie like to tag along and be the official photographer for the dig? Get you out of NYC and away from memories of your dead wife? In the end, Eddie agrees and shortly thereafter, they and the rest of the team fly out to New Mexico.
Well, they do find some fascinating stuff for sure! The only opening to the 'city' rests on top of a mile high mesa and can only be reached by helicopter. Lawrence 'recruited' some locals for the back breaking labor of digging out the site and they find wonder after wonder-- awesome 'cave paintings' dating back 12,000 years! All kinds of nifty artifacts! The team quickly runs into many problems as well, with strange plagues of stinging insects and the entire crew of laborers comes down with a violent stomach illness...
No more on the plotting-- this book needs to be experienced fresh and without spoilers! Schoell tends to populate his books with many subplots, which here, included some romance (is Lawrence really screwing one of his female assistants? That is why his wife decides to come on the dig), the lives of some of the townies who live close to the mesa, and so forth, which constitutes one reason for the pacing issues. Nonetheless, The Dragon does what Schoell claimed to want to do in the afterword-- entertain-- and it does that in spades. Some lovely, strange foo here and Schoell took it much further than most authors would dare. His imagination continues to amaze. Recommended for vintage horror fans and this would make a great beach read! 4 Dragons!!
February 11, 2024
I must admit that this book surprised me, I had rather low expectations but this one kept me on my toes! Schoell has with The Dragon crafted a well written supernatural creature feature with a smidgen of archaeological horror. Well crafted flawed and broken characters that feels real. Surreal happenings and violent endings. Starts off slow and a third into the story the pace ramps up. Need to check out more of Schoell's work.
Narration: felt a bit lackluster and monotone for me.
Narration: felt a bit lackluster and monotone for me.
June 3, 2024
A mostly entertaining horror romp by mass market horror paperback boom mainstay Schoell. I have read most of Schoell's other horror novels and have enjoyed them more than not.
After a nifty prologue detailing the strange life and times of an ancient civilization, Schoell more than takes his time setting up the novel and getting the wheels into motion. The first hundred or so pages is a bit of a slog, it definitely tested my patience. After that, the book takes off in a major way. That said, I found the pacing to be pretty uneven, and overall the book was kind of over-written. I think 80 to 100 pages of this book could have been trimmed away to make for a tighter, better paced read.
Beyond that gripe, however, there is alot for horror fans to enjoy in this book! The less you know, the better, but Schoell delivers several types of horror here quite successfully. Maybe not my favorite outing from Schoell, but still a mostly decent horror romp with some really bonkers sequences and wild ideas.
After a nifty prologue detailing the strange life and times of an ancient civilization, Schoell more than takes his time setting up the novel and getting the wheels into motion. The first hundred or so pages is a bit of a slog, it definitely tested my patience. After that, the book takes off in a major way. That said, I found the pacing to be pretty uneven, and overall the book was kind of over-written. I think 80 to 100 pages of this book could have been trimmed away to make for a tighter, better paced read.
Beyond that gripe, however, there is alot for horror fans to enjoy in this book! The less you know, the better, but Schoell delivers several types of horror here quite successfully. Maybe not my favorite outing from Schoell, but still a mostly decent horror romp with some really bonkers sequences and wild ideas.
April 7, 2024
This was an absolutely WILD BOOK. It begins relatively sedately, but once it gets going it doesn't let up.
Along with tons of awesome creature mayhem, the book also does try to address how prejudice is born which is genuinely compelling. Unfortunately the two best characters have to take a backseat for the finale.
I will be checking out more Schoell asap as this was a great surprise.
Along with tons of awesome creature mayhem, the book also does try to address how prejudice is born which is genuinely compelling. Unfortunately the two best characters have to take a backseat for the finale.
I will be checking out more Schoell asap as this was a great surprise.
November 16, 2014
$1 at the local book store, did not expect too much from the book. Started off good I guess but halfway though it all change (plot twist I guess). I gave the book 3 stars it was not bad but not good.
Sorry for the lack luster review but its a "BLAA" book
Sorry for the lack luster review but its a "BLAA" book
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews