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Star Rigger #2-3
Dragon Space
A Star Rigger Omnibus:
Dragons in the Stars — When star pilot Jael LeBrae rebels against an abusive ship's master and dares to fly "the mountain route" through the Flux—the hyperspace navigated by riggers—she dismisses the legend claiming that dragons lurk waiting to duel unwary riggers. But appear they do, challenging Jael to a fight to the death. Thanks to the wisdom of a dragon named Highwing, she survives the encounter and returns to starport wiser and stronger. But she hardly expects that fate will bring her back to that realm, to defend Highwing against a darkness that seeks his death.
Dragon Rigger — War engulfs the dragon world, fueled by an unseen foe—a creature of terrible power, known as Tar-skel, "the Nail of Strength." Tar-skel seeks to shape all of space and time into a web of power and death. The Dream Mountain, source of knowledge and life to all dragons, is held by the enemy; and yet, a single hope burns in the dragons' hearts. Led by Windrush, son of Highwing, the dragons await the "One," whom prophecy says shall come from outside the realm—the One who will challenge the darkness. That "One" is Jael LeBrae, human star rigger. Once before, Jael aided the dragons in their struggle. Now she must return to face at last the terrible wrath of Tar-skel. And according to prophecy, the cost of changing the realm is Jael's own life.
Science fiction with mythic dimension, from the Nebula-nominated author of Eternity's End and The Chaos Chronicles!
Individual novels appeared in print from Tor Books. DRM-free omnibus edition.
Review Quotes:
DRAGONS IN THE STARS:
"Carver writes powerfully and clearly." —Booklist
"An interesting and entertaining blend of genres." —Don D'Ammassa, Science Fiction Chronicle
"Carver's prose effectively lends a spare yet evocative resonance to the draconian realm. Like a good stage performer, this story should leave its audience wanting more." —John Bunnell, Amazing Stories
"Carver is a strong SF writer, with a good feel for both the hard SF elements and the people he populates them with... he is not only comfortable working with fantasy elements, but able to succeed at the tough job of melding them into a science-fictional environment." —C. von Rospach, Amazing Stories
DRAGON RIGGER:
"A refreshingly unique setting and excellently realized characters." —Publishers Weekly
"Dragon Rigger is a most excellent adventure that would make a grand movie.... there is immense verve, energy, momentum, and power... the reader stays with Carver all the way." —Thomas A. Easton, Analog
Dragons in the Stars — When star pilot Jael LeBrae rebels against an abusive ship's master and dares to fly "the mountain route" through the Flux—the hyperspace navigated by riggers—she dismisses the legend claiming that dragons lurk waiting to duel unwary riggers. But appear they do, challenging Jael to a fight to the death. Thanks to the wisdom of a dragon named Highwing, she survives the encounter and returns to starport wiser and stronger. But she hardly expects that fate will bring her back to that realm, to defend Highwing against a darkness that seeks his death.
Dragon Rigger — War engulfs the dragon world, fueled by an unseen foe—a creature of terrible power, known as Tar-skel, "the Nail of Strength." Tar-skel seeks to shape all of space and time into a web of power and death. The Dream Mountain, source of knowledge and life to all dragons, is held by the enemy; and yet, a single hope burns in the dragons' hearts. Led by Windrush, son of Highwing, the dragons await the "One," whom prophecy says shall come from outside the realm—the One who will challenge the darkness. That "One" is Jael LeBrae, human star rigger. Once before, Jael aided the dragons in their struggle. Now she must return to face at last the terrible wrath of Tar-skel. And according to prophecy, the cost of changing the realm is Jael's own life.
Science fiction with mythic dimension, from the Nebula-nominated author of Eternity's End and The Chaos Chronicles!
Individual novels appeared in print from Tor Books. DRM-free omnibus edition.
Review Quotes:
DRAGONS IN THE STARS:
"Carver writes powerfully and clearly." —Booklist
"An interesting and entertaining blend of genres." —Don D'Ammassa, Science Fiction Chronicle
"Carver's prose effectively lends a spare yet evocative resonance to the draconian realm. Like a good stage performer, this story should leave its audience wanting more." —John Bunnell, Amazing Stories
"Carver is a strong SF writer, with a good feel for both the hard SF elements and the people he populates them with... he is not only comfortable working with fantasy elements, but able to succeed at the tough job of melding them into a science-fictional environment." —C. von Rospach, Amazing Stories
DRAGON RIGGER:
"A refreshingly unique setting and excellently realized characters." —Publishers Weekly
"Dragon Rigger is a most excellent adventure that would make a grand movie.... there is immense verve, energy, momentum, and power... the reader stays with Carver all the way." —Thomas A. Easton, Analog
- GenresScience Fiction
707 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 27, 2011
44 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 13, 2020
How does one memorize a prophecy heard once? Meanings only make sense afterwards if then. Riggers' imaginations fly spaceships; dragons' thoughts jump special areas. Jael is foretold One. Dark villain lasted eons.
Typos:
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May 27, 2020
Molasses like writing yet very different and whimsical. And dragons. I enjoyed the book but am not looking at reading more.
January 30, 2015
This is an omnibus of the two novels Dragons in the Stars and Dragon Rigger.
Jael LeBrae is a young star rigger--a starship pilot--who is having a hard time getting her career going. The problem isn't her skills or qualifications; it's her late father. The elder LeBrae was the owner of a successful shipping business, and highly respected, until his business fortunes declined, and he began cutting every ethical corner. Jael's getting the blowback of her late father's enemies, in the form of not being able to get jobs with registered, somewhat regulated shippers.
In desperation she takes a job with an unregistered shipper, and quickly has cause to regret it. In Dragons in the Stars, Jael is forced to grow up very fast, face her demons, and forge a friendship with one of the "monsters" of the Flux--a dragon. A flying, fire-breathing dragon called Highwing.
In Dragon Rigger, Jael and her friend and rigging partner Ar get summoned back to the dragon realm in the Flux, where her old friend Highwing's sons, Windrush and his brothers, are facing a deadly threat.
On the most basic level, this is a space adventure, with a nicely done excuse for bringing in the fantasy trope of dragons. It is also, though, a character-centered novel about Jael's growth from a young, emotionally wounded, immature girl into a mature, powerful woman who takes control of her own destiny. On yet another level, it asks how we decide what "real" is.
Jael, and Ar, and a character I haven't mentioned yet, a parrot named Ed, are all fascinating and involving characters, as are the dragons--Windrush, and WingTouch, and FullSky, and their allies and enemies. The Flux, including the portion of it that is the dragon realm, is about as nifty a form of faster than light travel as I've seen in science fiction.
Very enjoyable, and recommended.
Jael LeBrae is a young star rigger--a starship pilot--who is having a hard time getting her career going. The problem isn't her skills or qualifications; it's her late father. The elder LeBrae was the owner of a successful shipping business, and highly respected, until his business fortunes declined, and he began cutting every ethical corner. Jael's getting the blowback of her late father's enemies, in the form of not being able to get jobs with registered, somewhat regulated shippers.
In desperation she takes a job with an unregistered shipper, and quickly has cause to regret it. In Dragons in the Stars, Jael is forced to grow up very fast, face her demons, and forge a friendship with one of the "monsters" of the Flux--a dragon. A flying, fire-breathing dragon called Highwing.
In Dragon Rigger, Jael and her friend and rigging partner Ar get summoned back to the dragon realm in the Flux, where her old friend Highwing's sons, Windrush and his brothers, are facing a deadly threat.
On the most basic level, this is a space adventure, with a nicely done excuse for bringing in the fantasy trope of dragons. It is also, though, a character-centered novel about Jael's growth from a young, emotionally wounded, immature girl into a mature, powerful woman who takes control of her own destiny. On yet another level, it asks how we decide what "real" is.
Jael, and Ar, and a character I haven't mentioned yet, a parrot named Ed, are all fascinating and involving characters, as are the dragons--Windrush, and WingTouch, and FullSky, and their allies and enemies. The Flux, including the portion of it that is the dragon realm, is about as nifty a form of faster than light travel as I've seen in science fiction.
Very enjoyable, and recommended.
February 10, 2015
Amazingly, Humans are Still Relevant, in the Future
These three books contain a lot of information about a possible future. Still necessary are those who steer the merchant ships from star system to star system. They are the star riggers.
These three books contain a lot of information about a possible future. Still necessary are those who steer the merchant ships from star system to star system. They are the star riggers.
June 17, 2011
I have to say I really enjoyed reading this book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews