Extraordinary Zoology

Iron Kingdoms

by Howard Tayler

Professor Viktor Pendrake is a legend in his own time and is the foremost expert in extraordinary zoology. His research demands he place himself in peril to directly observe and interact with his subjects, a peril his assistants must endure as well.

Bookish Lynus Wesselbaum is the picture of a scholar-in-training whose days are often spent sifting through the vast stacks of tomes within Corvis University. Yet Lynus has earned his place as Professor Pendrake’s senior assistant professor, having accompanied his mentor in the field and survived countless encounters with the most dangerous flora and fauna of western Immoren. Lynus is fortunate to be joined by Edrea Lloryrr, a young but eminently capable Iosan arcanist who also assists Pendrake and brings a unique perspective. When word comes of a new menace plaguing the remote villages around Corvis, both Lynus and Edrea find themselves swept up with Pendrake in an adventure that will force them to confront a primeval force of absolute destruction.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

129 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 24, 2013

About the author

Howard spent most of his happy childhood in Florida where he was on the swim team in grade school, and in a rock band in high school. He graduated in 1985 and moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University.

After two years there, he served two years as a missionary for the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons), after which he returned to school at BYU and decided to move to Provo permanently after graduating and getting married.

He currently works full-time as a cartoonist, writing, drawing, and coloring Schlock Mercenary , as well as doing comics for assorted corporate clients.

He is married to author and editor Sandra Tayler.

See the author page on Schlock Mercenary website

Reviews

[Alon Lankri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dnf 11%
No plot till this point

[William Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply put, as good as novella's get. That's an important distinction to make however. Is it on par with a full-length novel with the same rating? Of course not. But as a novella judged against other novellas, you couldn't ask for more.
Yet again the Skull Island Expedition line manages to highlight a minor character (in this case Victor Pendrake) and make them almost infinitely more interesting than before. No longer is Pendrake the poor man's Saxon Orrick! Nay, he's quite possibly the most badass version of Indiana Jones the world has ever known, and even has the wit to back it up.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this book. I don't get to read Schlock Mercenary, his comic strip, much anymore so having an insight into other work he does is really good. He's a great storyteller. I've never played any of the game world this is based on but it made me curious about it for sure. I really recommend it as a light, fun read.

[Patrick O'Toole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was fun, interesting and entertaining. There is a lot of cool people, creatures and stuff in this book. It was my first journey into the Privateer Press universe and I'll be returning to it again.

This is a short book so it's an excellent choice for young boys who perhaps doesn't read a lot, but who would enjoy a fantasy world, creatures and some adventure.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read because the adventure was so focused on the science. I thought it really expanded the fluff for Pendrake very well. I would like to see more books with the ensemble cast of Pendrake, Lynus, Edrea and Kinik.

[Karl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun short novella in the Warmachine and Hordes universe. Gives some personality to characters seen in the games and RPGs as well as adding to ones only mentioned in passing in lore. IF you like Prof. Pendrakes character you'll enjoy this novella.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful, quick read with all the cleverness and intelligence I've come to expect of Tayler's writing over the years of reading his comic.

[L Lipari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impressed

reading tales of pendrake was great. definitely in game does not live up to stories , they should make him stronger .