Dragon

by James Austin McCormick

Dragon is an epic, action packed tale of adventure set amongst the political backdrop of an uneasy intergalactic cease fire. As worlds conspire against each other, Gax, an insane warlord stockpiles an arsenal of ancient technology in his attempt to rule known space.
Two ill matched and reluctant heroes stand in his way; Sillow, a neurotic and cowardly Sylvan and Brok, a surly and ill tempered Herkulun warrior. After a chance meeting in a seedy, mobster owned casino the two find their fates interlinked as they are propelled into a series of hair raising adventures that takes them from wanted smugglers to agents of a peace keeping alliance.
As war grows close once again Sillow and Brok realize it is they alone who must stop Gax and prevent Armageddon, a very tall order indeed for two unlikely heroes.

Genres: Fantasy

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 15, 2013

About the author

I'm a college lecturer from England and a fan of all types of speculative fiction, most notably science fiction, horror & sword and sorcery fantasy. Where possible I try to blend these elements together in my own writing.

H. P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard and Edgar Rice Burroughs were my first writing inspirations and more recently Frank Herbert and Clive Barker whose works I never grow tired of re-reading.

I live in the rainy city of Manchester with my wife and two young daughters, the elder of which is something of a budding writer herself.

You can find my Amazon author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/James-McCormick...

Reviews

[Yemisi Otasanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dragon is a superb captivating sci-fi that gets your brain crackling and your hair strands standing perfectly vertical. I was hooked from the first few lines in chapter one. Each character had a strong personality, such that it was easy to conjure their images in my mind. For those that like horror, some of the images were rather chilling. James was very descriptive, with attention to detail. So, now about the book.

The name of the book creates an impression of some relic ancient fiery dragon, or some cruel Lord with draconian authority. What you get to find out is that Dragon is truly relic, but not human. Neither a dragon. But an ancient warship with such advanced artificial intelligence that beats the imagination. This superb ship gets to be controlled by a common Sylvan pirate with the body of an adolescent and green long hair, befriended by a giant Herkulan warrior who fears nothing.
Now, there are six worlds. The focal points were the Sylvan, Herkulan, Human and Tuolon worlds. A genetically enhanced royal giant wants to take over the galaxy, but this is nothing like the bad guy scenes taking over the world. This is a well-calculated mastermind with great patience. A fearsome king who sees himself as god, but was not able to gain the respect of his followers. Only fear, thus, his downfall.

The Plot
A destructive battle is about to begin and one that preaches peace is on a mission to engage the Lords of the six worlds in a peace treaty. A portal to an old world was discovered and the Slyvan clan appoints themselves as the guardians of the gate. The other worlds will stop at nothing to gain entrance and claim the undiscovered technology of the old world. Through thick and thin, horror, death, hunger, interstellar space travel, and loads of mutation, two pirates fight against powerful forces, to keep at bay the inevitable. But hope emerges from the most unexpected of places and in the most unusual way.

The Characters
Brok found his Tir Geld (in Dragon, a Tir Geld is a retractable staff that could deliver a death blow, shot myriads of life-draining energy and transform the bearers thought into psychic energy). I loved this character. Very fearless. Even up to the point of horrific near-death experiences, he was unshakable.

Sillow the sly pirate. No wonder he is a Slyvan (Sly-van). Dishonest, crazy, careless but very fortunate and fast dude. I loved his speed. He only had one moment of sincerity. I was utterly shocked and amused at the same time.

Humans. Very few were represented. Apart from a few pirates, Nerius was the human featured mostly. Very cunning. I’m suspecting his grandparents were probably part Slyvan and part Tuolon (laughs). For me, his character was the mix of the worst of both worlds. How could he do that to us?

In summary, I would love to read the series. James the author of this book has got me hooked with his superb work. I’m curious to know what happened to Gax, the self-assuming God. Did the banishment destroy him? Though some of the scenes were scary, they do not relate to so much of reality. More like some fun, scary, adrenalin-filled adventure. Thus, you still sleep tight. Great read for kids too.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know it happens to nearly all readers. You read a book description and then there is something within in the description which makes you wanting to read the book.

That is exactly what happened with the book I review today.

Author James Austin McCormick has been so kind to send me a digital copy of his book.

But a good description does not mean that you get what you expect .......



The Delivery

The 258 pages are divided into seven chapters where each chapter is more like a short story.



You follow an unlikely duo on their hunt to save the galaxy. There are many interesting ideas. Unfortunately there is not enough time to enjoy the world - so many different worlds, weapons, beings and so on - and become accustomed to it. Due to the fast paced action the characters can't really develop because they are totally busy with solving problems and escaping danger situations.



The Inevitable

To be honest, normally I would have stopped reading after the first chapter. But as I promised to write a review and I review only books I finished, I read the whole book.

I could not cope with Sillow who is one of the two main characters. I did not like his humour and he was really annoying for me. That hindered me to enjoy this action packed and fast paced mix of science fiction and fantasy. From my point of view there was also not enough space for world building and characterisation within 258 pages.



But I'm sure that there will be people who will love Sillow and enjoy the story.



For me this is one of the cases where the book does not fit to the reader andvice versa.

Therefore I recommend to use the look inside function over at Amazon in order to see if it is to your liking or not

[Daniel Chong · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible sci-fi epic adventure:
At first glance, I assumed I was in for a fantasy epic adventure in the likes of Games of Thrones. But I was pleasantly surprise that Dragon was not a mythical fire-breathing creature at all, it was an inventive creation by the author. Read the book, if you are curious.

The first page set the stage for a sci-fi backdrop. I can’t help but braced myself for the Cantina Scene in Star War but I was in for a surprise, you see James McCormick shows off his flair by creating his own unique brand of humor and action and that was just in the first chapter. The story of Dragon goes far deeper and more enticing than that. It is an excellent novel with intricate plots and intelligently written. There are lots of imaginative and high-tech gizmos to satisfy hardcore sci-fi fans too. But the fun really kicks in with Sillow and Brok, two opposing characters that just can’t seem to get along but somehow manage to engage the readers with their sassy conversations. I was immediately drawn to these two characters.

At times though, there were too much going on, it felt like the author was creating actions for the sake of actions but that’s just me, I am certain there are lots of readers out there who like fast actions. That said James does a good job in keeping me engaged. This is a definitely a page-turner. If you like Star Wars and epic sci-fi adventures you are in for a ride. I have enjoyed this book immensely and look forward to reading more novels by James McCormick.

[Simon Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kept thinking of Star Wars when I read this book, although in my mind that's not a bad thing at all as long as you're expecting it. Don't be misled by the title- this is a fast-paced space adventure and not really a fantasy story at all. "Dragon" in fact refers to the name of the really rather nifty spaceship which is one of the features (well, one of the characters really- certainly it's portrayed as such) of the book.

Along with two likeable and believable characters (Sillow and Brok) are heaps of delightfully sarcastic humour, some quite grisly moments, sharp twists in the story and a backdrop of potential galactic apocalypse stirred up by an ongoing arms race and a nefarious villain intent on building his own evil empire.

So while it isn't the most original plot, it's very enjoyable for what it is and I think it does speak volumes that I really don't read sort of book very often but I still enjoyed it as much as I did.

And on a separate note, I think it would make an excellent film.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a thoroughly enjoyable sci-fi ‘space opera’. It was big, original and bold. It was packed with a host of wonderful, imaginative technology as well as an array of well-developed characters. It was everything you could ask for from this genre(s) and then some.

I’ve never read anything before by this author, but I instantly connected with his style of writing, to which there is a real fluidity, sharpness and creativity. I think James McCormick will attract a lot of new fans with this and I’m certainly one of them.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I see the word 'Epic' I think overkill but Dragon isn't far away from it. The author James McCormick really bring his worlds to life with very vivid descriptions and many interesting and colourful characters. The plot is quite intricate, so it isn't a book you can skim over. For me it is in my top three SF this year so far.

[Annastew1144hotmail.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a highly entertaining and all encompassing SF read then Dragon will tick all the boxes. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Some definite overtures from Star Wars at times but the writing is excellent and I don't mean that as a criticism. Just comparing it with other well worth reading SF.

[Dane Richter · Rating 3 out of 5]

If Han Solo had his own spin off series then James Austin McCormick’s Dragon would be the closest thing to it. Sillow, a green-skinned, child-like elf, is a likeable rogue smuggler with a penchant for drinking, smoking and using his mouth to find trouble. Step in his companion, Altus Brok, a tall, hulking warrior who is often the one to get his diminutive friend out of said trouble.

In their way is the evil aristocratic Tuolon, Hana Gax a lizard-like warlord bent on bringing destruction to the entire galaxy. What happens when you put the two heroes in Gax’s impossible-to-escape scenarios? You will have to read to find out, but I can say McCormick brings his own unique brand to the escape-by-the-skin-of-your-teeth situations and I must say that I was surprised by a few of the outcomes.

Painstaking care has been taken, down to what some would consider the minor details, but I certainly appreciated them, like the aptly named races. Sillow the silver-tongued Sylvan, Brok the herculean Hurkulun, or the Merdine - crustacean-like people and Nerius, a somewhat nefarious character.

World building is a bit light on for this reviewer’s liking but McCormick more than makes up for it with his fast-paced story and action-packed narrative. This sci-fi space opera would make a great audio book and sign me up as a fan if this ever becomes a TV series. It is worth noting that Dragon can be enjoyed as a series of short stories (as each chapter has its own adventure) and yet it has that easy flowing charm that would allow you to rollick through it in one sitting.

There is a constant theme of acceptance illustrated in many scenes where characters of different species work together to achieve a common goal. This is a great message to convey as it is particularly close to home in our world where gaps of cultural and ethnic diversity are rapidly closing. James Austin McCormick’s Dragon is a fast, fun adventure ideally suited for a younger audience or anyone wanting an introduction to the sci-fi genre.

[G.D. Tinnams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sci-fi action epic set in a fully realised universe with two well developed and contrasting main characters. Sillow is the roguish, elfish, cigar chomping rebel thief while Bok is the stoic, romantic and invincible warrior. Initially their comradeship is a marriage of convenience, but eventually despite, or perhaps, because of their difference, they become close friends. As the book progresses their growing and changing relationship is one of the hooks that keep you reading. Together the two of them, in their advanced ‘relic’ ship, travel the galaxy on missions and adventures trying to avert a war between the sentient races.


In the background of this is another well realised character and patriarchal figure, General Kane. A man that is a century old by the end of the book, he represents the moral purity and self-sacrifice that the two main characters aspire to. Kane saves Sillow and Bok from imprisonment because he has faith in them, and that faith is rewarded. At the other end of the spectrum is the giant lizard king villain Grax who through the course of the story becomes literally ever more power crazed.


Littered through the book are many much loved sci fi devices such as sentient machines, teleportation, telepathy, nanomachines, transformative contagions and indestructible robots. These all meld together into the plot without too much distracting detail. For Sillow and Bok the odds are often stacked against them, and sometimes they win, and sometimes they lose, barely escaping with their lives. Without giving away plot spoilers, the ending is surprising and satisfying.


Fun and easy to read, the book gets better, chapter by chapter, episode by episode.

[Scott Spotson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dragon, which is really a sci-fi "space opera" rather than a work of fantasy despite the book title, has some of the most "creep out" space villains I've ever read. These villains make my skin crawl, and I viscerally imagined myself having to fight them off -- and failing!

Without giving too much away, these villains are like a swarm of electronic monsters, and in other cases, shapeless organic beings, both of which can replicate themselves after being blasted. Speculative fiction rises to its highest form when the two main protagonists, Sillow and Brok, look for clues or precious cargo, only to encounter these beasts. The fact that their spaceship--Dragon--is literally a telepathic, organic beast in servitude to them, is thrilling to encounter as I've never seen such a plot device in science fiction that I can recall personally.

The only tiny drawback in this action-packed novel is that the protagonists seemed to be finding themselves into tense situations rather than articulating a mission of their own. This reminds me a bit of the storylines of Tintin, as an odd couple find themselves drawn to adventure and have no control over the big picture as they escape each narrow hazard, one after the other.

A fun read! Read it for the cool battles that make your skin crawl.

[Kshitij · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a fan of science fiction, this book is going to take you places through the adventures of two main characters Sillow and Brok, who although very different, are at their best when together.
I went in to the story knowing nothing about the plot or about the setup. But the author’s simple and to the point writing helps me immersed in the book. As you progress, you see each chapter works like a mini story and could be a standalone world. At times the pace of Dragon was just too much for me, but the action sucks you in, and the fighting scenes are very enjoyable. This is coming from someone who’ve never bothered about Star Wars.
I’d like to see if the author would continue with the same characters in some other settings. I liked Brok, he was way too serious and I liked the fire in his tone. Author has good timing with the dialogues, sometimes they’re flavoured with humour, no matter what the situation is. The whole created world is believable and immersing and that’s the strength of Dragon.
I’m happy to recommend this book to the lovers of Science Fictions. It surely grabbed my interest. Now, I can try other books on similar lines. Let’s see what Goodreads recommends based on dragon.

[Mike Robbins · Rating 3 out of 5]

James A. McCormick’s sci-fi Dragon starts with a very brief, but elegant and absolutely adequate, preamble:

For decades there were fire and chaos. The cries of war filled space as the sentient races, all newly emerged from their world cradles, fought each other to the brink of destruction. Only then was the ceasefire declared, a tentative agreement at best, but at least it gave hope.

And then you’re straight into the story of two adventurers that must help save that peace. There’s a rum character called Sillow, who is a Sylvan – that is, a member of a faintly elfin race. Sillow is a bit of a space spiv, really; never criminal, just with an eye for the main chance (and a good cigar) and a yen for getting into scrapes from which he just emerges with his skin. Events put him together with Brok, a Herkulun hulk with almost no sense of humour. The two have nothing in common, but together they must try and save the fragile peace from an evil, lizard-like warlord who seeks to destroy it.

I found myself in two minds about this book. There’s a lot to enjoy. The author comes up with some nice characters; Sillow works – it’s clear that his own planet bores him, and being “off-planet” and generally misbehaving suits him better. The Herkulun sort of works too, and there is a sympathetic Earth general. The best-drawn character is an elderly lizard ambassador, Lagua, who, though clearly unwell, embarks on a last difficult mission to try to keep his people on the side of good against evil. Moreover, McCormick has a fertile imagination. An alien parasite causes beings to mutate. There is “Relic tech” – technology from an ancient lost world. There is a suitable quota of monsters. There is a parasite turns out to be a fungal spore that targets the DNA of humanoids, causing them to mutate into appalling beings. Best of all, the author has thought about the convergence between the organic and the artificial; it is already happening, and he has tried to envisage where that will take us.

The problem is that McCormick doesn’t give his reader enough chance to suspend disbelief as the book progresses. There is too much action. You are pitched straight from scene to scene; there is no character development, description or scene-setting to help you become accustomed to the world he has created. There are also a few too many fantastical beings, mutations, weapons and worlds. In smaller numbers, they'd work, but as it is, they don’t always ring true.

Some might argue that, with scaly reptiles, dragons etc., getting the reader to suspend disbelief is a bit difficult anyway. This underestimates the sci-fi/fantasy genre, which has a distinguished history. H. G. Wells’s sci-fi is still widely read today. C.S. Lewis’s enjoyable Out of the Silent Planet is, on the face of it, no more credible than Dragon. R.C. Sheriff, who wrote the famous First World War play Journey's End, later wrote a book called The Hopkins Manuscript, in which the Moon veers off course and lands in the Atlantic. Anyone who believed that humans could survive that had to be out of their minds, even in the 1930s. Yet the book somehow works, I think because Sheriff starts out in a normal, low-key context, with a believable, almost ordinary narrator, and lets the unbelievable in slowly. Sometimes Dragon does that, and then it does convince, when it slows down enough for the characters and environments to come into focus.

McCormick is potentially a really good storyteller, and he has the sort of imagination that does sci-fi or fantasy well. He also spices his story with humour here and there. Last but not least, the book has quite a satisfying end; no spoilers from me, but the story does come full circle and a lot of things about the universe are explained. I think some people will enjoy this book a lot; at times I did. If McCormick can get the pace right, with the right amount of incident, so that the reader has time to get into his worlds and suspend disbelief, he could write some great fantasy.

I received an electronic copy of the book in return for an honest review.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Info
Paperback, 260 pages
Published May 18th 2014 (first published October 25th 2013)
ISBN 1938703200
edition language English
URL
other editions (1)
Source:Digital copy from Author in exchange for honest review

Book Buy Links
Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Dragon is an epic, action packed tale of adventure set amongst the political backdrop of an uneasy intergalactic cease fire. As worlds conspire against each other, Gax, an insane warlord stockpiles an arsenal of ancient technology in his attempt to rule known space. Two ill matched and reluctant heroes stand in his way; Sillow, a neurotic and cowardly Sylvan and Brok, a surly and ill tempered Herkulun warrior. After a chance meeting in a seedy, mobster owned casino the two find their fates interlinked as they are propelled into a series of hair raising adventures that takes them from wanted smugglers to agents of a peace keeping alliance. As war grows close once again Sillow and Brok realize it is they alone who must stop Gax and prevent Armageddon, a very tall order indeed for two unlikely heroes.

My Thoughts

Having been approached by an author unknown to me first downloaded the sample of the book to my Kindle, it was enjoyable reading and accepted the request to read and review book and after having finished am truly happy that I did so as it was the perfect blending of sci-fi/fantasy/action adventure genres with suspenseful twists that gave it a punch!

As a child growing up my first foray into sci-fi was watching and reading the adventures of Captain James T. Kirk, Dr. McCoy and Spock as they traveled from space expedition to space expedition on the Starship Enterprise, always wanted to be able to say “Beam me up Scotty” but alas our technology has not advanced to molecular transporters capable of transferring humans from one location to another.

Then my love of the idea of space travel was cemented with the adventures of Han Solo and Chewie aboard the Millennium Falcon, a fast agile ship that belied it’s weathered exterior appearance kind of like an old beater car with a souped up Hemi engine.

Those were only two of the references that came to mind when learning about ”Dragon” and with the ship having cloaking, transporting and warp speed capabilities it compared favorably to both the Enterprise and Falcon. What made it more fun though was it’s ability to appear to Sillow and Brok in the image of a Red/Gold Dragon, pulled straight out of a fantasy that was a favorite of Sillow’s the space ship had certain unique characteristics that allowed it to utilize some of the mythical beasts abilities and set it apart into a class of transportation that was mind blowing!

Sillow and Brok’s adventures span many years and will take the reader from their first chance encounter, where Brok rescues Sillow, and it’s subsequent pairing of the two totally different characters all the way through their many battles as they encounter enemies in the employ of Tuolon Warlord Hana Gax who seeks to become the ruler of all the races in space down to the final encounter which thrilled as well as chilled when things became dicey for our heroes.

The action is fast paced, the tension when Brok and Sillow are facing overwhelming odds is intense and there are even lighthearted humorous moments when you least expect them.

Overall a great adventure that was fun and thought provoking as well. If there were to be a sequel would greatly love to read it!

[Source:Digital copy from Author in exchange for honest review]

[G.J. Griffiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I started reading Dragon I found a few things in the first chapter that rang bells in my memory and gave rise to feelings of disappointment that grew by the page. The main reason for this was that I was concerned I would not find ideas and concepts in Dragon that seemed to me to possess originality. For example: there is a character called Suleiman, and another who is a Fremen; there is a scene where a group of aliens and humans are gambling in a bar and a space ship becomes the subject of a stake in a card game. We read of an alien with pointy ears and later of another alien, Tytus, who reads insufferable heroic poetry. However, notwithstanding my feelings of trepidation about the next few chapters I continued reading what appeared to be a fantasy/sci-fi kind of book.

The story is of two characters, Sillow and Brok, who have little in common but who must try to save the peace that hangs delicately in space between recently warring worlds. The shady, diminutive Sillow and goliath-like Brok are the pair of buddies in an action-packed book that, unfortunately, does not allow the reader time to gather some awareness of their character. This is also due, in part, to Mr McCormick devoting very little of his narrative to descriptions of the background to his characters or the settings. You are plunged relentlessly from one dramatic “fight scene” to the next, hardly drawing breath before another cliff-hanger approaches. However, there are plenty of amusing moments and interesting ideas to help dilute some of the concentrated action. For example there are “robo-cop” type machines that combine organic protoplasm material with synthetic components; and there is a fungal spore that causes its victims to become terrorising mutant beings. There is a malevolent, lizard warlord who wishes to plunge the universe back into war, and another elderly lizard, Lagua, who happens to be a likeable ambassador. The ending is where this reader wanted to be with a conclusion that is well thought out.

The first sentence of the book’s preamble that began with: “For decades there were fire and chaos.” was a bit off-putting since I feel sure it should say “…there was fire and chaos”, but I wait to be corrected. After that I must say that the writing and use of the English language throughout the book was refreshingly excellent – especially in this growing world of indie/self-publishing where it is all too easy to find bloopers and basic errors in a “new novel”. The ringing bells in my memory are in this list: Saruman of Lord of the Rings, the fremen of Dune, the bar in Star Wars, Spock of Star Trek, the Vogons in The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Universe who wrote the “third worse poetry in the universe” I believe. Science fiction is of two main types: those novels full of “amazing” futuristic technology and very little humanity, and the other type with a compelling plot-line and plenty of character development. Dragon is, for me, the former kind of novel and so perhaps that is why I rated it as just “OK”.

[Nathan Wall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come.

Edited: 1/26/15

It took me a while to come up with words to describe how I felt about Dragon. Namely, because I read it a second time. My second reading of the book left a better impression on me than the first go around, but it also knocked off a bit of the nostalgia.

Things I loved:

- It was an action-packed, good old fashioned Sci-fi romp. It reminded me of a simpler time when space-hopping operas like Dune were in vogue, but cut out all the lazy mumbo-jumbo that bogged those types books down in never ending mythos.

- The odd couple Sillow and Brok had true chemistry, though some of the short-stories work better than others. *More on this later.

- I liked the different feel of the book. Most books are written in static chapters of 1-2k words. Dragon had several different "chapters" that seemed more like stand-alone episodes with a common thread. This helped prolong my attention in each read through, as I kept finding myself saying "oh, what's another 5 pages to finish the chapter?" By rattling off large chunks of the book at a time, but still having clear and defined places to stop, I was able to read it a lot faster. Not that the pace of the book needed to be aided at all.

- There is a brand of humor with some characters that may rub some people the wrong way. Whether or not I liked all of the witty comments, I did appreciate the authenticity brought to certain characters.

The negatives:

- Some parts of the book will give you whiplash. There are a lot of terms, scenes, and actions that go by real fast. Almost if you blink, you'll miss them.

- I said the relationship between Sillow and Brok was enjoyable for the most part. I think it worked better in the beginning of the book than towards the end. In the beginning, we were sort of feeling them out and learning about how they deal with one another (Brok has more self-control than he's given credit for). However, I was hoping for more of their evolving dynamic towards the end than what we got. Still, there's room for future exploration one way or another.

- The whole "two reluctant heroes who have to save the universe" type of thing is a bit trite. I enjoyed the story, don't get me wrong, but we're saturated with that type of thing right now. I know that's not a fault of this book, but it's a reaction I had.

All in all.

I can appreciate the quick read Dragon gave me. It was a fun adventure, and one I'd certainly be willing to take again. Though a few parts seem rushed, or glazed over, I like that the novel didn't do any hand holding. It didn't feel the need to spend copious amounts of paragraphs explaining every little detail. I've seen and read enough sci-fi to know how a raygun works, type of thing. Thanks for not insulting my intelligence.

Some books are built to serve their mythos, and some are just built to serve fun. This was the latter. If you enjoy that type of book, you'll enjoy Dragon.

[R.W. Duder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark my words, you will see more from McCormick and hear a lot about him in the future! I discovered his e-book Dragon quite by chance and it had been a very long time since I had read anything truly unique in the science fiction genre. Obviously, anything within the sci-fi Universe needs to have the staples we all know and love and Dragon has this in spades!! Alien races, spaceship battles, fantasy elements but it was also so much more than that. I read a lot and the mark of a good book of course is that the first chapter needs to hook you. Dragon had me hooked in the very first scene. In fact, my mind goes back to the scene repeatedly in what I honestly consider to be an incredibly memorable and classic moment in my science fiction experience. It sits in my mind in the same vein as the first time we meet Han Solo in the Cantina. I only use that reference to make you understand how much I appreciated the book. As a Star Wars fan, I am paying a great compliment to this story. That isn’t to imply the story is in any way a “rip-off” of the Star Wars Universe. Dragon is indeed its own entity. McCormick crafts his own world with unique races, languages, personalities and action that never stops but a story that drives forward.



McCormick’s style of writing is simplistic and easy to follow. This too is a compliment. Dragon is an easy read but still holds its own in intelligence and characters. You will become completely enthralled with Brok and Sillow, our two unlikely partners and heroes. Their personalities are so distinct and I could not possibly tell you which one I was more drawn to because they are both used so vividly and are such complete opposites and yet perfect together. You have Sillow’s sarcastic, nervous wit and Brok’s brutish temperamental brooding personalities that meld together to create a truly outstanding sci-fi duo.


At first the title and cover of the book throws you. Dragon obviously immediately brings fantasy tale to mind. Even in the early parts of the book you may question the direction of the story. But as you begin to be sucked into this adventure you understand not only our heroes but the ship they have come to call their own known as “Dragon.” McCormick gives this ship a life of its own as well and in its own subtle way becomes a character all in and of itself.
It isn’t often I read an action story of any kind that truly captures the essence of a battle. McCormick makes each and every conflict come to life off the page and that is really the best compliment I can give to this book. It never feels dull, never feels like you’re reading re-hashed material and the world he has created here is so full of depth he has set himself up to come back to it again and again and I hope that he does!! Absolutely check this out because you will find yourself falling in love with sci-fi all over again!!

[Yvonne Crowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A LITTLE GREEN LEPRECHAUN AND SURELY A DESCENDANT OF HERCULES SAVE A WORLD IN CRISIS

On an intelligence gathering mission from his world, our hero, Sillow is a small statured, cigar smoking Sylvan with dark green hair and pointy ears, whose ancestors must surely have hailed from Ireland.
The story opens with Sillow playing a hand of poker at the Casino in the Pleasure Dome on Asmara, against Garrick the human and a reptilian Tuolon, En’n, whom Sillow is sure has been sent to assassinate him and who has blown up his spaceship to make sure he cannot escape.
What to do, as he is under a royal summons to return posthaste to his home world, where he is normally considered a disruptive influence, who is kept away from the Sylvan fields which do not appear to attract him that much? They must be in a tough spot if they are calling on him. Well,as he no longer has a ride, the obvious thing is to win the hand, betting against the Tuolon for his ship. As the latter is a nasty piece of work, this is a decidedly risky bet, but thankfully there is a monitoring droid that prevents Sillow’s demise at this point.
Ever the sore loser, En’n the Tuolon is still hell bent on hammering Sillow into pulp, but as he is running for his life, the Sylvan literally runs into Brok, a musclebound Herkulun, who takes a fancy to Sillow’s staff, which has some pretty fine features. As I hold my breath, fearful for Sillow, this combination brings even En’n up short.
So, Sillow now has En’n’s sleek spacecraft, which he cannot operate because he doesn’t possess enough of the Tuolon language to operate it, and furthermore it is a 2-3 man craft. Turning to Brok, he convince him they make a great team and head off to Sylvan.
An alien parasite has seen off the Elesin and his Queen , along with the majority of the populace. The heir apparent has been cryo-vac’d until it is safe for him to be defrosted and rule over the remaining subjects. All is not as Sylvan as it is cracked up to be, as the nasty opportunist Lord Tahl who has fled his home-world, is about to launch a military coup.
Sillow and Brok must save the day and the Elesindom, which they do, setting off in Dragon, as they have named the purloined spacecraft.
A rollicking good story which had me cheering for the descendant of leprechauns and his muscly friend, whose ancestor was surely Hercules of mythology fame; and which I was unable to put down until they had overthrown the threat. For me, it stands out from most of the books written in this genre, particularly because the very talented James McCormick’s tongue in cheek style of writing, saves it from being the dreary, serious read so many books in this genre are.
Check it out or you’ll miss out on a really good book that deserves to be #1 in its genre.

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

En‟n (Tuolon, a reptilian, professional assassin), Sillow Low (25, a Sylvan) & Garrick & (a human) were playing cards at the casino table (Pleasure Dome) that was built by the crime syndicates 2 decades ago after the Dark Age Wars.
En‟n was upset with Sillow & threatened him. A spherical droid intervened.

Brok (noble) was searching for his Tir Geld. He explained; when you reach the age of 20 you will challenge the clan, go on a dangerous mission, & if successful you will become a Fremen.

The 2 took off from Asmara (moon).

Admiral Bahlik & Captain Kalil were aboard.
N
ext Sillow meets Tar Lin (Merdine, yellow/purple large caterpillar).
Elesin & his queen were murdered. Iaesele Hana Gax (Tuolon warlord) was the new ruler of Silus Ord. He informed Nerius he was not happy En‟n did not kill Sillow.

There was another unsuccessful attempt on the assassination of Lord Iaesele.
Someone will be sent to take care of that matter! Guess who?
The Dragon crashed.

General Kane (Earth) insisted on keeping them that way for a while.
Thorn (high councilor of the Aperion government) greeted Sillow & Brok.
General Kane informed Ambassador Lagua (Tuolon) that Sillow & Brok would escort him back to Aperion.

General Kane (Alliance) & Admiral Bakra (Avan, Anti-Alliance) meet. The General wants the war to end.

Senator Altus Brok was meeting with the Elders.
Will Sillow Low (Sylvan elf) & Senator Altus Brok (Herkulun warrior) be able prevent another Armageddon and take down the evil Iaesele Hana Gax (Tuolon warlord, reptile race).

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well YA futuristic adventurous sci-fi outer space written book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were a few grammar/typo errors, but no repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make great YA intergalactic outer space movie, animated cartoon, or mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free book (Author)
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Dean C. Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, rollicking space opera in the spirit of Star Wars, in this case, with six races looking to get over on one another during a shaky alliance and to come out on top by way of treachery, double dealing, assassinations, rebellions, and whatever other treasonous activities occur to them, hopefully before it occurs to one of their “allies.” Some cool sci-fi concepts are grappled with amidst all the adventures, such as the introduction of a star gate (teleportation device) .

The infusion of relic technologies from ancient civilizations into the various story threads, whose workings one can make use of even without fully understanding them, is a ploy I use in some of my own sci-fi tales, so I enjoyed seeing what this author did with it. I thought he employed it to rather excellent effect, like adding a medley of fine seasonings to an already rich stew.

The unique alien physiologies, temperaments, politics, and cultures help with sorting out who’s who. Otherwise, with all the plotting and scheming each of the races do, they might be hard to tell apart.

The near nonstop action amongst the colorful alien lifeforms made me think this would also make a pretty awesome videogame. The ongoing intrigue of course, elevates the story beyond that, and it’s the delightful mix of action with the ever-shifting plots and schemes in response to prior failed attempts to get what each party wants, that propels the story forward.

If you’re not the huge fan of space operas that I am, this might come across more like a 4 star read, but it should still provide sci-fi buffs of all flavors with some solid entertainment.

[Chotley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As author McCormick has stated, this book started as a collection of novellas, and it still has that feel in its finished form. The story begins as the main characters meet for the first time, and then it takes huge leaps forward in time, skipping all the mundane bits in the characters' lives. The elf, Sillow, is clever and agile but cowardly. Brok, the warrior, is honorable and surprisingly driven by his pursuit of his chosen bride. He's also the character who manages some small change by the tale's end. In some ways, he's the glue that kept me reading.

The setting is vast and well-drawn, populated with discrete cultures and races. The plot touches just about every sci-fi trope out there, from interstellar bars to transporters to ear worms, almost to the point of satire. Bits of humor were sprinkled throughout.

While the book is action-based, it lacks suspense. As a reader, I felt so rushed forward that I didn't have time to worry. I would have preferred the author to slow down and build the tension more before plunging into yet another battle, or perhaps the heroes should have suffered some losses to make the outcomes more meaningful and make me more concerned about the next battle.

If you're looking for something fast, funny, and not too serious in the space opera genre, you can't go wrong with this book.

[Lee French · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more like a series of short stories than a novel. Each chapter takes place in a different span of time, all of them linked together by the two heroes and an overarching plot. While I enjoyed reading it, I found myself wishing each chapter had been expanded into a separate book on its own.

The characters are rather superficial, never growing beyond a collection of quirks and habits. Both main characters are psychologically the same at the beginning as they are at the end. Fortunately, the two personalities are amusing, making this less a detractor than it could be.

The action is entertaining and the plot builds and arcs in a believable, satisfying way. The obstacles seem to be overcome a little too easily at many points, which goes back to the issue that each chapter could have been developed a lot more. Things wrapped up quickly in each scenario, not allowing time for the heroes to face true adversity.

Overall, I enjoyed this book as a summer beach read romp. It's light and fun, and doesn't require deep thought. The author clearly enjoyed himself while writing it, and I look forward to his new projects as his work matures.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Emma Jaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two heroes that could not be more opposite, one who's the same size as a 14 year old human but smokes cigars and can talk his way out of most situations, and an hulking honourable warrior. Together they gallop through the universe battling mechanical monsters, baddies with god complexes and an evil spore that turned its victims into fungus with the help of an ancient, intelligent 'relic' ship.
The action bounces from one fight scene to the next, but it leaves out the back story and most of 'slow' moments that would make this a 5 star book for me. For example the warrior character has a sweetheart, but you hear nothing about her for the vast majority of the book except for the fact Brok agrees to go on a mission to prove he's worthy of her, later on its mentioned they are married with multiple children, but that's all you're told about the love of the main character's life apart from a few words near the end.
I loved the many moments of humour and the fight scenes, so if you like your scifi fast and furious with a smart green skinned mouth thrown in, this will be right up your street.

[Shannon Haddock · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was good, but the story wasn’t well told.

The setting was wonderful. There were several alien cultures and each was distinct. The characters were entertaining, even if Brok did sound a bit too much the stereotypical honorable warrior race guy at times. And the tech and overall plot were very interesting; I particularly liked the ending.

Unfortunately, the breakneck pace didn’t give me much time to enjoy those things before it was yet another fight scene. And the fight scenes could’ve stood to be a bit more interesting, which was a shame as they were so frequent.

Really, it felt more like a collection of related short stories than a single cohesive work.

And, finally, it could’ve been better edited. I’m not usually one to complain about typos, verb tense errors, and punctuation errors, but they were frequent enough to detract.

[Larry B Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are in the mood for an excellent sci-fi, space opera novel then Dragon by James Austin McCormick is the book for you. Don't let the title full you this is pure space opera at its best.

I love the way the author developed his tale and how the story progressed through the years. It is a lite, easy to read book that will keep you glued to the storyline. Each chapter offers a new twist to the tale but the underlying plot continues throughout the book.

James Austin McCormick did a great job of developing his characters as the book progressed. You could see the heroes grow and mature with the story. He provided the necessary background and info to make each of his characters real and believable.

I really enjoyed Dragon by James Austin McCormick and I highly recommend this book to all readers.


[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]

[Pete Bylone · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure exactly why, but I could never really get into this book. The concept is good (unlikely duo pair up to save the universe) but the whole time I read it something felt just a little off. I don't generally like to post anything too negative, after all this is better than anything I've ever written, but I think one challenge for me was to try to keep all of the tertiary characters straight. With such a short book, there really wasn't enough development of any of the characters to make me care about the main ones and to keep the others straight.

I will say that the last two chapters were very good, and if the rest of the book were written the same way it would be a very enjoyable and more easily followed story.

[Stewart Hennessey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dragon is action packed space opera at its best. Spanning two decades we are taken on a series of roller coaster journeys as we follow the adventures of two unlikely and often incompetent heroes; Sillow a neurotic elf prone to panic attacks and Brok, a surly, ill tempered warrior with anger issues. The unlikely pairing provides much of the comedy in the novel, especially in their respective reactions to danger which is never far away.


Dragon is a highly original science fiction work and one that has a touch of fantasy at times. It also has a uniquely thought provoking ending. If you like your sci-fi fast, funny and fast paced then this is for you.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a difficult one for me to read. Although it read quick it lacked for me. The characters were never really developed and I could not find myself caring for them. I found myself wanting the ship Dragon more than anything. It skipped through time without telling me. It was in a few sentences or more in that I find out a decade had passed or that the character was married with kids. It just didn't flow well for me. That being said it was still an interesting story and another idea what happens to us humans when we try to destroy each other and destroy ourselves in the process.

[Stephen Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sillow the Sylvan and Brok the Herkulun join forces initially to flee Asmara, but later their efforts are applied to preventing a far worse situation. This story has well-paced, visceral action scenes that unfold against a somewhat thin political background. The story arrives at a spirited, lively climax, though the plot tends to jump a bit in the middle. The two principal characters are believable, funny, very different, and give this tale its warmth.

[Peter John · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting and epic science fiction adventure. In “Dragon” James McCormick has created an intricate and imaginative world filled with fast action and colourful characters. I have not read much science fiction over the past few years but this book has definitely giving me the bug to delve back into the genre. An excellent, innovative read and a must for all sci-fi fans.

[Lesemappe Svenja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originell und faszinierend zugleich Fazit:
Ein gelungener Science-Fiction, der originell und faszinierend zugleich ist. Mit "Dragon" hat James McCormick eine fantasievolle, Actionreiche und aufwändige Welt geschaffen, mit bunten, sympatischen Charakteren und voller Überraschungen.