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Dragon Knight #2
The Dragon Knight
The Dragon Knight is the second book of Gordon R. Dickson's Dragon Knight series. The novel begins five months after the battle at Loathly Tower which took place in The Dragon and The George.
697 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 1990
61 people are currently reading
873 people want to read
About the author
Gordon R. Dickson
587 books376 followersGordon Rupert Dickson was an American science fiction author. He was born in Canada, then moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota as a teenager. He is probably most famous for his Childe Cycle and the Dragon Knight series. He won three Hugo awards and one Nebula award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
August 17, 2022
I'm thinking I probably would have appreciated these books more when they first came out.
Here's what's great about them: Chivalry, chivalry, and more chivalry, as only modern-day can glorify it. Dragons, magical creatures, and old-style English/French rivalry are all thrown into the mix.
It's cute in the way that a modern (80s) medieval historian might love to romanticize the period, giving us all a very Arthurian feel, while generously adding a bit of almost video-game magic to it.
It's cute, easy, and fairly charming.
It isn't modern fantasy, tho. It is a direct predecessor. More fantasy-lite, with a A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court vibe.
I'm trying to decide whether I want to continue on. Perhaps. It's not bad but it's not fantastic.
Here's what's great about them: Chivalry, chivalry, and more chivalry, as only modern-day can glorify it. Dragons, magical creatures, and old-style English/French rivalry are all thrown into the mix.
It's cute in the way that a modern (80s) medieval historian might love to romanticize the period, giving us all a very Arthurian feel, while generously adding a bit of almost video-game magic to it.
It's cute, easy, and fairly charming.
It isn't modern fantasy, tho. It is a direct predecessor. More fantasy-lite, with a A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court vibe.
I'm trying to decide whether I want to continue on. Perhaps. It's not bad but it's not fantastic.
August 12, 2013
I enjoyed this installment of Jim Eckert's adventures, but it bogs down a bit in the details. More than once Gordon Dickson took three chapters to relate something that could have been tightened down into one. I grew impatient when the action came to a screeching halt so that we could listen to a lecture by Carolinus or we had to wade through every thought that passed through Jim's head when he pondered a problem.
I really like the way that Jim comes up with unexpected solutions to the problems presented to him--Dickson shows a lot of creativity in that area. Secoh, the mere dragon, brings some charm to the story, and when he's not lecturing, Carolinus adds magical spice to the action. Though it's not quite as much fun as The Dragon and the George, it's a pleasing sequel.
I really like the way that Jim comes up with unexpected solutions to the problems presented to him--Dickson shows a lot of creativity in that area. Secoh, the mere dragon, brings some charm to the story, and when he's not lecturing, Carolinus adds magical spice to the action. Though it's not quite as much fun as The Dragon and the George, it's a pleasing sequel.
October 27, 2025
3,5 zvaizgnes.
Kā jau turpinājums – gandrīz tik pat labs, kā pirmā grāmata, bet ne tik ļoti tomēr.
Galvenais varonis ir palicis tajā fantāzijas viduslaiku Anglijas līdzinieku pasaulē, bet kas viņam dos mierīgai mīļoto dzīvoties pa pili vien. Bet jāsaka ka šoreiz pamanīju, ka tajā “kvesta” ļoti trūka sieviešu. Ja pirmajā daļā likās loģiski, kāpēc nolaupītā Endžija pasīvi gaida kā balva pilī, tad šoreiz nesaredzēju iemeslu viņai būt pasīvam fona tēlam.
Bet kopumā vēl arvien – samērā klasiska stila fantāzijas darbs, nekāda dziļā literatūra, bet kā izklaidei tiešām nav ne vainas.
Kā jau turpinājums – gandrīz tik pat labs, kā pirmā grāmata, bet ne tik ļoti tomēr.
Galvenais varonis ir palicis tajā fantāzijas viduslaiku Anglijas līdzinieku pasaulē, bet kas viņam dos mierīgai mīļoto dzīvoties pa pili vien. Bet jāsaka ka šoreiz pamanīju, ka tajā “kvesta” ļoti trūka sieviešu. Ja pirmajā daļā likās loģiski, kāpēc nolaupītā Endžija pasīvi gaida kā balva pilī, tad šoreiz nesaredzēju iemeslu viņai būt pasīvam fona tēlam.
Bet kopumā vēl arvien – samērā klasiska stila fantāzijas darbs, nekāda dziļā literatūra, bet kā izklaidei tiešām nav ne vainas.
April 8, 2015
The Dragon Knight (1990) 502 pages by Gordon Dickson
I mentioned that the Childe Cycle books are absolute classics. Dorsai!, Tactics of Mistake, The Final Encyclopedia, etc. The Dragon series is almost up to that level. For a few years in the early eighties I was a member of the Science Fiction Book Club, and among the books that I picked up was The Dragon and the George, I remember liking it, and in my trips to the used book stores, twenty years later, I subsequently picked up several more books in the series. I didn't get Dragon Knight, the second book in the series, until this April. I read a couple of them out of sequence. Although I would like to read them in order, each book is a complete story without leaving it as a cliffhanger.
James Eckert and his wife Angela have been transported from their twenieth century life, to a magic filled medieval period. Jim has become a knight, a low level magician, and can transform into a dragon and is part of the dragon community as well. Dickson has created a world with set rules for the way his characters can behave. I am sure it doesn't mesh with the real 14th century, but only an idealized version of it. There is a whole class structure, and the knights have a sense of honor that dominates how they can act. Jim, being a knight, has to follow these rules, and that's where the fun begins.
In this installment, the prince of England has been captured by France. Jim and all the other knights are honor bound to come up with a contingent of men to go into battle with the French. On their way to France Jim and Brian are approached by an emissary of the King, to rescue the prince. We find that the prince is being held by Malvinne, an AAA level magician, and that Malvinne has been corrupted by the Dark Powers.
The flow of the book follows Jim the whole way, but is broken into many sequences that build and then are resolved, and each of these kind of build the overall plot of the book.
The series is excellent. I've read four of these and I'll definitely read the others. I pretty much like everything that I've read from Dickson.
I mentioned that the Childe Cycle books are absolute classics. Dorsai!, Tactics of Mistake, The Final Encyclopedia, etc. The Dragon series is almost up to that level. For a few years in the early eighties I was a member of the Science Fiction Book Club, and among the books that I picked up was The Dragon and the George, I remember liking it, and in my trips to the used book stores, twenty years later, I subsequently picked up several more books in the series. I didn't get Dragon Knight, the second book in the series, until this April. I read a couple of them out of sequence. Although I would like to read them in order, each book is a complete story without leaving it as a cliffhanger.
James Eckert and his wife Angela have been transported from their twenieth century life, to a magic filled medieval period. Jim has become a knight, a low level magician, and can transform into a dragon and is part of the dragon community as well. Dickson has created a world with set rules for the way his characters can behave. I am sure it doesn't mesh with the real 14th century, but only an idealized version of it. There is a whole class structure, and the knights have a sense of honor that dominates how they can act. Jim, being a knight, has to follow these rules, and that's where the fun begins.
In this installment, the prince of England has been captured by France. Jim and all the other knights are honor bound to come up with a contingent of men to go into battle with the French. On their way to France Jim and Brian are approached by an emissary of the King, to rescue the prince. We find that the prince is being held by Malvinne, an AAA level magician, and that Malvinne has been corrupted by the Dark Powers.
The flow of the book follows Jim the whole way, but is broken into many sequences that build and then are resolved, and each of these kind of build the overall plot of the book.
The series is excellent. I've read four of these and I'll definitely read the others. I pretty much like everything that I've read from Dickson.
November 16, 2011
I read this back when it first came out and at the time I was in middle school. As an adult it might seem like it is lacking depth but of all the books I read as a child/young adult this one has always had a special place in my memory. It really brings to life the medieval world, from knights and castles down to managing farms, and throws in a wonderful fantasy twist; including descriptions of the process of casting magic spells on a level of detail that almost makes you feel ready to give it a go yourself. Any young fantasy fans should definitely pick this up, and any older ones looking for a fun read should leave their expectations at the door and let themselves be swept away for a fantastic adventure!
October 23, 2025
2.5 stars
I was glad to see Jim in a dragon body again. He is more interesting as a dragon than a human.
The way Jim uses magic is unique, which I liked.
I also liked the problem between Danielle and Dafydd. It seemed natural that Danielle was worried that But still, it made Danielle and Dafydd's relationship feel more real.
I was glad to see Jim in a dragon body again. He is more interesting as a dragon than a human.
The way Jim uses magic is unique, which I liked.
I also liked the problem between Danielle and Dafydd. It seemed natural that Danielle was worried that But still, it made Danielle and Dafydd's relationship feel more real.
April 14, 2021
I wish these had lived up to my memory of them. As it is, they're a lot less interesting than I remembered and the wordiness, my gosh, the wordiness!
February 23, 2009
This was a re-read, its been several years since I read this series. I wish I had started at the beginning, but there was quite a lot of recapping of the first novel, too much really. I liked this series though, I like how Jim's particular point of view shows such a contrast in how someone of the twentieth century thinks and acts compared to how a medeival person would think and act in the same way.
July 15, 2008
I came accross this book in the library and enjoyed it so much I followed the series until the author passed away a few years ago. He also wrote a number of Science Fiction novels that are well worth reading.
October 26, 2014
Such a fun read. Love this author's writing style.
January 31, 2019
Gordon R. Dickson's 1990 novel "The Dragon Knight (The Dragon Knight Series Book 2)" is definitely not as good as the first book in the series ("The Dragon and the George (The Dragon Knight Series Book 1)"). Most of the book is OK, but there are several problems. The most prevalent problem is that the pacing is a bit slow. Essentially, he's got his protagonist doing too much talking. In every situation, he spends quite a few pages having the hero and his party sit around developing and discussing plans. It just bogs things down after a while. Then, there's the unevenness of tone. For most of the book, things are fairly thoughtful. But, in the last 10 or 20 percent of the book, everything turns pretty childish. The ending scene is especially bad. And finally, there's the magic. Now, the first book is all about magic and dragons. This book only pays lip service to dragons and supposedly focuses on the magic. But, the magic system basically consists of the protagonist imagining something and writing baby talk on a virtual blackboard in his head. There's no system to it. There's no lore. There's really nothing but imagination and a magical account balance. Also, the overriding plot driver is the result of an entirely silly "rule" the the Accounting Office has regarding the resolution of magical conflicts. If it hadn't been for the ending, I'd have probably stuck with an OK rating. But, the ending was just icing on the cake. So, a Pretty Bad 2 stars out of 5 rating from me (and I won't be reading the rest of the series).
April 20, 2022
I reviewed the first book in this series (The Dragon and the George) eight years ago. I said at that time that I wanted to read more of the series. OK, it took me longer than expected, but it was worth the wait! The 2nd book in the series was great!
Jim Eckert and his wife, Angie, find themselves still in 14th century England and are now known as Sir James and Lady Angela. The Prince of England has been kidnapped, by the French, and James and a band of his friends, including fellow knights, archers, a AAA rated magician, a shrewd talking wolf, and a few dragons, head to France to join the English forces. The Prince is being held captive by an evil sorcerer, Malvinne. Sir James and his assorted companions devise a plan to rescue the Prince from Malvinne's Castle and hopefully prevent an all-out war that could destroy England, France, or possibly both.
I would classify Dickson's stories as "old-school fantasy", not just because they were written in the last century, but because they represent what good story telling used to be. They are entertaining, with a storyline that is easy to follow, there are enough of colorful characters to make the story interesting, but not so many that you get lost, and there is humor to keep the plot moving and the reading fun!
Jim Eckert and his wife, Angie, find themselves still in 14th century England and are now known as Sir James and Lady Angela. The Prince of England has been kidnapped, by the French, and James and a band of his friends, including fellow knights, archers, a AAA rated magician, a shrewd talking wolf, and a few dragons, head to France to join the English forces. The Prince is being held captive by an evil sorcerer, Malvinne. Sir James and his assorted companions devise a plan to rescue the Prince from Malvinne's Castle and hopefully prevent an all-out war that could destroy England, France, or possibly both.
I would classify Dickson's stories as "old-school fantasy", not just because they were written in the last century, but because they represent what good story telling used to be. They are entertaining, with a storyline that is easy to follow, there are enough of colorful characters to make the story interesting, but not so many that you get lost, and there is humor to keep the plot moving and the reading fun!
December 4, 2025
Some of the whimsy of the first book in this series is no longer present in this volume. While this is still more of a fairy-tale or Mort de Arthur-style story (rather than the typical epic fantasy style), it takes itself significantly more seriously.
Jim and his friends are tasked with rescuing the English Crown Prince from the clutches of a powerful French wizard (or perhaps sorcerer) to prevent the French from defeating an English army. There's a water elemental/sylph, French dragons, and a wizard's tower hidden behind a thorn maze.
The action is done well, not least because Dickson was a long-time member of the Society for Creative Anachronism and had experience with medieval combat styles. The characters are rather flat, with the story driven more by plot than personality. The magic is largely unexplained, which is a bit of a problem, since the details of how the magic works are a core element of the story.
Overall, this is not much like anything other than de Camp and Pratt's "Incompleat Enchanter" stories. If you're looking for a typical epic fantasy, you're likely to be disappointed. But taken on its own terms, this book is quite entertaining.
Jim and his friends are tasked with rescuing the English Crown Prince from the clutches of a powerful French wizard (or perhaps sorcerer) to prevent the French from defeating an English army. There's a water elemental/sylph, French dragons, and a wizard's tower hidden behind a thorn maze.
The action is done well, not least because Dickson was a long-time member of the Society for Creative Anachronism and had experience with medieval combat styles. The characters are rather flat, with the story driven more by plot than personality. The magic is largely unexplained, which is a bit of a problem, since the details of how the magic works are a core element of the story.
Overall, this is not much like anything other than de Camp and Pratt's "Incompleat Enchanter" stories. If you're looking for a typical epic fantasy, you're likely to be disappointed. But taken on its own terms, this book is quite entertaining.
October 1, 2021
Thia series is incredible! I didn't think the second could be as good as the first but it totally is. This book brought back every character from the first and it was spectacular!
When the French kidnap the English prince, James and his band of merry men have to go to help recover him. When they find out a evil magician has him, it becomes a bigger chsllenge.
The author takes such joy in expanding his universe that it brings the reader joy. Every new bit of magic that James figures out is so fun. He uses his brain more than ever.
There are some bits that had me wondering if they had a point or if they were just to lengthen the adventure, but they were always fun.
Their are surprises for just about everyone.I think Dafydd and Danielle is the sweetest. Giles is the biggest both times.
I do wish the girls got a bigger part of the story but I'm okay with how it is. Women didn't go to war.
All in all if you love whimsical, funny, friendship and fantasy you must give this a try!
When the French kidnap the English prince, James and his band of merry men have to go to help recover him. When they find out a evil magician has him, it becomes a bigger chsllenge.
The author takes such joy in expanding his universe that it brings the reader joy. Every new bit of magic that James figures out is so fun. He uses his brain more than ever.
There are some bits that had me wondering if they had a point or if they were just to lengthen the adventure, but they were always fun.
Their are surprises for just about everyone.I think Dafydd and Danielle is the sweetest. Giles is the biggest both times.
I do wish the girls got a bigger part of the story but I'm okay with how it is. Women didn't go to war.
All in all if you love whimsical, funny, friendship and fantasy you must give this a try!
April 29, 2020
At first I wasn't sure if this story would hold my attention as an adult reader. The premise felt a little silly (I didn't know all the details because I didn't read the first book). I ended up not putting it down because of the compelling characters and inventive surprises in the story arc. It was a tad slow at times, but overall a very well written book. I'm glad my boyfriend recommended it when I said I was jonesing for something with a Medieval background.
April 11, 2019
Wow! That was incredibly boring. The ebook also had a ton of punctuation and grammar errors. I nearly quit numerous times even when I was 80% through. I am so sad that another of my favorite older series didn't stand the test of time.
October 17, 2017
A very good, equal, follow up.
December 23, 2017
Boring and dated.
July 16, 2018
Loved the first book. This one didn't work for me.
September 9, 2018
Wow
This series has only gotten better with this second book. The heroes are bigger, the villains worse and the story only gets more exciting. Well worth the read!
This series has only gotten better with this second book. The heroes are bigger, the villains worse and the story only gets more exciting. Well worth the read!
August 24, 2019
Very good!
January 5, 2020
I read "The Dragon and the George" many years ago. This is the long-delayed sequel. It's as much fun as its ancestor.
May 5, 2020
Not as memorable as the first book, but still an enjoyable read.
September 28, 2020
DNF at about 50%
This book just gets too bogged down with its own cleverness when it comes to its magic system.
This book just gets too bogged down with its own cleverness when it comes to its magic system.
July 16, 2021
This was well written but not as good as the first book. It was longer than it need to be but still enjoyable.
August 20, 2021
A fun read
November 8, 2021
Second or third time reading (now as kindle book).
A little more convoluted than I remembered. Still has an appreciated humor but plot often seems to bog down.
A little more convoluted than I remembered. Still has an appreciated humor but plot often seems to bog down.
June 16, 2022
A continuation of the adventure! But we go to battle!
And our dragon knight has to work out the best course of action.
And our dragon knight has to work out the best course of action.
December 11, 2022
The continued uation of The Dragon and the George
June 15, 2023
Ending was very abrupt, but otherwise it was a fun read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews