In a place unknown. In a time nobody is sure of. Stuff happened, and there were Dragons. Epic dobadoobries unfold at an incredible pace around Prince Jasper and his man-servent, page, the guy who goes with him, Roulart. Can they stop the evil Queen from taking over Prince Jaspers's kingdom, and why should you care? Well, you should care! It will be a really rubbish story if you don't, put some effort in!
Simon carr is, well he is me, hello. I write comedy Sci-fi and horror books. I started writing in 2018. I am severely dyslexic, on the very high end of the scale. So, writing a book was just me being defiant really, doing something I ought never to have been capable of doing.
I really enjoyed writing my first book, Space And Stuff, so I carried on writing. That makes it sound a lot simpler than it was, but after a lot of learning and editing; so much editing! And going through proofreaders at a rate of knotts, I got my books to a standard that only made a few grammar Nazis heads explode; so it will have to do.
I am from Blackburn in the UK, born in the summer of 1976. I have actually won three awards for my books, I know! I was as surprised as you are. If perfect grammar is your thing then you might want to give them a miss, but if you like satire and goofy scenarios I might be what you have been looking for.
Move over king Bernard. No more shall the kingdom of Bellbottom be invaded on a weekly basis by gnash (always on a Wednesday) as his son Jasper is now king. But Jasper now has to fight his own battle with Queen Fellatio! Yep really! This story was a fantastic mix of monty python, lord of the rings, Harry Potter and Game of thrones. For me the references and jokes surrounding Tolkien’s in-depth fifteen page descriptions of trees was the best part and nearly made me wet myself. Serious fourth wall busting hilarity on a par with the humour of Deadpool! If you like armies of sunflowers with googly eyes, women with violent eyebrows, dragons named Jeff and teleporting lamb chops this is the story for you. This was the first time I read this author and it will not be the last!
Ridiculously hilarious and yet so incredibly relevant to this clusterf**k of a world we live in. I tried to find a nicer word. There's not one. Just sayin'. So far, and I've read almost all of them, Dragons and Stuff is second favorite Simon Carr book (#1 Bob & the Blob oh just read it already) and this book is certainly very different in a huge way- Editing. Wow. That's a good thing for folks who get irritated by incorrect spelling and stuff. Overall I think this book has a very cohesive feel to it, more like, well, a book rather than free form expression lol. But I like the free form rambling I guess, because, if anything, Dragons is too neat, too clean. Yes, I actually laughed out loud on most every page, but I missed the errors they make it seem more real and keep me giggling long after the punch line. Kinda makes me feel like Simon is sitting beside me spinning his tale- ok my fantasy, but I enjoy the company during my exile to the couch for LOL-ing in bed. Even so I do think this new editing style will enable more readers to appreciate the insanity and reflect on the relevance of the message presented. Oh and when I said "too clean", I was not referring to subject matter. There's a bit of fowl language and few rather hysterical scenes of a sexual nature. Possible triggers for some maybe, so I'm putting it out there. Read it. you won't be disappointed. Reading WitchyWoo next. already snickering to myself in anticipation. My pillow is waiting on the couch.
Warning: If you are looking for a serious read, this is not it.
Trigger warnings (tongue-in-cheek): Death of parent, massive onion and sunflower annihilation (don't worry, the sunflowers give as good as they get), good jokes, bad jokes. sarcasm/satire, bathroom humor, sexual innuendo, non-PC comments, woke-skewering, and lots and lots of foul language.
This is an engaging and entertaining story. At the core, it is ostensibly one man's (Prince Jasper) journey to protect and then win back his kingdom from invading forces. It's a very twisty journey filled with non-sequiturs, odd allies, witches, wizards, giants, dragons. scorpion gorillas, and more bad luck than one person can bear...and it's all delivered with a wry and dry wit. In spite of all the inanity, I could not help but cheer on Prince Jasper and wonder how it would all play out. Again, this is not a serious story, and it takes swipes at a number of political ideas, stereotypes, literary tropes, and scientific 'truths' (Is the Earth flat or round?) It's all good fun, and I found myself helplessly laughing at some truly terrible jokes. It was a fun ride, and the ending fit the story perfectly. I would read/listen to more from this author.
The narration is odd, almost mechanical and unemotional for most of the story. At first, I though it was an AI performance, and I had to check back to see that it was, in fact, a human narrator. I'm not sure, but I think perhaps it was meant to be that way. In the end, I think it actually suited the atmosphere of the story.
I received a free review copy and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
Dragons and stuff... What can I say? Editing could have been a bit better, little things like tongue instead of the incorrect "tounge", a few misplaced commas have you pausing at odd places, but it's not unbearable like other books I've read. Simon is a new Author and he openly admits this, and that he is still learning. I found the story interesting and engaging, however I wasn't sure if the little digs at real-life issues were meant to be funny or insulting, for me, it shows that Simon is of an older generation to myself as I found they were more offensive than not. If I hadn't promised to do a review I'm not sure I would have completed the book. It reads as a long winded Dad joke and whilst I did find myself openly laughing in some places, it was very Dad joke-esk.
Keep going Simon, you have a lovely imagination and this style of writing works well for you, it's just not really to my tastes.
For those who love dad jokes, this one is definitely for you! I need less blasè in my stories.
Do you want a break from the dead seriousness of hardened avengers or heart strings being tugged to the brink of tears? But you still want to travel the path of magic and fantasy? Simon Carr's "Dragons and Stuff" is light hearted, whimsical and nonsensical with a unending parade of pop culture references which will either have you shaking your head or laughing out loud. Perhaps both. A Prince is looking to become a Wizard to protect his father's kingdom. He finds himself in the company of a talking frog, he rescued from a damsel, who was abusing the poor fellow with unwanted kisses as she was looking to find herself a prince. He found a giant, who wanted to be a troll, so he could exact monetary tributes for crossing his yet to be found bridge. A few other not wannabe heroes who reluctantly joined his cause. Magical battles with dragons and a host of an improbable cast of villains and protagonists with an epic battle and surprise endings. Take a walk on the lighter side.
Let me first say that if you have no sense of humor you will not like this book. If you are uncomfortable with making fun of sacrosanct stories like Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones...don't bother. However, for almost anyone else this is a fun read.
I have never read a Simon Carr book, so had no idea what to expect. I liked the cover and also Mr. Carr's use of the phrase 'epic dobadoobries' in the blurb about the book intrigued me so I had no choice but to read it. If I were asked to describe the book I would say it is a cross between Alice In Wonderland, the 1968 film Barbarella, and a parody of bits and pieces of Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. Oh, and throw in some pop culture.
Honestly, the plot is not particularly relevant. It's all about the journey. By the way, Mr. Carr has also written such greats as Sheeple', Our Fathers Who Art in Lapland, and A Zombie bit Myffanie. I plan on reading them all.
I really love this book. It's so good, it's so fast-paced, it almost feels a bit like a short story, but it's a book length! Funny as can be, with Carr's normal tongue-in-cheek, insult everyone, non-PC, kick in the pants humor, you have to laugh at the hilarious take on everything you read. As usual, he invites you to break the fourth wall, or rather, he constantly does the breaking of said wall, and insists you come along for the ride, regardless of how closely you might wish to be included in the adventure. There's never an escape plan or hatch with Carr's books, so hang on for the ride, and see where you end up. Fortunately, the characters usually find themselves better off at the end than they were when they started! Great book, absolutely loved it, and totally recommend! And expect to see some of these characters again later down the road! (Himt, hint... **tiny spoiler, but not really**)
Simon Carr doesn't need fantasy stories. Fantasy stories have needed Simon Carr. His brand of insanity works in the land of Dragons and Stuff (like, giants and wizards and super-fast deadly mountain sloths.) In response to a threatened invasion, Prince Jasper iis sent by the king to learn at Budget Brenda’s School of Wizardry and Witchcraft. Well, they don't teach witchcraft anymore since people keep burning the graduates. The training sequence had me laughing so hard my son told me to quiet down. The adventure is ON. The battles are epic. The descriptions of trees are amazing. The giant, the dragon, and vicious plants do battle against flying scorpion gorillas and a three-assed dragon (or maybe they said "three ice dragons, it was kind of noisy.) If this sounds like your kind of story save the money you should spend on professional mental health and get this book today.
if there is one thing I enjoy more than fantasy, it is a story that takes the piss out of fantasy. Dragons and Stuff was just the book I was looking for. The story and ideas are so much fun. The main characters question and criticise the fantasy tropes they find themselves in. I laughed out loud at some of their observations. While the story is fun, it is no way near perfect. Some of the gags are repetitive, and slow down the pace. The story could have been trimmed by a hundred pages. The writing lacks polish and feels rushed. This book reads like a first draft that could have benefited from many rewrites.
One thing that has me curious about this book, is how well will it read ten years from now? A lot of the humor comes from ridiculing social trends happening now. So I wonder if this story will feel out-dated and irrelevent to future readers.
Picking up this book, I knew it was going to be a satirical read...however, I was NOT prepared to laugh as much as I did!! Reading this book reminded of the good 'ol times that I played D&D and the DM would pull a bonehead move and we'd have to compensate (usually over the top) to recover from the blunders we found ourselves in!! I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end. The story wasn't dull in any way, nor did it drag! It was action-packed, suspenseful at times and just down right HILARIOUS!! And as the description says, you really SHOULD care about what happens in the story. I did and I didn't regret it once!!
I received a copy of this book via StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This is high fantasy as you've never seen it before.
An old king dies at the hand of a cruel nemesis who then usurps the throne, sending the rightful heir off on a path of vengeance. That plot is as old as civilisation, or nearly so, and normally I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.
However, I'll always make an exception for Simon Carr, because his take on even the most jaded of storylines is well worth the read.
If you've read Simon's previous work, the ending will come as something of a surprise. That's all I'm prepared to say about that. There are also some very nice descriptions of different types of trees, though these aren't central to the story.
This book is a modernized and fractured fairy tale. It evoked the Fractured Fairytales that were part of the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show of my childhood but made for adults. That IMHO is high praise indeed, this book delivers a wonderful combination of hilarity and satire. This book had me laughing out loud at times, causing concerned looks by my canine companion. I would like to point out this book was written for adults. Children and those faint of heart types who can’t take a joke should not read this book. But for the rest of us, I heartily recommend this book for those that need a good laugh to give them a lift. Works for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Audiobook: This story was about an evil queen trying to take over another's kingdom, which I considered a pretty typical theme in many fantasy stories; however, this was not a typical story. I thought there were many entertaining moments in this story. There were some unique monsters and uncharacteristic events that occurred. There was quite a bit of foul language utilized also. Jason Young's narration was questionable in that when the audiobook first started, I thought I was listening to an old-time robotic voice, but once the characters' dialogues began, his narration became better. The longer the audiobook played, the better he performed. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review which expressed my opinions.
This book was funny as all get out. I frequently felt as if the author saw the world through the same eyes as I do. I really enjoyed a lot of his spoofy comments. There are some crazy situations and some crazy characters! Prince Jasper is learning to become a wizard so that he can protect his kingdom from the evil queen of another kingdom. He learns magic in one week and heads home after creating an army of giant sunflowers. 'Nuff said! If off-the-wall fantasy (for adults only, due to the sexual innuendos and swearing) is your thing, I recommend this book. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the narration by Jason Young overly much. It was quite stilted and lacked expression. I received an audiobook copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a hilarious medieval-era story. Prince Jasper sets out on a quest to save his kingdom. There are many hilarious scenes in this story, some that had me rolling. The names, the one-liners, the whole story was hilarious. I absolutely loved the author's style, and hope to read more from them. I enjoyed listening to this one, despite the narrator.
The only thing that was hard for me was the narrator. There wasn't much inflection and some sentences seemed to run together. I couldn't tell if it was a person or a computer reading to me at times.
I did receive this for free from the author in exchange for my review.
I love the character Nash in "Dragons and Stuff." "You can't stop an invasion at the first hurdle!" is one of the many great lines in this magnificent work! I love the adventure and all of the action in this sci-fi tale. I love stories with armies and castles, and this is a great addition to my favorite stories. The red winged dragon and the scout on the grey stallion are more intriguing characters in this fantastic tale. I love the Queen and her angry eyebrows! I feel like I can see all of these innovative, creative chracters, in my mind's eye. I love this author and always love every new novel by Simon Carr! It is relaxing listening to and reading these wonderful narratives.
This is not the first book I have read by Simon Carr so I knew I was in for a treat. Honestly this is his best one yet. Let me recommend that you find a space all to yourself before you start reading this book, as it is truly filled with laugh out loud fun. His novels are all tongue and check so expect a real treat with this one. I received a copy of this book via StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Its Simon in his dragon persona that will keep you reading as you chuckle,cry and turn pages to see where the story leads. You can’t read a Simon Carr book if you don’t have a sense of humour and a fairly thick skin. Books that are so nonsensical they almost make sense. Before reading any of his books please read his intro biography so you have an idea of what you are getting into. There is only one Simon Carr !
"Dragons and Stuff" by Simon Carr, narrated by Jason Young, is a fiery fantasy adventure bursting with excitement. Carr's writing dazzles, and Young's narration brings every character to life. Join Prince Jasper and his brave companions as they battle the wicked Queen – because who can resist a tale filled with dragons and daring escapades?
It is not Pratchett at his best, in fact it is somewhat juvenile. Yet it keeps you smiling and reading. This was my first book by this author and I am quite looking forward to reading more of his books.
A crazy, delightful story of kingdoms, princes, evil power hungry leaders, wizards, and dragons. Laugh out loud funny at parts. Jasper was my favorite character, because you just had to like him!
Simon Carr and 1 more Dragons and Stuff (Apocalypse blockers Book 12) A great and funny book! Cheers to Simon Carr! I received a free copy of this book from Storyorigin and I am leaving an honest review.
Prince Jasper, yep you read that right, Jasper! I know, who’s called Jasper these days. Well this isn’t set in ‘these days’ it takes place a long time ago in a galaxy fa….sorry got my genres muddled for a minute. It’s a fantasy book, but you should’ve worked that out from the title to be fair.
Anyway, Prince Jasper, remember him? You do, good. Sent away by his father to learn the infinite arts of magic and qualify as a wizard in order to protect his homeland from the evil queen, Jasper has just a couple of weeks to get his wizarding diploma.
Aided and abetted by his trusty page Roulart, a Giant who thinks he’s a Troll, a wizard who controls an army of warrior sunflowers and the deranged mind of the author, Jasper has about a fortnight to save the day.
If you’ve read any of Simon Carr’s previous novels then you know exactly what to expect. A, not to be taken too seriously, micky-take of most of the fantasy book royalty. You don’t need to have an intimate knowledge of Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and the like to enjoy this one but if you do then there are some comedy nuggets just for you.
Pure escapism with some laugh out loud moments that will keep you entertained throughout