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The Dragon Waiting
“The best mingling of history with historical magic that I have ever seen.”―Gene Wolfe
In a snowbound inn high in the Alps, four people meet who will alter fate.
A noble Byzantine mercenary . . .
A female Florentine physician . . .
An ageless Welsh wizard . . .
And Sforza, the uncanny duke.
Together they will wage an intrigue-filled campaign against the might of Byzantium to secure the English throne for Richard, Duke of Gloucester―and make him Richard III. Available for the first time in nearly two decades, with a new introduction by New York Times bestselling author Scott Lynch, The Dragon Waiting is a masterpiece of blood and magic.
“Had [John M. Ford] taken The Dragon Waiting and written a sequence of five books based in that world, with that power, he would’ve been George R.R. Martin.” ―Neil Gaiman
In a snowbound inn high in the Alps, four people meet who will alter fate.
A noble Byzantine mercenary . . .
A female Florentine physician . . .
An ageless Welsh wizard . . .
And Sforza, the uncanny duke.
Together they will wage an intrigue-filled campaign against the might of Byzantium to secure the English throne for Richard, Duke of Gloucester―and make him Richard III. Available for the first time in nearly two decades, with a new introduction by New York Times bestselling author Scott Lynch, The Dragon Waiting is a masterpiece of blood and magic.
“Had [John M. Ford] taken The Dragon Waiting and written a sequence of five books based in that world, with that power, he would’ve been George R.R. Martin.” ―Neil Gaiman
400 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1983
273 people are currently reading
7142 people want to read
About the author
John M. Ford
102 books207 followersJohn Milo "Mike" Ford was a science fiction and fantasy writer, game designer and poet.
Ford was regarded (and obituaries, tributes and memories describe him) as an extraordinarily intelligent, erudite and witty man. He was a popular contributor to several online discussions. He composed poems, often improvised, in both complicated forms and blank verse, notably Shakespearean pastiche; he also wrote pastiches and parodies of many other authors and styles.At Minicon and other science fiction conventions he would perform "Ask Dr. Mike", giving humorous answers to scientific and other questions in a lab coat before a whiteboard.
Ford passed away from natural causes in 2006 at his home in Minneapolis.
Biography source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_M._...
Ford was regarded (and obituaries, tributes and memories describe him) as an extraordinarily intelligent, erudite and witty man. He was a popular contributor to several online discussions. He composed poems, often improvised, in both complicated forms and blank verse, notably Shakespearean pastiche; he also wrote pastiches and parodies of many other authors and styles.At Minicon and other science fiction conventions he would perform "Ask Dr. Mike", giving humorous answers to scientific and other questions in a lab coat before a whiteboard.
Ford passed away from natural causes in 2006 at his home in Minneapolis.
Biography source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_M._...
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April 9, 2024What an absolutely marvellous book. An alt medieval fantasy in which Byzantium is an evil empire that hasn't been slowed down by the Ottomans. We have a Byzantine mercenary, a Welsh sorceror, an Italian doctor and a German engineer/vampire, all getting snarled up in the Wars of the Roses.
As with all alt history I imagine a lot of the effect will depend on how much of the history you know (it was a trifle hard to follow at points anyway with a lot of politics, ime jumps and things left to the reader's inference). Those of us who spent lockdown obsessively reading Plantagenet history have an advantage, which is not a sentence often written.
It's huge and complex and weary and I loved it. A modern classic of SF that really deserves the name. (and may I note that it was written in the 80s but manages to have meaningful female characters who aren't just there to be raped I'M JUST SAYING).
As with all alt history I imagine a lot of the effect will depend on how much of the history you know (it was a trifle hard to follow at points anyway with a lot of politics, ime jumps and things left to the reader's inference). Those of us who spent lockdown obsessively reading Plantagenet history have an advantage, which is not a sentence often written.
It's huge and complex and weary and I loved it. A modern classic of SF that really deserves the name. (and may I note that it was written in the 80s but manages to have meaningful female characters who aren't just there to be raped I'M JUST SAYING).
August 4, 2013
Wow. The Dragon Waiting is hard work: I can totally understand why some people disliked it. I read it with the Draco Concordans (a fan-written concordance for the book) at my fingertips, all the while conscious that I'm gonna have to read it again to understand it all. It's a subtle, deeply allusive book, requiring both knowledge (of history and other literary texts) and skill with interpretation (of logical implications and emotional ones). I can understand resenting all the work the reader has to do, though for me the need to work is what made me love this book so much.
I don't know how to say all the things I think and feel about this book without simply quoting other people. The theme that touched me most deeply was that of trauma, and the Byzantine colonialism's comparisons to sexual assault -- it was very interesting to me that several key characters were Welsh and Scottish, given that theme and "real world" history.
I was convinced to read this book by this post, really, which says a lot of what I want to say -- and in a wondrously unspoiler-ish manner, too...
Quite possibly, reading that post to begin with is what allowed me to love this book so much. Going in unprepared, I might have given up, which is unfortunate.
I don't know how to say all the things I think and feel about this book without simply quoting other people. The theme that touched me most deeply was that of trauma, and the Byzantine colonialism's comparisons to sexual assault -- it was very interesting to me that several key characters were Welsh and Scottish, given that theme and "real world" history.
I was convinced to read this book by this post, really, which says a lot of what I want to say -- and in a wondrously unspoiler-ish manner, too...
"This is a sneaky, sneaky book: a blood-soaked medieval fantasy; an elegant historical AU; a bleak, gritty political thriller; a witty Shakespeare fanfic; an intricate meta game full of buried jokes about Star Wars and Dracula; and a deeply serious and mature story about human damage (whether trauma or “chronic conditions”) and how we bear it, about suffering and grace."
Quite possibly, reading that post to begin with is what allowed me to love this book so much. Going in unprepared, I might have given up, which is unfortunate.
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March 27, 2024Rereading this book caused me to clarify some of my muddy thinking with respect to wish-fulfillment characters and stories and those that try to present the world as it should be, could be, might be with a little imagination and grace.
The very far end of the spectrum is the so-called Mary Sue story, wherein the protagonist is the center of the universe just because the narrative voice tells us the protag is a special snowflake. Leading off down a different path is the idealized protagonist, which could be termed the Beau Ideal.
In the hands of a great writer this character serves to show what humans could be, and as such he has a venerable history. Not starting with Castiglione’s Courtier as I’ve seen asserted, but farther back, and at the inspiration of a very strong woman: Eleanor of Acquitaine, who worked so hard to wrench the war hungry drive of feudalism into a semblance of the chivalric ideal because she got tired of stinking, sweaty men tromping with filthy boots into her fine rooms, blabbing exclusively of killing unruly barons and damned Saracens, to the exclusion of wit, history, song, and about anything else worth listening to.
There’s a traceable line of these heroes, particularly in the hands of female authors, stemming from the Pimpernel, up through Peter Wimsey to Crawford of Lymond and those he inspired. That Beau Ideal is recognizable through his descendants—witty, well, read, courageous, seemingly immoral or amoral, but actually true to his beliefs. And he has beliefs, even if it is only in his fellow-man.
I think of him as a descendent of Eleanor's vision, and in The Dragon Waiting John M. Ford gives us the splendid Dimitrios, the anchor to the story, the sign that though the world around the characters seems to be sick with disease, war, greed, ambition, and death, there is grace, even if as elusive as the echo from an unseen choir.
The very far end of the spectrum is the so-called Mary Sue story, wherein the protagonist is the center of the universe just because the narrative voice tells us the protag is a special snowflake. Leading off down a different path is the idealized protagonist, which could be termed the Beau Ideal.
In the hands of a great writer this character serves to show what humans could be, and as such he has a venerable history. Not starting with Castiglione’s Courtier as I’ve seen asserted, but farther back, and at the inspiration of a very strong woman: Eleanor of Acquitaine, who worked so hard to wrench the war hungry drive of feudalism into a semblance of the chivalric ideal because she got tired of stinking, sweaty men tromping with filthy boots into her fine rooms, blabbing exclusively of killing unruly barons and damned Saracens, to the exclusion of wit, history, song, and about anything else worth listening to.
There’s a traceable line of these heroes, particularly in the hands of female authors, stemming from the Pimpernel, up through Peter Wimsey to Crawford of Lymond and those he inspired. That Beau Ideal is recognizable through his descendants—witty, well, read, courageous, seemingly immoral or amoral, but actually true to his beliefs. And he has beliefs, even if it is only in his fellow-man.
I think of him as a descendent of Eleanor's vision, and in The Dragon Waiting John M. Ford gives us the splendid Dimitrios, the anchor to the story, the sign that though the world around the characters seems to be sick with disease, war, greed, ambition, and death, there is grace, even if as elusive as the echo from an unseen choir.
July 20, 2022
Good news: Tor is publishing a new edition the end of this month (Sept. 2020) of this hard-to-find masterpiece. I read this edition for my 2022 reread.
Off to a 5-star start with this World Fantasy Award-winner that I'd somehow missed. Publisher compares it to Mary Stewart's "Crystal Cave." Not a bad call. "Dragon" sprawls from Ireland to Constantinople in the waning years of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire, which fell to the Turks in 1453, in OTL. Well, it's not waning *here* (see Jo Walton's review, linked below). Ford says he tried hard to get the history right, up to the point of divergence, before adding the fantastic elements (wizards and vampires, so far). Then he quotes Nennius, whoever he was (ah, a Welsh monk of the 9th century): "I yield to him who knows more of these things than I do." Heh.
[p.98. Dr Cecily Vittori is saving Lorenzo de' Medici's life]. You know you're in good hands when you tear up over bad stuff that happened six centuries ago. And when you slow down your reading, so you won't finish the book too soon.
It's always a little startling when the words-in-a-row turn into people you care about. Author Ford was a little in love with Dr. Cecily, I think -- though he gave her some very hard knocks.
The review to read is Jo Walton's,
https://www.tor.com/2009/07/30/subtle...
"It’s a brilliantly written, absorbing book with great characters; it’s hard to put down once it gets going; and it’s laugh aloud funny in places. This is John M. Ford’s World Fantasy Award-winning masterpiece...
The characters are wonderful, all the way through. The book gives you time to get to know them and then uses them in precise ways, so you feel they’re doing exactly what they would do. This is true even of minor characters. It also uses Arthurian motifs to underscore the story, without ever getting tangled up in them. ... What a good book this is, what an enjoyable read, and how incredibly clever. I love it."
Almost everyone who's read this book remarks on the need to reread it, to really understand what Ford was doing. For sure there are pages where I was wondering what the hell was going on. On the future-reread list. Amazingly dense and well-crafted book. 5 stars; almost certainly his masterpiece. RIP Mr. Ford (1957-2006). He died way too young.
2022 reread: I didn't like the book quite so much on second reading. I don't regret re-reading the book. It's certainly heavier with warfare than I generally prefer, and it 4 stars for my reread.
Off to a 5-star start with this World Fantasy Award-winner that I'd somehow missed. Publisher compares it to Mary Stewart's "Crystal Cave." Not a bad call. "Dragon" sprawls from Ireland to Constantinople in the waning years of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire, which fell to the Turks in 1453, in OTL. Well, it's not waning *here* (see Jo Walton's review, linked below). Ford says he tried hard to get the history right, up to the point of divergence, before adding the fantastic elements (wizards and vampires, so far). Then he quotes Nennius, whoever he was (ah, a Welsh monk of the 9th century): "I yield to him who knows more of these things than I do." Heh.
[p.98. Dr Cecily Vittori is saving Lorenzo de' Medici's life]. You know you're in good hands when you tear up over bad stuff that happened six centuries ago. And when you slow down your reading, so you won't finish the book too soon.
It's always a little startling when the words-in-a-row turn into people you care about. Author Ford was a little in love with Dr. Cecily, I think -- though he gave her some very hard knocks.
The review to read is Jo Walton's,
https://www.tor.com/2009/07/30/subtle...
"It’s a brilliantly written, absorbing book with great characters; it’s hard to put down once it gets going; and it’s laugh aloud funny in places. This is John M. Ford’s World Fantasy Award-winning masterpiece...
The characters are wonderful, all the way through. The book gives you time to get to know them and then uses them in precise ways, so you feel they’re doing exactly what they would do. This is true even of minor characters. It also uses Arthurian motifs to underscore the story, without ever getting tangled up in them. ... What a good book this is, what an enjoyable read, and how incredibly clever. I love it."
Almost everyone who's read this book remarks on the need to reread it, to really understand what Ford was doing. For sure there are pages where I was wondering what the hell was going on. On the future-reread list. Amazingly dense and well-crafted book. 5 stars; almost certainly his masterpiece. RIP Mr. Ford (1957-2006). He died way too young.
2022 reread: I didn't like the book quite so much on second reading. I don't regret re-reading the book. It's certainly heavier with warfare than I generally prefer, and it 4 stars for my reread.
May 14, 2021
This one is a World Fantasy Award winner and a heavily researched historical fiction with vampires, magicians, and even a dragon.
But oddly, it's not the vampire aspect, or the magician aspect, or the appearance of the dragon that makes this novel. Indeed, they are just complications to a rich, detailed world that ranges from Julian to the Medicis to Edward the 4th to the fall of the Byzantine empire. It's the real-world characters and intrigues and HISTORY that make this novel shine.
I can't stress this enough, but if you want to know what the book is about, it's all in the blurb. That's the prime driver. The fact that some of these famous personages happen to be vampires, magicians, or even dragons (and I'll let you have fun finding out the REAL history of the princes and Richard III, as told in this book,) is just spice to a deep, deep tale.
But oddly, it's not the vampire aspect, or the magician aspect, or the appearance of the dragon that makes this novel. Indeed, they are just complications to a rich, detailed world that ranges from Julian to the Medicis to Edward the 4th to the fall of the Byzantine empire. It's the real-world characters and intrigues and HISTORY that make this novel shine.
I can't stress this enough, but if you want to know what the book is about, it's all in the blurb. That's the prime driver. The fact that some of these famous personages happen to be vampires, magicians, or even dragons (and I'll let you have fun finding out the REAL history of the princes and Richard III, as told in this book,) is just spice to a deep, deep tale.
February 1, 2023
Absolutely the best reason to read this book is Ford’s world building. He created a brilliant alternative history of the late Middle Ages that is recognizable, yet with startling differences. (If you’re not a history nerd you will miss the best of this book, and I suggest that you not even bother.) This is the most masterful and erudite alternate history I’ve ever read.
In Ford’s world, Julian the Apostate (Roman Emperor 361-363) survived his fatal battle wound, reigned long, (as Julian the Wise) and completed his project of reversing Constantine’s Christianizing, returning the empire to a Neoplatonic Paganism. Christianity withered to an obscure and insignificant cult. Islam failed to emerge at all. Byzantine Rome expanded to dominate most of Europe. A Plantagenet English Empire is one of the few areas not under Byzantine control, and the Empire lusts for it. All of this is background, skillfully revealed as the story unfolds in a remarkably changed 15th century.
The Dragon Waiting feels like several books crushed into one. Part One gives us three, detailed back stories for our main protagonist. (Any one of these could have expanded into its own book.) Part Two starts off with a novella length Locked Room Murder Mystery. This devise is used to bring the major characters together. There’s a generous helping of spy fiction along the way. There’s warring Italian City States. There’s Arthurian legend reaching out from the past, Welsh Wizards, and vampire gunsmiths. Of course, there’s The War of the Roses with its full cast making up half the book and taking alternative paths. There’s nefarious intrigue, deadly skirmishes, and full scale battle. And, oh yeah, did I mention there’s a dragon?
In Ford’s world, Julian the Apostate (Roman Emperor 361-363) survived his fatal battle wound, reigned long, (as Julian the Wise) and completed his project of reversing Constantine’s Christianizing, returning the empire to a Neoplatonic Paganism. Christianity withered to an obscure and insignificant cult. Islam failed to emerge at all. Byzantine Rome expanded to dominate most of Europe. A Plantagenet English Empire is one of the few areas not under Byzantine control, and the Empire lusts for it. All of this is background, skillfully revealed as the story unfolds in a remarkably changed 15th century.
The Dragon Waiting feels like several books crushed into one. Part One gives us three, detailed back stories for our main protagonist. (Any one of these could have expanded into its own book.) Part Two starts off with a novella length Locked Room Murder Mystery. This devise is used to bring the major characters together. There’s a generous helping of spy fiction along the way. There’s warring Italian City States. There’s Arthurian legend reaching out from the past, Welsh Wizards, and vampire gunsmiths. Of course, there’s The War of the Roses with its full cast making up half the book and taking alternative paths. There’s nefarious intrigue, deadly skirmishes, and full scale battle. And, oh yeah, did I mention there’s a dragon?
August 10, 2022
Fascinating alternate history concept but such an overwhelming number of names, places and threads of political and palace intrigue that I think only true European history buffs can really appreciate it. Ultimately I found the characters and relationships drawn with exquisite intricacy yet the loosely hung plot lacked a strong driving narrative and purpose.
September 24, 2012
This book makes me feel like an idiot. I love it to pieces.
I'm not sure how both of these things can be true simultaneously, but they are. I have read it twice now with only the vaguest understanding of the Wars of the Roses (I suspect it would help to know something about them), been very very confused, and yet I love it. I love the characters and the clever twisty worldbuilding and Greco-Roman polytheism hanging out in the 1400s and the Mithras cult (and, okay, I did a lot better at the parts of this novel where I actually knew something about something).
Basically, Christianity failed to really take hold in this world, and Byzantium has most of Europe. The main characters are busily trying to put Richard III on the throne and stop the spread of the Byzantine Empire -- Henry Tudor is, of course, being helped out by them. This only really comes clear in the latter half of the book; the beginning has some espionage and murder mysteries and all sorts of things that really have very little to do with England. (Mostly I like the beginning better.)
Also there are vampires.
(One of the main characters is a vampire. He's pretty awesome. Actually, all four of them are pretty awesome. Characterization is one of the book's strengths. Which is good, because you need something to hang onto as it dives through the plot. Seriously, there's a fan-made concordance to the novel, and if any book needs it, this one does. Maybe next time I will remember to read it with the concordance webpage open in another window, because I didn't manage to this time either.)
I know I am doing a bad job communicating why you should read this, but if you want alt-history fantasy that is really, really, really intelligent, you need to find a copy of this.
I'm not sure how both of these things can be true simultaneously, but they are. I have read it twice now with only the vaguest understanding of the Wars of the Roses (I suspect it would help to know something about them), been very very confused, and yet I love it. I love the characters and the clever twisty worldbuilding and Greco-Roman polytheism hanging out in the 1400s and the Mithras cult (and, okay, I did a lot better at the parts of this novel where I actually knew something about something).
Basically, Christianity failed to really take hold in this world, and Byzantium has most of Europe. The main characters are busily trying to put Richard III on the throne and stop the spread of the Byzantine Empire -- Henry Tudor is, of course, being helped out by them. This only really comes clear in the latter half of the book; the beginning has some espionage and murder mysteries and all sorts of things that really have very little to do with England. (Mostly I like the beginning better.)
Also there are vampires.
(One of the main characters is a vampire. He's pretty awesome. Actually, all four of them are pretty awesome. Characterization is one of the book's strengths. Which is good, because you need something to hang onto as it dives through the plot. Seriously, there's a fan-made concordance to the novel, and if any book needs it, this one does. Maybe next time I will remember to read it with the concordance webpage open in another window, because I didn't manage to this time either.)
I know I am doing a bad job communicating why you should read this, but if you want alt-history fantasy that is really, really, really intelligent, you need to find a copy of this.
May 31, 2022
“The best mingling of history with historical magic that I have ever seen.” (Gene Wolfe)
“Had [John M. Ford] taken The Dragon Waiting and written a sequence of five books based in that world, with that power, he would’ve been George R.R. Martin.” (Neil Gaiman)
Introduction
The Dragon Waiting is one of the most nuanced, complex, and original historical fantasy novels ever written. The historical fiction aspects are simply astonishing, this novel is first an alternate history, what if Byzantium never fell. Then secondly, it’s a fantasy novel filled with Vampires and Magicians. Though very unorthodox, which I will describe later. It’s about how would these elements fundamentally change the course history (and what would retain). But more importantly, this novel is an adventure. From heists to murder mysteries ( akin to Sherlock), a Don Quixotesque adventure, a political thriller and more that comes with that. With lovable characters being the driving force of this adventure.
Nicky, the most liked review of this novel (on Goodreads) states:
It's a subtle, deeply allusive book, requiring both knowledge (of history and other literary texts) and skill with interpretation (of logical implications and emotional ones). I can understand resenting all the work the reader has to do, though for me the need to work is what made me love this book so much.
I fully agree with her assertion it does require a lot of processing because of its allusive nature. Though I will say mainly, before reading this novel, I think it’s important to familiarise yourself with The War of Roses. Not in-depth but just a brief understanding of that period and Richard III. Another thing I would recommend is reading Scott Lynch's introduction, which if you don’t have it, you can read it free on Amazon. I think Lynch gives the correct set of expectations of what to expect from this adventure. In terms of why did I want to read this novel? Honestly, I am a simple man and the Gene Wolfe blurb sold me. Which yeah, I think delivered upon the promise of the historical magic which I will discuss below.
Prose
If there is one word to describe Ford's prose it's lyrical. The dude knows how to string sentences together that are evocative and full of depth. The man is a master at literary allusions to almost everything you can think upon. The War of Roses period, the Arthurian legends, From the Divine Comedy to Star Wars (literally) and making it work. Ford will not guide your hand; a lot is either implied or shown in plain sight, but you’ll have to remember it. Though there is one element of his writing that’s a tad contentious is a lack of an indicator. Ford's prose he utilises is somewhat like a theatre play (hence the epigrams and all the Shakespeare references) so sometimes a sentence can just cut off and then it will be a couple of days after in the next sentence. Sometimes he gives mini chapters (breaks) within the chapter like act 1 scene 3 (doesn’t say it but like a theatre in that context) but others he doesn’t. At first, it can be seen as a bit jarring, but you will get used to it.
Characters
The characters are truly the heart of this novel. There is so much depth and nuance everywhere but at the end of the day, this is what connected me to this journey. The character arcs I thought were great it's hard to pick a favourite, but it is either Hywel or Cynthia. A clear second would be Gregory than Dimitrios. Though all these main POVs are great. This novel contains my favourite depiction of Richard III. I didn’t expect too much as I know the history behind him, but yeah that depiction of him was a pleasant surprise. Ford gave him a lot of depth. Cecily Neville is another unexpectedly fantastic character. I knew absolutely nothing about her, so when she was on the page, I was shocked at how much depth and how much I enjoyed reading about her. In general Ford's ability to depict emotions, and subtle cues with his page count is damn impressive. Furthermore, the dialogue is so snappy and witty. Loved how he communicated certain dialects but in general when I was lost the back and forth banter was really engaging.
Worldbuilding
The worldbuilding is intricate and completely lived in. Ford takes this setting and makes it feel so grounded despite some fantastical aspects. An example is because Constantinople remains the greatest power in Europe. Mithraism was not eclipsed by Christianity but remained pretty popular. Due to this development, there isn’t a Christian calendar, years are always counted in the reign of the current king. As Christianity and Islam never became the dominant religions, on the 25th of December some people would celebrate the birth of Mithras. In terms of religion well, the world is wildly polytheistic (belief in multiple deities). All faiths are tolerated and have equal standing in law. So, we get Greek, Roman, Gallic, Egyptian and other gods. In terms of Christianity, that is touched upon, but I won’t get into details because that is a part of the fun. I loved how the core essence (to me) of Christianity is explored regarding faith and hope. There is this one Don Quixotesque adventure that’s just so beautiful and moving. Another interesting element of the what-if situation is because Constantinople was known for its technological and artistic advancement you will see maybe accelerated advancements. I haven’t even touched upon the magic which will have a dedicated section but elements of that for sure makes the world feel so rich.
Magical Aspects
This is a soft magic system, but certain principles are followed (so not Deus ex machina). It’s so interesting discovering this aspect as you read. What I love specifically is how much weight magic has. There’s a heavy consequence when a wizard uses magic. The destructive nature of it, makes it so unpredictable. Another element I loved was the subtlety. In some chapters I had no clue magic was used at all, until I reread certain passages where it’s implied it's used. This just increases the uneasiness of the world. How magic can subtlety change major events without you realizing it and the characters. Anyways another magical aspect I thought was interesting was the implementation of Vampires. I won’t say what rules it follows and doesn’t, but I felt it approaches it in a very interesting manner. One element I will say it explores is that it's more like a disease than a supernatural condition.
Topics-Themes
I’m not going to go in-depth with any of these because it's more how you interpret it. All I can say is how it approached so many subjects, with such depth and with its small page count is fantastic. Subjects like grief, suffering, loss, anti-war, moral corruption, and many others but particular the exploration of PTSD (and religion) in the 15th century. I thought the subject matter was explored tastefully and done with nuanced despite the low page count. The medical side of the book was pretty cool thinking about what was possible in that era in history.
Plot-Structure
I will say don’t worry too much about the plot.
Though one tip I will give is that pay attention to the motivation of what is explicitly stated and what’s implied. Now the structure is something that people in the read-along had a lot of trouble contemplating. So I will try to help the experience
Part 1: Origin Stories
Chapter 1 [Date,1424]: This is an origin story and furthest back in the time. It's important but don’t worry too much about being lost. You don’t have to worry about too much historical context you can read it normally.
Chapter 2 [Date,1464-1469]: This is another origin story, which the France historical context is cool to know isn’t super needed to understand the core plot.
Chapter 3 [ 1477]: Another origin story, this one is tough in the beginning. We get introduced to many historical figures in history. As Lorenzo was friends with Leonardo da Vinci and other famous figures. It's only the beginning that can be rough but afterwards, it's smooth sailing.
Part 2 onwards is the core plot; the date starts from 1477 to find out yourself. You’re probably wondering this is nothing to related to War of Roses! but chapter 6 onwards is where it’s centred upon it.
The rest of the chapter's major plot is a retelling of this historical event, with some twists and turns. I do love reading some of the “solutions” (Ford even hates calling it that) to famous mysteries. There is a separate plotline which I won’t say anything about the matter, but it all connects in some manner.
Conclusion
This novel I was somewhat hesitant to read, as I joined a read-along in which most people were mixed upon the experience. Thankfully that wasn’t the case for me, I loved it. After finishing it, having the urge to reread it, but I will wait and familiarise myself with Shakespeare Richard III, War of Roses, King Arthur, Byzantium and many others (before rereading). I felt like I was just scratching the surface in my reading of this novel, despite using a fan concordance as I was reading it. In Conclusion Thank you, Gene Wolfe, for that blurb as this was a brilliant experience. One of the most refreshing fantasy novels I’ve read in a long time. I think if you go in with the correct set of expectations, I think you will have a great time.
9/10
Note : Above I was talking about this, Draco Concordans (a fan-written concordance for the book). Shout out to Nicky for notifying me of this, in her review. Really enhanced my experience as I was reading the novel.
October 3, 2019
This is something of a genre crossing novel. It falls under sword & sorcery and Alternative History. If you know the history of 15th Century Western Europe (especially England) than you'll get a kick out of the story. I majored in History with a focus on European History.It was fun to see how the author changed many things but kept others. AH purists will take offense at how Ford breaks "the rules" , but I wasn't bothered by it.
If you aren't very familiar with the late Middle Ages/Early Renaissance Ford does a good job explaining changes from actual history in the Afterword. The novel moves along at a brisk pace and the writing is intelligent with both depth and pathos. All in all I say give it a try. You might like it.
If you aren't very familiar with the late Middle Ages/Early Renaissance Ford does a good job explaining changes from actual history in the Afterword. The novel moves along at a brisk pace and the writing is intelligent with both depth and pathos. All in all I say give it a try. You might like it.
June 18, 2018
At times ‘The Dragon Waiting’ reminded me of The Lymond Chronicles, as it features very complicated spy machinations with few concessions to the reader unfamiliar with the period in question. There is no omniscient smartarse like Lymond for events to revolve around, though. Instead, magic and vampires! I found the pacing initially rather a challenge, as the four main characters are introduced separately at length then the plot accelerates very rapidly once they’re thrown together. Ford also used the Lymond Chronicles conceit of letting you guess which main characters are present in disguise when the scene shifts. Once a third of the way through, I was hooked by the plot and invested in the characters: a wizard, a vampire, a doctor, and a mercenary who form a close alliance, or perhaps fellowship is a better word. They get deeply involved with the dramatic machinations of the English monarchy, in an alternate 15th century.
Although I enjoyed the thrilling set-pieces and plot twists, the greatest joy of the novel in my view is the little world-building details. As Christianity hasn’t taken hold in Europe, Dante’s masterwork is called the ‘Commedie Uomo’, the Roman gods are invoked when swearing, and London has a magnificent Pantheon rather than cathedrals. I’d probably appreciate it even more with greater knowledge of the period. The specifics of magic and vampirism are also very cleverly and elegantly presented. The uses to which magic is put, as well as its overlap with medicine, are unusual and thought-provoking. The dragon of the title is the most interesting twist on the concept that I think I’ve ever seen in fantasy. The four main characters are a compelling bunch and I was invested enough to get very worried about them. There are plenty of betrayals and last minute rescues to ramp up the tension.
I found out about this book from Jo Walton’s blog post collection What Makes This Book So Great, an excellent source of sci-fi and fantasy recommendations. Here’s her piece about it, which I suggest reading after the novel itself. While ‘The Dragon Waiting’ is slightly baffling at first, the mystery and intrigue are a great strength overall. Unravelling what’s going on is a satisfying and enjoyable experience. Still, I wish the plot had been drawn out for perhaps twice as long because I wanted more world- and character-building filler. The speed of events prevented it from becoming one of those totally immersive five star novels that lets me exist in a different world for a few wonderful hours.
Although I enjoyed the thrilling set-pieces and plot twists, the greatest joy of the novel in my view is the little world-building details. As Christianity hasn’t taken hold in Europe, Dante’s masterwork is called the ‘Commedie Uomo’, the Roman gods are invoked when swearing, and London has a magnificent Pantheon rather than cathedrals. I’d probably appreciate it even more with greater knowledge of the period. The specifics of magic and vampirism are also very cleverly and elegantly presented. The uses to which magic is put, as well as its overlap with medicine, are unusual and thought-provoking. The dragon of the title is the most interesting twist on the concept that I think I’ve ever seen in fantasy. The four main characters are a compelling bunch and I was invested enough to get very worried about them. There are plenty of betrayals and last minute rescues to ramp up the tension.
I found out about this book from Jo Walton’s blog post collection What Makes This Book So Great, an excellent source of sci-fi and fantasy recommendations. Here’s her piece about it, which I suggest reading after the novel itself. While ‘The Dragon Waiting’ is slightly baffling at first, the mystery and intrigue are a great strength overall. Unravelling what’s going on is a satisfying and enjoyable experience. Still, I wish the plot had been drawn out for perhaps twice as long because I wanted more world- and character-building filler. The speed of events prevented it from becoming one of those totally immersive five star novels that lets me exist in a different world for a few wonderful hours.
May 15, 2018
This is a good book, but it’s not a great one and somehow, that leaves me more frustrated than I would have been if it had just been bad.
John M. Ford treats history like a dog trained to do tricks for him, he plays with words and allusions in a way that would make Hemingway jealous and he somehow gets away with having Richard III quote Gildor from "The Lord of the Rings". It seems the only thing he can’t do is write a coherent plot.
This book contains multitudes. It’s fantasy, in a historical setting, with mind-boggling crime story subplots including spies and fake identities, but at the same time it could also pass as a philosophical or even religious testimony. Less could be more, sometimes.
It’s not that I dislike the plot per se, but it could have been so much better. It just never lived up to the brilliant opening chapters which introduced us to a boy growing up in rural Wales and discovering his magical abilities, the adolescent son of the Governor of Burgundy faced with a plot against his family without the power to prevent it and a young woman working as a doctor at the court of the intriguing Lorenzo de Medici. Each of these three stories would have made a better book than these characters teaming up with a German vampire-physicist when they try to shape the outcome of the Wars of the Roses simply because the author wants them to.
While this is the first book I’ve read so far in which Richard III actually manages to survive Bosworth and remain king, it is also the first where I sort of hoped he wouldn’t. He’s not a nice man, this Duke of Gloucester (although Ford tries his best to paint him as such), but that would be easily forgivable if he weren’t also boring. Still, kudos to Ford for writing a pro-Ricardian book in which the king actually has his nephews murdered. Although they were a pair of too-cute-by-far vampires.
Some minor things that bothered me:
- The timeline is never made clear. An entire war a few months but which year, exactly? The ages and birth years of the historical characters don't add up.
- Ford had his characters speak in different languages quite often which is authentic, but also cringeworthy because at least his Latin and German are terrible. I can’t account for the other languages since I don’t speak them myself.
- The ending. Very abrupt and not exactly happy. What became of the characters? Has everyone survived the battle? What did they actually gain from this, apart from some sketchy character development? Did they finally realize that there wasn’t a good reason for them to meddle in the Wars of the Roses to begin with?
Why you should read this book regardless:
I read it for my bachelor thesis which is about the Wars of the Roses, so I’m always interested in new approaches to the subject. This one has vampires, machine guns, magic and allows several interesting characters to survive. (Including the history-crush-worthy Anthony Woodville or Richard’s baby sister Ursula who is casually mentioned to have become some sort of Joan of Arc. You go, girl!) Apart from that, the book is also very well written in terms of style and language (well, English, that is). I sometimes found myself wishing I could care more for it. I certainly cursed John M. Ford at the end, for dying at 49 and never giving us a sequel to tie up the loose ends.
But then again, he gave us a group of 15th century Italian aristocrats inventing Star Wars in the shape of a lyrical ballad and that is almost as good.
John M. Ford treats history like a dog trained to do tricks for him, he plays with words and allusions in a way that would make Hemingway jealous and he somehow gets away with having Richard III quote Gildor from "The Lord of the Rings". It seems the only thing he can’t do is write a coherent plot.
This book contains multitudes. It’s fantasy, in a historical setting, with mind-boggling crime story subplots including spies and fake identities, but at the same time it could also pass as a philosophical or even religious testimony. Less could be more, sometimes.
It’s not that I dislike the plot per se, but it could have been so much better. It just never lived up to the brilliant opening chapters which introduced us to a boy growing up in rural Wales and discovering his magical abilities, the adolescent son of the Governor of Burgundy faced with a plot against his family without the power to prevent it and a young woman working as a doctor at the court of the intriguing Lorenzo de Medici. Each of these three stories would have made a better book than these characters teaming up with a German vampire-physicist when they try to shape the outcome of the Wars of the Roses simply because the author wants them to.
While this is the first book I’ve read so far in which Richard III actually manages to survive Bosworth and remain king, it is also the first where I sort of hoped he wouldn’t. He’s not a nice man, this Duke of Gloucester (although Ford tries his best to paint him as such), but that would be easily forgivable if he weren’t also boring. Still, kudos to Ford for writing a pro-Ricardian book in which the king actually has his nephews murdered. Although they were a pair of too-cute-by-far vampires.
Some minor things that bothered me:
- The timeline is never made clear. An entire war a few months but which year, exactly? The ages and birth years of the historical characters don't add up.
- Ford had his characters speak in different languages quite often which is authentic, but also cringeworthy because at least his Latin and German are terrible. I can’t account for the other languages since I don’t speak them myself.
- The ending. Very abrupt and not exactly happy. What became of the characters? Has everyone survived the battle? What did they actually gain from this, apart from some sketchy character development? Did they finally realize that there wasn’t a good reason for them to meddle in the Wars of the Roses to begin with?
Why you should read this book regardless:
I read it for my bachelor thesis which is about the Wars of the Roses, so I’m always interested in new approaches to the subject. This one has vampires, machine guns, magic and allows several interesting characters to survive. (Including the history-crush-worthy Anthony Woodville or Richard’s baby sister Ursula who is casually mentioned to have become some sort of Joan of Arc. You go, girl!) Apart from that, the book is also very well written in terms of style and language (well, English, that is). I sometimes found myself wishing I could care more for it. I certainly cursed John M. Ford at the end, for dying at 49 and never giving us a sequel to tie up the loose ends.
But then again, he gave us a group of 15th century Italian aristocrats inventing Star Wars in the shape of a lyrical ballad and that is almost as good.
March 9, 2010
I think I did The Dragon Waiting a disservice by beginning it immediately after finishing Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles, which continued to engage my brain and kept me from devoting valuable brain cells to Ford's fascinating alternate history. In an inn in the Swiss Alps, four people form an alliance to fight against the Byzantine Empire, which in this world never went into decline and now controls most of Europe, save for England and the small buffer state of France. These characters -- Cynthia, a Florentine physician; Dimitrios, a Byzantine mercenary; Hywel, a Welsh wizard; and Gregory, a German vampire -- eventually end up in England, where they join forces with Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who will become Richard III.
I liked Ford's world very much. With the addition of magic, the differences from our history made sense, and the way he slowly revealed information was masterful: no big info-dumps, just bits and pieces which coalesced into a big picture. For instance, it takes two hundred pages before we find out what happened to Christianity, which is only a small sect in Ford's pagan, pantheistic world (formed to a great extent by the emperor we call Julian the Apostate, who was apparently far more successful in this version of history).
The characters were vividly drawn, so much so that I really wanted to learn more about the four protagonists than I did, and the historical personages convincing (even Richard, about whom I have read a lot and so am picky about). (Though as frequently when reading alternate history novels, I kept wondering how the same people as in our history could be produced by a world that's so different from ours. However, Ford wove the historical and non-historical characters together well enough that I was usually at least distracted from that issue.)
I did occasionally feel that I wasn't quite getting what was going on (and was very glad for my knowledge of English history of that period, which really helped), but that's just as likely my fault as Ford's (my brain having been not quite detached from Dunnett yet). I'm very much looking forward to rereading The Dragon Waiting sometime, as I think it's clearly a book which I'll get more out of the second time through (one of the signs of a Good Book, in my estimation).
I liked Ford's world very much. With the addition of magic, the differences from our history made sense, and the way he slowly revealed information was masterful: no big info-dumps, just bits and pieces which coalesced into a big picture. For instance, it takes two hundred pages before we find out what happened to Christianity, which is only a small sect in Ford's pagan, pantheistic world (formed to a great extent by the emperor we call Julian the Apostate, who was apparently far more successful in this version of history).
The characters were vividly drawn, so much so that I really wanted to learn more about the four protagonists than I did, and the historical personages convincing (even Richard, about whom I have read a lot and so am picky about). (Though as frequently when reading alternate history novels, I kept wondering how the same people as in our history could be produced by a world that's so different from ours. However, Ford wove the historical and non-historical characters together well enough that I was usually at least distracted from that issue.)
I did occasionally feel that I wasn't quite getting what was going on (and was very glad for my knowledge of English history of that period, which really helped), but that's just as likely my fault as Ford's (my brain having been not quite detached from Dunnett yet). I'm very much looking forward to rereading The Dragon Waiting sometime, as I think it's clearly a book which I'll get more out of the second time through (one of the signs of a Good Book, in my estimation).
January 1, 2020
Wonderful! I loved the historical and literary references scattered and embroidered all over the text. It really makes you pay attention while reading! And I loved how the book made me go back and reread some paragraphs.
This is not an easy fantasy reading and it is fantasy at its best.
I will definitely read it one more time to pick up at least some of the zillion details that I missed while reading it for the first time :)
This is not an easy fantasy reading and it is fantasy at its best.
I will definitely read it one more time to pick up at least some of the zillion details that I missed while reading it for the first time :)
November 21, 2022
Σαν καλειδοσκοπική ενόραση εναλλακτικής ιστορίας/φαντασίας, το κάλεσμα του δράκου είναι ένα μάλλον μοναδικό βιβλίο. Μπορεί το συνολικό χάος που ξεχύνεται από τις σελίδες του να του στερεί το 5ο αστεράκι, αλλά δεν παύει να είναι ένα έργο όμορφο και δύσκολο, με την έννοια ότι ούτε μασημένη τροφή προσφέρει στον αναγνώστη, ούτε τον διευκολύνει, αναγκάζοντάς τον να είναι σε αναγνωστική εγρήγορση σε ένα (ίσως και περισσότερους από έναν) κόσμο όπου ο Χριστιανισμός δεν επικράτησε ποτέ και παραμένει μια ήσσων θρησκεία περιορισμένης εξάπλωσης, αλλά ταυτόχρονα μια ανεκτική (θρησκευτικά) Βυζαντινή Αυτοκρατορία είναι κραταιά τον 15ο αιώνα απέναντι σε μικρές αλλά ισχυρές ιταλικές πόλεις υπό τους Μεδίκους και τους Σφόρτσα, και την πάντα περίεργη (στην εναλλακτική ή την πραγματική ιστορία) Βρετανία των Plantagenets (συγγνώμη, όποτε βλέπω στα ελληνικά "πλανταγενείς", "πλανταγενέτες" ή πλαντάξαντες γενικώς, γελάω), των Τυδώρ και των πάσης φύσεως Ριχάρδων.
Αξίζει να διαβαστεί, ακόμη κι αν κουράσει ή εκνευρίσει, η δύναμη της πένας του Ford είναι εκπληκτική, ο τρόπος που χαλιναγωγεί τα συναισθήματα του αναγνώστη ιδιαίτερος και απολαυστικός, η ικανότητά του να τον φέρνει σε δύσκολη θέση και να μην του χαρίζει "εύκολες σελίδες" αξεπέραστη.
Εκνευριστικά όμορφο, γοητευτικά χαοτικό, ζόρικα ενδιαφέρον. Όχι, σε καμιά περίπτωση δεν είναι για καταναλωτές χαρτοπολτού, ούτε έχει σχέση με το φτηνό φάνταζυ. Ζοριστείτε όμως και διαβάστε το. Κι όταν πιάσετε τον εαυτό σας να γυρνάει ψυχαναγκαστικά μερικές σελίδες πίσω για να αποσαφηνίσει κάτι που νομίζει ότι του ξέφυγε, θα καταλάβετε. Ο Ford δεν πιάνει τον αναγνώστη του από το χεράκι σε αυτό το ρόλερ κόστερ∙ τον κλωτσάει στον κώλο όταν το διακύβευμα είναι η ισορροπία του, ή του δίνει αγκωνιές στο στομάχι όταν τον νιώθει να χαλαρώνει. Και τον ευχαριστούμε γι'αυτό.
Αξίζει να διαβαστεί, ακόμη κι αν κουράσει ή εκνευρίσει, η δύναμη της πένας του Ford είναι εκπληκτική, ο τρόπος που χαλιναγωγεί τα συναισθήματα του αναγνώστη ιδιαίτερος και απολαυστικός, η ικανότητά του να τον φέρνει σε δύσκολη θέση και να μην του χαρίζει "εύκολες σελίδες" αξεπέραστη.
Εκνευριστικά όμορφο, γοητευτικά χαοτικό, ζόρικα ενδιαφέρον. Όχι, σε καμιά περίπτωση δεν είναι για καταναλωτές χαρτοπολτού, ούτε έχει σχέση με το φτηνό φάνταζυ. Ζοριστείτε όμως και διαβάστε το. Κι όταν πιάσετε τον εαυτό σας να γυρνάει ψυχαναγκαστικά μερικές σελίδες πίσω για να αποσαφηνίσει κάτι που νομίζει ότι του ξέφυγε, θα καταλάβετε. Ο Ford δεν πιάνει τον αναγνώστη του από το χεράκι σε αυτό το ρόλερ κόστερ∙ τον κλωτσάει στον κώλο όταν το διακύβευμα είναι η ισορροπία του, ή του δίνει αγκωνιές στο στομάχι όταν τον νιώθει να χαλαρώνει. Και τον ευχαριστούμε γι'αυτό.
December 1, 2021
This is an alternate 15th century Europe, brought to us by the brilliant John M. Ford.
Instead of Julian the Apostate, who only briefly interrupted the spread of Christianity in Europe, in this alternate history there was Julian the Wise, who lived long enough to prevent any faith from being banned, and any faith from becoming dominant over the others and being able to ban them. The eastern empire, its capital at Byzantium, remains strong and vibrant--and in the 15th century, is working to expand into western Europe. It controls about half of France, and parts of Italy, and wants more.
In other ways, this Europe is very familiar. Edward IV is King of England, Lorenzo de' Medici is a powerful banker and de facto ruler of Florence. Galeazzo Sforza is Duke of Milan, though in this world he's in the pay of Byzantium, and also a vampire.
We follow a wizard, Hywel Peredur, nephew of Owain Glyn Dwr; a mercenary named Dimitrios Ducas; a young woman doctor from Florence, Cynthia Ricci; and Gregory von Bayern, natural scientist, engineer, and vampire. Vampirism is a disease, and it can be spread, and that turns out to matter, quite a lot.
The story revolves around people with very different original goals, coming together to achieve something perhaps none of them had originally intended. We travel through the beliefs and the ritual and cultural practices that didn't get suppressed by the rise of Christianity, but Christianity is also here, in several different flavors.
This is a rich, lived-in world, and has special riches to offer to those interested in Renaissance Italy, the Wars of the Roses in England, and other absorbing bits of 15th century Europe.
And it's really difficult to say more than that, because this is such a rich, layered world and story.
Highly recommended.
I bought this book.
Instead of Julian the Apostate, who only briefly interrupted the spread of Christianity in Europe, in this alternate history there was Julian the Wise, who lived long enough to prevent any faith from being banned, and any faith from becoming dominant over the others and being able to ban them. The eastern empire, its capital at Byzantium, remains strong and vibrant--and in the 15th century, is working to expand into western Europe. It controls about half of France, and parts of Italy, and wants more.
In other ways, this Europe is very familiar. Edward IV is King of England, Lorenzo de' Medici is a powerful banker and de facto ruler of Florence. Galeazzo Sforza is Duke of Milan, though in this world he's in the pay of Byzantium, and also a vampire.
We follow a wizard, Hywel Peredur, nephew of Owain Glyn Dwr; a mercenary named Dimitrios Ducas; a young woman doctor from Florence, Cynthia Ricci; and Gregory von Bayern, natural scientist, engineer, and vampire. Vampirism is a disease, and it can be spread, and that turns out to matter, quite a lot.
The story revolves around people with very different original goals, coming together to achieve something perhaps none of them had originally intended. We travel through the beliefs and the ritual and cultural practices that didn't get suppressed by the rise of Christianity, but Christianity is also here, in several different flavors.
This is a rich, lived-in world, and has special riches to offer to those interested in Renaissance Italy, the Wars of the Roses in England, and other absorbing bits of 15th century Europe.
And it's really difficult to say more than that, because this is such a rich, layered world and story.
Highly recommended.
I bought this book.
November 6, 2021
Βιβλιοέναυσμα #60: Το Κάλεσμα του Δράκου
(ολόκληρο το άρθρο και στο ιστολόγιό μου, Κοιλάδα της Γνώσης: https://www.koiladatisgnosis.gr/logot...)
Ποιο μυθιστόρημα θα χαρακτηρίζαμε – με βάση το πνεύμα και όχι το γράμμα – προοίμιο της δημοφιλούς σειράς Το Τραγούδι της Φωτιάς και του Πάγου τού George R. R. Martin; Κατ’ εμέ, το Κάλεσμα του Δράκου τού John M. Ford. Πάμε να το ανατμήσουμε; Φύγαμε κιόλας.
Εν αρχή ην το σκηνικό. Το Κάλεσμα του Δράκου διαδραματίζεται στον 14ο αιώνα μ.Χ. μίας αρκετά διαφορετικής Ευρώπης από αυτήν που ξέρουμε. Ο Ιουλιανός έχει ζήσει αρκετά ώστε να επαναφέρει τον πολυθεϊσμό στην Ρωμαϊκή Αυτοκρατορία, με αποτέλεσμα ο χριστιανισμός να βρίσκεται στο περιθώριο και ο μωαμεθανισμός να μην έχει γεννηθεί ποτέ. Μυστηριακές θρησκείες όπως του Μίθρα, της Κυβέλης, και του Όσιρι είναι δημοφιλείς επιλογές, ενώ γενικότερα λατρεύονται μύριες όσες θεότητες. Οι κατακτήσεις του Ιουστιανού στην δυτική Ευρώπη έχουν παγιωθεί, και μάλιστα η αυτοκρατορία ελέγχει και την μισή Γαλλία. Η υπόλοιπη ανήκει στο Βασίλειο της Αγγλίας, την δεύτερη ευρωπαϊκή υπερδύναμη και αιώνια αντίπαλο της αυτοκρατορίας, που μόλις πρόσφατα έχει συνέλθει από τον εμφύλιο πόλεμο μεταξύ των πανίσχυρων οικογενειών των Πλαταγενετών και των Γιορκ (ουσιαστικά του διαβόητου Πολέμου των Ρόδων). Ένα μικρό μέρος της Γαλλίας ανήκει στους ίδιους τους Γάλλους, σε μία διευθέτηση που θυμίζει τον καταμερισμό των Η.Π.Α. στα βιβλία εναλλακτικής φαντασίας Fatherland και The Man in the High Castle. Τα ανεξάρτητα κρατίδια του ιταλικού Βορρά και της Γερμανίας νιώθουν καυτή την ανάσα των Ρωμαίων/Βυζαντινών υπό την δυναστεία των Παλαιολόγων, τους οποίους ο Ford παρουσιάζει ως τους οιωνεί κακούς και ως τους αδυσώπητους κατακτητές και μηχανορράφους. Υπάρχουν όμως και στοιχεία φαντασίας, όπως βρικόλακες, μάγοι, και δρά–
Μέσα στο σκηνικό αυτό, μία χούφτα ανθρώπων πασχίζουν να αντιμετωπίσουν την βυζαντινή απειλή, καθένας για τους δικούς του λόγους. Έχουμε τον Ουαλό μάγο Χιούελ Περεντίρ, που φέρει βαρέως την προδοσία των Βυζαντινών στον επαναστάτη πρόγονό του Όγουεϊν Γκλιν Ντορ. Τον Βυζαντινό Δημήτριο Δούκα, που η οικογένεια του ξεκληρίστηκε από τους Παλαιολόγους. Την Φλωρεντινή γιατρό Σίνθια Ρίτσι, που έχασε τα πάντα όταν οι Βυζαντινοί εισέβαλαν στην Φλωρεντία των Μεδίκων. Και τον Γερμανό βρικόλακα Γκρέγκορι φον Μπάγερν, παλιό ερευνητή τής Βιβλιοθήκης τής Αλεξάνδρειας. Οι τέσσερις συνιστώσες συντάσσονται σε μία κοινή συνισταμένη με έναν στόχο: την ανάρρηση στον αγγλικό θρόνο τού Ριχαρδού Γ’ Πλαταγενέτη, δούκα του Γκλόστερ και αδερφού του βασιλιά Εδουάρδου Δ’.
Όσο διάβαζα το Κάλεσμα του Δράκου δεν γινόταν να βγάλω το μυαλό μου από το Τραγούδι της Φωτιάς και του Πάγου. Ο Ford χρησιμοποιεί ξεχωριστά κεφάλαια για να εισαγάγει τους βασικούς χαρακτήρες (με εξαίρεση τον φον Μπάγερν), ενώ ο Martin ιυοθετεί αυτήν την τεχνική για όλα τ�� κεφάλαιά του. Ο λόγος του Ford είναι υπαινικτός, ακόμα περισσότερο και από το Martin, με τα κενά ανάμεσα στις λέξεις να κρύβουν πολλά και τον αναγνώστη να καλείται να συμπληρώσει τα κενά. Μηχανορραφίες, υποπλοκές, έξυπνοι και κοφτεροί διάλογοι, πλούσιοι σε παρελθόν και κίνητρα χαρακτήρες, πλειάδα δευτερευουσών χαρακτήρων με δικιά τους ατζέντα, προσοχή στην ιστορία του κόσμου και στο πώς αυτή διαμορφώνει το παρόν και το μέλλον δείχνουν όχι μόνο πώς ο Ford επηρέασε τον Martin αλλά και προσφέρουν μία πραγματική απόλαυση – ειδικά για τους λάτρεις του Τραγουδιού της Φωτιάς και του Πάγου. Θα εκτιμούσα λίγη παραπάνω δράση (αν και υπάρχει μία μεγάλη μάχη) και λίγο λιγότερο υπαινικτό λόγο. Αν θέλετε και δύο ακόμα συνεκτικά στοιχεία μεταξύ Ford και Martin, στο βιβλίο του Ford έχoυμε μία οικογένεια ονόματι… Ταϊρέλ, καθώς και την εξής πρόταση: «οι άντρες συνέχισαν τον δρόμο τους, τραγουδώντας σε τέσσερις γλώσσες, τραγούδια που μιλούσαν για αίμα και φωτιά». Είπατε κάτι;
Ευχαριστώ θερμά τις Εκδόσεις Anubis για την προμήθεια του βιβλίου. Πιστεύω πως το Κάλεσμα του Δράκου θα είναι μία καλή επιλογή για τους φίλους της φαντασίας, του ιστορικού μυθιστορήματος, και του Τραγουδιού της Φωτιάς και του Πάγου. Θέλω να διαβάσω και άλλα δύο έργα που επηρέασαν τον Martin: τo μυθιστόρημα The Once and Future King τού T. H. White και την επτάτομη σειρά The Accursed Kings τού Maurice Druon.
(ολόκληρο το άρθρο και στο ιστολόγιό μου, Κοιλάδα της Γνώσης: https://www.koiladatisgnosis.gr/logot...)
Ποιο μυθιστόρημα θα χαρακτηρίζαμε – με βάση το πνεύμα και όχι το γράμμα – προοίμιο της δημοφιλούς σειράς Το Τραγούδι της Φωτιάς και του Πάγου τού George R. R. Martin; Κατ’ εμέ, το Κάλεσμα του Δράκου τού John M. Ford. Πάμε να το ανατμήσουμε; Φύγαμε κιόλας.
Εν αρχή ην το σκηνικό. Το Κάλεσμα του Δράκου διαδραματίζεται στον 14ο αιώνα μ.Χ. μίας αρκετά διαφορετικής Ευρώπης από αυτήν που ξέρουμε. Ο Ιουλιανός έχει ζήσει αρκετά ώστε να επαναφέρει τον πολυθεϊσμό στην Ρωμαϊκή Αυτοκρατορία, με αποτέλεσμα ο χριστιανισμός να βρίσκεται στο περιθώριο και ο μωαμεθανισμός να μην έχει γεννηθεί ποτέ. Μυστηριακές θρησκείες όπως του Μίθρα, της Κυβέλης, και του Όσιρι είναι δημοφιλείς επιλογές, ενώ γενικότερα λατρεύονται μύριες όσες θεότητες. Οι κατακτήσεις του Ιουστιανού στην δυτική Ευρώπη έχουν παγιωθεί, και μάλιστα η αυτοκρατορία ελέγχει και την μισή Γαλλία. Η υπόλοιπη ανήκει στο Βασίλειο της Αγγλίας, την δεύτερη ευρωπαϊκή υπερδύναμη και αιώνια αντίπαλο της αυτοκρατορίας, που μόλις πρόσφατα έχει συνέλθει από τον εμφύλιο πόλεμο μεταξύ των πανίσχυρων οικογενειών των Πλαταγενετών και των Γιορκ (ουσιαστικά του διαβόητου Πολέμου των Ρόδων). Ένα μικρό μέρος της Γαλλίας ανήκει στους ίδιους τους Γάλλους, σε μία διευθέτηση που θυμίζει τον καταμερισμό των Η.Π.Α. στα βιβλία εναλλακτικής φαντασίας Fatherland και The Man in the High Castle. Τα ανεξάρτητα κρατίδια του ιταλικού Βορρά και της Γερμανίας νιώθουν καυτή την ανάσα των Ρωμαίων/Βυζαντινών υπό την δυναστεία των Παλαιολόγων, τους οποίους ο Ford παρουσιάζει ως τους οιωνεί κακούς και ως τους αδυσώπητους κατακτητές και μηχανορράφους. Υπάρχουν όμως και στοιχεία φαντασίας, όπως βρικόλακες, μάγοι, και δρά–
Μέσα στο σκηνικό αυτό, μία χούφτα ανθρώπων πασχίζουν να αντιμετωπίσουν την βυζαντινή απειλή, καθένας για τους δικούς του λόγους. Έχουμε τον Ουαλό μάγο Χιούελ Περεντίρ, που φέρει βαρέως την προδοσία των Βυζαντινών στον επαναστάτη πρόγονό του Όγουεϊν Γκλιν Ντορ. Τον Βυζαντινό Δημήτριο Δούκα, που η οικογένεια του ξεκληρίστηκε από τους Παλαιολόγους. Την Φλωρεντινή γιατρό Σίνθια Ρίτσι, που έχασε τα πάντα όταν οι Βυζαντινοί εισέβαλαν στην Φλωρεντία των Μεδίκων. Και τον Γερμανό βρικόλακα Γκρέγκορι φον Μπάγερν, παλιό ερευνητή τής Βιβλιοθήκης τής Αλεξάνδρειας. Οι τέσσερις συνιστώσες συντάσσονται σε μία κοινή συνισταμένη με έναν στόχο: την ανάρρηση στον αγγλικό θρόνο τού Ριχαρδού Γ’ Πλαταγενέτη, δούκα του Γκλόστερ και αδερφού του βασιλιά Εδουάρδου Δ’.
Όσο διάβαζα το Κάλεσμα του Δράκου δεν γινόταν να βγάλω το μυαλό μου από το Τραγούδι της Φωτιάς και του Πάγου. Ο Ford χρησιμοποιεί ξεχωριστά κεφάλαια για να εισαγάγει τους βασικούς χαρακτήρες (με εξαίρεση τον φον Μπάγερν), ενώ ο Martin ιυοθετεί αυτήν την τεχνική για όλα τ�� κεφάλαιά του. Ο λόγος του Ford είναι υπαινικτός, ακόμα περισσότερο και από το Martin, με τα κενά ανάμεσα στις λέξεις να κρύβουν πολλά και τον αναγνώστη να καλείται να συμπληρώσει τα κενά. Μηχανορραφίες, υποπλοκές, έξυπνοι και κοφτεροί διάλογοι, πλούσιοι σε παρελθόν και κίνητρα χαρακτήρες, πλειάδα δευτερευουσών χαρακτήρων με δικιά τους ατζέντα, προσοχή στην ιστορία του κόσμου και στο πώς αυτή διαμορφώνει το παρόν και το μέλλον δείχνουν όχι μόνο πώς ο Ford επηρέασε τον Martin αλλά και προσφέρουν μία πραγματική απόλαυση – ειδικά για τους λάτρεις του Τραγουδιού της Φωτιάς και του Πάγου. Θα εκτιμούσα λίγη παραπάνω δράση (αν και υπάρχει μία μεγάλη μάχη) και λίγο λιγότερο υπαινικτό λόγο. Αν θέλετε και δύο ακόμα συνεκτικά στοιχεία μεταξύ Ford και Martin, στο βιβλίο του Ford έχoυμε μία οικογένεια ονόματι… Ταϊρέλ, καθώς και την εξής πρόταση: «οι άντρες συνέχισαν τον δρόμο τους, τραγουδώντας σε τέσσερις γλώσσες, τραγούδια που μιλούσαν για αίμα και φωτιά». Είπατε κάτι;
Ευχαριστώ θερμά τις Εκδόσεις Anubis για την προμήθεια του βιβλίου. Πιστεύω πως το Κάλεσμα του Δράκου θα είναι μία καλή επιλογή για τους φίλους της φαντασίας, του ιστορικού μυθιστορήματος, και του Τραγουδιού της Φωτιάς και του Πάγου. Θέλω να διαβάσω και άλλα δύο έργα που επηρέασαν τον Martin: τo μυθιστόρημα The Once and Future King τού T. H. White και την επτάτομη σειρά The Accursed Kings τού Maurice Druon.
April 22, 2023
3.5 stars
November 7, 2020
Fantasy in a historical setting. My bookseller reccomended me this one. Some characters povs were better than others. Some I wasnt overly fond of returning to. It definitely would have been ahead of its time when first released but you can definitely tell it was an 80s book. The small intricate details of world building are what shines here
February 8, 2023
A German vampire, a Welsh wizard, an Italian physician, and a Byzantine prince walk into a bar. Literally.
Ford’s ‘Masque of History’ is a richly engrossing alternate history political drama. The depth of its detailed worldbuilding and politics, delivered consistently and naturally throughout, is one of the novel’s primary strengths. So what if the Byzantine Empire continued into the 15th century? The two major resultant powers, Byzantium and Britain, are the focal points of this story. The alternate history branches off due to the longer reign of Julian the Apostate, who ensured that more pagan religious plurality and diversity were not overshadowed by Christianity. There are references, hence, towards various pantheons being openly worshipped: the Nordic deities such as Odin and Thor, the Greco-Roman Olympians like Apollo, and the smaller, more fluid cults and sects.
Besides the novelty of the setting, the rich characterization is what keeps the story compelling. Part I — the opening three chapters — provides introductions to three of the primary characters, and this is by far my favourite part of the book. It opens with Hywel Peredur, a young Welsh bar help whose life changes when he encounters a magician named Ptolemy being held captive by Roman soldiers. The second is Dimitrios Ducas, the son of a Byzantine senator coming from a previous royal line, and his experiences in Gaul. This chapter described some rituals pertaining to the still-practicing Cult of Mithras, and it was truly fascinating. The third is Cynthia Ricci, a famous physician-surgeon treating the Medici family for gout, who gets caught up in the complicated politics of the region. Ford’s writing is dense due to its conciseness, but never flowery. It is quite straightforward in its descriptions, but the sense that every sentence was meticulously constructed is ever-present. These chapters feel less like continuous stories and more like scenes featuring the same characters in chronological order at different points in their lives, that somehow are seamlessly connected through implied context. These stitched-together scenes beautifully convey the complexity of the characters’ psyches: what motivates them, what leads them to be who they are for the rest of the story.
Magicians and vampires run rampant in this world, names and identities discussed as common knowledge. The rabid Duke Sforza of Florence, for example, is a well-known bloodsucker and Byzantine bootlicker. Vampirism is dealt with in a very interesting way, explored through the fourth main character who appears later in the story: Gregory von Bayern, a Deutsch artilleryman — the drinking of animal and human blood, the frequency of intake required to maintain a vampire’s sanity, how they are viewed by society in general, and the accommodations people have to make. Both magicians and vampires suffer from the curse of immortality, and how that affects their mental states is also briefly touched upon through Hywel and Gregory’s thoughts.
The central plot revolves around the various English Houses and their conflict on who should be King of England, while always keeping an eye on the Byzantines, greedy to reclaim their lost land. The four main characters, who have absolutely nothing in common and met by random chance, set out on a mission to influence the impending conflict of succession and change the political landscape of England to better stand against the Byzantine Throne. Just like the introductory chapters, the rest of the story is also told through this patchwork of connected scenes, making it a book that constantly requires the reader’s attention to understand the complicated political web and how everything relates to the characters and plot. The division into Parts is logical, as each is almost another story, in a way. The first is a character introduction, the second transforms into a murder mystery at a secluded bar, the third becomes a political and mercenary mission, and so on.
While I found this novel captivating overall, I did have a few issues that held it back from being among my favourites. Firstly, I think it requires a little bit of historical knowledge prior to reading it, to fully understand the context of what goes on — while the story is understandable without any of that, the lack of explanatory information given about the political alliances and other things that were implicit and understood only through indirect conversation made it a challenging read. Also, the book never reached the absolute peaks of personal enjoyment that the first three chapters gave me, although it consistently ranged from good to excellent after that. I do think a reread would help parse this complexity, however, as this will be a book I think about a lot after completing it.
Ford’s ‘Masque of History’ is a richly engrossing alternate history political drama. The depth of its detailed worldbuilding and politics, delivered consistently and naturally throughout, is one of the novel’s primary strengths. So what if the Byzantine Empire continued into the 15th century? The two major resultant powers, Byzantium and Britain, are the focal points of this story. The alternate history branches off due to the longer reign of Julian the Apostate, who ensured that more pagan religious plurality and diversity were not overshadowed by Christianity. There are references, hence, towards various pantheons being openly worshipped: the Nordic deities such as Odin and Thor, the Greco-Roman Olympians like Apollo, and the smaller, more fluid cults and sects.
Besides the novelty of the setting, the rich characterization is what keeps the story compelling. Part I — the opening three chapters — provides introductions to three of the primary characters, and this is by far my favourite part of the book. It opens with Hywel Peredur, a young Welsh bar help whose life changes when he encounters a magician named Ptolemy being held captive by Roman soldiers. The second is Dimitrios Ducas, the son of a Byzantine senator coming from a previous royal line, and his experiences in Gaul. This chapter described some rituals pertaining to the still-practicing Cult of Mithras, and it was truly fascinating. The third is Cynthia Ricci, a famous physician-surgeon treating the Medici family for gout, who gets caught up in the complicated politics of the region. Ford’s writing is dense due to its conciseness, but never flowery. It is quite straightforward in its descriptions, but the sense that every sentence was meticulously constructed is ever-present. These chapters feel less like continuous stories and more like scenes featuring the same characters in chronological order at different points in their lives, that somehow are seamlessly connected through implied context. These stitched-together scenes beautifully convey the complexity of the characters’ psyches: what motivates them, what leads them to be who they are for the rest of the story.
Magicians and vampires run rampant in this world, names and identities discussed as common knowledge. The rabid Duke Sforza of Florence, for example, is a well-known bloodsucker and Byzantine bootlicker. Vampirism is dealt with in a very interesting way, explored through the fourth main character who appears later in the story: Gregory von Bayern, a Deutsch artilleryman — the drinking of animal and human blood, the frequency of intake required to maintain a vampire’s sanity, how they are viewed by society in general, and the accommodations people have to make. Both magicians and vampires suffer from the curse of immortality, and how that affects their mental states is also briefly touched upon through Hywel and Gregory’s thoughts.
The central plot revolves around the various English Houses and their conflict on who should be King of England, while always keeping an eye on the Byzantines, greedy to reclaim their lost land. The four main characters, who have absolutely nothing in common and met by random chance, set out on a mission to influence the impending conflict of succession and change the political landscape of England to better stand against the Byzantine Throne. Just like the introductory chapters, the rest of the story is also told through this patchwork of connected scenes, making it a book that constantly requires the reader’s attention to understand the complicated political web and how everything relates to the characters and plot. The division into Parts is logical, as each is almost another story, in a way. The first is a character introduction, the second transforms into a murder mystery at a secluded bar, the third becomes a political and mercenary mission, and so on.
While I found this novel captivating overall, I did have a few issues that held it back from being among my favourites. Firstly, I think it requires a little bit of historical knowledge prior to reading it, to fully understand the context of what goes on — while the story is understandable without any of that, the lack of explanatory information given about the political alliances and other things that were implicit and understood only through indirect conversation made it a challenging read. Also, the book never reached the absolute peaks of personal enjoyment that the first three chapters gave me, although it consistently ranged from good to excellent after that. I do think a reread would help parse this complexity, however, as this will be a book I think about a lot after completing it.
January 26, 2015
Perhaps the best way to describe this book is to say that Ford writes with panache. His characters are witty, or darkly brooding, or make comments that are full of deep meaning or are elliptical yet foreboding. Naturally, the characters have style to match the dialogue. One main character is a beautiful young woman whose hair is entirely white: in the first chapter she kills a vampire with medical precision (the vampire is, as it happens, the Duke of Milan). Another is an ageless wizard with one eye who only needs a pair of ravens on his shoulders to be Odin. Then there's the German engineer (his specialty is artillery) who is also a vampire, and the Greco-French (it makes sense in the context of the book) mercenary who is an almost unstoppable killer as well as, possibly, the rightful heir to the Byzantine Empire. Even the plot has style, with intrigues piled upon intrigues and wound about with plots and conspiracies, with occasional bracing intervals in which battles are fought, spells are cast, and feats of derring-do are performed. And there's enough substance to reinforce the style: Ford has a solid grasp of the basic mechanisms of suspense and is a dab hand at writing a character who is racked by a secret sorrow in his or her past (as pretty much all the important characters here are). Furthermore, his alternate history of a pagan Europe dominated by a greedily expansionist Byzantine Empire (also there are wizards and vampires) is expertly rendered and well thought out, even if it doesn't always seem plausible (essentially, Ford starts changing history in the fourth century, and yet expects us to believe that, for instance, the Golden Age of Florence in the fifteenth century occurs in much the same fashion in his universe as it did in real life). Coherence is, in fact, Ford's weakness, especially when it comes to the plotting, not all of which really makes sense. For instance, at one point Dimitrios, the above-mentioned mercenary, goes on a mission to Scotland with a Scottish spy in the employ of the Duke of Gloucester (the King of England's younger brother, later Richard III) to rescue the King of Scotland's brother, the Duke of Albany, from prison. It's never really made clear why the one duke wants to rescue the other but it's done, only it turns out it's all for nothing after all because as soon as they get back to England the spy murders the Duke of Albany and then dies without revealing why. Do we every find out the spy's motives? Not in the least: in fact, Scotland is never mentioned again in the book. The episode gives Ford a chance to show off his conception of the court of King James VI and the marginalized position of Christians (referred to as Nazarenes or Jeshites) in this universe, and of course the whole thing is as stylish as possible, but it seems a bit pointless. General comprehensibility is further hindered by the fact that the second half of the story takes place in England during the end of the Wars of the Roses (the climax is the Battle of Bosworth Field), which means that every English nobleman we meet is named Edward, Richard, or Henry, and can be referred to by either their given name or the name of their duchy or earldom (or even by their last name), making it difficult to keep straight just who is who in the tangle of competing conspiracies. Luckily, Ford is a good enough writer to carry you through the occasional rough patches in the plot without you really noticing them, and he manages to infuse a really rather squalid phase of English history with a noble purpose that in real life it certainly didn't deserve. And the best part of the book, the first three chapters, don't suffer from any of these flaws: all three take place outside of England and occur before the main plot starts, and all three are entirely brilliant.
December 9, 2011
"The Dragon Waiting" is set in a late mediaeval Europe which is mostly ruled by the Byzantine Empire, and in which Christianity and Islam never became the dominant religions that they were in our world at that time. I had to look up the dates of various historical characters in Wikipedia in order to guesstimate when the events of this novel were taking place, since there were a multitude of different dating systems in use. The Byzantines impose their laws on the lands they conquer but not their language (Greek) or religion (Mithraism), so that their subjects have less reason to rebel against them, but there are still regions of Italy and Eastern Europe holding out against the encroaching empire at the time this story is set. Three hundred years ago, England and the Byzantine empire partitioned France between them, leaving a small French-ruled buffer in between, but now the Byzantines are secretly supporting the Lancastrian side in the Wars of the Roses and planning to take over England and the rest of France. The protagonists of this story each have their own reason to hate the Byzantines and set off to England in an attempt to foil their plots.
I tend to mentally divide alternate history into science fiction (could have happened if things had turned out differently), and fantasy (stories including magic, fairies, dragons, psychic powers, etc.). I much prefer those that I classify as science fiction, so I was disappointed to realise that this book included magic and vampires, even though magic was hard to do and slow to achieve its aims and vampires were seen as people suffering from a disease rather than supernatural beings.
I was also irritated by the characters, who seemed to react and over-react in the most unlikely ways, and although no-one expressed any surprise about Cynthia Ricci being a doctor, I found it it jarring that she was the only woman with an anachronistic (for our world) career, apart from a brief mention of a Valkyrie regiment of women soldiers at the end of the book.
Also, from the time the protagonists got together I found it very hard to follow exactly what was going on, and more importantly why. The politics were impenetrable, as were the doings of the magicians, and the characters were always hinting things to each other and letting their sentences trail off, leaving me very confused. It would have been helpful to have had some idea why Cynthia and Peredur spent two years wandering around Wales and to have understood the point of the Robin Hood references, and I'm still unclear as to whether Peredur considered betraying Richard at the Battle of Bosworth.
It's not that I expect everything to be laid on a plate for me, but this book was so much of a struggle that I could hardly be bothered to finish it. It won the World Fantasy Award and I was expecting to enjoy it, so it was a big disappointment.
I tend to mentally divide alternate history into science fiction (could have happened if things had turned out differently), and fantasy (stories including magic, fairies, dragons, psychic powers, etc.). I much prefer those that I classify as science fiction, so I was disappointed to realise that this book included magic and vampires, even though magic was hard to do and slow to achieve its aims and vampires were seen as people suffering from a disease rather than supernatural beings.
I was also irritated by the characters, who seemed to react and over-react in the most unlikely ways, and although no-one expressed any surprise about Cynthia Ricci being a doctor, I found it it jarring that she was the only woman with an anachronistic (for our world) career, apart from a brief mention of a Valkyrie regiment of women soldiers at the end of the book.
Also, from the time the protagonists got together I found it very hard to follow exactly what was going on, and more importantly why. The politics were impenetrable, as were the doings of the magicians, and the characters were always hinting things to each other and letting their sentences trail off, leaving me very confused. It would have been helpful to have had some idea why Cynthia and Peredur spent two years wandering around Wales and to have understood the point of the Robin Hood references, and I'm still unclear as to whether Peredur considered betraying Richard at the Battle of Bosworth.
It's not that I expect everything to be laid on a plate for me, but this book was so much of a struggle that I could hardly be bothered to finish it. It won the World Fantasy Award and I was expecting to enjoy it, so it was a big disappointment.
June 17, 2018
This has never been my favorite John M. (Mike) Ford book, but someone on my friends list here just raved about it, and that put it on my re-read stack. I hadn't looked at it in many years.
My complaint when I read it decades ago was that I just didn't want there to be vampires. On this reading, I can see why the vampires are important to the worldbuilding, and how fascinatingly different they are from most fictional vampires ... and I still don't want there to be vampires. It would work better for me if there were wizards, and a thriving Byzantine empire, and magic afoot, but no vampires. That's my problem, not the author's.
Now, I would say that it may be the only book I can think of which is simultaneously a tour de force and a mess. It's an amazing alternate history with integral fantastical elements. Some of the characters are astonishingly well-drawn and the historical context is spectacular. The setting is the coming to power of Richard III, and the famous incidents in that history, like Clarence drowning in a butt of malmsey and particularly the young princes being murdered in the tower are twisted in absolutely brilliant ways. If you know John M. Ford's writing, you know that the prose is pyrotechnical. I can absolutely see why it won the World Fantasy Award. Not to mention that the key female character is a skilled physician who becomes disabled in the course of the book and continues to have very substantial agency, while her disability is never forgotten.
But it's a mess because it has too many characters, going in too many directions, with too many plot twists. Hywel, who opens the book, is clearly extremely important, but never gets the screen time he deserves after the first chapter; we keep having to figure out why people care about him from how they behave. The characters form lasting bonds quickly and we don't always know why they care about each other, even though that caring drives the action.
Read it, absolutely, and appreciate its brilliance. And maybe you won't be as aware of its flaws as I am, or as unwilling to accept the vampires.
My complaint when I read it decades ago was that I just didn't want there to be vampires. On this reading, I can see why the vampires are important to the worldbuilding, and how fascinatingly different they are from most fictional vampires ... and I still don't want there to be vampires. It would work better for me if there were wizards, and a thriving Byzantine empire, and magic afoot, but no vampires. That's my problem, not the author's.
Now, I would say that it may be the only book I can think of which is simultaneously a tour de force and a mess. It's an amazing alternate history with integral fantastical elements. Some of the characters are astonishingly well-drawn and the historical context is spectacular. The setting is the coming to power of Richard III, and the famous incidents in that history, like Clarence drowning in a butt of malmsey and particularly the young princes being murdered in the tower are twisted in absolutely brilliant ways. If you know John M. Ford's writing, you know that the prose is pyrotechnical. I can absolutely see why it won the World Fantasy Award. Not to mention that the key female character is a skilled physician who becomes disabled in the course of the book and continues to have very substantial agency, while her disability is never forgotten.
But it's a mess because it has too many characters, going in too many directions, with too many plot twists. Hywel, who opens the book, is clearly extremely important, but never gets the screen time he deserves after the first chapter; we keep having to figure out why people care about him from how they behave. The characters form lasting bonds quickly and we don't always know why they care about each other, even though that caring drives the action.
Read it, absolutely, and appreciate its brilliance. And maybe you won't be as aware of its flaws as I am, or as unwilling to accept the vampires.
September 19, 2020
6 out of 5.
I finished this book and wanted to applaud. I wanted to tell everyone about it for the rest of the day. I absolutely loved this book.
It's an alt-history fantasy take on, roughly, Richard III's ascension to the English throne... but it's way more than that. There are wizards and vampires; the Byzantine Empire spans most of the globe; religious plurality is the order of the day... and four strange individuals meet in a snowy inn to solve a murder and potentially change the course of history. (Note: the jacket copy is, somehow, astonishingly incorrect... the 'uncanny duke' is NOT a member of the quartet and whoever at Tor fucked that up should probably be copy-checked a bit better.)
Everything about this book played to all of my favorite things: canny wordplay, a tremendous depth of knowledge, a lost masterpiece brought back into print by the folks who loved it too much to let it go. I was a big AP Euro nerd who also desperately wondered how different the world might've been if Constantine / the Roman Empire hadn't chosen the Jesus mystery cult as their religious path... and this book has a lot of fun with how some things would be the same and many others would be different. I loved seeing a more human Richard III (as he's so often just a total monster, thanks to Shakespeare), I loved the complexities of these characters, I loved how Ford wrote with such daring that he would jump over events or toss things off in a sentence and expect you to keep up...
Gosh I just loved everything about this. It is a perfect novel and I am so excited that it gets to be celebrated by the world all over again.
I finished this book and wanted to applaud. I wanted to tell everyone about it for the rest of the day. I absolutely loved this book.
It's an alt-history fantasy take on, roughly, Richard III's ascension to the English throne... but it's way more than that. There are wizards and vampires; the Byzantine Empire spans most of the globe; religious plurality is the order of the day... and four strange individuals meet in a snowy inn to solve a murder and potentially change the course of history. (Note: the jacket copy is, somehow, astonishingly incorrect... the 'uncanny duke' is NOT a member of the quartet and whoever at Tor fucked that up should probably be copy-checked a bit better.)
Everything about this book played to all of my favorite things: canny wordplay, a tremendous depth of knowledge, a lost masterpiece brought back into print by the folks who loved it too much to let it go. I was a big AP Euro nerd who also desperately wondered how different the world might've been if Constantine / the Roman Empire hadn't chosen the Jesus mystery cult as their religious path... and this book has a lot of fun with how some things would be the same and many others would be different. I loved seeing a more human Richard III (as he's so often just a total monster, thanks to Shakespeare), I loved the complexities of these characters, I loved how Ford wrote with such daring that he would jump over events or toss things off in a sentence and expect you to keep up...
Gosh I just loved everything about this. It is a perfect novel and I am so excited that it gets to be celebrated by the world all over again.
May 6, 2024
Quite possibly the book of the year for me. It is definitely not for everyone and I can easily see why some people will not connect. It’ll be a quick hard pass or a slow unfolding of pure excitement. Unique and memorable and fun for this history nerd and fantasy fan.
Ford makes no concessions for his readers. They're expected to know the real historical records being recreated/changed and the literature that ties into it. Pay attention to what is said, how it is said or you will miss a lot. Close reading and detail recall helps.
Clever, layered, and dense with allusions and double meanings -- it made me feel dumb and I loved it for that. This story engaged my entire brain. It ties Byzantine politics to Medici banking to the royal succession in England to Welsh independence movement -- with some vampires running around and magic on the side.
Recommended knowledge of: Shakespeare's English plays esp Richard III, Byzantine history, and a good grasp on the events/people of the War of the Roses.
There's so much unexplained subtext (historical, emotional, political) that it makes the world feel very real but it doesn't make the most accessible for all readers. It is well built enough to work without going in informed -- but Byzantium/the War of the Roses/Medicis are some of my favorite subjects to see in fiction. I also v much enjoy Billy Shakes so this hits the perfect spot of fantasy x history for me.
Ford makes no concessions for his readers. They're expected to know the real historical records being recreated/changed and the literature that ties into it. Pay attention to what is said, how it is said or you will miss a lot. Close reading and detail recall helps.
Clever, layered, and dense with allusions and double meanings -- it made me feel dumb and I loved it for that. This story engaged my entire brain. It ties Byzantine politics to Medici banking to the royal succession in England to Welsh independence movement -- with some vampires running around and magic on the side.
Recommended knowledge of: Shakespeare's English plays esp Richard III, Byzantine history, and a good grasp on the events/people of the War of the Roses.
There's so much unexplained subtext (historical, emotional, political) that it makes the world feel very real but it doesn't make the most accessible for all readers. It is well built enough to work without going in informed -- but Byzantium/the War of the Roses/Medicis are some of my favorite subjects to see in fiction. I also v much enjoy Billy Shakes so this hits the perfect spot of fantasy x history for me.
June 1, 2022
Wow. This is one of the most intricate, complex, multilayered, meticulously researched alternative history/fantasy books I've ever read. (If not THE most?)
- It helps if you know your English history, your Shakespeare, something about early Renaissance and Florence, something about ancient Rome and Byzantium :)))) It heightens your enjoyment of the book, as you go through the literary/historical allusions and Easter eggs scattered throughout.
- It was interesting to see John M. Ford imagine a world without Christianity as one of the dominant religions - a world which is more humanistic, more advanced, and is a (somewhat) better place for women than 15th century Europe of "our" world.
- Nothing is spelled out and the plot unfolds slowly. As a reader, you need to PAY ATTENTION and fill in the blanks.
- The magic system is very dark. I don't think I've ever seen its like in any other fantasy book.
- The characters are wonderfully - and subtly - drawn. (I loved Cynthia!)
- This is a book you need to re-read and see what you had missed last time.
- Like many others, I highly recommend Draco Concordans as a reading companion. It is geeky and wonderful, and it's interesting to see what you have missed in chapter x.
- It helps if you know your English history, your Shakespeare, something about early Renaissance and Florence, something about ancient Rome and Byzantium :)))) It heightens your enjoyment of the book, as you go through the literary/historical allusions and Easter eggs scattered throughout.
- It was interesting to see John M. Ford imagine a world without Christianity as one of the dominant religions - a world which is more humanistic, more advanced, and is a (somewhat) better place for women than 15th century Europe of "our" world.
- Nothing is spelled out and the plot unfolds slowly. As a reader, you need to PAY ATTENTION and fill in the blanks.
- The magic system is very dark. I don't think I've ever seen its like in any other fantasy book.
- The characters are wonderfully - and subtly - drawn. (I loved Cynthia!)
- This is a book you need to re-read and see what you had missed last time.
- Like many others, I highly recommend Draco Concordans as a reading companion. It is geeky and wonderful, and it's interesting to see what you have missed in chapter x.
April 21, 2023
4.5
Three chapters in to Ford's inimitable Dragon Waiting, I was all but convinced this was going to be a best of all timer - Three chapters, three distinct sections introducing unique, remarkable characters in vividly painted historical detail. Action, Intrigue, Culture, this had it all...but unfortunately shortly after I was left a little wanting. Why? Honestly I think Ford's just too damn smart for me.
After our cast meets up and travels to England they get embroiled in an alternate history War of the Roses, but influenced by the auspices of the Byzantine empire. And it's clear Ford's in complete command of real history, of his alternate history, and how the complex changes he proposes would cascade through the world and create strange and new possibilities.... It's just I can't necessarily follow it. Paired with an extremely well done style, but one that's sparse in giving context, you do have to have a solid grasp of your own on the context and characters to get the most out of this.
I think though that with some time, research, understanding and patience, this book can and will easily meet the promise it set forth in its opening pages... just give me another chance first.
Three chapters in to Ford's inimitable Dragon Waiting, I was all but convinced this was going to be a best of all timer - Three chapters, three distinct sections introducing unique, remarkable characters in vividly painted historical detail. Action, Intrigue, Culture, this had it all...but unfortunately shortly after I was left a little wanting. Why? Honestly I think Ford's just too damn smart for me.
After our cast meets up and travels to England they get embroiled in an alternate history War of the Roses, but influenced by the auspices of the Byzantine empire. And it's clear Ford's in complete command of real history, of his alternate history, and how the complex changes he proposes would cascade through the world and create strange and new possibilities.... It's just I can't necessarily follow it. Paired with an extremely well done style, but one that's sparse in giving context, you do have to have a solid grasp of your own on the context and characters to get the most out of this.
I think though that with some time, research, understanding and patience, this book can and will easily meet the promise it set forth in its opening pages... just give me another chance first.
Read
July 26, 2020In an alternate history where Byzantium expanded to the Atlantic (is it alternate history when magic exists, or is that just fantasy?) a rogues gallery tries to keep England free. Probably one of the better fantasy books (I'm going to go with that) I've ever read, Ford has a real talent for plotting, his language is strange and not at all bad, and his take on Richard 3rd is the absolutely original. Lots of fun.
May 17, 2022
Maybe it’s deserving if 5 stars. I’m not sure. I am sure that this was a very worthwhile read. Great characters in a fantastic 15th century world. Plenty of surprises, and Ford just throws you right in and takes you on an adventure.
July 30, 2007
A historical revisionist (and fantastical) story of Richard III and his contemporaries, including vampires and Byzantium princes. Excellent.
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