Science Fiction Aficionados discussion

Hi,
Recently I was researching Anne McCaffrey's "Dinosaur Planet" novels when some gave a sort of "ho-hum" reaction to these titles and went on to suggest that Andre Norton was much more adept at "dinosaur-themed" science fiction. Would anyone know the titles of Ms. Norton's dinosaur novels or short stories

I guess "Dragon Magic" and "Dragon Mage" would be what you're looking for. I've not read them. I only read some of her Witch World books and even that was long, long ago.

I really liked the Dinosaur Planet novels, although I read them way back in junior high. But that's true of most McCaffrey I've read.

Dragons are found mostly in fantasy books. Andre Norton's works aren't for the most part fantasy. Thus, dragons rarely appear in Norton's writing. At least two thirds of Norton's genre work is straight science fiction. Probably a quarter of it, certainly less than a third, straddled fantasy, but even then usually did so from a science fiction base.

For example, in Witch World the protagonist, Simon Tregarth, uses a device derived from advanced science to travel across a dimensional barrier to a world in which some of the women practice witchcraft. Fantastical creatures populate this world, called Estcarp, but not dragons (to the best of my recollection). There's even a science fiction basis for her Arthurian Merlin book, Merlin's Mirror, which is actually a big part of its charm.

Ed named two Norton works that prominently feature dragons. Dragon Magic is a young adult novel, but is well regarded by Norton fans. It's probably her best dragon book, though I can't say so definitively since I have not read it.

Like most books attributed to Norton's name that were written after 1990, Dragon Mage was probably entirely written by Jean Rabe rather than Norton. I have interest in the first book, but little in reading this one.

Similarly, Dragon Blade: The Book of the Rowan is probably entirely Sasha Miller's work. I saw little resemblance to the writing in it and Norton's style in any event.

Andre Norton wrote truly wonderful stuff, but she wrote it between 1950 and 1980. You really can't go wrong with reading any of her work that was published during this period. Books written after 1980 with Norton's name were less and less often actually written by her and are very hit or miss propositions.

Andre Norton's books are what draw a lot of young people to SF. She was definitely one of the sources for my interest, along with Tom Swift Jr. and The Mushroom Planet series. That said I do not recall reading any of those

Oops. Just noticed message one asked about dinosaurs, not dragons. Sigh.

I can't think of any specific title of Norton's that I have read offhand that features dinosaurs, though there may be some. I have read only perhaps a third of her 1950 to 1980 work and skimmed some of her later stuff at libraries and in book stores. So I can't say definitively.

Norton's characters often traveled back in time. There may have been dinosaurs in some of these stories, but if so they were not prominent. She also often wrote about extra-terrestial creatures, some of which may have been dinosaur like. Again, I can't think of any specific instances off the top of my head.

It is good that somebody actually, eventually, read the question.

I would recommend 'Fantastic Fiction'. That will give a full list of Norton's production (huge) and clicking on any title will normally give a precis.

Dan wrote: "Oops. Just noticed message one asked about dinosaurs, not dragons. Sigh. ..."

Oops! My brain confused them. I guess because I've read McCaffrey's Pern Dragon novels and don't know of any of her dinosaur novels. Plus, dragons are more fun!

Ed wrote: "Plus, dragons are more fun!"

Well, yeah! They're not extinct. You may actually meet one some day.

Dan wrote: "Ed wrote: "Plus, dragons are more fun!"

Well, yeah! They're not extinct. You may actually meet one some day."

Dragons or dinosaurs?

One is extinct, the other is fantasy.

I plan to eat a dinosaur on Thursday. It is a tradition in my country.

I've never had dinosaur before, but I hear it tastes like dragon. True?

If chickens (Turkeys) are descend from dinosaurs, then I would say dinosaurs taste like chicken (Turkey) 🤓

Komodo Dragons still exists.

Ed wrote: "Plus, dragons are more fun!"

Are you sure about this? How do dragons become blond then? Scale dye, or natural?