Il drago e il George (1976)

This is a great book. Instead of just being a quest to hunt a dragon, it becomes much, much more. I love the feel of the world that Dickson created and the overall theme of good vs. evil. Really enjoyable. ( )

Dickson, Gordon R. The Dragon and the George. 1976. Preface by David Drake. Dragon Knight No. 1. Start, 2013.
I can scarcely believe that it has been two decades since Gordon R. Dickson died. I somehow keep expecting another Dorsai or Hoka story to appear any day now. Dickson had a dry wit that one does not usually find in writers of adventure fantasy and military science fiction. But The Dragon and the George, the first novel in the Dragon Knight series, has it aplenty. Consider its premise: Jim, a struggling teaching assistant in the English department of a small Minnesota college, has to try to rescue his fiancé Angela when an astral projection experiment in the psychology lab where she works runs amok and teleports her who knows where. He straps himself into the machine and soon finds his consciousness inhabiting the body of a large dragon in a cave where Angela is being held by other dragons. So, Jim is a dragon and Angela is a George because to dragons all human beings are Georges. Let the adventure begin. Not only is there more wit than one expects but stronger character development. In his heroic quest to free Angela, Jim finds that he and the dragon have similar character flaws, including anger management issues. I enjoyed reading this one again. ( )

A classic, must read. I love the characters, and the concept of the accounting office. Dickson has a very SCAdian view of the middle Ages, or at least HIS Middle Ages. I went back and watched flight of Dragons and was so disappointed. But I can re-read this one over and over. Would we choose to give up our world of soft toilet tissue, good dentistry and hot water for magic and romance? I suppose it depends on how strong your teeth and bowels are... ( )

well written adventure - likable characters - some personal development - ok world building with plenty of room for more if needed - good moral - the title doesn't make a must-read but is significantly better than the average adventure
overall will read more by author ( )

Another blast from my past. I remembered laughing as I read it years ago; I laughed again. And yet, there were things to think about: what is honor, what is bravery, what is the right thing to do. I loved these thoughts more than my younger self did. What is clear is it is an excellent fantasy that has held up well.

If you like fantasy and haven't read this, go forth, find a copy, and read it now! ( )