Timothy Zahn has been entertaining science fiction readers young and old for more than twenty years with exciting, thought-provoking adventures; no...
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reviews
Jul 27, 2011
Dragon and Thief (part 1 of the Dragonback series) is a great little young adult adventure book. the story of runaway thief Jack Morgan and his symbiotic dragon is an awesome and entertaining read full of adventure and puzzles, twists and turns. Zahn writes convincingly and with some great edge to his dialogue - some of the conversations between the leads are very intelligent and interesting. The plot is solid and the twist is a nice satisfying surprise that sets up a neat cliffhanger for the ne
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Oct 03, 2010
Jim
rated it: 
I think I read that this is suppose to be a teen series. Other than only being 250 pages, and the protagonist being 14, I don't know why that would be. Zahn rarely uses swearing and other "adult" content, so that "lack" doesn't seem to contribute either.
Regardless, I enjoyed the book. It starts a little slow, but the typical good writing of Zahn prevails, plus this has a fast, satisfying, better than you're usual Zahn ending.
There were two problems/obj More...
Regardless, I enjoyed the book. It starts a little slow, but the typical good writing of Zahn prevails, plus this has a fast, satisfying, better than you're usual Zahn ending.
There were two problems/obj More...
Jul 29, 2011
I absolutely loved this book when I first read it at 14. The series as a whole is surprisingly touching, and even though the books each relate a separate adventure, it combines into a whole very well. The plot is exciting and takes a lot of interesting, clever twists. Unlike a lot of YA fiction, the dialogue is engaging and not at all shallow. Especially in the later books of the series, Zahn does an excellent job of foreshadowing without really giving the truth away to his readers, so despi
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Apr 09, 2009
Tamora
rated it:
A dragon-like warrior who requires a host to live more than six hours, fleeing the massacre of his people, finds a new host and a new set of problems in teenaged Jack Morgan, who has been educated to be a thief but doesn't like the job. Jack and his con man and thief Uncle Virgil were fleeing their enemies when Uncle Virgil died. That's when Draycos, escaping the ruins of his ship and his dead host, finds Jack. Now the two of them are fleeing people who will stop at nothing to find Uncle Virg
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Jul 28, 2010
Seregil
rated it: 
I bought this book because there was a huge sale at a bookstore nearby and I read it mostly while riding the subway. Now I think I'll have to find time to go buy the sequel, too.
It's a cute adventure book that shows again how fine the edge between fantasy and sci-fi can be. I'd normally call this a sci-fi book, but it clearly has some strong fantasy elements. It is clearly, however, an ideal book for younger readers. I'd have given it 5 stars out of 5 when I was around 13 years old. More...
It's a cute adventure book that shows again how fine the edge between fantasy and sci-fi can be. I'd normally call this a sci-fi book, but it clearly has some strong fantasy elements. It is clearly, however, an ideal book for younger readers. I'd have given it 5 stars out of 5 when I was around 13 years old. More...
Oct 16, 2011
hagel.kevin
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This book was pretty good... It has a newer and more original cast of aliens than are usually in a science fiction novel, a strong plot, and a solid foundation for the upcoming books in this series. My complaints are that it was a little too short for my tastes, and that it was pretty predictable, but overall I liked it. I would recommend it to someone who wanted a short, easy series to follow up on. The sequels for this book are Dragon and Soldier and Dragon and Slave, both of which can be foun
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Jul 19, 2011
Jay
rated it: 
Dragon and Thief by Timothy Zahn (2003). The first "Dragonback" novel solidly sets the groundwork for the series. It's marked "YA" (Young Adult), most likely because main character Jack Morgan is 14 years old.
Zahn plants hints for later revelations, which propel the story nicely as the series progresses. He wraps up each installment with a "gotcha" that spurs the reader on to the next book in the series.
Zahn's storytelling prowess is in fu More...
Zahn plants hints for later revelations, which propel the story nicely as the series progresses. He wraps up each installment with a "gotcha" that spurs the reader on to the next book in the series.
Zahn's storytelling prowess is in fu More...
Feb 04, 2012
Shimmerpop
rated it:
I loved this book! I saw it on the library sale shelf and after reading the back, snatched it right up and I was not disappointed! It grabbed me right from the start and I sat here and stayed up all night to finish it. Tempted to skip sleep entirely so I can start on volume two lol
Draycos' character and how he needs Jack to survive and the way the symbiosis works between the two, was fascinating. I loved the plot, barely left me a minute to catch my breath, but the intrigue didn't g More...
Draycos' character and how he needs Jack to survive and the way the symbiosis works between the two, was fascinating. I loved the plot, barely left me a minute to catch my breath, but the intrigue didn't g More...
Oct 10, 2011
Toni
rated it:
This is a Young Adult science fiction novel, though I didn’t realize it at the time I bought it, but that didn’t stop me from reading it. I found Jack a likable and quick-witted youngster who was also quite vulnerable when faced with violence-dealing adults. The contract between him and Draycos in the way they dealt with situation was sometimes comical, always interesting. Though the story was written more simply than what I’m used to reading, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and expect to chec
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May 07, 2011
Kathleen
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What is better than a sentient, two-dimensional life-form that lives on your skin like a tattoo and gives excellent advice? One that becomes an awesome, three-dimensional warrior-poet dragon, of course. Draycos, the K'da warrior, needs a host, and he finds one in Jack Morgan a fourteen year old reformed con man. As their unlikely friendship solidifies there are battles--in space and in person--mysteries, and con artistry all around. With an amoral, personality-filled AI rounding out the stra
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Jan 11, 2012
Mars
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This is more of a fairy tale than a serious sci-fi work - the good characters are good, the evil ones are evil, and it's predictable beyond words.
But it's a light read (I've finished all 6 books in less time than it took me to get through a quarter of Baudolino), it's light-hearted and fun, and if you can disregard the blatant violations of the laws of physics and common sense then it's quite nice.
And, to get you into the spirit - this is what it *actually* looks like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xl4L-6OF... More...
But it's a light read (I've finished all 6 books in less time than it took me to get through a quarter of Baudolino), it's light-hearted and fun, and if you can disregard the blatant violations of the laws of physics and common sense then it's quite nice.
And, to get you into the spirit - this is what it *actually* looks like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xl4L-6OF... More...
Jul 03, 2008
Shannon
rated it:
Jack Morgan, a 14 year old reformed con artist, happens to have really bad luck. His Uncle was killed, he's been framed for murder, and he stumbles upon a conscpiracy to destroy two entire alien species. Jack joins forces with Dracos, a warrior from one of the attacked species, and they set out to find who's behind the ruthless attack.
This book is a fun YA read. Jack is a great main character. He's trying to escape his life of cheating and lock picking, yet he constantly finds himsel More...
This book is a fun YA read. Jack is a great main character. He's trying to escape his life of cheating and lock picking, yet he constantly finds himsel More...
May 07, 2008
Amber
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Draycos is a K'da poet warrior and the sole survivor in a battle against his mortal enemies, the Valahgua. Their purple death-beam has simply snuffed out the lives of the entire space crew of the Havenseeker, including his host, Polphir. Draycos is a dragon-shaped being with his physical form existing in several dimensions. On his own, you can see him in the regular three-dimensional shape. With his host, he only exists on the first and second planes and becomes like a living tattoo wrapped arou
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Aug 20, 2008
Arwen
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I must admit to being skeptical as I started this book. Timothy Zahn is best known for his Star Wars novels and I am somewhat soured on the Star Wars universe at present. But I really enjoyed this book.
The story is set far into the future, where humanity has left Earth behind, settled the stars and come into contact with other sentient beings.
Draycos, a K'da warrior, has lost his symbiotic partner after a betrayal has left him the lone survivor of a scouting mission. H More...
The story is set far into the future, where humanity has left Earth behind, settled the stars and come into contact with other sentient beings.
Draycos, a K'da warrior, has lost his symbiotic partner after a betrayal has left him the lone survivor of a scouting mission. H More...
Jan 11, 2010
Heather
rated it:
I enjoyed this book quite a bit, when I could wrestle it away from my boys who kept looking at the cover and asking all sorts of questions about what was happening in the book. And speaking of the cover, why the heck is the dragon on the front green when he's really gold with reddish edges????
There was a lot of action and intrigue and new technology. The characters were interesting and I appreciated the humor throughout. The book deals a lot with friendship and trust and loyalty. More...
There was a lot of action and intrigue and new technology. The characters were interesting and I appreciated the humor throughout. The book deals a lot with friendship and trust and loyalty. More...
Aug 03, 2011
Chantal
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I finished this book in about a day. Loved the story; science fiction and dragons are always a good combination for me. The sci-fi concepts involved are pretty cool, and while the plot overall is fairly light Zahn still does a good job of keeping the excitement levels high throughout the whole novel. I was left wanting more at the end, not so much because the story wasn't fulfilling, but because I wanted to read more of the main characters' adventures. Definitely fun.
Jan 19, 2011
Missy
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An interesting relationship between the main characters sets the pace for this unusual story. It might be a classic coming of age story for a kid on his own, however unusual friendships tell a unique tale. The vastness of space and the constant threat of danger make this story a thrilling ride set in the distant future. I especially love the conflict between the boy trying to decide if he should treat his new pet as a threat, an ally, or a lovable pet.
Aug 29, 2011
Derrick
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A young former thief, on the run for a crime he actually didn't commit, hooks up, literally, with a dragon who is the sole survivor of an ambush. Their enemies are linked, so they help each other out. This was meant for teens, and it shows, but it isn't a bad thing. I'd introduce Zahn to a preteen with this series[Dragonback series] and then lead them on from there :-)
Nov 16, 2010
Michael
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Recommended to me by my wife - this book has all the style of Tim Zahn (whom I'm a great an). Intriguing character in Draycos and a clever, sympathetic rogue in Jack. It starts out a little slow but then quickly becomes quite the caper story. Very fun! I think I might have to continue into the series....
Jul 13, 2009
Lianne
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A dragon book unlike any other and a best bet for boys, even if they don't like science fiction. This one has adventure/quest/mystery elements, too. A unique premise that most boys will find irresistible. I gave it three stars because it has one big drawback for today's kids--this future is very low tech.
Feb 29, 2008
Joshua
rated it:
Fun sci-fi. Falls in the juvenile category, which means (thankfully) that it is free of the sex, nudity, gore, and foul language that haunts so much of the genre. Writing is a little repetitive, as key phrases always seem to be written out long hand, "poet-warrior of the K'da" being one of those phrases. But this is fun light reading with some interesting sci-fi elements (one being a 3 dimensional being who "rests" in a fourth dimension, thereby appearing 2D in 3D space...
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Jan 24, 2012
Lisa
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I read this book because I am the leader of a 5th grade book club. First, let me say that this type of book is not my type of book. Second, I had such a hard time getting into it starting at the first page. I am anxious to see how the kids did with it. Once I got the storyline, I thought it was ok, just not my type of book.
Apr 24, 2011
Angela
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Loved this series when I read it years ago and wanted to go back and rate it as a possibility for my brother-in-law Donnie and possibly Reece as well. Very original with cool gadgetry, real suspense, strong sense of right and wrong, and even humorous bits.
Nov 01, 2010
Spencer
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I have read all of the Dragonback Series(1-6). They are more teen literature, thanadult, but the characters, storyline, and mystery is very good. I didn't really know what was going on until around book 6(the last one).
Jul 24, 2010
Aaron
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Very light reading, which isn't my typical preferred. On balance though, for what this book is, it's pretty good. Seems more like a young-adult book, though I don't think it's actually categorized as that. I'd recommend it, if not glowingly.
Jul 17, 2009
Patrick
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Good little book. I saw it on display and like the author from some of his Star Wars books, so I grabbed it. It's a good story with a likable main character and an interesting set-up. I hope to read the sequel.
Nov 30, 2010
Winona
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I really like this SF series about a boy growing up and learning morality.
The writing is fine, but nothing outstanding.
Teen book with nothing objectionable; squeaky clean.
The writing is fine, but nothing outstanding.
Teen book with nothing objectionable; squeaky clean.
Aug 31, 2011
Lakisha
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I really enjoyed this book. The main character is a young man who has a less than honorable profession. Despite that, this kid has a heart of gold and through the process of becoming friends with an alien, learns a lot about himself, people and the true meaning of friendship.
A highly recommend for readers of all ages but especially for boys who aren't big on reading. I think they would like this one. And best of all, there is no romance. Lots of adventure and more.
This is the More...
A highly recommend for readers of all ages but especially for boys who aren't big on reading. I think they would like this one. And best of all, there is no romance. Lots of adventure and more.
This is the More...
Dec 09, 2009
Heather
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Very interesting! Love the idea and it definitely kept me turning the pages to see what would happen, hopefully will be able to find more in this series =)
Mar 18, 2009
Daniel
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Good book, read it in 6th grade. reread it in 8th, pretty good memories. beggining of a great series. enjoy
