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Crucible of Gold (Temeraire, #7)
by Naomi Novik (Goodreads Author)
by Naomi Novik (Goodreads Author)
Another Fantastic Tale of Temeraire Courtesy of Naomi Novik
Demonstrating again that she has become one of the best prose stylists in fantasy fiction, Naomi Novik’s “Crucible of Gold” is one of the most compelling chapters in her fantasy and alternate history “Temeraire” series. Prior comparisons with Patrick O’Brian are definitely most apt here, in her mesmerizing accounts of Pacific tropical isles and South American rain forests, that rank easily alongside those depicted in O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin series. Equally commendable is her extensive description of Incan society and culture, which figure prominently in “Crucible of Gold”, the 7th novel in the critically acclaimed, quite popular, “Temeraire” series. Though I admire the late Anne McCaffrey’s work, including the “Dragonriders of Pern” series, that fine oeuvre is being surpassed by Naomi Novik’s , since she has displayed consistently, a higher literary standard in each of her “Temeraire” novels. Without question, Novik is a writer worthy of comparison not only with McCaffrey, but also, with the likes of Neil Gaiman and Michael Swanwick; her latest novel brilliantly reaffirms that.
Restored unexpectedly to his former rank and seniority in His Britannic Majesty’s Aerial Corps, Captain Laurence, Temeraire and their friends – both human and dragon – are compelled to take a hazardous sea voyage to South America, once more escorting diplomat Arthur Hammond, hoping to aid the exiled Portugese royal family in Rio De Janeiro, besieged by both the French and the Southern African Tswana dragonriders (The native people described in “Empire of Ivory”, the fourth “Temeraire” novel). Enduring shipwreck, capture by the French, and attacks by savage beasts and enemy military dragons, Laurence and Temeraire find themselves engaged in yet another epic struggle against the French, who are seeking to add South America as yet another large chunk of their vast worldwide empire. Laurence, Hammond and Temeraire will be compelled to have a battle of wits with a vainglorious emperor of the Old World and a mysterious empress of the New, setting the stage for an unexpected return to another great empire, seeking an ally willing to join Great Britain’s solitary struggle against the Napoleonic French Empire.
(Reposted from my 2012 Amazon review.)
Demonstrating again that she has become one of the best prose stylists in fantasy fiction, Naomi Novik’s “Crucible of Gold” is one of the most compelling chapters in her fantasy and alternate history “Temeraire” series. Prior comparisons with Patrick O’Brian are definitely most apt here, in her mesmerizing accounts of Pacific tropical isles and South American rain forests, that rank easily alongside those depicted in O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin series. Equally commendable is her extensive description of Incan society and culture, which figure prominently in “Crucible of Gold”, the 7th novel in the critically acclaimed, quite popular, “Temeraire” series. Though I admire the late Anne McCaffrey’s work, including the “Dragonriders of Pern” series, that fine oeuvre is being surpassed by Naomi Novik’s , since she has displayed consistently, a higher literary standard in each of her “Temeraire” novels. Without question, Novik is a writer worthy of comparison not only with McCaffrey, but also, with the likes of Neil Gaiman and Michael Swanwick; her latest novel brilliantly reaffirms that.
Restored unexpectedly to his former rank and seniority in His Britannic Majesty’s Aerial Corps, Captain Laurence, Temeraire and their friends – both human and dragon – are compelled to take a hazardous sea voyage to South America, once more escorting diplomat Arthur Hammond, hoping to aid the exiled Portugese royal family in Rio De Janeiro, besieged by both the French and the Southern African Tswana dragonriders (The native people described in “Empire of Ivory”, the fourth “Temeraire” novel). Enduring shipwreck, capture by the French, and attacks by savage beasts and enemy military dragons, Laurence and Temeraire find themselves engaged in yet another epic struggle against the French, who are seeking to add South America as yet another large chunk of their vast worldwide empire. Laurence, Hammond and Temeraire will be compelled to have a battle of wits with a vainglorious emperor of the Old World and a mysterious empress of the New, setting the stage for an unexpected return to another great empire, seeking an ally willing to join Great Britain’s solitary struggle against the Napoleonic French Empire.
(Reposted from my 2012 Amazon review.)
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