One of the tales of Jim Eckert, the young mathematician who travels to a parallel medieval world only to be transformed into a large but none too bright dragon named Gorbash. Now the Dragon Knight must confront the 3 disasters that lie in wait for any visitor to the English Middle ages: war, plague and Plantagenets. The Dragon Knight, faces three new challenges - a plague caused by an invasion of shape-changing goblins, the arrival of the quarrelsome and ambitious Plantagenet dynasty, and a full-scale human-versus-goblin war.
Gordon Rupert Dickson was an American science fiction author. He was born in Canada, then moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota as a teenager. He is probably most famous for his Childe Cycle and the Dragon Knight series. He won three Hugo awards and one Nebula award.
The Dragon and the Fair Maid of Kent (2000) 531 pages by Gordon Dickson.
The ninth book in the Dragon Knight series. Not necessarily the conclusion, but the last one that Dickson wrote. Jim and Angie Eckert come from modern times, but are transported to an alternate 14th century earth where magic (or magick) is prevalent. Through the series Jim is becoming a better magician, at the beginning of Fair Maid he learns that Carolinus (his Master) has nominated him for membership in the collegiate of magickians.
Of course there are problems that arise. A plague or rather the plague breaks out throughout England. Goblins are trying to kill the King. And closer to home Sir Brian and Geronde are going to have a wedding.
Hob (Jim's hob from Malencontri) and other Hobs take on more of a role in this book. We get the back story of how Goblins and Hobgoblins were all the same until the Goblins took out their fury on the Hobgoblins, until they split and had different powers.
This was another fine tale in the Dragon Knight series. A nice touch to finally have Brian and Geronde get married. It took me a while to read it, because I didn't have enough reading time, not because it was a slog. Even broken up over weeks it was very enjoyable.
I love this series! Not nearly enough dragon in this book, mind you, but still great. Dickson did such an excellent job of slowly revealing more information over the course of the series, so that questions you forgot you had suddenly are answered. Highly recommended for those who love dragon stories.
Too much left undone if this is the final book. Too much time spent with the main character in self denial. This book just missed the mark as a finish to what was a really good series.
The Dragon Knight uses his 20 century knowledge to tackle the problem of the plague when it sweeps its way through England. A lot is at stake; his people, his wife and foster son, and the King of England. Dark influences try to spread the plague to eliminate the King and make room for his bastard brother Lord Cumberland to take control while usurping the King's son. Dickson includes a lot of details that are loosely based on actual historical events and characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Sensiblemente mejor que el anterior, aunque como de costumbre el final del libro deja muchas cosas a medias y sin explicación, lo cuál es una lástima al ser el último de la saga.
This is a fun book, where a talking dragon attempts to impress a fair lady. The whole plot is based on this and the resulting problems and fun resulting. Enjoyed the book a lot.