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Brothers of the Dragon #1
Brothers of the Dragon
Two brothers proficient in martial arts and wilderness survival techniques discover a parallel world where the powers of Light and Darkness have been at war for thousands of years. Original.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 3, 1992
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About the author
Robin Wayne Bailey
94 books40 followersRobin Wayne Bailey is an American fantasy and science fiction author and is a past president (2005-2007) of SFWA, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Robin also served as SFWA's South-Central Regional Director for nine years and has hosted three of SFWA's annual Nebula Awards weekends; two of those Nebula events were held in his home town of Kansas City, Missouri.
Bailey was one of the founders of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer's Hall of Fame in 1996, which merged with Paul G. Allen's Vulcan Enterprises in Seattle in 2004 to become part of the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. Robin continues to serve on its annual induction committee.
Bailey graduated from North Kansas City High School, and received a B.A. in English and Anthropology and an M.A. in English Literature from Northwest Missouri State University.
Bailey was one of the founders of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer's Hall of Fame in 1996, which merged with Paul G. Allen's Vulcan Enterprises in Seattle in 2004 to become part of the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. Robin continues to serve on its annual induction committee.
Bailey graduated from North Kansas City High School, and received a B.A. in English and Anthropology and an M.A. in English Literature from Northwest Missouri State University.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 18, 2016
What better to pull you out of a reading block than a story about two brothers who fight evil scaly unicorns with the power of karate?
Man, I've MISSED those old cray cray fantasy stories with the "convinient coupon for ordering" as the very first page. Nothing makes sense, but it still kind of does, because those are the rules of that world damnit! Good vs Evil. The Dark Side and the Light Side. No grey in sight. Don't get me wrong - I love my grey characters dearly, but sometimes I just need a clear "MUAHAHAHAHA I'M GOING TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!"-villain.
Plus, I think at least one of our designated heroes is plenty grey and I'm curious how that will develop in the sequel (I didn't even know there was a sequel before, I'm excited!).
As for now, I like our heroes and the friends they made in the other world. I was also pretty intrigued by that world and how it worked. I remember the same from "Shadowdance", another book by the same author. Somehow this one was a lot more fun, though. Not only because the story seemed lighter (even with its dark moments), but probably because I liked both of the narrators better. They weren't always right, but I could always see where they came from and why they did the things they did.
It's not a super deep book and there were a few awkward or cringeworthy moments that showed that this book is almost 25 years old by now, but that was to be expected and I was entertained regardless.
Ordering the sequel ASAP, hoping it will be just as a quick and amusing read.
Man, I've MISSED those old cray cray fantasy stories with the "convinient coupon for ordering" as the very first page. Nothing makes sense, but it still kind of does, because those are the rules of that world damnit! Good vs Evil. The Dark Side and the Light Side. No grey in sight. Don't get me wrong - I love my grey characters dearly, but sometimes I just need a clear "MUAHAHAHAHA I'M GOING TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!"-villain.
Plus, I think at least one of our designated heroes is plenty grey and I'm curious how that will develop in the sequel (I didn't even know there was a sequel before, I'm excited!).
As for now, I like our heroes and the friends they made in the other world. I was also pretty intrigued by that world and how it worked. I remember the same from "Shadowdance", another book by the same author. Somehow this one was a lot more fun, though. Not only because the story seemed lighter (even with its dark moments), but probably because I liked both of the narrators better. They weren't always right, but I could always see where they came from and why they did the things they did.
It's not a super deep book and there were a few awkward or cringeworthy moments that showed that this book is almost 25 years old by now, but that was to be expected and I was entertained regardless.
Ordering the sequel ASAP, hoping it will be just as a quick and amusing read.
December 12, 2014
Eric and Robert Podlowsky were out on a camping trip in the Catskills when they stumble across a cave that transports them to another world. In this world, martial arts are unknown, and the fact that the brothers used their skills to kill one of the deadly unicorns has promoted them to nearly mythical status with the natives. Dubbed the Brothers of the Dragon, they join in the fight against the Kingdoms of Night and the Heart of Darkness.
The premise of the book is certainly amusing enough: two brothers find their martial arts skills, which range from tolerable to moderately good, are enough to make them mighty warriors in a land of dragons and unicorns. The few fights are interesting, mostly because pretty much everyone except the unicorns is trying hard not to kill the enemy. People who die violently become equally violent ghosts that tear apart their murderers. So the emphasis of combat is mostly on the non-lethal forms.
Unfortunately, after the first battle against the unicorn, the brothers don't use much of their martial arts, and the rest of the plot isn't very hard to predict. The various hints about Robert perhaps being the long-awaited savior don't really go anywhere. The betrayal scene was never cleaned up properly, so I still have no idea about a possible motive, and to me it feels more like the author picked one of the only recognizable characters left to be the mole. The brothers don't really interact much; more of their relationship is told from stories about the past rather than shown.
I did, however, like the ending, and since I already have the next book I will read it eventually. But I couldn't find anything particularly innovative or great in this book, and I am not expecting too much out of the rest of the series. I rate this book Neutral.
The premise of the book is certainly amusing enough: two brothers find their martial arts skills, which range from tolerable to moderately good, are enough to make them mighty warriors in a land of dragons and unicorns. The few fights are interesting, mostly because pretty much everyone except the unicorns is trying hard not to kill the enemy. People who die violently become equally violent ghosts that tear apart their murderers. So the emphasis of combat is mostly on the non-lethal forms.
Unfortunately, after the first battle against the unicorn, the brothers don't use much of their martial arts, and the rest of the plot isn't very hard to predict. The various hints about Robert perhaps being the long-awaited savior don't really go anywhere. The betrayal scene was never cleaned up properly, so I still have no idea about a possible motive, and to me it feels more like the author picked one of the only recognizable characters left to be the mole. The brothers don't really interact much; more of their relationship is told from stories about the past rather than shown.
I did, however, like the ending, and since I already have the next book I will read it eventually. But I couldn't find anything particularly innovative or great in this book, and I am not expecting too much out of the rest of the series. I rate this book Neutral.
December 2, 2020
When I entered my teens, and my parents saw my love of reading, they repeatedly took me to Waldenbooks in the mall to let me pick out something new. I’d peruse the sci fi and fantasy sections and I always looked at the cover art; that would be my judging criteria. This one grabbed me from the beginning: two martial artist brothers stumble upon a world full of dragons, wizards, and evil (REALLY evil) unicorns?? I was in. The first in a trilogy, this was also my first true exposure to homosexuality, as it featured a homosexual romance (only hinted in this book; the be developed further in its sequels). It wasn’t presented as anything other than matter-of-fact. Just two people who cared about one another a lot. I understood that. Everybody inherently understands that. Though I can look at it now and see all the recognizable fantasy tropes and homages to the classics, this series really helped shape my accepting worldview at a very young age and, for that, I’ll always be grateful. Highly recommended, if you can find it and its two sequels: Flames of the Dragon and Triumph of the Dragon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2016
I first read this many, many years ago and was unable to remember anything useful (you know, title or author) so it was good to be able to re-read. It's very standard in some ways - people accidentally stumble upon a portal to another world, unicorns, dragons, magic, oppressed people, beautiful female, a convoluted personal history - but very different in others . I think the writing itself impressed me more the first time around, now seeming to be a little awkward in places, but overall it's an interesting read and one which encourages me to read the others. If I can find them...
September 25, 2015
Interesting world crossing novel. I liked it well enough to give it three stars but am still deciding if I'll continue the trilogy or not. I found the brothers distinctive and the way they became involved (and were partly already involved) in the new world they'd interested to be well done.
May 7, 2013
Fantastic writing style and my book cover had the most intricate drawing on it. LOVE this book!!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews