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Dragonmaster #3
The Last Battle
Orbit 2005 paperback, vg In stock shipped from our UK warehouse
Paperback
Published January 1, 2005
8 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
About the author
Chris Bunch
86 books130 followersChristopher R. "Chris" Bunch was an American science fiction, fantasy and television writer, who wrote and co-wrote about thirty novels.
Born in Fresno, California, he collaborated with Allan Cole on a series of books involving a hero named Sten in a galactic empire. (Cole married Bunch's sister, Kathryn.) He served in Vietnam as a patrol leader. He also wrote for Rolling Stone and was a correspondent for Stars and Stripes. He died in his hometown of Ilwaco, Washington, after a long battle with a lung ailment.
Born in Fresno, California, he collaborated with Allan Cole on a series of books involving a hero named Sten in a galactic empire. (Cole married Bunch's sister, Kathryn.) He served in Vietnam as a patrol leader. He also wrote for Rolling Stone and was a correspondent for Stars and Stripes. He died in his hometown of Ilwaco, Washington, after a long battle with a lung ailment.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 17, 2018
BR with Siobhan - Yeay! Me made through to the end of a series that provided Niki with the measure of "as bad as this"!
This third book seemed to start on a different note than its predecesors and it had me believe there, for a little while, that it will be better. Alas, same old same old. It lacked both strength and substance and was even a little bit kiddish at times. (To say the least that is.)
All in all, not really a bad book. But... completely forgetable.
This third book seemed to start on a different note than its predecesors and it had me believe there, for a little while, that it will be better. Alas, same old same old. It lacked both strength and substance and was even a little bit kiddish at times. (To say the least that is.)
All in all, not really a bad book. But... completely forgetable.
September 6, 2017
Good story with a likeable, but not all-powerful hero. The depiction of war is vivid and realistic, as the author is a veteran from Vietnam. You can really feel the horrors of tha war, even if this one is a war with dragons. They behave mostly like planes, feeding on cattle rather than on fuel.
I regret only the lack of real feminine characters in the story : there are in fact only three noticeable women, all romantically linked to the main man. This series definitely does not pass the bechdel test, but it is still enjoyable. Still, I thought it was a bit older than 2006.
I regret only the lack of real feminine characters in the story : there are in fact only three noticeable women, all romantically linked to the main man. This series definitely does not pass the bechdel test, but it is still enjoyable. Still, I thought it was a bit older than 2006.
December 6, 2010
This is the Last book in the Dragonmaster trilogy and to me it was a little disappointing conclusion. At the end of the second book the war is over and it seems like the the series should have ended there and Chris just decided to add an unnecessary sequel into the series. The Roche have been beaten and it seems as if their could not be another enemy. Then the main character (Hal) frees one of his rival Dragon fliers from the Sagene who plan to kill him for crimes against Sagene. After he is rescued he is taken back to Roche where it seems Roche is waging a war against several barbarian tribes who believe that the Roche land should belong to them. After Hal helps his rival fend off the barbarians, he starts an expedition to find the Dragons homeland. He then goes on several adventures defeating demons that have plagued the dragon's homeland and then gives them back their island. To me this was not Chris' best work and does not even come close to the magnificence of the first two books. To me the series should have ended at the second book or added to more books to create another war that would be interesting to read or simply prolong the war to three books like the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. It is just too bad that Chris has past away and can no longer write anymore books for the Dragonmaster series so he can redeem himself as a writer and end the series with a bang instead of a pop.
I returned this book so I don't have a quote from the book for you. Sorry!
I returned this book so I don't have a quote from the book for you. Sorry!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2023
I agree with the other review, this was a very mediocre, unfocused ending to the trilogy. The first half of the book with life after the war and depression was actually really great but the second half with the fighting the “demon” dragons just seemed unfocused and rushed, like the author didn’t really care anymore.
The love story between hal and Kimana also seemed really rushed and unsatisfying. If it played out a little bit more detailed and expanded unpon then I think it would have been better.
The love story between hal and Kimana also seemed really rushed and unsatisfying. If it played out a little bit more detailed and expanded unpon then I think it would have been better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2018
I'd say this is my least favourite of the trilogy...for two reasons. The first is the pace and build up feels too much like me throwing ideas at a dart board 😅
The second...alot of the story, particularly the beginning is far too real. This stems from the authors own experience with returning soldiers, ptsd and the problems humans have when they inevitably have to return home. While i understand the need, It was far too dark for me and I'm happy to let the books rest after the second.
The second...alot of the story, particularly the beginning is far too real. This stems from the authors own experience with returning soldiers, ptsd and the problems humans have when they inevitably have to return home. While i understand the need, It was far too dark for me and I'm happy to let the books rest after the second.
March 18, 2024
Pretty straight forward simplistic read. Nonetheless there was something missing here. First half are mostly side stories (as opposed to backstory) irrelevant to any sort of positive progression. Explanations of major events are either slim or nonexistent so it is difficult to understand motive. Shape changing via single door transportation from a sidereal or alternative universe? Huh? Consummate symbiote warriors. Hookay.
May 13, 2021
Great series in the tradition of Sten
One of my favorite science-fiction series is the Sten Chronicles by Bunch and Cole. The last Dragon series continues this tradition. Strong leading figure with an exciting plot line and well-developed personalities. I am reading this series for the second time… So it must be pretty good.
One of my favorite science-fiction series is the Sten Chronicles by Bunch and Cole. The last Dragon series continues this tradition. Strong leading figure with an exciting plot line and well-developed personalities. I am reading this series for the second time… So it must be pretty good.
November 28, 2021
Riveting!
This series held my attention from the first book. Enough twists and turns with a bit of romance to keep the plot from being just blood and guts. Besides, there’s dragons to even things out!
This series held my attention from the first book. Enough twists and turns with a bit of romance to keep the plot from being just blood and guts. Besides, there’s dragons to even things out!
January 4, 2023
The Dragonmaster series has always been a old favorite of mine when it comes to militaristic sci-fi. The series follows the life of Hal. Beginning in the early years of his life as a nomad to leading the strongest group of dragonriders against the forces of evil and darkness.
Warring countries, magic to satisfy your sci-fi needs, and dragons!
Warring countries, magic to satisfy your sci-fi needs, and dragons!
September 5, 2018
3.5 stars ⭐
October 17, 2018
A rather lackluster end to the Dragonmaster trilogy. I'd only recommend reading it if you want to know what happened after the war.
April 28, 2025
It was just so damn miserable.
December 1, 2015
Caveat: The following review is biased towards the series rather than this final installment. My review convention treats all series as a single book, one story which has been somewhat arbitrarily broken into pieces for logistical or artistic reasons.
To me, Dragonmaster is a treatise about the ineptness of the aristocracy to wage an effective war whether it involves strategy, morale or supply. Though war councils are occasionally mentioned influencing the combat decisions, ultimately the ruler's whims control who will live and die and the manner of execution.
As the series continues and Hal's expertise becomes more obvious, not only does the King begin to defer to Hal's ideas/opinions but Hal's independence becomes more pronounced in his personality. Eventually, the Dragonmaster appeals to the ruler only out of tradition, but his instincts will always trump the King's commands and desires.
Air combat between the warring factions relies on dragons, a race whose behavior and obedience relies both on their particular species (denoted by hide color apparently) and their age of adoption by humans. Hal (for some reason never fully explained) has a uniquely-symbiotic relationship with the beasts which enables him to overcome overly-dangerous situations that often become fatal to most flyers. The development of this peculiar human-dragon relationship changes how the flyers view their place in the overall tapestry of life and how they interact with fellow humans, flyers and non-flyers alike.
Magicians become integrated into the combat effort using spells. Strangely in Dragonmaster, they seem unable to conceptualize combat applications of their talents and end up relying on requests from the military to develop weaponry and defensive accommodations. Perhaps their minds are more artistic and cerebral than technical in Bunch's world?
Readers become privy to weapon and tactical advances as the kingdoms in conflict try to anticipate and neutralize any advancements of the opposition. One accommodation that seemed so obvious to me and most probably would have occurred to the military is armoring the vulnerable parts of the dragons and flyers. Surely, if weight was a factor (here in Dragonmaster dragons are not beasts of burden), the same magicians who are able to transition a falling pebble into a huge boulder could have cast some sort of "feather" spell on any armor worn by beast or rider. Oh well...
I found it difficult to get a handle on what was driving Hal. Did he stay involved in the military flying because he enjoyed the synergy of killing potential between his mount and his prowess? Was he just a ruthless bastard with blood lust who happened to have his sensitive moments? Was he just a frustrated idealist flailing through the scenarios presented to him? Was his "hidden" mentality really influenced intimately by the beast (ala a draconic Stephenson's Jekyll-Hyde being) organically or psychologically? Much has gone undeveloped or undisclosed within the context of this series. Hal becomes more a component of the tale than a tangible personality we, as readers, can connect with.
As has been mentioned in reviews of other installments, the excessive (and often inappropriate) use of commas by the author leads, at minimum, to tedious reading. I've found myself ignoring them completely and inserting them as they seems most applicable. If this is simply a writing style (and I have no other reference, having not read any other of Mr. Bunch's offerings), it's one I would fervently discourage.
In final analysis, the series is just interesting, a unique perspective on characterizations typically drummed into banality by many fantasy authors. The pace of the storytelling is thrust forward with terse phrases hung on the end of sentences, sometimes to good effect, other times like an arbitrary appendage. If you can ignore the uncomfortable and unartistic style, beneath it is a good story with some well-developed characters to enjoy.
This is definitely a work that appeals to only certain tastes.
To me, Dragonmaster is a treatise about the ineptness of the aristocracy to wage an effective war whether it involves strategy, morale or supply. Though war councils are occasionally mentioned influencing the combat decisions, ultimately the ruler's whims control who will live and die and the manner of execution.
As the series continues and Hal's expertise becomes more obvious, not only does the King begin to defer to Hal's ideas/opinions but Hal's independence becomes more pronounced in his personality. Eventually, the Dragonmaster appeals to the ruler only out of tradition, but his instincts will always trump the King's commands and desires.
Air combat between the warring factions relies on dragons, a race whose behavior and obedience relies both on their particular species (denoted by hide color apparently) and their age of adoption by humans. Hal (for some reason never fully explained) has a uniquely-symbiotic relationship with the beasts which enables him to overcome overly-dangerous situations that often become fatal to most flyers. The development of this peculiar human-dragon relationship changes how the flyers view their place in the overall tapestry of life and how they interact with fellow humans, flyers and non-flyers alike.
Magicians become integrated into the combat effort using spells. Strangely in Dragonmaster, they seem unable to conceptualize combat applications of their talents and end up relying on requests from the military to develop weaponry and defensive accommodations. Perhaps their minds are more artistic and cerebral than technical in Bunch's world?
Readers become privy to weapon and tactical advances as the kingdoms in conflict try to anticipate and neutralize any advancements of the opposition. One accommodation that seemed so obvious to me and most probably would have occurred to the military is armoring the vulnerable parts of the dragons and flyers. Surely, if weight was a factor (here in Dragonmaster dragons are not beasts of burden), the same magicians who are able to transition a falling pebble into a huge boulder could have cast some sort of "feather" spell on any armor worn by beast or rider. Oh well...
I found it difficult to get a handle on what was driving Hal. Did he stay involved in the military flying because he enjoyed the synergy of killing potential between his mount and his prowess? Was he just a ruthless bastard with blood lust who happened to have his sensitive moments? Was he just a frustrated idealist flailing through the scenarios presented to him? Was his "hidden" mentality really influenced intimately by the beast (ala a draconic Stephenson's Jekyll-Hyde being) organically or psychologically? Much has gone undeveloped or undisclosed within the context of this series. Hal becomes more a component of the tale than a tangible personality we, as readers, can connect with.
As has been mentioned in reviews of other installments, the excessive (and often inappropriate) use of commas by the author leads, at minimum, to tedious reading. I've found myself ignoring them completely and inserting them as they seems most applicable. If this is simply a writing style (and I have no other reference, having not read any other of Mr. Bunch's offerings), it's one I would fervently discourage.
In final analysis, the series is just interesting, a unique perspective on characterizations typically drummed into banality by many fantasy authors. The pace of the storytelling is thrust forward with terse phrases hung on the end of sentences, sometimes to good effect, other times like an arbitrary appendage. If you can ignore the uncomfortable and unartistic style, beneath it is a good story with some well-developed characters to enjoy.
This is definitely a work that appeals to only certain tastes.
December 30, 2021
Et Bardaf! c'est l'embardée...
Je pense être assez généreux avec mes 3 étoiles mais bon sur l'ensemble de la trilogie,sans regarder de trop près au style, ce fut divertissant mais sans plus.
Pour ce troisième tome en particulier, je regrette les changements du au changement de traducteur. Le dragon Tempête devient Orage Roche devient la Roche, certes un détail mais un rien agaçant, ce genre de détail est pour le moins un minimum à respecter.
La première partie de ce troisième tome, l'expédition en Roche, est dans la même lignée que le tome 2, inutiles. De plus, certaines incohérences temporelles m'ont agacé ainsi que le coté retrouvaille de vieux barbouzes en manque d'action, un impression de Rambo 6 en version Fantasy.
La deuxième partie, l'expédition sur le continent inconnu, est plus intéressante mais finalement manque de profondeur également. En faisant une analyse de l'ensemble de la trilogie, j'ai l'impression que l'auteur, pétri de bonnes idées, est resté à leur surface sas jamais vraiment les assumer. Que ce soit la magie, dont finalement on ne sait rien de son fonctionnement, que ce soit les dragons dont l'empathie avec les dragonniers reste un suggestion, les personnages qui se cantonnent dans des stéréotypes agaçant, que ce soit dans un
Je pense être assez généreux avec mes 3 étoiles mais bon sur l'ensemble de la trilogie,sans regarder de trop près au style, ce fut divertissant mais sans plus.
Pour ce troisième tome en particulier, je regrette les changements du au changement de traducteur. Le dragon Tempête devient Orage Roche devient la Roche, certes un détail mais un rien agaçant, ce genre de détail est pour le moins un minimum à respecter.
La première partie de ce troisième tome, l'expédition en Roche, est dans la même lignée que le tome 2, inutiles. De plus, certaines incohérences temporelles m'ont agacé ainsi que le coté retrouvaille de vieux barbouzes en manque d'action, un impression de Rambo 6 en version Fantasy.
La deuxième partie, l'expédition sur le continent inconnu, est plus intéressante mais finalement manque de profondeur également. En faisant une analyse de l'ensemble de la trilogie, j'ai l'impression que l'auteur, pétri de bonnes idées, est resté à leur surface sas jamais vraiment les assumer. Que ce soit la magie, dont finalement on ne sait rien de son fonctionnement, que ce soit les dragons dont l'empathie avec les dragonniers reste un suggestion, les personnages qui se cantonnent dans des stéréotypes agaçant, que ce soit dans un
February 2, 2009
A decent epilogue to the Dragonmaster books, but it doesn't really feel like the third book in a trilogy. Well written, but disconnected, and not quite as interesting as the first two. Worth a read if you want more of of Bunch's dragon stories, but that's about it.
September 2, 2014
This series was fantastic. Great battle scenes, awesome character development and some hot and steamy stuff! Great concept on dragons. The main character is someone you can admire, love and hate at the same time. Read these soon.
March 14, 2016
I did not care for this book. Read the first they are great and go together well. this book would have been fine on its own but as the third in a series not so good. If there is a four book coming out then I would like this book better but I have not seen or heard anything to support that.
June 15, 2016
Oh crap, I promised three books and accidentally finished the war in two! Maybe I'll send him over here... Nope, nope, that doesn't work... How about this? Nope. Even worse. How about... alien dragons? Yeah, let's... Oop, there's my word count. No time to wrap it up. The end!
July 28, 2010
Not as good as the first 2 but still a good read.
In alot of ways this story could have ended with the second book.
In alot of ways this story could have ended with the second book.
Read
September 26, 201217
Read
December 30, 2014Felt that the ending was kinda short... I mean at least have it ending with him at home with the woman he loves... Don't leave him in BFE going home =_=
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews