(Star Rigger series, Book 3)
Jeffrey A. Carver
Tor
Fiction, Sci-Fi
*****
Dragon Rigger
Star Rigger's Way
(Star Rigger series, Book 1)
Jeffrey A. Carver
Dell
Fiction, Sci-Fi
****
DESCRIPTION: The Flux is a layer of hyperspace which can be perceived and manipulated by a select group of aliens and humans. These riggers, as they're called, are an
invaluable asset to interstellar navigation, coaxing vessels along the shifting, dreamlike paths of the subjective layers of hyperspace between the stars. It is a job fraught
with dangers, not only from without, in the unpredictable currents of the Flux, but from within. While in the rigger-net, a rigger's own demons can find sudden, deadly life in
the mists of hyperspace.
Gev Carlyle is the last surviving rigger after a horrible accident kills most of the cargo vessel Sedora's crew. As he slowly works his way home, back to the ship and
friends he left behind, he answers a distress call from an alien vessel stranded in hyperspace. The alien is a telepathic catlike cynthian named Cephaen, an amateur rigger with
problems of his own. Both must learn to work together if they are to survive not only their initial stranding in the Flux, but the quest to reunite Gev's old shipmates.
REVIEW: This book, originally printed in 1975, formed the basis for Carver's later books, Dragons In The Stars and Dragon Rigger. Though I've seen it republished, I found this copy for a buck at Half-Price Books. I found it fairly entertaining, though, as a confirmed dracophile, I preferred the two other books. Theoretically, this took place many years - centuries, perhaps - after the events of the dragon stories. There is only one line in which the dragons and the mountain route to Lexis were mentioned. I have to wonder if it sat there and nagged Carver until he broke down and told the story of the dragons of the Flux.
You might also enjoy:
Dream a Little Dream (Piers Anthony and Julie Brady, Fiction - A world created by human dreams is in trouble)
Cats in Space (Bill Fawcett, editor, Fiction - Sci-fi tales of cats)
Cat-A-Lyst (Alan Dean Foster, Fiction - An actor's cat knows more than she lets on about a portal to an alternate world)
Cat Scratch Fever (Tara K. Harper, Fiction - On a far-future colony, a woman shares a forbidden telepathic bond with wild cats)
Dune (Frank Herbert, Fiction - The interstellar human civilization relies on life-extending spice from desert Arrakis)
Brain and Brawn Ship series (Anne McCaffrey, Fiction - Human brains control interstellar spaceships)
Trading in Danger(Elizabeth Moon, Fiction - The disgraced daughter of an interstellar shipping dynasty finds herself in the middle of a war)
Ringworld (Larry Niven, Fiction - Two humans and two aliens explore a massive habitable ring built around a distant star)
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Dragons in the Stars
(Star Rigger series, Book 2)
Jeffrey A. Carver
Tor
Fiction, Sci-Fi
****
DESCRIPTION: In the future, humans and other aliens achieve interstellar travel through a layer of hyperspace known as the Flux. Skilled navigators called riggers can
manipulate the Flux images, much like in a lucid dream, and actually move ships along its currents to their destination. Only one area of the Flux is immune to rigger
manipulation: the ill-rumored "mountain route to Lexis." Stories abound not only of the mysterious mountainous images produced here, but of the dragons said to inhabit them. Of
course, any sane rigger knows that nothing can live in hyperspace, not even dragons... can they?
Jael LeBrae, a human rigger desperate to get into space while she can still navigate the Flux, signs into the service of an unsavory master. It is in his employ that she first
crosses the mountain route to Lexis. During a duel with the dragons - who prove to be all too real - she not only survives, but manages to befriend the dragon known as Highwing.
It seems that fate has thrown them together, for an evil outside force is corrupting the life of the dragon-mountains. If an ancient dragon prophecy is accurate, then
LeBrae may the only one who can stop it.
REVIEW: This book neatly blends the science fiction of spaceships and aliens with the magic of dragons. The Flux is a wondrously described place of changing images and limitless space. I found myself skimming the parts in "reality" to get back to the dragon realms. Some of the scenes are indescribably vivid (in my mind's eye, at least), such as Highwing's garden and the death of his mate. A wonderful story, recommended to any dracophile!
You might also enjoy:
Dream a Little Dream (Piers Anthony and Julie Brady, Fiction - A world created by human dreams is in trouble)
Dragonhenge and The Stardragons (Dragons evolve from mythic origins to sentient AI starships wandering the Cosmos)
Brain and Brawn Ship series (Anne McCaffrey, Fiction - Human brains control interstellar spaceships)
Trading in Danger(Elizabeth Moon, Fiction - The disgraced daughter of an interstellar shipping dynasty finds herself in the middle of a war)
Ringworld (Larry Niven, Fiction - Two humans and two aliens explore a massive habitable ring built around a distant star)
Dragonback adventures (Timothy Zahn, YA Fiction - A dragonlike alien recruits a boy thief to save his species from imminent annihilation)
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Dragon Rigger
(Star Rigger series, Book 3)
Jeffrey A. Carver
Tor
Fiction, Sci-Fi
*****
Dragon Rigger
DESCRIPTION: The evil in the dragon realms is growing stronger, with only a few free dragons left to fight its horrid mutations. Under the leadership of Highwing's son Windrush, they are slowly losing ground, as well as the lumenis groves on which they feed. Internal conflicts threaten to tear them apart, with traitors and traps abounding. When he can, Windrush looks for hints to the Enemy's plans in the magical web of the underrealm, the "next level down in the Flux" where gifted dragons work their spells. Meanwhile, the starship rigger Jael has been called back to the dragon mountains by messengers of uncertain motives. The fate of the dragon world may hang on her actions in the face of betrayals and confusion.
REVIEW: I loved this book! It was even better than the first one, admittedly because of more dragons and magic. Full of action and intrigue, anybody who likes fantasy and dragons should like it. I keep hoping to see more books in this series on the shelves, but thus far I've been disappointed. Don't let the sci-fi elements scare you off! These are magnificent works of science fantasy!
You might also enjoy:
Dream a Little Dream (Piers Anthony and Julie Brady, Fiction - A world created by human dreams is in trouble)
Dragonhenge and The Stardragons (Dragons evolve from mythic origins to sentient AI starships wandering the Cosmos)
Brain and Brawn Ship series (Anne McCaffrey, Fiction - Human brains control interstellar spaceships)
Trading in Danger(Elizabeth Moon, Fiction - The disgraced daughter of an interstellar shipping dynasty finds herself in the middle of a war)
Ringworld (Larry Niven, Fiction - Two humans and two aliens explore a massive habitable ring built around a distant star)
Dragonback adventures (Timothy Zahn, YA Fiction - A dragonlike alien recruits a boy thief to save his species from imminent annihilation)
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