Steer - Book Reviews

*** - Excellent
- Good
* - Okay
** - Bad
* - Terrible
+ - Half-star

Dr. Ernest Drake's Dragonology
Dugald A. Steer, editor
Candlewick Press
Fiction, YA Fantasy
*****

DESCRIPTION: Originally penned by Dr. Drake in the late 19th century, this is a compilation of the dragonologist's studies into dragon history, evolution, behavior, habitat, and lore. From the rare marsupial dragons of Australia to the better-known European specimens, from the properties of dragon dust to techniques for (temporarily) taming dragons, all manner of dragon knowledge is compiled here. To enhance the educational experience, Dr. Drake includes samples of dragon scales and wing membrane, booklets on the dragon language and dragon riddles, and other oddities.

REVIEW: Though technically a Young Adult title, anybody with an interest in dragon lore should enjoy this book. The illustrations are colorful and add value to the text information, and the "extras" are fun, bright, and not too intrusive. (Yes, I'm a sucker for shiny objects. So sue me...) No, it's not historically accurate, taking liberties with dragon legends, but it's still a fast and fun read for any dragon-lover.

You might also enjoy:
Tales of Great Dragons (J. K. Anderson, YA Fiction - An introduction to world dragon lore, with pictures to color
The Book of Dragons (Ciruelo, Fiction - Dragon lore and illustrations)
Dancing with Dragons (D. J. Conway, Nonfiction - Using dragons in magick)
Dragonlore (Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk, Nonfiction - Myths and traditions ancient and modern about dragons and their kin)
The Great Book of Dragon Patterns (Lora S. Irish, Art - Basic dragon lore with many designs)
A Diversity of Dragons (Anne McCaffrey, Fiction - The famed author explores dragons in myth and modern fiction, with art by John Howe)
Dracopedia (William O'Connor, Art - Imagining many varieties of dragon, and realizing them in art)
Dragons - Truth, Myth, and Legend (David Passes, YA Nonfiction - Dragon lore and myths)
The Dragons are Singing Tonight (Jack Prelutsky, YA Poetry - Whimsical verses about dragons of all kinds)
Dragons: A Natural History (Dr. Karl Shuker, Nonfiction - Dragon myths from around the world)
How to Raise and Keep a Dragon (John Topsell, Joseph Nigg "editor", YA Fiction - A guide to keeping dragons as pets, based on real-world dragon lore)

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The Dragonology Handbook
(Companion to Dragonology)
Dugald A. Steer, editor
Candlewick Press
Fiction, YA Fantasy
****

DESCRIPTION: Following the success of Dr. Ernest Drake's Dragonology, reprinted from a 19th century dragonologist's notes, this book came to light. This workbook, designed for aspiring dragonologists by Dr. Drake himself, has been reprinted for the benefit of modern readers who wish to pursue the study of dragons full-time or as a hobby. The lessons cover everything from basic dragon identification to dragon runes and riddles, dragon magic, and how to start your own Dragonological Society chapter to promote dragon study and conservation. It comes with a certificate of completion, a dragonologist library card, a sheet of stickers, a fold-out map of dragon activity and global migration, and a copy of Dr. Drake's report card from his school days.

REVIEW: Much of the information and several of the illustrations are straight from the first book, but some new material has been added, mostly as elaboration on ideas mentioned in Dragonology. Like the first book, this handbook is designed to look like an old volume, with age-browned pages, ink drips, and cup ring marks to suggest much wear and use. I found it hard to read through some of these atmospheric effects, and also found it annoying that the text sometimes ran right over the beautiful illustrations, especially when one section encourages readers to develop their art skills by tracing the pictures in the book. I liked the lesson-based format, and I'm still dragon-loving nut, so I rated it Good overall.

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Dragonology Pocket Adventures
Dugald A. Steer, editor
Candlewick Press
Fiction, YA Fantasy
***

DESCRIPTION: Based on the bestselling Dragonology franchise, these miniature books each contain a mini-adventure. As a junior dragonologist, you are sent on four missions for the society, taking you around the world. Read the story, work through the puzzles, and choose how to proceed. Be careful! When dealing with dragons (and those who hunt them), making the right decision can literally be the difference between life and death. This box set includes four books:
I - The Iceland Wyrm: A rogue frost dragon is wreaking havok in Iceland, and it's up to you to find out why.
II - The Dragon Star: Seek out the legendary Dragon Star, a magical gemstone last seen by noted dragonologist Dr. Dee, before dark dragonologists can steal it.
III - The Dragon Dance: "Hoppy," a rare Australian marsupial dragon, has wandered dangerously close to area gold mines. Can you find her and lead her to safety?
IV - The Winged Serpent: The search for El Dorado, the City of Gold, crosses paths with guardian dragons in South America.

REVIEW: I gave these a blanket rating as they all have about the same writing style and, consequently, suffer the same problems. The biggest of these is the awkward format. Instead of flipping to a given page number to continue the story, one must flip to a numbered paragraph; this, combined with the small book size and stiff hardbound spines, makes for often-troublesome navigation. That said, they at least allow for a few wrong turns and dead-ends, instead of one answer being right and the others immediately wrong or fatal. Incidentally, I wasn't exaggerating in the Description. You have many, many chances to die a virtual death in the course of these adventures, which actually befits the inherently dangerous job of dragonologist, but may disturb those who only came to Dragonology for the shiny objects and whimsical illustrations. As for the stories themselves, I found them poorly written, and the endings - there is only one "right" ending for each - seemed a bit too happy-fuzzy and neat given the quick and gruesome demises that the readers are bound to meet on the way.
In summary, these pocket adventures aren't great literature, and only contribute marginally to the ever-expanding Dragonology franchise, but they look neat and come in a little cardboard box with plastic gemstones. If that's enough for you, you'll be happy with your purchase.

You might also enjoy:
Alternamorphs (K. A. Applegate, YA Fiction - Companion books to her "Animorphs" series, where the reader joins the action)
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher (Bruce Coville, YA Fiction - A boy buys a dragon's egg in a magic shop, never thinking it will hatch)
The Dragons are Singing Tonight (Jack Prelutsky, YA Poetry - Whimsical verses about dragons of all kinds)
The Dragon of Lonely Island and Return of the Dragon(Rebecca Rupp, YA Fiction - Modern children find a three-headed dragon in a cave on their great-aunt's island)
The Dragon that Ate Summer (Brenda Seabrooke, YA Fiction - A boy finds a dragon eating his mother's flowers)
Dragon Keeper (Carole Wilkinson, YA Fiction - In ancient China, a slave girl finds herself the guardian of the last imperial dragon)
The Abominable Snowman/Journey Under the Sea/Space and Beyond/The Lost Jewels of Nabooti/Mystery of the Maya/House of Danger (Choose Your Own Adventure 1-6) (Box Set 1) (The original, and still the best, pick-your-own-path stories, available from Amazon)

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Dragonology: Tracking and Taming Dragons
(Deluxe Book and Model Set, Volume 1: European Dragon)
Dugald A. Steer, editor
Candlewick Press
Fiction, YA Fantasy
****

DESCRIPTION: Dr. Ernest Drake's latest book, Tracking and Taming Dragons, instructs young dragonologists on how to locate and befriend dragons, as well as offering some training techniques. This set includes a precut European dragon model to assemble (with instructions.)

REVIEW: Yet another installment in the growing Dragonology franchise, it reeks so strongly of merchandising that I clipped it a point. Otherwise, I found the booklet enjoyable, if brief. It included new illustrations and information, which is more than many merchandising-based tie-ins manage. I also liked the dragon model, made of decently thick cardboard and printed with a colorful European dragon straight from the delightful Dragonology illustrations. If you want to expand your dragon collection, it's a good deal.

You might also enjoy:
Tales of Great Dragons (J. K. Anderson, YA Fiction - An introduction to world dragon lore, with pictures to color
How to Draw Your Own Story: The Dragon, The Knight, and the Princess (Don Bolognese, YA Art - Trace and draw a fantasy story)
Make Your Own Paper Dragons (Sean Brand and Ivan Hissey, Art - A kit to make your own dragons by sketching, painting, and origami)
How to Draw Dragons and Other Mythical Creatures (Emmet Elvin, YA Art - Drawing dragons and more with easy step-by-step instructions)
The Great Book of Dragon Patterns (Lora S. Irish, Art - Basic dragon lore with many designs)
A Diversity of Dragons (Anne McCaffrey, Fiction - The famed author explores dragons in myth and modern fiction, with art by John Howe)
Dracopedia (William O'Connor, Art - Imagining many varieties of dragon, and realizing them in art)
Dragons - Truth, Myth, and Legend (David Passes, YA Nonfiction - Dragon lore and myths)
DragonArt (J. "NeonDragon" Peffer, YA? Art - Drawing a variety of dragons and other fantastic beasts)
Dragons: A Natural History (Dr. Karl Shuker, Nonfiction - Dragon myths from around the world)
How to Raise and Keep a Dragon (John Topsell, Joseph Nigg "editor", YA Fiction - A guide to keeping dragons as pets, based on real-world dragon lore)

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Dr. Ernest Drake's Monsterology
Dugald A. Steer, editor
Candlewick Press
Fiction, YA Fantasy
***

DESCRIPTION: Best known for his phenomenally successful Dragonology books, the 19th-century dragonologist Dr. Drake was also a keen student of many other creatures which modern science dismisses as imaginary or impossible. In these pages, he describes numerous "monsters" from unicorns to gorgons, from the famed Himalayan yeti to the obscure nightmare-eating Asian baku. As proof of his discoveries, he includes various samples collected during his travels.

REVIEW: Another one for the Shiny Object category... I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised that, after the initial burst of enthusiasm displayed in Dragonology, subsequent entries in the "Ology" series have become less substantial. While, understandably, there is no way to cram every possible mythical and cryptozoological beast into one picture book, I felt "Drake" (Steer) could've covered more with his given page count - especially as he later mentions creatures which did not previously merit mention in chapters describing his "finds." He also mixes cryptozoology with mythology, but it actually didn't irk me as the book itself is so clearly and unabashedly playing the imagination angle; it's only when researchers are belittled that I get testy. Still, there are the requisite "shiny objects," glittery bits of unicorn hair and shimmery samples of phoenix ash and the like. I suppose I just wanted a little something more than that.

You might also enjoy:
Fabulous Beasts (Malcom Ashman, Art/Fiction - An artist's bestiary of fantastic beasts)
Mythical Beasts (Alexandra Bonfante-Warren, Nonfiction - Creatures of myth and legend)
The Book of Imaginary Beings (Jorge Luis Borges, Fiction - A bestiary of fantasy animals)
The Encyclopedia of Monsters (Daniel Cohen, Nonfiction - Fantasy beasts, cryptid encounters, and more)
Magickal, Mystical Creatures (D. J. Conway, Nonfiction - Mythical and legendary animals, and their magickal significance)
A Natural History of the Unnatural World ("The Cryptozoological Society of London," YA Fiction - Fantastic animals and cryptids)
Big Book of Dragons, Monsters, and Other Mythical Creatures (Ernst and Johanna Lehner, Nonfiction - Historical images of fabulous beasts)
The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures (John & Caitlin Matthews, Nonfiction - An overview of gods, demons, mythic animals, and a few cryptids)
The Book of Fabulous Beasts (Joseph Nigg, Nonfiction - The classical origins and evolution of popular fantastic beasts)
The Encyclopedia of Things that Never Were (Michael Page and Robert Ingpen, Fiction - Illustrated guide to imaginary animals, places, and more)
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (J. K. Rowling, Fiction - A companion to the Harry Potter series, discussing several fantastic beasts)

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Wizardology
Dugald A. Steer, editor
Candlewick Press
Fiction, YA Fantasy
*****

DESCRIPTION: Wizards have a long and powerful history, often misunderstood by the uninitiated and much maligned through the ages. Today, true wizardry is all but extinct. The great wizard Merlin, long ago imprisoned in an oak tree by the deceptive enchantress Nimue, used much of his remaining magic to create this book, filled with the secrets and knowledge necessary for those who wish to follow this line of study today. Included with the text are numerous booklets, charts, and other extras.

REVIEW: Much like Dragonology, this book has a wonderful sense of exploration and wonder to it, with many illustrations and extras and enough actual content to keep readers interested. Fellow suckers for fantasy and shiny things will have to add this to their collections.

You might also enjoy:
The Learned Art of Witches & Wizards (Anton and Mina Adams, Nonfiction - Magickal traditions and practices)
The Way of Wizards (Tom Cross, Fiction - Enchantingly illustrated look at wizard origins, powers, and more)
The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Spells & Magic (The Diagram Group, Nonfiction - A quick-reference overview of magic)
The Giant Book of Magic (Cassandra Eason, Nonfiction - World magical practices and their use today)
The Complete Book of Amulets & Talismans (Migene Gonz�lez-Wippler, Nonfiction - How to make magically potent items)
Eyewitness Books: Witches and Magic Makers (Douglas Hill, YA Nonfiction - An illustrated look at magic-makers around the world)
The Wandmaker's Guidebook (Ed Masessa, YA Fiction - How to make your own magic wand, with a starter wand included)
The Book of Alchemy (Francis Melville, Nonfiction - The ancient tradition of alchemy explained)

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The Wizardology Handbook
(Companion to Wizardology)
Dugald A. Steer, editor
Candlewick Press
Fiction, YA Fantasy
****

DESCRIPTION: So, you read the book Wizardology, created by the imprisoned wizard Merlin in the hopes of reaching future generations, and thought perhaps you, too, would like to study in this ancient and venerable profession. But what�s the next step? With a serious dearth of proper masters to apprentice oneself to, finding training can be well-nigh impossible. This book, another work of Merlin, seeks to guide would-be apprentices by offering lessons and assignments to start them on the path to true wizardology.

REVIEW: Much like the Dragonology handbook, this, too, acts mainly to expand ideas presented in the original book. It also encourages some independent thought and study. Much like the book it was based on, basic magical principles and lore mixes with a healthy dose of speculation and outright fiction. It's a blatant marketing tactic, but still fun for fans of Wizardology and its kin.

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Steer - Book Reviews

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*** - Excellent
- Good
* - Okay
** - Bad
* - Terrible
+ - Half-star