Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gather ye all 'round this one, 24 April 1998
By A Customer
Scaly and sinuous, winged and wise, dragons have soared into the imaginations of all who have believed in more than what is within reach. Their flame-licked lips form a blazing phrase, heating human hearts into the drum of fear or the beat of awe. Rarely seen, though ever present on the tongues of our storytellers and the brushes of our artists, dragons wind a serpent's bind around dreamer's dreams everywhere. And so, it is with great pleasure that I recommend The Book of Dragons by Michael Hague; there is much here to read, to see, and to dream upon. Dragons are famed for their great hoards of treasure, stacked high into the cave walls of their lairs. This tome is a treasure trove of tales and paintings, enough to satisfy the greediest of appetites. All of the finest baubles of dragon lore are stored within: sparkling gems such as the paranoid crimson wyrm Smaug from "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien, the golden arm-band wearing boy-turned-dragon Eustace from "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by C.S. Lewis, and the sapphire-blue creature of "The Reluctant Dragon" by Kenneth Graham. Magnificent jewels which may be unfamiliar to you are also waiting to be newly discovered within this wealth. Those of you who are disturbed by the maleficent and evil image most often attributed to dragons will not be turned off by this book, as dragons of all possible shapes, colors, personalities, and lands of origin are gracefully presented and contrasted herein. Hague has taken care not show bias towards any opinion of dragons--reading both versions of the St. George and the Dragon legend side-by-side will surprise you. See the beast in a new light, not merely as a vicious monster, but as a peaceful poet, as well. Equally heartening are the many illustrations created by Hague especially for this book--you will not go away from this adventure unsatisfied. The images throughout "The Book of Dragons" illustrate the immediacy and inspiration of the unspoken story, fanning the burning glory of these tales' hearth songs. Gather ye all 'round this one.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best illustrated anthology of dragon tales in print, 20 April 1998
By A Customer
Quite possibly the best anthology of dragon tales in print, "The Book of Dragons," collected and illustrated by artist and editor Michael Hague (famous for his paintings for the popular J.R.R. Tolkien calendars), is a must have for the dragon admirer--or dragon slayer--of any age. The seventeen gorgeously illustrated stories, legends, and excerpts bring to life every kind and color of dragon imaginable: many are villains of the most terrifying sort, and others are surprisingly gentle and kind, sometimes even silly. Michael Hague also introduces dragons to the reader that he or she may have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, such as the cloud-breathing dragons of Asian legend or the serpentine monsters of Greek mythology. The stories within "The Book of Dragons" are not just about those majestic and frightful beasts, but also detail the men and women who have challenged--or befriended--dragons. Of particular interest to the dragon lover is the excerpt from the novel "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by C.S. Lewis, which alerts the reader to exactly what may happen if one begins to think too many greedy, dragon-like thoughts...you will have to read it to find out. The reader will be equally pleased with the dragon drawings and paintings within this anthology; this book is generously illustrated by Michael Hague's lush watercolors and pen-and-ink sketches. His art brings to mind the great storybooks of the turn of the century, the kind illustrated by masters like Arthur Rackham and Howard Pyle. Get "The Book of Dragons" for your library or lair immediately! ~Jason Baron
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
best books of dragons, 19 April 1998
By A Customer
I checked this book out of the library, and I just couldn't put the book down for a second. Collected stories like "The Hobbit" and "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" are just some stories I liked. The pictures were also beautifully detailed, and I regretturning in the book from the library. Though now I have it, I won't have to worry about overdue fines
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