What if the Napoleonic Wars were fought with an aerial force of giant dragons?
In short: Naomi Novik's nine-novel series reimagines history by integrating dragons into the British Royal Aerial Corps. The story follows Captain William Laurence, a naval officer who unexpectedly bonds with a rare Chinese dragon named Temeraire, forcing him to navigate the complexities of war, diplomacy, and an evolving, unconventional friendship.
The series begins with the discovery of a dragon egg by Captain William Laurence, a British naval officer. Upon hatching, the dragon Temeraire—a Chinese Celestial dragon—chooses Laurence as his companion. This bond forces Laurence to abandon his prestigious career in the Royal Navy for the less respected Royal Aerial Corps. The narrative spans the globe, moving from the battlefields of the Napoleonic Wars to the imperial courts of China, the penal colonies of Australia, and the Inca Empire in South America.
Central to the series is the interplay between historical reality and fantasy. While Napoleon attempts to conquer the United Kingdom, the British struggle with internal politics and the logistical challenges of dragon warfare. The dragons themselves are distinct characters with complex social structures and needs. For instance, the Longwing breed only accepts female captains, a fact kept largely secret from the public. Other dragons, like the Turkish Kazilik Iskierka, bring their own volatile temperaments to the British ranks.
The series also explores the diplomatic fallout of these creatures. Characters like the Chinese Prince Yongxing and the albino dragon Lien serve as antagonists, while others like the diplomat Arthur Hammond navigate the friction between Western and Eastern powers. The books address themes of treason, disease, and societal change, such as the plight of slaves and the shifting status of military officers. Despite initial interest from filmmaker Peter Jackson, who optioned the rights in 2006, the film project never materialized, and the rights eventually reverted to Novik in 2016.
The series has received significant critical acclaim, with the first novel, His Majesty's Dragon, winning the Compton Crook Award in 2007. The omnibus collection, In the Service of the King, also secured a Locus Award that same year. Through its nine volumes, the series maintains a focus on the evolving relationship between Laurence and Temeraire, whose name, derived from a captured French vessel, literally translates to 'reckless'.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Temeraire (series)
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