Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons (Ologies)

As well as anything and everything you'd ever want to know about dragons and things dragonish and dragonly, you will be entertained along the way with what amounts to a quite spry sense of humor, and that when least expected. For example, dragons love lettuce (we all knew that, right?), so it would be well advised to tote a head of it along (iceberg will do) at all times, advance preparation being half the battle.

This book is presented in the spirit of Gnomes (Poortlvliet), Faeries (Froud), Giants (Larkin), Unicorns (Hathaway), Witches (Jong)...an entire library of books in which it is a given the creature is real and not mere fantasy. This makes for great fun, no matter the age; just be a child at heart.

Of exciting note: The original of this book having been written, purportedly, in the beginning of the 20th century, the language is delightfully archaic and (by today's standards) full of whimsy. We are placed in another mindset and into an earlier time, when perhaps it would not be so radical to believe such beasties could exist, indeed, while munching on lettuce.

The art is top notch, the book full of delights and cozy places to explore. For those of us who have no trouble at all believing that dragons are alive still (and very well, thank you) a keener book could not be found.

I'd give it 10 stars, sigh, if only I could. Now, 'tis time to find myself a dragon, or perchance to let it find me...


Strong "Book of Dragons"   December 15, 2004
E. A Solinas (MD USA)
45 out of 48 found this review helpful

Ever wonder why Smaug hoarded all that treasure? Apparently it was just to impress the lady dragons. That's only one detail of "Dr. Ernest Drake's Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons," a faux-scholarly book that gives intricate details to the legendary beasts. (The actual author is Dugald A. Steer).

Without robbing dragons of their mystique, we get an overview of them: there are intricate studies of the different kinds of dragons, from the Eastern lung to the Australian marsupial (which is a bit too silly for the tongue-in-cheek tone of the book). "Dr. Drake" also examines their habits, such as courtship rituals and parenting, as well as the the biological means by which they spew flames, and the reason why they hoard gems.

He also gives quite a bit of advice for the budding dragonolist, ranging from the obscure (hide shiny objects from baby dragons) to the ordinary (wear fireproof clothing). Finally, there is a historical overview of famous dragonologists from around the world, and spells that assist them.

Dragons are a staple of legend and literature, although a neglected one. Though "Dragonology" is presented as a serious work, Steer never forgets to keep his tongue in cheek. It's a fun read, with lots of detail and thought -- after all, it can't be easy to document the physiology of a beast that doesn't, technically, exist.

Taken on its own, the book might merely be cute. But Steer also includes little details like a faux library card belonging to Ernest Drake, a little letter enclosed in a special envelope, and an inscription on the inner front cover: "To Friendly Dragons" followed by a bunch of Tolkienesque runes.

And the illustrations are as much a part as the faux-scholarly text. Classic-looking pictures of various kinds of dragons are only one part of it; there are also looks at embroyonic dragons in the egg, the different egg shapes, a foldout map that shows where the various species live, and several pictures of the anatomy of dragons, including musculature, skeleton, and things like claws, wing "fingers" and optic nerves.

Okay, maybe dragons don't exist. Big deal. The faux-scholarly tone, exquisite illustrations and intricate detail of "Dr. Ernest Drake's Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons" makes it an immensely fun read.


Why I Want To Be A Dragonologist   December 29, 2003
Cameron Dube (Bangor, ME United States)
24 out of 24 found this review helpful

I am only seven, and this book was the best book I have ever read--and believe me, I've read a lot! My favorite dragon in this book was the Frost Dragon; I also liked the Marsupial Dragon. I like the spells because they were awesome, and they taught me how to seize dragons. One spell was you put dragon dust on a mirror and point it directly into his eyes, and then you could steal the gold! I also like the back page where the dragon has a mirror for an eye. In one of the secret envelopes I read "Beware: this spell will turn the dragon against you." The letters were camoflaged and kind of squished together, but my second cousin and I figured it out!

Do you know why the author mentioned a duck-billed platypus in a dragon book? I'll tell you...because it once wasn't believed that the duck-billed platypus existed, so why shouldn't you believe in dragons?

This book made me fascinated with dragons, and now I would like to become a dragonologist. Please read this interesting book if you love dragons, too.

Cameron


Here there be dragons!   December 7, 2003
dances_with_dragonflies (WY, USA)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful

I bought this book for a friend's daughter for Christmas, and I hate to part with it! It is magical, gorgeous and stunning, from its rich, bejeweled cover to its many treasures within: beautiful illustrations, witty text, fun pull-outs, even samples of shed dragon skin, wing membranes and dragon dust (all lovely!) We learn much about dragons, from their life cycles and behaviors to their flying techniques ("A happy dragon is a dragon that loops") and how they're REALLY able to breathe fire (Ah, I'd always wondered....) And at the end, a wise message about caring for the world and its creatures lest they vanish....and another charming surprise that I won't give away. No serious dragonologist should be without this enchanting book! :-)


I'm a curmudgeon and I think this is a dopey book   November 6, 2006
Elizabeth A Triano (In Transition, NY (watch this space))
12 out of 19 found this review helpful

... You've been warned. I don't like this book. My kids love it but I don't. I have mixed feelings about all the dragon books on the market now -- it used to be hard to find dragon things, but now they are everywhere, and in many cases the dragons are cheapened and diluted, like dollar-store tchotchkes.

This book is all about marketing. It is like lapping up frozen-dinner imagined things, instead of reading the old stories and making up your own. Kids and young folks today (and probably some older ones) are reading this book... and the various collecting card games like Magic the Gathering... and thinking that they know something about dragons and mythology when they don't. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Charmed, are in the same genre. This is a fun book and all, with its colorful pictures and little fold-outs, and textured "samples," but it doesn't replace finding and reading the old fairy tales, and letting it settle in your soul how the stories of many traditions differ and harmonize.

Read this if you like, but ask your librarian to help you find some of the older stuff too... Andrew Lang's "color coded" Fairy Books are still available from Dover Press, and they are very good. D'Aulaire's books are excellent, and of course Tolkien is the master.. don't just read LOTR, read the backstory and the related literature as well.

Happy Hunting & good luck!