Publication History |
Animal Planet recently aired a special, “Dragons: A Fantasy Made Real.”
Anyone who enjoyed this special effect-laden mockumentary narrated by
Patrick Stewart will naturally be interested in its inspiration. Peter Dickinson’s
“The Flight of Dragons” and illustrated by Wayne Anderson was one of the
many inspirations and sources used.
Almost thirty years ago, Dickinson undertook the same mission as Animal
Planet’s special: to indulge in a science fantasy that proves dragons could have
existed. To do this, Dickinson researched ancient and historical texts, myths
and legends, and even fantasy books. He compares European and Asian dragon
traditions, focusing on similarities. A kind of proto-dragon emerges from these
“primary” sources. Dickinson grounds this proto-dragon in science fact to
uncover a creature that could have – just maybe – been consistent with both
tradition and science.
Dickinson strives to answer all manner of questions about dragons. How did
dragons evolve? How could they fly? Why did they live in caves? Why and how
did they breathe fire? Why did they hoard gold and gems? What about all those
stories about the magic of dragon blood, invulnerable scales, hypnosis, and
sacrifices of virginal princesses? What was their lifecycle? Why isn’t there a
fossil record? Dickinson does not separate out the answers. Rather, he weaves
them together into a coherent animal.
Anderson’s illustrations are distinctive and light-hearted. Although not horrific
images of terrifying dragons scouring fields, attacking castles, and making
short work of virginal sacrifices and dragon hunters, Anderson’s images avoid
the opposite, cartoonish extreme as well. Instead, they are a hybrid of Western
and Eastern tradition, realistically colored and surprisingly textured.
I rate it 7.5 out of 10.
Anyone who enjoyed this special effect-laden mockumentary narrated by
Patrick Stewart will naturally be interested in its inspiration. Peter Dickinson’s
“The Flight of Dragons” and illustrated by Wayne Anderson was one of the
many inspirations and sources used.
Almost thirty years ago, Dickinson undertook the same mission as Animal
Planet’s special: to indulge in a science fantasy that proves dragons could have
existed. To do this, Dickinson researched ancient and historical texts, myths
and legends, and even fantasy books. He compares European and Asian dragon
traditions, focusing on similarities. A kind of proto-dragon emerges from these
“primary” sources. Dickinson grounds this proto-dragon in science fact to
uncover a creature that could have – just maybe – been consistent with both
tradition and science.
Dickinson strives to answer all manner of questions about dragons. How did
dragons evolve? How could they fly? Why did they live in caves? Why and how
did they breathe fire? Why did they hoard gold and gems? What about all those
stories about the magic of dragon blood, invulnerable scales, hypnosis, and
sacrifices of virginal princesses? What was their lifecycle? Why isn’t there a
fossil record? Dickinson does not separate out the answers. Rather, he weaves
them together into a coherent animal.
Anderson’s illustrations are distinctive and light-hearted. Although not horrific
images of terrifying dragons scouring fields, attacking castles, and making
short work of virginal sacrifices and dragon hunters, Anderson’s images avoid
the opposite, cartoonish extreme as well. Instead, they are a hybrid of Western
and Eastern tradition, realistically colored and surprisingly textured.
I rate it 7.5 out of 10.
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| The Flight of Dragons (Peter Dickinson) By SC Bryce |
First Printing:
FantasyBookSpot.com (Jul. 7, 2006).
FantasyBookSpot.com (Jul. 7, 2006).
Second Printing:
SCBryce.com (Dec. 22, 2006).
SCBryce.com (Dec. 22, 2006).
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