#40 by the way

by Naomi Novik

This book, the first in the Temeraire series, has a rare and wonderful quality to it. It takes a familiar world (especially right now after reading Napoleon's Pyramids) and grafts the unfamiliar onto it:

What if dragons were real, and were a real part of war?

The hero of the book appears to be strong-jawed, a man of character, and yet kind and caring in an odd way. He reminds me a bit of a Horatio Hornblower type or maybe Captain Picard. The dragon - Temeraire - and the whole society around them are incredibly well portrayed.

This is just a darned neat book. I feel that if I gave too much of a specific description I would give it away. Just read it!