The Dragon Masters

by Jack Vance

Book Overview

Men have been at war for centuries with the reptilian race called "Basics." As conquerors always have, the winners of each bloody encounter have made slaves of the losers-but in this far-future war, each side has improved upon its slaves with genetic engineering. And so at last there came to be two neighboring worlds: Aerlith, where men have raised a race of fearsome dragons to be their servants, and nearby Coralyne, where the descendants of those...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0441166512
• ISBN13: 9780441166510
• Release Date: December 1981
• Publisher: Ace Books
• Length: 137 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Well written, quick read, lots of fun...

Like a lot of Jack Vance, really well written. A surprisingly well fleshed out and interesting concept for a short novella. It would make an awesome premise for a movie or game.

Pre-Prime Directive

Dragon Masters is a delightful example of early science fiction. The conflict between the Sacredotes and their human counterparts prefigures the Prime Directive later so important in the Star Trek Universe, and shows the negative consequences such a policy may engender. The book is well written and the characters are believeable and enjoyable.

A tale of the last men

More vintage Vance. The last of humanity, survivors of a long and bitter galactic war with the lizard-like Basics, prepare to repel one of the periodic invasions by this vastly technologically superior race. But this time, perhaps they may be able to steal a ship to see if any men still survive.This story is quite enjoyable with its characteristic wit coupled with desperation. Also very interesting is the concept of the "dragonmasters"; just as we have used wolfhounds to hunt and kill their distant cousins, the humans have used genetically altered "Basics" to battle their pure-bred foes.