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Dragon
Venom (book 2 of The Obsidian Chronicles) by Lawrence Watt-Evans check out website: www.tor.com
Arlian's task is made more difficult by the Dragon Society, a renegade group of humans who believe the dragons deserve their dominance. In exchange for their loyalty, they earn the right to become 'dragonhearts', meaning a life-span of one thousand years and several other powerful benefits. The negative to this deal is that this longevity is bought by acting as an incubator for dragon seed and, as well as gradually losing all human emotion, the host perishes at the new dragon's birth.
I hadn't read the first two books when I picked this one up, but within the first few chapters I knew everything I needed to fly through this book. And fly I did. The pace and action are spectacular. You want heroic fantasy? You'll find it here. Arlian the dragonslayer-dragonheart is a warrior of epic proportions, who carries a weapon of every substance known to harm the many magical and supernatural beasts in his world. He is set on vengeance for the death of his grandfather and to provide true freedom and peace for his people. He is willing to travel huge distances and explore the unthinkable
in order to achieve his goal. I like a tortured hero and Watt-Evans does not disappoint when exploring Arlian's irony: the fact that the one man who stands a chance of annihilating the dragons can only do so as a result of his affliction. Not only would I recommend this but it had a place on my Christmas list for those I know who love good fantasy. It is a fun, enjoyable read with plenty of surprises and some startling open-mouth moments. Well-written and accessible, it is another top-notch book by one of my all-time favourite fantasy authors. Lucy A.E. Ward
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OTHER REVIEWS - February 2004
BOOKS The Outstretched Shadow by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold The Separation by Christopher Priest First Meetings In The Enderverse by Orson Scott Card Dragon Venom by Lawrence Watt-Evans The Dolphins Of Pern by Anne McCaffrey Reach For Tomorrow by Arthur C Clarke The Mammoth Book Of Best New SF # 16 edited by Gardner Dozois 1610: A Sundial In A Grave by Mary Gentle Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynn Truss Trading In Danger by Elizabeth Moon Richard Matheson: Collected Stories Vol. 1 edited by Stanley Wiater The Gates To Witchworld by Andre Norton Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Mission Gamma: Lesser Evil by Robert Simpson The Killing Of Worlds by Scott Westerfeld Star Trek: The Original Series: Gemini by Mike W. Barr MUSIC COMPUTER GAMES Wallace and Gromit - Project Zoo RPGs & WARGAMES MAGAZINES On Spec: The Canadian Magazine
Of The Fantastic vol 15 no. 2 & 3
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Lord
Arlian 'Triv' Obsidian is a dragonslayer and Warlord of the Duke
of Manfort. His duty is to find and destroy all dragons alive in
the Lands of Man. Guided by legends and old maps, he and his select
band of warriors carry out their duty with grim enthusiasm. There
are few who have not lost kin to the ravages of the ancient beasts.
'Dragon
Venom' is the third book in 'The Obsidian Chronicles', but it doesn't
matter if you haven't read the first two. Watt-Evans always writes
unique tales and I've not yet read one of his novels which didn't
successfully stand alone. 
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