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Dragon and Thief

A Dragonback Novel

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Dragon and Thief

By: Timothy Zahn
Narrated by: Hannah Engel
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About this listen

Audio edition of the first book in the popular Dragonback science fiction series from Hugo Award-winning author Timothy Zahn.

Timothy Zahn has been entertaining science fiction readers young and old for more than twenty years with exciting, thought-provoking adventures. Dragon and Thief is sure to delight all his fans and gain new teen and adult readers as well.

Jack Morgan has been framed for theft. He's hiding on a distant planet with the virtual presence of his deceased Uncle Virge, a con man who has been his only family since Jack's parents died. Jack knows he must clear his name before the cops catch up with him. A firefight among ships in the skies above leaves a downed ship near Jack's hiding place, with a single unlikely survivor. It looks like a dragon, and it must join with a human host within six hours or die. The only available host is Jack.

Draycos, Jack's new companion, is a K'da, a dragon-like species that lives symbiotically with the humanoid Shontine. The attackers, determined to exterminate Draycos's people, will find them if they don't flee; so the pair works together to escape the planet and begin a search for the truth behind Jack's frame-up and the identity of the attackers.

With Jack's future hanging in the balance, as well as the future of billions of Draycos's people, the pair must track down the people who framed Jack, and prevent the destruction of the remaining K'da and Shontine. They'll also discover whether their union was mere coincidence, or a friendship written in the stars. Zahn keeps the story moving at breakneck speed.

©2003 Timothy Zahn (P)2018 Timothy Zahn
Adventure Fiction First Contact Military Science Fiction Space Opera Fantasy Dragons Solar System

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Most relevant
I've read a fair amount of Timothy Zahn's adult Star Wars novels, so I was keen to hear this young adult tale. The hallmarks of Zahn are there, with the detailed observations of the world and its workings, albeit toned down through a teenager's perspective. The sci-fi world established here is fresh and original too, and I love the concept of a literal dragon on a person's back, who's like a tattoo coming to life in two dimensions. The story was satisfying, and had keen elements of tragedy at its heart too.

I don't think the spunky teenage point of view worked as well for me as a reader, with its frequent slang and jokes. Though I think that's down to personal taste, because I don't read much young adult fiction (and I'm in my late thirties). The voice acting was also warm and expressive, and it was refreshing to hear a woman act out mostly male parts (I've heard many books where men act out women, but not the other way around).

I'd definitely be interested in continuing the story, but it seems I might have to do so in print, as the rest of the series doesn't seem to be available on Audible.

Entertaining and original

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