Pros
- Jon’s joking seems to be a bit more restrained in this book
- Some loose ends are tied up, as well as the return of some favorite characters
- Good conclusion
- Writing is almost conversational
Cons
- Dragons in a science fiction story feel a little out of place
Dragon Fire Review
Dragon Fire by Craig Robertson delivers yet another satisfying story about the adventures of Jon Ryan. There should be no surprise at this point about the Ryan’s methods of getting out of trouble. With a little bit of planning, a running mouth, and a lot of luck, he’s able to get himself into trouble and then back out of it. In essence, he’s his own worst enemy.
Any story where the hero is pitted against an overwhelming villain is a story that people enjoy. There’s something inherent in human nature about rooting for the underdog that perhaps stems from when our prehistoric ancestors were a source of food for larger animals. Or maybe it’s that stories involving too strong heroes are just plain boring.
Ryan occupies that strange in-between zone as a character. With Blessing, the vortex manipulator, Ryan is arguably the most powerful being in the galaxy (or universe), able to transcend vast distances of space within seconds and nearly invincible. Despite Ryan’s power, he’s unable to stop the Adamant march across the galaxy. This strange mix of being both ultra powerful and helpless is a bit strange as far as characters go, but it’s because Ryan is in this position that he’s forced to seek help, and in a way, mature a little bit as a character.
The loose ends from the previous book are tied up nicely in Dragon Fire, providing an opportunity for a more focused sequel on the Adamant problem. It seems like this entire series is just one large standoff between Ryan and the Adamant wave, with other obstacles thrown in as distractions. But along the way, befriends a few Deft children who become endearing because of their orphanage and loyalty.
Another strange aspect of the book is the use of dragons, a trope readers often expect to see in fantasy stories. The appearance of one in the previous book felt almost out of place in a science fiction story, as did the presence of magical stones. There’s a thin line between a vortex manipulator and a magical stone, and they have their respective roles in their genres. So to see both in a book such as Dragon Fire feels a little off.
Dragon Fire by Craig Robertson is a fun adventure that will definitely please fans of the series. Robertson delivers a humorous character whose tempered a little bit so that the jokes are not too over-the-top, and the result is an enjoyable story with an engaging character and fun plot.
Read reviews of other books written by Craig Robertson.
