Vlad Taltos is not your average sword-and-sorcery hero. He runs a territory for the criminal House Jhereg. He's a witch with a flying reptilian familiar as smart and sarcastic as any sidekick in literature. He's also a master assassin in Adrilankha, the capital of the Dragaeran Empire. (Dragaerans are tall, very long-lived elves; Vlad is an Easterner, or human.)

Steven Brust is not your average fantasy writer. Like his mentor, Roger Zelazny, he enjoys playing with time. Although Dragon is the eighth book about Vlad to be published, most of it takes place between Taltos, the first book chronologically, and Yendi; interludes and an epilogue occur after Yendi, but before Jhereg. Dragon tells the story of the oft-mentioned Battle of Barritt's Tomb, and how Vlad enlisted in a Dragon army (Dragons are the warrior Dragaerans) and learned that war is nothing like assassination.

Vlad is quick to let readers know the score. "I'll let you stay confused a little longer, and if you don't trust me to clear everything up, then you can go hang. I've been paid." Trust him. Dragon stands alone, but don't miss the others (after Jhereg come Teckla, Phoenix, Athyra, and Orca). It's a fast-moving, satisfying series. --Nona Vero


From Publishers Weekly
"So there I was, in a full-scale battle; that is, in a place where no self-respecting assassin ought to be." Dashing Vlad Taltos, the swashbuckling hero of Brust's popular Taltos fantasy series, makes his hardcover debut after seven mass market appearances (Athyra, etc.), with an early episode in his adventures. Vlad's cleverness and skill as an assassin have earned him a place in House Jhereg. They've also drawn to him some interesting friends and enemies, as well as acquaintances who can be called a little of both. At the request of Lord Morrolan, a powerful figure in House of the Dragon, Vlad traces the theft of an ancient artifact, a Morganti greatsword, to a rival Dragonlord, the Count of Fornia. Although Fornia's motivation in the crime seems transparent?he wants to start a war over the accusation of theft?Morrolan obligingly agrees to fight. And when Fornia sends a couple of bruisers to tell Vlad to stay out of the matter, the assassin's outrage leads him to join Morrolan's forces. While Morrolan and his military strategist coolly plan each phase of the conflict, Vlad gets a close-up look at the ugliness of war. It doesn't take him long to decide that the physical fighting is a cover for a more subtle battle, and that the Morganti greatsword is the key. As always, Brust invests Vlad with the panache of a Dumas musketeer and the colloquial voice of one of Roger Zelazny's Amber heroes. This is a rousing adventure with enough humor, action and sneaky plot twists to please newcomers as well as longtime series fans. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
The large readership Brust won with his best-known fantasy creation, professional assassin Vlad Taltos, should greet Vlad's promotion to hardcovers, some years after his last appearance, enthusiastically. This book is set early in Vlad's career, between the first, Jhereg, and the second, Yendi, installments of his saga, and details some events hinted at in previous volumes. Although an elite criminal and fond of his comforts, Vlad somehow is one of the poor, bloody Infantry in a deadly struggle between two dragon lords. Explaining how he got in this situation, how he survives many bloody, well-choreographed battles and intrigues, and how he finally gets out with a reasonably whole skin makes for an engrossing story. Brust's writing style has changed noticeably since the last Vlad yarn, but Vlad's devotees will not be put off by anything so petty as stylistic dissonance. Roland Green


From Kirkus Reviews
First hardcover appearance for Brust's established paperback fantasy series featuring the assassin Vlad Taltos, although several of his other yarns are set in the same fantasy world (Five Hundred Years After, 1994, etc.). Assassin Vlad works for House Jhereg, where he runs rackets and brothels and walks to the office every morning; his companion and familiar is Loiosh, a small dragon-like jhereg with whom he shares a telepathic bond. Vlad is an Easterner, one of a few clans of humans in a world dominated by all-but-immortal ``elfs''; he commands some magic, but his chief advantage is his ability to become invisible. One of his business associates is the Dragonlord Morrolan of Castle Black; Vlad must be teleported there since the castle hangs high in the air. It seems that a certain sword of great magical power has gone missing from Morrolan's treasury; the chief suspect is another Dragonlord, Count Fornia, who, becoming aware of Vlad's involvement, immediately threatens him. Vlad takes this personally and goes along with Morrolan's intricate plot to recover the sword and teach Fornia a lesson by invading his territory - especially when Vlad learns that Morrolan has hired Sethra Lavode, the finest general alive. So Vlad finds himself serving in Morrolan's army as a foot soldier (despite his assassin's skills, he has little idea of practical soldiering) with no clear idea of what's really going on (Morrolan is deliberately closemouthed), while awaiting an opportunity to revenge himself upon Fornia, or grab the sword, or do something useful without getting himself killed in the process. Structured on several interlocking levels so as to keep the reader both fascinated and off-balance, full of wit and wisecracks, with a self-deprecating hero who manages to come out on top: a splendid caper that welcomes newcomers, while existing fans will pounce. -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Review
"A splendid caper that welcomes newcomers--while existing fans will pounce."--Kirkus Reviews

"A rousing adventure with enough humor, action, and sneaky plot twists to please newcomers as well as longtime series fans."--Publishers Weekly

"Steven Brust might just be America's best fantasy writer!"--Tad Williams



Review
"A splendid caper that welcomes newcomers--while existing fans will pounce."--Kirkus Reviews

"A rousing adventure with enough humor, action, and sneaky plot twists to please newcomers as well as longtime series fans."--Publishers Weekly

"Steven Brust might just be America's best fantasy writer!"--Tad Williams



Book Description
After years of surviving in Adrilankha by practicing the trade I know best--killing people for a living--suddenly I'm in the last place any self-respecting assassin wants to be: the army. Worse, I'm right in the middle of a apocalyptic battle between two sorcerous armies, and everyone expects me to play a role they won't explain. All I've got between me and the worst kind of death is my wits. Oh, and a smart-mouthed winged lizard...



About the Author
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and raised in a family of Hungarian labor organizers, Steven Brust worked as a musician and a computer programmer before coming to prominence as a writer in 1983 with Jhereg, the first of his novels about Vlad Taltos, a human professional assassin in a world dominated by long-lived, magically-empowered human-like "Dragaerans."

Over the next several years, several more "Taltos" novels followed, interspersed with other work, including To Reign in Hell, a fantasy re-working of Milton's war in Heaven; The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars, a contemporary fantasy based on Hungarian folktales; and a science fiction novel, Cowboy Feng's Space Bar and Grille. The most recent "Taltos" novels are Dragon and Issola. In 1991, with The Phoenix Guards, Brust began another series, set a thousand years earlier than the Taltos books; its sequels are Five Hundred Years After and the three volumes of "The Viscount of Adrilankha": The Paths of the Dead, The Lord of Castle Black, and Sethra Lavode.

While writing, Brust has continued to work as a musician, playing drums for the legendary band Cats Laughing and recording an album of his own work, A Rose for Iconoclastes. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada where he pursues an ongoing interest in stochastics.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

As a human and an Easterner, Vlad Taltos has survived in the decadent, sinister city of Adrilankha by practicing the trade he knows best - killing people for a living. His skill as an assassin, and the timely intervention of his telepathic winged-lizard companion, Loiosh, have won him a relatively safe post in House Jhereg, running the rackets for a section of the great city. But when a powerful Dragaeran Dragonlord commands him to track down an enchanted weapon of great power - before it has even been stolen - Vlad finds himself inexorably drawn to the last place he wants to be, a total war on an apocalyptic scale between two sorcerous armies, where he must play a crucial role without a clue as to what is expected of him. Only his cunning wit and well-earned distrust of all things magical stand between Vlad and a most unpleasant demise.

SYNOPSIS

Steven Brust has captivated thousands with his appealing Vlad Taltos fantasy saga. Now Vlad, the humorous and lovable assassin, is back, in the witty and wild Dragon. In Dragon, Brust tells the story that Vlad fans have anxiously awaited for years -- the battle of Baritt's Tomb. If you've never heard of Vlad Taltos, do not worry; Dragon will make you laugh, shudder, and cheer like his most devoted follower. Dragon is a refreshing and enjoyable fantasy romp that proves, once again, that Brust is among the most imaginative and lively fantasy writers of his generation.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

"So there I was, in a full-scale battle; that is, in a place where no self-respecting assassin ought to be." Dashing Vlad Taltos, the swashbuckling hero of Brust's popular Taltos fantasy series, makes his hardcover debut after seven mass market appearances (Athyra, etc.), with an early episode in his adventures. Vlad's cleverness and skill as an assassin have earned him a place in House Jhereg. They've also drawn to him some interesting friends and enemies, as well as acquaintances who can be called a little of both. At the request of Lord Morrolan, a powerful figure in House of the Dragon, Vlad traces the theft of an ancient artifact, a Morganti greatsword, to a rival Dragonlord, the Count of Fornia. Although Fornia's motivation in the crime seems transparent--he wants to start a war over the accusation of theft--Morrolan obligingly agrees to fight. And when Fornia sends a couple of bruisers to tell Vlad to stay out of the matter, the assassin's outrage leads him to join Morrolan's forces. While Morrolan and his military strategist coolly plan each phase of the conflict, Vlad gets a close-up look at the ugliness of war. It doesn't take him long to decide that the physical fighting is a cover for a more subtle battle, and that the Morganti greatsword is the key. As always, Brust invests Vlad with the panache of a Dumas musketeer and the colloquial voice of one of Roger Zelazny's Amber heroes. This is a rousing adventure with enough humor, action and sneaky plot twists to please newcomers as well as longtime series fans. (Nov.)

VOYA - Nancy K. Wallace

When professional assassin Vlad Taltos receives a request from Dragonlord Morrolan to appear at Castle Black, he arrives with his Jhereg familiar (a small dragon-like lizard), Loiosh, perched on his shoulder. Morrolan hires Vlad as a "security consultant" to discern the thief of a rather nondescript sword from his collection of Morganti weapons. Vlad identifies the thief as the Count of Fornia, is well compensated for his time, and assumes that his part in the adventure is finished-until the Count sends three Dragonlords, one of them a sorcerer, after Vlad and severely injures him for interfering in his affairs. Furious at the personal attack, Vlad volunteers his services to Morrolan when the Dragonlord declares war on Fornia. He becomes a common foot soldier by day, and a spy by night. Vlad kills the Count of Fornia at the Battle of Barritt's Tomb, effectively ending the war, but it is only after a fierce duel in Vlad's own home that the stolen sword's true nature is revealed.

The first-person narrative is light and humorous, reminiscent of Terry Pratchett. Vlad is both charming and endearing, in spite of his occupation, and Loiosh makes a lovable sidekick. Presented in a series of flashbacks, the story requires concentration but is a quick and enjoyable read. Eight novels complete this series, including Agyar (1994), Taltos (1995), and Orca (1996), all published by Ace Books.

VOYA Codes: 4Q 4P J S A/YA (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses, Broad general YA appeal, Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9, Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12 and adults).

Kirkus Reviews

First hardcover appearance for Brust's established paperback fantasy series featuring the assassin Vlad Taltos, although several of his other yarns are set in the same fantasy world (Five Hundred Years After, 1994, etc.). Assassin Vlad works for House Jhereg, where he runs rackets and brothels and walks to the office every morning; his companion and familiar is Loiosh, a small dragon-like jhereg with whom he shares a telepathic bond. Vlad is an Easterner, one of a few clans of humans in a world dominated by all-but-immortal "elfs"; he commands some magic, but his chief advantage is his ability to become invisible. One of his business associates is the Dragonlord Morrolan of Castle Black; Vlad must be teleported there since the castle hangs high in the air. It seems that a certain sword of great magical power has gone missing from Morrolan's treasury; the chief suspect is another Dragonlord, Count Fornia, who, becoming aware of Vlad's involvement, immediately threatens him. Vlad takes this personally and goes along with Morrolan's intricate plot to recover the sword and teach Fornia a lesson by invading his territoryþespecially when Vlad learns that Morrolan has hired Sethra Lavode, the finest general alive. So Vlad finds himself serving in Morrolan's army as a foot soldier (despite his assassin's skills, he has little idea of practical soldiering) with no clear idea of what's really going on (Morrolan is deliberately closemouthed), while awaiting an opportunity to revenge himself upon Fornia, or grab the sword, or do something useful without getting himself killed in the process. Structured on several interlocking levels so as to keep the reader both fascinated and off-balance,full of wit and wisecracks, with a self-deprecating hero who manages to come out on top: a splendid caper that welcomes newcomers, while existing fans will pounce.