Here, There Be Dragons

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Here, There Be Dragons
Here, There Be Dragons, James A. Owen - Cover.jpg
Author James A. Owen
Cover artist James A. Owen (illustrator)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Series The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica (Book 1)
Genre Fantasy novel
Publisher Simon & Schuster
Publication date
September 2006
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages336 (+16) (paperback edition)
ISBN 978-1-4169-1227-9 (US hardcover edition)
OCLC 62492969
LC Class PZ7.O97124 He 2006
Followed by The Search for the Red Dragon  

Here, There Be Dragons is a fantasy novel by James A. Owen. It is the first book in The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica series. A sequel, followed by several more books, have since been released, including The Search for the Red Dragon (January 2008), The Indigo King (October 2008), The Shadow Dragons (October 2009), The Dragon's Apprentice (October 2010), The Dragons of Winter (August 2012), The First Dragon (November 2013), and a standalone sequel The Dragon Knight (Owen Novel) (November 2020). [1]

Contents

Plot synopsis

John, Charles, and Jack are three Oxford scholars united by the death of Stellan Sigurdsson, John's mentor, who thereafter receive The Imaginarium Geographica, which records mythical and fictional locations. When pursued by the anthropophagous, plural Wendigo, they are rescued by Bert, with whom they travel aboard the ship Indigo Dragon (captained by Bert's daughter Aven), to Avalon, and then to Paralon, the capital of the Geographica's 'Archipelago of Dreams', where they discover this Archipelago in an interregnum and discover that its social order can be restored by a descendant of Arthur Pendragon. Desirous of obtaining the royal 'Ring of Power', and thus the kingship, is the 'Winter King' (Mordred). Upon a visit to shipbuilder 'Ordo Maas' (Deucalion), the protagonists learn that the Winter King is using Pandora's Box to create the wraithlike 'Shadow-Born', his principal servants, from the citizens of lands conquered by himself. Fearing that the Winter King may gain an advantage by possession of the Imaginarium Geographica, they visit its author, the Cartographer of Lost Places, in his refuge, the Keep of Time, where they discover that their servant 'Artus' is a descendant of Arthur. Knowing this, they challenge the Winter King to pitched battle, wherein the still-loyal Elves, Dwarves, and Centaurs etc. oppose Shadow-Born, Trolls, and Goblins while Charles and the badger 'Tummeler' close Pandora's Box in secret. On the battlefield, Jack accidentally causes the death of Captain Nemo, while John and Artus approach the 'Ring of Power' (a ring of standing stones resembling Stonehenge) to summon the Archipelago's dragons, who rout the enemy. Mordred is cast from the Edge of the World by the dragon Samaranth. Upon return to their own world, John, Jack, Charles, and Bert are identified as J.R.R Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and H.G. Wells. [2]

Characters

A number of people referenced in the novel were members of the Inklings, a literary discussion group at the University of Oxford, England, that produced some famous novelists.

Related Research Articles

The Inklings Informal literary discussion group associated with the University of Oxford, England

The Inklings were an informal literary discussion group associated with J. R. R. Tolkien at the University of Oxford for nearly two decades between the early 1930s and late 1949. The Inklings were literary enthusiasts who praised the value of narrative in fiction and encouraged the writing of fantasy. The best-known, apart from Tolkien, were C. S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Owen Barfield.

Guinevere Arthurian legend character

Guinevere, also often written as Guenevere or Guenever, is the legendary queen and wife of King Arthur. First recorded in literature by the early 12th century, nearly 700 years after the purported times of Arthur, Guinevere has been portrayed as everything from a villainous and opportunistic traitor to a fatally flawed but noble and virtuous lady. A notably recurring theme in many Arthurian tales is that of her abduction.

Gawain A knight in Arthurian legends

Gawain, also known as Gawaine or Gauwaine, among other forms and spellings, is a character in Arthurian legend. He is King Arthur's nephew and a Knight of the Round Table. Gawain is mentioned under the name Gwalchmei in the earliest, Welsh Arthurian sources. The character of Gawain appears in many Welsh, Latin, French, English, Scottish, Dutch, German, Spanish, and Italian texts, notably as the protagonist of the famous Middle English story Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Other tales featuring Gawain as the central character include De Ortu Waluuanii, Diu Crône, The Awntyrs off Arthure, Ywain and Gawain, Golagros and Gawane, L'âtre périlleux, La Vengeance Raguidel, Le Chevalier à l'épée, The Greene Knight, and The Weddynge of Syr Gawen and Dame Ragnell.

Lancelot Arthurian legend character

Lancelot du Lac, also written as Launcelot and other variants, is a character in some versions of Arthurian legend, where he is typically depicted as King Arthur's close companion and one of the greatest Knights of the Round Table. In the French-inspired Arthurian chivalric romance tradition, Lancelot is the orphaned son of King Ban of the lost kingdom of Benwick, raised in the fairy realm by the Lady of the Lake. A hero of many battles, quests and tournaments, and famed as a nearly unrivalled swordsman and jouster, Lancelot becomes the lord of the castle Joyous Gard and personal champion of Arthur's wife Queen Guinevere. But when his adulterous affair with Guinevere is discovered, it causes a civil war that is exploited by Mordred to end Arthur's kingdom.

Jack Frost Personification of frost and cold weather

Jack Frost is a personification of frost, ice, snow, sleet, winter, and freezing cold. He is a variant of Old Man Winter who is held responsible for frosty weather, nipping the fingers and toes in such weather, coloring the foliage in autumn, and leaving fern-like patterns on cold windows in winter.

James A. Owen

James A. Owen is an American comic book illustrator, publisher and writer. He is known for his creator-owned comic book series Starchild and as the author of The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica novel series, that began with Here, There Be Dragons in 2006.

Knights of the Round Table Elite companions of King Arthur and order of chivalry in Arthurian romance

The Knights of the Round Table are the knights in the fellowship of King Arthur in the literary cycle of the Matter of Britain, a French-derived branch of Arthurian legend, appearing first in literature in the mid 12th century. The Knights are an order dedicated to ensuring the peace of Arthur's kingdom following an early warring period, entrusted in later years to undergo a mystical quest for the Holy Grail. The Round Table at which they meet is a symbol of the equality of its members, from sovereign royals to minor nobles.

The Queen of Orkney, today best known as Morgause and also known as Morgawse and other spellings and names, is a character in later Arthurian traditions. In some versions of the legend, including the seminal text Le Morte d'Arthur, she is the mother of Gawain and Mordred, both key players in the story of King Arthur and his downfall. Mordred is the offspring of Arthur's accidental incest with Morgause, the king's estranged half-sister. She is furthermore a sister of Morgan le Fay and the wife of King Lot of Orkney, as well as the mother of Gareth, Agravain, and Gaheris, the last of whom murders her.

This is a bibliography of works about King Arthur, his family, his friends or his enemies. This bibliography includes works that are notable or are by notable authors.

Shadow Dragon(s) may refer to:

Ywain legendary character and Knight of the Round Table

Sir Ywain, also known as Yvain, Owain, Uwain(e), Ewaine, Iwain, Iwein, Ivain, Ivan, etc., is a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend, wherein he is often the son of King Urien of Gorre and the sorceress Morgan le Fay. The historical Owain mab Urien, on whom the literary character is based, was the king of Rheged in Great Britain during the late 6th century.

Masked villain

A masked villain, also seen as masked mystery villain, is a stock character in genre fiction. It was frequently used in the adventure stories of pulp magazines and movie serials in the early twentieth century, as well as postmodern horror films where the character "hides in order to claim unsuspecting victims". They can also appear in crime fiction to add to the atmosphere of suspense and suspicion. It is used to engage the readers or viewers by keeping them guessing just as the characters are, and suspension by drawing on the fear of the unknown. The "Mask" need not be literal, referring more to the subterfuge involved.

The legendary wizard Merlin is featured as a character in numerous works of fiction, especially based on Arthurian legends.

<i>The Search for the Red Dragon</i>

The Search for the Red Dragon, by James A. Owen, is a fantasy novel released on January 1, 2008. It is the second book in The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica. It is preceded by Here, There Be Dragons and followed by The Indigo King.

<i>The Indigo King</i>

The Indigo King, released on October 21, 2008, is the third book of The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica, a series of books begun by Here, There Be Dragons, by James A. Owen. It follows The Search for the Red Dragon and precedes The Shadow Dragons, which was released in October 2009.

<i>The Shadow Dragons</i>

The Shadow Dragons, released on October 27, 2009, is the fourth novel of The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica, a book series begun by Here, There Be Dragons. It was preceded by The Indigo King and followed by The Dragon's Apprentice.

<i>The Dragons Apprentice</i>

The Dragon's Apprentice written by James A. Owen is the fifth book in the Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica. It is preceded by The Shadow Dragons. It has been stated by the author that at least two novels will follow, the first of them entitled The Dragons of Winter, and the next entitled The First Dragon, along with what Owen refers to as "surprises". One of these "surprises" is Owen's book Drawing Out the Dragons, a collection of stories from Owen's life and instructions on how to draw the art featured in the main series.

Captain Morgan in popular culture

Sir Henry Morgan was a Welsh pirate, privateer and buccaneer. He made himself famous during activities in the Caribbean, primarily raiding Spanish settlements. He earned a reputation as one of the most notorious and successful privateers in history, and one of the most ruthless among those active along the Spanish Main.

Prezzemolo is an Italian animated television series created by Lorenzo De Pretto and Giuseppe Ferrario. It is based on characters from the Gardaland theme park, and Gardaland distributes the series. The show was broadcast on Italia 1 from September 2002 to winter 2003. It was replayed in the summer of 2005. The pilot episode was animated by Rumblefish VFX. Animation services for the following 26 episodes were provided by Rainbow. Gardaland released the series over six DVDs.

References

  1. Owen, James A, The Dragon Knight, Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica, The, Coppervale Press, ASIN   B08MF2328T , retrieved 2020-11-25
  2. Owen, James A, Here There Be Dragons , Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica, The, Simon & Schuster, ISBN   978-1-4169-1227-9 , retrieved 2009-01-22