The Love Of Dragons: Dragons In Books And On Video

2 piece YIN YANG Friendship PEWTER PENDANT Necklace

Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 07/06/2009)

Earth Spirit Necklace - Yin Yang - Earth Spirit Necklace

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Yin Yang Flag Polyester 3 ft. x 5 ft.

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Legend of the Chinese Dragon (Mandarin_chinese Edition)

by: Marie Sellier

In ancient China, the different tribes lived under the protection of benevolent spirits that took the form of animals--fish, ox, bird, horse, and serpent. But, as often happens, the tribes grew envious of each other and began to fight amongst themselves in the names of their spirits.

The children decided to declare a war on war by creating a creature that combined the best of all the spirits and would protect all the people.

To this day, the dragon is a symbol of peace and plays an especially important role in the celebration of the Chinese New Year.

This timely message of cooperation and empowerment makes this book especially appealing to trade and institutional accounts.

Communities with significant Chinese populations will also have a special interest in this title. Catherine Louis' Liu and the Bird was a critical hit with review journals, teachers, and librarians.

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: North-South Books; Bilingual edition (August 31, 2007)
Language: English, Mandarin Chinese

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Chinese Dragons (Images of Asia)

by: Roy Bates

This richly illustrated volume takes the reader on a journey through the complexities of dragon lore: the evolution of the Chinese dragon, the different types of dragons and their uses, the diverse art inspired by dragons, and dragon legends and sightings.

Author Roy Bates first became captivated by Chinese dragons when working in the country in the late 1970s, and has since written numerous articles on the dragon, the Forbidden City, and other aspects of Chinese culture and history.

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Journeys to the East - The River Dragon King (Learn Chinese for Children)

Journeys to the East is a Chinese language learning adventure for kids 3 and up!

Learn Chinese by going on an exciting adventure through ancient China. Journeys to the East weaves Chinese vocabulary, phrases and sentences seamlessly into the adventure so children learn Chinese as they follow Jason and Jenny in their quest to help the River Dragon King.

Your children will glimpse the rich history and culture of China through the characters and settings in the adventure. In this DVD, we introduce the mystical River Dragon King and cultural icons like Terracotta Warriors.

Features include:

- 50+ vocabulary words: greetings, numbers, fruits, body and face parts
- Six fun sing-along songs
- Optional subtitles with simplified Chinese characters and Pinyin

Great for kids who are just learning Chinese.

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Dragon: Chinese Feng Shui Music

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Chinese Dragon Art - Water - Sea Dragon - 10" Ball & Claw Dragon Statue w/ Gift Box

Cast resin & stone composite figure, the Tao Sea Dragon, clutching the proverbial pearl, beautifully detailed, ships in easy to wrap, sateen lined gift box.

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The Saga of the Volsungs (Penguin Classics)

by: Anonymous

One of the great books of world literature--an unforgettable tale of jealousy, unrequited love, greed, and vengeance.

Based on Viking Age poems and composed in thirteenth-century Iceland, The Saga of the Volsungs combines mythology, legend, and sheer human drama in telling of the heroic deeds of Sigurd the dragon slayer, who acquires runic knowledge from one of Odin's Valkyries.

Yet the saga is set in a very human world, incorporating oral memories of the fourth and fifth centuries, when Attila the Hun and other warriors fought on the northern frontiers of the Roman empire.

In his illuminating Introduction Jesse L. Byock links the historical Huns, Burgundians, and Goths with the extraordinary events of this Icelandic saga.

With its ill-fated Rhinegold, the sword reforged, and the magic ring of power, the saga resembles the Nibelungenlied and has been a primary source for such fantasy writers as J. R. R. Tolkien and for Richard Wagner's Ring cycle.

Translated with an Introduction, Notes, and Glossary by Jesse L. Byock.

Amazon Price: $9.89 (as of 07/06/2009)

Beowulf: A Dual-Language Edition

by: Howell D. Chickering

The first major poem in English literature, Beowulf tells the story of the life and death of the legendary hero Beowulf in his three great battles with supernatural monsters.

The ideal Anglo-Saxon warrior-aristocrat, Beowulf is an example of the heroic spirit at its finest.

Leading Beowulf scholar Howell D. Chickering, Jr.'s, fresh and lively translation, featuring the Old English on facing pages, allows the reader to encounter Beowulf as poetry.

This edition incorporates recent scholarship and provides historical and literary context for the modern reader. It includes the following:

- An introduction
- A guide to reading aloud
- A chart of royal genealogies
- Notes on the background of the poem
- Critical commentary
- Glosses on the eight most famous passages, for the student who wishes to translate from the original
- A extensive bibliography

Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 07/06/2009)

Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung

by: Stewart Spencer, Richard Wagner, Barry Millington

The full German text with a new translation and commentaries.

There has long been a need for a modern English translation of Wagner's Ring--a version that is reliable and readable yet at the same time is a true reflection of the literary quality of the German libretto.

Stewart Spencer's well-reviewed translation, which follows the verse form of the original exactly, has filled that niche. It reads smoothly and idiomatically yet is the result of prolonged thought and deep background knowledge.

The translation is accompanied by Spencer's introductory essay on the libretto and a series of specially commissioned texts by Barry Millington, Roger Hollinrake, Elizabeth Magee, and Warren Darcy that discuss the cycle's musical structure, philosophical implications, medieval sources, and Wagner's own changing attitude to its meaning.

With a glossary of names, a review of audio and video recordings, and a select bibliography, the book serves as an essential complement to Wagner's great epic.

16 b/w illustrations.

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Dragons by Ciruelo 2009 Wall Calendar (Calendar)

by: Ciruelo Cabral

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John Howe's Dragons 2009 Wall Calendar

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Fantasy Statue: Angel and Dragon Calendar

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Dragons 2009 Mini Wall Calendar

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Llewellyn's 2009 Dragon Calendar

by: Llewellyn

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The Seven Dragons and Other Stories

by: Edith Nesbit

Most of the eleven stories in this collection were originally published in The Strand Magazine in 1899.

Like Nesbit's other works, these tales are charming and will delight children of all ages.

Included are such memorable stories as "The Book of Beasts," (where young Lionel is crowned king, but accidentally releases a dangerous fire dragon on his kingdom and must find a way to return the dragon to the magic book from whence it came), "The Island of the Nine Whirlpools" (featuring a princess and her true love, Nigel, who find the way -- via love and mathematics -- to free her from the curse her wicked father wished upon her), and "The Last of the Dragons" (about a princess who, not wanting to uphold the tradition that all royal maidens must be rescued from the dragon by their prince, insists that she be allowed to fight the dragon herself -- only to discover that this particular dragon is not at all interested in eating Princesses . . . nor in being killed by one).

Amazon Price: $11.95 (as of 07/06/2009)

The Hobbit: 70th Anniversary Edition

by: J.R.R. Tolkien

A new edition of The Hobbit with a short introduction by Christopher Tolkien, a reset text incorporating the most up-to-date corrections, and all of Tolkien's own drawings and color illustrations, including the rare "Mirkwood" piece.

Amazon Price: $15.75 (as of 07/06/2009)

The Dragons of Tarnack

by: Heath L. Buckmaster

With the evil queen Lucivia defeated, King Venus and Queen Grimelda assume the throne of Acadia, but their adventures are far from over when Carrina magically transports everyone to a kingdom once ruled by dragons.

The Dragons of Tarnack, is the third exciting magical adventure in the Princess Carrina series for Young Readers.

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

The Kingfisher Treasury of Dragon Stories (The Kingfisher Treasury of Stories)

by: Margaret Clark, Mark Robertson

Fifteen dragon stories from around the world make up this fantastic collection, including contributions from such favorite authors as Kathryn Cave, Jamila Gavin, and Robin Klein.

Featuring evil dragons, cheerful dragons, depressed dragons, and even a shrinking dragon, this lively book will entertain dragon hunters everywhere.

Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 07/06/2009)

Puff, the Magic Dragon

by: Peter Yarrow, Lenny Lipton

With Yarrow's and Lipton's blessing, Puff, Jackie Paper, and the land of Honalee finally live on the page.

The exquisite package includes a cloth case with a tipped-in illustration and an embossed jacket with foil touches, as well as an exclusive CD featuring not only Puff, but several other songs performed by Yarrow, his daughter Bethany, and cellist Rufus Cappadocia.

Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 07/06/2009)

Drawing Dragons: Learn How to Create Fantastic Fire-Breathing Dragons

by: Sandra Staple

T-Rex may be king of the dinosaurs and the lion may be king of the jungle, but the undisputed, hands-down ruler of mythical creatures is the dragon.

Now, anyone with an interest in drawing these amazing creatures can follow the program in this book and learn to do it.

Avoiding the "copy-it-yourself" approach found in other books, Sandra Staple teaches readers all the skills they need to create their own dragon menagerie. Every step is presented with ease and clarity, taking the bewilderment out of the drawing process and showing that great complexity begins with utmost simplicity.

For beginners, there's a special primer section, while more experienced artists can dive right in to drawing the mythical creatures that fill their imaginations.

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/06/2009)

Dragon Rider

by: Cornelia Funke

It's a fantasy, it's long, and it's got dragons in it. Dragon Rider is bound to be another hit book from Cornelia Funke!

Ever since the popularity of bestselling fantasies The Thief Lord and Inkheart went global a few years ago, legions of fans have demanded more books from the German author than she can reasonably hope to write each year.

So, re-discovering this hefty, earlier novel from 1997 was a logical development--and her keenest readers will devour it as before.

Aimed at slightly younger readers than her previous novels, despite its massive five hundred pages, Dragon Rider is about a brave young dragon called Firedrake who embarks upon a dangerous journey to the Rim of Heaven in the Himalayas--a magical place where silver dragons can rest easy, free from the threat of destruction by mankind and their only hope of sanctuary. The key to its location is a map rendered by a rat who is a master cartographer.

Firedrake is joined on his quest by Ben, an orphaned boy, and Sorrell--a wise-cracking Brownie that is an odd, but ingenious, grumpy kind of fairy.

Their journey is not a straightforward one by any means. Created by an alchemist called Petrosius Henbane in 1424, Nettlebrand (a malevolent creature covered in impenetrable gold plates) is their biggest threat--he is intent on destroying them.

Nettlebrand is aided by Twigleg, a homunculus who has stowed away in Ben's bag and who is feeding reports on their progress back to his master.

Their exciting encounters are many... It is easy to forgive the narrative's excessive length when readers are gorging on such a wonderfully inventive and readable story from an author who has her readers in the palm of her hand on every page.

(Age 9 and over) --John McLay

Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 07/06/2009)

The Dragonology Handbook: A Practical Course in Dragons (Ologies)

by: Dugald Steer

Do you want to make dragons your life's work?

Do you want to dedicate yourself to protecting and conserving the earth's remaining dragons?

If so, Dr. Drake needs you!

The indispensable DRAGONOLOGY HANDBOOK: A Practical Course in Dragons is your path to becoming a certified Dragonologist and a member of the S.A.S.D. (Secret and Ancient Society of Dragonologists).

This comprehensive curriculum includes: * Invisibility spells to memorize * Charts to complete * Maps to shade in * Matching exercises * Room for journal entries and personal observations * Experiments to conduct * Instructions for making a dragon "attractor" * And a detachable "Certificate of Dragonological Achievement" suitable for framing upon completion of the coursework.

Special items also included in this course book: * A copy of Dr. Drake's own school report card! * A pullout official ID card from the S.A.S.D. * Four sheets of stickers featuring dragons and memorabilia from Dr. Drake's own archives (vintage ads and posters)

How many classic riddles do you know that could help you survive a dragon encounter? What dragon species attacks its victims with a "frosty blast" instead of a jet of flame? Which historical questions should you ask a dragon to determine its age? Can you write your name using only dragon runes?

Learn the answers as Dr. Drake guides you through twenty-one lessons that promise to make you an undisputed expert in Dragonology!

Ages 9-12

Amazon Price: $10.18 (as of 07/06/2009)

How to Raise and Keep a Dragon

by: Joe Nigg

Why keep a dragon?

There are many reasons.

What else can protect your treasure . . . impress your friends . . . make diamonds out of coal . . . work as a model for coats of arms . . . heat your home?

Kids who enjoy whimsy will be delighted by this beautifully illustrated owner's manual for dragon fanciers. It tells about the wide range of different dragons available, the characteristics of each, and the equipment and supplies that every dragon owner should have on hand. (For instance, a fire extinguisher.)

The book is a fanciful blend of dragon lore and colorful art, the latter including diagrams of parts of winged and non-winged dragons, portraits of sea serpents, depictions of Asian dragons, and many others.

More than 250 color illustrations in all. Here's a book that's fun from first page to last.

Amazon Price: $12.91 (as of 07/06/2009)

The Dragonriders of Pern

by: Anne McCaffrey

Anne McCaffrey's Pern is one of the most memorable worlds in science fiction and fantasy.

Humans and their flying dragon companions live in fear of thread, a caustic, deadly material that falls sporadically from space. But when the thread doesn't fall for a long time, people become complacent, forgetting that it is the brave dragonriders who can save them from the periodic threat.

But when the thread falls, human and dragon heroes must fight the scourge.

This edition encompasses the first three unforgettable novels of McCaffrey's epic series: Dragonflight, Dragonquest, and The White Dragon.

Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 07/06/2009)

Dragonsong (The Harper Hall Triology)

by: Anne McCaffrey

For centuries, the world of Pern has faced a destructive force known as Thread. But the magnificent dragons who've protected this world and the men and women who ride them are dwindling.

As fewer dragons ride the winds and destruction falls from the sky, fifteen-year-old Menolly holds one dream only: to sing, play, and weave the music that comes to her so easily -- she wishes to become a Harper. But despite her great talents, her father believes that a young girl is unworthy of such a respected position and forbids her to pursue her dreams.

Menolly runs away and happens upon nine fire lizards that could possibly save her world...and change her life forever.

Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

Dragonsinger (Harper Hall Trilogy, Volume 2)

by: Anne McCaffrey

When Menolly, daughter of Yanus Sea Holder, arrived at the Harper Craft Hall, she came in style, aboard a huge bronze dragon, followed by her nine fire lizards.

The Masterharper of Pern, aware of her unique skills, had chosen her as his only girl apprentice. But the holdless girl had first to overcome many heartaches in this strange new life.

Two things sustained her -- her devoted lizards, a subject on which she was fitted to instruct her Masters -- and the music...music of compelling beauty, music-making where at last she was accepted. In the Great Hall, Menolly could fulfil her destiny.

Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

Dragondrums (Harper Hall Trilogy)

by: Anne McCaffrey

Of all the young singers at the Harperhall of Pern, Piemur was the one chosen for the leading role at Lord Groghe's Gather...and then his voice broke.

Suddenly his whole future at Harperhall became uncertain. But Masterharper Robinton, Menolly and Sebell had other plans for Piemur. They were sure that his quick wits and discretion could be used to keep a check on the troublesome Oldtimers and their strange traffic in fire lizards.

So, whilst serving as a messanger-drum apprentice, Piemur carried out special errands for the three. And it was on one such errand that he realized his wildest dreams.

Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern

by: Anne McCaffrey

The first Pern book to tell a story from a past era of Pern's history, when a deadly plague threatens to destroy the people of Pern, the future of the planet rests in the hands of Moreta.

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

Nerilka's Story (Dragonriders of Pern Series)

by: Anne McCaffrey

A deadly epidemic was sweeping across Pern. Everyone, holder and dragonrider alike, pitched in to help-- except Nerilka's father, who refused to share Fort Hold's bounty with the other Holds.

So, ashamed of her family and determined to do her part, Nerilka packed up medicines and supplies and sneaked off to aid her people. Her quest to help wherever she was most needed led her finally to Ruatha Hold, where Lord Alessan was frantically preparing the precious serum needed for mass inoculations against the dread plague.

Nerilka had long ago abandoned the hope of marriage and a home of her own. Now she found happiness in being useful and appreciated-- first the Healers and then Alessan made very clear that they were grateful for her help.

She had no idea that her new path would change the course of her life forever!

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

Dragonsdawn (Dragonriders of Pern Series)

by: Anne McCaffrey

After 7 weeks on the New York Times hardcover bestseller list, the newest novel of the Dragonriders of Pern series is finally in paperback.

Chronicling the first settlers of Pern, this is the story of the colonists' efforts to breed dragons to fight the deadly Thread before the lush planet is destroyed.

"Dragonphile alert! Anne McCaffrey is back. . .Must reading for fans of the series."--San Diego Tribune.

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

The Renegades of Pern (Dragonriders of Pern Series)

by: Anne McCaffrey

As long as the people of Pern could remember, the Holds had protected them from Thread, the deadly silver strands that fell from the sky and ravaged the land.

In exchange for sanctuary in the huge stone fortresses, the people tithed to their Lord Holders, who in turn supported the Weyrs, whose dragons were Pern's greatest weapon against Thread.

But not everyone on Pern was part of that system of mutual care and protection, particularly those who had been rendered holdless as punishment for wrongdoing. And there were some, like Jayge's trader clan, who simply preferred the freedom of the roads to the security of a hold.

Others, like Aramina's family, had lost their holds through injustice and cruelty.

For all the holdless, life was a constant struggle for survival.

Then, from the ranks of the criminals and the disaffected, rose a band of renegades, led by the Lady Thella. No one was safe from Thella's depredations, and now her quarry was Aramina, reputed to have a telepathic link with dragons.

But when Thella mistakenly vented her rage on Jayge's family, she made a dangerous mistake. For Jayge was bent on revenge . . . and he would never let her have the girl who heard dragons!

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

All the Weyrs of Pern (Dragonriders of Pern Series)

by: Anne McCaffrey

Led by Masterharper Robinton and F'lar and Lessa, the people of Pern excavate the ancient remains of the planet's original settlement and uncover the colonists' voice-activated artificial intelligence system.

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

The Dolphins of Pern (Dragonriders of Pern)

by: Anne McCaffrey

Fans of McCaffrey's (The Chronicles of Pern, 1993, etc.) famous dragons will no doubt be surprised by this latest installment in the Pern saga, which, for a change, spotlights the planet's dolphins.

Although genetically engineered dolphins were part of the original Pern colony, humans lost contact - and interest - in the friendly cetaceans over the years, as they desperately developed the fire-breathing dragons to combat the deadly thread.

But when a pod of dolphins rescues young Readis and his Uncle Alemi from a storm, the pair is stunned into silence by the appearance of the legendary talking "ship fish."

While few back at the holding believe the pair, Aivas (an ancient computer) encourages the contact. The dolphin's gentle (and too often cutesy) nature eventually wins over the other humans, including young T'lion, a dragonrider.

While the residents of Pern launch a bold plan to rid their planet of threadfall forever, T'lion and Readis realize that it is their destiny to work with the dolphins, like the dragonriders who worked with the winged flyers before them.

McCaffrey's solid characterizations and lush descriptions counterbalance the feathery plot, making this latest trip to Pern a pleasant, sentimental respite among old and familiar friends. (Kirkus Reviews)

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

Dragonseye

by: Anne McCaffrey

When the volcanoes rumble and the powerful storms begin brewing on Pern, it means one thing: Thread. For 257 years Pern has been free of the life-destroying Thread, but now the Red Star has reappeared in the sky and soon the deadly Threadfall will follow.

In the holds and weyrs across the land, the genetically-engineered dragons of Pern and their human riders begin feverishly training to combat the Thread, for only dragon fire can destroy the silvery invaders.

But, incredibly, one Lord Holder refuses to believe the Thread will fall again, and he may endanger the entire planet.

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

The Masterharper of Pern (Dragonriders of Pern)

by: Anne McCaffrey

In a time when the deadly scourge Thread has not fallen on Pern for centuries--and many dare to hope that Thread will never fall again--a boy is born to Harper Hall. A musical prodigy who has the ability to speak with the dragons, he is called Robinton, and he is destined to be one of the most famous and beloved leaders Pern has ever known.

It is a perilous time for the harpers who sing of Thread--they are being turned away from holds, derided, attacked, even beaten. In this climate of unrest, Robinton will come into his own.

But despite the tragedies that beset his own life, he continues to believe in music and in the dragons, and he is determined to save his beloved Pern from itself--so that the dragonriders can be ready to fly against the dreaded Thread when at last it returns . . .

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

The Skies of Pern

by: Anne McCaffrey

Anne McCaffrey's Pern series has been running successfully for so long that most of the Dragonriders' original problems have been solved.

In The Skies of Pern, she confronts her standard cast of characters with the consequences of those solutions, consequences that are a whole new set of problems. Now that the Red Star has been pushed to another orbit, there will only be a few more ravenous Threads descending from it for them and their dragons to fight--and what role will that leave for them?

They have successfully reclaimed Earth's lost technology--and suddenly everyone with a craft that might be outmoded, or who is phobic about surgery, is on the rampage, sabotaging and smashing and making up rumors.

These fundamentalist Abominators are sure that something terrible will happen if the old ways are not gone back to--and sure enough, fire descends, on cue, from the skies.

Anne McCaffrey's tales of genetically engineered dragons and a lost colony that has declined into feudalism are ultimately SF rather than fantasy because they are about finding solutions to problems, solutions that involve working with what you are given to start off with; The Skies of Pern is all about elegant solutions to credible problems. --Amazon.co.uk

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

Dragon's Kin (The Dragonriders of Pern)

by: Anne McCaffrey, Todd J. McCaffrey

Beginning with the classic Dragonriders of Pern, Anne McCaffrey has created a complex, endlessly fascinating world uniting humans and great telepathic dragons. Millions of devoted readers have soared on the glittering wings of Anne's imagination, following book by book the evolution of one of science fiction's most beloved and honored series.

Now, for the first time, Anne has invited another writer to join her in the skies of Pern, a writer with an intimate knowledge of Pern and its history: her son, Todd.

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

Dragonsblood (Pern)

by: Todd J. McCaffrey

In Dragon's Kin, bestselling author Anne McCaffrey did the unthinkable: for the first time ever, she invited another writer to join her in the skies of her most famous fictional creation.

That writer was her son, Todd McCaffrey. Together, they penned a triumphant new chapter in the annals of the extraordinarily popular Dragonriders of Pern.

Now, for the first time, Todd McCaffrey flies alone. And Dragonsblood is proof that the future of Pern is in good hands. After all, dragons are in his blood. . . .

Never in the dramatic history of Pern has there been a more dire emergency than that which faces the young dragonrider Lorana. A mysterious fatal illness is striking dragons. The epidemic is spreading like wildfire . . . and the next deadly cycle of Threadfall is only days away.

Somehow, Lorana must find a cure before the dragons-including her own beloved Arith-succumb to the sickness, leaving Pern undefended.

The lyrics of an all-but-forgotten song seem to point toward an answer from nearly five hundred years in the past, when Kitti Ping and her daughter Wind Blossom bred the first dragons from their smaller cousins, the fire-lizards.

No doubt the first colonists possessed the advanced technology to find the cure for which Lorana seeks, but over the centuries, that knowledge has been lost.

Or has it?

For in the distant past, an aged Wind Blossom worries that the germs that affect the fire-lizards may one day turn on larger prey-and unleash a plague that will destroy the dragons, Pern's only defenders against Thread. But as her people struggle to survive, Wind Blossom has neither the time nor the resources to expend on a future that may never arrive-until suddenly she uncovers evidence that her worst fears will come true.

Now two brave women, separated by hundreds of years but joined by bonds transcending time, will become unknowing allies in a desperate race against sickness and Threadfall, with nothing less than the survival of all life on Pern at stake.

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

Dragon's Fire (The Dragonriders of Pern)

by: Anne McCaffrey, Todd J. McCaffrey

Bringing fresh wonders and dangers to light in the skies of Pern, Anne McCaffrey and her son, Todd, who demonstrated his writing talents in the bestselling novels Dragon's Kin and Dragonsblood, return with their second collaboration: a thrilling adventure of discovery and fate.

Pellar is an orphan taken in by Masterharper Zist. Though born mute, Pellar is a gifted tracker, and when Zist sets off to take over as harper for Natalon's coal-mining camp, Pellar-along with his fire-lizard, Chitter-joins him on a secret mission of his own: to find out if reported thefts of coal are the work of the Shunned, criminals condemned to a life of wandering and hardship.

Halla is one of the children of the Shunned. Though innocent of their parents' crimes, these children have inherited their cruel punishment. Lack of food, shelter, and clothes is their lot; hope is unknown to them. And what future would they hope for?

Without a hold to call their own, there will be no protection for them when the lethal Thread inevitably falls again. Life is even tougher for Halla. Her family gone, she must fend for herself.

Yet despite the brutality of her surroundings, Halla is kind and gentle, devoted to those more helpless than she.

As depraved as Halla is good, Tenim is in league with Tarik, a crooked miner from Camp Natalon, who helps him steal coal in exchange for a cut of the profit. But Tenim soon realizes there is a lot more to be made from firestone, the volatile mineral that enables the dragons of Pern to burn Thread out of the sky.

Tenim doesn't care what he has to do, or whom he has to kill, in order to corner the market.

Cristov is Tarik's son. Dishonored by his father's greed and treachery, the boy must make amends somehow, even if it means risking his life by mining the volatile firestone, which detonates on contact with the slightest drop of moisture.

When the last remaining firestone mine explodes in flames, a desperate race begins to find a new deposit of the deadly but essential mineral, for without it there can be no defense against Thread. But Tenim has a murderous plan to turn tragedy to his own advantage, and only Pellar, Halla, and Cristov can stop him-and ensure that there will be a future for all on the world of the Dragonriders.

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

Dragon Harper (The Dragonriders of Pern)

by: Anne McCaffrey, Todd J. McCaffrey

For millions of readers the world over, the name Pern is magical, conjuring up grand vistas of a distant planet whose blue skies are patrolled by brave dragons and their noble riders, a paradise threatened by the periodic fall of deadly Thread. But not all dangers descend from the skies.

Now, in their third collaboration, Anne McCaffrey and her son, Todd McCaffrey, spin a tale of a mysterious illness that may succeed in doing what centuries of Threadfall could not: kill every last human on Pern.

Life in the Harper Hall is busy for best friends Kindan, Nonala, and Kelsa. As the only female apprentices, Nonala and Kelsa are the butt of jokes and easy targets for the bully Vaxoram and his cronies. But when Kindan springs to Kelsa's defense, he winds up in a fight for his life against the older, bigger Vaxoram-a fight that will lead to a surprising friendship.

Meanwhile, in nearby Fort Hold, a clutch of fire-lizard eggs is about to hatch, and Lord Bemin's beautiful young daughter, Koriana, is determined to Impress one of the delightful creatures. At the hatching, Kindan Impresses a fire-lizard of his own . . . and wins the heart of Koriana. But Lord Bemin mistrusts harpers and will not hear of a match between his daughter and the low-born Kindan.

Then fate intervenes in the form of a virulent plague as fast-spreading as it is deadly. Arising suddenly, as if out of nowhere, the contagion decimates hold after hold, paying no heed to distinctions of birth. In this feverish crucible, friendship and love will be tested to the breaking point and beyond.

For with Threadfall scant years away, the Dragonriders dare not expose themselves to infection, and it will fall to Kindan and his fellow apprentices to bravely search for a cure and save humanity.

The price of failure is unthinkable. But the price of success may be even harder to bear.

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

Dragonheart: Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern (The Dragonriders of Pern)

by: Todd J. McCaffrey

Todd McCaffrey's first solo novel in the classic Dragonriders of Pern series, Dragonsblood, was hailed by critics and embraced by the countless devoted readers of the landmark science fiction saga created by his mother, Anne McCaffrey.

Now the chronicles of Pern take another captivating turn as the embattled planet, the brave pioneers who call it home, and the magnificent flame-breathing creatures who fly high to protect it confront a dire new challenge.

The grim specter of sickness looms over the Weyrs of Pern, felling fire-lizards and posing a potentially devastating threat to their dragon cousins, Pern's sole defense against the deadly phenomenon that is Thread.

Fiona, the youngest and only surviving daughter of Lord Bemin, is just coming of age, and about to assume the duties of a Weyrwoman, when word spreads that dragons have indeed begun succumbing to the new contagion. With the next season of Threadfall quickly approaching, and the already diminished ranks of the dragons once more under siege, every Weyr across Pern is in crisis mode.

It is hardly the time for disturbing distractions-such as the strange voice Fiona suddenly hears in her mind at the darkest and most urgent moments.

Circumstances and the mood of the weyrfolk worsen when advance patrols relay the dreaded news that black dust-the unmistakable herald of falling Thread-has been sighted. As more dragons sicken and die, leaving only a new generation of weyrlings too young to succeed them,

Weyrleader B'Nik and queen rider Lorana arrive from Benden Weyr to comb Fort Weyr's archives in a desperate search for clues from the past that may hold the solution to the plague.

But could the actual past itself prove the pathway to salvation for Pern's stricken dragons and the entire imperiled planet?

Guided by a mysterious ally from a wholly unexpected place, and trusting in the unique dragon gift for transcending time, Fiona will join a risky expedition with far-reaching consequences for both Pern's future and her personal destiny.

Amazon Price: $17.82 (as of 07/06/2009)

Inheritance 3-Book Hardcover Boxed Set (Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr)

by: Christopher Paolini

WITH THE HIGHLY anticipated publication of Book Three in the Inheritance cycle, the hardcover editions of all three books will be available in a handsome boxed set!

Amazon Price: $42.49 (as of 07/06/2009)

Eragon (Inhertitance)

by: Christopher Paolini

When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power.

With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds.

Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands. . . . --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

Eldest (Inheritance)

by: Christopher Paolini

Darkness falls%u2026despair abounds%u2026evil reigns%u2026

Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire.

Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in the skills of the Dragon Rider: magic and swordsmanship. Soon he is on the journey of a lifetime, his eyes open to awe-inspring new places and people, his days filled with fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and nothing is what it seems. Before long, Eragon doesn't know whom he can trust.

Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle-one that might put Eragon in even graver danger.

Will the king's dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life. . . .

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

Inheritance Cycle Omnibus: Eragon and Eldest (The Inheritance Cycle)

by: Christopher Paolini

Enjoy every word of the first two books in the Inheritance cycle in one convenient volume. Featuring brand new cover art and never before seen original manuscript pages!

Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 07/06/2009)

Brisingr (Inheritance, Book 3)

by: Christopher Paolini

OATHS SWORN . . . loyalties tested . . . forces collide.

Following the colossal battle against the Empire's warriors on the Burning Plains, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have narrowly escaped with their lives. Still there is more at hand for the Rider and his dragon, as Eragon finds himself bound by a tangle of promises he may not be able to keep.

First is Eragon's oath to his cousin Roran: to help rescue Roran's beloved, Katrina, from King Galbatorix's clutches. But Eragon owes his loyalty to others, too. The Varden are in desperate need of his talents and strength-as are the elves and dwarves.

When unrest claims the rebels and danger strikes from every corner, Eragon must make choices- choices that take him across the Empire and beyond, choices that may lead to unimagined sacrifice.

Eragon is the greatest hope to rid the land of tyranny. Can this once-simple farm boy unite the rebel forces and defeat the king?

Amazon Price: $17.51 (as of 07/06/2009)

Pete's Dragon (Disney Gold Classic Collection)

Pete, a young orphan, runs away to a Maine fishing town with his best friend--a lovable, sometimes invisible dragon named Elliott!

When they are taken in by a kind lighthouse keeper, Nora (Helen Reddy), and her father (Mickey Rooney), Elliott's prank playing lands them in big trouble. Then, when crooked salesmen try to capture Elliott for their own gain, Pete must attempt a daring rescue.

Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)

H.R. Pufnstuf - The Complete Series

Take a "trip" back in time to a place that made Saturday mornings come alive! HR Pufnstuf, one of the most popular and beloved television series, is presented this deluxe DVD package featuring every episode ever made!

Travel to Living Island with Jimmy and Freddie, his talking flute, as they battle the evil Witchiepoo with the help of HR Pufnstuf and his colorful collection of friends.

Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)

Puff the Magic Dragon

Based on the hit song by Peter, Paul & Mary.A shy boy learns the value of courage from his companion, Puff the Magic Dragon

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

J.R.R. Tolkien Animated Films Set (The Hobbit/The Lord of the Rings/The Return of the King)

The Hobbit
The J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy classic set in Middle-earth was adapted into this excellent 1978 animated feature first broadcast on television. Codirectors Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr., working from a script by Romeo Muller, are faithful to Tolkien's story and for that alone they get big points.

The vocal cast can't be improved upon: Orson Bean is perfect as Bilbo Baggins, the timorous hobbit who grows brave on his adventure with the wizard Gandalf (John Huston). Otto Preminger is the voice of Elvenking, Richard Boone is Smaug, Hans Conried is Thorin, and Brother Theodore is very effective as the weird Gollum.

Terrific for kids and adults alike. --Tom Keogh>

The Lord of the Rings:
Although it was ultimately overshadowed by Peter Jackson's live-action Lord of the Rings trilogy, Ralph Bakshi's animated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy classic is not without charms of its own.

A target of derision from intolerant fans, this ambitious 1978 production is nevertheless a respectably loyal attempt to animate the first half of Tolkien's trilogy, beginning with the hobbit Frodo's inheritance of the One Ring of power from Bilbo Baggins, and ending with the wizard Gandalf's triumph over the evil army of Orcs.

While the dialogue is literate and superbly voiced by a prestigious cast (including John Hurt as Aragorn), Leonard Roseman's accomplished score effectively matches the ominous atmosphere that Bakshi's animation creates and sustains.

Bakshi's lamentable decision to combine traditional cel animation with "rotoscoped" (i.e., meticulously traced) live-action footage is jarringly distracting and aesthetically disastrous, but when judged by its narrative content, this Lord of the Rings deserves more credit than it typically receives. --Jeff Shannon

The Return of the King:
The creative team behind 1978's impressive animation feature based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit returns with this 1980 entry drawn from Tolkien's famous Lord of the Rings trilogy. It's good work all around, and not at all the kind of feature-length cartoon that reduces good books to treacle.

Orson Bean returns as the voice of Bilbo Baggins as well as that of the trilogy's hero, Frodo. John Huston is commanding again as the voice of the wizard Gandalf, and also in the vocal cast are William Conrad, Paul Frees, and Roddy McDowall. --Tom Keogh

Amazon Price: $23.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

Dragonslayer

Despite its box-office failure in 1981, Dragonslayer was gradually recognized as one of the finest fantasies to emerge from the post-Star Wars boom in special effects.

It's still one of the best adventures of its kind, featuring one of the most fearsome fire-breathing serpents in movie history.

Ominously named Vermithrax Pejorative, this ill-tempered monster terrorizes the peasantry of sixth-century England, feeding on maidens sacrificed by a duplicitous king until a sorcerer's apprentice named Galen (Peter MacNicol, long before Ally McBeal) is recruited as a reluctant hero. Aided by a tenacious beauty (Caitlin Clarke) and his resurrected mentor (Ralph Richardson), Galen confronts the soaring beast in a breathtaking climax.

Employing a then-innovative technique called Go-Motion to animate the dragon, the special effects are still dazzling, and stunning locations in Scotland and Wales allow director Matthew Robbins (cowriter of Steven Spielberg's feature debut, The Sugarland Express) to maintain a vivid atmosphere for the wealth of movie magic. --Jeff Shannon

Amazon Price: $5.49 (as of 07/06/2009)

Dragonheart - Collector's Edition

In the closing paragraph of his 1996 review of Dragonheart, noted critic Roger Ebert summed up this adventurous fantasy quite nicely: "While no reasonable person over the age of 12 would presumably be able to take it seriously, there is nevertheless a lighthearted joy to it, a cheerfulness, an insouciance, that recalls the days when movies were content to be fun."

That's precisely the quality that makes Dragonheart so appealing, despite the fact that it didn't exactly take flight and breathe fire at the box office.

The movie takes itself seriously without sacrificing the wit and cleverness that make it so entertaining.

It's about the last of the great dragon slayers, Bowen (Dennis Quaid), who teams up with the last of the great dragons, Draco (and voiced by Sean Connery), after they realize that killing each other would put them both out of business!

So they devise a bogus dragon-slaying act that's a huge hit as they tour from village to village. Later, they must rouse the peasantry against the loutish Prince Einon (David Thewlis), whose life was once saved by Draco, but who now violates the "Old Code" of honor with a ruthless reign of terror.

As Ebert rightly noted, Dragonheart is no masterpiece, and its story (which was originally conceived as a darker, more serious drama) isn't likely to capture everyone's heart (dragon or otherwise). But it's full of exciting action, witty dialogue, and gallant heroism, and in the presentation of a realistic talking dragon it's a milestone in computer-generated special effects, far surpassing the breakthroughs of Jurassic Park three years earlier. --Jeff Shannon.

Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 07/06/2009)

Reign of Fire

The Road Warrior meets Dragonslayer in the briskly entertaining post-apocalyptic action thriller Reign of Fire. Reign of Fire exists primarily to give us a bigger and better dragon than the Vermithrax Pejorative of 1981's classic Dragonslayer, and in that regard, the special effects are mightily impressive; the reptilian fire-breathers are stupendously convincing.

While the earlier film offers a richer, more whimsical medieval adventure, Reign of Fire is a fast-moving tale of man versus dragon that takes place in the charred England of 2020, after Earth has been scorched by rapidly multiplying dragons and the aftermath of a futile nuclear counterstrike.

Mixing high-tech gadgetry with primitive survivalism, X-Files alumnus Rob Bowman makes the most of his midlevel budget, establishing a lavish castle base for the rugged, adversarial teaming of Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey as dragonslayers on the brink of extinction.

With a steady supply of crowd-pleasing highlights, Reign of Fire is a pyrotechnical treat. --Jeff Shannon

Amazon Price: $11.49 (as of 07/06/2009)

George and the Dragon

The first crusade to free the Holy Land has ended. A mass of weary knights, squires, soldiers of fortune and priests are making their way home across a Europe that has changed forever. An age of legends and mystery is about to unfold.

George, a handsome English knight, unsettled by the horrendous bloodletting he witnessed in Palestine, desires to hang up his sword and settle down to a quiet, peaceful life. On returning to England, George heads north where he's heard the land is good and the population sparse and of a kindly King named Edgaar.

He finds King Edgaar in a terrible state. His beautiful daughter, Lunna has recently disappeared. In return for a small plot of land, George agrees to search for Princess Lunna. With Edgaar's faithful servant, Elmendorf, George sets out.

George discovers both the princess and the truth behind her strange disappearance. The quest now set before them ends in a love, a lie and a legend that has lasted a thousand years.

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Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
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