The Dragon Pool

by Christopher Golden

Book Overview

Hellboy, a bloodred, cloven-hoofed demon raised by the United States government, is a top field agent for the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. He questions the unknown -- then beats it into submission.

In the upper reaches of the Himalayas, Hellboy's ex-girlfriend, archaeologist Anastasia Bransfield, believes she has found the location of the legendary "Dragon King Pool" -- thought to be the ancient dwelling of an evil dragon...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1451666489
• ISBN13: 9781451666489
• Release Date: September 2011
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

One of the best in this series

I enjoyed Christopher Golden's "The Lost Army", the first in this series of Hellboy-related novels. This book is even better and every bit as good as Brian Hodge's earlier "On Earth as It Is in Hell", which for me had been the best of this series. I really prefer the books that let you see into the psyches of the characters and not just the chaos and mayhem that pops up when ever the big, red guy is around. It's nice to get to see some glimpses into Hellboy and Anastasia's bittersweet past as a romantic couple and nice to see how much they still care for each other. Unfortunately, Professor Trevor Bruttenholm died off too quickly in the original comics and you only get glimpses of his character in a few of the flashback comics Mike Mignola created about the younger Hellboy. What makes this book so special is how deeply Trevor's character is developed in a book that chronologically takes place just a few years before his unfortunate demise. One could hope that this focus on Trevor Bruttenholm as a character and his obviously close relationship with Hellboy will be further developed in future installments in this series. The real icing on the cake is how suspenseful and exciting this book is. I like when Hellboy is given foes that really give him a run for his money and he really has to work to defeat them. I also like suggestions that he's not totally indestructable. Frankly, characters that can never be defeated or wounded are dull and it makes for some poignant scenes when Trevor worries about the physical and emotional well-being of his 'son'. Definitely a five-star effort all around and I would love for more "Hellboy" novels from Mr. Golden.

Beware People Whose Eyes Light Up

Take a folksy red demon, his ex-girlfriend, and a friend who prefers to live in water. Mix this with suspicious Chinese officials, and archeological dig in Tibet and the accidental awakening of a dragon that has been asleep for 1000 years, and you have most of the plot of The Dragon Pool. Archeologist Anastasia Bransfield knows that she is looking for the ancient temple of the Dragon King, who terrorized Tibet long ago until put asleep by a very angry dwarf, but she doesn't expect to run headlong into a tribe of the dragon's heir -- shape changing humans who have desperately kept the secret so that they would never have to resume sacrificing children. In the resulting confrontation she calls for help, and, just as you might expect, it's Hellboy to the rescue. Being back around Anastasia puts Hellboy in a tizzy, but he gets to work and hammers out an arrangement with the local village (a rare moment of diplomacy for a guy who usually hits first, and then hits second). Unfortunately, the real damage is done. Even as Hellboy makes peace and saves the life of a young girl the bottom of the dragon pool shows unexpected signs of life. Soon the problem is a really cranky dragon trying to toast everything in the neighborhood. Despite help from both the BPRD and the Chinese government the dragon seems invincible, and the team is left digging for legends to find a way to set things right. Chris Golden (noted for an unending supply of good horror and Buffy novels) once again does a great job of capture the action and Hellboy's somewhat sarcastic self-reflection. Hellboy is a human in most ways, but he is also the resident of a demon's body, with many unusual powers. Stacy and he still love each other, but the relationship is doomed not by their conflicts, but because the world isn't ready to accept the relationship. When your huge, red, and tailed, most folks tend to think the worst, and the couple must deal with the consequences. They are a good working team, though, and there's a great deal more action and fun than there are maudlin moments. One can't help but relish a pure occult adventure story like this. Go for it.