Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe

by James M. Ward

Book Overview

Possessing latent magical abilities that he hopes will enable him to fulfill his potential, Halcyon Blithe takes on the duties of Midshipwizard aboard a nautical juggernaut, a vessel that harnesses a dragon with seafaring technology.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765312530
• ISBN13: 9780765312532
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.99 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.9" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Adventure on the high seas!

I am a great lover of fantasy and of adventure novels such as the Hornblower series. I read this book thinking it would be a great and original combination of these to genre . . . and I was correct. I really liked the story and characters in this book. The action kept a good pass and the author did not waste time explain parts of Halcyon's world that we really didn't need to know about. A fantstic concept and a really good read! I recommend it for people who love fantasy and dragons in particular and people who love old time adventure novels. You will not be disappointed.

I loved it!

While this is not the best put together book I have ever read, the simplicity captured me from the start. In many ways it reminded me of the books that got me into sci-fi in the first place. The story of the new, and young navel officer has been a staple of both science fiction and fantasy for the last few years, but the world created here was so..I don't know...fresh, and the characters, while basic, so good at the same time that I could not put it down. I am glad I got this in hardcover, so it will last to be read again. And I hope Mr. Ward adds to this universe...soon.

Adventure on the High--and Magical!--Sea

This book takes the classic adventure saga of the young man coming of age on the high seas, and embellishes it with a number of imaginative and exciting flourishes. The book has more in common with the Horatio Hornblower series than it does with Harry Potter. Halcyon Blithe is a wonderful character, and he is surrounded by a supporting cast of proper royal officers and shiver-yer-timbers old salts. Blithe is a novice midshipwizard--emphasis on the wizard--on the good ship "Sanguine". But the ship is more than a setting: it is one of the author's most imaginative creations: a powerful man of war built on the back of a mighty sea dragon! All in all, I recommend this book as a fast and exciting read for any fan of fantasy or adventure.

Adventure and peril

In Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe, the sixteen-year-old protagonist, Halcyon, is a tall, white-haired Arcanian midshipwizard on his marine tour of duty. Before he enters his touring sea dragon ship, the Sanguine, Halcyon Blithe places a good-weather spell on himself to ensure that good weather will smile upon him on his first tour. As expected, the weather is beautiful and the seas are calm. But Halcyon can't hold the bad weather off forever. It seems that a storm has been building up behind Halcyon's spell. When it finally breaks through the spell, the seas and the weather rage. Halcyon's living sea dragon ship is tossed and thrown about on the rough waves. Captain Olden asks Halcyon to check the dragon's heart chamber, to make sure no seawater has touched the heart. Just as Halcyon enters the heart chamber, he sees an officer run out of the other entrance. Halcyon studies the dragon's heart and finds that blast-gel-a gel that is used as gunpowder-has been rubbed all over the dragon's hot, beating heart. He knows that the heart could explode in seconds, killing the dragon that keeps the ship afloat! What should Halcyon do? Who is the saboteur of the ship? Will Halcyon be punished for his well-meaning fair-weather spell that has brought such woe and pain to the sea dragon and its crew? Read Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe to find out! I really liked Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe. I think that it could have used less profane language, but then again, it is a story with sailors in it! The best part of the book was when Halcyon learned that he could talk to sea dragons, which helps him form a bond with his ship. Since this is a sea-adventure book, I would recommend it to anyone who liked Treasure Island or who enjoys stories of adventure and peril in general and at sea. Reviewed by a student for Flamingnet Book Reviews [...] Preteen, teen, and young adult book reviews and recommendations

charming high fantasy

The island country of Arcania is at war with Maleen, a kingdom that is rapidly absorbing every country it fights into its empire. One of their greatest weapons is the shapechanging monsters that can turn into any human form it wishes. The Arcanian navy is blocking the Maleen ships from entering their waters. Both sides harness sea dragons making the vessels stronger, faster, and more durable. Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe, who came into his magical powers at the age of sixteen unlike his relatives who developed at the age of twelve, is assigned to the dragonship the Sanguine where he learns battle strategy on both the mundane and magical levels. Because he is the seventh son of a seventh son his powers over air and earth are strong and he thinks he will one day be leading his own battle ship that is if he survives a court martial, a curse and an unknown enemy's desire to kill him; of course there is also the Maleen. The dragon that is part of the Sanguine is able to communicate with the hero one of the few humans he can talk to and he comes to care for him and helps him when possible. Magic is an everyday occurrence for the Arcanians and they use it in battle just as they would as artillery or a missile. This is a charming high fantasy book that will engage the Harry Potter crowd and those readers who like military fantasy. Harriet Klausner