25 June 2008
Sons of Dragons
Book 1: The Road of Kyle
by Gabriel Landowski
Science Fiction
Lulu 2008
Trade Paperback, 262 pages
ISBN 978-0-6152-0949-4

**** An exciting and entertaining read that I highly recommend Review by Elrod Stanton, Author of Hunting Ground, etal.

Gabriel Landowski is also the author of a book on miniature gaming appropriately titled Miniature Gaming Volume I (Lulu 2007, available on Amazon etal). His knowledge of this genre comes through in Sons of Dragons. Landowski is definitely well-versed in portraying military tactics, strategies, weapons, the day to day lives of the soldiers in the trenches, the unexpected attacks against them, the skirmishes and the ultimate epic battle.

Except for the technology, this story could have been set in a Lord of the Rings world and offered very nicely as a fantasy novel. Instead, the author sets it in a believable science fiction world of the future. After a fleet of troop ships is hijacked during a fold (hyperspace jump), they are attacked while attempting to deploy troops onto a nearby planet. In desperation, the fleet fold out of their predicament, isolating a contingent of troops in their drop ships who, for survival, are forced to land and deploy on the unknown world.

Once on-planet the fun begins. The story unfolds around soldier Kyle Evans, who the reader follows through his trials, tribulations and adventures. Landowski tells the story in the third person present tense, giving the reader the sense of being right there on the gaming table as the author deftly manipulates Kyle and the other soldiers and local friendlies, who they have incorporated into their military force as they do battle against the Horde, a group of raiders reminiscent of the Mongolian Tatars of Earth’s Middle Ages. Instead of horses, these raiders ride bear-sized dogs and are led by a hidden and mysterious leader known as The One.

At the end of the story, the identity of The One is still a mystery, leaving the reader wanting more which, presumably, will be forthcoming in Book 2. My only complaint about the novel was I thought the author missed the opportunity to create additional conflict between Kyle Evans and an officious blowhard by the name of Staff Sergeant Percy, who has a high level of animosity against Evans. While the Horde and The One are the enemy without, Percy is the enemy within. Perhaps more of this continuing conflict between Kyle Evans and Sgt. Percy awaits us in Book 2.

Sons of Dragons is an exciting and entertaining read that I highly recommend. Visit Gabriel Landowski at www.landowski.info