'Your uncle is an aviator, I understand,' Miss Caroline Bingley said to Elizabeth...
"He is," Elizabeth said, and added with a little pardonable malice, "We have several officers, in our family." She had endured a great deal of hissed whispers from her mother ... on the need for secrecy, and the deadly danger to her sisters' reputation if her own profession should become known to the company. [loc. 1066]
A collection of short stories with accompanying artwork, set in Novik's 'Temeraire' universe. I hadn't been aware of this volume before, and was dismayed to see that it was only available as a high-priced hardcover: but lovely Subterranean Press have issued it in ebook format, which I snapped up after attending the author's talk at Waterstones Piccadilly.
The stories in Golden Age are variable in length and, to me, interest. There are some that could easily be part of the Temeraire canon, and others which I think can justifiably be termed 'AU' -- that is, alternate universes. These include my two favourite tales. In 'Golden Age', Temeraire's egg is not captured by HMS Reliant, but instead hatches on a deserted beach somewhere in the Caribbean. The newborn dragon names himself Celeste, finds some friends, and embarks upon a career of piracy -- until the Admiralty despatches one Captain Laurence to deal with the threat to shipping (and also with a kraken). My other favourite is 'Dragons and Decorum', a pitch-perfect Austen pastiche in which one Elizabeth Bennet becomes captain to a Longwing named Wollstonecraft, who does not take kindly to her dear Elizabeth being described as 'tolerable' by Mr Darcy. The story covers the events of Victory of Eagles, though with a very different ambience.
The artwork, even on Kindle, is excellent: various artists have provided art, which Novik has used as the basis for the stories. There are familiar characters and interesting viewpoints, and a strong sense of joyful exploration on the part of the author.
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