The Dragon Masters (1962)

Perhaps the last remnants of the human race eke out a meager existence on the unforgiving world of Aerlith, on which much of the terrain is little more than a craggy, mountainous wasteland. The two major and opposing settlements on Aerlith are concentrated in two valleys, each containing the only fertile soil on the planet. These forces are led by the cunning and logical Joaz Banbeck and capricious, volatile Ervis Carcolo, respectively. Carcolo, ruler of Happy Valley, is intent on destroying Banbeck and laying claim to his territory, known as Banbeck Vale.

Banbeck, however, is hardly concerned about the bumbling Carcolo. Rather, he fears that an aggressive reptilian race known as the Grephs will soon return to attack them and offers a truce to Carcolo. Although Carcolo agrees to unite with Banbeck against their common enemy, he soon decides to invade Banbeck Vale, but is effectively thwarted.

In years past, the Grephs occasionally invaded Aerlith in a large ship, abducting a number of humans and laying waste to the villages in order to keep mankind in its place and prevent them from advancing. An ancestor of Banbeck’s managed to capture several Grephs and began experimenting on them, breeding them into various species of fighting dragons known as “Juggers,” “Termagants,” “Murderers,” and more.

Among the inhabitants of both valleys lives an enigmatic and reclusive cult known simply as the “Sacerdotes.” Their members live and travel completely nude and live in the caverns and passages between the valleys. The passive Sacerdotes remain aloof from the affairs of mankind, awaiting the day when all barbaric, warmongering humans are annihilated so that they might rise and spread their message throughout the galaxy.

Banbeck learns that the Sacerdotes are constructing something in their caverns that will not only help them achieve their goal but might also be useful in defeating the Grephs—who arrive shortly after Carcolo mounts a second and more vicious offensive against Banbeck Vale!

Jack Vance excels at building his worlds methodically as the story progresses, revealing new details with every chapter. The Dragon Masters presents a milieu rich in culture, history, and action with characters that are developed adequately enough to convey a rousing story of treachery, survival, and triumph. ( )

The men of Aerlith have bred their reptilian enemies into various types of dragon-like warriors, steeds and weapons, which they use in battles with other valleys. But whenever their star is at its closest point, the reptilian 'Basics' send ships to raid Aerlith and capture slaves, using similarly engineered humans and Joaz Banbeck the ruler of Banbeck Vale knows that another such attack is imminent.

I'm also not a huge fan of military science fiction, but the breeding of the basic humans and reptilians into such varied forms was interesting. However it is very far-fetched that both planets would use this strategy, especially since the humans have a much longer life-cycle than the reptilians so it takes much longer to breed useful variants. ( )

Not sure why this won the Hugo. It's a decent enough read, though a number of classic Vance elements, the world-building especially, aren't as developed here. Dialogue and characterization also feel a little flat. The wry humor that marks his better works is almost totally absent. Nonetheless worth reading for the excellent (and surprisingly bloody) battle scenes. ( )

Not sure why this won the Hugo. It's a decent enough read, though a number of classic Vance elements, the world-building especially, aren't as developed here. Dialogue and characterization also feel a little flat. The wry humor that marks his better works is almost totally absent. Nonetheless worth reading for the excellent (and surprisingly bloody) battle scenes. ( )

I've read a portuguese edition with only the first novel of this book. This book's premise is very interesting, but the reason I give it only 3 stars it's because I felt it was poorly developed, suffocating the idea's great potential. Instead of a better world and background description the reader is given one battle scene after another. It was too much action. Too little exploration of everything the story's alien and human worl and the different alien and human species, which by the way sounded almost the same, would have to offer. Still worth a read though, even if to incite the reader's mind of what the story could have been if completely fleshed out. ( )