Book description
The Dragon (Atlan Saga) - Jane Gaskell
Gaskell's "The Dragon" emerges as a hidden gem in fantasy literature, showcasing why China Miéville counts her early work among the finest weird fiction ever written. This audiobook delivers Gaskell's prehistoric South American and Atlantean epic with compelling narrative strength.
The story continues the Atlan/Cija series with remarkable depth, building upon the foundation laid in "The Serpent" and "Atlan." What makes this particularly fascinating is how Gaskell, writing in her teens and early twenties, crafted a mythology that feels both ancient and refreshingly original. The split between earlier editions - originally combined as "The Serpent" before being divided into two distinct books - actually enhances the listening experience here, allowing each part to breathe fully.
Narrated with appropriate gravitas, the audiobook format perfectly captures Gaskell's lush prose style. Her ability to weave together mythical Atlantis with prehistoric South American settings creates an immersive soundscape that feels cinematic without being overly dramatic. The production quality maintains clarity even during the most complex mythological passages.
Gaskell's background shines through in unexpected ways. As the great-grandniece of Elizabeth Gaskell, she brings Victorian storytelling sensibilities to very non-Victorian subject matter. This creates a unique tension that works beautifully in audio format. The 1985 DAW Books edition, while showing its age, translates well to digital audio, preserving the author's distinctive voice.
"The Dragon" succeeds where many fantasy works fail - it treats ancient mythology with genuine respect while never becoming ponderous. The pacing keeps listeners engaged throughout, making this overlooked classic worth discovering. Particularly impressive is how Gaskell handles the relationship between human characters and mythological elements, never letting the fantastical overshadow genuine emotional stakes.
This audiobook deserves attention from fantasy enthusiasts seeking something beyond typical sword-and-sorcery narratives. Gaskell's work predates much modern fantasy while feeling surprisingly contemporary, especially in audio form where her descriptive powers truly shine.
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CuriousCoder
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience