Dragon’s Ridge is a story of tragedy, hope and moral dilemmas, amid themes of survival and prejudice. It’s a fantasy novel grounded in historical and scientific plausibility. Though dragons are central to the premise, this is a story about people, not dragons. A character-driven plot, full of stealthy twists, drive a gripping tale for fans of fantasy, historical fiction and science fiction.
The novel uses an authentic setting, in the style of Bernard Cornwell. The story takes place in 11th century Gascony. Glorious shining armor is two centuries away. Chivalry is in its infancy. Society is more wild west than Camelot. Feudal lords and clergy govern in two mutually dependent but competing social structures.
Informed by the author’s technical training as an aerospace engineer, the story adheres to scientific realism, in the style of Andy Weir. Dragons are flight-capable by the principles of aerodynamics. The author gave a talk at the Livermore Library on the aerodynamic calculations he used for the dragons in his book. The Library’s Youtube channel has a recording of the talk. Magic is veiled in mystery but logical in structure. In Dragon’s Ridge, the fantasy elements exist within the fundamental laws that govern the physical and natural world. This story is for the scientists and engineers who always stand up against the neglect of physical laws in fiction, and for their long-suffering families.