Shadow War of the Night Dragons, Book One: The Dead City: Prologue

A Tor.com Original

By: John Scalzi

Narrated by: James MacKenzie

Here is Old Man's War author John Scalzi's sendup of the heroic fantasy genre, now a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Short Story.

©2012 John Scalzi (P)2012 Macmillan Audio

Want the rest!

Considering the tongue twisting names in this, the narrator did an amazing job! More!

Sadly there is no actual series. :(

After some quick research, pparently this was done as an April fool's joke a few years ago. Which is a bit of a shame, as what small bit is there, is quite fun, and I would gladly read a Scalzi novel or trilogy based on it. I think his take on fantasy, particularly a quite silly take, would actually be quite fun. Alas. This is a fun little 20 minute listen, but feels almost like it's in bad taste, as it leaves you actually wanting more of something that sadly doesn't exist and has no plans to be written. Bit of a shame. One of those April fool's jokes that aren't quite funny because you actually hope they would be true.

Like they said, just a prologue

Everyone that actually paid for this should be entitled to a free book. Come on, this chapter is just atmosphere; the story doesn't even get started. This teaser appears to be written to interest a publisher. Really not fair to expect readers to pay for what turns out to be a brief writing exercise.

Wait, what, that's it?

I really like John Scalzi's books, so I got this one. Is it worth $4 or a credit? For 21 minutes, no. I may as well have sought out the text and read it. The narration is good and the story, what little of it that was there, was a fun listen and I wanted more. There is a good wanting more and there is a bad wanting more, this is the bad wanting more, because there isn't.

Great introduction.

I really hope there is more to come. I found John Scalzi by accident when I first joined audible and have continued to love his work at every turn. While this is a short piece of work it is extremely entertaining in its own right. Feels like a tribute by Scalzi to Terry Pratchett.

Excellent Prologue, not short story

I guess the book for this prologue has not been published yet. It was great and I really want to read the series now. It was very intelligent, lots of funny parts and fun.

I fail to see though how it is considered a short story. There really didn't seem to be much of a plot, yet it is up for a Hugo?

I got this for free, so I have no complaints, but I can not see why you would spend money on it, since it is really not a complete story.

It looks like Sclazi is going to Master the Fantasy market as well as he has mastered the Science Fiction Market.

Narrator and production are excellent.

As much as I love John Sclazi, I would say what till the book comes out, surely this will be part of the book.

I wish this were a real series!

This may be an April Fool's Day prank, but after listening to what should be the first chapter of a novel, I was eager for more. It's fantasy with a heavy dose of humor. Classic Scalzi style. It's quite entertaining to listen to and sets the stage for the beginning of an epic tale. The impression I get listening to it is definitely not "this is ridiculous and over the top. Scalzi must be crazy... oh, it's a prank" but rather "ha ha, this is a great start! Where's the rest of it?"

But seriously - a 21 minute audiobook? And Audible wants us to PAY for it? Especially when the full text is available for free at https://www.tor.com/2011/04/01/the-shadow-war-of-the-night-dragons-book-one-the-dead-city-excerpt/ ?

It's definitely worth reading, but I'd be hesitant to pay $5 for 20 minutes of story.

More....

This was a great story. Now we need the sequels. Why does Amazon insist on reviews being so many words? The punish us introverts who are economical with our words.

Not keen on these new chapter things

Disappointed to realize this was another one of those chapter serials. Give me the whole book or don’t do any of it. :-/

If you like nothing so much as wordplay

Probably my least favorite of Scalzi's writing. Felt too much like trying to be clever. Clearly riffing on Hamlet, but not well.