I believe these are the final reprints from author Patricia Briggs's novel backlist, and arguably they saved the best for last. No one does dragons like Ms. Briggs, which is why I can happily reread both of these books at a point in my life when even seeing the word dragon makes my head hurt.
But you don't have to take my word for it. In comments to this post, tell us what you've named (or would name) a fictional dragon (or, if you have a case of the dreaded dragonitis, just toss your name in the magic hat) by midnight EST on Sunday, November 16, 2008. I'll draw three names at random from everyone who participates and send the winners unsigned copies of the reprint editions of Dragon Bones and Dragon Blood by Patricia Briggs. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.
I've only named one. His name was Daigh (which means flame or fire). I also like Tyrath.
ReplyDeleteLeRoy
ReplyDeleteI have a dragon named Flauvius, he is fairly scholarly.
ReplyDeleteDesiree McCracken
Flamingo no matter what colour it was ;)
ReplyDeleteYep, halfway through NaNo already! I love this month. This year I've adopted a couple of newbies to mentor and it's made the experience that much better.
ReplyDeleteThis morning, as I'm heading off to tackle my NaNo novel, I'd name a dragon Carry Me Home. A longish name, I admit, but Trigger was already taken. :)
Hope you have a nice weekend!
Yesterday I bought the print version of G.A. Aiken's DRAGON, ACTUALLY. (Print from Zebra, ebook available at Samhain). So I'm definitely in the mood for dragons, and I really like Brigg's writing.
ReplyDeleteI'd name my dragon Justice.
A dragon named Esylt...there should be "girl-dragons" too!
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Oh meeeeeeeeee! I've been DYING to read Patricia Briggs' older stuff but it disappears too quickly for me to get my grubby hands on it. Fie!
ReplyDelete*blinks* midway point? I'm breaking 40k today, baby. If I wasn't going to Atlantic City I think I'd just hole up and push for the win.
I've used a couple of dragons in my stories. My favorite is Bruno... a seriously tough-guy dragon, at least in his own mind.
ReplyDeleteDragon names I have used already: Nyakas, Malitor, Styrka, Sieger, Justus, Jael, and Vredek.
ReplyDeleteI've got a bratty dragon named Eilrah in one of my erotic romance books. :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't actually named a dragon, but we call our future farm "Woolly Dragon". Think a dragon with a coat like a Woolly Mammoth. :)
ReplyDeleteChi... no particular rhyme or reason behind it - he just told me that's what he was called. No arguing with dragons remember? For you are crunchy when roasted and taste good with ketchup ;)
ReplyDeleteI haven't named my dragon yet (he doesn't come into the series until book 3- maybe book 4), so I haven't even started thinking of his name. The other characters have started calling him Flatulence. :)
ReplyDeleteDragons? Ack! No! Too many *bad* dragon books out there! LOL. But if you give these a thumbs up, count me in.
ReplyDeleteSo, throwing my hat into the ring.
:)
lisa
I already own them, so you can leave me out, but I wanted to put in a plug for anyone who doesn't win and loves fantasy to pick these books up (really any of her backlist!)
ReplyDeleteLet's see, I'm taking the GRE today and I have a nasty cold so between the two I'm only about 12,000 words behind on my novel, so if I had a pet dragon, I think I'd have to name him Muse and hope he lived up to it.
ReplyDeleteDiDi
No dragons here. I love the thought of writing a neurotic dragon named Irving, though. I just don't know what I'd do with him.
ReplyDeleteI'll give you two for the price of one, both from my dragon universe:
ReplyDeleteMorghu shan Harkos, which translated from their language, means "red warrior";
and her father, Zarkava shan Hamas, which means "black heart." (The latter name stolen shamelessly from the great 3-year-old filly who won this year's Arc de Triomphe.)
I've noticed a trend in dragon books to use wyvern as synonym for dragon. It's not exactly so, since wyverns are just one of the dragon varieties/races/subspecies. In any case, the word (wyvern) is originally from Old Saxon, so since wyverns are so popular in dragon land, I'd choose Old Saxon names. Eadwyn for a male and Cynwise for a female.
ReplyDeleteWhee! I love Briggs. The dragon in my current book (which is actually in the future somewhere in 2009) is named Kadar. Because it suited him and George was way too whimsical.
ReplyDeleteHuh. Just realized that none of the dragons I've written have had names. Or at least not any that humans have known about. They probably have names in Dragonese, but in Human they would probably sound like "Kyjyptzpz" and smell like sulphur.
ReplyDeleteI think my first dragon was named Agaroth. Or maybe Aragoth. It was a long time ago, and the story's lost.
ReplyDeleteIn my other dragon story--the one that didn't find a home at Baen's Universe after waiting patiently for over a year (but I did get some useful feedback), the dragon doesn't have a name. It's not a talking dragon.
:)
The closest I have to a dragon in one of my stories is the imaginary friend of a character, and the imaginary friend took the shape of a dragon named Fiera. :)
ReplyDeleteI love writing stories for fun not for publishing. And I haven't written about dragons yet. I would prob go for something celtic sounding. Like:
ReplyDeleteCeridin.
Mieke
Erik for a male, Bria for a female. LOL. There are some fascinating names in the list! Great contest. :)
ReplyDeleteHalfway through NaNo and I JUST made my halfway point this morning. I was afraid it wouldn't happen. LOL.
I would name my dragon Pyrrhus, which is Greek for fire, and also means I can use the nick name Pyrr, which I pronounce 'purr'.
ReplyDeleteMy son has two stuffed dragons: Sapphire and Topaz. He chose those names himself and I think they really work.
ReplyDeleteWell, Kibbitz sits on my left shoulder and Farnsworth looks over the right.
ReplyDeleteOh, fictional? Well then, ummm.. no, can't tell you about that one... hmmm... okay, well, in one MG story, a young transit mage apprentice has a dray (neutered dragon) that he calls "Tazzle".
And the word verification is "Wograve", which is not bad at all!
The only thing I can come up with would be Dragor!
ReplyDeletePup
ReplyDeleteI named a little dragon-familiar thing "Culture" once, but that was before I recognized the word as a bacterial term. Ew.
ReplyDeleteSince I like more whimsical fantasy I've always wanted to write a dragon called Duck. Or Ducan. Or Mallard. But there aren't any dragons in my current world, so they'll just have to wait. Step off, plot bunnies! ;)
I have a dragon in a humorous short story, he's called Fenice.
ReplyDeleteHehe. I don't have a lot of dragons in my stories, but in the one that does...I named her Killwing. Her mate is called Killingtime. :P
ReplyDeleteI had one, a long time ago, named Jhaska'ar the Changeling.
ReplyDeleteHe was fun! :)
I haven't read her dragons yet, love to get these. I like Derian for a dragon name.
ReplyDeleteOh, must get books. I love Ms. Briggs' writing and stories.
ReplyDeleteMy dragon insisted on Sebastian.
Thanks for the heads up that those books are available.
Happy weekend!
Don't write fiction so I don't have a personal dragon name but I always loved the dragon my son bought when he was small. It was Epcot and called Figment (e.g. Figment of Imagination). He loved the idea. Since he has almost finished his PhD, I guess "Figment" has helped. If I can recommend a dragon book, I recently finish Robin McKinley's Dragonhaven. If you have ever lived with a teenage boy..., Mckinley nails it.
ReplyDeleteI usually don't use dragon's, but I like Razzle-Dazzle or Fluffy.
ReplyDeleteOooh! Love these covers and Briggs deserves them. I love dragons, but can't think of a name. Perhaps Luna. I do have the name of a dragon hunter: Merlaina.
ReplyDeleteThese look like good reads for Thanksgiving.
Sandy L
Earnest, because I've always known that if I had a dragon I would name it that
ReplyDeleteArchibald. 'Cause it would be a comedy.
ReplyDeleteJonathan
Just finished one of your Darkyn novels last night, Private Demon! I like the twist at the end of that one.
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love dragons, too! I've read pretty much every dragon book I could get my hands on, but I haven't read these.
If I were naming dragons in my stories(one day!), I like Spark for a humorous/younger story. If he were a (handsome)shapechanger dragon, he'd be Scottish, red-headed, and I'd name him Aeden. For a female dragon, Cera.
I used to have a white dragon figurine that I named "Corlith."
ReplyDeleteWell, I have written only one dragon and its name was... dragon ¬¬U Yeah, original? :p
ReplyDeleteI fear I have the dragonitis desease. Would still like these books though, ;)
ReplyDeleteOk we are big into D&D. The name depends on the type of dragon, but we will use my favorite, the Black Dragon, whose breath weapon is acid. I would name him Boarakks.
ReplyDeleteFYI, I think the two Raven books need new covers. Raven's Strike and Raven's Shadow. Hopefully, they will reprint Masques.
ReplyDeleteIn my short story, I named my Air dragon Bavol (meaning wind).
ReplyDeleteI try to attach some meaning to my names but sometimes not. This time I tried for something different that related to the character.
I always liked Scour for a dragon. Maybe I should write a dragon and use the name. Too bad I'm not working on any fantasy stories at the mo.
ReplyDeleteSkippy. I've always liked that name, but my husband wouldn't let me use it for our son.
ReplyDeleteCurrently, I have two dragons in my NaNovel, a hatchling named Voltaire (Tara for short) and a big green one named Samhain.
ReplyDelete:P Oh, NaNo.
Dwagon. I would hope he wasn't of the ferocious kind and more like Puff the Magic Dragon. : )
ReplyDeleteWell, I had another name, but my captcha word is Zytristo, and I kinda like that, so I'm going with it. No telling where you'll find inspiration.
ReplyDeletelove PB's books and Arnwyl would be a good name.
ReplyDeleteSomething to strike terror in the hearts of peasants all across the realm. A name so foul it cannot be spoken aloud. How about...Todd?
ReplyDeleteNice covers. Very nice covers - to cover even nicer books.
ReplyDeleteShould I ever come into possession of a dragon, I shall hug him and squeeze him and call him George.
A girl dragon will have to settle for being called Mirabile.
I would name my dragon Huzar.
ReplyDeleteI've seen the name Smokey used as a dragon's name in a book and thought it would be a good name. Or how about Ash?
ReplyDeleteYay! De-lurking for contest goodness.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to meet the dragon before I truly named him/her, but for the sake of the contest... Amethyst.
Klara
ReplyDelete(of course it is a female dragon. Never met a male one. Never heard of anyone meeting a male one...)
My dragon on PernMUSH (yikes, 10 years ago and probably the kind of dragon that makes your teeth hurt), was named Esyth. We had an NPC weyrmate who rode Onth.
ReplyDeleteI would name my dragon Rodney.
ReplyDeleteTim.
ReplyDelete:)
Am shooting for 40K today, but it's slow going in NaNo land for me lately....
I swear I posted yesterday. :-(
ReplyDeleteI guess I'll just drop my name in the hat.
:::hangs head::: I collect dragons but I've never named one.
ReplyDeleteTossing name in hat cause I love Briggs's work.
For a friendly dragon: Doobie (because, ya know, he smokes a little...)
ReplyDeleteFor a villainous dragon: Vyle (self-explanatory)
I'm thinking Lola would be a fabulous dragon name.
ReplyDeleteDragon name: Icarus.
ReplyDeleteName in hat!
Love Dragons! Our dragon is Rocheart.
ReplyDeleteSee how badly nano affected me? I didn't even notice the dragon name thing.
ReplyDeleteI would name a dragon Amadeus, I think, for a boy, and Leticia for a girl. Why not? (I'm Naomi Novik-influenced.)
it occurs to me that I DID name a fictional dragon once for a story but heck if I could find THAT file.... oh. wait. Right there in the folder labeled "Old Stuff". I'm good like that. *skims*
Huh. I still like this particular idea. ... The dragon was Dlebrig (male).
Dragon Name? Phlame!
ReplyDeleteHow about 'Match'?
ReplyDeleteI think I'd steal from Piers Anthony and name it Stanley Steamer.
ReplyDelete