The Sleeping Dragon

Originally, I received this book from my parents who bought it from a used bookstore on a whim. Offhand I thought it was a generic fantasy novel and thus was of no interest to me. It sat on a shelf for about four months before I gave it a read. I wish I hadn't waited so long. This immediately became one of my all time favorite books. The best way to review this book is to break it down into parts.Story: The story begins with seven college students and a professor gathering to play a game similar to Dungeons and Dragons. Little do they know that the professor will magically teleport the seven students to the very world the game takes place in, and they will possess the bodies and minds of the characters they played as. Perhaps a bit cliché, but it is so well executed that it feels completely original.Plot: The plot progresses at a steady pace taking some time to allow for intriguing character development, and feels all-round satisfying.Characters: One of the greatest achievements of this novel is the characters. They act and talk like real people, and just like real people, have a fair share of flaws. Some of which they acquired from their game persona. Kudos to Joel Rosenberg.Overall: This is a must read for any fan of fantasy novels, and should be at least given a chance by everyone else.Side Note: I think the reason Joel uses the phrase sitting "tailor fashion" so much is because he wanted to be politically correct by not calling it "Indian style," and because most of the time there just isn't anything other than the ground for the characters to sit on.

As the author of Strike Hard (and an avid gamer), I found this to be one of the best fantasy-fiction books that I have ever read. Joel Rosenberg showed that he could easily blend two totally seperate worlds together into one story and have it flow with ease.I have to admit that there are many things that "pushes" someone to take up writing. This book (and the whole Guardians of the Flame series) gave me the final push to start my own writing career.Karl, Walter, Jason, James, Andrea, Doria, and Lou were easy to relate to, having spent my own share of weekends playing similar games. Their attention to their characters were great, and it was a detail that Mr. Rosenberg did not skimp on. Most people don't realize that when you are gaming, you really do care about a character that has been brought up from a total novice into something that is relatively formidable.Another aspect that I really enjoyed was that Mr. Rosenberg stuck with the harsh realities of gaming. He did not, at any time, make it seem as if the characters were immortal or supermen. Characters suffered, died, and agonized, just like real people. Most of the books in this genre that I read are afraid to take a step toward seriously harming a main character because they develop a fear that it will detract from the story. Mr. Rosenberg tackles this with dignity in that he demonstrates a willingness to "tell it like it is."This book (as well as the series) is a wonderful example of fantasy at its finest.

This was the first book that I picked up in an omnibus form from the SciFi book club way back in the early 80's..it sat on a shelf for a few months until I picked it up and entered a fabulous world of my favorite fantasy: becoming my roleplaying character! This fascinating book has some of the most colorful characters of all fantasy: Ellegon the wise cracking Dragon; Ahria Bandylegs, formerly a victim of Cerebral Palsy, now a powerful Dwarven fighter; Walter Slovotskey a handsome, develishly clever thief, and Karl Cullinane, the warrior himself. Pick this book up for no other reason than to read the witty, often irreverant banter between characters and to find out the secret; that the flame burns deep inside us all, and we either choose to ignore it or to let it totally engulf us. My copy is dog eared and well worn, lovingly taped and retaped....let your's be too.....

I have read this book numerous times. I love everything about it . . . it changed the way I look at life . . . and gave me a hope that I have never had before.

While someone else here has read this book TWICE, I have read it at least TWENTY times. It is fairly short as fantasy novels go, but packs an immense punch. Rosenberg does not fool around; he does not provide his readers with needless information about the trees or birds of his fantasy world. "The Sleeping Dragon" is instead about character development and motivation. Rosenberg's characters are vivid, lively, and life-like. Every time I read "The Sleeping Dragon" (probably the best of the series) I enjoy it more and more. In no other series that I have read, have the characters occupied my mind and excited my imagination to such a degree. After ten years of reading the series, James/Ahira is real. Karl's relationship with Andy is real. Thank you, Joel Rosenberg for such a treat. By the way, I no longer have my copy, as a friend I loaned it to, let another friend borrow it.