Stephen Gilberg (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
deckardcanine) wrote2025-04-30 09:12 pm
deckardcanine) wrote2025-04-30 09:12 pm
Book Review: Dragon Pearl
It's easy to tell from the cover that Yoon Ha Lee's 2019 novel is written with younger readers in mind. For starters, the top reads "Rick Riordan Presents," and Riordan is best known for the Percy Jackson series. (Further reading tells me that Disney publishes all books with that header.) Second, the one illustration is a little more cartoony than usual, albeit not to the point of evoking comedy. I knew I'd finish before long.
The premise is a space-age future in which creatures from Korean mythology are commonly known to walk among humans, usually in (rough) human form but without trying to hide their true species. Tiger spirits, dragons, and goblins have found public acceptance in putting their talents to good use, tho many humans resent them as career rivals. Fox spirits, or gumiho, are another story: Since their powers are limitless shapeshifting and "Charm" to enhance trust, they are ironically so distrusted that most try to pass for pure humans so few people know they're not extinct. Not many cute vulpine moments, alas, tho they retain sharp senses regardless of form.
First-person narrator Min, 13, is one such gumiho, wishing her mother would let her practice her powers at home. When an inspector reports that her older brother, Cadet Jun, is suspected of deserting the Space Forces to search for a fabled terraforming artifact, the Dragon Pearl, she doesn't fully believe it. Overcome with emotion, she tips her hand and attacks the inspector. From there, she thinks her best bet to protect herself and her family is to sneak off in search of Jun -- and perhaps the pearl while she's at it, since her backwater planet could really use it.
I won't describe the sequence that leads to this, but for the better part of the book, Min has a deal with the ghost of recently deceased Cadet Jang: She'll impersonate him long enough to learn more about the raiders who killed him, and he'll help on her quest. Thankfully, people chalk up "Jang's" initial ignorance to him still recovering from a nearly lethal attack. Min becomes fond of Jang's friends, ruly dragon Haneul and food-summoning goblin Sujin, regretting that she dares not tell them the truth. As things go sideways, Min suspects that Jang is jinxing the ship, whether he means to or not. (I've learned that in writing, bad luck gets more audience appreciation than good luck.) But her main fear is of Captain Hwan, a tiger who clearly has some connection to Jun and an unwholesome interest in the Dragon Pearl, which can be weaponized like Project Genesis from Star Trek.
While the plot isn't preachy, there are a few progressive elements involving sex/gender. It's no surprise that gumiho choose their default sex, traditionally female. What's less expected is the presence of more than one nonbinary character; at least "they" isn't as confusing as last time. Also, one man briefly speaks of his "husbands," implying legal polygamy as well as same-sex marriage.
I saw fit to look up a number of Korean words with no English equivalent. At the back of the book is a pronunciation guide, which I discovered too late. Oh well, I hope to retain some education herein.
As an adventure, it's moderately exciting and not too violent, despite tragic losses. After all, the suspense largely concerns whether deceptive efforts will hold, especially with so little time to build magical endurance. Min can assume a good body for fighting or whatnot, but she rarely thinks that way. As much as the military grows on her (and she grows with it), she doesn't want blood on her hands.
The sequel, Tiger Honor, promises further space exploration, but I'm not about to add it to my wish list. DP is fine as a one-time diversion. I'd rather prioritize other reads.
It's been almost a year since my last pre-1900 novel. I think I'll try Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe.
The premise is a space-age future in which creatures from Korean mythology are commonly known to walk among humans, usually in (rough) human form but without trying to hide their true species. Tiger spirits, dragons, and goblins have found public acceptance in putting their talents to good use, tho many humans resent them as career rivals. Fox spirits, or gumiho, are another story: Since their powers are limitless shapeshifting and "Charm" to enhance trust, they are ironically so distrusted that most try to pass for pure humans so few people know they're not extinct. Not many cute vulpine moments, alas, tho they retain sharp senses regardless of form.
First-person narrator Min, 13, is one such gumiho, wishing her mother would let her practice her powers at home. When an inspector reports that her older brother, Cadet Jun, is suspected of deserting the Space Forces to search for a fabled terraforming artifact, the Dragon Pearl, she doesn't fully believe it. Overcome with emotion, she tips her hand and attacks the inspector. From there, she thinks her best bet to protect herself and her family is to sneak off in search of Jun -- and perhaps the pearl while she's at it, since her backwater planet could really use it.
I won't describe the sequence that leads to this, but for the better part of the book, Min has a deal with the ghost of recently deceased Cadet Jang: She'll impersonate him long enough to learn more about the raiders who killed him, and he'll help on her quest. Thankfully, people chalk up "Jang's" initial ignorance to him still recovering from a nearly lethal attack. Min becomes fond of Jang's friends, ruly dragon Haneul and food-summoning goblin Sujin, regretting that she dares not tell them the truth. As things go sideways, Min suspects that Jang is jinxing the ship, whether he means to or not. (I've learned that in writing, bad luck gets more audience appreciation than good luck.) But her main fear is of Captain Hwan, a tiger who clearly has some connection to Jun and an unwholesome interest in the Dragon Pearl, which can be weaponized like Project Genesis from Star Trek.
While the plot isn't preachy, there are a few progressive elements involving sex/gender. It's no surprise that gumiho choose their default sex, traditionally female. What's less expected is the presence of more than one nonbinary character; at least "they" isn't as confusing as last time. Also, one man briefly speaks of his "husbands," implying legal polygamy as well as same-sex marriage.
I saw fit to look up a number of Korean words with no English equivalent. At the back of the book is a pronunciation guide, which I discovered too late. Oh well, I hope to retain some education herein.
As an adventure, it's moderately exciting and not too violent, despite tragic losses. After all, the suspense largely concerns whether deceptive efforts will hold, especially with so little time to build magical endurance. Min can assume a good body for fighting or whatnot, but she rarely thinks that way. As much as the military grows on her (and she grows with it), she doesn't want blood on her hands.
The sequel, Tiger Honor, promises further space exploration, but I'm not about to add it to my wish list. DP is fine as a one-time diversion. I'd rather prioritize other reads.
It's been almost a year since my last pre-1900 novel. I think I'll try Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe.