Tongues of Serpents
Encyclopedia
Tongues of Serpents is the sixth novel in the Temeraire
alternate history/fantasy
series by American author Naomi Novik
. This installment follows William Laurence and his dragon, Temeraire's adventures in Australia.
Tongues of Serpents was released in hardcover and e-Book formats in North America and the United Kingdom on July 13, 2010.
has been deposed in a military coup. Bligh wishes that Laurence restore him to the governorship, whereas John Macarthur
, architect of the rebellion, wishes them to stay on the sidelines, awaiting a decision from London. Macarthur enlists Laurence on an expedition to find a pass from Sydney through the Blue Mountains, which the aviators readily undertake to stay out of the political fray. However, one of the dragon eggs is stolen in the night, and so begins a frantic pursuit across the continent to recover the lost egg. The unforgiving Australian desert, the unpredictable weather, and the fauna
take a dire toll on the crew, and the search is complicated by the thieves' familiarity with the territory. They finally catch sight of the thieves, Aborigines, near Uluru
, and chase them northwards to the northern coast. Upon the conclusion of the chase, they discover that the Chinese have established a trading port, using trained sea serpents to ferry cargo from China. The trade threatens to undercut the East India Company, and not long after they arrive, a British naval vessel arrives with orders to destroy the port, on the grounds of England's claim to the entire continent stemming from Cook's circumnavigation. However, the bombardment is completely thwarted by the Chinese, and returning to Sydney, they discover that the new governor, Lachlan Macquarie
, is intent on fighting the Chinese, which leads to another rebellion, deposing Macquarie and installing Macarthur as First Minister of Australia, but who still claim the colony's loyalty to the King. Macarthur attempts to entice Laurence into taking a position with the nascent Australian government, but Laurence refuses, merely seeking a quiet retirement with Temeraire in the Australian countryside.
Temeraire (series)
The Temeraire series of novels by Naomi Novik is composed of His Majesty's Dragon , Throne of Jade, Black Powder War, Empire of Ivory, Victory of Eagles, and Tongues of Serpents...
alternate history/fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
series by American author Naomi Novik
Naomi Novik
Naomi Novik is an American novelist. She is a first-generation American; her father is of Lithuanian Jewish ancestry, and her mother is an ethnic Pole. She studied English Literature at Brown University, and holds a Master's degree in Computer Science from Columbia University...
. This installment follows William Laurence and his dragon, Temeraire's adventures in Australia.
Tongues of Serpents was released in hardcover and e-Book formats in North America and the United Kingdom on July 13, 2010.
Plot details
The story begins in New South Wales, where Laurence, Tharkay, Granby, Riley, and Rankin arrive to find that the military governor, William BlighWilliam Bligh
Vice Admiral William Bligh FRS RN was an officer of the British Royal Navy and a colonial administrator. A notorious mutiny occurred during his command of HMAV Bounty in 1789; Bligh and his loyal men made a remarkable voyage to Timor, after being set adrift in the Bounty's launch by the mutineers...
has been deposed in a military coup. Bligh wishes that Laurence restore him to the governorship, whereas John Macarthur
John Macarthur (wool pioneer)
John Macarthur was a British army officer, entrepreneur, politician, architect and pioneer of settlement in Australia. Macarthur is recognised as the pioneer of the wool industry that was to boom in Australia in the early 19th century and become a trademark of the nation...
, architect of the rebellion, wishes them to stay on the sidelines, awaiting a decision from London. Macarthur enlists Laurence on an expedition to find a pass from Sydney through the Blue Mountains, which the aviators readily undertake to stay out of the political fray. However, one of the dragon eggs is stolen in the night, and so begins a frantic pursuit across the continent to recover the lost egg. The unforgiving Australian desert, the unpredictable weather, and the fauna
Bunyip
The bunyip, or kianpraty, is a large mythical creature from Aboriginal mythology, said to lurk in swamps, billabongs, creeks, riverbeds, and waterholes....
take a dire toll on the crew, and the search is complicated by the thieves' familiarity with the territory. They finally catch sight of the thieves, Aborigines, near Uluru
Uluru
Uluru , also known as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It lies south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs; by road. Kata Tjuta and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park....
, and chase them northwards to the northern coast. Upon the conclusion of the chase, they discover that the Chinese have established a trading port, using trained sea serpents to ferry cargo from China. The trade threatens to undercut the East India Company, and not long after they arrive, a British naval vessel arrives with orders to destroy the port, on the grounds of England's claim to the entire continent stemming from Cook's circumnavigation. However, the bombardment is completely thwarted by the Chinese, and returning to Sydney, they discover that the new governor, Lachlan Macquarie
Lachlan Macquarie
Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB , was a British military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the last autocratic Governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development of the colony...
, is intent on fighting the Chinese, which leads to another rebellion, deposing Macquarie and installing Macarthur as First Minister of Australia, but who still claim the colony's loyalty to the King. Macarthur attempts to entice Laurence into taking a position with the nascent Australian government, but Laurence refuses, merely seeking a quiet retirement with Temeraire in the Australian countryside.