The Dream of the Iron Dragon: An Alternate History Viking Epic (Saga of the Iron Dragon, Book 1)
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The Dream of the Iron Dragon: An Alternate History Viking Epic (Saga of the Iron Dragon, Book 1) Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Robert Kroese (Author, Publisher), J. D. Ledford (Narrator)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 984 ratings
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Trapped 1,300 years in the past, they have one mission: survive.

In the 23rd century, humanity has been hunted to the verge of extinction by an alien race. When an exploratory ship accidentally travels back in time to Viking-age Scandinavia, the human race is given a second chance. Pursued by the power-hungry King Harald, the four surviving crew members join a ragtag band of Vikings as they pillage their way across Europe. It will take all their ingenuity, courage, and technical know-how just to survive. But survival is only the beginning. To save humanity, they must somehow return to the stars.

Thus begins a decades-long effort to teach the Vikings to build a craft capable of reaching space - a ship that will come to be known as the Iron Dragon.

The Dream of the Iron Dragon is the first installment in the Iron Dragon trilogy. The sequel, The Dawn of the Iron Dragon, was released in June 2018. The saga will conclude with The Voyage of the Iron Dragon in December 2018.

The Iron Dragon trilogy is being produced as part of the phenomenally successful Saga of the Iron Dragon Kickstarter, which raised more than $10,000. Meticulously researched and packed with action, The Dream of the Iron Dragon is a must for sci-fi and alternate history fans.

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  1. Listening Length
    14 hours and 56 minutes
  2. Author
    Robert Kroese
  3. Narrator
    J. D. Ledford
  4. Audible release date
    August 7, 2018
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Robert Kroese
  7. ASIN
    B07G5KDFS8
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 14 hours and 56 minutes
Author Robert Kroese
Narrator J. D. Ledford
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date August 07, 2018
Publisher Robert Kroese
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B07G5KDFS8
Best Sellers Rank #82,351 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#146 in Alternate History Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#290 in Time Travel Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#1,045 in Alternate History Science Fiction (Books)

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
984 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Joga
5.0 out of 5 stars Out of my mind in love with the Dragon
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2021
Verified Purchase
If you trust my word just buy this Iron Dragon series and start reading now. If not, let me try to convince you. I was so excited to keep on after the first book, I did not give myself time to write a review before listening to the second book. I have now bought the third book, but want to write a review before going on. So I am suppressing the urge to hit play. It is hard, I feel I am making a sacrifice. That is how much I want you and everyone else to find this gem.

I feel like after finding “The lord of the rings” all this time ago, and the first book of Harry Potter. And I don't want to say which book is best. They are all the best, along with this Iron dragon series. The lord of the rings gave us all a new and wonderous world to adore, just so epic, and pretty much the same with Harry Potter. I had stopped reading books at all when I was given the task to read the first Harry Potter book for children all this time ago. I feel it saved my soul, haven't let go of books since then.

The Iron dragon is more based on the real world though, no magic. The magic of the story is a brilliant author and “it could have happened like this”. Which is why I want to write a review now, maybe not a sentence I can write after the final book. Also if the research of the story stands a closer look (how long it takes to sail between countries etc.), this story should be read in every history class everywhere. The story does bring study of gone times to life, and brings it closer. In a way where maybe more people would consider thinking of gone generations as something more than stone age people with no brain. Now that may not be something that excites you, but no worry. The Iron dragon will be suitable for readers of many genres. The story has endless fast paces action and surprises at every corner. It is flawlessly written and is a multi dimensional gem. A few times it had me so emotional I was crying. But most of the time it had me so engrossed there was no thought other than keeping on. At one time it though had me raving mad at the state of our societies. That even after the industrial revolution, where we have all this high tech, making machines that make our work force obsolete, we still exploit starving children on other continents. Write me a line if you don't grasp what I am talking about. Ok, now I am mad again. But not about the story itself. The story is glorious! I am in love with the Iron Dragon series. It excites my imagination to no end, the story is so complex and magical, exciting and the action is engulfing and endless. I lack words to do these books justice. If you are not yet convinced to read the series, keep in mind life is dull with just one flavor in your mouth, would you eat just one kind of food till end of times? Spice and different flavors make life more fun. And this one has high chance of making your day.

For those of us that like to listen to our stories, the narrator is just perfect. Somehow, would not have thought so without trying it out.

And now to the third book. Hitting play.
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illiandantic
4.0 out of 5 stars Make it 3-1/2 Stars
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2018
Verified Purchase
I'll start by saying right up front that I'd really like to rate Robert Kroese's " The Dream of the Iron Dragon: An Alternate History Viking Epic (Saga of the Iron Dragon Book 1) " at 3-1/2 stars instead of the Very Good 4 stars out of 5 I'm giving it. But, since our ratings have to be integers, and I can't see dropping my rating all the way down to 3 stars, 4 stars it is. Anyway, the book's mostly pretty good with an interesting story that blends both science fiction and history. In general, the science is reasonable with only a couple of small things that were obviously wrong or inconsistent (acceleration and velocity in a chase; gravity in orbit in another; and the biggest one, the powering of a weapon's grade laser). The bigger issues are writing-based. First, the characters, whether the modern protagonists, the alien antagonists, or the ancient Norse, all seem to have the same world-view. It's not that their personalities are the same. It's that their personalities and sensibilities (mostly) all seem to spring from the same place (IOW, language aside, they have no trouble understanding each other). Second, as the book progresses, Kroese seems to get bogged down a bit in the historical background. That slows the pace down. And, finally, it grates that Kroese builds up then kills off characters without compunction. Still, I'm mostly happy with the book and will be reading the next one in the series when it comes out.
2 people found this helpful
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Agnes Metanomski
5.0 out of 5 stars An impressively well done mix of science-fiction and historical novel
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2019
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I had been wondering which book would be my first 5-star read of 2019... well, that question has now been answered!

Do you like epic science-fiction? time travel stories? vikings? this book has it all!

The story starts some 200 years in the future, at a time when the humans stands on the brink of being destroyed by an alien race with which they are at war. We follow the crew (or part thereof) of an exploratory spaceship sent to look for habitable planets in which the remnants of mankind could hide, at least for a while, and recuperate. After a series of happenings, they end up accidentally back in our solar system, but in the 9th century AD.

The action was enough to keep me turning the pages, but the characters are what made me like this book so much. Not only the spacemen, but also the vikings. I really felt like I was in medieval Europe, among the vikings. The author truly did his research, and incorporates a lot of information about people and events of that time, but without bogging the story down with it.

The next volume is already in the reading queue!
32 people found this helpful
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CaptainRoy
5.0 out of 5 stars Robert Kroese's best book so far!
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2018
Verified Purchase
This is Robert Kroese's most impressive book so far. For those of you who have read some of his previous series, such as the Rex Nihilo or Mercury books, you're going to be in for a very different experience, as The Dream of the Iron Dragon is not a book in the same humorous mold as the other series.

I won't belabor the setup, as you can easily get those from other summaries, but Kroese has created a very believable combination of spacemen and Vikings and, yes, that's one of the stranger sentences I've ever written. Solidly plotted with good characterization with a good number of characters to care about - and hate. Given that it's the first book in the series, I'm expecting characters to be more fleshed out in the future, but this novel needed to set up events to come, which it does admirably. The worst thing now is waiting for the next book in the series coming in May 2018!

In sum, it's one of the most entertaining books I've read recently and a terrific example of Kroese's growth as a writer.
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Top reviews from other countries

Justin T. Robinson
5.0 out of 5 stars Imagine "The Martian" but the protagonist has Vikings to deal with.
Reviewed in Canada on January 22, 2023
Verified Purchase
I'm certainly glad that the next four books in the series are already out, because I'm going to buy all four of them tonight.

Dream of the Iron Dragon takes it's time setting the stakes in the first few chapters, but then the action kicks in and becomes a constant stream of "how can the spacemen possibly get out of THIS jam?"

Imagine the survival-puzzle atmosphere of The Martian, but Mars has Vikings, friendly and otherwise. The story also has a sort of dry humour to it that feels very natural under the circumstances.

Like I said, I'm buying the rest of the series tonight and plan to binge it as soon as I can.
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R V PITCHFORD
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent alternate history.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2023
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A great mixture of hard sci -fi and historic fiction. Action scenes well described keeping you On the edge of your seat. Looking forward to where the story goes.
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Laurie R
5.0 out of 5 stars Enthralling Story
Reviewed in Australia on April 13, 2019
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Fabulous characters. Wonderful future and past worlds merging practically. In both times it’s about humans trying to survive doing whatever it takes. Many issues covered. It is a great book. There was a flat spot for me when there was too much technical description for a short portion. Also I really don’t like swearing and this has some. I look forward to seeing how the series continues to twist and turn. I have some Viking in my genes!
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars good book
Reviewed in Canada on September 12, 2019
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great story
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Sam Hart
5.0 out of 5 stars It sounds cool. It’s way cooler than that.
Reviewed in Australia on July 7, 2019
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The idea for this book sounds like just one of those cool ideas. But it’s way more than that. WAY more. Research and narrative work together to produce something unique and brilliant, and very, very smart. One moment we’re dealing with wrangling communication thorough Old English, the next, bootstrapping technology from the Bronze Age to the early modern, the next, time travel paradox, and every time it’s compelling and smart.
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