While writing the third book of the Maidstone Chronicles, Into the Maidstone, we spent considerable effort researching other book series about dragon riders. We wanted to explore the feasibility of a human riding a dragon.
Of course, when thinking (and writing) about dragon riding, I’m making a few assumptions.
First, you are open to the possibility that dragons exist. Or that they could exist in a fantasy world.
Second, you believe that there could be a dragon who would either be enlisted as a beast of burden, or voluntarily submit to another creature riding on its back.
Third, you believe there are fictional characters who are crazy enough to climb onto a dragon’s back and risk their lives flying through the air.
Obviously, we’re not the first fantasy authors to write about dragons and consider the feasibility of someone riding a dragon. There are many classics and even more modern, self-published books about dragons and dragon riders.
But when we considered various book series about dragon riders, and popular movies with dragons and their riders, we looked for ideas that were believable…given their respective fantastical worlds and the three assumptions previously mentioned.
Here are some of the dragon rider stories we considered. This is not an exhaustive list, nor is it a “best of” list for book series about dragon riders. And, in the interest of promoting other indie authors, I’m including some books in each age category that you may not have heard of.
Children’s (Middle Grade/Teen) Book Series about Dragon Riders
Dragon Rider Series (two books) by Cornelia Funke
This is perhaps one of the more popular dragon rider books. The author has recently (2017) added a sequel, The Griffin’s Feather and is apparently working on a third book in the series. Not to mention an animated film based on the book.
Dragon School Omnibus by Sarah K. L. Wilson
There are now about twenty books in this series (each book is quite short). The premise is hard to resist: “A disabled teen, an empathetic dragon, and a bond that will save the world.”
Teen and YA Book Series about Dragon Riders
Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
This classic series, which began with the first book in 1968, Dragonflight, is sometimes categorized as science fiction or science fantasy. The setting is the fictional planet Pern.
I had to include the old cover image. Now that’s a dragon rider saddle!
Buy it on Amazon (with the new cover!)
The Dragonwalker (7 book series) by D.K. Holmberg
DK Holmberg is a popular indie author who has written numerous books about dragons. In this series, Book 6 is actually titled Dragon Rider.
Adult Book Series about Dragon Riders
Temeraire Book Series by Naomi Novik
Some readers balk at the use of dragons as mere weapons of warfare in this series, but these dragons are intelligent creatures. And the blend of fantasy and history (Napoleonic Wars) is intriguing.
Dragon Riders of Elantia by Jessica Drake
Dragon Riders of Elantia is a new dragon rider series featuring “clever heroines, epic adventures, wild new worlds, and of course, dragon riding!”
Dragon Riders in Popular Movies
Children’s Dragon Riding Movies
One thing I like about How to Train Your Dragon (film adaptation) is the effort put into creating a saddle that just might work in the…um, real world.
Teen/YA Dragon Riding Movies
Eragon eventually gets a saddle, but would he really be able to stay in it??
Harry, Ron, and Hermione hang on for dear life…somehow.
Adult Dragon Riding Movies
Game of Thrones dragons are awesome, no doubt. But would even Jon Snow be able to hang on flying over the North? And those horns look sharp enough to skewer any inexperienced rider.
All writers of dragon rider stories must be granted some creative freedom. After, it’s all fantasy (I think).
What’s your favorite book or movie featuring dragon riders? Please comment below.
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