Books on hunting dragons?

Oleg Volk · March 12, 2001, 02:28 AM

I know of De Camp's "Gun for Dinosaur" and "Two yards of Dragon"...is there any others you'd recommend besides the abominable "Jurassic Park"?

Art Eatman · March 12, 2001, 07:23 AM

I haven't tried it, but you might go to some of the science fiction publishers' websites and see what you can find. Maybe even ask via email.

I recall some other time-travel stuff in those lines, but I don't have the names committed to memory.

I assume you're interested in guns vs. dinosaurs, rather than the fantasy novels with fights against dragons?

Art

Oleg Volk · March 12, 2001, 09:31 AM

Yep. Was curious about the logistics about of being away from any real base and having to content with big lizards AND dressing them, carrying the meat out, recepies

HankB · March 12, 2001, 10:36 AM

Oleg, there's the book "Time Safari" by, I believe, David Drake. IIRC, the hero used an M1 Garand modified to take BAR magazines, and custom ammo with DU bullets. (I actually saw an M1 modified this way once. Owner said it took a LOT of machine work.) What we "know" about dinos has changed since the book was written, but it's still a good read.

It's probably out of print. IIRC, you're up in MSP; if so, you might give Uncle Hugo's a call to see if they have it in stock.

There's also a thread on a gun for T-Rex over in General.

Good hunting!

Keith Rogan · March 12, 2001, 12:57 PM

One of the strangest books I've ever read was called "Blood Sport" by an author with the last name of Jones.
A very good read, really - a sort of weird philosophy study... Like, is man still a predator at heart? And is good and evil simply relative to the situation? Definitely and probably...
On a simpler level, it's about a trip up a river in upstate New York that winds through various time and space warps. It goes from 20th century New York to SE Asia, to Africa to Mongolia and all at different times. Along the way they hunt everything from Mau Mau's to Mastodons.
You can probably pick that up through Amazon.com. I don't recall any dinosaurs but there are some good tips on filleting and cooking mastodon and wooly rhino's.

Zorro · March 12, 2001, 10:09 PM

Just get any book by Elmer Keith and anywhere it says:

"X caliber is a good choice for Deer."

Cross out the word "Deer" and write in "Dragon."

Such as "the 458 Winchester Magnum is a good choice for deer but it is inferior to a .600 Nitro Express."

Ash · March 13, 2001, 04:18 AM

Oleg,

There is a novel around called "Footprints of Thunder" by James F. David.

Average read, but has a sequence where a guy goes Dinosaur hunting with a .458 (I think) all the while shouting:

'See what happens when you mess with a Toolmaker!!!!!!!!"

Art Eatman · March 13, 2001, 09:24 AM

Dinosaur cookery: I guess you'd treat it like gator tail; cut it into chunks and deep fry it. Maybe a little mustard in the cornmeal/egg mix that you roll the chunks in before dropping into the boiling grease--Crisco, Mazola, Olive Oil, whatever. Dunno if dinosaur is as chewy as gator tail.

Probably tastes like chicken; everything else does...

Then, again--if they're warm-blooded, as some say, I guess you'd just treat them like a big cow that doesn't have much shoulder meat. Round steak for 20? Ribeye for six? There'd be some truly splendiferous "poison sacs"*, though.

, Art

* Do a Search.

Glamdring · March 14, 2001, 10:55 AM

Oleg, if you want I could loan you David Drake's Time Safari. It is a good novel, the protagonist in that story does use M1 Garand, and later a M1a. But other characters in the book use rounds like the 9.3x 64, the 358 Norma, plus the mundane 458's, 460's, and 375's.

In Drake's novel they use heliocopters to hunt T Rex, and they have diesel powered vehicals to haul the heads [ie the trophys] around.

ckurts · March 14, 2001, 12:18 PM

"Glory Road" by Robert A. Heinlein. Early Vietnam era vet and former college football hero goes on an interdimensional quest with the Empress of the Universes and her grandson. Wants to carry a Thompson or M-14 but ends up killing dragons, wild hogs, anthropomorphic bovine satyrs, giant rats, a giant ogre, and the Eater of Souls with sword and longbow.

Great stuff!

Art, the warm-blooded dinosaur hypothesis generally compares dinosaurs to birds, so you may be right about them tasting like chicken. I was kind of hoping turkey myself. Another hypothesis holds that the large meateaters were opportunistic carnivores, living mostly on carrion, so maybe old T-rex tasted like one of those old south Brewster County buzzards would- yechh!

Dr.Rob · March 15, 2001, 03:56 AM

I thought "Time safari" was literary potato chips.. Fun but not "good for you".

And remember some of the best hunting stories are real ones.. Look at Maneaters of Tsavo (in the back there is a section on WHAT to take to africa, as well as what to pay the bearers etc). Peter Capstick was crazy enough to kill a Cape Buffalo with a spear in one of his books. All real... there are plenty of books about Man and dangerous animals.. good and bad..

Try "clan of the cave bear" for group primitive hunting

Try "Journey to the Center of the earth" for a what to take with you on a midsummers day outing to hell

unless there is some sort of search engine for modern firearms and dragonslaying...

Good luck

Oleg Volk · March 21, 2001, 01:38 AM

I re-read Glory Road regularly. Last time I particularly enjoyed the "aftermath" part of the story. Will have to look up Time Safari.

V.Oller · March 31, 2001, 10:35 AM

One I read years ago, was called "By the Shores of Kansas" a great book on time travelers. In this one only certain individuals could travel back in time. Most of the time travelers could only go back to places were humans were already. Only one, Grant Ryals, could go back to the Jurrasic.

Pretty cool idea, actually. Not a whole lot to do with firearms as he carries a modified throwing ax and a knife, based on the principle that he couldn't carry a gun big enough to do any good.

Greg Bear came out with a sequel to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic "Lost World" that's pretty good. Set, as I recall, in the "30's. Not bad.

Dave Drake's novel is pretty cool as is the sequel who's title eludes me at present.

Of course, there is Edgar Rice Burough's Pellucidar series, starting with "At the Earth's Core" with the adventures of David Innes. Kinda hokey by today's standards but still cool!

I'll post more as I remember them.

Vince

March 12, 2001, 12:57 PM	#5
Keith Rogan Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 1999 Location: Kodiak, Alaska Posts: 1,014	One of the strangest books I've ever read was called "Blood Sport" by an author with the last name of Jones. A very good read, really - a sort of weird philosophy study... Like, is man still a predator at heart? And is good and evil simply relative to the situation? Definitely and probably... On a simpler level, it's about a trip up a river in upstate New York that winds through various time and space warps. It goes from 20th century New York to SE Asia, to Africa to Mongolia and all at different times. Along the way they hunt everything from Mau Mau's to Mastodons. You can probably pick that up through Amazon.com. I don't recall any dinosaurs but there are some good tips on filleting and cooking mastodon and wooly rhino's. __________________ Keith

March 31, 2001, 10:35 AM	#13
V.Oller Member Join Date: March 28, 2001 Location: South Florida Posts: 43	One I read years ago, was called "By the Shores of Kansas" a great book on time travelers. In this one only certain individuals could travel back in time. Most of the time travelers could only go back to places were humans were already. Only one, Grant Ryals, could go back to the Jurrasic. Pretty cool idea, actually. Not a whole lot to do with firearms as he carries a modified throwing ax and a knife, based on the principle that he couldn't carry a gun big enough to do any good. Greg Bear came out with a sequel to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic "Lost World" that's pretty good. Set, as I recall, in the "30's. Not bad. Dave Drake's novel is pretty cool as is the sequel who's title eludes me at present. Of course, there is Edgar Rice Burough's Pellucidar series, starting with "At the Earth's Core" with the adventures of David Innes. Kinda hokey by today's standards but still cool! I'll post more as I remember them. Vince __________________ That which does not kill us only makes us stronger. /Nietzche http://www.OmegaTactical.com NRA Life Member NRA Certified Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun Instructor

March 12, 2001, 02:28 AM	#1
Oleg Volk Staff Alumnus Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 7,022	I know of De Camp's "Gun for Dinosaur" and "Two yards of Dragon"...is there any others you'd recommend besides the abominable "Jurassic Park"?

March 12, 2001, 07:23 AM	#2
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I haven't tried it, but you might go to some of the science fiction publishers' websites and see what you can find. Maybe even ask via email. I recall some other time-travel stuff in those lines, but I don't have the names committed to memory. I assume you're interested in guns vs. dinosaurs, rather than the fantasy novels with fights against dragons? Art

March 12, 2001, 09:31 AM	#3
Oleg Volk Staff Alumnus Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 7,022	Yep. Was curious about the logistics about of being away from any real base and having to content with big lizards AND dressing them, carrying the meat out, recepies

March 12, 2001, 10:36 AM	#4
HankB Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2000 Location: Central Texas, outside of Austin Posts: 1,698	Oleg, there's the book "Time Safari" by, I believe, David Drake. IIRC, the hero used an M1 Garand modified to take BAR magazines, and custom ammo with DU bullets. (I actually saw an M1 modified this way once. Owner said it took a LOT of machine work.) What we "know" about dinos has changed since the book was written, but it's still a good read. It's probably out of print. IIRC, you're up in MSP; if so, you might give Uncle Hugo's a call to see if they have it in stock. There's also a thread on a gun for T-Rex over in General. Good hunting!

March 12, 2001, 10:09 PM	#6
Zorro Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2000 Posts: 1,072	Just get any book by Elmer Keith and anywhere it says: "X caliber is a good choice for Deer." Cross out the word "Deer" and write in "Dragon." Such as "the 458 Winchester Magnum is a good choice for deer but it is inferior to a .600 Nitro Express."

March 13, 2001, 04:18 AM	#7
Ash Member Join Date: March 25, 2000 Posts: 19	Oleg, There is a novel around called "Footprints of Thunder" by James F. David. Average read, but has a sequence where a guy goes Dinosaur hunting with a .458 (I think) all the while shouting: 'See what happens when you mess with a Toolmaker!!!!!!!!"

March 13, 2001, 09:24 AM	#8
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Dinosaur cookery: I guess you'd treat it like gator tail; cut it into chunks and deep fry it. Maybe a little mustard in the cornmeal/egg mix that you roll the chunks in before dropping into the boiling grease--Crisco, Mazola, Olive Oil, whatever. Dunno if dinosaur is as chewy as gator tail. Probably tastes like chicken; everything else does... Then, again--if they're warm-blooded, as some say, I guess you'd just treat them like a big cow that doesn't have much shoulder meat. Round steak for 20? Ribeye for six? There'd be some truly splendiferous "poison sacs", though. , Art Do a Search.

March 14, 2001, 10:55 AM	#9
Glamdring Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2000 Location: MN Posts: 1,388	Oleg, if you want I could loan you David Drake's Time Safari. It is a good novel, the protagonist in that story does use M1 Garand, and later a M1a. But other characters in the book use rounds like the 9.3x 64, the 358 Norma, plus the mundane 458's, 460's, and 375's. In Drake's novel they use heliocopters to hunt T Rex, and they have diesel powered vehicals to haul the heads [ie the trophys] around.

March 14, 2001, 12:18 PM	#10
ckurts Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 1999 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 475	"Glory Road" by Robert A. Heinlein. Early Vietnam era vet and former college football hero goes on an interdimensional quest with the Empress of the Universes and her grandson. Wants to carry a Thompson or M-14 but ends up killing dragons, wild hogs, anthropomorphic bovine satyrs, giant rats, a giant ogre, and the Eater of Souls with sword and longbow. Great stuff! Art, the warm-blooded dinosaur hypothesis generally compares dinosaurs to birds, so you may be right about them tasting like chicken. I was kind of hoping turkey myself. Another hypothesis holds that the large meateaters were opportunistic carnivores, living mostly on carrion, so maybe old T-rex tasted like one of those old south Brewster County buzzards would- yechh!

March 15, 2001, 03:56 AM	#11
Dr.Rob Staff Alumnus Join Date: July 28, 1999 Location: Denver Posts: 2,454	I thought "Time safari" was literary potato chips.. Fun but not "good for you". And remember some of the best hunting stories are real ones.. Look at Maneaters of Tsavo (in the back there is a section on WHAT to take to africa, as well as what to pay the bearers etc). Peter Capstick was crazy enough to kill a Cape Buffalo with a spear in one of his books. All real... there are plenty of books about Man and dangerous animals.. good and bad.. Try "clan of the cave bear" for group primitive hunting Try "Journey to the Center of the earth" for a what to take with you on a midsummers day outing to hell unless there is some sort of search engine for modern firearms and dragonslaying... Good luck

March 21, 2001, 01:38 AM	#12
Oleg Volk Staff Alumnus Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 7,022	I re-read Glory Road regularly. Last time I particularly enjoyed the "aftermath" part of the story. Will have to look up Time Safari.