In the post Lord Of The Rings film trilogy pop-cultural ecosphere, dragons and their fantasy ilk are anything but endangered. Teen-targeted, adult skewing series such as Harry Potter or His Dark Materials have ably tapped the wellspring of interest in all things mystical and been translated onto the big screen to boot.

But for the die-hard fantasy fan, the sort of reader more intrigued by the raspy darkness of Raistlin than the sexual orientation of Dumbledore, author Naomi Novik, and her acclaimed Temeraire series are the current holders of the fantasy lit crown. Novik is a Napoleonic history buff and a former video game designer who worked on the critically acclaimed Dungeons & Dragons game series, Neverwinter Nights. Clearly her interests aligned perfectly in her telling of the tale she began in her first novel, His Majesty's Dragon.

Set during the peak of the Napoleonic wars around the start of the 19th century, Novik's world includes dragons that have mostly been working in close concert with humans since the Roman empire. The tale revolves around Will Laurence, a former Naval captain who by chance is forced to become an aviator with the British Aerial Corps when he seizes a dragon's egg in battle. The egg carries Temeraire, a hyper intelligent and social beast with a disdain for authority and mysterious origins. The bond between the two strengthens over the course of their adventures, which take them far from their main base in Dover to China, Turkey and in the fourth and most recent, New York Times bestselling installment Empire Of Ivory, the heart of Africa.

The historical detail, attention to language and action packed pacing make these novels serious page turners. And the cliff hangers that she leaves us with are serious knuckle whiteners! It's no wonder that the master himself, Peter Jackson, has optioned the Temeraire series for feature films.

So, when you are ready to let go of your magic wand and really delve into the blood and guts of a truly fantastic scenario, look for Novik's series and get ready to wait with the rest of the fans for the fifth installment, due out sometime in 2008.

In the meantime, you can keep track of her new work and exploits via her excellent site.