As a long-time fan of the How to Train Your Dragon movie trilogy (as well as a fan of David Tennant, who narrates the audiobook), I felt obligated to finally listen to the book the movie was based on. I use “based on” loosely, because while there are dragons and Vikings, some of the names are the same, and there’s a similar theme, that’s about where the similarities end.

This review will mostly be a comparison between the movie and books and whether or not one (in my humble opinion) is better, and if so why.

Some Major Differences (and why it makes them difficult to compare)

Both book and movie tell the story of Hiccup, the self-proclaimed unheroic son of a Viking chief, and Toothless, a dragon. Over the course of both stories, Hiccup bonds with Toothless and together they learn how to become a true hero (“the hard way,” as the book puts it).

The first incredibly huge different that struck me was the age of Hiccup, who is ten years old in the book, versus his teenage counterpart in the movie. Older characters usually means a slightly different tone and themes, as well as something that is more likely to speak to me as a consumer of the media. I definitely enjoy middle grade stories and chapter books from time to time, but (as anyone who has read my other reviews might have noticed) my main genre is YA. Related to this, I was disappointed in the lack of female characters in the book. It was clearly aimed at boys, and the age of Hiccup means a love interest wouldn’t make much sense, but really the only female we see is Hiccup’s mother, who doesn’t get much page time. All of the youngsters like Hiccup are boys. Where are my badass girl Vikings???

The other staggering difference that changes the course of the story right from the start is the fact that, in the book, the Vikings don’t kill dragons. They aren’t mortal enemies. The dragons serve as creatures that help the humans with fishing and fighting, and given the fact that they are a clearly intelligent species treated like simple beasts, are basically enslaved by Hiccup’s people. Hiccup’s goal in the book is to capture and train his first dragon, only he uses different methods. Instead of yelling Toothless to force his will upon the dragon, Hiccup tells Toothless jokes as a reward for listening, which was very quirky and adorable. There’s also the odd and somewhat amusing fact that the dragons have their own language, dragonese, and for some reason Hiccup is the only person who speaks it. It’s never explained how Hiccup learned to speak this dragon language, but I tried not to dwell on it.

Night Furies Don’t Exist?

Apparently, the Night Fury is a species of dragon invented by the creators of the movie, because Toothless is referred to as a “common or garden dragon” (he’s actually a different species entirely, but we don’t find that out until much later). He’s also tiny, both because the common dragons in this world tend to be smaller than those portrayed in the movie and because he’s just small for his kind, which makes him the dragon version of Hiccup.

In this way, the book and movie diverge from each other rather significantly. Something that I personally love about movie Toothless is the fact that he’s an incredibly rare, mysterious, and powerful species (though he subverts the awe the Vikings hold for his species by proving himself to be goofy and adorable). He’s almost a foil to Hiccup character, who is scrawny, clumsy, and basically useless as far as the rest of his tribe is concerned. In truth, Hiccup is courageous, determined, and strong in his capacity to care for others. They are portrayed as both the same in many ways but opposites in others, as most great friends are.

I’m not going to say that either of these is necessarily better, but they do set up a very different relationship between boy and dragon.

Why the Movie is Ultimately Better

I can’t say that I’m not biased, given that I watched the movie first and fell in love with it long before reading the book, but I think there are a few solid reasons the movie surpasses the book in terms of story—never mind the incredible animation and soundtrack of the film.

I personally feel that the war between the dragons and Vikings is more powerful than the scenario set up in the book. It means that Hiccup befriending a dragon is not only unusual, but a betrayal of everything they stand for. Hiccup is a traitor to his people, not just weird for trying to train his dragon basically through positive reinforcement rather than bullying it.

One of the things I love about the movie is the amount of emotion that they packed into the story, and I just didn’t get that same depth in the book. The relationship between Hiccup and his father is infuriating, heartbreaking, and (by the end) touching. The bond between Hiccup and Toothless is inspiring and heartwarming. I can’t get through the movie without crying. Both the imagery (the iconic scene where Hiccup holds out his hand to Toothless) and dialogue (Hiccup screaming “for once in your life just listen to me!”) really make you feel every moment. While these relationships technically exist in the book, I didn’t feel them on the same level.

I think the filmmakers took an interesting concept and a fun story and turned it into something beautiful, simultaneously heartwarming and heart-wrenching. Not to mention no small amount of humor. The book did have amusing moments, but I didn’t walk away with iconic quotes I’ll spew at anyone whether they’ll get the reference or not. There are just so many layers to the movie, like the clever use of mirroring, that were absent from the book. I feel the need to expand on this last bit, to really get my point home on why this is important to me.

The Genius of Mirroring

The How to Train Your Dragon film does something fascinating, if you’re paying enough attention, or if you’ve seen it 500 times like I have. They use repeated dialogue to highlight key moments in the film, as well as adding some comedic effect. The callback to earlier points in the movie accentuate changes over the course of the plot, especially in terms of character development. I’ll outline a few examples.

1. “You just gestured to all of me.” Hiccup says this line multiple times in the movie. At the very beginning, just after the disastrous raid by the dragons, Gobber gestures at him and says, “You need to stop all… this.” Indicating that basically everything about Hiccup is wrong and needs to change. When Hiccup wakes up after the final battle, his father does the same thing, only his line is, “Turns out all we needed was a little more this.” This highlights the 180 in the way Hiccup’s tribe views him—from a complete disappointment to a savior.

2. “I did this.” This regret-filled line is spoken by Hiccup after shooting Toothless out of the sky and later by his father when he thinks Hiccup died during the battle with the dragon queen. It shows them reach a similar point in their character journey at different times, both of them realizing their actions have caused irreparable harm, a moment that sets them on a new path.

3. “This is Berk.” Perhaps the most obvious example of this mirroring is Hiccup’s speeches at the very beginning and end of the movie. He introduces Berk as not a very pleasant-sounding place in both parts of the movie, with one key change. In the beginning, dragons were pests. At the end, they were pets. It so perfectly frames the transition from the time when dragons were hated and feared to when they became beloved and an integral part of the tribe’s lifestyle—a transition that is entirely thanks to a boy who wouldn’t kill a dragon.

And That’s the Whole Story

How to Train Your Dragon, both movie and book, tells Hiccup’s journey from useless to hero. But the real key difference? In the book, Hiccup befriends his dragon instead of dominating him, which leads to them being able to save the day because Toothless cared enough not to abandon Hiccup in his time of need. In the movie, the duo ends a war between Hiccup’s tribe and the dragons.

And what’s more heroic than finding the courage and persistence to change people’s hearts and minds?

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers (4/5)

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, which I read because a friend recommended it. Space opera is usually not my go-to genre, though I wouldn’t say I dislike it. I enjoyed the (original) Star Wars movies and some other works in the genre, but it’s not something I seek out. I mention this because my review is from the perspective of someone who does not read widely in the genre.

Quick Spoiler-Free Review

Honestly this whole analysis won’t contain huge spoilers (there really… aren’t that many to give, as this book didn’t have much of what I would call “twists”) but I wanted to give a “should you read this book?” before I dive into it.

It boils down to World Building > Characters > Plot. If you read for the first two, you’ll probably enjoy it. If you enjoy a more plot-driven story, this will probably bore the hell out of you.

The Premise

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is set in the distant future, where many different sapient species have formed the Galactic Commons, or the GC. The alliance seems overall like a decent organization, rather than the corrupt, over-bearing governing body I sometimes expect to see in futuristic worlds. They have their faults and are clearly driven in part by greed, but they don’t do anything overtly horrendous.

The Wayfarer is a tunneling ship, which basically punches holes through space to connect distant points to make interstellar travel faster. Physics is not my forte, and honestly their actual job is only important at the beginning and very end of the book, so we’re going to leave it at that. They’re hired for the job of a lifetime, a “long haul” worth a lot of money, and thus they start their very long journey to a small, angry planet….

The World Building

This has to be my favorite part of The Long Way. The thoroughness of thought that went into building the different alien species is wonderful to see. They have unique and intriguing biologies and cultures that, for the most part, were introduced with enough grace that it rarely felt like info-dumping. Some had more development than others, with more attention focused on the species that made up the Wayfarer’s crew (which makes sense). I won’t go into immense detail about all of them, but I wanted to highlight some aspects of certain species that I really appreciated.

Grums: This dying species has a tragic story that I fear is the fate that awaits humanity (real humanity, not the humans in this book). They killed each other to the point of near extinction, and I’ve inferred that no females of the species remain, though I don’t think it’s ever outright stated. Our Grum character implies that their species will die out, but this could be related to simple lack of numbers or a collective agreement to stop breeding. They have a fascinating life cycle, where they are born female and transition to male later in life, a feat of biology that is indeed present in some species found on earth (mainly certain types of fish, though perhaps others I’m not aware of). I love seeing these quirks of nature worked into fictional species. They also have interesting vocal cords that let them make more than one sound at once, requiring them to develop the skill of synchronizing their vocals to speak the human language.

Sianat Pairs: The defining characteristic of Sianat Pairs is that they have this virus that infects their mind, with some beneficial results. So beneficial that it has become a part of their culture and religion, and those who refuse the disease (or cure themselves of it) are considered heretics. The Whisperer, as they call it, enhances their minds so they see the world in ways others cannot, and it allows Navigators like Ohan to guide tunneling ships through the sublayer. Unfortunately, it also chops a solid century off their lifespan.

Aeluons: The main aspect of this species that I loved was their means of communication. They lack any natural ability to hear (which is never explained in evolutionary terms, something that disappointed me, as someone who loves evolution) and their major form of communication amongst one another is through their cheeks turning different colors. This is simply so unique and creative that I had to include it. They use technology to “hear”/communicate with other species.

Aandrisks: Their society more than biology is what’s fascinating about these beings. Described as being lizard-like in appearance (though referring to them as “lizards” is a slur), their culture is vastly different than humans. They are a promiscuous species (and I don’t mean that in a derogatory way), forming relationships with many others that likely won’t last the rest of their life. They aren’t raised by their biological parents, but rather a “hatch family” of elders who have decided they are ready to settle down and raise children. Then they choose their own “feather family,” made up of chosen others who they may or may not have a sexual relationship with. Essentially, their society is built around found family. They are extremely affectionate and lack anything resembling modesty, perfectly happy to “couple” out in the open.

The Characters

I really enjoyed the varied cast of the Wayfarer. Even other characters we meet along the way seem to have rich lives outside the orbit of the main plot and the central characters, which is what makes supporting characters feel real. Most of the crew isn’t lacking in personality and backstory, though most of them do fall short in terms of actual arcs and growth.

Rosemary (The Clerk): The actual main character of the story, Rosemary lands somewhere in the realm of a mediocre character for me. She has an interesting backstory that is hinted at (without any particular subtlety) and later confirmed. She seems like an intelligent, generally kind, and likable person, while still showing her own flaws, yet she never read with much real depth for me. She wasn’t a Mary Sue, but nothing made me fall in love with her.

Ashby (The Captain): Ashby the human has to be one of the least interesting characters in the story (other than Ohan, but that’s because they don’t get much page time), but he does serve his purpose. Ashby is a good captain, dedicated to his crew and their safety. He’s understanding and willing to listen, but firm and commanding when he needs to be. Unfortunately, Ashby lacks any characteristics that would make me attached to him, beyond perhaps a defining moment at the end where he tells the Parliament off for their short-sighted treaty. Compared to other complex captains in the genre (like Mal Reynolds) he’s simply okay.

Sissix (The Pilot): Our reliable Aandrisk pilot is one of the more openly emotional and affectionate characters. She’s courteous and goes out of her way to respect the customs of other species, while sacrificing her own needs. She loves the crew of the Wayfarer that has become her feather family, but they don’t fulfill the same needs an Aandrisk family would, which I imagine her mental health suffers for.

Ohan (The Navigator): Ohan is a Sianat Pair, and they might be the most interesting species and least interesting character. We just don’t see them for most of the book. They’re aloof by nature, which means you either don’t get to know that character or you force them into situations where they have to interact. Chambers chose the former.

Corbin (The Algaeist): Again, we don’t see as much of the anti-social Corbin as some of the other characters. He tends to the algae vats that… apparently the ship somehow runs on? I don’t know if this is existing/theoretical technology, but it’s never explained in any detail. Most of the crew dislikes him, especially Sissix, but he’s good at his job so they tolerate him. He has a bit of a character arc but it could have been a lot more captivating, given more attention.

Dr. Chef (exactly what he sounds like): Honestly, Dr. Chef is the character I most want to hang out with sometime. The Grum chef/doctor is pleasant company, offers comfort and wisdom when needed, loves food, and seems to be a deeply thoughtful person. I’d let him cook for me anytime, though I am dubious about these insects they eat. Just remove it from the shell first and I’m fine, kay thanks.

Jenks (The Comp Tech): Jenks is the kind of person any of us with limited self-esteem might aspire to be. He seems rather confident in his own skin, without any need to fix any shortcomings (sorry, I had to do the pun). His one Big Problem is that he’s in love with the ship’s AI, who thankfully loves him back, but this love comes with obvious issues for the two of them. While I recognize Lovey (the AI) as a person in her own right, she’s not getting her own section in this because her character is entirely tied to Jenks. She seems pleasant and helpful, as any good AI ought to be, but lacks any personality beyond the relationship she shares with the computer tech.

Kizzy (The Mech Tech): Oh, Kizzy. Sweet Kizzy. I knew I would love her from when she first stepped onto the page. She’s hyper, talkative, occasionally vulgar, often rash, and maybe a bit ditsy (she did drop a sandwich in the engine that one time). Above all, she has personality. She has flair. She’s full of life and love and makes mistakes and deals with self-doubt. I enjoyed every moment of Kizzy’s existence and wish only the best for her.

Ultimately, it’s the interactions between the main characters that I loved more than the characters themselves. Except Kizzy. I love Kizzy. The wholesome friendship between Kizzy and Jenks, the way Ashby and Sissix support and rely on each other, the hesitant development of something romantic(?) between Sissix and Rosemary. Even Corbin’s place amongst the crew, which is basically everyone hates him, is a dynamic that is brilliantly utilized when the other characters pull together to save him. They’re a family, and sometimes you can’t stand your family, but you’d do anything for them anyway. This is really a major (if not the major) theme of the story.

The Plot

So this is where this book lost a star from me. The story is heavily character-driven, which is usually okay with me, but this plot is so almost non-existent that it came close to losing me a few times. It’s a disjointed series of events that really don’t connect to each other at all, making it feel like an “adventure of the week” TV show episode rather than a linear plot. You could have switched up the order of 50% of the events in this book and it wouldn’t have changed the story. They make stops along the way to their destination, each of which tends to showcase a character (or a few) and result in some character development. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this, if you’re into that kind of thing, but I prefer some more continuity in my plots.

Final Thoughts

The main thing that kept me reading was the intricate world-building and curiosity surrounding the characters. The little isolated plot adventures were fun, but lacked the cohesion that tends to pull the reader from one chapter to another, and I never got that I’ll read just one more chapter feeling. However, I did thoroughly enjoy reading it anyway.

Also, it made me cry. Like a lot. Not heaving sobs but frequent water leaking from my eyes and lots of tissues needed. So, thanks for that Becky.

Final Note: It bothered me that Human was capitalized. That had to make it into this review somewhere. It’s a species, not a nationality. Exodans being capitalized makes sense, but you wouldn’t capitalize dog or horse or fish. By that logic, Aandrisk, Grum, and any other alien species shouldn’t have been either. I feel like fantasy and sci-fi authors feel the need to capitalize anything foreign or important sounding, so Human got capitalized along with the other aliens for consistency.