Music

The playlists I listened to while writing this book came primarily from three sources:

  • Soundtracks to pulp adventure movies (e.g. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow)
  • Music from dragon-related things (e.g. How to Train Your Dragon, Bioware’s Dragon Age games)
  • Eastern European music (e.g. Warsaw Village Band)

I have a long-standing habit of making soundtracks for my novels. The titles below are designed to minimize spoilers, but still, proceed at your own risk. You can also find a playlist of most of these songs on Spotify.

A Natural History of Dragons

  • The Memoirs of Lady Trent — “O Makunde,” Cirque du Soleil, Kà
  • A Natural History of Dragons — “Pageant,” Cirque du Soleil, Kà
  • An Unfortunate Incident with a Wolf-Drake — “Dragon Training,” John Powell, How to Train Your Dragon
  • Hunting Jacob Camherst — “Father Christmas,” Harry Gregson-Williams, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
  • The Great Sparkling Inquiry — “Forbidden Friendship,” John Powell, How to Train Your Dragon
  • Into the Mountains of Vystrana — “Lost in the Wild(s),” Jerry Goldsmith, The Edge
  • Drustanev, Our New Home — “At My Mother’s,” Warsaw Village Band
  • The Incomprehensible Dagmira — “A What Which?,” Jeff Grace, I Sell the Dead
  • A Silhouette in the Night — “The Fire/Breakfast,” Jerry Goldsmith, The Edge
  • With an Artist’s Hand — “The Coronation,” Inon Zur, Dragon Age: Origins
  • Ancient Draconean Ruins — “Human Nobility,” Inon Zur, Dragon Age: Origins
  • The Tale of Zhagrit Mat — “Pskov in Flames,” Sergei Prokofiev, Alexander Nevsky
  • Our Great Discovery — “Exploration,” Bernard Hermann, Mysterious Island
  • Villagers with Pitchforks — “Nice to Meld You,” Michael Giacchino, Star Trek
  • In the Boyar’s House — “The Teutonic Camp (Peregrinus expectavi),” Sergei Prokofiev, Alexander Nevsky
  • The Laboratory — “Secret Passage,” Jonathan Davis, Queen of the Damned
  • Three Days’ Flight — “Not in Blood, But in Bond,” Hans Zimmer, Sherlock Holmes
  • Calling the Dragon — “The Kill Ring,” John Powell, How to Train Your Dragon
  • Jacob Again — Star Trek, “That New Car Smell” Michael Giacchino, Star Trek