Temeraire Drabbles
Contents
Background[edit]
The "Temeraire Drabbles", a fan name, as no real name exists for them, were a collection of seven 100-word short stories posted by Naomi Novik on the official Temeraire website (with the exception of "Iskierka and Poetry", which was posted on suvudu.com) from July 15 to July 26, written in response to prompts from fans of the series.
Canonicity?[edit]
It is unclear whether or not the drabbles are canon or not. While a majority of the drabbles appear canon, drabbles 4 & 6 depict events outside of the established canon of the Temeraire universe (Different timeline and Zombies) and as such should not be considered canon.
Drabble 1: Iskierka and Poetry[edit]
“That is quite enough,” Iskierka said, venting steam from her spikes in irritation. She was equally bored–not even another ship in three weeks now–but there was nothing of interest in some fellow who was astonished it should have snowed, in winter. “It is a very famous poem!” Temeraire said. “And the language is particularly simple, so if you should only pay attention–” “It is a very boring poem,” Iskierka said, “–they are all boring,” and turning her head to leeward breathed out a small flame, curling red-golden bright. “That is poetry enough for me.”
Drabble 2: Perscitia and Parliament[edit]
"Well, if the building cannot be enlarged — which does not seem to me so difficult as you would have it; we would be perfectly willing to help, and it is not as though I were as large as Requiescat — then you may knock a few windows together, and I will sit outside them," Perscitia said, feeling this suggestion at least must be irreproachable.
It transpired that the other members did not agree, but when Requiescat began to take an interest and interjected, "I don't see why I shouldn't be able to get inside, either," they grew more reasonable.
Drabble 3: Maximus and Virgins[edit]
"First of all, I don't want to eat any of you lot," Maximus said, "and if I did, I don't see how that would make any difference to the taste."
He felt rather injured at the suggestion; he had only meant to snatch the horse and had not seen the fellow on its back at all until the armor had squeaked unpleasantly under his teeth. "And now I think of it," he added, with indignation, "I suppose they wouldn't like to be et anymore than you would, so I don't see what you are about, offering: I call it cowardly."
Drabble 4: In The Forties[edit]
Laurence paced in controlled impatience while the diggers worked under the sinking sun; he would have gladly taken a shovel himself if it were not inappropriate to the dignity of an officer.
Metal rang on stone. "Sir, I believe we've found the seal," Riley called.
Crowbars heaved up the enormous weight of the capping stone, a gush of fetid air escaping the chamber below. A torch was flung down, illuminating the shining curve of eggshell, and around it the tangled and mummified mass of an enormous scaled body.
"Dragons," Laurence said in dismay. "Why did it have to be dragons?"
Drabble 5: Jane Roland and Prohibition[edit]
"No, thank you," Jane said firmly. "It don't make any sense to me either, and I would like a glass of port after my dinner as much as anyone else, but that isn't my business; keeping the law is. And if I did incline to let you fellows off for the liquor-smuggling, bribe or no, I wouldn't for the low sneaking murderous way you go about it, anyway. Now put down those guns on top of the barrels, and come over here and put yourselves into the jail-box; unless you care to stay down there while Excidium sees to the lot."
Drabble 6: Temeraire vs. the Zombie Cows[edit]
It was a hideous waste, all of it; Temeraire could hardly keep his countenance when he first understood that the cows had not only to be killed but also all burnt up, and not eaten, although the smell which rose from the carcasses shortly reconciled him to the necessity of this measure.
It did not greatly shore up his equanimity to find that he was not even to be of much use in this dreadful operation, and the Longwings and Iskierka to take the lead, but the divine wind had a distressing tendency to cause the diseased cattle to explode.
Drabble 7: Tharkay and Name[edit]
His father called him George, determinedly; his mother made no demur, but she did not need to: the weight of aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents were ranged with her, and all their society. At the age of five, Tenzing thought the other only a pet name, and English a private language for two; he was conscious of the greatest indignation when the British envoy visited and with his loud voice intruded.
She died, two years later, and his world was altered; but the change ensured her victory: he could not resist being taken away, but he refused to answer to George.
