An inventor who lives in a technologically simple medieval land working on various inventions including crude gliders. After a young boy who has taken the glider out is mysteriously killed the man sets off find the culprit. across the sea only to find that the true culprits are a type of dragon.
Just to further elaborate on the story as I remember it…. At the beginning it this inventor is living in a slightly primitive society, like a medieval society and is regarded with great suspicion by the town folk except for this one young lad who likes to hang out with him and help. The inventor builds a sort of hang glider and the boy takes out it for a test flight without the inventor’s permision. During the test flight the boy is killed but no one knows how it happened and the inventor is blamed. He then leaves the area to go in search of what really happened.
He travels to some other land as he hears that these other people have flying machines and he suspects that they were responsible for the boys death. After some adventures and misunderstandings between the two peoples it is discovered that the real culprit is a drake (or drakes) a two legged dragon that have a mean disposition and they have to find and gain the aid of a dragon (four legged variety) in order to imprison the drakes.
The book had some wonderful watercolour pictures in it and was written more to the young adult audience, probably about the late 70’s. I hope this helps someone remember the book, I’d love to track down a copy to share with my grandchildren.
The book you are looking for is Dragonworld by Byron Preiss, illustrated by Michael Reaves (1979). From an online review:
“Amsel is a Fandoran, a member of a hard-working, small-statured race in a fairly bleak land. He is also a loner, a dreamer, and a scientist who studies just about everything. But his life is thrown into turmoil when a boy is found dead, apparently having fallen from Amsel’s hang-glider. The boy’s father and the inhabitants of the town assume that Amsel is in league with the Simbalese, a wealthy people who look down on the Fandorans. Amsel ends up running for his life to Simbala, in the hopes that he can avert a war. But in Simbala, a similar death has taken place.
It also jeopardizes the position of Hawkwind, a miner raised to royalty by the previous Monarch, and his Rayan lover Ceria. The bratty Princess Evirae, an arrogant royal with clawlike nails and really big hair, takes the opportunity to attack Hawkwind and try to gain the throne for herself. But as the Fandorans and Simbalese clash, a new foe comes from a frosty wasteland — the colddrakes, nastier cousins to the dragons and led by a huge, intelligent colddrake called the Darkling. Recognizing that the colddrakes will destroy both sides, Amsel sets out to the legendary Glowing Caverns, to find the only thing that can stop the destruction.”
Oops – I got that wrong. Dragonworld was written by Byron Preiss AND Michael Reaves. The illustrations were by Joseph Zucker. Guess that’s what happens when I just glance at the cover and don’t actually read it fully!
Anyway, I hope this is the book you’ve been looking for – it sure looks like it should be! The books starts off with Johan, son of Jondalrun (a farmer and village Elder), standing atop a cliff with the Wing, preparing to take flight. He had seen Amsel (the inventor) flying one morning and wanted to try it for himself, so he stole the Wing “just this once”, intending to apologize when he returned it later.
that’s it!!!
Thanks so much, now all I have to do is track down a copy somewhere….. off to the used book stores…. lots of fun.