His Majesty's Dragon

His Majesty's Dragon

First paperback edition cover
Author	Naomi Novik
Cover artist	Dominic Harman (above) Andrew Davidson (Voyager paperback)
Language	English
Series	Temeraire
Genres	Alternate history fantasy
Publisher	Del Rey (US) Voyager (UK)
Publication date	March 28, 2006 (US) August 2006 (UK)
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (paperback, hardcover)
Pages	356[1]
ISBN	978-0345481283
Followed by	Throne of Jade

His Majesty's Dragon, published in the UK as Temeraire, is the first novel in the Temeraire alternate history/fantasy series by American author Naomi Novik.^[2] The story is set during an alternate-history version of the Napoleonic Wars, in which dragons not only exist but are used as a staple of aerial warfare in Asia and Europe. The dragons of the story are portrayed as sapient and intelligent, capable of logical thought and human speech. The series centers primarily on events involving Temeraire (the titular dragon) and his handler, Will Laurence.

The first book of the series tells how Laurence, formerly a Captain in the Royal Navy, becomes Temeraire's handler, and of their early training in preparation for battles against Napoleon's aerial fleet. It was first published in 2006. It won the 2007 Compton Crook Award for best novel in the science fiction/fantasy genre during 2006 by a first-time author.