I'm an engineer and a writer. And I find that those two things are not uncomplementary.

You can actually muck with history and think about what if, why not. What if there were dragons in the Incan Empire that allowed them to resist colonization? What if there were a massive dragon empire in the middle of the interior of southern Africa that decided to take objection to the slave trade?

Temeraire said, 'It is very nice how many books there are, indeed. And on so many subjects!

Next you will cry about taxation without representation, and throw a basket of tea into the harbor. You are indeed a very Jacobin at heart, and I think I must give up trying to cure you of it; I can but wash my hands and deny responsibility

It seems to me that if you wish to apply laws to us, it were only reasonable to consult us on them, and from what you have read to me about Parliament, I do not think any dragons are invited to go there

I should rather have you than a heap of gold, even if it were very comfortable to sleep on.

Enough of that, you damned conspirators, you will have us hanged a great deal sooner than we will.