Cyril Donson – Draco The Dragon Man

Cyril Donson – Draco The Dragon Man   (NEL, Oct. 1974)

Blurb:
Damon Draycot had won world renown as a historian and archeologist. He made many television appearances and his athletic exploits were no less eagerly followed. He was well-known and respected on all sides.

His latest nine-month expedition was potholing in Texas. There were many miles of underground passages to explore for mineralogical, medical and historical facts — and simply to conquer. This proposed feat captures the public imagination, and many are there to wish Draycot luck.

What happens to him underground would not be wished on any other man. Thereafter his life was never to be the same; dogged by an unfathomable curse that led him to shun his fellow creatures, this innocent expedi­tion brought a nightmare of horror and evil into the light of day.

See also Draco the Dragonman thread on the Vault forum

Cyril Donson – Draco The Dragon Man

Cyril Donson – Draco The Dragon Man [Horror #5 ???] (New English Library, 1974)

Draco the Dragon Man

Can’t help you much with this one but according to Justin Marriott in Paperback Fanatic #8 (2009):

“Damon Draycott, a world renowned archaeologist, discovers a race of mind-reading lizard men living in the bowels of the earth   …… Among his NEL contemporaries, Donson is neck and neck with Etienne Aubin as the least rewarding of horror authors.”

Surely there is no higher praise, especially as he’d have to fight off ‘Simon Majors’ and his notoriously punishing The Druid Stone to be in contention for such an accolade?

Thanks to Nightreader for providing the cover scan!