Review by Booklist Review
Strahan's (Mission Critical, 2019) latest anthology brings together stories and poems that vary widely in genre and scope but all center on one of the most enduring creatures in speculative fiction. Pieces are set in fantasy worlds, as in Kate Elliott's "The Long Walk," which describes the fate of women whose families can't or won't pay the tithe to the dragons who protect the world. There are stories of dragons in a world similar to our own, like Ken Liu's "A Whisper of Blue," in which dragon fire is the basis of the world energy economy and Zen Cho's "Hikayat Sri Bujang; or, The Tale of the Nage Sage," in which familial tension between ancient water serpents has far-reaching consequences for local ecology. There are even dragons in space, as in JY Yang's "The Exile," in which a dragon godlet is used to terraform a distant planet; Aliette de Bodard's "The Last Hunt," in which human and dragon alike are enslaved by mysterious alien invaders; and Ann Leckie and Rachel Swirsky's "We Continue," in which the survivors of a failed colony coexist with an insect-like hive. This collection is highly recommended to both established genre fans and newcomers interestedin quality sf and fantasy.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
There is not a single false note among these 29 stories and poems of dragons collected by Strahan (The Best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the Year, editor). Strahan's passion for the mythological creatures is infectious and evident in his selections, which draw from many different myths and cultures, and paint portraits of dragons ranging from terrifying to heroic, even metaphorical. With "Cut Me Another Quill, Mister Fitz," Garth Nix provides a clever quest for a dragon's horde, while Brooke Bolander craftily marries high fantasy, climate fiction, and organized crime in "Where the River Turns to Concrete." Among the more emotional tales are Sarah Gailey's "We Don't Talk About the Dragon," a powerful portrait of familial dysfunction, and R.F. Kuang's "The Nine Curses River," about sisters facing the painful prospect of becoming a sacrifice. "Lucky's Dragon" by Kelly Barnhill joyously embraces the connection between a young girl and the dragon she accidentally adopts when her science project goes awry, while the protagonist of Patricia A. McKillip's "Camouflage" envisions a very different magical school experience. The dragons inhabiting J.Y. Yang's otherworldly planets in "The Exile" are poetically alien, while those of Ann Leckie and Rachel Swirsky's "We Continue" function as a hive mind. With myriad approaches to its subject, this wide-ranging anthology is a treasure trove of wonder. (July)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--Strahan has collected tales and legends of dragons from modern fantasy writers in this mythical and enchanting read. Dragons have always fascinated readers and through these compelling stories, adventure awaits. Scott Lynch, Peter S. Beagle, Kate Elliot, and R.F. Kuang are just some of the many authors included. Readers will explore different continents and the various ways writers see and imagine dragons and dragon lore. Along with the large group of authors, Cai adds magical black-and-white drawings. The entries are accompanied by brief bios of the contributors and the other books they have written, which allows readers to sample the writings and cultivate interest in their other works. The poetry portions are deftly woven among the prose entries. VERDICT An anthology that can stand alone as a great read, and will lead new genre fans to more in-depth works of fantasy.--Maeve Dodds, Charlotte Mecklenburg Lib., NC
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Including 29 original short stories and poems, Strahan's stellar anthology of dragon-powered narratives features works by a veritable murderer's row of genre fiction luminaries, including Peter S. Beagle, Patricia A. McKillip, Scott Lynch, Ken Liu, Kate Elliott, and Todd McCaffrey, among others. Complemented by subtle illustrations throughout, the power of this gem-filled anthology is not only in the consistent quality of stories, but the impressive diversity of plotlines. Many selections derive inspiration from various folkloric tales and myths while others envision dragons in wildly untraditional--and at times metaphorical--ways. Seanan McGuire's heartfelt "Hoard" chronicles a single woman who lovingly takes in foster children and helps them flourish. The system, however, sees her as something different. McCaffrey's "Small Bird's Plea" blends elements of science fiction and fantasy to create a story about a young girl on a quest to save her village, which she believes is being attacked by demons. Brooke Bolander's "Where the River Turns to Concrete" follows a hulking amnesiac who, after being found naked in a parking garage by a local crime boss and hired on as muscle, finds something unexpected on his brutal journey of self-discovery. Beagle's "Except on Saturdays" reimagines the French myth of Melusine with the story of a California high school history teacher who, after meeting a wheelchair-using woman on a bus, realizes that she is much more than she seems. In K.J. Parker's "Habitat," a local hero is tasked by a prince to catch and deliver him a living dragon. The hero delivers--with karmic results. There are no weak links in this anthology, and every selection is noteworthy in some way, but arguably the most memorable story is Ann Leckie and Rachel Swirsky's "We Continue," set on a planet where human colonists struggle to survive while dragons thrive in hivelike communities that regenerate with the birth of a new queen. A heaping hoard of literary gems that fans of dragon-powered stories will surely treasure. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
