by Isaac Asimov
First published 1982
This collection brings together dragon tales spanning decades of fantasy and science fiction. Stories range from L. Frank Baum's whimsical "The King's Head and the Purple Dragon" to Anne McCaffrey's "Weyr Search," which introduces her dragonrider world of Pern. Gordon R. Dickson contributes "St. Dragon and the George," while Dean R. Koontz offers "Soft Come the Dragons." Orson Scott Card presents "The Bully and the Beast." The anthology moves between traditional fantasy dragons and more unconventional interpretations. Gregory Benford and Marc Laidlaw collaborate on "A Hiss of Dragon." Other contributors include David Drake, L. Sprague de Camp, and Fitz-James O'Brien with period pieces. The collection showcases how different authors approach dragon mythology, from ancient folklore reimagined to futuristic scenarios where dragons inhabit alien worlds.
Genres: short-stories, science-fiction, fantasy
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: found-family
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
318 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Fawcett