The Three O’Clock Dragon

by John Wiswell

Prosperity City’s corrupt mayor never guessed his greatest opponent would be a fire-breathing dragon and her unconventional platform...

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Dragons, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fiction

24 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 23, 2023

Reviews

[Berengaria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Free copy here: https://reactormag.com/the-three-oclo...

short review for busy readers:
A fun, cosy fantasy story about a commuter train that -- through an accident with some secret magic potion -- is turned into a fire-breathing dragon.

in detail:
The political fun-poking with how the city major wants to deny the accident and get rid of the dragon is very much a comedy about the typical political playbook: the dragon is an illegal alien, the dragon is a terrorist, the dragon is anti-democratic....all the stuff that's hurled at people who are threats to the establishment.

And this dragon IS a threat. In fact, people get eaten on occasion. That's a pretty big threat. But then, they also get free rides down town. So you know, it evens out.... 🐲🚂

[Hirondelle (not getting notifications) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Available here, a short story length (by my count) twee little story about, well, trains and the evils of capitalism and nice things happening to nice people and bad guys being punished, because that seems to be what Wiswell does. I think it is probably set in the same universe as another story of his (D.I.Y.), which I also did not like. 

And I really did not like this. The writing is IMO a mess, the actions and feelings feel inconsequential (and not much thought given to Liza, see how adorable she is with a human name and all, actually having killed humans), the dialogue childish and unlikely; there is little personality to anyone, and the political insight shown is that of your basic-model-redditor (for a meme based political discussion subreddit, I guess. There might be  better niches out there for all I know). It feels like its written around an idea, done in one line: eating your political debate opponent. We are in full electoral campaign debate season in my country, I can relate to the concept, but not the execution at all, but the rest of the story and writing really cannot prop it up. 

I just cannot get into Wiswell's fiction, and it seems the newer it is, the less I like it. (I am an outlier here, going by awards and nominations and such.)

[Apple · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
It's very silly (affectionate)

[Adam G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun dragon story set on an urban commuter rail line. Bringing the fantastical and the day-to-day in hailing distance.

[Jassmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The moment Lewis Valerio sniffed about taking the debate off the rails, Liza's people threatened anti-discrimination lawsuits. Liza's reliance on rails was a legitimate disability.

This is a delightful story about dragon/train Liza and the question of what it means to slay a dragon.

This is a John Wiswell story, so of course this is a cozy lighthearted story that also entails some escapist violence yes, the mayor will be eaten! At this point I'm just eating up everything Wiswell writes and this story is quite short, so I don't really want to talk about it much to not spoil things.

Ehm, yeah, just go and read it! I guess it won't be for everyone but who cares really.

Read it for free here: https://reactormag.com/the-three-oclo...
BRed at WBtM: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an unexpected solution!

As always, I enjoy the undercurrents of adapting, kindness returned, and justice in unexpected ways. If you do, too, follow the author. He's got a book coming out soon!

[Heni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea of train who turns into a dragon is not supposed to be cute but it is lol. I love it. Also, the implication that politician will always be the same is remarkable.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable

[Jadey (the Bookish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very silly, very fun.

[Per · Rating 2 out of 5]

https://reactormag.com/the-three-oclo...

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow this was great!
https://www.tor.com/2023/08/23/the-th...

[Kam Yung Soh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dragon who travels the rail system is constantly harassed by the major and his security, who in turn fights back. Their conflict irritates travellers, who rather just use the dragon to get from A to B. Eventually, the dragon and fellow travellers decide the only way is to compete to become mayor, which leads to all kinds of social and public media subterfuge. Eventually, both the mayor and the dragon meet to debate, which ends rather abruptly, leading to a change: perhaps for the better.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has dragons and trains - what more could you want?

[Fiona Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Can I take a selfie with you?” she asked, already filming herself and trying to get Liza’s head in frame. Then she collapsed into sobs. Apparently Tad had bought her that phone.

Something about her capricious anguish resonated with Liza. She got carried away and decided to melt Tad’s apartment. She didn’t merely burn it with her fiery breath but brought it to a temperature that liquefied its cement foundations. The threesome hugged Liza’s spines and cheered. Their gratitude was oddly appealing.

I loved this - it's one of those shorts that doesn't have to establish its world, because it's centered around a character I found so very appealing that the rest didn't matter. Liza is fierce, smart, and the kind of dragon we could use more of.

Another free from Tor: https://www.tor.com/2023/08/23/the-th...

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fire-breathing dragon, running on railroad tracks, with no memory of how she came to be. As the story progresses, we see how she got there, and then things got weird, with a political campaign against a corrupt mayor and then the outcome which was awesome. I loved this little story, it was unexpected and fun.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute little story with a fun twist, but I feel like the author had some pacing problems at times. Covering a longer period of time in a short story can be hard, and some of the time transitions were jarring.

[dragonriderjinx · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Ohhhhhhhhh yeah girl this is if “eat the rich” were a short fantasy story and I’m all here for it

Based on this story I’ve found a new author I’m excited to explore the works of!! So fantastic

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dragon finds herself at odds with the city's mayor and decides that something must be done.

Wiswell has a fine sense of the absurd and is quite adept at drawing quick characters that still feel real - especially the much maligned Tad...

[Araya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Needs an editor but otherwise delightful

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

About a dragon that used to be a train and decides to run for mayor. A lot of fun.

[Daniella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story advent utilising tordotcom free fiction 5/24

[Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fun

[umainthewild · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would gladly read a series on Liza and Asif bringing about much needed change in the world.

[Sioban Sedney · Rating 3 out of 5]

that was interesting!

[Sharni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d take a train turned dragon ESPECIALLY with that kind of attitude towards petty and unscrupulous bureaucrats.

Read story here : https://reactormag.com/the-three-oclo...

[Ollie B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dragon! Trains! Revenge against the government! What more could I want?

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny

I laughed while reading this short tale. I had certain politicians in mind while reading it. I had a great time.

[-`Kirin´- · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75
super fast paced and short book my only qualm is that i wish certain transitions were a slight bit longer

[Jinan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dragons and trains, mixed with a tinge of steampunk and politics, what's to not love! Most amusing!

[Peter Csanadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐️