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Wings of Renewal: A Solarpunk Dragon Anthology
The future is vibrant, hopeful, and filled with dragons.
In WINGS OF RENEWAL, twenty-two authors explore the exciting new subgenre of solarpunk through the lens of these majestic creatures. Whether they irrigate dry terrain or serve as spaceships, are mythic beasts come to life or biomechanical creations of man, these dragons show us a world where renewable energy overcomes gas and oil, and cooperation replaces competition.
If you love fantasy/sci-fi fusion, this is an anthology you do not want to miss! So hop on solar wings, and follow us into futures that–for all their witches and dragons–are far more possible than they might seem.
In WINGS OF RENEWAL, twenty-two authors explore the exciting new subgenre of solarpunk through the lens of these majestic creatures. Whether they irrigate dry terrain or serve as spaceships, are mythic beasts come to life or biomechanical creations of man, these dragons show us a world where renewable energy overcomes gas and oil, and cooperation replaces competition.
If you love fantasy/sci-fi fusion, this is an anthology you do not want to miss! So hop on solar wings, and follow us into futures that–for all their witches and dragons–are far more possible than they might seem.
400 pages, ebook
First published October 1, 2015
38 people are currently reading
1299 people want to read
About the author
Claudie Arseneault
21 books462 followersClaudie Arseneault is an asexual and aromantic-spectrum writer hailing from the very-French Québec City. Her long studies in biochemistry and immunology often sneak back into her science-fiction, and her love for sprawling casts invariably turns her novels into multi-storylined wonders. The most recent, City of Strife, came out on February 22, 2017! Claudie is a founding member of The Kraken Collective and is well-known for her involvement in solarpunk, her database of aro and ace characters in speculative fiction, and her unending love of squids. Find out more on her website!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 11, 2019
Another great read with the Solarpunk group!
Not since Glass and Gardens: Solarpunk Summers have I enjoyed an anthology so much - Wings of Renewal really captures the uplifting feeling that defines Solarpunk to me.
There were maybe two stories here that I didn't enjoy, which makes it a big win for an anthology - granted, one of those I absolutely couldn't stand - but the ones I loved vastly outnumbered them. There did seem to be an awful lot of writers from the Pacific Northwest, so if anyone's from there, I'd love to know what's in the water! Or the woods perhaps - a soggy state would be an awfully good place for a dragon hideout.
This was a great mix of science fiction, fantasy, and all around great writing (especially the world building). I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who's interested in Solarpunk, or anyone simply in need of a little extra lift. Definitely one I'll be buying a physical copy of.
Not since Glass and Gardens: Solarpunk Summers have I enjoyed an anthology so much - Wings of Renewal really captures the uplifting feeling that defines Solarpunk to me.
There were maybe two stories here that I didn't enjoy, which makes it a big win for an anthology - granted, one of those I absolutely couldn't stand - but the ones I loved vastly outnumbered them. There did seem to be an awful lot of writers from the Pacific Northwest, so if anyone's from there, I'd love to know what's in the water! Or the woods perhaps - a soggy state would be an awfully good place for a dragon hideout.
This was a great mix of science fiction, fantasy, and all around great writing (especially the world building). I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who's interested in Solarpunk, or anyone simply in need of a little extra lift. Definitely one I'll be buying a physical copy of.
May 10, 2023
Refuge by Mindi Briar ★★★★½
I want to go live on Planet Refuge with my dragon buddies right now! In general, the story is about making a difference through non-violence, a difference that will leave you happy.
In the Hearts of Dragons by Stephanie Wagner ★★★★½
“The air on board the Dragonship was green, fresh, alive.”
Our future is peaceful; learning and exploring the galaxy in living, telepathically bonded Dragonships! The dregs of old violence and money are still trying to takeover but dragons have strong hearts.
Summer Project by C.B. Carr ★★★★☆
“There it was, something she made, holding up a dragon.”
Gorgeous little story about women who save a dragon through prosthetics and courage.
Lost and Found by Brenda J. Pierson ★★★★☆
“Dragons worked to create an environment conducive to everyone and everything, maintaining the synergy of life and death in perfect balance.”
Lovely story about a desert world, New Persia, being terraformed by the grace of dragons.
Seven Year’s Among Dragons by Alyssa Chiavari ★★★★☆
Full on Solarpunk Dragon Fairytale Fantasy. From painful beginnings to a hopeful happy ending.
Fighting Fire With Fire by Gemini Pond ★★★½☆
Sweet story about a dragon who has helped generations of humans be the best versions of themselves. The extra half star was for the funny ending!
The Witch’s Son by Diane Dubas ★★★½☆
I could see this snap-shot short story growing into a Solarpunk Dragon Series!
Nico looked into those burning suns, the eyes of his father, and knew instinctively what to say.
“The age of dragons is upon us.”
The Shape of the Sun by Marianne L.D. Drolet ★★★☆☆
“The volcano has hung a literal dark cloud over us.”
A mega eruption has sent the planet into apocalyptic darkness. Unto this world dragons appear.
Fantasy is not required to make sense but it usually tries harder than this. That said, it was a pleasant read anyway.
Petrichor by Megan Reynolds ★★★☆☆
A meet-cute type story about a witch that lives on the edge of town during a terrible drought.
Glow by Caitlin Nicoll ★★★☆☆
A young woman ventures deep into the forest to find a dragon of her own.
Stained Glass Dragon by Jeanne LG ★★★☆☆
Pleasant story about an emotionally unstable young man winning a garden contest with the aid of dragons.
Wings of the Guiding Suns by M. Pax ★★★☆☆
As the counts down it’s last millennia humans are given one last chance to come to Accord.
One Last Sweet by Claudie Arseneault ★★★☆☆
YA story of the last days of a dragon’s life, a village fulfilling their sacred duty, and a boy determined to bring one last joy to an ancient being.
Community Outreach With Reluctant Neighbors (Alternatively, How To Avoid Cults) by Kat Lerner ★★★☆☆
Another lonely-dragon-witch-on-the-hill story, like Petrichor, but without the romance.
The Last Guardians by Jaylee James ★★★☆☆
Sad ending.
Sweet ending.
Hopeful ending.
The Dragon of Kou by Caroline Bigaiski ★★☆☆☆
This was the stuff of a grade school fairytales and I could see it successfully finding a place among an anthology for non-binary kids. But here it’s a sore thumb.
Dragon’s Oath by Danny Mitchell ★★☆☆☆
Snapshot story of a girl adopting a baby dragon upon the death of its mother. Too short, too little story.
Wanderer’s Dream by Maura Lydon ★☆☆☆☆
DNF. There is quite a lot about this story that I did not like, including the characters. It was an ugly thing to hear a lesbian kick her male friend by equating bravery and masculinity when his point was law and common sense. Boo!
Morelle and Vinna by Sam Martin ★☆☆☆☆
What the fuck was the point of that?!?!
Average: 2.89
December 28, 2022
Honestly a bit of a mixed bag for me - some stories were really good and I'll definitely be looking into more works by some authors, and other stories were honestly 1 stars or DNFs which I generally don't do, since they are short stories you'd think it'd be easy to finish but then I just couldn't even get through them.
December 8, 2015
Featured on All Our Worlds!
I’ve fallen in love with solarpunk. It combines the best of nature, technology, and human cooperation in settings where harmony is valued over profit and prejudice has long ago been defeated.
Solarpunk is a vision of the future that couldn’t be more different than dreary visions of war-torn dystopias ruled over by oppressive governments. It’s a return to the hopeful visions of 60s science fiction: worlds built by environmentalists and social justice activists, engineers and innovators. Societies that run on solar and wind power, where people work together instead of fighting, where anyone of any gender, race, and ability can achieve their dreams.
Add dragons and witches and spaceships to that, and I’ll never look back.
Not only are these stories full of imaginative worldbuilding and hope for the future, they’re also highly diverse.
This collection proudly features disability, racial diversity, and queerness, and various intersections of these. Wings of Renewal hits the ground running: the first story is about a girl who uses and designs prosthetic limbs building a leg for a dragon injured by poachers.
And that’s just the beginning. Following stories include all sorts of characters and settings: airships, spaceships, colony planets, farming communities; witches, shapeshifters, engineers, princesses.Three stories feature queer woman protagonists, and there are dozens of characters of color. Nobody is questioned for their skin color or gender. Instead of having to struggle against an ignorant society, they rescue dragons, save communities, and travel through space.
That’s what I most love about the diversity in this collection- it’s unchallenged. The problems characters face are all related to their adventure, not to having their identities accepted. Which is as the future should be!
On the critical side, I am little disappointed that none of the protagonists were nonbinary and/or transgender, though several minor NB characters did show up. The intended audience also seemed inconsistent. Some stories felt more YA or middle grade, while others felt like standard adult reading. But even with those nitpicks, the collection was amazing.
Solarpunk is the perfect stage for diverse SFF. It’s a future where we’ve overcome oppression and averted ecological crisis, where working together can achieve far more than anyone working alone.
I’ve fallen in love with solarpunk. It combines the best of nature, technology, and human cooperation in settings where harmony is valued over profit and prejudice has long ago been defeated.
Solarpunk is a vision of the future that couldn’t be more different than dreary visions of war-torn dystopias ruled over by oppressive governments. It’s a return to the hopeful visions of 60s science fiction: worlds built by environmentalists and social justice activists, engineers and innovators. Societies that run on solar and wind power, where people work together instead of fighting, where anyone of any gender, race, and ability can achieve their dreams.
Add dragons and witches and spaceships to that, and I’ll never look back.
Not only are these stories full of imaginative worldbuilding and hope for the future, they’re also highly diverse.
This collection proudly features disability, racial diversity, and queerness, and various intersections of these. Wings of Renewal hits the ground running: the first story is about a girl who uses and designs prosthetic limbs building a leg for a dragon injured by poachers.
And that’s just the beginning. Following stories include all sorts of characters and settings: airships, spaceships, colony planets, farming communities; witches, shapeshifters, engineers, princesses.Three stories feature queer woman protagonists, and there are dozens of characters of color. Nobody is questioned for their skin color or gender. Instead of having to struggle against an ignorant society, they rescue dragons, save communities, and travel through space.
That’s what I most love about the diversity in this collection- it’s unchallenged. The problems characters face are all related to their adventure, not to having their identities accepted. Which is as the future should be!
On the critical side, I am little disappointed that none of the protagonists were nonbinary and/or transgender, though several minor NB characters did show up. The intended audience also seemed inconsistent. Some stories felt more YA or middle grade, while others felt like standard adult reading. But even with those nitpicks, the collection was amazing.
Solarpunk is the perfect stage for diverse SFF. It’s a future where we’ve overcome oppression and averted ecological crisis, where working together can achieve far more than anyone working alone.
January 7, 2018
Meine erste "Anthology", Sammlung aus diversen Kurzgeschichten zum Thema.
Über das Thema Solarpunk bin ich erst vor einiger Zeit gestolpert und war begeistert. Eine nette Übersicht gibt es hier. In dieser wird auch dieses Werk hier aufgeführt. Entsprechend gespannt war ich. (Die Tatsache, dass alle Autorinnen weiblich sind und das perfekt in meine AAA-Challenge passte, war ein tolles Extra).
Wie vermutlich für Sammlungen (von mehrere Autoren/innen) üblich, war die Qualität der Geschichten sehr unterschiedlich. Einige fand ich sehr unterhaltsam, andere aus verschiedenen Gründen eher furchtbar. Insgesamt bin ich mir nicht sicher, ob ich etwas falsche Erwartungen an das Buch hatte. Ich hatte oft den Eindruck, dass alle Autorinnen eine Checkliste abgearbeitet haben um in das Genre Solarpunk und diese Sammlung zu passen. Eigentlich darf das keine Kritik an den einzelnen Geschichten sein, aber ich bewerte ja hier das Gesamtwerk und das war dann insgesamt leider nur ok.
Leser/innen, die sich mit dem Thema befassen wollen, würde ich etwas anderes empfehlen. Und: Man muss Drachen wirklich mögen :)
Über das Thema Solarpunk bin ich erst vor einiger Zeit gestolpert und war begeistert. Eine nette Übersicht gibt es hier. In dieser wird auch dieses Werk hier aufgeführt. Entsprechend gespannt war ich. (Die Tatsache, dass alle Autorinnen weiblich sind und das perfekt in meine AAA-Challenge passte, war ein tolles Extra).
Wie vermutlich für Sammlungen (von mehrere Autoren/innen) üblich, war die Qualität der Geschichten sehr unterschiedlich. Einige fand ich sehr unterhaltsam, andere aus verschiedenen Gründen eher furchtbar. Insgesamt bin ich mir nicht sicher, ob ich etwas falsche Erwartungen an das Buch hatte. Ich hatte oft den Eindruck, dass alle Autorinnen eine Checkliste abgearbeitet haben um in das Genre Solarpunk und diese Sammlung zu passen. Eigentlich darf das keine Kritik an den einzelnen Geschichten sein, aber ich bewerte ja hier das Gesamtwerk und das war dann insgesamt leider nur ok.
Leser/innen, die sich mit dem Thema befassen wollen, würde ich etwas anderes empfehlen. Und: Man muss Drachen wirklich mögen :)
October 23, 2015
Obviously, as an editor of this anthology, I LOVE all the stories within. I'm proud to be bringing more solarpunk literature into the world, especially mixed up with dragons!
To me these pages are an exploration of what solarpunk could be, of what happens when you rethink dragons to fit sustainable worlds where nature and community take precedence.
I do hope everyone will enjoy the dive as much as we did. :)
To me these pages are an exploration of what solarpunk could be, of what happens when you rethink dragons to fit sustainable worlds where nature and community take precedence.
I do hope everyone will enjoy the dive as much as we did. :)
March 16, 2016
Disclaimer: I'm IPB's freelance proofreader, but I did not work on this book--though it'll always be special to me because an article about it is what told me of IPB's existence in the first place. I love the ideas behind solarpunk, and I love dragons, so naturally I liked a lot of this book. I had to read in chunks so stories wouldn't blend together (as seemed possible with such specific criteria) but on the whole, very well done.
April 15, 2023
Wings of Renewal est une anthologie dirigée par Claudie Arseneault et Brenda J. Pierson et publiée de façon indépendante en 2017. Son sous-titre définit parfaitement ce que l’on peut en attendre : a Solarpunk Dragon Anthology.
The future is vibrant, hopeful, and filled with dragons.
In WINGS OF RENEWAL, nineteen authors explore the exciting new subgenre of solarpunk through the lens of these majestic creatures. Whether they irrigate dry terrain or serve as spaceships, are mythic beasts come to life or biomechanical creations of man, these dragons show us a world where renewable energy overcomes gas and oil, and cooperation replaces competition.
If you love fantasy/sci-fi fusion, this is an anthology you do not want to miss! So hop on solar wings, and follow us into futures that–for all their witches and dragons–are far more possible than they might seem.
L’ouvrage contient dix-neuf nouvelles mettant en scène des dragons dans des mondes solarpunk. Je vous propose un bref aperçu de chacune d’entre elles :
- Summer Project de C.B. Carr : une « chasse » au dragon, autour du thème du handicap
- In the Hearts of Dragons de Stephanie Wagner : le dragon est un vaisseau spatial vivant, véritable écosystème autonome dans l'espace, avec un pilote en connexion télépathique avec le dragon
- The Shape of the Sun de Marianne L.D. Drolet : une immense éruption volcanique recouvre l'atmosphère terrestre d'un nuage monumental qui bloque les rayons du soleil ; quelques jours plus tard, des dragons apparaissent dans le ciel
- Petrichor de Megan Reynolds : une jeune femme vole une fleur dans le jardin d'une sorcière et propose en échange de travailler à son service, dans une ville victime d'une terrible sécheresse
- Glow de Caitlin Nicoll : une histoire de rivalité amicale et de quête, à la recherche des derniers dragons vivants
- Lost and Found de Brenda J. Pierson : sur une planète en cours de terraformation, un couple humain en crise, un désir d'enfant, un dragon et son oeuf
- The Stained Glass Dragon de Jeanne LG : un inventeur de petits dragons mécaniques est obsédé par sa dernière invention avec laquelle il espère bien remporter le concours annuel
- Fighting Fire with Fire de Gemini Pond : dans le Sahara, un village qui a su créer une oasis humaine au milieu du désert grâce à l'aide d'un dragon bienveillant, doit désormais lutter contre un feu qui approche dangereusement
- The Dragon of Kou de Caroline Bigaiski : une femme et son dragon domestique partent à la recherche du grand dragon qui tempère habituellement le climat de la région et qui a disparu depuis plusieurs jours
- Refuge de Mindi Briar : un pilote de dragon interstellaire, blessé dans la lutte entre un empire et des rebelles, se retrouve dans un refuge neutre
- The Witch's Son de Diane Dubas : dans un monde qui a su répondre au défi du changement climatique, le fils d'une sorcière se retrouve au seuil d'une nouvelle ère où dragons et humains pourraient à nouveau cohabiter
- Dragon's Oath de Danny Mitchell : une humaine confrontée à la mort d'un dragon et la naissance d'un autre
- Morelle and Vina de Sam Martin : deux adolescentes avides de faire leurs preuves utilisent leurs compétences en biotechnologie pour essayer de créer un dragon mi-vivant mi-artificiel
- Wings of the Guiding Suns de M. Pax : une civilisation spatiale draconique revient sur Terre, des millions d'années après y avoir sauvé les dinosaures, pour aider les derniers survivants humains
- Seven Years Among Dragons de Lyssa Chiavari : une princesse, un roi, une reine, des dragons lointains, cela commence comme un conte de fée, mais c'est un peu plus que cela
- One Last Sweet de Claudie Arseneault : quinze ans après la dernière visite d'un de ses congénères, un village accueille un dragon pour son dernier voyage
- Community Outreach with Reluctant Neighbors, alternatively, How to Avoid Cults de Kat Lerner : une employée d'un centre communautaire cherche à sympathiser avec la sorcière qui vit recluse dans le quartier
- Wanderer's Dream de Maura Lydon : une jeune femme et son meilleur ami en voyage viennent en aide à une femme ayant brisé l'interdit ultime, parler avec un dragon
- The Last Guardians de Jaylee James : les deux derniers dragons gardiens d'une cité humaine vivent leurs derniers jours
Comme vous l’avez remarqué à la lecture de ces résumés, la frontière entre science-fiction et fantasy varie d’une texte à l’autre. Je pense que cela contribue à la qualité du recueil : la surprise et la découverte font ici partie du plaisir de lecture.
Là où je suis peut-être un peu dubitatif, c’est sur l’appartenance de certains textes au genre solarpunk. A mon avis, il ne suffit pas d’avoir des panneaux solaires pour cela. L’esthétique ne fait sans doute pas tout. Ce que j’ai beaucoup aimé par contre, c’est la notion de communauté qui est très présente dans les textes. Et bien sûr, la présence des dragons et la façon dont chaque auteur a su en donner une représentation et une interprétation différentes.
Finalement, je ne sais pas si j’ai été pleinement séduit par cette anthologie, mais certains textes valent vraiment le coup et l’ensemble est plutôt réussi.
The future is vibrant, hopeful, and filled with dragons.
In WINGS OF RENEWAL, nineteen authors explore the exciting new subgenre of solarpunk through the lens of these majestic creatures. Whether they irrigate dry terrain or serve as spaceships, are mythic beasts come to life or biomechanical creations of man, these dragons show us a world where renewable energy overcomes gas and oil, and cooperation replaces competition.
If you love fantasy/sci-fi fusion, this is an anthology you do not want to miss! So hop on solar wings, and follow us into futures that–for all their witches and dragons–are far more possible than they might seem.
L’ouvrage contient dix-neuf nouvelles mettant en scène des dragons dans des mondes solarpunk. Je vous propose un bref aperçu de chacune d’entre elles :
- Summer Project de C.B. Carr : une « chasse » au dragon, autour du thème du handicap
- In the Hearts of Dragons de Stephanie Wagner : le dragon est un vaisseau spatial vivant, véritable écosystème autonome dans l'espace, avec un pilote en connexion télépathique avec le dragon
- The Shape of the Sun de Marianne L.D. Drolet : une immense éruption volcanique recouvre l'atmosphère terrestre d'un nuage monumental qui bloque les rayons du soleil ; quelques jours plus tard, des dragons apparaissent dans le ciel
- Petrichor de Megan Reynolds : une jeune femme vole une fleur dans le jardin d'une sorcière et propose en échange de travailler à son service, dans une ville victime d'une terrible sécheresse
- Glow de Caitlin Nicoll : une histoire de rivalité amicale et de quête, à la recherche des derniers dragons vivants
- Lost and Found de Brenda J. Pierson : sur une planète en cours de terraformation, un couple humain en crise, un désir d'enfant, un dragon et son oeuf
- The Stained Glass Dragon de Jeanne LG : un inventeur de petits dragons mécaniques est obsédé par sa dernière invention avec laquelle il espère bien remporter le concours annuel
- Fighting Fire with Fire de Gemini Pond : dans le Sahara, un village qui a su créer une oasis humaine au milieu du désert grâce à l'aide d'un dragon bienveillant, doit désormais lutter contre un feu qui approche dangereusement
- The Dragon of Kou de Caroline Bigaiski : une femme et son dragon domestique partent à la recherche du grand dragon qui tempère habituellement le climat de la région et qui a disparu depuis plusieurs jours
- Refuge de Mindi Briar : un pilote de dragon interstellaire, blessé dans la lutte entre un empire et des rebelles, se retrouve dans un refuge neutre
- The Witch's Son de Diane Dubas : dans un monde qui a su répondre au défi du changement climatique, le fils d'une sorcière se retrouve au seuil d'une nouvelle ère où dragons et humains pourraient à nouveau cohabiter
- Dragon's Oath de Danny Mitchell : une humaine confrontée à la mort d'un dragon et la naissance d'un autre
- Morelle and Vina de Sam Martin : deux adolescentes avides de faire leurs preuves utilisent leurs compétences en biotechnologie pour essayer de créer un dragon mi-vivant mi-artificiel
- Wings of the Guiding Suns de M. Pax : une civilisation spatiale draconique revient sur Terre, des millions d'années après y avoir sauvé les dinosaures, pour aider les derniers survivants humains
- Seven Years Among Dragons de Lyssa Chiavari : une princesse, un roi, une reine, des dragons lointains, cela commence comme un conte de fée, mais c'est un peu plus que cela
- One Last Sweet de Claudie Arseneault : quinze ans après la dernière visite d'un de ses congénères, un village accueille un dragon pour son dernier voyage
- Community Outreach with Reluctant Neighbors, alternatively, How to Avoid Cults de Kat Lerner : une employée d'un centre communautaire cherche à sympathiser avec la sorcière qui vit recluse dans le quartier
- Wanderer's Dream de Maura Lydon : une jeune femme et son meilleur ami en voyage viennent en aide à une femme ayant brisé l'interdit ultime, parler avec un dragon
- The Last Guardians de Jaylee James : les deux derniers dragons gardiens d'une cité humaine vivent leurs derniers jours
Comme vous l’avez remarqué à la lecture de ces résumés, la frontière entre science-fiction et fantasy varie d’une texte à l’autre. Je pense que cela contribue à la qualité du recueil : la surprise et la découverte font ici partie du plaisir de lecture.
Là où je suis peut-être un peu dubitatif, c’est sur l’appartenance de certains textes au genre solarpunk. A mon avis, il ne suffit pas d’avoir des panneaux solaires pour cela. L’esthétique ne fait sans doute pas tout. Ce que j’ai beaucoup aimé par contre, c’est la notion de communauté qui est très présente dans les textes. Et bien sûr, la présence des dragons et la façon dont chaque auteur a su en donner une représentation et une interprétation différentes.
Finalement, je ne sais pas si j’ai été pleinement séduit par cette anthologie, mais certains textes valent vraiment le coup et l’ensemble est plutôt réussi.
April 28, 2019
Originally I found the idea of combining solarpunk with dragons inspiring and interesting as they seem to belong to different genres (at least in my head) - solarpunk is more scifi and dragons are more fantasy. But overall it seemed, most of the stories ended up being more fantasy with the existence of dragon just taken for granted. It was kind of a challenge to read stories where dragons protect and save humans from ecological and environmental problems and disasters (and many of the stories repeated this same idea or theme). Maybe that was supposed to be the hope that's an integral part of solarpunk, but it turned out to be a mostly naive solution in most of the stories. I hoped for more. Some of the stories read more like novels because of the writing style, I had very little patience for them, even though they weren't bad or badly written. The rambling and detailed style just isn't something I want in a short story.
That being said, there were two gems in this anthology: my absolute favorite Mindi Briar's Refuge (which is based on a novel she's writing) and Wings of the Guiding Suns by M. Pax. Refuge was the only story in the anthology that really felt like solarpunk to me, that had in its core the ideas of hope and nonviolence and that gave me the feeling of finally having found what I've been looking for. Wings of the Guiding Suns just had the kind of dragons that felt fresh and unique among all the other stories and the scale of the story was also refreshing.
That being said, there were two gems in this anthology: my absolute favorite Mindi Briar's Refuge (which is based on a novel she's writing) and Wings of the Guiding Suns by M. Pax. Refuge was the only story in the anthology that really felt like solarpunk to me, that had in its core the ideas of hope and nonviolence and that gave me the feeling of finally having found what I've been looking for. Wings of the Guiding Suns just had the kind of dragons that felt fresh and unique among all the other stories and the scale of the story was also refreshing.
October 31, 2017
The theme of the anthology is a super fantastic idea - I mean, solarpunk AND dragons, best combo, right? - but perhaps it would work better in a novel, with a fully developed cast. Somehow the stories themselves, despite being full of cool & inspiring ideas, ultimately failed to resonate with me/make me go WOW. Plus those cool ideas often seemed too in-your-face, as in the story revolved around insistently pointing them out, little kid style, instead of going somewhere.
Some of my favourites:
Community Outreach with Reluctant Neighbor >>> this has to be my absolute fave in the line-up, grumpy witch & overenthusiastic cinnamon roll, baby dragons & shapeshifting - feel-good. and solar panels.
The Dragon of Kou <<< also nice shapeshifting, though I had trouble connecting with the story.
Refuge >>> really cute sci-fi where a violence-intolerant dragon-like creature brings her human to a nice planet.
Summer Project >>> friendship & prosthetics, pretty nice.
Petrichor <<< in many ways similar to Community Outreach, also shapeshifting witch.
There was another YMMV problem with the stories - for an anthology celebrating dragons, it sure featured a lot of dragon death (I'm looking at you, One Last Sweet and Dragon's Oath). That was sweet but also SAD, I don't want so much sad, dragons already die in every other story ever!
Some of my favourites:
Community Outreach with Reluctant Neighbor >>> this has to be my absolute fave in the line-up, grumpy witch & overenthusiastic cinnamon roll, baby dragons & shapeshifting - feel-good. and solar panels.
The Dragon of Kou <<< also nice shapeshifting, though I had trouble connecting with the story.
Refuge >>> really cute sci-fi where a violence-intolerant dragon-like creature brings her human to a nice planet.
Summer Project >>> friendship & prosthetics, pretty nice.
Petrichor <<< in many ways similar to Community Outreach, also shapeshifting witch.
There was another YMMV problem with the stories - for an anthology celebrating dragons, it sure featured a lot of dragon death (I'm looking at you, One Last Sweet and Dragon's Oath). That was sweet but also SAD, I don't want so much sad, dragons already die in every other story ever!
December 18, 2017
As with all anthologies, A few have potential, a number are simplistic, most are badly written and boring.
And as with most white western authors, the amount of (casual) racism is overwhelming. I don't necessarily want to point fingers because I'm sure it is most likely ignorance, rather than ill-intent, but the exoticization of women of other cultures under the guise of representation is one disturbing example. It also very often shows in sf/f in the simple use of "exotic" names, and this anthology is no exception.
And as with most white western authors, the amount of (casual) racism is overwhelming. I don't necessarily want to point fingers because I'm sure it is most likely ignorance, rather than ill-intent, but the exoticization of women of other cultures under the guise of representation is one disturbing example. It also very often shows in sf/f in the simple use of "exotic" names, and this anthology is no exception.
April 21, 2024
I love, love, love this one.
There isn't a single story in there that I didn't like. I love, love, love some and am itching to re-read them already.
There is so much hope in this stories. Yes, some of them are sad but they still have hope!
There are dragons in so many shapes and sizes and everything. <3
So many POVs - young, old, human, dragon - and settings - past, future, fantasy, sci-fi.
I love it!
There isn't a single story in there that I didn't like. I love, love, love some and am itching to re-read them already.
There is so much hope in this stories. Yes, some of them are sad but they still have hope!
There are dragons in so many shapes and sizes and everything. <3
So many POVs - young, old, human, dragon - and settings - past, future, fantasy, sci-fi.
I love it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2015
Though generally diverse, too large a percentage of the twenty-two titles struck me as having in common an incompleteness, lacking a solid sense of beginning, middle, and end – more vignettes than full, grounded stories. With the frequent absence of well-executed tension and an excess of characters flatly portrayed, I was bored and frustrated for much of the book. However, a handful of the tales did leave a favorable impression. My notes on these, scribbled down as I read, were as follows:
“LOST AND FOUND by Brenda J. Pierson = At least the narrative voice is feeling smooth and natural... And yay for some actual tension and character development. Plot even came full circle.
SOLARIUM by Kimberly Kay and A. N. Gephart = Things happening. Tension. Action. Decent writing. Thank God.
REFUGE by Mindi Briar = Ahhh, someone else who knows how to write. How pleasant. And gotta say, Fairy is kind of hilarious.
THE DRAGON OF KOU by Caroline Bigaiski = Liking the storytelling in this one; the story told within the story. Accessable.
SEVEN YEARS AMONG DRAGONS by Lyssa Chiavari = A fairytale! With conflict! Yes. Good. Bordering on true awesomeness.”
This was my first brush with solarpunk, and I would be willing to sample other offerings within the genre to better determine whether or not it’s a flavor I have or can develop a taste for. Readers with tastes and expectations differing from mine may find the “Wings of Renewal” collection to be an overall more enjoyable read.
(ARC received in exchange for an honest review.)
“LOST AND FOUND by Brenda J. Pierson = At least the narrative voice is feeling smooth and natural... And yay for some actual tension and character development. Plot even came full circle.
SOLARIUM by Kimberly Kay and A. N. Gephart = Things happening. Tension. Action. Decent writing. Thank God.
REFUGE by Mindi Briar = Ahhh, someone else who knows how to write. How pleasant. And gotta say, Fairy is kind of hilarious.
THE DRAGON OF KOU by Caroline Bigaiski = Liking the storytelling in this one; the story told within the story. Accessable.
SEVEN YEARS AMONG DRAGONS by Lyssa Chiavari = A fairytale! With conflict! Yes. Good. Bordering on true awesomeness.”
This was my first brush with solarpunk, and I would be willing to sample other offerings within the genre to better determine whether or not it’s a flavor I have or can develop a taste for. Readers with tastes and expectations differing from mine may find the “Wings of Renewal” collection to be an overall more enjoyable read.
(ARC received in exchange for an honest review.)
March 23, 2025
I don’t usually take a chance on buying books that I haven’t read first, but I had some gift card money so I thought I’d buy it on Amazon. Normally anthology books don’t really excite me and the one or two stories I like still don’t make it worth the effort of buying the book.
With this one I don’t think there was a single story I really disliked. There are a lot of stories I’d give different ratings to, but nothing fell below three stars for me. My favorite story has to be the very first one in the book titled, ‘Summer Project’ in which two girls rescue a dragon who is missing a limb, make a prosthetic for her, and release her while taking out some poachers in the process.
Some of the stories had a better grip on the whole solarpunk theme than others, but overall it was really nice to read a bunch of stories with the green energy. The other thing I appreciated was the sprinkling of lesbian relationships throughout the book. I don’t know if the authors were given a set of themes to choose from if they wished but it made me happy to see such positive representation. The other thing I was happy about was the racial diversity in the majority of the stories, many characters were described as being dark skinned. There were also many strong female characters throughout the book which is a nice change from other books.
I’d really recommend giving this anthology a try if you love dragons, science fiction, fantasy, or are even just looking for stories with more diverse characters.
July 3, 2017
Overall, an original and worthwhile collection of a type of story I'd love to see a lot more of. Standouts for me were:
"Community Outreach with Reluctant Neighbors" by Kat Lerner
"One Last Sweet" by Claudie Arseneault
"The Last Guardians" by J. Lee Ellorris
"Refuge" by Mindi Briar
"The Shape of the Sun" by Marianne L.D. Drolet
"Lost and Found" by Brenda J. Pierson
"Community Outreach with Reluctant Neighbors" by Kat Lerner
"One Last Sweet" by Claudie Arseneault
"The Last Guardians" by J. Lee Ellorris
"Refuge" by Mindi Briar
"The Shape of the Sun" by Marianne L.D. Drolet
"Lost and Found" by Brenda J. Pierson
Read
October 26, 2015you may find me somewhere between these pages
December 30, 2017
I love the general idea of solarpunk - the hopefulness, the outlook, the ideology and the diversity. However, I am still waiting on some story that would totally blow me away. This volume had some stories which show great potential - others not so much. Some stories were built around a single idea that was not even enough to hold up a short story. And in one or two stories I felt the writers should have given the diverse aspects more thought.
However, instead of focusing on the negative, here are my favourite stories:
Petrichor by Megan Reynolds: A beginning, a middle, an end, a totally bewitching witch and a sweet love story between two women who came alive in the few pages of the stories. What isn't there to love?
The Dragon of Kou, Caroline Bigaiski: This reminded me a bit of some of the manga I read when I was younger, but perhaps the story was even better because it was just as long as it should be without unnecessary frills. A wonderful, solarpunk spin on an old trope.
Refuge, Mindi Briar: I fell utterly in love with Fairy, so of course this has to be among my favourites. This story had a lot of the elements I like in YA without those I don't.
Morelle and Vina, Sam Martin: I had to roll my eyes so often while reading this, a bunch of young people getting together, working miracles, yada yada. But the ending made this one of the best and most memorable stories!
Community Outreach with Reluctant Neighbors, Kat Lerner: What can I say, I loved both Ivy and Win! I loved how Ivy was so involved in her community centre, and enjoyed all the activities there so unironically.
Wanderer's Dream, Maura Lyon: Of all my favourites, the most disappointing perhaps. This story opened an interesting world, began to build good characters - and then ended abruptly. This felt like the beginning of a novel not a short story.
However, instead of focusing on the negative, here are my favourite stories:
Petrichor by Megan Reynolds: A beginning, a middle, an end, a totally bewitching witch and a sweet love story between two women who came alive in the few pages of the stories. What isn't there to love?
The Dragon of Kou, Caroline Bigaiski: This reminded me a bit of some of the manga I read when I was younger, but perhaps the story was even better because it was just as long as it should be without unnecessary frills. A wonderful, solarpunk spin on an old trope.
Refuge, Mindi Briar: I fell utterly in love with Fairy, so of course this has to be among my favourites. This story had a lot of the elements I like in YA without those I don't.
Morelle and Vina, Sam Martin: I had to roll my eyes so often while reading this, a bunch of young people getting together, working miracles, yada yada. But the ending made this one of the best and most memorable stories!
Community Outreach with Reluctant Neighbors, Kat Lerner: What can I say, I loved both Ivy and Win! I loved how Ivy was so involved in her community centre, and enjoyed all the activities there so unironically.
Wanderer's Dream, Maura Lyon: Of all my favourites, the most disappointing perhaps. This story opened an interesting world, began to build good characters - and then ended abruptly. This felt like the beginning of a novel not a short story.
May 28, 2024
"Dragons worked to create an environment conducive to everyone and everything, maintaining the synergy of life and death in perfect balance."
"In those days, there were so many dragons, their shared energy could summon magic. They would come together and sing, calling down starlight or charming power from the depths of the sea to forge protective charms, heal the injured, or invite fertility and prosperity."
Traditionally, dragons occupy the archetypal mold of a monster-to-be-slain, usually as denizens of the fantasy genre alone. Science fiction in the twentieth century, meanwhile, has tended present a distinctly dark take on futuristic settings, as epitomized by the cyberpunk subgenre, which has been inverted in the recently growing subgenre of solarpunk. The anthology series, then, offer nineteen solarpunk short stories with the only common element being the incorporation of dragons in some manner, intended to similarly recast the conventional uses of this mythical creature. The theme of humanity living in harmony and co-existence with the natural world runs through all these sorts. Just as nature is no longer placed in opposition, so too are dragon throughout not placed in their conventional role of antagonistic beasts. The different stories further creatively imagine different variations on what dragons can be from shapeshifting witches and immortal creatures infused with magic to interstellar navigators and living spaceships, effectively also adding in the science fiction elements to the DNA of such conventionally fantasy creatures.
Perhaps the best stories out of this anthology were "Refuge," a tale of a space pilot learning to work in harmony with an unexpected dragon companion, and "Petrichor," a quaint story, more on the fantasy side, concerning the reclusive witch of a small town and sightings of her dragon.
"In those days, there were so many dragons, their shared energy could summon magic. They would come together and sing, calling down starlight or charming power from the depths of the sea to forge protective charms, heal the injured, or invite fertility and prosperity."
Traditionally, dragons occupy the archetypal mold of a monster-to-be-slain, usually as denizens of the fantasy genre alone. Science fiction in the twentieth century, meanwhile, has tended present a distinctly dark take on futuristic settings, as epitomized by the cyberpunk subgenre, which has been inverted in the recently growing subgenre of solarpunk. The anthology series, then, offer nineteen solarpunk short stories with the only common element being the incorporation of dragons in some manner, intended to similarly recast the conventional uses of this mythical creature. The theme of humanity living in harmony and co-existence with the natural world runs through all these sorts. Just as nature is no longer placed in opposition, so too are dragon throughout not placed in their conventional role of antagonistic beasts. The different stories further creatively imagine different variations on what dragons can be from shapeshifting witches and immortal creatures infused with magic to interstellar navigators and living spaceships, effectively also adding in the science fiction elements to the DNA of such conventionally fantasy creatures.
Perhaps the best stories out of this anthology were "Refuge," a tale of a space pilot learning to work in harmony with an unexpected dragon companion, and "Petrichor," a quaint story, more on the fantasy side, concerning the reclusive witch of a small town and sightings of her dragon.
October 16, 2017
This collection is a delightful, bountiful buffet of ideas. The various authors have contributed many different interpretations of dragons — as hope-inspiring beings of magic and/or technology, helping and cohabitating with humans of all stripes. Most of the major characters are female and/or queer (even some of the dragons!), and the humans are often PoC and/or followers of non-Christian faiths.
My favourite stories? Megan Reynolds’s “Petrichor” is a standout; I definitely think those shape-shifting witches using dragon form to save their village are worth the price of admission to the whole book. I also loved “Refuge” by Mindi Briar, and I wish I could spend more time with starship pilot Prince and his ethereal dragon friend, Fairy. Finally, I think “The Last Guardians” by J. Lee Ellorris was an excellent embodiment of the anthology's spirit and a perfectly placed final story to send the reader off: a dying pair of lovingly mated dragons summon the last of their magic to bring new hope to their community.
I enjoyed nearly all of the stories, although I felt that some of them didn’t quite hit their emotional/thematic marks and needed a little more fine-tuning. Others felt to me like first chapters of novels, not like stand-alone stories. Still, Wings Of Renewal includes some real gems. It’s well worth reading if you’re looking for some positive glimpses into dragon-inhabited worlds.
My favourite stories? Megan Reynolds’s “Petrichor” is a standout; I definitely think those shape-shifting witches using dragon form to save their village are worth the price of admission to the whole book. I also loved “Refuge” by Mindi Briar, and I wish I could spend more time with starship pilot Prince and his ethereal dragon friend, Fairy. Finally, I think “The Last Guardians” by J. Lee Ellorris was an excellent embodiment of the anthology's spirit and a perfectly placed final story to send the reader off: a dying pair of lovingly mated dragons summon the last of their magic to bring new hope to their community.
I enjoyed nearly all of the stories, although I felt that some of them didn’t quite hit their emotional/thematic marks and needed a little more fine-tuning. Others felt to me like first chapters of novels, not like stand-alone stories. Still, Wings Of Renewal includes some real gems. It’s well worth reading if you’re looking for some positive glimpses into dragon-inhabited worlds.
March 17, 2019
This is the first short story anthology I’ve ever finished (and loved). This is also my first time reading anything literary about Solarpunk. Quite frankly, Solarpunk is such a new punk style that it still has a long way to go and lots of recognition to achieve. It’s a very cool punk, IMO, much cooler than steampunk or dieselpunk. The main aim of solarpunk is to cultivate nature and nurture, and sow the seeds of hope.
This anthology has got 22 short stories, each one more unique and quirkier and cooler than the other. Each story features solarpunk aspects and aesthetics, as well as dragons in some way.
Confession: I mostly picked up this anthology since my current novel has solarpunk setting and dragons in it. But though I picked it up for research and creative inspiration, I stuck to it only because the core of the anthology fascinated me. I loved every story, though my bias heart loves a few more than the rest. But I’d recommend this book 100% if you are looking for a fresh taste in SciFi and fantasy, and need to cleanse your palate from the grim-dark dystopian and nihilistic cyberpunk SciFi books.
This anthology has got 22 short stories, each one more unique and quirkier and cooler than the other. Each story features solarpunk aspects and aesthetics, as well as dragons in some way.
Confession: I mostly picked up this anthology since my current novel has solarpunk setting and dragons in it. But though I picked it up for research and creative inspiration, I stuck to it only because the core of the anthology fascinated me. I loved every story, though my bias heart loves a few more than the rest. But I’d recommend this book 100% if you are looking for a fresh taste in SciFi and fantasy, and need to cleanse your palate from the grim-dark dystopian and nihilistic cyberpunk SciFi books.
January 19, 2018
Overall I really enjoyed this collection. Though some stories stood out more than others I think as a whole, this is a really strong anthology. I love solarpunk and I think dragons fit very well into the genre; we have so many negative, pessimistic stories of the future it's nice to read hopeful versions of what humanity might achieve.
Theme anthologies sometimes end up sounding sort of same-y, but I thought the story selection for this one had enough variation that it never fell into a rut. Some of the stories did have some structural issues--they felt more like introductions to larger works than stories in their own right but short stories can be difficult to negotiate in terms of what to put in and what to leave out. But even the stories that were weaker structurally were enjoyable, with many interesting concepts and worlds introduced. I thought the last story was such a perfect way to wrap up the collection.
I would definitely recommend this to people who are tired of bleak futurisms and/or anyone who loves dragons!
Theme anthologies sometimes end up sounding sort of same-y, but I thought the story selection for this one had enough variation that it never fell into a rut. Some of the stories did have some structural issues--they felt more like introductions to larger works than stories in their own right but short stories can be difficult to negotiate in terms of what to put in and what to leave out. But even the stories that were weaker structurally were enjoyable, with many interesting concepts and worlds introduced. I thought the last story was such a perfect way to wrap up the collection.
I would definitely recommend this to people who are tired of bleak futurisms and/or anyone who loves dragons!
July 29, 2023
DNF at 32%
I really, really wanted to like this one. And honestly, I didn't think a lot of the stories were that bad, but this didn't feel like the right anthology for a lot of them. I felt like a lot of them were connecting really well with the 'dragons' part of the concept, and not really as much with the 'solarpunk' part of the concept- some touched on solarpunk themes, but others just kind of seemed like pure fantasy that maybe mentioned trees or solar panels, if that makes sense?
Also, a lot of the stories in this were just kind of ok. I didn't really enjoy this, but if you're looking for an anthology with a lot of stuff on dragons, it might be the right thing for someone else.
I really, really wanted to like this one. And honestly, I didn't think a lot of the stories were that bad, but this didn't feel like the right anthology for a lot of them. I felt like a lot of them were connecting really well with the 'dragons' part of the concept, and not really as much with the 'solarpunk' part of the concept- some touched on solarpunk themes, but others just kind of seemed like pure fantasy that maybe mentioned trees or solar panels, if that makes sense?
Also, a lot of the stories in this were just kind of ok. I didn't really enjoy this, but if you're looking for an anthology with a lot of stuff on dragons, it might be the right thing for someone else.
April 5, 2019
This is a lovely collection of inspiring and enchanting stories. I adore the solarpunk genre, and to see it haunted by spirits and dragons delights me to no end. I also really enjoyed the broad spectrum of characters - there are all shapes, sizes, colors, sexualities, identities and more. The worlds feel as a live and green as they should, and I hope it inspires us to make this world the same.
December 30, 2019
I loved this anthology. The stories are a wonderful mixture of scifi and fantasy. I loved the diversity of the characters. It was so soothing and validating to read about people like me and my nearest and dearest. I loved the hopefulness of the stories and the creativity of the worlds they showed.
October 27, 2020
Awesome book of shorts. All solar punk with dragons
Loved the solar punk theme intertwined with Dragons. I love reading short stories, and getting introduced to new authors. I will look up more of these authors.
Loved the solar punk theme intertwined with Dragons. I love reading short stories, and getting introduced to new authors. I will look up more of these authors.
June 8, 2024
A decent collection of stories from authors near the start of their careers. The stories felt a little samey, but it has admittedly been a while since I read such a strictly themed anthology. Enjoyable overall.
June 29, 2021
The story is good fun and something different from the norm.
March 8, 2023
I first heard of this book back around 2018, and I’m so glad I finally got to read it. Incredibly rich and beautiful dragon stories, and the last one REALLY got me. I’m crying right now!
August 2, 2020
This collection was a mixed bag. Dragons and solarpunk showed up in all stories, so there was no break in the theme, but some of the stories felt...incomplete? They had a beginning and a set-up, and then they sort of just ended. None of the stories were bad, they just left me a little confused.
That said, the cover art alone is worth getting this book because Agata Jędrychowska did an amazing job with it! Just gorgeous!
My favorite stories of this collection are In the Hearts of Dragons by Stephanie Wagner (love me some telepathy and bonding drama in space!), The Shape of the Sun by Marianne L. D. Drolet (starts out very bleak but builds to bittersweet), Solarium by Kimberly Kay & A. N. Gephart (good build-up and pay-off, had a nice part about loyalty that I'm always a fan of), Refuge by Mindi Briar (an interesting scifi take on dragons and emotional connections, gonna keep an eye out for the book this is part of), The Dragon of Kou by Caroline Bigaiski (had a nice fairy tale feel to it), The Witch's Son by Diane Dubas (powerful last line; would love to know how this continues but it also feels complete as a story), Wings of the Guiding Suns by M. Pax (post-apocalyptic space dragon ships, I'm all for it!) and Community Outreach with Reluctant Neighbors (alternatively, How to Avoid Cults) by Kat Learner (funny and cute).
I over all enjoyed this anthology and would recommend it to people who really like dragons, solarpunk, or both.
That said, the cover art alone is worth getting this book because Agata Jędrychowska did an amazing job with it! Just gorgeous!
My favorite stories of this collection are In the Hearts of Dragons by Stephanie Wagner (love me some telepathy and bonding drama in space!), The Shape of the Sun by Marianne L. D. Drolet (starts out very bleak but builds to bittersweet), Solarium by Kimberly Kay & A. N. Gephart (good build-up and pay-off, had a nice part about loyalty that I'm always a fan of), Refuge by Mindi Briar (an interesting scifi take on dragons and emotional connections, gonna keep an eye out for the book this is part of), The Dragon of Kou by Caroline Bigaiski (had a nice fairy tale feel to it), The Witch's Son by Diane Dubas (powerful last line; would love to know how this continues but it also feels complete as a story), Wings of the Guiding Suns by M. Pax (post-apocalyptic space dragon ships, I'm all for it!) and Community Outreach with Reluctant Neighbors (alternatively, How to Avoid Cults) by Kat Learner (funny and cute).
I over all enjoyed this anthology and would recommend it to people who really like dragons, solarpunk, or both.
November 17, 2022
Summer Project: 5/5
I love the very solarpunk feel of this. Features an engineer who is an amputee and makes a living creating prosthetic devices. She designs and 3D prints a prosthetic limb for a dragon to help save her from poachers. The writing felt a bit clunky and cheesy at some points, but it didn't make me enjoy the story any less. I would love to see a whole book set in this world.
In the Hearts of Dragons: 4/5
This story felt less solarpunk than I'd expect. The only thing that felt solarpunk about it was the vague criticism of unfettered capitalism, and brief mentions of green, cooperative living. It seems more like space science fiction (but, y'know, with dragons?) Definitely on the imaginative and unique side. This story follows a woman learning to live on a bio-engineered dragon space ship. In my opinion, it wasn't the most exciting solarpunk story, but I enjoyed the creativity of it.
The Shape of the Sun: 2/5
Again, this story lacks the solarpunk world-building that gets me excited about this genre. I would be more inclined to call this climate fiction (but again, y'know, with dragons?). In this story, a volcano erupts, thrusting the world into an eternal smoky darkness that may mean the end of civilization. But soon, an unlikely group of heroes come to save the day! This short story just felt incomplete, like it could potentially be the start of something, but it isn't satisfying on its own.
Petrichor: 5/5
I LOVED this one! Once again, it didn't have the true solarpunk feel that I'm looking for, but the story was so great that I didn't care. This one is about a strange witch living on the edge of a drought stricken town, and her reluctant new assistant who unravels the mystery behind the witch's sudden appearance and her seemingly magical farm.
I love the very solarpunk feel of this. Features an engineer who is an amputee and makes a living creating prosthetic devices. She designs and 3D prints a prosthetic limb for a dragon to help save her from poachers. The writing felt a bit clunky and cheesy at some points, but it didn't make me enjoy the story any less. I would love to see a whole book set in this world.
In the Hearts of Dragons: 4/5
This story felt less solarpunk than I'd expect. The only thing that felt solarpunk about it was the vague criticism of unfettered capitalism, and brief mentions of green, cooperative living. It seems more like space science fiction (but, y'know, with dragons?) Definitely on the imaginative and unique side. This story follows a woman learning to live on a bio-engineered dragon space ship. In my opinion, it wasn't the most exciting solarpunk story, but I enjoyed the creativity of it.
The Shape of the Sun: 2/5
Again, this story lacks the solarpunk world-building that gets me excited about this genre. I would be more inclined to call this climate fiction (but again, y'know, with dragons?). In this story, a volcano erupts, thrusting the world into an eternal smoky darkness that may mean the end of civilization. But soon, an unlikely group of heroes come to save the day! This short story just felt incomplete, like it could potentially be the start of something, but it isn't satisfying on its own.
Petrichor: 5/5
I LOVED this one! Once again, it didn't have the true solarpunk feel that I'm looking for, but the story was so great that I didn't care. This one is about a strange witch living on the edge of a drought stricken town, and her reluctant new assistant who unravels the mystery behind the witch's sudden appearance and her seemingly magical farm.
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