The Dragons of Springplace

by Robert Reed

In the title story of this first-rate science fiction collection, a renegade misfit conquers the dragons and renews the threat of nuclear chaos aboard Springplace, a man-made repository for old reactor cores, dirty plutonium, and dismantled bombs. Another story is a sprawling intergalactic epic that takes place aboard a starship. Salvaged and commandeered by humans, the massive generation starship becomes the setting for a titanic struggle between two alien entities who engage in a monumental battle for survival. The tale explores not just an alien milieu but the nature of man himself when another ancient starship lands and investigates an icy unknown planet inhabited by humans millions of years earlier.

Contents:
The Dragons of Springplace (1997)
Waging Good (1995)
To Church with Mr. Multhiford (1997)
Stride (1994)
Chrysalis (1996)
The Utility Man (1990)
Guest of Honor (1993)
Decency (1996)
The Remoras (1994)
Aeon's Child (1995)
The Shape of Everything (1994)

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Collections, Fiction, Fantasy

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

He has also been published as Robert Touzalin.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great characters, story and SF backdrop which is the norm for Robert Reed.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took a while to warm up to this collection. The first two stories were dark, and I didn't find any of the characters sympathetic. I was eventually won over by the imagination and depth of the stories that followed, however. Two of my favorites were "The Remoras," about a cautious woman who elects to alter her body and live as an alien, and "The Shape of Everything," about an elderly scientist telling a colleague about a defining childhood experience at summer camp. As with Neil Gaiman's writing, I think I prefer Reed's short stories to his novels (so far), where his imagination and ideas are liberated from the need to construct a complex plot.

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty large early collection of Robert Reed short stories. Reed as usual, uses his planet sized ship as a backdrop to many of his stories. Although it has not been named, yet, at this stage which is kinda cool seeing early workings of this setting. The rest are all sci-fi related with his usual mystery novel theme. All the stories work pretty good. Most are novella sized stories and made for quite a lot of engrossing stories, that led to multiple sittings to finish.

Reed may not be the best writer out there, but there is something I like about his work. His short work is actually really good. He reminds me of Robert Silverberg a little. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Golden Gryphon Press publishes Midwestern science fiction writer who is good and can compete with big leagues. Most stories are novellas which may turn off some readers - they are developed and heady. Reed throws within novellas many ideas and uses them - they are not for glittery effect nor superficial science fiction dressings. He presents literary meat.

[Richard Rogers jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining stories combine fascinating characters in unusual SF situations. I'm a big Robert Reed fan.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.lincolnlibraries.org/depts...

[Charlie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Collection of short stories - not especially good. Incomplete.