Dragonesque

by S.C. Butler (Editor), Joshua Palmatier (Editor)

Since Grendel and McCaffrey's Pern, readers have been enthralled with the magic and mystique of dragons. But it's rare that we get to see the world through the dragon's perspective. In DRAGONESQUE, you'll experience an anthology of fantasy and science fiction stories told from, or through, or with, the dragon's point of view. High fantasy, sword & sorcery, urban fantasy, dark fantasy, magical realism, and of course science fiction...DRAGONESQUE will feature a wealth of genres that even a dragon would be tempted to horde.

Edited by S.C. Butler & Joshua Palmatier, DRAGONESQUE will contain approximately fourteen stories with an average length of 6,000 words each. Anchor authors include:

Barbara Ashford
Gerald Brandt,
David B. Coe/D.B. Jackson,
Esther M. Friesner,
Auston Habershaw,
Gini Koch & Bebe Bayliss, and
Jean Marie Ward

Paperback

First published September 1, 2023

About the author

S. C. Butler was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the middle of the last century, which really isn’t so very long ago. He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, with no dogs, no cats, and certainly no shape-shifting bears.

Reviews

[Brenda Rezk · Rating 5 out of 5]

The annual ZNB anthologies never disappoint. I frequently like to read a short story or two before going to sleep. I have a difficult time putting down a novel, so if I'm between books, I pick an anthology to read from. This one is full of stories written from a dragon's point of view. Some are hatchlings; others are old. Some can shift into human form, others cannot. Some hoard gold, others books or art. Two stories take place in the future and on different planets! Another explores dragon reproduction. One connects with a group of drag queens. There's a nice variety here.

[Christopher D. Ochs · Rating 3 out of 5]

The theme, "from the dragon's point of view," sparked my imagination. I rate the stories contained as:
Best: Avarice and Vengenace - Madeline Dau, Cold Fire of Manhattan - Russell Hugh McConnell, Left Hand of Giordano (though it wasn't quite true to the theme...) - Auston Habershaw, and Breeding Habits of Dragons - Journey Sloane.
Good: Sheep Rarely Wear Gold - Mike Jack Stoumbos, The Expose' - Paul D. Smith, Migration Season - Larry Ivkovich, God in Chains - Em McDermott, and Reenactment - David B. Coe.
Which leaves seven others...

[Mark Slauter · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great collection of Dragon short stories! Very difficult to choose a favorite.