Dragons and Dreams: A Collection of New Fantasy and Science Fiction Stories

A superb collection of ten fantasy and science fiction short stories by some well-known authors in the field of children's literature. I originally picked this up while working my way through Zilpha Keatley Snyder's bibliography, as it contains one of her stories, The Three Men. I am very glad I did. The gems contained herein include:

The Box by Bruce Coville, which follows the story of a young boy who is given a box by an angel, with instructions not to open it until the angel returns - a charge that will shape the entire course of his life... Seen as an allegory of faith, this story of a "box" asks many relevant questions about how a person of deeply-held beliefs exists in a world that does not always understand or respect their show more importance. The isolating effects of faith, and its perpetual mystery, even to the faithful, are explored.

The Thing That Goes Burp In the Night by Sharon Webb, in which two brothers must confront and outwit a monster called up by the efforts of the elder to frighten his younger brother into good behavior. A humorous examination of sibling rivalry and the power of the imagination.

Baba Yaga and the Sorcerer's Son by Patricia A. McKillip, in which a young man named Johann meets the famous witch of Russian legend, and is taken on a ride he will never forget. A wonderful retold fairytale by the prolific fantasy author, this story manages to capture that paradoxical blend of menace and sly maternal charm that frequently characterizes the figure of Baba Yaga.

All the Name of Baby Hag by Patricia MacLachlan, in which clever Father Hag discovers the perfect name for his inquisitive young daughter. A charming (if somewhat slight) fantasy tale from an author better known for her historical fiction for children (Sarah, Plain and Tall, anyone?).

The Three Men by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, in which the ghosts of three men killed years before, blow into town on the hot Santa Ana wind, and take their revenge upon the woman who falsely accused them. One of only two short stories written by Snyder, (the other being a realistic story called Monty’s Business), The Three Men has many of the author’s classic themes, from the way in which the supernatural world occasionally converges with our own, to the idea that past injustices are themselves a form of haunting.

Great-Grandfather Dragon's Tale by Jane Yolen, in which an old dragon tells his five grandchildren the story of the Great-Grandfather of All Dragons, who ensured the survival of their kind by befriending a young man named Georgi. Yolen’s clever re-working of the myth of St. George and the Dragon invites the reader to ponder the possible realities behind our beloved legends, and concludes with the poignant thought that perhaps our myths need us as we need them.

Laughter in the Leaves by Charles de Lint, in which an Oakmaid houswife sets out to trap the mischievous bodach who haunts her house, and plays tricks on her, only to discover that all can be peacefully resolved with a simple invitation. This enchanting (and slightly longer) story was originally published as a chap-book by Triskell Press in 1984.

Carol Oneir's Hundredth Dream by Diana Wynne Jones, in which young Carol Oneir, a professional dreamer whose dreams are bottled for the pleasure and entertainment of others, reaches her one hundredth dream, and discovers that she has lost her ability to control her dreams. Featuring her trademark blend of reality and fantasy, as well as her multiverse enchanter, this story is also available in Jones’s own, more recent Chrestomanci collection, Mixed Magics: Four Tales of Chrestomanci, published in 2001.

The Singing Float by Monica Hughes, in which young Melissa, on holiday at the seashore with her parents, finds a beautiful spun-glass float, and frees a Japanese princess imprisoned by an ogre.

And finally, Uptown Local by Diane Duane, in which Nita and Kit, the two protagonists of The Young Wizards series, find themselves on a magical subway ride through a series of alternate New Yorks. Duane’s Star Trek writing seems to have heavily influenced this short story, with space exploration providing the solutions to many human problems. show less

A pretty good collection of short stories. They were just what I needed at the time.