Would you like to be part of “A Festival of Dragons” this weekend? It’s the theme of this year’s RustyCon, the science fiction and fantasy convention happening this weekend (January 17-19) at the Seattle Airport Marriott Hotel.
In honor of their Dragon theme, this Romantic Wednesday will be devoted to Dragons in romance. And yes, that is a thing.
The first dragon romance all too many of us read is probably Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern, starting with Dragonflight, Dragonquest and The White Dragon. The fantastic, empathic dragons save the day! The series still continues, now written by Anne’s son Todd McCaffrey. His latest book in the series is Sky Dragons. If you ever loved Pern, perhaps it’s time for a visit?
Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison is the first book in her extremely popular Elder Races series. In this case, the dragons are dragon-shifters, and can be either dragons or human, depending on the circumstances. Harrison has created a paranormal universe filled with mythological creatures and convoluted political backstabbing. In this story, a half-dragon, half-human thinks she’s going to be the dragon lord’s next victim, and instead finds herself his ally, and eventually much more.
If you like your dragons with a high banter quotient, you can’t go wrong with Katie MacAlister’s Dragon Septs series, because laugh-out-loud humor is definitely MacAlister’s trademark. In the first book in the series, You Slay Me, Aisling Grey discovers that she is both a demon lord and the destined mate of Drake Vireo, who just so happens to be a dragon. The romance is on again/off again, but Aisling’s demon powers summon up a Newfoundland dog who talks back in grade A snark.
And last, but definitely not least, we have dragon romance as comedy of manners, similar in style to Jane Austen. But only if Jane Austen studied dragon anatomy, meticulously, along with her fellow humans and how to catch a husband. The book in question is A Natural History of Dragons: a Memoir by Lady Trent, as transcribed (written) by Marie Brennan, and it is a real treat. This is an alternate history of a world where dragons are not legend, but real, and Lady Trent is studying them in their natural habitat. She also finds true love and changes the world. What could be more perfect?
Don’t forget about the dragon festival at RustyCon! If you like science fiction, fantasy and/or dragons, there’s sure to be an author or a program that will light your fire. Or power your nacelle.
Leave a Comment