(Fantasy Allegory) How a knight errant sought a dragon, they fell in love, and she loves it still, despite the fact it set her on fire once. (3,272 words; Time: 10m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
"She Still Loves the Dragon," by Elizabeth Bear [bio] (edited by Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas), appeared in Uncanny Magazine issue 20, published on January 1, 2018.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: It seems to be an allegory for any sort of relationship that is unhealthy for one partner but not the other. There doesn’t seem to be much else to it, but it’s a pleasant-enough read.
Con: I can’t help thinking there’s more to it than that, but that’s all I can see.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 20)
Elizabeth Bear Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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Con: I can’t help thinking there’s more to it than that, but that’s all I can see.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 20)
Elizabeth Bear Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
This is really beautiful. And I think the ambitiously different structure works very well.
ReplyDeleteI saw it as being open and vulnerable to love in spite of being hurt in past experience. Loving someone for who they are, not expecting them to change for you.
Jodie Baker at SFF Reviews has an interesting take on it here:
https://sffreviews.com/2018/06/09/review-she-still-loves-the-dragon-by-elizabeth-bear/
I agree with the rating. All I saw in it was a take on an unhealthy relationship. The other partner wasn't bad as such, and the relationship was good for 12 years or so.
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura. I used the link. Useful insight but it did not improve my perception of the story for me.