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Posted by Stefan Raets ´s rating: 4 | Anne McCaffrey , C.J. Cherryh , Charles De_Lint , Elizabeth Bear , George R.R. Martin , Holly Black , James P. Blaylock , Jane Yolen , Jonathan Strahan , Lucius Shepard , Margo Lanagan , Michael Swanwick , Naomi Novik , Nina Kiriki Hoffman , Patricia McKillip , Peter S. Beagle , Roger Zelazny , Tanith Lee , Ursula K. Le-Guin | Short Fiction | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
This is probably not the first sentence you’d expect to find in a review of Wings of Fire , an anthology devoted exclusively to dragon stories, but I thought it best to get it out of the way right from the start.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with dragons. They’re just terribly overused, one of those tired genre mainstays that people who typically don’t read a lot of fantasy will expect in a fantasy novel because they were practically unavoidable for a long time. To this day, I confess to having to suppress a mental groan whenever I encounter them.
For a long time, I actively avoided reading any fantasy novel with the word dragon in the title. Granted, I made several exceptions to this rule in the past, most notably The King’s Dragon by Kate Elliott , Dragon by Steven Brust , and (back when I still read THE WHEEL OF TIME novels) The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan . However, the perceptive reader will note that none of the dragons in those titles actually refers to the traditional fire-breathing flying reptile (instead, they refer to an army unit, a Dragaeran noble house, and, well, some guy called Rand). So, I considered all of those exceptions perfectly allowable.
(I should also add here that, despite my dislike for dragons in general, I’m of course a big fan of Mettlestorm the Bookwyrm, seen on FanLit’s logo, and designed by the multi-talented Janny Wurts .)
So, with all of this out of the way, I’m here to inform you that Wings of Fire , an anthology of short stories about dragons, is excellent. The line-up of authors is great. The stories deal with a huge variety of dragons, so there isn’t too much repetition. Most of the stories are good, a few of them are stunning, and only one or two (out of 26) are disappointing. In short, this is a great anthology.
You may just want to avoid reading it cover to cover, and instead read a few stories here and there between other books, unless you 1) urgently need to turn in your review of the book, and/or 2) have a dragon phobia and are attempting to overcome it by applying prolonged exposure. (In which case, may we suggest one of the lovely tea mugs or t-shirts bearing the likeness of Mettlestorm the Bookwyrm ? Just imagine the progress you’ll make, seeing your entire family decked out in dragon-decorated gear!)
Listing the 27 authors included in Wings of Fire would lead to a list of names that’s too long to read without having your eyes glaze over, but trimming the list down is almost impossible, because almost all of them are big names in the genre. I just wouldn’t know who to leave out. So, at the risk of glazed eyes, and in order of appearance: Peter S. Beagle , Ursula K. Le Guin , George R.R. Martin , Holly Black , Michael Swanwick , Nina Kiriki Hoffman , Patricia McKillip , Orson Scott Card , Barry N. Malzberg , Jane Yolen , Margo Lanagan , Elizabeth Bear , Anne McCaffrey , James Blaylock , Pat Murphy , Naomi Novik , Gordon Dickson , Elizabeth A. Lynn , Robert Reed , Charles de Lint , Tanith Lee , Harlan Ellison © and Robert Silverberg , C.J. Cherryh , Roger Zelazny , S.P. Somtow and Lucius Shepard . Only 2 of the 26 stories included here are originals (by Holly Black and Margo Lanagan ), so there’s a chance that you’ll have encountered some of the other ones already, but as editors Jonathan Strahan and Marianne S. Jablon set out to compile “the best and most widely loved stories” they could find, this is perfectly understandable and acceptable.
The variety of dragons included here is amazing (and likely to blow any reviewer’s silly preconceived notions about dragons being a “tired mainstay” right out of the water). Fire-breathing dragons, ice dragons, mechanical dragons, dragons built in a garage in the suburbs. Inter-dimensional dragons, and dragons who appreciate classical music. Little dragons that fit on a bookshelf, and dragons so big that entire cities are built around them. Funny dragons and tragic ones. If the anthology has one possible weakness, it’s that many people will have a specific idea of what constitutes a dragon (say, something similar to J.R.R. Tolkien ‘s Smaug), and Wings of Fire jumps from one idea to the next, some of them quite non-traditional. On the other hand, it’s sure to expand those readers’ horizons significantly.
The stories are likewise a mixed bag, from traditional high fantasy to urban fantasy, steampunk, YA, and even one poem. In an anthology that’s this varied in terms of styles, almost everyone will have different favorites. Nevertheless, here are the five stories that made the biggest impression on me:
But again, other readers may have entirely different favorites, or prefer one of the stories set in established fantasy or SF universes, such as the PERN story by Anne MacCaffrey , the TEMERAIRE story by Naomi Novik , or the EARTHSEA story by Ursula K. Le Guin .
Most themed anthologies will have some armchair quarterbacks complaining that certain authors or stories are missing. I would have loved to see a Terry Pratchett story (his dragons, to be able to generate their fiery breath, have such a complex digestive system, involving a few dozen separate stomachs, that feeding them the wrong thing will occasionally cause one to explode tragically in mid-flight) and a Steven Erikson story (his “Eleint” dragons are simply one of the most powerful and mysterious representations in the genre). Then again, I perfectly understand why they weren’t included here — for one, I don’t think there actually are any short stories featuring their dragons.
Just like all the best anthologies, there’s something in Wings of Fire for everyone. It’s a good stepping stone for readers looking for new authors or series to read, and a worthy attempt to show how varied the concept of dragons has become. It makes a good nightstand book, to dip into once in a while. Just don’t read all the stories back to back, lest you end up seeing little dragons everywhere.
STEFAN RAETS (on FanLit's staff August 2009 — February 2012) reads and reviews science fiction and fantasy whenever he isn’t distracted by less important things like eating and sleeping.
June 16th, 2010. Stefan Raets ´s rating: 4 | Anne McCaffrey , C.J. Cherryh , Charles De_Lint , Elizabeth Bear , George R.R. Martin , Holly Black , James P. Blaylock , Jane Yolen , Jonathan Strahan , Lucius Shepard , Margo Lanagan , Michael Swanwick , Naomi Novik , Nina Kiriki Hoffman , Patricia McKillip , Peter S. Beagle , Roger Zelazny , Tanith Lee , Ursula K. Le-Guin | Short Fiction | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
What an amazing line-up of authors!!
Another great sounding anthology I need to add to the list. I am kind of particial to dragons myself. I really enjoy them. Thanks for reviewing this book as I haven’t heard of it until now.
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ReacTor asked 18 well-known (or well-publicized, at least) authors two questions: what's the best development in SFF recently, and what…
Thanks for all your reviews. I differ with you on Emphyrio, however. To me it is top shelf Vance. Superb.
Bravo ,if you live in the USA, you win a Fan Lit T-shirt (please specify 1st and 2nd preferred sizes)…
Thank you for having me!
Yes, welcome aboard, Serena! And you can call me Ferblin!
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The book Wings of Fire , the autobiography of A P J Abdul Kalam constitutes an extraordinary reading for all ages. There is something that everybody can extract from this book. In this book, the authors tell us the story of a young Muslim boy who has big dreams about his future and what inspires him to become an eminent scientist. This real story tells us the role of family, relatives and friends in helping a person in achieving his goals. Apart from the very indicative title, the chapters of the book are also touching –orientation, creation, propitiation, and contemplation.
Orientation contains 32 years of his early life – days as a child, going through adolescence and getting into rocketry. His description of the people, who shaped his life, interweaving religion and education, is a charming part of the book that almost nobody would miss reading.
Chapter 2 entitled ‘Creation’ describing the next seventeen years till 1980 covers his struggle at ISRO going from one-engineer-amongst-many to the successful project director of SLV bringing pride to the nation through the technological achievement of putting a satellite in the orbit.
The next ten years are set out in chapter 3. These constitute the outstanding accomplishments at DRDL. The way he transformed the laboratory from one which had a weak heart with little confidence to one which felt a sense of strong self-esteem and could feel proud by contributing developed missile systems to the services, is a remarkable saga.
The last chapter entitled ‘Contemplation’ contains a condensation of ideas and thoughts arising out of his colourful life, the awards that he received (the highest honour, namely Bharata Ratna that he received does not find a mention in this book) and some messages for the future generation.
The author through this book and the various chapters builds a quick rapport with the reader, who is spellbound. It stresses on the point that the youth should not get disheartened by failures. According to him, source of hidden knowledge is within us, with whom we should communicate. It is an inspirational book for everyone, especially the youth, with a message not to get bogged down in life, due to personal tragedies and setbacks in professional life.
Prof. Jharna Lulla
Faculty Economics and Placement Officer
International School of Management Excellence
The author of the article is Prof. Jharna Lulla, faculty at International School of Management Excellence, Navi Mumbai. She has done her Masters in Economics and PGDM. She has extensive experience in Industry before moving to academics. Prof. Jharna is currently writing a book on Macro Economics and is a prolific writer in journals and magazines.
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Our efforts ought to be to give wings to this furnace and fill the world with the glow of its goodness." Introduction: Book Name: Wings of Fire. Author Name: A P J Abdul kalam, Arun Tiwari . Genre: Autobiography. Language: English . Reading a book is a good habit, the habit of reading is one of the best qualities that a person can possess.
Book Title: Wings of Fire Author: APJ Abdul Kalam Publisher: Universities Press (2015) and Genric (2021) Book Review "Wings of Fire" is an autobiography written by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the former President of India. The book tells the story of his life from his childhood in Rameswaram to his time as a scientist and later as the President ...
Embracing the Flames of Transformation. In conclusion, "Wings of Fire" is a literary masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of time and space. Dr. Kalam's story serves as a source of inspiration and empowerment for generations to come, reminding us that the sky is not the limit - it's just the beginning of our journey towards ...
The book is very impactful and influential. Published in 1999, Wings of Fire and "India 2020: A Vision For the New Millennium" became very popular. This book deals with every essential aspect of Kalam's life. The text takes us through the ups and downs faced by Kalam sir before tasting the success.
"Wings of Fire: An Autobiography of Abdul Kalam" is written by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and Arun Tiwari. This book is an autobiography of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, former president of India. This story sheds light on the journey of a young boy from Rameswaram to become a renowned scientist. It reflects how simple living, dedication, strong will and hard work led to success.
Yet in the book he rarely mentions anything about lethargy/corruption of bureaucracy or politicians. The secret to his success seems to be his ability to ignore negative things around him. The book also gives a clue to his popularity in India. Kalam is a simple, secular, inspiring humanitarian. My Rating: 7/10.
Wings of Fire ignites the minds of Indian youths to make India even stronger in the field of technology. It proposes an India that is strong, on its own and fully-equipped to lead the world towards peace and a common goal of global harmony. Kalam's book is a must-read for teenagers, especially!
Wings of Fire. Wings of Fire (1999) by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is an inspiring autobiography of a man's journey from humble beginnings to becoming India's 11th President. Here's why this book is worth reading: It offers valuable life lessons and insights into perseverance, determination, and the power of dreams.
Book Review of Wings of Fire- This is an Autobiography by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Arun Tiwari (Contributor), In this wings of fire book review.. ... English / Hindi / Malayalam / Marathi / Odia / Telugu: Publication Date: 1 January 1999: Publisher: Universities Press: Print Length: 180 pages: Book Ratings. Goodreads: 4.23 out of 5:
Wings of Fire (1999), is the autobiography of the Missile Man of India and the former President of India, Dr.A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.It was written by him and Arun Tiwari. [1]In the autobiography, Kalam examines his early life, effort, hardship, fortitude, luck and chance that eventually led him to lead Indian space research, nuclear and missile programs.
'Wings of Fire' is the autobiography of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and contains the story of Dr Kalam's rise from a middle-class family with great determination and his unparalleled career as a defence scientist, culminating in the highest civilian award in India, the Bharat Ratna.The story also contains his journey as the 11th President of India in 2002.
Wings of Fire is the autobiography of the former President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam. Kalam went from being a humble boy in South India to developing India's nuclear weapons and becoming President. Through this autobiography, the reader gains a glimpse into pre-partition India. Kalam also exposes readers to the positive thinking and ideas ...
The book starts off interestingly with a reminiscent narrative of early India & Kalam's boyhood. Throughout the book, a host of genius people in space research & rocketry have been mentioned in good detail. It also contains inspirational poems written by Kalam and some of his favorite ones. The authors show us the inner workings of a ...
Wings of fire is an autobiography of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. The book depicts the life of a simple but resolute individual. It contains a wealth of information that anyone will benefit from. Reading this book can be a joyful and lovely experience. The book is a detailed explanation of how great things can be accomplished with mindfulness.
Literature. Written by Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, honorable President of India. 'Wings of Fire' is an autobiography capable of inspiring even a common man into becoming a technologist. A well composed novel which revolves around the life of Mr. Kalam a renowned scientist as he shares his experiences and the minutest of details of his life.
Wings of fire covers klaam sir personal life only briefly which is strange fir an autobiography . Kalam sir is a poet and I am a huge fan of his poetry. The book contain many of his poem and some of the words and phrases get attached with my heart. Through wings of fire, I had seen many great personality Vikram sarabhai and Dr. Brahm prakash .
Wings of Fire edited by Jonathan Strahan & Marianne S. Jablon. I don't like dragons. This is probably not the first sentence you'd expect to find in a review of Wings of Fire, an anthology devoted exclusively to dragon stories, but I thought it best to get it out of the way right from the start.. There's nothing inherently wrong with dragons.
The book Wings of Fire, the autobiography of A P J Abdul Kalam constitutes an extraordinary reading for all ages.There is something that everybody can extract from this book. In this book, the authors tell us the story of a young Muslim boy who has big dreams about his future and what inspires him to become an eminent scientist.