A Dragon and Her Girl

by Max Florschutz

  Scott R. Parkin is an award-winning author, editor, publisher, and pop critic with more than fifty short story sales to a wide variety of venues, from romance to science fiction to absurdist slice-of-life to fantasy.

  John D. Payne grew up in the American Midwest, watching the lightning flash outside his window and imagining himself as everything from a leaf in the wind to the god of thunder. Today, he lives with his wife and family in the shadow of the Organ Mountains in New Mexico, where he imagines that with enough concentration he might be able to rustle up a little cloud cover for some shade.

  His debut novel, The Crown and the Dragon, is also a major motion picture produced by Arrowstorm Entertainment. His stories can be found in magazines (Leading Edge), podcasts (The Overcast), and anthologies (All Made of Hinges: A Mormon Steampunk Anthology). Find him online at johndpayne.com.

  Michaelene Pendleton regularly attended Life, the Universe, & Everything in the early days. Her works have been published in Omni, Asmiov’s, Amazing Stories, Fantasy & Science Fiction, Century, and Dragon Magazine, as well as in the Washed by a Wave of Wind and A Dragon and Her Girl anthologies. She had a passion for ancient Native American culture and archeology from the Four Corners region of the American West, and co-wrote Canyon Country Prehistoric Indians: Their Cultures, Ruins, Artifacts and Rock Art (1979) with F.A. Barnes. She passed away on January 21, 2019.

  Bryan Thomas Schmidt is an author and Hugo-nominated editor of adult and children’s speculative fiction. His debut novel, The Worker Prince, received Honorable Mention on Barnes & Noble Book Club’s Year’s Best Science Fiction Releases, and his latest novel, Shortcut (forthcoming), is being developed as a motion picture by Roserock Films.

  His short stories have appeared in magazines, anthologies and online and include entries in The X-Files, Predator, and Decipher’s WARS, amongst others. As book editor for Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta’s WordFire Press, he edited books by Alan Dean Foster, Angie Fox, Tracy Hickman, Frank Herbert, Mike Resnick, Jean Rabe, and more. He was also the first editor on Andy Weir’s bestseller, The Martian.

  His anthologies as editor include Infinite Stars, Infinite Stars: Dark Frontiers, Predator: If It Bleeds, Monster Hunter Files (co-edited by Larry Correia and based upon his New York Times bestselling Monster Hunter International novel series), Joe Ledger: Unstoppable (co-edited by Jonathan Maberry, based upon his New York Times bestselling novels), Decision Points, Shattered Shields with co-editor Jennifer Brozek, Mission: Tomorrow, and Galactic Games. He has several original screenplays making the rounds in Hollywood. Visit him online at bryanthomasschmidt.net.

  Alex Shvartsman is a writer, anthologist, translator, and game designer. His adventures so far have included traveling to over 30 countries, playing a card game for a living, and building a successful business. Since 2010, he has sold over 100 short stories to a variety of magazines and anthologies, including Nature, Analog, Strange Horizons, Orson Scott Card’s InterGalactic Medicine Show, Galaxy’s Edge, and many others.

  He won the WSFA Small Press Award for Short Fiction in 2014 and was a finalist for the Canopus Award for Excellence in Interstellar Fiction in 2015 and 2017. Alex edits Unidentified Funny Objects, an annual anthology series of humorous science fiction and fantasy short stories. He’s also the editor of The Cackle of Cthulhu, Humanity 2.0, Coffee, Dark Expanse, and Funny Science Fiction anthologies. His translations from Russian have appeared or are forthcoming in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, Samovar, Amazing Stories, and other venues.

  Alex resides in Brooklyn, New York with his wife and son. Find him online at alexshvartsman.com.

  It wasn’t until David VonAllmen’s high school professor thought one of his short stories was suspiciously high in literary merit and threatened to have him expelled for plagiarism that he realized he just might have the talent to be a real writer. David’s writing has appeared in Galaxy’s Edge, Factor, Four, the Writers of the Future anthology, and other professional publications.

  David is the Grand Prize winner for the 2018 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award. He lives in his hometown of St. Louis with his wife, Ann, and children, Lucas and Eva, who write some pretty darn good stories of their own. Links to his works can be found at davidvonallmen.com.

  Elisabeth Waters sold her first story in 1980 to The Keeper’s Price, the first of the Darkover anthologies. She went on to sell stories to a variety of anthologies. Her first novel, a fantasy called Changing Fate, was awarded the 1989 Gryphon Award. Its sequel, Mending Fate, was published in 2016. She also writes short stories and edits anthologies.

  She worked as a supernumerary with the San Francisco Opera, where she appeared in La Gioconda, Manon Lescaut, Madama Butterfly, Khovanshchina, Das Rheingold, Werther, and Idomeneo. Find out more on her official site at elisabethwaters.com.

  As writers seem to do, Julia H. West has held many arcane jobs. When she was a quality control technician for ultrasound heart machines, video recordings of cross sections of her heart were shipped all over the world with the machines. She’s also been a genealogical researcher, an office manager, a secretary, a desktop publisher, a digger at an archaeological dig, a quality assurance tech, a webmaster, an aircraft electrician (and aircraft battle damage repair instructor) for the Air Force Reserves, and a keyer for the United States Post Office.

  Julia loves music, and sings with the Utah Filk Organization (that’s not a typo: filk is music of the science fiction and fantasy community). She was a founding member of the Salt Lake City, Utah chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism and still enjoys researching medieval culture. She was active in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America for over ten years, and was awarded the Service to SFWA Award for work on the Nebula Award reports.

  Julia graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Utah with a BA in Anthropology. When people asked her what she would do with the degree, she’d tell them, “Write science fiction.” Many of her stories incorporate fascinating bits of culture she discovered while studying. She has had fantasy and science fiction stories published in a number of magazines—including Realms of Fantasy, Oceans of the Mind, Spider, and The Friend—and anthologies, including Sword and Sorceress and Lace and Blade. She also sold a fantasy poem to Enchanted Conversation. Many of her stories are now available as ebooks from various distributors.

  West Jordan, Utah has been Julia’s home for over 30 years. She lives with her husband, two daughters, and far too many Cat Overlords. Her website is at juliahwest.com.

  Kaitlund Zupanic is a traditional and digital artist best known for her dragons. Through her artwork, she shares the universal story of life, facing adversity, surviving, and starting over. Her work has graced the interiors of Spectrum 25, Infected by Art (volumes 6–7), The Art of Erica Lyn Schmit (Bird Whisperers special edition), The Elders Path by J. D. Caldwell, Mostly Anecdotal: Stories by Norman Jenson, and Unfettered III (edited by Shawn Speakman). Her artwork depicting the Honey Island Swamp Monster appeared on the Travel Channel in the “Bigfoot of the Bayou” episode of America Unearthed.

  The Fulton Library at Utah Valley University has some of her work displayed as a part of the Roots of Knowledge stained glass window installation created by Holdman Studios. She is currently focusing on oil painting and traditional illustration using the techniques of the old painting masters. You can peruse her art online at kaitlundzupanic.com.

  Acknowledgments

  As with Trace the Stars, a lot of people helped bring A Dragon and Her Girl to completion. Of course, there’s Linda Hunter Adams, to whom this anthology is dedicated. You can read more about her in the foreword.

  Kaitlund Zupanic, our wonderful cover artist, went far, far above and beyond with this cover. When I mentioned the idea to her, she was immediately interested. She offered to create a brand new piece of artwork for the cover, and donate it for use here. Kaitlund’s work should be gracing works from the Big Five publishers, and I hope this anthology gives her a little more exposure for t
hat. She is one of the most talented artists I know. Check out her work on her website (the link is in the contributor bios).

  While volunteering at a booth at FanX in Salt Lake City, I met the ever gracious Mercedes Lackey. During our conversation, this anthology came up, and she offered to contribute a story for it. It’s a wonderful story, too (co-authored by Elisabeth Waters). It was several months before I got to announce that to the world, and I was very excited to do so. Thank you for your generosity, Mercedes and Elisabeth.

  One author whose work these pages contain is Michaelene Pendleton. Michaelene was a good friend whom I hadn’t seen for many years, and we’d been in touch regarding the first LTUE benefit anthology, Trace the Stars. While she didn’t have a story that fit that one, she said to keep in touch regarding future anthologies. When I contacted her about this one, she had just the story to submit. We had a verbal agreement to include the story, but then she passed away in January 2019 before sending me the contract. Thankfully, her close friend and (now) estate executor, Lola McElhaney, was kind enough to take care of things so we could include the story for you to enjoy. Thank you, Lola.

  Once again, Dave Butler, Jeffrey Creer, and Douglas Cootey were great sounding boards for all my crazy ideas. Dave Doering, Marny Parkin, and JJ Safley were also very helpful. I appreciate Alexi Vandenberg and Kelly Taylor Olsen for providing a place to sell the anthologies to the masses at FanX. I also appreciate Erika Kuta Marler and James A. Owen for rooting for me. You guys are gracious and kind.

  Jaleta Clegg, despite everything, was crazy enough (again) to agree to co-edit this volume with me. Her experience, thoughts, and hard work are very clearly evident in the quality of the works picked for this anthology. Without her, this process would have been far more difficult.

  Thank you to everyone who submitted stories for consideration. The response was heartwarming and invigorating, and it was hard to narrow it down due to all the great submissions. Thank you for being willing to donate your story to this amazing cause, and I wish I could have included more of your stories here.

  A really big thank you to all those whose stories were selected for inclusion. This anthology was a joy to put together. Thank you for your patience, your feedback, and your trust. I hope I have earned it in all our interactions. Thank you, Max, Megan, Scott, Jaleta, Christopher, Sarah, Bryan, Jodi, Josh, Hannah, Sam, Julia, John, Wendy, Gerri, David, Melva, and Alex. You are a credit to writers everywhere.

  My lovely, patient Heather has been with me through thick and thin, and I appreciate her more every day. She is an inspiration to me and very supportive in this LTUE Benefit Anthologies project. My three angelic children have also helped me in many ways. Thank you for your patience, thanks for putting up with me, and thank you for your love and support.

  I’m sure there are others I should have thanked, but whose names fell out of my brain as I was working on this. I apologize I didn’t thank you by name. You are all wonderful.

  —Joe Monson

  Joe told me to write some words of wisdom, so here goes:

  Don’t mess with dragons.

  Don’t mess with women.

  Especially, don’t mess with dragon women.

  Linda Hunter Adams was one of the most encouraging, warmest souls I’ve ever met. It’s an honor to be able to help bring this anthology together to honor her memory. I know she would have loved the stories in all their diverse styles and themes. But most of all, I think she would have loved the feeling of hope that runs through this collection.

  Keep writing. Keep submitting. Keep loving life.

  And keep believing in dragons.

  —Jaleta Clegg

  Story and Essay Copyrights

  Stories published here for the first time unless otherwise noted. Listed alphabetically by author last name.

  “The Wild Ride” © 2020 by Christopher Baxter.

  “Loyalties” © 2013 by Josh Brown. Originally published in Empire of Stone, edited by Dara Syrkin.

  “High Noon at the Oasis” © 2018 by Jaleta Clegg. Originally published in Llama Tell You a Story, by Jaleta Clegg.

  “A Game of Stakes” © 2020 by Max Florschutz.

  “Take Out the Trash” © 1986 by Melva Gifford. Originally published in The Leading Edge #12, edited by Karl F. Batdorff and Chris Halladay.

  “Dragon Soap” © 2016 by M. K. Hutchins. Originally published in Fireside Magazine #38, edited by Brian White.

  “Therapy for a Dragon” © 2020 by Sam Knight.

  “Dragon in Distress” © 1995 by Mercedes Lackey and Elisabeth Waters. Originally published in Sword and Sorceress XII, edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

  “Here by Choice” © 2010 by Gerri Leen. Originally published in Life Without Crows and Other Stories, by Gerri Leen.

  “Ash and Blood” © 2020 by Hannah Marie.

  “Aer’Vicus” © 2020 by Jodi L. Milner.

  “Foreword: The Dragon Lady of Crandall House West” (essay) © 2020 by Joe Monson, except for the “Linda Hunter Adams” filk song. The author of the filk song is unknown, even after extensive research. Proper attribution will be made should the author be determined.

  “Rain Like Diamonds” © 2015 by Wendy Nikel. Originally published on 4 September 2015 in Daily Science Fiction, edited by Michele Barasso and Jonathan Laden.

  “The Diamond-Spitting Knight” © 2020 by S.E. Page.

  “Li Na and the Dragon” © 2016 by Scott R. Parkin. Originally published in Dragon Writers, edited by Lisa Mangum.

  “Lullaby” © 2016 by John D. Payne. Originally published in Dragon Writers, edited by Lisa Mangum.

  “Rising Star” © 1993 by Michaelene Pendleton. Originally published in Fantasy & Science Fiction, June 1993, edited by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Published by permission of the author’s estate.

  “Amélie’s Guardian” © 2011 by Bryan Thomas Schmidt. Originally published in Of Fur and Fire: Tales of Cats & Dragons, edited by Dana Bell, Zeno Panagakos, and Diann Wacks.

  “Burying Treasure” © 2015 by Alex Shvartsman. Originally published in Chicks and Balances, edited by Esther Friesner and John Helfers.

  “Dragon’s Hand” © 2018 by David VonAllmen. Originally published on Baen.com in 2018.

  “Taking Wing” © 2020 by Julia H. West.