“Voyage Of The Basilisk” by Marie Brennan (2015)

“At no point did I form the conscious intention of founding an ad hoc university in my sitting room.”

This year, I’ve found that reading remains the greatest way to escape the horrors of reality. I can hunker down in a fictional world for a while, and although this has always been the case, this year it seems more important and necessary than ever. And where’s more strange and wonderful to hide than a world filled with dragons?

It’s been six years since Isabella Camherst, Lady Trent, explored Er...