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Once Upon A Dragon
A non-themed, cross-genre collection of short fiction, including fantasy, science fiction and horror as well as general fiction.
ebook
First published July 20, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 25, 2015
This is a wonderful collection of short stories , I planned to read one or two and before I knew it I had read all 12 , I laughed out loud reading the dragon stories , my heart broke reading User Pays and Restless legs left me with a feeling of dread , the author draws you into each story and leaves you wanting more
March 23, 2016
*I was given a copy by the author in return for an honest review*
This book is a collection of short stories of which I found to be well written and highly enjoyable. Tabitha Ormiston-Smith has done a great job with this collection
This book is a collection of short stories of which I found to be well written and highly enjoyable. Tabitha Ormiston-Smith has done a great job with this collection
November 5, 2016
Once Upon a Dragon by Tabitha Ormiston-Smith is a collection of original and engaging short stories. Some of the characters the reader meets are a singing prince, a Goth girl, an Irish Wolfhound, and a sunbathing dragon. “Professor Tomlinson’s Last Experiment," with a surprise ending that would delight O. Henry, and “The Real Winner,” about a particular man’s best friend forever, are beautifully crafted, wonderful stories. All of the stories, whether horror or fantasy, are imbued with wit. In one of the four dragon stories, “Perspectives on a Dragon Part I – The Young Prince Lorn and the Dragon’s Hoard,” the young prince, about to rescue a maiden in distress, knew "that it was a maiden; respectable married ladies do not get themselves into these situations." Of the twelve stories in this book, “The Last Dragon” is my favorite. It is reminiscent of the best of Monty Python but clearly sparkling with Ms. Ormiston-Smith’s very own and delightful wit. This book has been on my “To Be Read” stack for quite a while. Had I known what a fun read it is, I wouldn’t have waited so long to read it. Highly recommended.
August 22, 2016
Here we have an author who not only doesn't need to cram herself into a genre or a "hot" topic, but rather takes the dreadful milquetoast fluff that publishers seem to love these days and twists them into actual literature. Ms. Ormiston-Smith breathes life into this bubble-gum pulp and nearly creates an entirely new genre from it.
These delightful stories may well be stepping stones to a destination, but they are easily stand-alone tales, a wee bit of nectar that deposits a satisfying taste on the tongue and a connective smile. An author who does that as far as I'm concerned is not only worthy, but rare.
The human condition--fairly inhuman at times--is exposed for all its foibles and irrational beliefs; one can (unfortunately, at times) relate to them on a basal level.
We all would love to have a crack at the office gossip, and 'Sophie's Revenge' allows us that satisfaction, as Mischa (won't provide a spoiler here) does in 'Professor Tomlinson's Last Experiment.' Ormiston-Smith conjures Kafka in 'Restless Legs,' and takes us deep into the relationship of dog and man (a favorite for this author) in 'The Real Winner.'
You're wondering what all the Dragon fuss is about? This fine author weaves these stories together with the tale of medieval dragons, damsels in distress and chivalrous acts by, occasionally, brave stewards of the King. My favorite is 'The Last Dragon,' who is slain not by sword but by protracted and complex legalities. It's not surprising to learn that Ms. Ormiston-Smith is legally trained.
Other narratives, such as the familiar 'Excuse Of The Day,' and 'User Pays,' a story of what can happen when government policy is taken to its literal result within a family, provide a sorbet of sorts from the Dragon conceit.
And these are narratives, make no mistake. The author will grab the reader, for sure; but she will do it on her terms. I like that spirit.
"Once Upon A Dragon" is an excellent example of how an author--a real author--dons a persona, creates a conflict and shows the reader a facet of life in a consistent and enjoyable fashion.
I will take up more of this author's work as my schedule permits in the coming months. I would whole-heartedly suggest you do the same.
These delightful stories may well be stepping stones to a destination, but they are easily stand-alone tales, a wee bit of nectar that deposits a satisfying taste on the tongue and a connective smile. An author who does that as far as I'm concerned is not only worthy, but rare.
The human condition--fairly inhuman at times--is exposed for all its foibles and irrational beliefs; one can (unfortunately, at times) relate to them on a basal level.
We all would love to have a crack at the office gossip, and 'Sophie's Revenge' allows us that satisfaction, as Mischa (won't provide a spoiler here) does in 'Professor Tomlinson's Last Experiment.' Ormiston-Smith conjures Kafka in 'Restless Legs,' and takes us deep into the relationship of dog and man (a favorite for this author) in 'The Real Winner.'
You're wondering what all the Dragon fuss is about? This fine author weaves these stories together with the tale of medieval dragons, damsels in distress and chivalrous acts by, occasionally, brave stewards of the King. My favorite is 'The Last Dragon,' who is slain not by sword but by protracted and complex legalities. It's not surprising to learn that Ms. Ormiston-Smith is legally trained.
Other narratives, such as the familiar 'Excuse Of The Day,' and 'User Pays,' a story of what can happen when government policy is taken to its literal result within a family, provide a sorbet of sorts from the Dragon conceit.
And these are narratives, make no mistake. The author will grab the reader, for sure; but she will do it on her terms. I like that spirit.
"Once Upon A Dragon" is an excellent example of how an author--a real author--dons a persona, creates a conflict and shows the reader a facet of life in a consistent and enjoyable fashion.
I will take up more of this author's work as my schedule permits in the coming months. I would whole-heartedly suggest you do the same.
August 7, 2015
I highly recommend Once Upon a Dragon. This collection of twelve short stories has something for almost everyone: fantasy, science fiction, and horror. And humor, too -- I laughed aloud at the end of "Professor Tomlinson's Last Experiment," although perhaps that wasn't the reaction the author was going for. "Perspectives on a Dragon" Parts I and II are nicely-paired point-of-view studies of all those fairy tales in which an unlikely lad rescues a princess from a dragon. Later in the collection, the story continues with "The Last Dragon." "Lifestyle Choice" takes a turn for the macabre when the heroine doesn't get the job she covets. And "User Pays" was a creepy, if all-too-plausible, look at what might happen if your average family followed a political proposition to its inevitable conclusion.
In short, the stories in Once Upon a Dragon are well-crafted, and the collection is well-edited. I thoroughly enjoyed them.
***
Originally published at Rursday Reads. My review is of an Advanced Reader Copy, provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
In short, the stories in Once Upon a Dragon are well-crafted, and the collection is well-edited. I thoroughly enjoyed them.
***
Originally published at Rursday Reads. My review is of an Advanced Reader Copy, provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2015
This certainly is one of the best collections I’ve read. The stories are beautifully crafted and told with masterly skill. The author’s ability to change her narrative voice is exceptional and only adds to her craft.
The stories themselves are unique; each one capturing something unique about our modern life or our expectations of fantasy. One element that flows through them all is the author’s sense of humour. It embellishes and enriches the lives of Sophie, Nigel, Professor Tomlinson and, of course, the dragons, to name a few. It sneaks in with occasional throw-away lines and with the names of minor characters such as Featherstone Minor and Bikky Blenkinsop.
If you are interested in a light and enjoyable bedtime read then this is the collection for you. I highly recommend it.
The stories themselves are unique; each one capturing something unique about our modern life or our expectations of fantasy. One element that flows through them all is the author’s sense of humour. It embellishes and enriches the lives of Sophie, Nigel, Professor Tomlinson and, of course, the dragons, to name a few. It sneaks in with occasional throw-away lines and with the names of minor characters such as Featherstone Minor and Bikky Blenkinsop.
If you are interested in a light and enjoyable bedtime read then this is the collection for you. I highly recommend it.
September 1, 2015
I'm not much of a short story guy, but I have to say that I loved these stories. My favorite were the ones about the dragons--sort of a Grimm's Fairy Tale style, but with hilarious, humorous, and often droll endings.
I never "shivered" as the blurb promises, but I definitely got the feels with the story about the man and his dog. There were a couple I didn't understand, yet I enjoyed most of the short stories. The only reason it didn't earn 5 stars was because I reserve that ranking for books I absolutely LOVED. I really enjoyed this (a lot more than I thought I would).
I found no typos, errors, or grammatical mistakes, and the short stories were all well-composed. Definitely an author who knows her business!
I never "shivered" as the blurb promises, but I definitely got the feels with the story about the man and his dog. There were a couple I didn't understand, yet I enjoyed most of the short stories. The only reason it didn't earn 5 stars was because I reserve that ranking for books I absolutely LOVED. I really enjoyed this (a lot more than I thought I would).
I found no typos, errors, or grammatical mistakes, and the short stories were all well-composed. Definitely an author who knows her business!
December 29, 2015
I have read other works by this author, and I can't get over how fluidly everything flows. The stories are so fun and imaginative and as an avid reader, I find it hard sometimes getting through certain works. However, this author is extremely talented and I have yet to read anything by her that I didn't like! Her writing is charming and FUN!!! This collection is quite possibly one of my favorite collections of short stories ever!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!!!!! Cant wait to read everything else she has put out!!!!! :D
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews