Dragon's Island and Other Stories

by Jack Williamson

Book by Williamson, Jack

Hardcover

First published August 1, 2002

About the author

John Stewart Williamson who wrote as Jack Williamson (and occasionally under the pseudonym Will Stewart) was a U.S. writer often referred to as the "Dean of Science Fiction".

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I continue to be sad that I didn't discover Jack Williamson sooner in my life. This book, while published in 2002, contains three stories written much earlier. All three stories have something to do with genetic engineering.

The title (I almost wrote "track") story, Dragon's Island, is a novella, taking up the better part of the book. It was written in 1951. Williamson believed, for a number of years, that he had coined the phrase "genetic engineering" in this story. However, it was found to have been used in a science paper as early as 1949. Nevertheless, he remains one of the first people to ever use the phrase.

He was so far ahead of his time in these stories. His imagination was incredible. The book, as noted, was published in 2002, when he was still alive, and he wrote the introduction. Mr. Williamson passed away in 2006, at the age of 98.

In the first story, "Stepson to Creation," (written in 1977) the subject of origins is tackled. In this story, the "premen" were thought to have actually created, via genetic engineering, the "trumen." Then in the "second act of Creation," they created the "mumen, the variform men, shaped to fit their several functions in many universes." Finally, in the "third act of Creation," the stargods were created.

Unfortunately, they didn't stop there, and mistakenly wound up creating a race of demons.

Our "heroes" in this story wind up being a little boy and girl, believed to be premen, who are among the last few of the species left. They are about to be gathered up on a ship and sent off to some other planet. But some amazing discoveries are made along the way.

The second story, "Guinevere for Everybody," (also written in 1977) is about a genetically engineered female, designed for apparently lascivious purposes. We first meet her in some kind of display case, in an airport, begging people to buy her. That's right. Buy her. For $4.95. Even in 1977, that's not very much money, right?

Pip Chimberley is on hand, in a professional capacity, to investigate the creation of this anomaly by a supercomputer of some kind, named Athena Sue. This computer is being investigated because it has started "manufacturing and merchandising human beings." Chimberley goes ahead and buys the girl, because she can give him answers and won't do it unless he buys her.

That's all I'm giving of the plot, but it turns out rather unexpectedly, at the end.

Finally, there is the title story, written in 1951. It involves so much. There is corporate greed and corruption, as well as technological sabotage, as well as a group of people who think that genetic engineering is trying to do away with the human race, and are doing everything they can to stop it. Our hero, Dane Belfast, is caught in the middle between a group of the "supermen," and the group who want to stop them. It is a magnificent story that I pretty much couldn't put down.

I recommend this book for fans of science fiction and the idea of genetic engineering.

[Kristen's Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Concept of the book was great. The writing is dated for me and made it kinda meh. The book did come out in 2002 so makes sense. Was a quick read so made it a bit better for sure.

[Ranger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read one of these stories dealing with genetic engineering. A man finds out that he is a mutant, the signs show up late for him. He becomes wrapped up in a mess, there are mutant hunters who are normal humans and then he meets a woman and an older man, who, when they contact him, test him for his mutant properties and decide that he must be plain human. Then they brain wash him and bring him to an island. On that island, he gains his memory back, and finds out what has been going on. He then finds out that he is actually a mutant, and that he loves the woman, who is also a mutant. They are chased by the mutant hunters until they promise to leave. I think that is how it goes.
Anyway, I loved the story and thought it was interesting. It has taken me a long time to find it again.