Dragons!
by Mary Jo
Dragons have been with us for a very long time, according to Wikipedia: A dragon is a magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in Western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as winged, horned, and capable of breathing fire. Dragons in Eastern cultures are usually depicted as wingless, four-legged, serpentine creatures with above-average intelligence. Commonalities between dragons’ traits are often a hybridization of reptilian, mammalian, and avian features.
The dragon on the left lives at my house and is small but fierce!
On the right is an image from Beijing of a pair of Oriental dragons. As you see, they are wingless and serpentine, as described above.
The Wikipedia article mentions a theory that the reasons why dragons are seen in most cultures and they are often very snake-like is because “humans have an innate fear of snakes,” so snake-like creatures make good monsters. Makes sense to me!
Dragons are definitely having A Moment in current popular culture: Dungeons & Dragons. Romances with dragon shifter heroes. (I have yet to see a book with a dragon shifter heroine, but that could be fun!) Anne McCaffrey’s wonderful Dragonriders of Pern series is a beloved classic of fantasy. I read the first book, Dragonflight, it when it first came out, and have reread it several times since. The Pern series eventually ran to 22 books, and they’re the kinds of story that makes a reader long for a dragon of her own.
I’ve always had a fondness for dragons. Here’s a picture of my largest and most dramatic dragon. He was made in Bali, and I discovered him at a symphony show house. These were fundraisers for the Baltimore Symphony, and each room of a large house was decorated by a different interior designer.
My Draco was gracing a fireplace mantel and I was instantly in love. It’s possible to buy decorative items from the designers after the show is over, so I did. Draco is about four feet long and he has Presence! He’s made of wood decorated with small pieces of mirror and he’s not super heavy. He’s been protecting my office ever since I brought him home.
The Chinese dragon on the left s somewhat larger than the lead dragon above but also fierce. I know that there are more little dragons around the house that have been misplaced by the moving, but I’m sure they’ll emerge soon!
I’ve written one dragon story myself. The Dragon and the Dark Knight was originally part of the Dragon Lovers anthology that I did with Jo Beverley, Barbara Samuel, 
and Karen Harbaugh. The four of us did three fantasy oriented anthologies together and we had a wonderful time! The link above is for the standalone e-edition of my story. Here’s a description of the story:
In the days of knights, ladies, and dragons…
The Bar Sinister and a Damsel in Distress
Base-born Sir Kenrick of Rathbourne has earned his living as an itinerant tournament knight. His skill supports him and his squire, but his dream of a manor and wife and family seems impossibly distant. Then he hears of a wealthy baron in Cornwall who is looking for a champion to slay the dragon that is terrorizing his lands. The reward will be a manor by the sea. Kenrick believes dragons are only a legend—but the prize makes the story worth investigating.
But there really is a dragon—and a dozen knights have failed to vanquish it. And when he finds a luminous lady in distress, the real challenge is protecting her and her dragon…
And now dragons have entered the modern world! This wonderful dragon egg opens to reveal a dragon and it was made with 3-D printing. She was given to me by a friend and is now perched in my computer work station watching what’s going on.
Are you a fan of dragons? Do you have any dragons living in your house? Tell us about them, and fly away with me!
Mary Jo
Thanks for that fun and interesting post, Mary Jo. I love the pictures of all your dragons. Do they have names?
I have been a fan if dragons since a small child. I have a needlepoint pillow i made many years ago which is a dragon rampant and some little dragons on my bookcase, one breathing fire. I loved the Dragonriders of Pern series and read the series twice. I have children’s books(the Reluctant Dragon, St George and the Dragon, etc). My latest favorite is Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series about an alternate world where dragons are used in the Napoleonic Wars as a kind if air force. It’s an excellent, fun and fascinating series and i have them all in hardcover. I have always been a fan of mythical beasts but particularly dragons, unicorns and winged horses. I do have a dragon who sleeps under my bed. He doesn’t come very often, he is very shy. 😉😊
Oooh, Jane! Dragons rampant are particularly dramatic and heraldic. You sound like a true dracophile. I’m familiar with the Temeraire series–it’s brilliant.
As for the shy bed dragon–I’ve heard that they’re fond of ice cream if you want to try to lure him out!
Hmmm, good tip. I’ll have to try that. I wonder what flavor he would like? Or maybe a hot fudge sundae? 😁
Jane, I’m sure he’d LOVE a hot fudge sundae! You could share one.
I’ll give it a try(i know I,d love one!) And just think, he could toasdt the marshmallows!😁
Jane, I hadn’t thought of the marshmallow toasting advantage! You and the bed dragon can have a fine little party.
Thank you for the intriguing post, Mary Jo. I always liked dragons, but I don’t have any objects that reflect the image. There is a wonderful series of stories of a dragon, named Temeraire, by Naomi Novik. It takes place during the Napoleonic Wars with the addition of dragons. She wrote nine books.
Patricia–Yes, the Temeraire series is great. I met Naomi Novik once at the Baltimore SF con. The first book was about to come out then. She and her dragon have flown fast and far since then!
Wonderful post Mary Jo and your dragons are awesome, especially that huge one! I love them too and have quite a few, mostly Japanese ones but also some plushies. My favourite is from the movie How to Train Your Dragon, he’s really cute!
I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Christina! It just occurred to me that I REALLY need to get a plushy dragon!
I love dragons! Even my Chinese zodiac is a dragon. Much more fun than cancer.
Minna–no question that dragons are more interesting than crabs!
Your large Draco is gorgeous, but he wouldn’t find a home in my house. My husband has a morbid aversion to snakes, he’ll change the TV channel if he sees one on the screen!
Karin–your husband is a good example of inherent snake phobias. My Balinese dragon has wings, but he looks more oriental than western and yes, a bit serpentish!
Mary Jo, I LOVE your little dragon emerging from his egg! My only exposure to dragons has been from the “Game of Thrones” saga, and in the Detective Black series of books by
author J. C. Andrejewski, which occur in a more dystopian, futuristic era. Powerful stuff. I plan to check out your novel as well. Is there any difference in the type of books written by Mary Jo Putney and M. J. Putney?
Patricia–if you look around, you’ll probably see more dragons than you expect. They are definitely On Trend! The dragon and her egg are adorable–I smile whenever I look at her.
And yes, there is a difference between my regular romances and the M. J. Putney stories. The characters and romances and happy endings are similar but the M. J. Putney books have much more fantasy in them. I use the M. J. because not all readers enjoy fantasy.
The Dragon and the Dark Knight is a novella, not a full length novel, but I think it’s fund story–happy ending guaranteed!
Your dragon egg is just wonderful, Mary Jo! I found similar small 3-D constructed dragons at a craft show last year (no eggs, sad to say) and gave them as Christmas gifts to both children and adults – they were huge hits and I only regret that I didn’t keep one for myself! But I do have a pair of brass dragon candleholders, probably from the late 1800s, of which I’m quite fond. Hardly ever put candles in them; I just enjoy them flanking the mantel.
Constance–dragon candleholders–wonderful!!!! Since dragons breathe fire, they’d probably enjoy candles now and then.
What a fun post Mary Jo! Thanks for sharing pictures of some of your collection. I hope those hiding dragons soon reveal themselves. I don’t believe that I have any dragons in the house other than in books. And now I’m trying to recall if I’ve read any books with female dragon shifters….
Hi, Kareni! Equal rights for female dragon shifters!!!
Have you read Adrienne Mayor’s books? She writes about how dinosaur fossils and other fossils may have affected or even help create ideas about mythical creatures, like dragons?
The First Fossil Hunters: Dinosaurs, Mammoths, and Myth in Greek and Roman Times
Fossil Legends of the First Americans
Minna, thanks for the reference. I’m not familiar with the book but it makes perfect sense that fossil bones could inspire lots of myths,
Mary Jo, I found a Goodreads list of female dragon shifters ~ https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/92293.Female_Dragon_Shifters_in_Romance_
Brilliant idea, Kareni! I looked at the list and have bought my first female dragon shifter story. Many thanks for this.
Loved the blog, Mary Jo. I don’t have any dragons in my house — clearly that needs to be remedied! I think my first “falling in love with dragons” experience was the Anne McCaffrey series, The Dragons of Pern. And there have been many more books with dragons since then.
Many years ago I rode into North Wales inside a dragon! Well, a bus with a huge red dragon painted on it, which is a symbol of Wales.
Anne, the Welsh do love their dragons, as they should! It’s not an accident that the legendary hero is Arthur Pendragon.