Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls

Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls (1994) Jane Lindskold

This is an unusual book, part fantasy, part science fiction. I generally dislike SF, but the fantasy elements are a bit heavier, and the story is mostly about Sarah–much of the technology takes place in the background until the end of the story.

Budget cutbacks have forced Sarah from the asylum where she spent the last several years. As a young child she was initially believed to be non-verbal, but she later learned to repeat literary quotations that have a bearing or relation to what she wants to say. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than she had.

Her only companions as she is released into the world are her two-headed dragon, Betwixt and Between. It is their warnings and assistance that allow her to maintain a semblance of balance in the strange, never-before-seen world.

She is taken in by Head Wolf–into a group of street folk who have their own hidden home, structure, and safety. But the company isn’t necessarily much different from what she had at the asylum.

His black eyes meet mine and something like lightning flashes through me. I have seen such eyes time and again in the Home. Always the clear, piercing gaze was dulled sooner or later by drugs. The Head Wolf is mad— utterly and completely mad, but it is a glorious madness.

And this home isn’t necessarily going to save her from her own madness.

Memories without words are rising up and I know if I do not carefully handle them, I will be drowned.

What’s particularly interesting is that this story has many of the elements found in Firefly. It was written before the TV show, and I doubt that Joss Whedon stole his ideas for River from here, but it might give you an idea as to whether you’d like this story or not.
Rating: 9/10

Published by Orb Books

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