Beneath Ceaseless Skies #436, July 10, 2025
“Out of Draconia” by Alma Alexander
“Beyond the Fold” by Holden Lee
Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf
In “Out of Draconia” by Alma Alexander, boys from a mining town can journey to badlands and find ancient dragon eggs. When placed in a fire, they hatch into deformed dragons that quickly die. Defying tradition, the narrator’s daughter obtains such an egg, which hatches into a healthy dragon with which she bonds. The existence of this valuable creature draws the unwanted attention of the rulers of the mining town.
This is a fairly long synopsis for a brief tale, reflecting the fact that most of the text sets up the premise. It also suggests a climactic confrontation between the mining town and the authorities, which does not occur. Instead, the story ends in a very quiet fashion that suggests further adventures to come for the girl and her dragon. Overall, this piece reads more like the prologue to a longer work than a fully developed story.
“Beyond the Fold” by Holden Lee takes place in a fantasy world where living beings can be created from origami. Two lovers develop this skill in a special academy. One earns the honored position of creating living weapons, which provides a luxurious life but one without freedom. The other, refusing to use her art to harm people, accepts the minor post of creating living paper cranes to deliver mail, although this allows no creativity. The plot deals with their forced separation, and the sacrifices that must be made if they are to come together again.
The premise is interesting and raises the intriguing theme of artists making compromises with society. The government featured in this story is particularly authoritarian, punishing failure and disobedience in violent ways. Given this fact, and the story’s resolution, some readers may find it too depressing. Those who do not demand a happy ending will best appreciate it.
Victoria Silverwolf is oddly amused by the fact that both these stories have three-word titles starting with prepositions.