By Zen Cho

You guys, is there any better feeling than when you discover a great new author? A link to Zen Cho’s story “Prudence and the Dragon” showed up sort of randomly on my Tumblr, with a comment saying that it was the best short story they read in a long time. I figured even if it wasn’t the best for me, I’m game for a decent short story about dragons.

Guys, it was the best short story that I’ve read in a very long time! It reminded me very much of Patricia C. Wrede’s dragon series (which were my favorites all through childhood) especially in how Cho provides this wealth of absurdist detail that gives such richness and humor to the story.

So read “Prudence and the Dragon” as soon as you get a chance, and then read the sequel short story about Prudence’s best friend in “The Perseverance of Angela’s Past Life” (both of which are appropriate for readers of all ages – there is light romance, but nothing graphic).

I don’t want to make a big deal out of it since the stories themselves don’t, but they are also just perfect examples of how to weave multiculturalism and different identities into a story without making it the focus of the entire storyline.

I have since also bought a novel, a novella, and a collection of short stories by Cho, since I think she might be my new favorite author, and I’ll review them, too, as I finish them.