The Dragon on the Bookshelf
Encyclopedia
"The Dragon on the Bookshelf" is a short story
by Harlan Ellison
and Robert Silverberg
. The story was originally written and copyrighted in 1995, and appeared in Ellison's 1997 short story collection Slippage
.
to invade the Earth. After Urnikh reports back to his master, it turns out that Urnikh was sent to repair the rift.
Back at Margaret's apartment, Urnikh is frightened to learn she isn't home. Frantic, he searches the whole city for her, the rift getting larger by the second. He knows he only has a limited time to get Margaret out of danger and save the universe. He alights on her boyfriend's house and waits for her to leave. Finally she boards the bus with him on top of it. Anxious, he casts his eyes skyward. He has failed. Mortal time has come to an end.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by Harlan Ellison
Harlan Ellison
Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...
and Robert Silverberg
Robert Silverberg
Robert Silverberg is an American author, best known for writing science fiction. He is a multiple nominee of the Hugo Award and a winner of the Nebula Award.-Early years:...
. The story was originally written and copyrighted in 1995, and appeared in Ellison's 1997 short story collection Slippage
Slippage (book)
Slippage is a collection of short stories by author Harlan Ellison. In the introduction, Ellison introduces the concept of 'slippage', or the falling apart of one's life, as the underlying theme of the book...
.
Plot summary
The story starts with Urnikh (icon ), the young dragon protagonist, sitting on a bookshelf in his love Margaret's home and thinking about how beautiful she is. Outside it's a war of the worlds as unspeakable creatures cross an inter dimensional riftRift
In geology, a rift or chasm is a place where the Earth's crust and lithosphere are being pulled apart and is an example of extensional tectonics....
to invade the Earth. After Urnikh reports back to his master, it turns out that Urnikh was sent to repair the rift.
Back at Margaret's apartment, Urnikh is frightened to learn she isn't home. Frantic, he searches the whole city for her, the rift getting larger by the second. He knows he only has a limited time to get Margaret out of danger and save the universe. He alights on her boyfriend's house and waits for her to leave. Finally she boards the bus with him on top of it. Anxious, he casts his eyes skyward. He has failed. Mortal time has come to an end.