As J.R.R. Tolkien himself once said “It simply isn’t an adventure worth telling if there aren’t any dragons.”And that principle rings through loud and clear in Heroika – Dragon Eaters, a strikingly entertaining collection of short stories from seventeen writers possessing vivid imaginations.But how to summarize their offering without giving the game away?Let’s just say, there’s something here for everyone. From fiction that delves into heartbreak and tragedy, where the ultimate sacrifice is willingly paid, be it out of the strongest sense of duty – or simply for love, to legends of discovery, containing the wonder of transformation and growth. There are sagas that chill the soul as they warm the heart regarding normal everyday people who reach beyond what they thought was possible to achieve their goals, and tales from the past, present, and dystopian future that teach us the consequences of meddling in affairs that simply don’t concern us. We even have heroes of old contending against the same foes as a little girl from the bayou, who possesses an outstanding sense of right and wrong.And don’t forget the dragons.Flying dragons, crawling dragons, swimming dragons, soaring dragons. Wyrms from the dawn of time, and serpents that have remained hidden down through the ages, unleashing mishap and mayhem on all who stand in their way.Without a doubt, this is an absorbing and thoroughly entertaining collection that I’ll gladly read again and again. In fact, there are so many weird and wonderful adaptations exposing the dangers of this ancient menace, that it’s a wonder Beowulf himself hasn’t been roused to action.Well done to all concerned. A most praiseworthy effort.