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Books Like The Iron Dragon's Daughter

Swanwick, 1993 · #43 on the Epic Fantasy 101 Booklist · 83/120

A changeling girl is enslaved in a faerie factory that builds war dragons. She escapes with one of them into a world as grim as our own.

Its strongest scores: mood and creative details. The five books below have the closest scores across all eleven criteria.

If you liked The Iron Dragon's Daughter, read:

1. Silverlock

   Myers, 1949 · #52 on the list · 80/120

   A shipwrecked cynic washes up in the Commonwealth, where every character and place comes from world literature. He reluctantly grows through his journey.

   Close on theme, structure, creative details, real-world blend.

2. Johannes Cabal

   J.L. Howard, 2009 · #87 on the list · 69/120

   A necromancer sold his soul for knowledge. To win it back, he has a year to collect a hundred souls, by running a demonic travelling carnival.

   Close on structure, creative details, real-world blend, divine influence.

3. Bartimaeus

   Stroud, 2003 · #41 on the list · 84/120

   In an alternative London run by magicians, a boy summons a sardonic five-thousand-year-old djinni to settle a grudge. He sets a revolution in motion.

   Close on theme, further reading, creative details, real-world blend.

4. World of Tiers

   Farmer, 1965 · #57 on the list · 78/120

   A man from Earth is pulled into a series of pocket universes built by godlike Lords. They play deadly games with their creations.

   Close on structure, further reading, creative details, real-world blend.

5. Grendel

   Gardner, 1971 · #17 on the list · 93/120

   The monster from Beowulf tells his own story. He is lonely, mocking and searching for meaning in the meadhall's songs.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, creative details.

How the scores work: each book is rated 1 to 10 on eleven criteria; real-world blend and climax and fights count double, for a maximum of 120. See the full Fantasy 101.