The Iron Dragons Daughter by Michael Swanwick
"The Iron Dragon's Daughter" is a fantasy novel that follows the journey of Jane, a human changeling who endures a harsh existence as a child laborer in a factory in Faerie, where sentient war machines known as dragons are created. Jane's life takes a dramatic turn when she discovers a grimoire containing the specifications for a dragon and begins to forge a connection with one named Melanchthon. Alongside a group of supernatural beings led by a character called Rooster, Jane plots to overthrow their oppressive overseer, Blugg.
As she navigates her newfound freedom, Jane explores themes of love, sacrifice, and self-discovery, especially in her relationships with characters like Peter and Gwenhidwy. Her journey is marked by significant sacrifices, including the loss of her virginity, which alters her bond with Melanchthon. The narrative intensifies as Jane grapples with the impending "Teind"—a holiday that requires sacrifices, including human life. Through her studies in alchemy and encounters with various avatars of her past, Jane ultimately confronts profound existential questions about the meaning of life and the nature of the universe. The story culminates in a dramatic confrontation with the Goddess, who embodies Jane's own mother, leading to a transformative conclusion that returns Jane to her human existence on Earth.
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The Iron Dragons Daughter
First published: 1994
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Fantasy—magical world
Time of work: The 1990s
Locale: Faerie
The Plot
Jane, a human changeling, is a child laborer in a grim factory in Faerie, where dragons, which are huge, sentient war machines, are manufactured. Her companions there are supernatural beings lead by Rooster, a Puck-like figure who plots to use witchcraft to kill their cruel overseer, Blugg. While attempting to steal Bluggs nail parings from his office in order to carry out the murder, Jane finds and takes a grimoire containing the specifications for a dragon. Jane begins memorizing the grimoire in order to take power over a dragon who is mentally contacting her.
During a test of new equipment, both Blugg and Rooster are killed. Jane forces the dragons true name, Melanchthon, from him, and together they escape from the factory. Finally free, Jane lives secretly with the dragon, attends school, and learns shoplifting from Rat-snickle. Melanchthon desires that she become educated so she can become an engineer and complete his repairs. She must remain a virgin in order to work on him.
Jane meets Peter of the Hillside and Gwenhidwy the Green, the Wicker Queen. At years end, Gwen is to be a human sacrifice and Peter will be castrated, but in the intervening year she can do or have anything she wants. Peter, although he loves Gwen, cannot have sex with her; he must remain a virgin in order to be her “sin eater,” vicariously suffering Gwens pain and guilt during her final year of life. Because Jane loves Peter, she seduces him and keeps him from the sacrifice. She also discovers that, like Rooster, his true name is Tetigistus.
Gwen is burned to death on schedule, with a substitute partner. Peter later hangs himself in guilt over not going through with the sacrifice. Melanchthon abandons Jane, because she is no longer a virgin.
Next, Jane attends a university, where she majors in alchemy. Her studies do not go well, and the “Teind” is coming, an anarchistic holiday in which one tenth of everything—including human life—is sacrificed. If Jane does not shape up, she will be on the Teind list. Fortunately, Janes classmate Sirin tells her how to perform alchemical experiments successfully through sex magic.
Jane meets Puck Aleshire, a young man similar to Peter and Rooster. She is drawn to him but frightened of the consequences. She also begins visiting her human mother in dreams and tells her that she is studying to return to the human world. Because Jane needs money, she attempts to burglarize the elf-lord Galiagante. He captures her but spares her, promising employment if she survives the Teind.
Later, Jane unexpectedly discovers Melanchthon. He invites her to join him as pilot in an assault on the Goddess herself, the seemingly malevolent creator of Janes universe and her perverse fate. She refuses, and at that moment the Teind begins. Jane is swept along by a mob and becomes part of it. She is rescued from a battle by Puck, who is later killed in a duel. Sirin also is killed. Both were avatars, or incarnations, of Rooster/Peter and Gwen.
Again Jane meets Melanchthon, who insists that the Goddess is only a cover for the meaninglessness of the universe and that it is the universe itself that he wishes to destroy. Jane finally agrees to help.
In her post-Teind role as a sycophant to Galiagante, Jane meets the dragon-pilot Rocket, the final avatar of Rooster/Peter/Puck. They fall in love and begin an affair. Jane returns from their tryst to find Melanchthon under attack and ready to begin the flight to Spiral Castle, the Goddesss stronghold. Rocket and his dragon squadron follow, and Jane kills him in the pursuit. Melanchthon is destroyed before reaching the castle. Jane is received in the castle by the Goddess in the form of Janes mother, Sylvia, and is returned to her mortal body on Earth.