Dragon Slayer is a collection of
three novellas, each imbued with a Chinese aspect - understandable since author Dean Barrett has lived in Asia for over 25 years. He first arrived in Asia as a linguist during the Vietnam War and returned years later with a
master's degree in Asian Studies. Barrett’s plays have been performed in nine countries, and the
Hong Kong Standard published his satirical column for five years. Dean has published at least
nine novels that I am aware of – five of these have settings in Asia.
The three novellas in Dragon Slayer relate well together even though they span time and reality. Each story focuses on the Chinese culture and the supernatural world.
"Bones of the Chinamen" is about the Chinese slave trade and how one young man feels hopelessly trapped by his situation.
Next, readers are transported through time in the thriller "Dragon Slayer" when an American military helicopter and its crew meet a dragon that takes them back centuries in time. The author brings us back to the modern era with
"Golden Dragon," where violent youth attack a peaceful Chinese family and are haunted
by their crime.
Each of these three novellas is very well written, full of action and intrigue,
holding interest through to the last page.