The Smallest Dragonboy

Anne McCaffrey was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1926 and graduated cum laude from Radcliffe College with a degree in Slavic languages and literature. McCaffrey was ambitious, independent, and a passionate advocate for female empowerment. From an early age, she learned to be proud of being “different” and to celebrate strength in not conforming. This tended to be a lonely pursuit, and she struggled making friends throughout childhood.

Much of McCaffrey’s science fiction work drew on her values and experiences. In 1967, McCaffrey published Restoree, a science fiction novel about a woman abducted by aliens and fighting to survive on a new planet. Disgusted with the representation of female heroes in science fiction as foolish and cowardly, McCaffrey wrote Restoree as an act of rebellion to provide science fiction with more representation of strong, intelligent female protagonists. “The Smallest Dragonboy” is a continuation of her efforts to write narratives in which individuals who are considered “different” or lacking in strength or empowerment subvert those notions by achieving success. Keevan himself is a lonely child without friends of his own, and he struggles with celebrating his differences as he yearns to succeed in Impressing a dragon.

The story not only exemplifies some of her own values and beliefs but is also based on the author’s younger brother, Kevin. As a 12-year-old, Kevin suffered from osteomyelitis, a painful bone disease. With courage and perseverance, he continued to fight against a then incurable disease and endured several operations. The newly discovered antibiotic penicillin eventually saved his life, curing him of osteomyelitis but leaving him with severe scarring along his left leg. Kevin eventually attended Harvard University. There are many parallels between Kevin and Keevan in addition to their names, including the injury to Keevan’s left leg, his determination to endure pain, and his bravery when faced with the seemingly impossible.