Symbol of a Nation, edited by Fred Patten, is launching at Anthrocon 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania over the June 29-July 3 five-day weekend.

Symbol of a Nation is an all-original anthology of 11 short stories and novelettes featuring the anthropomorphized official animal (or bird) symbols of nations. This is designed to appeal to both s-f & fantasy fans, and fans of political science.

Below are the list of countries and animals that will be included in this set:

Belgium – lion
Chile – Andean condor
Denmark – mute swan
Italy – wolf
Malaysia – tiger
Mauritius – dodo (extinct)
Namibia - oryx
Romania - lynx
Singapore - lion
Spain - bull
U.S.A. – bald eagle
Vietnam – water buffalo

Can a district manager capture inspiration sparked by a train ride – with assistance from a four-figure piece of consumer hardware? [Coyoty]

See more: Background on the creation of the Rabbit, Toad and Bird

How soon the people of Sighisoara do forget. A Dracula theme park was planned outside of that city, the place where Vlad the Impaler was born, but was blocked for environmental reasons by local and international environmental groups. With the announcement that the new location for the Dracula theme park would be in the capital of Romania, Bucharest, because it would attract the most tourists there, people in Transylvania are outraged again, saying it will take away needed tourist dollars from the impovershed region. It seems that when it comes to something as important to the Romanian people as Vlad the Impaler and Dracula, you just can't make everyone happy.