Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Dragon Book
     
         The classic text "Compilers: Principles,
        Techniques and Tools", by Alfred V. Aho, Ravi Sethi, and
        Jeffrey D.  Ullman (Addison-Wesley 1986; ISBN 0-201-10088-6).
        So called because of the cover design featuring a dragon
        labelled "complexity of compiler design" and a knight bearing
        the lance "LALR parser generator" among his other trappings.
        This one is more specifically known as the "Red Dragon Book"
        (1986); an earlier edition, sans Sethi and titled "Principles
        Of Compiler Design" (Alfred V. Aho and Jeffrey D. Ullman;
        Addison-Wesley, 1977; ISBN 0-201-00022-9), was the "Green
        Dragon Book" (1977).  (Also "New Dragon Book", "Old Dragon
        Book".)  The horsed knight and the Green Dragon were warily
        eying each other at a distance; now the knight is typing
        (wearing gauntlets!) at a terminal showing a video-game
        representation of the Red Dragon's head while the rest of the
        beast extends back in normal space.
     
        See also {book titles}.
     
        (1996-12-03)