Sword And Sorceresss Xxi [Mass Market Paperback]

The most recent incarnation of this perennial favorite continues the strong tradition of the Sword and Sorceress series. This anthology offers a wide variety of settings and magical systems that should meet any fantasy reader's desires. Those devoted to chicks in chain mail should take note, however; this particular volume is much more "soceress" than "sword."

The short stories that I found most memorable are: "Spell of the Sparrow" for its original magic system; "Child's Play" for its unanticipated ending; "Necessity and the Mother" for the on-target spoof of town governance; "Rose in Winter" for its haunting love story of wrong choices; and "Skin Trade" for its original magic.

Anyone who enjoys fantasy with strong heroines should find this a welcome addition of her library.

This is another collection in the Sword and Sorcerers series of anthologies. For those who like fantasy, Diana L. Paxson has put together a collection of 22 short stories and one poem. These all involve women in various settings. Like most collections, you will find some that you favor over others. The last one in the collection ("Love Potion No. 8 1/2," by Marilyn A. Racette) reminds me of stories written by the late Dr. Asimov about a helpful demon that tried to please people (be careful what you wish for). A couple of the stories are a little surreal, and plots vary considerably although they are in the realm of fantasy. I particularly liked "Necessity and the Mother," by Lee Martindale, as it illustrates how politicians pass some ill conceived laws. I also especially liked "Child's Play", by Esther M. Freisner. It would be difficult to rate the others in order of preference.

Other short stories in the collection are "Dawn and Dusk," by Dana Kramer-Rolls; "Spell of the Sparrow," by Jim C. Hines; "The Woman's Place," by Susan Urbanek Linville; "Kin," by Naomi Kritzer; "Ursa," by Jenn Reese; "Red Caramae," by Kit Wesler; "Parri's Blade," by Cynthia McQuillin, "Sun Thief," by K. A. Laity, "Lostland," by Rosemary Edghill; "Plowshares," by Rebecca Maines, "Step by Step," by Catherine Soto; "Favor of the Goddess," by Lynn Morgan Rosser, "Rose in Winter," by Marie M. Longhin, "Kazhe's Blade," Terry McGarry, "The Skin Trade," by Heather Rose Jones, "Multiple Choice," by Leslie Fish, "Oulu," by Aimee Kratts, "A Kind of Redemption," by John P. Buentello, and "Journey's End," by Dorothy J. Heydt. The one two-page poem, "Sword and Sorceress," is by Jennifer G. Tifft.

The editor should be commended for putting together the anthology. She is correct that authors need outlets for their short stories, as most magazines only take about one or two percent of what is submitted, if that much, and it can be difficult finding a magazine to match a particular story.

I was afraid that with the passing of Marion Zimmer Bradley this series would suffer. It would seem I was wrong. It seems as though she may have had a hand in picking some of these stories but I don't think all of them. And I did miss a few regulars. Diana Paxson has done a fine job putting the stories together. Hopefully the series will continue just as strongly in the years to come; if not under Diana's hand then hopefully someone who is familar with Marion's vision for this yearly anthology.