Wizards: Magical Tales From the Masters of Modern Fantasy
by Patricia A. McKillip and Orson Scott Card and Tanith Lee and Neil Gaiman and Eoin Colfer and Peter S. Beagle and Jane Yolen and Tad Williams and Garth Nix and Jack Dann and Nancy Kress and Gene Wolfe and Elizabeth Hand and Gardner R. Dozois and Terry Bisson and Mary Rosenblum and Kage Baker and Andy Duncan and Terry Dowling and Jeffrey Ford
Never-before-published stories by Neil Gaiman, Eoin Colfer, Garth Nix, and a magical lineup of writers. Throughout the ages, the wizard has claimed a spot in human culture-from the shadowy spiritual leaders of early man to precocious characters in blockbuster films. Gone are the cartoon images of wizened gray-haired men in pointy caps creating magic with a wave of their wands. Today's wizards are more subtle in their powers, more discerning in their ways, and-in the hands of modern fantasists-more likely than ever to capture readers' imaginations. In Neil Gaiman's "The Witch's Headstone," a piece taken from his much-anticipated novel in progress, an eight-year-old boy learns the power of kindness from a long-dead sorceress. Only one woman possesses two kinds of magic-enough to unite two kingdoms-in Garth Nix's "Holly and Iron." Patricia A. McKillip's "Naming Day" gives a sorcery student a lesson in breaking the rules. And a famished dove spins a tale worthy of a meal, but perhaps not the truth, in "A Fowl Tale" by Eoin Colfer. Contents ix • Preface (Wizards: Magical Tales From the Masters of Modern Fantasy) • essay by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois 1 • The Witch’s Headstone • (2007) • novelette by Neil Gaiman 25 • Holly and Iron • (2007) • novelette by Garth Nix 58 • Color Vision • (2007) • shortstory by Mary Rosenblum 83 • The Ruby Incomparable • [Anvil of the World Universe] • (2007) • shortstory by Kage Baker 99 • A Fowl Tale • (2007) • shortstory by Eoin Colfer 105 • Slipping Sideways Through Eternity • (2007) • shortstory by Jane Yolen 119 • The Stranger's Hands • (2007) • shortstory by Tad Williams 139 • Naming Day • (2007) • shortstory by Patricia A. McKillip 153 • Winter’s Wife • (2007) • novelette by Elizabeth Hand 187 • A Diorama of the Infernal Regions, or The Devil's Ninth Question • [Pearleen Sunday] • (2007) • novelette by Andy Duncan 219 • Barrens Dance • [World of The Innkeeper's Song] • (2007) • shortstory by Peter S. Beagle 234 • Stone Man • (2007) • shortstory by Nancy Kress 254 • The Manticore Spell • (2007) • shortstory by Jeffrey Ford 263 • Zinder • (2007) • shortstory by Tanith Lee 277 • Billy and the Wizard • [Billy] • (2007) • shortstory by Terry Bisson 284 • The Magikkers • (2007) • shortstory by Terry Dowling 299 • The Magic Animal • (2007) • novelette by Gene Wolfe 326 • Stonefather • [Mither Mages] • novella by Orson Scott Card
Release Date:
April 30, 2007