Wizards: Magical Tales from the Masters of Modern Fantasy by Jack Dann, Gardner Dozois

From Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Review
Comparable to the recent blockbuster fantasy collection Legends (edited by Robert Silverberg), Wizards: Magical Tales from the Masters of Modern Fantasy is an impressive all-star anthology that contains never-before-published stories about magic practitioners from some of the biggest names in the genre -- Neil Gaiman, Tad Williams, Orson Scott Card, Gene Wolfe, Patricia A. McKillip, Kage Baker, and Tanith Lee, to name a few.

Noteworthy selections include Card's "Stonefather," about the unremarkable 15th child of a poor farmwife who, after leaving his home in search of his place in the world, discovers that he possesses extraordinary, world-changing abilities, and Gaiman's "The Witch's Headstone," a haunting and lyrical tale (strongly reminiscent of Ray Bradbury's 1946 classic "The Homecoming") about an eight-year-old boy being raised by the spirits in a graveyard who decides to help out one of the undead. Terry Bisson's "Billy and the Wizard" pits a young boy against the Devil himself, and Jeffrey Ford's "The Manticore Spell" follows a wizard's apprentice as he glimpses eternity in the form of a mythical creature.

Editors Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois write in the collection's preface: "The figure of the wizard is still a deeply significant one, an archetype that haunts art, advertising, literature, folklore, cartoons, movies, and even our very dreams." That magically empowered archetype, which has the ability to communicate with and call upon the supernatural world, is brilliantly represented in varying forms in the 18 diverse stories included within -- easily one of the strongest fantasy collections of the year. Paul Goat Allen

From the Publisher

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.

Locus

A very strong book from top to bottom...Highly recommended.

Monsters and Critics

A delightful waltz through the realms of magic and mystery as seen through the eyes of several gifted writers.

SF Revu

An excellent collection.

Publishers Weekly

Veteran fantasists weave a variety of imaginative spells in this fine anthology of 18 original wizardry-themed tales. Neil Gaiman's charming opener, "The Witch's Headstone," introduces a boy raised by the dead and offers a sneak peek at a novel-in-progress. An Icelandic bride in modern Maine makes magic in Elizabeth Hand's outstanding "Winter's Wife." Mary Rosenblum, Patricia A. McKillip, Nancy Kress, Terry Dowling and Gene Wolfe notably conjure up diverse and indelible, coming-of-age stories featuring contemporary teens discovering their true natures. Garth Nix successfully mixes English legends in "Holly and Iron." The prophet Elijah appears as the "wizard" of Jane Yolen's "Slipping Sideways Through Eternity." What goes around comes around, even for wizards and monsters in Jeffrey Ford's "The Manticore Spell." Tad Williams, Peter S. Beagle and Orson Scott Card contribute indifferent stories, but overall this magical brew will enchant young adult readers and their elders as well. (May)

VOYA

This collection of eighteen never-before-published stories by masterful writers of fantasy such as Neil Gaiman, Orson Scott Card, Jane Yolen, Elizabeth Hand, and others is a compendium of tales about wizards of all stripes: benevolent, evil, young, old, powerful, and foolish. The tales take place in both contemporary and ancient times, in worlds both fantastic and realistic. There is something for all fantasy fans in this original and varied collection. The Ruby Incomparable by Kage Baker and Naming Day by Patricia A. McKillip offer fresh twists on mother-daughter conflicts and bonds. In Stone Man, Nancy Kress introduces young wizard Jared Stoffel, who discovers his powers during a skateboarding accident. Garth Nix creates a unique version of the Norman/English schism in Holly and Iron and flavors it with Arthurian legend. Peter S. Beagle introduces readers to the mysterious shukri creatures in Barrens Dancing. Stonefather serves as a prologue to Orson Scott Card's upcoming fantasy series. Edited by two award-winning authors, this anthology showcases modern fantasy writers at the top of their form. Fantasy aficionados will recognize these names; novices will receive a spellbinding introduction. Wonderfully imaginative and fun to read, this compilation of tales will enchant fantasy readers junior high through adult.

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