Wizards: Magical Tales from the Masters of Modern Fantasy

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