Daw 30th Anniversary Fantasy Anthology

I purchased this collection along with the SF companion volume. I enjoyed them both, but I found the fantasy collection the better of the two. Most of the stories were by authors I had not read in the past, yet I did not have any difficulties (that I recall) because of my lack of familiarity with their work. The Michelle West story, which is set in the same world as her Hunter's series and her Sun Sword series, goes in an entirely different direction -- one that I wish she had pursued more in her subsequent novels. The story, which focuses on the strange creative powers of a young girl -- for example, she is able to craft a wooden box that is much larger inside than out -- is very original in conception and heartbreaking to boot. Jennifer Roberson's contribution is an intriguing introduction to her new KARAVANS universe, where a woman loses her lover and then discovers the secret of a man who can die many times and come back to life. Both stories are, sad to say, a good deal better than the novels that the stories inspired me to purchase. (This is partly because both authors are long-winded in their novels but, most likely with stern editorial guidance, had to write much more tightly for this collection.) It's true that some of the stories are light and silly riffs on earlier (mostly light and silly) work, but that didn't stop me from enjoying them even though (or possibly because) that's not what I usually read. I suspect that most fantasy readers with enjoy this collection.

I was surprised by how much I liked this book. I have read oodles of Mercedes Lackey and like it as light, comforting reading. But I'm running out of her Valdemaran titles, which are my favorites, and I hoped this book would give me some new authors to peruse. Michelle West's The Memory of Stone is worth the book by itself. I suppose that the book could make you feel like an outsider to some of the authors' worlds presented within, but I felt that almost all of the stories were easy to get a handle on and great fun to read. If you want serious reading, it's probably not the best choice, but if you want to be seriously entertained, I recommend it highly!

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of its founding, DAW books published two anthologies; one of new science fiction stories, and the other of new fantasy stories, all by celebrated authors (including Andre Norton, Tanith Lee, Larry Dixon, and many more). This anthology of fantasy stories has eighteen stories, all of which are of at least very good quality. Some of these stories are comedic, while others are deadly serious. Most of them revolve around goddesses, or women with magical power.I like Christopher Stasheff's Coronach of the Bell, found Mickey Zucker Reichert's Nightfall's Promise gripping, thought that Tanya Huff's We Two May Meet was both funny and thought provoking, liked Larry Dixon's A Perfect Day in Valdemar, and absolutely loved Michelle West's The Memory of Stone. OK, there were a couple that I found too confusing to be entertaining, but overall, I do think that this is a very good anthology, and I do not hesitate to recommend it to you!

Three decades have passed since the great seer Donald A. Wollheim founded Daw as a place for some of the best fantasy and science fiction works to have a home. This 30th Anniversary Daw Fantasy anthology provides strong stories that run the gamut of the genre from some of the more renowned writers to the future stars. The stories pay homage to the company, but the contributors including the editor pay deference to the deceased founding father. Each tale is new, but more important well written as if each writer understood whom they really honor with this collection. Fans of fantasy will enjoy the tales, but also the short introductory blurb that each author adds about Mr. Wollheim (never realized he wrote the tale that Mimic is based on until Michael Shea pointed that out). Great short story book worth reading and hopefully its companion on science fiction holds up as well.Harriet Klausner