She used it in her journeys through the kingdoms of Green Isles, to wake the magic of the Summerblood where it lay sleeping in folk who had never known they had it.Harping, she knew, was on third of a bard's spells. Harping, and poetry, and the road that led . . .Into the GreenCharles de Lint takes us once again into lands infused and transformed by magic. Magic that grows in the roots of old oaks and dances by moonlight among standing stones. Magic that sleeps in an old soldier's eyes and glows in the gaze of a phantom stag. Magic that pumps through the heart and the veins of those born to the Summerblood-to be stolen at knife point, burned, destroyed, in danger of fading back into the green and disappearing forever from the world.

    Irena Pannis was thirteen when she first found the beginning place. Now, seven years later, she has grown to know and love the gentle inhabitants of Tembreabrezi, or Mountaintown, and she sees Hugh as a trespasser. But then a monstrous shadow threatens to destroy Mountaintown, and Hugh and Irena join forces to seek it out. Along the way, they begin to fall in love. Are they on their way to a new beginning...or a fateful end?

    Morgon, prince of the simple farmers of Hed, proved himself a master of such riddles when he staked his life to win a crown from the dead Lord of Aum. But now ancient, evil forces were threatening him. Shape changers began replacing friends until no man could be trusted. So Morgon was forced to flee to hostile kingdoms, seeking the High One who ruled from mysterious Erlenstar Mountain. Beside him went Deth, the High One's Harper. Ahead lay strange encounters and terrifying adventures. And with him always was the greatest of unsolved riddles; the nature of the three stars on his forehead that seemed to drive him toward his ultimate destiny.

    Their previous beloved series include the Belgariad, the Malloreon, and the Elenium, and although Althalus is bursting with all the daring escapades their multitude of fans expect, it is also an engaging departure for the authors. Althalus is a grand adventure that is bound to enthrall readers of the authors' previous, multivolume epics, but it features a precision of plot and language that can be achieved only by having an actual resolution. Althalus is a young thief and occasional killer known for his skill and incredible luck. A number of capers end without much monetary reward for him, until he stumbles into a shrine built to the fertility goddess Dweia. Soon afterward he meets with the wizard Ghend, who hires him to steal the Book, a magical tome that can be found in the bizarre House at the End of the World. There, Althalus discovers Dweia in the form of a black cat and learns that she has chosen him to aid her in a war against Ghend and her evil brother, the destroyer god Daeva. Together Althalus and Dweia use the power of the Book and gather together a small team of questionable heroes who must battle Ghend's supernatural forces and armies. The thief Althalus can only hope his luck holds out for this one last task, since the very fate of humanity is at stake.A stand-alone epic fantasy is a rarity in the modern-day publishing world and a concept that should be embraced more often. The Redemption of Althalus gives us all the action, sorcery, humor, and soaring imagination of a grand series but doesn't leave any loose threads, fractured subplots, or loss of momentum. A great deal of fun action and generally good-natured exploits are punctuated by the authors' usual satire on religion and high society. In one clever turn, Althalus enters a city where the wealthy are forced to hide their riches and live even worse than the poor in order to avoid taxation. Althalus is well-polished and smoothly constructed, with real storytelling muscle and a gratifying finale. The Eddingses should be praised for their willingness to put a cap on this particular story in an effort to offer other wonderfully developed worlds to their readers.

    Split into two volumes for paperback this is Part One of that second volume.WORDS OF RADIANCE takes the reader even deeper into the lives of its characters as they fight for power, freedom and their lives on the extraordinary, hurricane swept world of Rosharr.Famed for his plotting, his wonderful characters and his intricate magic systems Brandon Sanderson is poised to take up the crown of Robert Jordan as the creator of the keynote epic fantasy series of its time with the Stormlight Archive.

    Heydt, and their fellow adventurers through perilous lands where women - whether they be powerful magicians, or sword fighters sworn to protect - take up challenges so often considered the sole province of men, in twenty-six original stories collected and edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley.The sixteenth volume of "Sword & Sorceress" includes 25 all-original stories of strong, heroic women characters -- female warriors and wizards who face down perils and come to the aid of those in need. Includes the fantasy fiction of Diana Paxson, Lawrence Watt-Evans, Deborah Wheeler, and Dorothy J. Heydt, as well as an introduction by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

    PaxsonThe Proper Balance • (1993) • short story by Robyn McGrewThe Gift of Minerva • (1993) • short story by Dorothy J. HeydtFriendly Fire • (1993) • short story by Mercedes LackeyHeart in a Box • (1993) • short story by Lynne Armstrong-JonesDance of Death • (1993) • short story by Donna Bocian CurrieEarth, Air, Fire, and Water • (1993) • short story by Kirsten M. CorbyFealty • (1993) • short story by Kati Dougherty-CarthumHunt for the Queen's Beast • (1993) • short story by J.M. CressyRobes • (1993) • short story by Patricia Duffy NovakBonds of Light • (1993) • short story by Vera NazarianNight, Who Creeps Through Keyholes • (1993) • short story by Francesca MymanOaths • (1993) • short story by Leslie Ann MillerDouble Vision • (1993) • short story by Lucas K. LawThe Phoenix Medallion • (1993) • short story by Diann PartridgeA Run in the Forest • (1993) • short story by David A. PillardOld Age and Treachery… • (1993) • short story by Nancy L. PineIn Sheep's Clothing • (1993) • short story by Lawrence SchimelHer Mother's Sword • (1993) • short story by Stephanie D. ShaverThe Sorceress' Apprentice • (1993) • short story by Deborah WheelerMage-Sight • (1993) • short story by Lynne Alisse WittenEther and the Skeptic • (1993) • short story by Katy Huth JonesThe Limwitch • (1993) • short fiction by Rebekah JensenSmile of the Goddess • (1993) • short story by Lorina J. StephensJust Reward • (1993) • short story by Karen LukBoys Will Be Girls • (1993) • short story by Vicki KirchhoffTaking Shape • (1993) • short story by Lisa DeasonJustice Is Mine • (1993) • short fiction by Carolee J. Edwards

    Abby is trapped, not only between both sides of the war, but in a mortal conflict between two powerful men. For Zedd, who commands power most men can only imagine, granting Abby's request would mean forsaking his sacred duty. With the storm of the final battle about to break, both Abby and Zedd are caught in a desperate fight to save the life of a child....but neither can escape the shadow of an ancient betrayal. With time running out, their only choice may be a debt of bones. The world-for Zedd, for Abby,for everyone-will never again be the same.

    He hadn't planned it that way, but that's what happened when he set out to rescue his betrothed. Following her through an erratic astral-projection machine, Jim suddenly found himself in a cockeyed world - locked in the body of a talking dragon named Gorbash.That wouldn't have been so bad if his beloved Angie were also a dragon. But in this magical land, that was not the case. Angie had somehow remained a very female human - or a george, as the dragons called any human. And Jim, no matter what anyone called him, was a dragon.To make matters worse, Angie had been taken prisoner by an evil dragon and was held captive in the impenetrable Loathly Tower. So in this land where georges were edible and beasts were magical - where spells worked and logic didn't - Jim Eckert had a problem.And he needed help, by george!

    He's no knight in shining armor. He's a hradani, a race known for their uncontrollable rages, bloodthirsty tendencies, and inability to maintain civilized conduct. None of the other Five Races of man like the hradani. Besides his ethnic burden, Bahzell has problems of his own to deal with: a violated hostage bond, a vengeful prince, a price on his head. He doesn't want to mess with anybody else's problems, let alone a god's. Let alone the War God's! So how does he end up a thousand leagues from home, neck-deep in political intrigue, assassins, demons, psionicists, evil sorcery, white sorcery, dark gods, good gods, bad poets, greedy landlords, and most of Bortalik Bay? Well, it's all the War God's fault.

    And things only got harder from there.Snatched out of special operations and thrown headfirst into a secretive new unit, Lincoln finds himself as the team leader for the 519th Applied Intelligence Group, better known as the Outriders. And his first day on the job brings a mission with the highest possible stakes.A dangerously cunning woman who most assuredly should be dead has seemingly returned. And her plans aren’t just devastating, they might be unstoppable.How do you defeat a hidden enemy when you can’t let them know they’ve been discovered?You send in the Outriders.

    They are sword-wielding defenders or sorcerous spell-casters - roles too often considered the exclusive province of men.In 26 original stories of bold and talented women, Diana Paxson, Deborah Wheeler, Elisabeth Waters, Adrienne Martine-Barnes and their fellow word-weavers lead their readers through bespelled realms of the imagination into dangers both physical and sorcerous, where all the powers of Avalon lie in a woman's hands...a talisman of love can banish a demon's deadly threat...an otherworldly hunter catches different game than she bargained for...a mother's scorn begets a daughter's magic...The Bargain • (1997) • short story by Laura J. UnderwoodThe Impression of Power • (1997) • short story by Lee MartindaleThe Naming of Names • (1997) • short story by Adrienne Martine-BarnesChangelings • (1997) • short story by Diana L. PaxsonDeath-Hunt • (1997) • short story by Raul ReyesA Single Soul • (1997) • short story by Deborah WheelerThe Needle and the Sword • (1997) • short story by Jessie D. EakerSmall Considertions • (1997) • short story by Judith Fielder LeggettIf You Can't Stand the Heat… • (1997) • short story by P.E. CunninghamSilver Bands • (1997) • short story by Syne MitchellThe Hand of a Lady • (1997) • short story by Anne CutrellTo Have and To Hold • (1997) • short story by K.D. BarnesA Knight on Tower Hill • (1997) • short story by Kathrina BoodThe Longest Night • (1997) • short story by Lisa S. SilverthorneBlood Moon • (1997) • novelette by Cynthia WardBy the Skin of her Teeth • (1997) • short story by Heather Rose JonesFriends in High Places • (1997) • short fiction by Christina KruegerThe Blade of Unmaking • (1997) • novelette by Elisabeth WatersThe Stone-Weaver's Tale • (1997) • short story by Cynthia McQuillinThe Hollow Dancer • (1997) • short story by Mary Soon LeeLa Faie Suiateih • (1997) • short story by Lisa DeasonVengeance • (1997) • short story by Dorothy J. HeydtThe Moongate Troll • (1997) • short story by Patricia Duffy NovakLifestone • (1997) • short story by Mary CatelliWhite Elephants • (1997) • short story by Christopher KempkeTraveler's Aide • (1997) • short story by Kathi ThompsonAfterword: The Last Word (Sword & Sorceress XIV) • (1997) • essay by Rachel E. Holmen

    Normally her job is stimulating, challenging and only a little bit dangerous. But every once in a while...Case in point: A cornerstone containing a spell is stolen and there's a magical complication. (Isn't there always?) Wren's unique abilities aren't enough to lay this particular case to rest, so she turns to some friends: a demon (minor), a mage who has lost his mind, and a few others, including Sergei, her business partner (and maybe a bit more?).Sometimes what a woman has to do to get the job done is enough to give even Wren nightmares....

    Fantasy's bad guys finally get their own say in this fast moving, action-packed, tongue-in-cheek tale of Orc valour and human treachery.

    They are many heroines of SWORD AND SORCERESS - brave women who have adopted the daring roles so often deemed to be the exclusive province of men.Join Diana L Paxson, Esther M Friesner, Rosemary Edghill, Leslie Fish, Dorothy j Heydt and their fellow spell-weavers as they carry on Marion Zimmer Bradley's proud, feminist tradition in the twenty-three original, swashbuckling and magical stories of SWORD AND SORCERESS XXI, where:A family of thieves is sorely disappointed by their daughter's wizarding ambitions...A warrior with amnesia is taught a lesson she could never have learned if she remembered her past...A girl is turned down by a school of magic because of her sex, only to become the disciple of a far more powerful mentor...An arrogant mage is taught that even the most powerful of sorcerers sometimes needs the help of material weapons...The best-selling "Sword & The Sorceress series continues with this thrilling 21st edition of all-original stories of action-packed adventure, ultimate magic, and fearsome, sword-wielding women by some of the best names in fantasy today.