Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword and Sorceress series has always featured the best in contemporary women's fantasy, and this outstanding new volume carries on the tradition! These original stories of brave, talented, and heroic women will take readers through enchanted realms of the imagination into danger both physical and mystical, where the only way to survive is through the power of sword and spell.

    PaxsonLessons Learned · Kati Doughery-CarthumKendat’s Ax · Jan CombsThe Tower of Song · Howard HolmanThe Needed Stone · Denise Lopes HealdArmageddon · Lisa S. SilverthorneThe Land of Graves · Dave SmedsLight · Susan Urbanek LinvilleIn the Sacred Places of the Earth · Dorothy J. HeydtThe Glass Sword · Richard CorwinBed of Roses · Elisabeth WatersSword of Peace · Lucy Cohen SchmeidlerThe Fall of the Kingdom · Mary Soon LeeArms and the Woman · Lawrence Watt-EvansThe Stone Wives · Michael Chesley JohnsonTiger’s Eye · India EdghillRaven-Wings on the Snow · Pauline J. AlamaLittle Rogue Riding Hood · Rosemary EdghillThe Queen in Yellow · Gerald PerkinsMagic Threads · Pete D. Manison

    In these magical citadels, those gifted with telepathy join together, sometimes for good, sometimes in fantastic power struggles.

    The roster of contributors over the years includes Mercedes Lackey, Laurell K. Hamilton, Charles de Lint, Diana L. Paxson, Emma Bull, Jennifer Roberson, and countless others.The original stories featured here include such stellar authors as Deborah J. Ross, K.D. Wentworth, Dave Smeds, and exciting newcomers whose voices are sure to be heard again.Enter a wondrous universe..."Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword and Sorceress"Volume 23 includes stories by Dave Smeds, Michael Spence, Elisabeth Waters, Gerri Leen, Tom Inister, Patricia B. Cirone, Pauline J. Alama, Marian Allen, Melissa Mead, K.D. Wentworth, Catherine Mintz, Jonathan Moeller, Kristin Noone, Leah Cypess, Linda L. Donahue, Resa Nelson, Deborah J. Ross, Michael H. Payne, Catherine Soto, and Mercedes Lackey.

    For over two decades, the late Marion Zimmer Bradley, best-selling and beloved author, discovered and nurtured a grand generation of popular and acclaimed writers including Mercedes Lackey, Jennifer Roberson, and a host of others. Authors who have appeared within the pages of Sword and Sorceress represent the full spectrum of some of the brightest talent working today from C.J. Cherryh, Charles de Lint, and Emma Bull... to Deborah J. Ross, Diana L. Paxson, Steven Brust, and Laurell K. Hamilton. We are proud to continue the classic and vibrant feminist tradition with this twenty-fifth volume of new magical adventures edited by Elisabeth Waters, secretary and co-editor to Mrs. Bradley. Here are twenty original stories of remarkable women of power, swashbuckling and magic, spells and duels, arcane sorcery and fabled heroism, written by familiar word-weavers of excitement and adventure, and bright newcomers who are sure to become favorites. Enter a wondrous universe... Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword and Sorceress Volume 25 includes stories by Dave Smeds, Amy Griswold, Michael H. Payne, Michael Spence, Elisabeth Waters, Deborah J. Ross, Catherine Soto, Pauline J. Alama, L. M. Townsend-Crow, K. D. Wentworth, Helen E. Davis, Robin Wayne Bailey, Steve Chapman, Steven Brust, Kate Coombs, Jonathan Moeller, Lauren K. Moody, Josepha Sherman, Barbara Tarbox, Jonathan Shipley, and Susan Wolven.

    They, forming the Friends of Darkover, have joined with Marion Zimmer Bradley to create this anthology of new stories of Darkover, written by its most talented followers. Here are stories that span the whole of Darkover history -- from the days after the original landfall, through the Ages of Chaos, the Pact of the Comyn, and the coming of the Terrans. Included are three original stories by Marion Zimmer Bradley and her editorial commentaries on each story.

    Here dwell the Free Amazons, who have set themselves apart from their male-ruled world, owing loyalty only to each other, living their lives as free citizens, equal to any man or woman, soldier or lord. The eighteen tales in this collection, including two by Marion Zimmer Bradley herself, tell the story of these Free Amazons, and are certain to enchant anyone who has fallen under the spell of the Amazon heroines of Thendara House and City of Sorcery.On the Trail - Barbara ArmisteadTactics - Jane M.H. BigelowThe Meeting - Nina BoalKnives - Marion Zimmer BradleyThe Legend of Lady Bruna - Marion Zimmer BradleyThe Oath of the Comhi Letzii, Or "Order of the Renunciates" - Walter BreenHer Own Blood - Margaret L. CarterThe Camel's Nose - Susan HoltzerThe Oath of the Free Amazons: Terra, Techno Period - Jaida n'ha SandraThe Banshee - Sherry KramerA Different Kind of Courage - Mercedes R. LackeyThe Mother Quest - Diana L. PaxsonTo Open a Door - P. Alexandra Riggs Growing Pains - Susan M. SchwartzRecruits - Maureen ShannonGirls Will Be Girls - Patricia Shaw-MathewsCast Off Your Chains - Margaret SilvestriThis One Time - Joan Marie VerbaChild of the Heart - Elisabeth WatersMidwife - Deborah J. Wheeler

    the choice Rohana Aillard-Ardais must make between Comyn rule and her heart's desire...the fate of a telepath torn between Tower and Domain...and who will triumph when Comyn, Terrans, Catpeople, Free Amazons, and matrix masters vie for control in this ever-changing world of the Bloody Sun.

    And here they must face great challenges: recontact with Terra, the native chieri, and the laran powers they must control at all costs.

    "Bradley's Darkover series grows richer by the book."--Science Fiction Review.Introduction: And Contrariwise by Marion Zimmer BradleyAcurrhir Todo; Nada Perdonad by Deborah J. RossObject Lesson by Mercedes LackeyBeginnings by Cynthia DroletClingfire by Patricia Duffy NovakDeath in Thendara by Dorothy J. HeydtFiretrap by Elisabeth Waters & Marion Zimmer BradleyFriends by Judith KobyleckyManchild by L.D. WoeltjenJust a Touch… by Lynne Armstrong-JonesMind-Eater by Joan Marie VerbaMist by Meg MacDonaldOur Little Rabbit by Mary FreyGift from Ardais by Barbara DenzHorse Race by Diann PatridgePlague by Janet RhodesTapestry by Micole SudbergTo Serve Kihar by Judith Sampson

    And now, the latest tale in this epic, generations-spanning saga is sure to become a favorite of both long-time readers and newcomers.

    Hansen Through Fire and Frost, by Dorothy J. Heydt Way of a Wolf, by Lynne Holdom A Recipe For Failure, by Millea Kenin Where the Heart Is, by Millea Kenin Di Catenas, by Adrienne Martine-Barnes Camilla, by Patricia Shaw Mathews Skeptic, by Lynn Mimms Cold Hall, by Aly Parsons A Gift of Love, by Diana L. Paxson In the Throat of the Dragon, by Susan M. Shwartz Legend of the Hellers, by Ty Nolan Escape, by Leslie L. Williams Rebirth, by Elisabeth Waters Confidence, by Phillip Wayne Wind-Music, by Mary Frances Zambreno

    The Blood of Ten Chiefs tells the story of the previous chieftains of the Wolfrider Clan

    Enter a world of mystics and unicorns, angels and kings -- all realized with the same dazzling style and imagination that has made Stephen R. Donaldson a modern master of the fantasy genre.Daughter of Regals is a fantasy novella concerning a unique royal line and an unusual conception of magic.The Conqueror Worm is a deliciously creepy "horror" piece in which havoc is wreaked by one lowly centipede.Ser Visal's Tale begins as a simple story told over several flagons of wine at the local inn, this novella ends with a surprising twist.Gilden-Fire is the famous chapter about Korik of the Bloodguard and his mission to Seareach that was part of the original manuscript of The Illearth War, but omitted from the published version.

    By Boucher, Effinger, Ellison, Friesner, Resnick, Sheckley, Silverberg, Zelazny, and more.Stories in the collection:As Is by Robert SilverbergThe Same to You Doubled by Robert SheckleyThe Egg of the Glak by Harvey JacobsBeibermann's Soul by Mike ResnickThimgs by Theordore R. CogswellMs. Lipshutz and the Goblin by Marvin KayeUnferno by George Alec EffingerUnicorn Variations by Roger ZelaznyYes Sir That's My by Daniel P. DernPlease Stand By by Ron GoulartBottle Party by John CollierMy Mother Was a Witch by William TennDjinn, NO Chaser by Harlan EllisonUp the Wall by Esther M. FriesnerTrouble With Water by Horace L. GoldSavage Breasts by Nina Kiriki HoffmanOr the Grasses Grow by Avram DavidsonSnulbug by Anthony Boucher