Wizards, Inc.

by Martin H. Greenberg (Editor / Contributor), Orson Scott Card (Contributor), Steve Perry (Contributor)

15 original stories about those who earn their living through spellcraft

From a boy who discovers life can be an illusion...to a man who maintains company security through enchantment...to a young woman who inherits a real magic shop...to a gambler who needs a sure way to beat the odds...to a woman who creates unique chocolates-here are 15 imaginative tales that run the whole gamut of wizardly professions.

Foreward (Wizards, Inc.) • essay by Loren L. Coleman
Jamaica • novelette by Orson Scott Card
Audition • short story by Steve Perry
Back Door Magic • [A Witch & Familiar Situation • 1] • short story by Phaedra Weldon [as by Phaedra M. Weldon]
Occupational Hazard • [Harry the Book] • short story by Mike Resnick
Ties That Bind • short story by Annie Reed
Hostile Takeover • short story by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
A Different Way into the Life • short story by Jay Lake
Disaster Relief • [Winston & Ruby] • short fiction by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
KidPro • short story by Laura Anne Gilman
Stocks and Bondage • novelette by Esther M. Friesner
The Keeper of the Morals • novelette by Dean Wesley Smith
Cosmic Balances Inc. • short story by Kristine Kathryn Rusch [as by Kristine Grayson]
Theobroma • juvenile • [Young Wizards] • novelette by Diane Duane
Chocolate Alchemy • (2007) • short story by Lisa Silverthorne
No Rest for the Wicked • [Trick Molloy] • short story by Michael A. Stackpole

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Anthologies, Fiction, Science Fiction

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 6, 2007

About the author

Martin Harry Greenberg was an American academic and speculative fiction anthologist. In all, he compiled 1,298 anthologies and commissioned over 8,200 original short stories. He founded Tekno Books, a packager of more than 2000 published books. In addition, he was a co-founder of the Sci-Fi Channel.

For the 1950s anthologist and publisher of Gnome Press, see Martin Greenberg.

Reviews

[Jacob Eichten · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short story collection. Varying quality. Lost interest toward the last few entries, as they seemed to get more and more salacious. My favorite entry was by the late Jay Lake, which had something of a cyberpunk consciousness-stream style, a good match for the wizarding life.

[Ricki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most collections, some stories were great while others fell flat; ones that stood out to me were "Back Door Magic" by Phaedra M. Weldon, "The Keeper of Morals" by Dean Wesley Smith, and "Theobroma" by Diane Duane.

[Leigh Kimmel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Usually Martin H Greenberg's theme anthologies have been fun, but this one was a disappointment. There were a couple of stories I liked, but on the whole, most of them simply didn't engage me.

[Nikky3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given few of these an A if I were their teacher, however it was entertaining

[Lindsey Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A more or less light-hearted anthology of stories about the working wizard in the contemporary world - with one exception from the inimitable and always fantastic Esther Friesner - this is a middling assembly of stories. None of them are terrible; none of them are particularly exceptionable.

Particularly early in the anthology, some of the stories have supernatural worlds overlaid on our real world that feel rushed and inorganic. However, the general light tone of the anthology is enjoyable.

One story that snuck up on me and entirely made me smile was Kristine Kathryn Rusch's "Disaster Relief." One of my least favorite stories was the closing tale, Michael Stackpole's "No Rest For The Wicked." It felt like parts of a too-grey mystery novel.

Because this is an anthology, not just fifteen separate stories, and thus meant to be read (mostly) as a whole, I want to comment on that as well. This anthology is very well ordered; there's often a thematic link between one story and the one that follows it, presenting a different perspective on an idea such as magic chocolatiers. It creates a nice sense that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

[Eleanor With Cats]

"Jamaica" - Orson Scott Card

"Audition" - Steve Perry

"Back Door Magic" - Phaedra Weldon

"Occupational Hazard" - Mike Resnick
"The hex is in." Horsetrack betting story. Didn't get into it.

"Ties That Bind" - Annie Reed

"Hostile Takeover" - Nina Kiriki Hoffman
Another story about Terry Dane from the Red Heart of Memories universe. Terry is wandering around the local university campus selling spells when she meets a boy witch. I like this one a lot, but I'd really like to know what happens next.

"A Different Way into the Life" - Jay Lake

"Disaster Relief" - Kristine Kathryn Rusch

"KidPro" - Laura Anne Gilman

"Stocks and Bondage" - Esther Friesner

"The Keeper of the Morals" - Dean Wesley Smith

"Cosmic Balances Inc" - Kristine Grayson

"Theobroma" - Diane Duane

"Chocolate Alchemy" - Lisa Silverthorne

"No Rest for the Wicked" - Michael Stackpole

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of 15 short stories written by 15 different authors. I selected this book because Orson Scott Card is one of the authors, and I have enjoyed some of his other stories. Apparently, the authors were given the task of writing a story about a wizard working in today's society--many of the stories in some way involve big corporations. I found some of the stories interesting, such as "Cosmic Balance Inc.," "Stocks and Bondage," and "Ties that Bind," but others were a little corny, such as "Chocolate Alchemy." In any case, these are short stories...so if you don't like one, skip to the next.

[James Howald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only read the first story thus far, but it was the only story I read it for. It's called "Jamaica" I think I may have read it compiled somewhere else, but not sure where. As usual, very good. Card seems to be much better lately at new stories than building on existing series as he his skills at a storyteller are better utilized in having to engage you in a story you have no engagement in prior to that reading.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick thoughts: A real mixed bag. Quality varies wildly and a lot of these stories had much more potential than what was achieved. Great variety and numerous interesting, unique ideas though. Call it 3.5 rounded up.

My favorites were Audition, Hostile Takeover, The Keeper of the Morals, Chocolate Alchemy, and No Rest for the Wicked.

[Zachariah Carlson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like wizards and short stories, so this should have been right up my alley. Unfortunately, the quality of the stories in this anthology run the full range from 1 to 5 stars. I've already returned it to the library, or I'd rate each story individually. It's worth reading, if only for the novel number of approaches to "modern wizard" the authors take.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely light reading. I got this on a whim from the library because of the interesting premise. I was disappointed in the quality of stories. Most of them seemed rushed and did not seem to live up to the fun of the premise.

[Lori Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

15 short stories about wizards. Many well known authors. I like these kind of collections, because if I don't like one, I can just skip to the next. I enjoyed most of these.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like this, read the Dresden Files. If you like Dresden Files, read this.

[Kenn Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the stories were very enjoyable. Just a few were not my cup of tea.

[Ch J Loveall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good premise. Author quest continuing.

[Kevin Connery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice collection of short stories. A few outstanding ones, and no real stinkers.