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Dread Empire
Sword and Sorceress
The author of the marvelous Darkover novels and of the best-selling Arthurian novel THE MISTS OF AVALON, has assembled this corona of heroic fantasy wherein women of courage and wizardry challenge the evils and dreads of an ensorcelled world.
Here are new stories of warrior women and mistresses of magic, stories of adventure and derring-do, written by such as Glen Cook, Phyllis Ann Karr, Charles R Saunders, Jennifer Roberson, Diana Paxson, and many more.
Marion Zimmer Bradley writes in her introduction:
"Valor has neither race nor color - nor does it have gender...Anyone can write male sexist fiction; anyone can write feminist propaganda. I hop to avoid either and to entertain you while I'm doing it."
Here she has succeeded!
Here are new stories of warrior women and mistresses of magic, stories of adventure and derring-do, written by such as Glen Cook, Phyllis Ann Karr, Charles R Saunders, Jennifer Roberson, Diana Paxson, and many more.
Marion Zimmer Bradley writes in her introduction:
"Valor has neither race nor color - nor does it have gender...Anyone can write male sexist fiction; anyone can write feminist propaganda. I hop to avoid either and to entertain you while I'm doing it."
Here she has succeeded!
255 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
15 people are currently reading
2320 people want to read
About the author
Marion Zimmer Bradley
806 books4,910 followersMarion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley was an American author of fantasy novels such as The Mists of Avalon and the Darkover series, often with a feminist outlook.
Bradley's first published novel-length work was Falcons of Narabedla, first published in the May 1957 issue of Other Worlds. When she was a child, Bradley stated that she enjoyed reading adventure fantasy authors such as Henry Kuttner, Edmond Hamilton, and Leigh Brackett, especially when they wrote about "the glint of strange suns on worlds that never were and never would be." Her first novel and much of her subsequent work show their influence strongly.
Early in her career, writing as Morgan Ives, Miriam Gardner, John Dexter, and Lee Chapman, Marion Zimmer Bradley produced several works outside the speculative fiction genre, including some gay and lesbian pulp fiction novels. For example, I Am a Lesbian was published in 1962. Though relatively tame by today's standards, they were considered pornographic when published, and for a long time she refused to disclose the titles she wrote under these pseudonyms.
Her 1958 story The Planet Savers introduced the planet of Darkover, which became the setting of a popular series by Bradley and other authors. The Darkover milieu may be considered as either fantasy with science fiction overtones or as science fiction with fantasy overtones, as Darkover is a lost earth colony where psi powers developed to an unusual degree. Bradley wrote many Darkover novels by herself, but in her later years collaborated with other authors for publication; her literary collaborators have continued the series since her death.
Bradley took an active role in science-fiction and fantasy fandom, promoting interaction with professional authors and publishers and making several important contributions to the subculture.
For many years, Bradley actively encouraged Darkover fan fiction and reprinted some of it in commercial Darkover anthologies, continuing to encourage submissions from unpublished authors, but this ended after a dispute with a fan over an unpublished Darkover novel of Bradley's that had similarities to some of the fan's stories. As a result, the novel remained unpublished, and Bradley demanded the cessation of all Darkover fan fiction.
Bradley was also the editor of the long-running Sword and Sorceress anthology series, which encouraged submissions of fantasy stories featuring original and non-traditional heroines from young and upcoming authors. Although she particularly encouraged young female authors, she was not averse to including male authors in her anthologies. Mercedes Lackey was just one of many authors who first appeared in the anthologies. She also maintained a large family of writers at her home in Berkeley. Ms Bradley was editing the final Sword and Sorceress manuscript up until the week of her death in September of 1999.
Probably her most famous single novel is The Mists of Avalon. A retelling of the Camelot legend from the point of view of Morgaine and Gwenhwyfar, it grew into a series of books; like the Darkover series, the later novels are written with or by other authors and have continued to appear after Bradley's death.
Her reputation has been posthumously marred by multiple accusations of child sexual abuse by her daughter Moira Greyland, and for allegedly assisting her second husband, convicted child abuser Walter Breen, in sexually abusing multiple unrelated children.
(from Wikipedia)
Bradley's first published novel-length work was Falcons of Narabedla, first published in the May 1957 issue of Other Worlds. When she was a child, Bradley stated that she enjoyed reading adventure fantasy authors such as Henry Kuttner, Edmond Hamilton, and Leigh Brackett, especially when they wrote about "the glint of strange suns on worlds that never were and never would be." Her first novel and much of her subsequent work show their influence strongly.
Early in her career, writing as Morgan Ives, Miriam Gardner, John Dexter, and Lee Chapman, Marion Zimmer Bradley produced several works outside the speculative fiction genre, including some gay and lesbian pulp fiction novels. For example, I Am a Lesbian was published in 1962. Though relatively tame by today's standards, they were considered pornographic when published, and for a long time she refused to disclose the titles she wrote under these pseudonyms.
Her 1958 story The Planet Savers introduced the planet of Darkover, which became the setting of a popular series by Bradley and other authors. The Darkover milieu may be considered as either fantasy with science fiction overtones or as science fiction with fantasy overtones, as Darkover is a lost earth colony where psi powers developed to an unusual degree. Bradley wrote many Darkover novels by herself, but in her later years collaborated with other authors for publication; her literary collaborators have continued the series since her death.
Bradley took an active role in science-fiction and fantasy fandom, promoting interaction with professional authors and publishers and making several important contributions to the subculture.
For many years, Bradley actively encouraged Darkover fan fiction and reprinted some of it in commercial Darkover anthologies, continuing to encourage submissions from unpublished authors, but this ended after a dispute with a fan over an unpublished Darkover novel of Bradley's that had similarities to some of the fan's stories. As a result, the novel remained unpublished, and Bradley demanded the cessation of all Darkover fan fiction.
Bradley was also the editor of the long-running Sword and Sorceress anthology series, which encouraged submissions of fantasy stories featuring original and non-traditional heroines from young and upcoming authors. Although she particularly encouraged young female authors, she was not averse to including male authors in her anthologies. Mercedes Lackey was just one of many authors who first appeared in the anthologies. She also maintained a large family of writers at her home in Berkeley. Ms Bradley was editing the final Sword and Sorceress manuscript up until the week of her death in September of 1999.
Probably her most famous single novel is The Mists of Avalon. A retelling of the Camelot legend from the point of view of Morgaine and Gwenhwyfar, it grew into a series of books; like the Darkover series, the later novels are written with or by other authors and have continued to appear after Bradley's death.
Her reputation has been posthumously marred by multiple accusations of child sexual abuse by her daughter Moira Greyland, and for allegedly assisting her second husband, convicted child abuser Walter Breen, in sexually abusing multiple unrelated children.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 19, 2014
In the series of anthologies of original stories which began with this volume, the late editor Bradley mines similar territory, and deals with similar strong female protagonists, as does Esther Freisner in the later Chicks in Chainmail series. The quality of writing (at least in the initial volumes of both, the only ones I've read) is high in both; the main difference being that Bradley's series tends to feature tales that are more serious in tone, with less humor. (Though that doesn't mean that they all necessarily have none of the latter; and a couple would have been at home in the later series as well.) That doesn't reduce their entertainment value, and often makes them more compelling.
The Goodreads default description lists all 15 stories by author. They come in great variety, as do the settings, and the heroines. Some of the latter can be rough-edged, and may sometimes do some things I wouldn't do, or recommend; but all of them have good hearts at their core, and earn the reader's goodwill and respect. (Some of them, like de Lint's bounty huntress Aynber, and Charles R. Saunders' alternate-African warrior woman Dossouye, are series characters who appear in a number of stories elsewhere by these authors.) Some of my favorites here are "The Valley of the Troll," "Gimmile's Songs," "Severed Heads" (which isn't as grisly-gory as the title makes it sound), "Child of Orcus," "Daton and the Dead Things" and "Sword of Yraine." But virtually all of these are worth reading; the only one here that I felt was a little weak is "House in the Forest."
Bradley's substantial introduction is an added benefit of the book; she provides a good historical sketch of the role of female characters in sword-and-sorcery fantasy fiction, and some really insightful comments on the appeal and value of strong, three-dimensional heroines in this field. (Her meaty biocritical notes on each story's author are a very worthwhile feature, as well!) She very rightly outlines an equalitarian perspective that explicitly differentiates her purpose here from "feminist propaganda" and Woman-uber-alles male- bashing; the female perspective here is rightly seen as an essential part of the human perspective, that includes both genders as important, needed and responsible contributors to the world and the human story. Even so, I would differ with her on one point. Though she dedicates this volume to C. L. Moore and to "all of us who grew up wanting to be Jirel," she faults Moore here for Jirel's realization in "Black God's Kiss," after killing her adversary Guillaume, that she loved him; Bradley thinks this weakens the character, and sends the message that "woman's pride only stood in the way of true happiness --interpreted as surrender to a man." Personally, I didn't take Moore's story that way; I interpreted it as a true-to-life reflection of the fact that sometimes underneath anger and enmity there can be a bond between two people --just as a male, too, might feel attracted to a woman who can fight him tooth-and-nail, and even defeat him. (And it's as much, or more, Guillaume's pride as Jirel's that separates them.) But that's a quibble --and one that has nothing to do with the great stories in this collection!
The Goodreads default description lists all 15 stories by author. They come in great variety, as do the settings, and the heroines. Some of the latter can be rough-edged, and may sometimes do some things I wouldn't do, or recommend; but all of them have good hearts at their core, and earn the reader's goodwill and respect. (Some of them, like de Lint's bounty huntress Aynber, and Charles R. Saunders' alternate-African warrior woman Dossouye, are series characters who appear in a number of stories elsewhere by these authors.) Some of my favorites here are "The Valley of the Troll," "Gimmile's Songs," "Severed Heads" (which isn't as grisly-gory as the title makes it sound), "Child of Orcus," "Daton and the Dead Things" and "Sword of Yraine." But virtually all of these are worth reading; the only one here that I felt was a little weak is "House in the Forest."
Bradley's substantial introduction is an added benefit of the book; she provides a good historical sketch of the role of female characters in sword-and-sorcery fantasy fiction, and some really insightful comments on the appeal and value of strong, three-dimensional heroines in this field. (Her meaty biocritical notes on each story's author are a very worthwhile feature, as well!) She very rightly outlines an equalitarian perspective that explicitly differentiates her purpose here from "feminist propaganda" and Woman-uber-alles male- bashing; the female perspective here is rightly seen as an essential part of the human perspective, that includes both genders as important, needed and responsible contributors to the world and the human story. Even so, I would differ with her on one point. Though she dedicates this volume to C. L. Moore and to "all of us who grew up wanting to be Jirel," she faults Moore here for Jirel's realization in "Black God's Kiss," after killing her adversary Guillaume, that she loved him; Bradley thinks this weakens the character, and sends the message that "woman's pride only stood in the way of true happiness --interpreted as surrender to a man." Personally, I didn't take Moore's story that way; I interpreted it as a true-to-life reflection of the fact that sometimes underneath anger and enmity there can be a bond between two people --just as a male, too, might feel attracted to a woman who can fight him tooth-and-nail, and even defeat him. (And it's as much, or more, Guillaume's pride as Jirel's that separates them.) But that's a quibble --and one that has nothing to do with the great stories in this collection!
June 21, 2008
There are over twenty volumes of this anthology, edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley (some even prepared before her death for later publication). This collection takes itself a little more seriously than the Fraisner’s Chicks in Chainmail anthologies… but the underlying theme is the same. In a genre where female characters are typically relegated to damsel in distress/sex object, Bradley collected stories that put the sword and the power in the capable hands of female protagonists of all stripes, colors and sizes.
I’ve only read two or three volumes, but they were all enjoyable.
I’ve only read two or three volumes, but they were all enjoyable.
January 31, 2024
I really enjoyed most of these stories. The first was ok. Probably my least favorite. The last one was just ok as well. The others were really entertaining. I would definitely recommend this if you're a fan of S&S it was very enjoyable.
August 9, 2010
"What are we without friends? Just severed heads rolling across the sands." pg. 49 Glen Cook
Here are my thoughts on the tales within this book:
The Garnet and the Glory by Phyllis Ann Karr: Not my favorite tale at all, it was an okay read. Perhaps if I read more of the sagas of Frost and Thorn I would have found it better.
Severed Heads by Glen Cook: better than the first tale, and I did like the revenge side of the tale
Taking Heart by Stephen L. Burns: technically a story about a male thief...but really a much different tale indeed. I saw it coming, but it was still a good tale, with a touch of humor.
The Rending Dark by Emma Bull: meh. had a little bit of a horror story in it, but I just didn't get to liking the main characters.
Gimmile's Songs by Charles R. Saunders: LOVE this tale. I must note that our heroine spends 90% of the tale (including a fight scene) naked. Yep, written by a man...a strong woman, but she should be naked! ha!
The Valley of the Troll by Charles de Lint: again with a little bit of horror. I enjoyed this one immensely. And the bad guys get what they deserve, nice.
Imperatrix by Deborah Wheeler: a tale about the disguising of a royal to solve the problems of the world. We have read it before, but it still was told nicely.
Blood of Sorcery by Jennifer Roberson: I so love Jennifer's stories. And this one didn't fail me either. It has some hidden ideas about fate and duty.
With Four Lean Hounds by Pat Murphy: Another great story. And a tale of how kindness will win over MASTERY everytime.
House in the Forest by Anodea Judith: a tale for the ecologist. Save the planet sort of tale, with a haunted house. NICE.
Sword of Yraine by Diana L. Paxson: Finding where you belong, and accepting what you didn't know you should accept. I loved this tale (but again with the naked fighting chicks)
Daton and the Dead Things by Michael Ward: Humor. An enjoyable tall tale -- the fish was THIS big I swear..well, no, I don't have any proof :-)
Gate of the Damned by Janet Fox: The only Amazon story in the bunch, and it just wasn't that good. Only ok.
Child of Orcus by Robin W. Bailey: end this tale however you will...the lady or the tiger, with a twist. I enjoyed it very much...our heroine is just wonderful.
Things come in Threes by Dorothy J. Heydt: more humor, a nice ending to a great anthology.
I liked more stories than I didn't, and I didn't HATE any of them, a rarity. Marion Zimmer Bradley could tell a good tale, both with her own words, and with others.
Here are my thoughts on the tales within this book:
The Garnet and the Glory by Phyllis Ann Karr: Not my favorite tale at all, it was an okay read. Perhaps if I read more of the sagas of Frost and Thorn I would have found it better.
Severed Heads by Glen Cook: better than the first tale, and I did like the revenge side of the tale
Taking Heart by Stephen L. Burns: technically a story about a male thief...but really a much different tale indeed. I saw it coming, but it was still a good tale, with a touch of humor.
The Rending Dark by Emma Bull: meh. had a little bit of a horror story in it, but I just didn't get to liking the main characters.
Gimmile's Songs by Charles R. Saunders: LOVE this tale. I must note that our heroine spends 90% of the tale (including a fight scene) naked. Yep, written by a man...a strong woman, but she should be naked! ha!
The Valley of the Troll by Charles de Lint: again with a little bit of horror. I enjoyed this one immensely. And the bad guys get what they deserve, nice.
Imperatrix by Deborah Wheeler: a tale about the disguising of a royal to solve the problems of the world. We have read it before, but it still was told nicely.
Blood of Sorcery by Jennifer Roberson: I so love Jennifer's stories. And this one didn't fail me either. It has some hidden ideas about fate and duty.
With Four Lean Hounds by Pat Murphy: Another great story. And a tale of how kindness will win over MASTERY everytime.
House in the Forest by Anodea Judith: a tale for the ecologist. Save the planet sort of tale, with a haunted house. NICE.
Sword of Yraine by Diana L. Paxson: Finding where you belong, and accepting what you didn't know you should accept. I loved this tale (but again with the naked fighting chicks)
Daton and the Dead Things by Michael Ward: Humor. An enjoyable tall tale -- the fish was THIS big I swear..well, no, I don't have any proof :-)
Gate of the Damned by Janet Fox: The only Amazon story in the bunch, and it just wasn't that good. Only ok.
Child of Orcus by Robin W. Bailey: end this tale however you will...the lady or the tiger, with a twist. I enjoyed it very much...our heroine is just wonderful.
Things come in Threes by Dorothy J. Heydt: more humor, a nice ending to a great anthology.
I liked more stories than I didn't, and I didn't HATE any of them, a rarity. Marion Zimmer Bradley could tell a good tale, both with her own words, and with others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2008
I haven't been a huge fan of short stories because they always seem to be so-so, but this collection was fantastic. I liked every single story, although I did like some more than others. MZB definitely knew how to recognize a damn good story. It also makes me think about writers - I think writing novels and writing stories take different types of talents. Some have both but some writers have only one. And I think some of the stories I've been disappointed in lately have been written by novelists - the story seems to be missing something or feels like it should actually be a longer work. I didn't get that feeling with any of the stories in this book. They all felt like short self-contained episodes. I'm looking forward to reading the other volumes edited by MZB.
December 31, 2021
Bradley went into this collection with a set of hard rules, and in the process discovered how hard it was to keep to them: female protagonists, fantasy, and no graphic scenes of rape. She acknowledges the exceptions and I think the result digs into a larger goal--there is nothing gratuitous and each has something interesting to say. Even the weakest of them (arguably "House in the Forest" or "Things Come in Threes") goes about it with craft and voice.
October 22, 2012
Once upon a time, when I was a little girl, in the dark days pre-Buffy, it was hard to find a female action hero. And yes, little girls need them, and teens, and even young women. So when the first Sword and Sorceress was published in 1984, I grabbed it, and it was love at first sight of the cover. I still own that paperback. On the back it boasts the appearance of "Glen Cook, Phyllis Ann Karr, Charles R. Saunders, Jennifer Roberson, Diana Paxson." Others on the contents page who'd later gain prominence include Emma Bull (her first sale) and Charles de Lint. There are 15 fantasy short stories here in all.
To be honest none were greatly memorable. When I recently picked up again an anthology of stories by Isaac Asimov after decades, I immediately remembered the content of most from just their title, and of many others just from the first few paragraphs. I could say the same of classic literary short stories after having read them once years before. None of the stories here rise to that level, and you couldn't mistake any for literary fiction. None really take stylistic chances. Only two are even first person. A disconcerting amount--over a third--contain at least the threat, and three times the depiction, of rape. With a couple of the stories, I didn't see the point of the protagonist being a woman--their gender could have been changed and it wouldn't have impacted the story in the slightest.
On the other hand, I found only two clunkers. Otherwise these were all enjoyable, and a few especially so. If I had to name a favorite, it would be Stephen L. Burns "Taking Heart" one of the few humor pieces, and with a great handling of point of view and a nicely wry twist. Followed closely by two historical fantasies: Charles Saunder's "Gimmile's Songs," set in Africa with an amazon heroine and Robin W. Bailey's "Child of Orcus" set in Ancient Rome with a woman ex-gladiator in the pay of Empress Messalina. I also particularly liked Pat Murphy's "With Four Lean Hounds" which had a nice fairy tale feel.
In the years the anthology has existed (it's still being published with Elizabeth Waters as editor) it has included such authors as Mercedes Lackey, C.J. Cherryh, Elizabeth Moon and Laurell K. Hamilton. It got off to a solid start here.
To be honest none were greatly memorable. When I recently picked up again an anthology of stories by Isaac Asimov after decades, I immediately remembered the content of most from just their title, and of many others just from the first few paragraphs. I could say the same of classic literary short stories after having read them once years before. None of the stories here rise to that level, and you couldn't mistake any for literary fiction. None really take stylistic chances. Only two are even first person. A disconcerting amount--over a third--contain at least the threat, and three times the depiction, of rape. With a couple of the stories, I didn't see the point of the protagonist being a woman--their gender could have been changed and it wouldn't have impacted the story in the slightest.
On the other hand, I found only two clunkers. Otherwise these were all enjoyable, and a few especially so. If I had to name a favorite, it would be Stephen L. Burns "Taking Heart" one of the few humor pieces, and with a great handling of point of view and a nicely wry twist. Followed closely by two historical fantasies: Charles Saunder's "Gimmile's Songs," set in Africa with an amazon heroine and Robin W. Bailey's "Child of Orcus" set in Ancient Rome with a woman ex-gladiator in the pay of Empress Messalina. I also particularly liked Pat Murphy's "With Four Lean Hounds" which had a nice fairy tale feel.
In the years the anthology has existed (it's still being published with Elizabeth Waters as editor) it has included such authors as Mercedes Lackey, C.J. Cherryh, Elizabeth Moon and Laurell K. Hamilton. It got off to a solid start here.
December 1, 2020
Very uneven quality to the stories. Some good, some almost good but flawed and a few outright bad. My favorites were Gimmile's Songs by Charles R. Saunders, Sword of Yraine by Diana L. Paxson, Daton and the Dead Things by Michael Ward, and Gate of the Damned by Janet Fox. All of those had compelling main characters that I wouldn't mind reading stories about again. A glaring negative of this book the high number of stories containing sexual assault—something Marion Zimmer Bradley defends in her introduction—which given what we know about Bradley now, is appalling. Also, Bradley's introductions should be skipped until after reading the stories as she frequently gives away important plot points in them.
June 27, 2023
I acquired this one, and a yellow-spine-DAW-books copy which I kept, in an eBay lot of fantasy books. I was jonesing for some sword & sorcery action (and gruesomeness) and found a little of what I was looking for here. I did not like all of the stories in this book. Some of them were just boring and written in a plain prose that lacked verve as opposed to some of the best offerings in the genre and most bordered on straight fantasy rather than sword & sorcery (and most of the S&S stories were not purely of the S&S genre either). Some of my favorites in this anthology are: Taking Heart (an enjoyable cloak and dagger drama between two rogues) by Stephen L. Burns, The Valley of the Troll (the troll’s curse was A+ level trolling of the villainous robbers) by Charles de Lint, The Sword of Yraine by Diana L. Paxson, Daton and the Dead Things (eerie and weird like sword & sorcery should be) by Michael Ward, Gate of the Damned (just plain good bloody and weird sword & sorcery) by Janet Fox, Child of Orcus (sword and sandals with sword & sorcery elements) by Robin W. Bailey, and I did also find the brief Things Come in Threes by Dorothy J. Heydt enjoyable as well as quirky.
The Sword of Yraine is a standout here and had me in the grips of some genuine suspense. In it, raiders, stragglers from a defeated army, overwhelm a temple and take the priestesses hostage and brutalize them until they reveal the location of their treasure. It focuses on SA committed against the virginal initiates and the plight of one of them, Yraine, not assaulted but comes close, who is trained in sword fighting to foment resistance and win the day after a nude sword duel. It was suspenseful and somewhat disturbing as there is the what-you-would-expect vengeance for such crimes visited upon one of the rapists (but not by our heroine). The heroine was well-written and proactive even when she was essentially helpless.
Daton and the Dead Things had a situation often found in mythology but was told in a purely weird-tales story mode. The prisoners of the monster who were so traumatized as to believe that they were “dead things” and thus “not good to eat” were interesting in concept and the monster, the titular Daton, was menacing, creepy, and pathetic all at once.
Gate of the Damned had the creepiest villain/monster out of all of these stories and has a pretty compelling protagonist in the amazon Scorpia.
Child of Orcus was pretty good until it got into its last third basically degenerating from sword and sorcery into classical myth. Other than that, it was a good one.
None of the stories made me angry that I read them, I did like seven of them though the remainder I don’t even really remember much about them. I have read Gimmile’s Songs by Charles L. Saunders before in his Dossouye. As I remember it, it’s okay (the story featured here), it has some sadness in it.
I would recommend Sword & Sorceress to those looking for some good sword & sorcery stories, seven out of fifteen isn’t that bad (approximately 48% which is much better than some other anthologies I’ve read).
June 24, 2025
A mixed high fantasy collection composed for a very respectable purpose.
Sword and Sorceress I marks the beginning of a long-term project for editor Bradley who wanted to spotlight short stories within the genre that created three-dimensional female adventurers embarking on impactful journeys. Though this might seem like nothing too special now, Bradley started this project in 1984, a time when fantasy was undoubtedly male-dominated.
As for the stories featured, they reminded me why I don't often take up high fantasy books. There's something about the action description and predisposition towards conniving wizards and laconic minstrels that loses my interest. No fault of Bradley's or any of the authors in this collection, just a personal bugbear.
That being said, some of these stories did impress me. Usually it was because of their sense of humour or unique storytelling style or multicultural flavour. Virtually any adventure that went against the formula of 'adventurer rides into town to slay a beast or depose a twisted ruler' was a pleasure to behold.
What was definitely disagreeable was how many of these tales involved rape. While I understand Bradley's reasoning that there are rape tales that focus on saving oneself and recovery, I still found the prevalence of female abuse providing an inciting incident and call to action an uncomfortable motif, especially considering contemporary attitudes to a woman's place in speculative fiction. These plots often led to satisfaction for the wronged protagonist but that hardly made up for the general recurrence of sexual violence. Mind you, as previously mentioned, Bradley was working in a 1980s market run by male gaze so the fact that she managed to find fifteen tales with vaguely feminist messages was a miracle.
I can't say reading Sword and Sorceress I was a pleasure but it was a valuable education. Reading these stories, I learned a lot about fantasy tropes, other cultures and my own personal tastes. If you are in need of flawed but formidable Amazonian warriors and can find a copy of this book, I recommend Sword and Sorceress I.
Notable Stories
• Gimmile's Songs by Charles R. Saunders - an African-oriented adventure featuring an ahosi soldier and her unusual musical lover.
• With Four Lean Hounds by Pat Murphy - a dual-narrative fable with a thief that stumbles into heroism and God-like purpose.
• Daton and the Dead Things by Michael Ward - a funny misadventure powered by wily perception and risky miscommunication.
Sword and Sorceress I marks the beginning of a long-term project for editor Bradley who wanted to spotlight short stories within the genre that created three-dimensional female adventurers embarking on impactful journeys. Though this might seem like nothing too special now, Bradley started this project in 1984, a time when fantasy was undoubtedly male-dominated.
As for the stories featured, they reminded me why I don't often take up high fantasy books. There's something about the action description and predisposition towards conniving wizards and laconic minstrels that loses my interest. No fault of Bradley's or any of the authors in this collection, just a personal bugbear.
That being said, some of these stories did impress me. Usually it was because of their sense of humour or unique storytelling style or multicultural flavour. Virtually any adventure that went against the formula of 'adventurer rides into town to slay a beast or depose a twisted ruler' was a pleasure to behold.
What was definitely disagreeable was how many of these tales involved rape. While I understand Bradley's reasoning that there are rape tales that focus on saving oneself and recovery, I still found the prevalence of female abuse providing an inciting incident and call to action an uncomfortable motif, especially considering contemporary attitudes to a woman's place in speculative fiction. These plots often led to satisfaction for the wronged protagonist but that hardly made up for the general recurrence of sexual violence. Mind you, as previously mentioned, Bradley was working in a 1980s market run by male gaze so the fact that she managed to find fifteen tales with vaguely feminist messages was a miracle.
I can't say reading Sword and Sorceress I was a pleasure but it was a valuable education. Reading these stories, I learned a lot about fantasy tropes, other cultures and my own personal tastes. If you are in need of flawed but formidable Amazonian warriors and can find a copy of this book, I recommend Sword and Sorceress I.
Notable Stories
• Gimmile's Songs by Charles R. Saunders - an African-oriented adventure featuring an ahosi soldier and her unusual musical lover.
• With Four Lean Hounds by Pat Murphy - a dual-narrative fable with a thief that stumbles into heroism and God-like purpose.
• Daton and the Dead Things by Michael Ward - a funny misadventure powered by wily perception and risky miscommunication.
July 9, 2021
En 1984, cuando este tipo de libros era algo mucho más común, la escritora Marion Zimmer Bradley editó este primer volumen de lo que sería una larga serie de antologías de fantasía con protagonistas femeninas que se salieran del estereotipo de damisela en apuros o mera comparsa del héroe masculino. No fue la primera en hacerlo, por supuesto (ahí están por ejemplo los dos volúmenes de 'Amazons!' de Jessica Amanda Samolson) pero mi interés general por la obra de esta autora me hizo querer revisarla, además del hecho de que esta serie en particular ha sido tan longeva; hasta la fecha se han lanzado 30 volúmenes, los primeros veinte editados por la propia MZB y los diez restantes por otras seleccionadoras después de su muerte.
Los quince relatos que componen este primer libro son muy variados en cuanto a estilo y, como es bien sabido, no todos están escritos por mujeres. De la misma forma, no todos están firmados por nombres conocidos; muchos son de autores que recién estaban comenzando en el fantástico, y algunos incluso no tendrían mucha repercusión más adelante. Esto explica que, como es habitual, la calidad de los textos sea un tanto desigual y la mayoría no me hayan impactado tanto a pesar de que sí hay excelentes piezas que en cierta forma rompen un poco con lo que habitualmente me suelo encontrar. Es por ejemplo el caso de cuentos como 'Gimmile's Songs' de Charles R. Saunders y 'Child of Orcus' de Robin W. Bailey, que están ambientados en África y en la antigua Roma, respectivamente, o relatos como 'Taking Heart', de Stephen L. Burns, uno de los mejores sin duda a pesar de ser de los más breves y tener un tratamiento principalmente humorístico. Pero si hay un cuento que me gustó por encima de los demás quizá sea 'Severed Heads', una magnífica historia de venganza con estética arabesca escrita por Glen Cook, el mismo autor de la saga de 'La compañìa negra' y uno de los pocos autores de la antología que ya conocía desde antes de leer el libro.
Tengo en casa los primeros ocho volúmenes de esta antología así que pienso irlos degustando de a poco. De momento este primer número no me ha impresionado tanto como otras selecciones, pero como siempre es una buena oportunidad de revisar autores de los que no había oído hablar nunca.
Los quince relatos que componen este primer libro son muy variados en cuanto a estilo y, como es bien sabido, no todos están escritos por mujeres. De la misma forma, no todos están firmados por nombres conocidos; muchos son de autores que recién estaban comenzando en el fantástico, y algunos incluso no tendrían mucha repercusión más adelante. Esto explica que, como es habitual, la calidad de los textos sea un tanto desigual y la mayoría no me hayan impactado tanto a pesar de que sí hay excelentes piezas que en cierta forma rompen un poco con lo que habitualmente me suelo encontrar. Es por ejemplo el caso de cuentos como 'Gimmile's Songs' de Charles R. Saunders y 'Child of Orcus' de Robin W. Bailey, que están ambientados en África y en la antigua Roma, respectivamente, o relatos como 'Taking Heart', de Stephen L. Burns, uno de los mejores sin duda a pesar de ser de los más breves y tener un tratamiento principalmente humorístico. Pero si hay un cuento que me gustó por encima de los demás quizá sea 'Severed Heads', una magnífica historia de venganza con estética arabesca escrita por Glen Cook, el mismo autor de la saga de 'La compañìa negra' y uno de los pocos autores de la antología que ya conocía desde antes de leer el libro.
Tengo en casa los primeros ocho volúmenes de esta antología así que pienso irlos degustando de a poco. De momento este primer número no me ha impresionado tanto como otras selecciones, pero como siempre es una buena oportunidad de revisar autores de los que no había oído hablar nunca.
December 18, 2019
The Garnet and the Glory/Phyllis Ann Karr: ***
Severed Heads/Glen Cook: ***
Taking Heart/Stephen L. Burns: **** Funny, light-hearted, but very clever.
The Rending Dark/Emma Bull: **
Gimmile's Songs/Charles R. Saunders: **** Dossouye stories are always worth a read.
The Valley of the Troll/Charles de Lint: ** Hero too pretty; male partner too clumsy.
Imperatrix/Deborah Wheeler: ***
Blood of Sorcery/Jennifer Roberson: *** Antagonist's overwhelming sexual power mars otherwise compelling tale.
With Four Lean Hounds/Pat Murphy: **
House in the Forest/Anodea Judith: **
Sword of Yraine/Diana L. Paxson: ***** Shanna of Sharteyn's excellent origin story.
Daton and the Dead Things/Michael Ward: **** Funny adventure story with unusually witty dialogue
Gate of the Damned/Janet Fox: **** Fine example of the (sub)genre
Child of Orcus/Robin W. Bailey: *** Decent action, but Roman mythology doesn't quite fit into heroic fantasy for me.
Things Come In Threes/Dorothy J. Heydt: * Silly little 1-joke scenario.
Severed Heads/Glen Cook: ***
Taking Heart/Stephen L. Burns: **** Funny, light-hearted, but very clever.
The Rending Dark/Emma Bull: **
Gimmile's Songs/Charles R. Saunders: **** Dossouye stories are always worth a read.
The Valley of the Troll/Charles de Lint: ** Hero too pretty; male partner too clumsy.
Imperatrix/Deborah Wheeler: ***
Blood of Sorcery/Jennifer Roberson: *** Antagonist's overwhelming sexual power mars otherwise compelling tale.
With Four Lean Hounds/Pat Murphy: **
House in the Forest/Anodea Judith: **
Sword of Yraine/Diana L. Paxson: ***** Shanna of Sharteyn's excellent origin story.
Daton and the Dead Things/Michael Ward: **** Funny adventure story with unusually witty dialogue
Gate of the Damned/Janet Fox: **** Fine example of the (sub)genre
Child of Orcus/Robin W. Bailey: *** Decent action, but Roman mythology doesn't quite fit into heroic fantasy for me.
Things Come In Threes/Dorothy J. Heydt: * Silly little 1-joke scenario.
June 17, 2022
The first of her short story anthologies. Most notable for a story that will become and integral section of Jennifer Roberson's Daughter of the Lion. Also good were "Gimmile's Song," by Charles R. Saunders, about a brass statue come to life, and "House in the Forest," by Anodea Judith, about a healer called to heal a goddess. Others were more or less standard fare.
"The Heroic Image of Women: Woman as Wizard and Warrior"—Marion Zimmer Bradley
"The Garnet and the Glory"—Phyllis Ann Karr
"Severed Heads"—Glen Cook
"Taking Heart"—Stephen L. Burns
"The Rending Dark"—Emma Bull
"Gimmile's Songs"—Charles R. Saunders
"The Valley of the Troll"—Charles de Lint
"Imperatrix"—Deborah Wheeler
"Blood of Sorcery"—Jennifer Roberson
"With Four Lean Hounds"—Pat Murphy
"House in the Forest"—Anodea Judith
"Sword of Yraine"—Diana L. Paxson
"Daton and the Dead Things"—Michael Ward
"Gate of the Damned"—Janet Fox
"Child of Orcus"—Robin W. Bailey
"Things Come in Threes"—Dorothy J. Heydt
"The Heroic Image of Women: Woman as Wizard and Warrior"—Marion Zimmer Bradley
"The Garnet and the Glory"—Phyllis Ann Karr
"Severed Heads"—Glen Cook
"Taking Heart"—Stephen L. Burns
"The Rending Dark"—Emma Bull
"Gimmile's Songs"—Charles R. Saunders
"The Valley of the Troll"—Charles de Lint
"Imperatrix"—Deborah Wheeler
"Blood of Sorcery"—Jennifer Roberson
"With Four Lean Hounds"—Pat Murphy
"House in the Forest"—Anodea Judith
"Sword of Yraine"—Diana L. Paxson
"Daton and the Dead Things"—Michael Ward
"Gate of the Damned"—Janet Fox
"Child of Orcus"—Robin W. Bailey
"Things Come in Threes"—Dorothy J. Heydt
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2021
The quality is uneven; some are quite good. If you're not using the experience to get a sense of 1980s fantasy short fiction like I was, I'd stick to reading "The Rending Dark," "With Four Lean Hounds," "Daton and the Dead Things," and "Child of Orcus." Maybe "Gate of the Damned" and "Sword of Yraine" too, though warning that the latter does hinge on sexual assault (which is the case for several others I didn't mention as well).
January 23, 2022
Anthologies are not my favorite books to read because they're such mixed bags (good & bad stories), but this one (I've had for probably more than 10 years) is very good & I hope the rest of this series is just as good. Great book.
July 7, 2025
Once upon a time I liked Marion Zimmer Bradley...until I found out she was a pedophile. Now I can never look at her work the same way without that haunting me. There are some things about an author I can ignore while reading - but that is not one of them.
March 25, 2018
A series of short stories with a female lead.
January 29, 2025
this anthology has reawakened something so mystical within me
January 2, 2021
Overall, I found the book as a whole underwhelming. There are some really good gems in there, but for the most part, I would have only kept on story and maybe another if it was ever expanded on. It really shouldn't have taken me so long to read this book but I kept getting bored with certain stories that I ended up reading two different books and finishing them while slowly making my way through these.
-The Garnet and The Glory: Thorn's complete disrespect for animals was a real negative force on this story. Other than that, it was just okay. I liked that one person's magic would change depending on the world and magic developed differently, often shaping the culture.
-Severed Heads: I almost didn't read this one when I skimmed the forward by MZB and she said it contained rape. But I gave it a try anyway and it was okay. Narrimam was interesting and I appreciated that she and her father did not hate the child that was resulted from rape. I also appreciated that Narrimam was headstrong and stubborn before the rape happened - that her strong will wasn't a result of the rape.
-Taking Heart: This one was pure fun - Clea outsmarting Raalt, proving to be the better thief, despite her small frame. I would read a full-length book on Clea....as long as not all her witty plots where her seducing and running out on her target.
-The Rending Dark: I actually really enjoyed this one - Kit and Marya make an odd but funny pair that I totally ship together. The plot was interesting and came full circle - it didn't feel like an excerpt of a book and could stand alone, though I would also have loved a full length novel about these two women.
-Gimmile's Songs: It was okay. I appreciate the variety of cultures found in the collection of short stories, but this yet another "magic induced consent" and it's just not a good story element.
-The Valley of the Troll: Eh. Boring in my opinion.
-Imperatrix: Eh. It was okay but the whole thing felt rushed and I felt that if the author had left it at Charalldana leaving the service of the lord, it would have been a much stronger ending, rather than rushing it into her confronting her brother and claiming the thrown right outside the gate.
-Blood of Sorcery: I really enjoyed that one - enough action to keep you interested and enough history to give you good handle on the setting with a plotline that fit the length of the story.
-With Four Lean Hounds: Love the writing style - I felt almost like I was physically wrapped up in this story. I am half tempted to keep the book just for this one story. I won't but this was just THAT good of a story.
-House in the Forest: Very interesting! Enjoyed reading this....even if I was hoping for a haunted house story at first! Still, I enjoyed it.
-Sword of Yraine: It was okay. I like that Shaana found purpose in protecting the girls and the temple.
-Daton and the Dead Things: It was a fun style of story telling, but ultimately left me going "eh".
-Gate of the Damned: I honestly didn't like a single thing about this story. None at all.
-Child of Orcus: I was really enjoying it - right up till the end where Diana starts to barter with Orcus to save that murdering jackass, Decius. I hate when people are shown mercy just because they once did and created beautiful things - once a murdering jackass, always a murdering jackass.
-Things Come in Threes: That was weird. Very weird. I can't say that I didn't like it....but I can't say I liked it.
-The Garnet and The Glory: Thorn's complete disrespect for animals was a real negative force on this story. Other than that, it was just okay. I liked that one person's magic would change depending on the world and magic developed differently, often shaping the culture.
-Severed Heads: I almost didn't read this one when I skimmed the forward by MZB and she said it contained rape. But I gave it a try anyway and it was okay. Narrimam was interesting and I appreciated that she and her father did not hate the child that was resulted from rape. I also appreciated that Narrimam was headstrong and stubborn before the rape happened - that her strong will wasn't a result of the rape.
-Taking Heart: This one was pure fun - Clea outsmarting Raalt, proving to be the better thief, despite her small frame. I would read a full-length book on Clea....as long as not all her witty plots where her seducing and running out on her target.
-The Rending Dark: I actually really enjoyed this one - Kit and Marya make an odd but funny pair that I totally ship together. The plot was interesting and came full circle - it didn't feel like an excerpt of a book and could stand alone, though I would also have loved a full length novel about these two women.
-Gimmile's Songs: It was okay. I appreciate the variety of cultures found in the collection of short stories, but this yet another "magic induced consent" and it's just not a good story element.
-The Valley of the Troll: Eh. Boring in my opinion.
-Imperatrix: Eh. It was okay but the whole thing felt rushed and I felt that if the author had left it at Charalldana leaving the service of the lord, it would have been a much stronger ending, rather than rushing it into her confronting her brother and claiming the thrown right outside the gate.
-Blood of Sorcery: I really enjoyed that one - enough action to keep you interested and enough history to give you good handle on the setting with a plotline that fit the length of the story.
-With Four Lean Hounds: Love the writing style - I felt almost like I was physically wrapped up in this story. I am half tempted to keep the book just for this one story. I won't but this was just THAT good of a story.
-House in the Forest: Very interesting! Enjoyed reading this....even if I was hoping for a haunted house story at first! Still, I enjoyed it.
-Sword of Yraine: It was okay. I like that Shaana found purpose in protecting the girls and the temple.
-Daton and the Dead Things: It was a fun style of story telling, but ultimately left me going "eh".
-Gate of the Damned: I honestly didn't like a single thing about this story. None at all.
-Child of Orcus: I was really enjoying it - right up till the end where Diana starts to barter with Orcus to save that murdering jackass, Decius. I hate when people are shown mercy just because they once did and created beautiful things - once a murdering jackass, always a murdering jackass.
-Things Come in Threes: That was weird. Very weird. I can't say that I didn't like it....but I can't say I liked it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2020
Normally when I love a book and rate it here 4 or 5 stars, I don't usually feel a need to say anything about it as I feel the book will speak for itself (and plenty of other folk have already given their opinions on most of what I list in my "The Best" shelf-list). Sometimes an anthology of short stories might not reach 5 stars because of certain entries in them, but they get listed anyway if they make a significant positive impact on me despite any flawed stories in them.
I'm making an exception for this one, because my rating of 5 stars here is not just for the original Sword & Sorceress anthology, but for the entire series (having just ended recently with its 34th and final volume). No anthology in this series is 100% perfect (in fact, the very first one I ever read, volume 15, disappointed me with its overall tone, but only because it wasn't what I had been expecting - now I look back on it with a different view since the series grew on me). A story or group of stories that appeals to one person won't to another, and one reader might love some stories in a given book and another reader like some or all of the other stories in that same book. That all being said, the entire S&S series is worthy of collecting and reading (warning: volume 27 is out of print and is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to find, and the last copy I did see for sale was going for almost $900!! I still don't own it, had to read a library copy). This series is where Mercedes Lackey's characters Tarma and Kethry got started (part of her larger Valdemar universe), and other well-known authors got their start with strong female fantasy characters in this series.
Read as many of these as you can. Say what you might about Marion Zimmer Bradley (and after the horrific posthumous revelations about her life, one can say a LOT), she gave a lot of good authors their first break, and for that reason alone, if nothing else, I am glad she began editing this series.
I'm making an exception for this one, because my rating of 5 stars here is not just for the original Sword & Sorceress anthology, but for the entire series (having just ended recently with its 34th and final volume). No anthology in this series is 100% perfect (in fact, the very first one I ever read, volume 15, disappointed me with its overall tone, but only because it wasn't what I had been expecting - now I look back on it with a different view since the series grew on me). A story or group of stories that appeals to one person won't to another, and one reader might love some stories in a given book and another reader like some or all of the other stories in that same book. That all being said, the entire S&S series is worthy of collecting and reading (warning: volume 27 is out of print and is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to find, and the last copy I did see for sale was going for almost $900!! I still don't own it, had to read a library copy). This series is where Mercedes Lackey's characters Tarma and Kethry got started (part of her larger Valdemar universe), and other well-known authors got their start with strong female fantasy characters in this series.
Read as many of these as you can. Say what you might about Marion Zimmer Bradley (and after the horrific posthumous revelations about her life, one can say a LOT), she gave a lot of good authors their first break, and for that reason alone, if nothing else, I am glad she began editing this series.
September 14, 2017
Mixed bag. A few gems, a few forgettables, a few that are downright bad. Overall the writing in the S&S series is amateurish.
January 10, 2016
I love a lot of Andre Norton's books. Matter fact, I was started in the sci-fi, and fantasy fiction books with Andre Norton, and Anne McCaffrey. Later on my Father tried to get me to read Doc Smith. His story lines were superb, but I felt that he was way too dry. And I was surprised at how easy the boys around me got read, when I was turned away time after time.
But these magnificent ladies had done what I could not do. So I started a lady crush. This series is Andre Norton giving young writers a chance to succeed against the big publisist. I was introduced to some fantastic authors that I still follow 20 years later. And all because of Andre Norton, and Anne McCaffrey. So I think that everyone in the world needs to read at least one of each. You may not like what you read, but they saw the world in a different way, and tried to share that as well as make a difference for the women who would follow in their footsteps.
Anyway, even if Andre Norton was not a really great writer, then I will still tell you to read these books.
She was very good at teaching and leading the writers of tomorrow. All of her authors benefited from working with her. I miss the books. She was a very wise and strong editor.
But these magnificent ladies had done what I could not do. So I started a lady crush. This series is Andre Norton giving young writers a chance to succeed against the big publisist. I was introduced to some fantastic authors that I still follow 20 years later. And all because of Andre Norton, and Anne McCaffrey. So I think that everyone in the world needs to read at least one of each. You may not like what you read, but they saw the world in a different way, and tried to share that as well as make a difference for the women who would follow in their footsteps.
Anyway, even if Andre Norton was not a really great writer, then I will still tell you to read these books.
She was very good at teaching and leading the writers of tomorrow. All of her authors benefited from working with her. I miss the books. She was a very wise and strong editor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2013
This is a solid start to the S&S series of anthologies: some less-interesting and very predictable stories, as is always to be expected, but also some real gems. The loose theme here, apart from the requisite swordswomen and sorceresses, is that of Amazons, real and fictional.
I wasn't much of a fan of the first few stories in this one; despite that, some of them will stick with me for a long time. Worth a reread:
Gimmile's Songs, by Charles R. Saunders - the first of his Dossouye stories
Blood of Sorcery, by Jennifer Roberson
With Four Lean Hounds, by Pat Murphy
House in the Forest, by Anodea Judith
Sword of Yraine, by Diana L. Paxon - the first Shanna story
Daton and the Dead Things, by Michael Ward - this, with the Cynthia story, is worth the price of admission on its own
Child of Orcus, by Robin W. Bailey
Things Come in Threes, by Dorothy J. Heydt - the first (and probably silliest) Cynthia story. Here begins the tradition of a short, funny story to end the anthology.
From that Michael Ward story, I have my new favourite phrase: "flatulence of the spirit".
I wasn't much of a fan of the first few stories in this one; despite that, some of them will stick with me for a long time. Worth a reread:
Gimmile's Songs, by Charles R. Saunders - the first of his Dossouye stories
Blood of Sorcery, by Jennifer Roberson
With Four Lean Hounds, by Pat Murphy
House in the Forest, by Anodea Judith
Sword of Yraine, by Diana L. Paxon - the first Shanna story
Daton and the Dead Things, by Michael Ward - this, with the Cynthia story, is worth the price of admission on its own
Child of Orcus, by Robin W. Bailey
Things Come in Threes, by Dorothy J. Heydt - the first (and probably silliest) Cynthia story. Here begins the tradition of a short, funny story to end the anthology.
From that Michael Ward story, I have my new favourite phrase: "flatulence of the spirit".
July 31, 2022
The Garnet and the Glory • (1984) • shortstory by Phyllis Ann Karr
Severed Heads • [Dread Empire] • (1984) • novelette by Glen Cook
Taking Heart • (1984) • shortstory by Stephen L. Burns
The Rending Dark • (1984) • novelette by Emma Bull
Gimmile's Songs • [Dossouye] • (1984) • shortstory by Charles R. Saunders
♥ The Valley of the Troll • [Aynber] by Charles de Lint re-read 6/16/2015
Imperatrix • (1984) • shortstory by Deborah J. Ross [as by Deborah Wheeler ]
Blood of Sorcery • (1984) • shortstory by Jennifer Roberson
With Four Lean Hounds • (1984) • novelette by Pat Murphy
House in the Forest • (1984) • shortstory by Anodea Judith
Sword of Yraine • [Shanna of Sharteyn] • (1984) • shortstory by Diana L. Paxson
Daton and the Dead Things • (1984) • shortstory by Michael Ward
Gate of the Damned • (1984) • shortstory by Janet Fox
Child of Orcus • (1984) • novelette by Robin Wayne Bailey [as by Robin W. Bailey ]
Things Come in Threes • [Cynthia, Daughter of Euelpides] • (1984) • shortstory by Dorothy J. Heydt
Severed Heads • [Dread Empire] • (1984) • novelette by Glen Cook
Taking Heart • (1984) • shortstory by Stephen L. Burns
The Rending Dark • (1984) • novelette by Emma Bull
Gimmile's Songs • [Dossouye] • (1984) • shortstory by Charles R. Saunders
♥ The Valley of the Troll • [Aynber] by Charles de Lint re-read 6/16/2015
Imperatrix • (1984) • shortstory by Deborah J. Ross [as by Deborah Wheeler ]
Blood of Sorcery • (1984) • shortstory by Jennifer Roberson
With Four Lean Hounds • (1984) • novelette by Pat Murphy
House in the Forest • (1984) • shortstory by Anodea Judith
Sword of Yraine • [Shanna of Sharteyn] • (1984) • shortstory by Diana L. Paxson
Daton and the Dead Things • (1984) • shortstory by Michael Ward
Gate of the Damned • (1984) • shortstory by Janet Fox
Child of Orcus • (1984) • novelette by Robin Wayne Bailey [as by Robin W. Bailey ]
Things Come in Threes • [Cynthia, Daughter of Euelpides] • (1984) • shortstory by Dorothy J. Heydt
Read
December 5, 2011I read this such a long time ago that I really can't remember any of the stories at this stage so this book would be a good contender for a re-read! However, when I read the book in 1989 (!) I jotted down very brief notes onto a bookmark, which I left in the book. The stories (of fifteen) that I liked the most at that time were those by Michael Ward, Emma Bull, Charles de Lint, Robin W. Bailey and Dorothy J. Heydt. I seemed to be undecided about the stories by Stephen L. Burns and Diana L. Paxson.
I noticed that rape was a feature of four of the stories (those by Glen Cook, Charles R. Saunders, Jennifer Roberson and Diana L. Paxson) so some people might not appreciate them. I also noted that in the story by Phyllis Ann Karr, women were attracted to a man, while in Stephen L. Burns' story, a woman pretends to be attracted to a man. And that's all I noted down! If I ever get around to reading this book again, I might have a bit more to say about it.
I noticed that rape was a feature of four of the stories (those by Glen Cook, Charles R. Saunders, Jennifer Roberson and Diana L. Paxson) so some people might not appreciate them. I also noted that in the story by Phyllis Ann Karr, women were attracted to a man, while in Stephen L. Burns' story, a woman pretends to be attracted to a man. And that's all I noted down! If I ever get around to reading this book again, I might have a bit more to say about it.
January 18, 2026
The Garnet & the Glory by Phyllis Ann Karr — ★★☆☆☆
Severed Heads by Glen Cook — ★☆☆☆☆
Taking Heart by Stephen L Burns — ★★★★★
The Rending Dark by Emma Bull — ★★★★☆
Gimmile's Songs by Charles R Saunders — ★★★★☆
The Valley of the Troll by Charles de Lint — ★★☆☆☆
Imperatrix by Deborah Wheeler — ★★☆☆☆
Blood of Sorcery by Jennifer Roberson — ★★★☆☆
With Four Lean Hounds by Pat Murphy — ★★★★☆
House in the Forest by Anodea Judith — ★★☆☆☆
Sword of Yraine by Diana L Paxson — ★★★☆☆
Daton & the Dead Thing by Michael Ward — N/A
Gate of the Damned by Janet Fox — ★★★★☆
Child of Orcus by Robin W Bailey — ★★☆☆☆
Things Come in Threes by Dorothy J Heydt — ★★☆☆☆
April 3, 2014
I don't read a lot of fantasy and so I am not as familiar with this genre. The stories were interesting, but I usually don't like to read about thieves, etc. Also this was an electronic copy that was had many missing sections--entire pages. So I couldn't always read an entire story. I would miss the beginning or the end.
Read
July 18, 2016I read a large number of the Sword and Sorceress books, but I don't think I read them all. Since I checked them out from the library more than ten years ago, it's hard to remember which ones I missed. But I do remember them having a huge impact on me--I've always sought out books by and about women, and these nurtured my nascent feminism back in the day.
September 4, 2008
This one has the glen cook short story "severed heads" in it
July 28, 2010
I always loved this series.
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