Reviews

Gr 6 Up-What does it take to be a warrior? Fifteen different fantasy writers offer answers to this question in this well-written and carefully arranged collection of new short stories by experienced writers. Their examples include both males and females fighting physically, mentally, and spiritually; in times ranging from prehistory to World War II; and in distinct settings including Central America, a Russian shtetl, the Near East, Australia, the Sudan, India, the African savannah, and an Irish convent, as well as fantasy worlds. The protagonists are mostly teenagers, some driven by the nature of their world to rise to heroism, others seeking out adventure and potential glory. It is the nature of short-story collections to be uneven, but these selections are almost all strong, with quickly sketched but memorable characters and well-drawn settings. Readers will particularly welcome Pierce's own contribution featuring Kylaia from Lioness Rampant (S & S, 2003) in her familiar Tortall universe. The other contributors include Bruce Rogers, S. M. and Jan Stirling, Janis Ian, Holly Black, Pamela Service, Esther Friesner, India Edghill, Mike Resnick, Laura Anne Gilman, Margaret Mahy, Doranna Durgin, Rosemary Edghill, Lesley McBain, and Brett Hartinger. This timely and appealing anthology will surely help swell the ranks of teenage fantasy readers.-Kathleen Isaacs, Towson University, MD Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.