Legends: New Short Novels by the Masters of Modern Fantasy » (1st Edition)

Robert Silverberg has written more than 160 science fiction novels and nonfiction books. In his spare time he has edited over 60 anthologies. He began his writing career unsuccessfully at the age of 13, when he submitted stories to science fiction magazines and was rejected. He published his first story, entitled "Gorgon Planet," in 1954 while just a sophomore at Columbia University; but in 1956, he won his first Hugo Award, for Most Promising New Author, and he hasn't stopped writing since. Among his standouts: the bestselling Lord Valentine trilogy, set on the planet of Majipoor, and the timeless classics Dying Inside and A Time of Changes. Silverberg has won the prestigious Nebula Award an astonishing five times, and Hugo Awards on four separate occasions. He holds the additional honor of winning these honors in five decades, and he has been nominated for both awards more times that any other writer.

Robert Silverberg, one of the field's most distinguished editors and authors, has put together an incredible anthology that no fantasy fanatic will be able to live without. Legends includes new, never-before-published works by Stephen King, Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind, Anne McCaffrey, Raymond E. Feist, Terry Pratchett, Orson Scott Card, Robert Silverberg, Ursula K. Le Guin, Tad Williams, and George R. R. Martin. Each story is set in its author's distinctive, unforgettable world.

KLIATT

These 11 stories, all new, by well-known authors, take place in well-established fantasy worlds. If the reader is not perfectly familiar with those worlds, it doesn't matter, really, because Silverberg introduces them so well. In addition to the six-page introduction that gives us a little background on fantasy in general, he makes us familiar with each story's world. In a page or two of masterful narration he starts us on the journeys knowing as much about our surroundings as the hero or heroine does. The stories themselves range from light fantasy to ultimate horror. Terry Pratchett is a master of the former. His story, "The Sea and Little Fishes," involves witches familiar to readers of his Discworld stories, and is laugh-out-loud funny. The rivalry between Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg takes a hilarious turn when Granny Weatherwax decides that she's tired of being mean. Why can't she read to children, or visit the sick? We must accept the fact that there are reasons why everyone is much better off if she doesn't. Stephen King is a master of horror, of course. His story, "The Little Sisters of Eluria," is truly nightmare inducing. It is, unfortunately, the first story in the book, and might be enough to keep a slightly squeamish reader from turning the page to begin the second story. Which would be too bad, because the other stories are without exception readable and enjoyable. Unfortunately, they're also long novellas, really, not short stories. It might have been easier on younger readers to have two, or even three, volumes. But fans of the individual authors won't care, and fans of the fantasy genre will be enchanted, just as they were meant to be. KLIATT Codes:SA Recommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 1998, Tor, 718p. illus., Silverman

Introduction by Robert Silverberg STEPHEN KING The Dark Tower TERRY GOODKIND The Sword of Truth ANNE MCCAFFREY Pern RAYMOND E. FEIST The Riftwar Saga ROBERT JORDAN The Wheel of Time TERRY PRATCHETT Discworld ORSON SCOTT CARD Tales of Alvin Maker ROBERT SILVERBERG Majipoor URSULA K. LE GUIN Earthsea TAD WILLIAMS Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn GEORGE R.R. MARTIN A Song of Ice and Fire