Sword and Sorceress series

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The Sword and Sorceress series is a series of fantasy anthologies originally edited by American writer Marion Zimmer Bradley, and originally published by DAW Books. As she explained in the foreword to the first volume, she created the anthology to redress the lack of strong female protagonists in the subgenre of sword and sorcery. At the time, most female characters in sword and sorcery were little more than stock damsels in distress, or pawns who were distributed at the conclusion of the story as "bad-conduct prizes" (Bradley's term) for the male protagonists. Many of the early sword-and-sorcery works featured attitudes toward women that Bradley considered appalling.

As the Sword and Sorceress series grew in popularity with readers, she began to receive increasing numbers of excellent submissions. As a result, she had to become more selective, and to shorten her reading periods accordingly. For the eighteenth volume, which she was editing at the time of her death, she had enough material for three volumes. After her death, it was decided to take as many as possible of the stories she had tentatively chosen and publish them in three annual volumes, thus extending the series. After volume twenty was published, the publisher decided to extend an invitation for an additional volume under Diana L. Paxson, an editor who had worked with Bradley, with the possibility of additional volumes being published if it became a success.

The Sword and Sorceress series is noteworthy not only for its introduction of strong female protagonists into a subgenre previously dominated by male characters, but for its financial success. Unlike most anthologies of original fantasy short fiction, they routinely earned out their advances and continued to pay their authors royalties for years afterward, often on foreign sales. In addition, many authors who made their first professional sales in the Sword and Sorceress anthologies subsequently enjoyed successful careers as novelists.

In February 2007, the , which holds her copyrights, negotiated a contract with Norilana Books to publish a new volume and proceed to elicit submissions.[1] The book was published in November 2007, and the editor was . Norilana Books has published four more books of the series, also edited by Elisabeth Waters. Since 2012 the Marion Zimmer Bradley Literary Works Trust has published the Sword and Sorceress anthologies.

Anthologies[]

Sword and Sorceress I[]

1984. ISBN 978-0-88677-359-5 (USA edition)
1986. ISBN 978-0-87997-928-7 (USA edition)
1988. ISBN 978-0-7472-3105-9 (UK edition)

Sword and Sorceress II[]

1985. ISBN 978-0-88677-041-9 (USA Edition)
1986. ISBN 978-0-88677-360-1 (USA Edition)
1988. ISBN 978-0-7472-3106-6 (UK Edition)

Sword and Sorceress III[]

1986. ISBN 978-0-88677-141-6 (USA edition)
1986. ISBN 978-0-88677-302-1 (USA edition)
1988. ISBN 978-0-7472-3107-3 (UK edition)

Sword and Sorceress IV[]

1987. ISBN 978-0-88677-210-9 (USA edition)
1989. ISBN 978-0-88677-412-7 (USA edition)
1989. ISBN 978-0-7472-3364-0 (UK edition)

Sword and Sorceress V[]

1988. ISBN 978-0-88677-288-8 (USA edition)
1989. ISBN 978-0-7472-3389-3 (UK edition)

Sword and Sorceress VI[]

1990. ISBN 978-0-88677-423-3

Sword and Sorceress VII[]

1990. ISBN 978-0-88677-457-8

Sword and Sorceress VIII[]

1991. ISBN 978-0-88677-486-8

Sword and Sorceress IX[]

1992. ISBN 978-0-88677-509-4

Sword and Sorceress X[]

1993. ISBN 978-0-88677-552-0
  • "Introduction"—Marion Zimmer Bradley
  • "Lorelei"—
  • "Falcon's Shadow"—Diana L. Paxson
  • "The Proper Balance"—
  • "The Gift of Minerva"—Dorothy J. Heydt
  • "Friendly Fire"—Mercedes Lackey
  • "Heart in a Box"—
  • "Dance of Death"—
  • "Earth, Air, Fire, and Water"—
  • "Fealty"—
  • "Hunt for the Queen's Beast"—
  • "Robes"—
  • "Bonds of Light"—Vera Nazarian
  • "Night, Who Creeps Through Keyholes"—
  • "Oaths"—
  • "Double Vision"—
  • "The Phoenix Medallion"—
  • "A Run in the Forest"—
  • "Old Age and Treachery ..."—
  • "In Sheep's Clothing"—Lawrence Schimel
  • "Her Mother's Sword"—Stephanie Shaver
  • "The Sorceress' Apprentice"—Deborah Wheeler
  • "Mage-Sight"—
  • "Ether and the Skeptic"—
  • "The Limwitch"—
  • "Smile of the Goddess"—
  • "Just Reward"—
  • "Boys Will Be Girls"—
  • "Taking Shape"—
  • "Justice Is Mine"—

Sword and Sorceress XI[]

1994. ISBN 978-0-88677-614-5
  • "Introduction"—Marion Zimmer Bradley
  • "Call the Wild Horses"—
  • "Keepsake"—
  • "Spirit Singer"—Diana L. Paxson
  • "Final Exam"—
  • "The Stratmoor Bear"—
  • "Grumble Snoot"—
  • "Tales"—
  • "Maggot's Feast"—Jo Clayton
  • "Moonriders"—
  • "Thief, Thief!"—
  • "Healing"—
  • "Virgin Spring"—Cynthia McQuillin
  • "The Haven"—
  • "Savior"—
  • "Bad Luck and Curses"—
  • "The Mistress' Riddle"—
  • "Rusted Blade"—Dave Smeds
  • "Images of Love"—
  • "A Fate Worse Than Death"—
  • "Power Play"—
  • "Fenwitch"—Sarah Evans
  • "Green-Eyed Monster"—
  • "Snowfire"—
  • "Ancient Warrior"—Stephanie Shaver
  • "Barbarian Legacy"—Lawrence Schimel
  • "Mist"—
  • "Songhealer"—
  • "The Sow's Ear"—
  • "Poisoned Dreams"—Deborah Wheeler
  • "Night-Beast"—
  • "The Gift"—
  • "The Crystal Casket"—
  • "Ringed In"—

Sword and Sorceress XII[]

1995. ISBN 978-0-88677-657-2

Sword and Sorceress XIII[]

1996. ISBN 978-0-88677-703-6

Sword and Sorceress XIV[]

1997. ISBN 978-0-88677-741-8
  • "The Bargain"—
  • "The Impression of Power"—
  • "The Naming of Names"—Adrienne Martine-Barnes
  • "Changelings"—Diana L. Paxson
  • "Death Hunt"—
  • "A Single Soul"—Deborah Wheeler
  • "The Needle and the Sword"—
  • "Small Considerations"—
  • "If You Can't Stand the Heat..."—
  • "Silver Bands"—Syne Mitchell
  • "The Hand of a Lady"—
  • "To Have and to Hold"—
  • "A Knight On Tower Hill"—
  • "The Longest Night"—
  • "Blood Moon"—
  • "By the Skin of Her Teeth"—Heather Rose Jones
  • "Friends in High Places"—
  • "The Blade of Unmaking"—
  • "The Stone-Weaver's Tale"—Cynthia McQuillin
  • "The Hollow Dancer"—Mary Soon Lee
  • "La Faie Suiateih"—
  • "Vengeance"—Dorothy J. Heydt
  • "The Moongate Troll"—
  • "Lifestone"—
  • "White Elephants"—
  • "Traveler's Aide"—Kathleen Thompson
  • "Afterword: The Last Word"—

Sword and Sorceress XV[]

1998. ISBN 978-0-88677-768-5

Sword and Sorceress XVI[]

1999. ISBN 978-0-88677-843-9
  • "Introduction"—Marion Zimmer Bradley
  • "The Kappa's Gift"—Fujiko
  • "The Changeless Room"—
  • "Isabelle and the Siren"—
  • "Dragon's Tear"—
  • "A Sister's Blood"—
  • "Changed"—
  • "The Power to Change the Shape of the Land"—
  • "The Frog Prince"—
  • "Honey from the Rock"—Dorothy J. Heydt
  • "The Will of the Wind"—
  • "Moonlight on Water"—
  • "Nine Springs"—
  • "Mistweaver"—
  • "Waking the Stone Maiden"—Cynthia McQuillin
  • "City of No-Sleep"—Vera Nazarian
  • "Daughter of the Bear"—Diana L. Paxson
  • "The Wishing Stones"—
  • "A Fool's Game"—Selina Rosen
  • "The Anvil of Her Pride"—Lawrence Schimel
  • "The Dancing Men of Ballyben"—
  • "Salt & Sorcery"— and
  • "Weaving Spells"—Lawrence Watt-Evans
  • "Enaree, An Azkhantian Tale"—Deborah Wheeler
  • "The Day They Ran Out of Princesses"—
  • "Taking Flight"—
  • "The Vision that Appeared"—

Sword and Sorceress XVII[]

2000. ISBN 978-0-88677-891-0

Sword and Sorceress XVIII[]

2001. ISBN 978-0-88677-996-2
  • "Introduction"—
  • "A Passage of Power"—Diana L. Paxson
  • "Lessons Learned"—
  • "Kendat's Ax"—
  • "The Tower of Song"—
  • "The Needed Stone"—
  • "Armageddon"—
  • "The Land of Graves"—Dave Smeds
  • "Light"—
  • "In the Sacred Places of the Earth"—Dorothy J. Heydt
  • "The Glass Sword"—
  • "Bed of Roses"—
  • "Sword of Peace"—
  • "The Fall of the Kingdom"—Mary Soon Lee
  • "Arms and the Woman"—Lawrence Watt-Evans
  • "The Stone Wives"—
  • "Tiger's Eye"—
  • "Raven-wings on the Snow"—
  • "Little Rogue Riding Hood"—Rosemary Edghill
  • "The Queen in Yellow"—
  • "Magic Threads"—

Sword and Sorceress XIX[]

2002. ISBN 978-0-7564-0049-1
  • "Introduction"—
  • "The Curse of Ardal Glen"—
  • "When the King is Weak"—
  • "The Sign of the Boar"—Diana L. Paxson
  • "A Matter of Focus"—
  • "Inner Sight"—
  • "Familiars"—Michael H. Payne
  • "Ordeal"—
  • "Grain"—Esther M. Friesner
  • "Gifts of the Kami"—
  • "One in Ten Thousand"—
  • "Lord of the Earth"—Dorothy J. Heydt
  • "Lady of Light"—
  • "All Too Familiar"—
  • "Artistic License"—
  • "Earth, Wind and Water"—
  • "Fire for the Senjen Tiger"—
  • "Fighting Spirit"—
  • "Pride, Prejudice and Paranoia"—
  • "A Simple Spell"—
  • "Sword of Queens"— (sic—all three occurrences in this book spell it "Bessel")
  • "Better Seen than Heard"—Emily C. A. Snyder
  • "Openings"—
  • "A Little Magic"—
  • "Eloma's Second Career"—
  • "Sylvia"—

Sword and Sorceress XX[]

2003. ISBN 978-0-7564-0142-9
  • "Introduction"— and
  • "Bread and Arrows"—Deborah J. Ross
  • "Mermaid Offerings"—
  • "Blood Will Tell"—Dorothy J. Heydt
  • "Mairi's Wine"—
  • "The Mask of Medusa's Daughter"—Kathryn J. Brown
  • "The Sorcerer of Rasston"—
  • "Legacy"—
  • "The Last Swan Princess"—
  • "Swordtongue"—
  • "Leaves of Iron"—Cynthia McQuillin
  • "The Challenge"—
  • "Celtic Beauty"—
  • "Late Blooming"—
  • "Swords for Teeth, Mirrors for Eyes"—
  • "Shen's Daughter"—Mary Soon Lee
  • "The Robber Girl, the Strangers, and Ole Lukoie"—Phyllis Ann Karr
  • "Too in the Morning"—
  • "The Song of the Stones"—Diana L. Paxson
  • "Homily"—The Rev.

Sword and Sorceress XXI[]

2004. ISBN 978-0-7564-0195-5. Edited by Diana L. Paxson.
  • "Introduction"—Diana L. Paxson
  • "Sword and Sorceress"—
  • "A Kind of Redemption"—
  • "Lostland"—Rosemary Edghill
  • "Multiple Choice"—Leslie Fish
  • "Child's Play"—Esther M. Friesner
  • "Journey's End"—Dorothy J. Heydt
  • "Spell of the Sparrow"—Jim C. Hines
  • "The Skin Trade"—Heather Rose Jones
  • "Dawn and Dusk"—
  • "Oulu"—
  • "Kin"—Naomi Kritzer
  • "Sun Thief"—
  • "The Woman's Place"—
  • "Rose in Winter"—
  • "Plowshares"—
  • "Necessity and the Mother"—
  • "Kazhe's Blade"—
  • "Parri's Blade"—Cynthia McQuillin
  • "Ursa"—
  • "Love Potion #8½"—
  • "Favor of the Goddess"—
  • "Step By Step"—
  • "Red Caramae"—

Sword and Sorceress XXII[]

2007. ISBN 978-1-934648-15-5. Edited by .
2007. ISBN 978-1-934169-90-2. Edited by .
  • "Edra's Arrow"—Esther M. Friesner
  • "A Nose for Trouble"—
  • "Night Watches"—
  • "Vanishing Village"—
  • "Pearl of Fire"—Deborah J. Ross
  • "The Ironwood Box"—
  • "Bearing Shadows"—Dave Smeds
  • "Black Ghost, Red Ghost"—
  • "The Decisive Princess"—
  • "Child of the Father"—
  • "Child of Ice, Child of Flame"—
  • "Skin and Bones"��Heather Rose Jones
  • "Crosswort Puzzle"— and
  • "Fairy Debt"—
  • "Tontine"—Robert E. Vardeman
  • "The Menagerie"—

Sword and Sorceress XXIII[]

2008. ISBN 978-1-934648-78-0. Edited by .
  • "Daughters of Brightshield"—
  • "Undivided"—
  • "It's All in the Making"—
  • "Shalott's Inn"—Leah Cypess
  • "Wolf Maiden"—
  • "Polish on, Polish off: A Dragon Tale"—
  • "Scam Artistry"—Mercedes Lackey and
  • "The Vessel"—
  • "Fairest Of Them All"—
  • "Blood Moon"—
  • "Stolen Ghosts"—
  • "Black Magic"—
  • "The Frog's Princess"—
  • "Squirrel Errant"—Michael H. Payne
  • "Remembering"—Deborah J. Ross
  • "A Morsel for the Plague Queen"—Dave Smeds
  • "Hope for the Dawn"—
  • "Daughter of Heaven"— and
  • "Deermouse "—K. D. Wentworth

Sword and Sorceress XXIV[]

2009. ISBN 978-1-60762-048-8. Edited by .
  • "Introduction"—
  • "The Casket of Brass"—Deborah J. Ross
  • "Merlin's Clutter"—
  • "Sceptre of the Ungodly"— and
  • "Material Witness"—
  • "Owl Court"—K. D. Wentworth
  • "Nellandra's Keeper"—
  • "Sages and Demons"—
  • "The Case of the Haunted City"—Josepha Sherman
  • "Pax Draconica"—
  • "Sea-Child"—
  • "Ghost Masks"—
  • "The Vapors of Crocodile Fen"—Dave Smeds
  • "Lord Shashensa"—
  • "Three on a Match"—Michael H. Payne
  • "A Curious Case"—
  • "Soul Walls"—
  • "Little Red"—

Sword and Sorceress XXV[]

2010. ISBN 978-1-60762-081-5. Edited by .
  • "Introduction"—
  • "The Sorceress's Apprentice"—
  • "Killing Stars"—Robin Wayne Bailey
  • "Mira"—Steven Brust
  • "Proving Grounds"—Steve Chapman
  • "Impossible Quests"—
  • "A Wall To Keep The World Out"—
  • "Caden's Death"—
  • "Ghost Puppet"—
  • "Well Enough"—
  • "Matriculation"—Michael H. Payne
  • "Fire and Fate"—Deborah J. Ross
  • "The Lost and Found Talisman"—Josepha Sherman
  • "Homecoming"—
  • "The Etherine Road"—Dave Smeds
  • "Winter in Khotan"—
  • "Inquisition for Blood"— and
  • "Simon's Fish"—
  • "Pantheon Shift Change"—
  • "The Sundered Star"—K. D. Wentworth
  • "Saved by the Soap"—

Sword and Sorceress XXVI[]

2011. ISBN 978-1-60762-096-9. Edited by .
  • "Introduction"—
  • "A Legal Affair"—
  • "The Seal Hunt"—Deborah J. Ross
  • "The Girl Who Folded Dragons"—
  • "Hedgewitch"—
  • "Banjooli"—
  • "Truth in the Inward Parts"— and
  • "Mad Magic"—
  • "The Page Turner"—Dave Smeds
  • "The Cave of Almerzan"—
  • "The Raw and the Cooked"—Michael H. Payne
  • "Wisdom of Winds"—
  • "Nemesis"—Steve Chapman
  • "The Hungry Ghost"—
  • "Ghost Dance"—
  • "Hallah Iron-Thighs and the Dancing Djinn"—K. D. Wentworth
  • "Time for Tears"—
  • "Not the Best Neighbors"—
  • "The Hate-Filled Gnome"—
  • "Summer Flu"—

Sword and Sorceress XXVII[]

2012. ISBN 978-1-938185-08-3. Edited by .
  • "Introduction"—
  • "A Hunter of the Celadon Plains"—Deborah J. Ross
  • "The Memory Box"—
  • "Grave Gold"—
  • "Forever Is a Long Time"—
  • "They That Watch"— and
  • "Straw-Spun"—Leah Cypess
  • "Mahrut's Road"—
  • "Storm Over Taktsang"—
  • "Airs Above the Ground"—Michael H. Payne
  • "Netcasters"—
  • "The Salt Mines"—Dave Smeds
  • "Strength, Wisdom, and Compassion"—
  • "Dead Princesses"—Steve Chapman
  • "The Rising"—
  • "Ghost Pyres"—
  • "Jack in Black"—

Sword and Sorceress XXVIII[]

2013. ISBN 978-1-938185-31-1. Edited by .
  • "Introduction"—
  • "Dead Salt"—
  • "The Rolang of Taiyung"—
  • "Tear-Stained Sword"—
  • "A Variation in Silence"—
  • "The Tavern at the Ford"—Dave Smeds
  • "The Damsel in the Garden"—
  • "Ghost Spike"—
  • "Ru's bad Day"—
  • "The Vine Princess"—Steve Chapman
  • "Trading Gifts"—
  • "A Drink of Deadly Wine"— and
  • "Promises and Pastry"—
  • "Where There's Smoke"—Michael H. Payne
  • "Justice"—
  • "Pearl of Tears"—Deborah J. Ross
  • "What's in a Name?"—

Sword and Sorceress XXIX[]

2014. ISBN 978-1-938185-39-7. Edited by .
  • "Introduction"—
  • "The Poisoned Crown"—Deborah J. Ross
  • "Heartless"—Steve Chapman
  • "Witch of Stones"—
  • "Chosen Ones"—
  • "Warmonger"—Robin Wayne Bailey
  • "Gift Horses"—
  • "Plausible Deniability"— and
  • "The Stormwitch's Daughter"—Dave Smeds
  • "Shining Silver, Hidden Gold"—
  • "Mendacity"—Michael H. Payne
  • "Amma's Wishes"—
  • "Dead Hand of the Past"—
  • "Nut Rolls"—
  • "With Thy Six Keys Enter"—
  • "All Else"—
  • "Gods of the Elders"—
  • "Bronze Bras and More!"—
  • "About Sword and Sorceress"—

Sword and Sorceress XXX[]

2015. ISBN 978-1-938185-40-3. Edited by .
  • "Introduction"—
  • "The Sea Witches"—Robin Wayne Bailey
  • "Phoenix for the Amateur Chef"—
  • "Temple of Chaos"—
  • "Admissions"—Michael H. Payne
  • "An Old Dragon's Treasure"—
  • "Liars' Tournament"—
  • "Grave Magic"—Steve Chapman
  • "The Piper's Wife"—
  • "Four Paws to Light My Way"—Deborah J. Ross
  • "Jewels in the Sand"—
  • "Death Among the Ruins"—
  • "Diplomacy in the Dark"—
  • "A Fairy Tale of Milk and Coffee"—
  • "Possibilities"—
  • "Dark Speech"— and

References[]

  1. ^ "Sword & Sorceress 22". Marion Zimmer Bradley Literary Works Trust. Retrieved 2014-02-09.

External links[]

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