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Review: Sword and Sorceress XVIII

© Debbie Ledesma

Fantady author Marion Zimmer Bradley left many works to entertain readers. Among these works were the Sword and Sorceress Fantasy anthologies she edited, introducing many stories to the genre by different authors. Sword and Sorceress XVIII is the latest in the series with stories picked by Ms. Bradley before she passed away. The stories range in style and tone, but readers will find many that are entertaining.

"The Land of Graves" by Dave Smeds is an engrossing story of a woman gaining the respect of her people. Tecia is a mage scholar living in a land full of graves of an ancient empire. A grave robber opened one of these graves, letting a murderous ghost out. The headman asks her to put the ghost back to rest. This story has interesting characters and a fascinating setting. Mr. Smeds has a good storytelling talent that shows in this story.

Ancient Egypt has a fascination for us. Fantasy author Susan Urbanek Linville sets her story "Light" in this setting. This is the story of Nekhti, a young woman living in Abydos. Her sister, Ameni, is killed in an accident. Nekhti refuses to accept the sister's death. She embarks on a quest across the desert to bring Ameni back to life. The author gives readers a vivid tale of preserverence and finding strength in one's self. Details about how life might have been like in ancient Egypt gives this story a strong sense of reality.

"In the Sacred Places of the Earth" by Dorothy J. Heydt is a Historical Fantasy set in ancient Greece. Cynthia attempts to get her dead husband back from Hades. She follows part of a ritual and is asked by Demeter for help. Eventually she encounters Persephone in the Underworld. The author injects the story with fascinating details of the Elusinian Mysteries. This is an entertaining story of mythology and love.

A humorous story is to be found in "Little Rogue Riding Hood" by Rosemary Edghill. Vixen McArdle is the actress of a Fantasy tv show called "The Incredibly True Adventures of Vixen the Slayer." One day, three small strangers come to her dressing room and ask her for help. After a lot of skepticism, Vixen finds herself in a Fantasy world fighting for her life. This is an amusing story that makes fun of popular tv shows and the trappings associated with them. It's a fun read.

"The Needed Stone" by Denise Lopes Heald is a story with good characters. It's told from the point of view of a young woman. She steals magical jewels from wizards and sorceresses to take home to protect her country. While stealing some stones, she meets Stone who pulls her from the river. He asks her to help him save his sister from Enthrallment by a sorceress, which destroys a human's soul. The story is exciting, full of interesting magic and the growth of realistic characters that change.

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