Jonathan Strahan produced a couple dozen anthologies in the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres. The Book of Witches fits in with the run-up to Halloween.
My favorite story in The Book of Witches is Garth Nix’s “The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches”–Agatha, Dorothy, and Josephine–undertake a dangerous mission to capture a monster that has escaped its confinement.
I also enjoyed Premee Mohamed’s “So Spake the Mirrorwitch” where two witch hunters learn a harsh lesson. And Casandra Khaw’s “Met Swallow” weaves a satisfying spell on the reader.
The variety of stories in this anthology will appeal to just about every reader. If you’re looking for material to read around the Witching Hour, you might consider The Book of Witches. GRADE: B
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS — xv
WHAT IS A WITCH? By Jonathan Strahan — xvii
Seed of power / Linda D. Addison — 1
What I remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata / P. Djèli Clark — 3
Catechism for thise who would find witches / Kathleen Jennings — 29
The luck thief / Tade Thompson — 45
Good spells / Ken Liu — 71
The liar / Darcie Little Badger — 95
Escape artists / Andrea Hairston — 117
The witch is not a monster / Alaya Dawn Johnson — 123
Met swallow / Cassandra Khaw — 149
The nine jars ofNukulu / Tobi Ogundiran — 165
In a cabin, in a wood / Kelly Robson — 181
What dreams may come / C. L. Clark — 203
She who makes the rain / Millie Ho — 223
As wayward sisters, hand in hand / Indrapramit Das — 225
Orphanage of the Last Breath / Saad Z. Hossain — 247
The unexpected excursion of the murder mystery writing witches / Garth Nix — 261
So spake the Mirrorwitch / Premee Mohamed — 281
Just a nudge / Maureen McHugh — 295
Her ravenous waters / Andrea Stewart — 317
Déja Vue / Tochi Onyebuchi — 335
BOTANICA: a song in four movements / Sheree Renée Thomas — 349
Through the woods, due west / Angela Slatter — 357
Nameless here for evermore / Fonda Lee — 373
Mask of the Nautilus / Sheree Renée Thomas — 383
Night riding / Usman T Malik — 391
Witchfires / E. Lily Yu — 409
The Academy of Oracular Magic / Miyuki Jane Pinckard — 423
The cost of doing business / Emily Y. Teng — 435
John Hollowback and the witch / Amal El-Mohtar — 453
About the Authors — 475
About Jonathan Strahan — 485
I’ll go look, but some of this looks like first-publication material…further reason to check it out, even given it has at least as many writers who are usually more Near horror than in the thick of it…
Todd, many of these theme anthologies feature first-publication material. Sometimes a few reprint short stories are included.
Sounds like fun!
Patti, the range of stories in THE BOOK OF WITCHES is impressive. Something for every reader’s taste.
They might be fine but I have had to deal with enough witches in my life! I don’t need to read about them!
Bob, beware! I have one more anthology of witch stories before Halloween!