''Kingdoms of Sorcery: An Anthology of Adult Fantasy'' is an
anthology of
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...
stories, edited by American writer
Lin Carter
Linwood Vrooman Carter (June 9, 1930 – February 7, 1988) was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor, poet and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft (for an H. P. L ...
. It was first published in hardcover by
Doubleday in January 1976
as the first of two such anthologies continuing a series of nine assembled by Carter for the ''
Ballantine Adult Fantasy series
The Ballantine Adult Fantasy series was an imprint of American publisher Ballantine Books. Launched in 1969 (presumably in response to the growing popularity of Tolkien's works), the series reissued a number of works of fantasy literature which w ...
''.
Summary
The book collects sixteen tales and excerpts from novels from five varieties of fantasy writing, with an overall introduction and notes on the individual authors by Carter. The collection is a companion volume to Carter's later anthology ''
Realms of Wizardry
''Realms of Wizardry: An Anthology of Adult Fantasy'' is an American anthology of fantasy stories, edited by American writer Lin Carter. It was first published in hardcover by Doubleday (publisher), Doubleday in December 1976 as the second of two ...
'' (1976).
Contents
*"Magic Casements: An Introduction" (
Lin Carter
Linwood Vrooman Carter (June 9, 1930 – February 7, 1988) was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor, poet and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft (for an H. P. L ...
)
*I. The Forerunners of Modern Fantasy
:*"The History of Babouc the Scythian" (
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet (; 21 November 169430 May 1778) was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher. Known by his ''nom de plume'' M. de Voltaire (; also ; ), he was famous for his wit, and his criticism of Christianity—es ...
)
:*"The Palace of Subterranean Fire" - from ''
Vathek
''Vathek'' (alternatively titled ''Vathek, an Arabian Tale'' or ''The History of the Caliph Vathek'') is a Gothic novel written by William Beckford. It was composed in French beginning in 1782, and then translated into English by Reverend S ...
'' (
William Beckford)
:*"The Witch Woman" - from ''
Lilith
Lilith ( ; he, לִילִית, Līlīṯ) is a female figure in Mesopotamian and Judaic mythology, alternatively the first wife of Adam and supposedly the primordial she-demon. Lilith is cited as having been "banished" from the Garden of Ed ...
'' (
George Macdonald
George MacDonald (10 December 1824 – 18 September 1905) was a Scottish author, poet and Christian Congregational church, Congregational Minister (Christianity), minister. He was a pioneering figure in the field of modern fantasy literature a ...
)
*II. Fantasy as Saga
:*"The Folk of the Mountain Door" (
William Morris
William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896) was a British textile designer, poet, artist, novelist, architectural conservationist, printer, translator and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts Movement. He ...
)
:*"A Night-Piece on Ambremerine" - from ''
Mistress of Mistresses
''Mistress of Mistresses'' is a fantasy novel by English writer E. R. Eddison, the first in his Zimiamvian Trilogy
The Zimiamvian Trilogy is a series of fantasy novels by English author E. R. Eddison.
*''Mistress of Mistresses'' (1935)
*'' A F ...
'' (
E. R. Eddison)
:*"Dr. Meliboë the Enchanter" - from ''
The Well of the Unicorn
''The Well of the Unicorn'' is a fantasy novel by the American writer Fletcher Pratt. It was first published in 1948, under the pseudonym George U. Fletcher, in hardcover by William Sloane Associates. All later editions have appeared under the aut ...
'' (
Fletcher Pratt
Murray Fletcher Pratt (25 April 1897 – 10 June 1956) was an American writer of history, science fiction, and fantasy. He is best known for his works on naval history and the American Civil War and for fiction written with L. Sprague de Camp.
...
)
:*"The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar" - from ''
Swords Against Wizardry
''Swords Against Wizardry'' is a fantasy short story collection, first published 1968, by Fritz Leiber and Harry Fischer, featuring their sword and sorcery heroes Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. Fischer's contribution was limited to ten thousand wor ...
'' (
Fritz Leiber
Fritz Reuter Leiber Jr. ( ; December 24, 1910 – September 5, 1992) was an American writer of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He was also a poet, actor in theater and films, playwright, and chess expert. With writers such as Rober ...
)
*III. Fantasy as Parable
:*"Shadow and Silence" (
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wid ...
)
:*"Fables from the Edge of Night" (
Clark Ashton Smith)
:*"The Tomb of the God" (
Robert H. Barlow)
*IV. Fantasy as Anecdote
:*"Merlyn Vs. Madame Mim" - from ''
The Sword in the Stone'' (
T. H. White)
:*"
The Owl and the Ape" (
L. Sprague de Camp
Lyon Sprague de Camp (; November 27, 1907 – November 6, 2000) was an American writer of science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction. In a career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and works of non-fiction, including biog ...
)
:*"The Twelve Wizards of Ong" (
Lin Carter
Linwood Vrooman Carter (June 9, 1930 – February 7, 1988) was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor, poet and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft (for an H. P. L ...
)
*V. Fantasy as Epic
:*"Deep Magic from the Dawn of Time" - from ''
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'' (
C. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963) was a British writer and Anglican lay theologian. He held academic positions in English literature at both Oxford University (Magdalen College, 1925–1954) and Cambridge Univers ...
)
:*"The Bridge of Khazad-Dûm" - from ''
The Fellowship of the Ring
''The Fellowship of the Ring'' is the first of three volumes of the epic novel ''The Lord of the Rings'' by the English author J. R. R. Tolkien. It is followed by '' The Two Towers'' and ''The Return of the King''. It takes place in the ficti ...
'' (
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (, ; 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''.
From 1925 to 1945, Tolkien was the Rawlins ...
)
:*"The Story of the Blessing of El-Ahrairah" - from ''
Watership Down
''Watership Down'' is an adventure novel by English author Richard Adams, published by Rex Collings Ltd of London in 1972. Set in Berkshire in southern England, the story features a small group of rabbits. Although they live in their natura ...
'' (
Richard Adams)
*"More Magic Casements. Suggestions for Further Reading" (
Lin Carter
Linwood Vrooman Carter (June 9, 1930 – February 7, 1988) was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor, poet and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft (for an H. P. L ...
)
References
1976 anthologies
Fantasy anthologies
Lin Carter anthologies
Doubleday (publisher) books
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