The arrival of two eccentric women in a straight-laced, "historic" neighborhood causes unexpected changes in Delia Sherman's comic tale of witchery ("Walpurgis Afternoon"), while Kelly Link offers a look at witchcraft's dark side in "Catskin." The 23 tales gathered here feature a wide variety of magic wielders, from the witches of Andre Norton's "Witch World" series ("The Way Wind") to Elizabeth Bear's story of a blacksmith who works magic through his forge ("The Cold Blacksmith"). Other contributors include Tanith Lee, Mercedes Lackey, Richard Parks, Neil Gaiman, and Jane Yolen. VERDICT Fans of stories involving witches as well as those who enjoy well-told fantasy should appreciate the strength of this themed collection.
