The sorceress Frostflower could bring a babe from seed to term in the course of a winter's afternoon. The swordswoman Thorn could strew a field with corpses in a moment's battle rage. Outcasts, both of them. Hunted by the farmer-priests who ruled the wasteland that once had been a world. Then Thorn in her folly got pregnant. Flower, in her folly, wanted the child. And together, foolishly, they set out to survive...

The sorceress Frostflower could bring a babe from seed to term in the course of a winter's afternoon. The swordswoman Thorn could strew a field with corpses in a moment's battle rage. Outcasts, both of them. Hunted by the farmer-priests who ruled the wasteland that once had been a world. Then Thorn in her folly got pregnant. Flower, in her folly, wanted the child. And together, foolishly, they set out to survive ...

The sorceress Frostflower has the power to guide the lightning through the air...and to leave her body to roam the Tanglelands. But her fellow traveller and fellow sorcerer Windbourne, blamed for the murder of a farmer-priest, carries a monstrous guilt that saps his powers and threatens their lives. Led by the valiant warrior Thorn, Frostflower and Windbourne begin the dangerous journey to Five Roads Crossing, where the mourning High Priestess lies in wait...

They come to Amberleaf Fair -- toymakers, storytellers, conjurers, and adventurers. They bring song and dance, gifts of love, and tales of far places. But in the midst of celebration, the high wizard Talmar is stricken with what appears to be the Choking Glory, his brother Torin the toymaker has been rejected by his lady love, and a fabulous necklace from across the sea has been stolen -- and Torin is the chief suspect! This year Amberleaf Fair promises to be more than a place of marvels, a crossroads for magic, mysteries, and fabulous wealth. This year the fair promises to be much more interesting ... and dangerous!

The arrangements for the dinner party were overseen by Queen Quenevere herself. She selected the apples with her own hands. And before the evening ended, a young knight lay dead...and Arthur's beloved, unfaithful queen stood branded as a murderess and condemned to death! Phyllis Ann Karr has taken Celtic legend and given it a fresh new twist in this magical murder-mystery of knights and sorcery, romantic entanglements and courtly intrigues. This is a tale that explores the passions and motivations of the men and women who stride through the pages of Mallory's romance: Sir Kay, the sharp-tongued seneschal; Nimue, the elusive Lady of the Lake; Morgan le Fay, Merlin's complex nemesis; the tormented sons of Lot and Morgawse; and Mordred, Arthur's own bitter, terrified son! "In The Idylls of the Queen, Phyllis Ann Karr takes an incident (the murder of Sir Patrise) from Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur and creates an intelligent, complex, and fascinating mystery novel perfect for fans of historical mysteries, of British legends, and of fantasy." -- Cynthia Ward

Courtesan and criminal, thief and trollop, warrior and wanderer--the picara embodies the continuing archetypal pattern of a woman's autonomy. She is the sly sharpster in Defoe's heroines such as Roxana and Moll Flanders. With an ancestress like Becky Sharp, the picara evolves into Scarlett O'Hara before finding a comfortable niche as the female hero in fantasy written by women. The Picara traces the development of this character, from an autonomous woman in a harsh patriarchal society to the female hero of the modern fantasy novel.

Our 78th issue features another lineup sure to please. We have an original mystery by Tom Milani (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken). Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman has selected a great mystery by Brian Cox. Our other two Acquiring Editors, Cynthia Ward and Darrell Schweitzer, are still on break, but we hope they will be back soon. I’ve balanced out the mystery side of this issue with a Sexton Blake story and a Hulbert Footner novel. For the fantasy side, we have three tales: a Frostflower & Thorn short story from Phyllis Ann Karr, a Jules de Grandin occult detective story from Seabury Quinn, and a ghostly tale by Grant Allen. On the third side, we have three science fiction stories—tales by Joe Bigson, Bill Venable, and Lester del Rey. Fun stuff. I hope you enjoy it. Here’s this issue’s lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Night of the Laundry Cart,” by Tom Milani [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “A Valentine by the Numbers,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “The Frozen Fiske.” by Brian Cox [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The White Mouse,” by Hal Meredith [Sexton Blake novelet] Cap’n Sue, by Hulbert Footner [novel] Fantasy & Science Fiction: “A Night at Two Inns.” by Phyllis Ann Karr [Frostflower & Thorn short story] “Pallinghurst Barrow,” by Grant Allen [novelet] “The Man Who Cast No Shadow,” by Seabury Quinn [Jules de Grandin novelet] “I Like You, Too—” by Joe Gibson [short story] “If At First,” by Bill Venable [short story] “Moon-Blind,” by Lester del Rey [short story]

Our 81st issue is among our best so far, if I do say so myself. We have an original mystery by H.K. Slade (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), a great modern tale by Ann Aptaker (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman), and a pair of mystery novels—Bruce Campbell’s The Mystery of the Iron Box, featuring Ken Holt (by special request of one of our readers), and The Girl Who Had to Die, by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding. And no issue would be complete without a solve-it-yourself mystery by Hal Charles. On the science fiction and fantasy side, we have a classic novel by Fritz Leiber: Conjure Wife, originally published in 1943. Don’t miss the introduction, which puts it into historical context. If that’s not enough, we also have an entry in Phyllis Ann Karr’s “Frostflower & Thorn” series and classic science fiction stories by George O. Smith, Kendell Foster Crossen, and Lu Kella. Fun! Here’s this issue’s complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “House in the Snow” by H.K. Slade [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Death Visits Campus” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Red Nocturne,” by Ann Aptaker [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Mystery of the Iron Box, by Bruce Campbell [novel] The Girl Who Had to Die, by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Dragon, the Unicorn, and the Teddy Bear,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [Frostflower & Thorn short story] “The Dreamers,” by Lu Kella [short story] “Booby Prize,” by George O. Smith [novelet] “The Agile Algolian,” by Kendell Foster Crossen [novelet] Conjure Wife, by Fritz Leiber [novel]

Our 75th issue has a pair of original tales for your reading pleasure, one mystery (“Troubled Water,” by donalee Moulton, thanks to acquiring editor Michael Bracken) and “The Forbidden Scroll,” by Phyllis Ann Karr (a solo adventure by Frostflower from Karr’s Frostflower & Thorn series—we had a solo Thorn adventure last issue.] Barb Goffman has selected a cat-themed mystery by Karen Cantwell, plus we have classic mysteries by Hal Meredeth (Sexton Blake) and Norbert Davis (a hardboiled novel). On the science fiction side, we have a great set of tales by George O. Smith, Ray Bradbury, Noel Loomis, and William Tenn…all favorites of mine. Here’s this issue’s lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Troubled Water,” by donalee Moulton [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “A Death in the Department,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “The Wizard of Paws,” by Karen Cantwell [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “A Confidential Report,” by Hal Meredith [Sexton Blake short story] Oh, Murderer Mine, by Norbert Davis [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Forbidden Scroll,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [Frostflower short story] “The Cosmic Jackpot,” by George O. Smith [short story] “The Square Pegs,” by Ray Bradbury [short story] “Softie,” by Noel Loomis [short story] “Consulate,” by William Tenn [novelet]