He was a Master in Arts Magical, but not yet Incantor et Magus Now Vergil Magus, the powerful sorcerer-poet, returns in the long-awaited prequel to Avram Davidson’s bestselling novel of fable and magic, The Phoenix and the Mirror. Here, Vergil’s extraordinary adventures begin as he journeys into the hideous heart of evil and darkness . . . Enter the Very Rich City of Averno and discover a place on untold riches and untamed lusts, of orgies and drunken revelries, of madness and human corruption. Here is a decaying metropolis of wizards and warlocks, where old crones spin webs of cruelty and deceit, and hell lurks in a labyrinth of underworld caves. Vergil has come to Averno to uncover the secret of its eternal fires, the very center of its wealth and prominence. But as he explores the inner sancta of this ancient and heartless inferno, he finds, too, the fiery bed of Poppaea, the beautiful wife of the city’s most influential Magnates. With this forbidden pleasure comes forbidden knowledge, and Vergil is drawn into a web of intrigue that threatens to turn the terrible power of Averno against him. For centuries, the lords of the city have thrived on the bloody sacrifice of their own people. Now they are determined to add one more name to the scrolls of Averno’s dead . . . and to cast Vergil, now an outlaw, into the burning pits of the dying empire.

Consists of book reviews and essays written for The magazine of fantasy and science fiction.

Like its companion volume, "The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction", this massive reference of 4,000 entries covers all aspects of fantasy, from literature to art.

A spellbinding collection of wizardry! For centuries, people have been mesmerized by the spectacular tales of wizards. In this book, you will uncover the mystery behind these sorcerers with folklore, mythology, and poetry from every tradition in the world. From the legendary Telchines, who were entrusted with the upbringing of Olympian gods to the great, wise Gandalf in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the dazzling stories surrounding these magicians are sure to captivate anyone who has ever dreamed of mastering the arcane arts of wizardry. Whether you're interested in exploring the rich history behind these enchanting figures or want to learn more about their magical abilities, you will gain a better understanding of their impact on civilizations as you accompany these powerful conjurors on their spellbinding journeys. Complete with detailed illustrations, this book reveals the incredible power and age-old wisdom of some of the most extraordinary wizards to ever exist.

When the menace of Dr. Ludwig Sanzmann first appeared, like a cloud no bigger than a man's hand, Dr. Fred B. Turbyfil, at twenty-seven, had been the youngest museum director in the country; and now at thirty-five he was still one of the youngest.

This is the definitive collection of one of the century's finest fantasists & features introductions by some of the biggest names in the field. Includes an afterword by Ray Bradbury & Harlan Ellison.

This complete collection of the Jewish stories written by Hugo Award Winner Avram Davidson. Includes "The Golem" and "The Fisherman...A Tashlich Legend."

Pringle presents his selections in chronological order and includes a synopsis of the story, a discussion of the author's overall contribution to fantasy literature, critical commentary on the title's significance, and a brief publishing history. An introductory essay tackles the difficulty of defining fantasy, while a "Brief Bibliography" directs readers to other discussions of the genre. By no means a definitive subject guide, this entertaining volume should serve as a solid introduction to the elusive field of imaginative literature.

Fantasy is a genre in motion, gradually expanding its reach and historical sources to embrace a global identity Historical Dictionary of Fantasy Literature, Second Edition is a snapshot of the genre in this moment, identifying new themes and sources that are emerging to inspire, enhance and invigorate the published works of fantasy writers.

Once upon a time all literature was fantasy, set in a mythical past when magic existed, animals talked, and the gods took an active hand in earthly affairs. As the mythical past was displaced in Western estimation by the historical past and novelists became increasingly preoccupied with the present, fantasy was temporarily marginalized until the late 20th century, when it enjoyed a spectacular resurgence in every stratum of the literary marketplace. Stableford provides an invaluable guide to this sequence of events and to the current state of the field. The chronology tracks the evolution of fantasy from the origins of literature to the 21st century. The introduction explains the nature of the impulses creating and shaping fantasy literature, the problems of its definition and the reasons for its changing historical fortunes. The dictionary includes cross-referenced entries on more than 700 authors, ranging across the entire historical spectrum, while more than 200 other entries describe the fantasy subgenres, key images in fantasy literature, technical terms used in fantasy criticism, and the intimately convoluted relationship between literary fantasies, scholarly fantasies, and lifestyle fantasies. The book concludes with an extensive bibliography that ranges from general textbooks and specialized accounts of the history and scholarship of fantasy literature, through bibliographies and accounts of the fantasy literature of different nations, to individual author studies and useful websites.