| Spells | |
|---|---|
|
Subtitle |
Short novels and stories from 12 masters of fantasy. |
|
Editors |
Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg, and Charles G. Waugh. |
|
Genre |
Fantasy |
|
Series |
Isaac Asimov's Magical World of Fantasy |
|
Preceded by |
Cosmic Knights |
|
Followed by |
Giants |
A collection of fantasy short stories, part of Isaac Asimov's Magical World of Fantasy. Published in 1985, I think (1988 in the UK, anyway).
Contents[]
- Henry Slesar, The Candidate - READ
- Frank R. Stockton, The Christmas Shadrach - READ
- Fritz Leiber, The Snow Women - READ
- Ray Bradbury, Invisible Boy - READ
- Gerald W. Page, The Hero Who Returned - READ
- Andre Norton, Toads of Grimmerdale - READ
- Martin Harry Greenberg, A Literary Death - READ
- Robert Arthur, Satan and Sam Shay - READ
- Arthur Conan Doyle, Lot No. 249 - READ
- Edward D. Hoch, The Witch is Dead - READ
- Stephen King, I Know What You Need - READ
- Jack Vance, The Miracle Workers - READ
First read (April 2012)[]
Finished, April 23rd 2012.
Progress graph, using Goodreads data.
Format[]
Paperback 1988 version, by the looks of it. 341 pages, ~5 blank pages, 41 lines per page, 9.9 words per line[1], 55.1 characters per line[2]. Implication is 136,752 words and 758,368 characters in the work (average 5.55 characters per word).
Journal[]
Picked it up for £2 in a book shop in Brecon while camping over Easter weekend 2012 with friends. Read the first two stories, and started the third, there.
Update 18/04/12: Read up to Satan and Sam Shay now. I'm a little bemused, many of the stories have been sort of odd or dull or lacking punch, but maybe that's what they're supposed to be like. It seems that 'back in the day' it was good sport to write short stories, at least the little blurbs and other things I've read about some of the stories seem to indicate they were all having a blast doing so. But for me it's so far been a bit uninspiring!
Finished it on the 23rd of April. Mostly mediocre, although it's been worth reading to get to know some different types of old fantasy. The only one I really enjoyed was The Miracle Workers.
Rating[]
Reading Record[]
Simultaneous reads: Charles Darwin, On The Origin of Species
Next read: Black Logician, Harry's Game