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The Ultimate Witch
A collection of witch stories by prominent names in science fiction and horror: Janet Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Dean Koontz, Tanith Lee, Jane Yolen, Paco Ignacio Taibo II, Stuart Kaminsky are among the authors whose stories are present in this volume.
From the back cover: In this haunting and provocative collection , some of the best-known authors of the fantastic and the mysterious explore the legends and lore of witches and witchcraft.
Cover art by Bruce Jensen
Illustrations by Lars Hokanson
From the back cover: In this haunting and provocative collection , some of the best-known authors of the fantastic and the mysterious explore the legends and lore of witches and witchcraft.
Cover art by Bruce Jensen
Illustrations by Lars Hokanson
360 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 1993
3 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Byron Preiss
106 books41 followersByron Preiss was the president of Byron Preiss Visual Publications and Ibooks, and was recognized as a pioneer in digital publishing. He was among the first publishers to release CD-ROM's and electronic books.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Preiss graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1972 and earned a master's degree in communications from Stanford University. He produced The Words of Gandhi, an audio book that won a Grammy Award in 1985. He was also the co-author of Dragonworld, a novel he co-wrote with J. Michael Reaves that was published by Bantam Books in 1979.
A proponent of illustrated books, as well as comics and graphic novels, Preiss also published works by celebrity authors including Jane Goodall, Billy Crystal, Jerry Seinfeld, LeAnn Rimes and Jay Leno.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Preiss graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1972 and earned a master's degree in communications from Stanford University. He produced The Words of Gandhi, an audio book that won a Grammy Award in 1985. He was also the co-author of Dragonworld, a novel he co-wrote with J. Michael Reaves that was published by Bantam Books in 1979.
A proponent of illustrated books, as well as comics and graphic novels, Preiss also published works by celebrity authors including Jane Goodall, Billy Crystal, Jerry Seinfeld, LeAnn Rimes and Jay Leno.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 7, 2018
For the most part, this was an excellent collection of witchy tales--all very different. My only complaint is two stories at the end that were overtly sexual in nature, I thought were out of place and odd inclusions. Overall a great read, especially for October!
July 19, 2024
Another good volume in the "Ultimate" horror short story series. As you'd expect, the idea of a witch is very broad and we see several different interpretations. Not my favorite of the series, but so far every volume has been decent.
January 27, 2020
What a fun volume, replete with short stories from a number of well-known sci-fi and fantasy writers!
Pros: stuff gets dark and very adult. Some serious themes are treated here—child abuse, trafficking, being trans. And it opens with a kind of ode to witches.
Cons: while I relish the spirit of horror this book clearly splashes about in, it’s a shame that 90% of witch depictions remain negative. But of course that’s the fault of no single person. It just is.
Pros: stuff gets dark and very adult. Some serious themes are treated here—child abuse, trafficking, being trans. And it opens with a kind of ode to witches.
Cons: while I relish the spirit of horror this book clearly splashes about in, it’s a shame that 90% of witch depictions remain negative. But of course that’s the fault of no single person. It just is.
February 23, 2021
Gingerbread by SP Somtow: New take on a classic fairy tale.
The Witch of the Moon by Tanith Lee: Classic feel.
The April Witch by Ray Bradbury: Slight.
Arora's Cure by T. Diane Slatton: Very forgettable.
Wooden Druthers by ER Stewart: Folksy backwoods style.
Reunion by Kathryn Ptacek: Amusing relief.
Crawling from the Wreckage by Andrew Lane: Isolated community trope, masterful.
Inscription by Jane Yolen: Another fine folk tale.
Easy Tom and the Seven Highways to Constantinople and All Points South by Jonathan Bond and Thomas J Lindell: Tough veneer but no meat? May reread after I'm otherwise finished.
Soulmate by Marvin Kaye: Filler, unless I missed something.
Still Life with Crocus by Mary Turzillo: A domestic one that did little for me.
Chavi Chori by John Kaiine: Totally clueless about this one.
Sourheart by Nina Kiriki Hoffman: Strong writing overcomes some confusion.
The Sweet Smell of Success by Paco Ignacio Taibo II: Peculiar fragment.
The Witch's Daughter by Lois Tilton: Hard personal journey, mostly satisfying.
Brooms Welcome the Dust by Steve Rasnic Tem: Kids' adventure with creative spooky touches.
Close by Adam-Troy Castro: Amusing tidbit.
Desire by Lynn Crosson: Unforeseen consequences to a powerful spell.
In Thunder, Lightning, or In Rain by Stuart M Kaminsky: Taut suspense achieved in this mostly successful thriller.
Grimm Witchery A Fairy Tale by Janet Asimov: I'll have to get back to you on this
In Search of Anton La Vey by Nancy Holder: A favorite-period piece, standout so far.
The Sorceror Evoragdou by Darrell Schweitzer: A unexpectedly complicated quest, excellent!
A Walk on the Wild Side by Karl Edward Wagner: Explicit painful sexual horror, not my cup of tea.
Mother and Child Reunion by Tim Sullivan: Teenage angst and family relationships.
Snatcheers by Dean Koontz: Skillful crime horror.
On a peripheral level, I was struck by the high level of achievement revealed by the contributor bios.
The Witch of the Moon by Tanith Lee: Classic feel.
The April Witch by Ray Bradbury: Slight.
Arora's Cure by T. Diane Slatton: Very forgettable.
Wooden Druthers by ER Stewart: Folksy backwoods style.
Reunion by Kathryn Ptacek: Amusing relief.
Crawling from the Wreckage by Andrew Lane: Isolated community trope, masterful.
Inscription by Jane Yolen: Another fine folk tale.
Easy Tom and the Seven Highways to Constantinople and All Points South by Jonathan Bond and Thomas J Lindell: Tough veneer but no meat? May reread after I'm otherwise finished.
Soulmate by Marvin Kaye: Filler, unless I missed something.
Still Life with Crocus by Mary Turzillo: A domestic one that did little for me.
Chavi Chori by John Kaiine: Totally clueless about this one.
Sourheart by Nina Kiriki Hoffman: Strong writing overcomes some confusion.
The Sweet Smell of Success by Paco Ignacio Taibo II: Peculiar fragment.
The Witch's Daughter by Lois Tilton: Hard personal journey, mostly satisfying.
Brooms Welcome the Dust by Steve Rasnic Tem: Kids' adventure with creative spooky touches.
Close by Adam-Troy Castro: Amusing tidbit.
Desire by Lynn Crosson: Unforeseen consequences to a powerful spell.
In Thunder, Lightning, or In Rain by Stuart M Kaminsky: Taut suspense achieved in this mostly successful thriller.
Grimm Witchery A Fairy Tale by Janet Asimov: I'll have to get back to you on this
In Search of Anton La Vey by Nancy Holder: A favorite-period piece, standout so far.
The Sorceror Evoragdou by Darrell Schweitzer: A unexpectedly complicated quest, excellent!
A Walk on the Wild Side by Karl Edward Wagner: Explicit painful sexual horror, not my cup of tea.
Mother and Child Reunion by Tim Sullivan: Teenage angst and family relationships.
Snatcheers by Dean Koontz: Skillful crime horror.
On a peripheral level, I was struck by the high level of achievement revealed by the contributor bios.
currently-reading-anthcoll
July 31, 20229 • Gingerbread • novelette by S. P. Somtow
40 • The Witch of the Moon • shortstory by Tanith Lee
59 • The April Witch • [The Elliott Family] • (1952) • shortstory by Ray Bradbury
70 • Arora's Cure • shortstory by T. Diane Slatton
78 • Wooden Druthers by E. R. Stewart
86 • Reunion • (1993) • shortstory by Kathryn Ptacek
96 • Crawling from the Wreckage by Andrew Lane
118 • Inscription • shortstory by Jane Yolen
Easy Tom & the 7 Highways to Constantinople & All Points South by Thomas J. Lindell and Jonathan Bond
148 • Soulmate • shortstory by Marvin Kaye
150 • Still Life with Crocus • shortstory by Mary Turzillo
155 • Chavi Chori • shortstory by John Kaiine
♥Sourheart by Nina Kiriki Hoffman (collected in Permeable Borders) RE-read 10/19/2015
185 • The Sweet Smell of Success • shortstory by Paco Ignacio Taibo, II
194 • The Witch's Daughter • shortstory by Lois Tilton
204 • Brooms Welcome the Dust • shortstory by Steve Rasnic Tem
222 • Close • shortstory by Adam-Troy Castro
226 • Desire • shortstory by Lynn D. Crosson
237 • In Thunder, Lightning or in Rain • shortstory by Stuart M. Kaminsky
255 • Grimm Witchery • shortstory by Janet Jeppson Asimov ]
263 • In Search of Anton La Vey • shortstory by Nancy Holder
275 • The Sorcerer Evoragdou • shortstory by Darrell Schweitzer
291 • A Walk on the Wild Side • shortstory by Karl Edward Wagner
304 • Mother and Child Reunion • novelette by Timothy R. Sullivan
333 • Snatcher • (1986) • shortstory by Dean R. Koontz
40 • The Witch of the Moon • shortstory by Tanith Lee
59 • The April Witch • [The Elliott Family] • (1952) • shortstory by Ray Bradbury
70 • Arora's Cure • shortstory by T. Diane Slatton
78 • Wooden Druthers by E. R. Stewart
86 • Reunion • (1993) • shortstory by Kathryn Ptacek
96 • Crawling from the Wreckage by Andrew Lane
118 • Inscription • shortstory by Jane Yolen
Easy Tom & the 7 Highways to Constantinople & All Points South by Thomas J. Lindell and Jonathan Bond
148 • Soulmate • shortstory by Marvin Kaye
150 • Still Life with Crocus • shortstory by Mary Turzillo
155 • Chavi Chori • shortstory by John Kaiine
♥Sourheart by Nina Kiriki Hoffman (collected in Permeable Borders) RE-read 10/19/2015
185 • The Sweet Smell of Success • shortstory by Paco Ignacio Taibo, II
194 • The Witch's Daughter • shortstory by Lois Tilton
204 • Brooms Welcome the Dust • shortstory by Steve Rasnic Tem
222 • Close • shortstory by Adam-Troy Castro
226 • Desire • shortstory by Lynn D. Crosson
237 • In Thunder, Lightning or in Rain • shortstory by Stuart M. Kaminsky
255 • Grimm Witchery • shortstory by Janet Jeppson Asimov ]
263 • In Search of Anton La Vey • shortstory by Nancy Holder
275 • The Sorcerer Evoragdou • shortstory by Darrell Schweitzer
291 • A Walk on the Wild Side • shortstory by Karl Edward Wagner
304 • Mother and Child Reunion • novelette by Timothy R. Sullivan
333 • Snatcher • (1986) • shortstory by Dean R. Koontz
January 8, 2021
The stories are hit and miss for me, but of the stories I enjoyed were pretty solid. Great book to meet some new authors.
Originally, I was looking for some inspiration for witches in a tabletop RPG. A lot of the stories take place in a fairly modern setting, but the interpretations of what makes a witch a witch are pretty broad and there are a lot of different angles to inspire your own settings and characters.
Originally, I was looking for some inspiration for witches in a tabletop RPG. A lot of the stories take place in a fairly modern setting, but the interpretations of what makes a witch a witch are pretty broad and there are a lot of different angles to inspire your own settings and characters.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews