The Year's Best Fantasy Stories 6

The Year's Best Fantasy Stories #6

by Lin Carter (Editor/ contributor), Roger Zelazny (Contributor), Paul H. Cook (Contributor)

Contents:

* "The Year in Fantasy" (Lin Carter)
* "Garden of Blood" (Roger Zelazny)
* "The Character Assassin" (Paul H. Cook)
* "The Things That Are Gods" (John Brunner)
* "Zurvan's Saint" (Grail Undwin)
* "Perfidious Amber" (Tanith Lee)
* "The Mer She" (Fritz Leiber)
* "Demon of the Snows" (Lin Carter)
* "The Pavilion Where All Times Meet" (Jayge Carr)
* "Cryptically Yours" (Brian Lumley)
* "Red as Blood" (Tanith Lee)
* "Sandmagic" (Orson Scott Card)
* "The Year's Best Fantasy Books" (Lin Carter)

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Anthologies, Speculative Fiction

191 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 4, 1980

About the author

Lin Carter was an American author, editor, and critic best known for his influential role in fantasy literature during the mid-20th century. Born in St. Petersburg, Florida, he developed an early passion for myth, adventure stories, and imaginative fiction, drawing inspiration from authors such as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, H. P. Lovecraft, and J. R. R. Tolkien. After serving in the U.S. Army, Carter attended Columbia University, where he honed his literary skills and deepened his knowledge of classical and medieval literature, myth, and folklore — elements that would become central to his work.
Carter authored numerous novels, short stories, and critical studies, often working within the sword-and-sorcery and high fantasy traditions. His own creations, such as the “Thongor of Lemuria” series, paid homage to pulp-era adventure fiction while adding his distinctive voice and world-building style. His nonfiction book Tolkien: A Look Behind The Lord of the Rings was one of the first major studies of Tolkien’s work and its mythological roots, and it helped establish Carter as a knowledgeable commentator on fantasy literature.
Beyond his own writing, Carter was a central figure in bringing classic and forgotten works of fantasy back into print. As editor of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series from 1969 to 1974, he curated and introduced dozens of volumes, reintroducing readers to authors such as William Morris, Lord Dunsany, E. R. Eddison, and James Branch Cabell. His introductions not only contextualized these works historically and literarily but also encouraged a new generation to explore the breadth of the fantasy tradition.
Carter was also active in the shared literary universe of the “Cthulhu Mythos,” expanding upon the creations of H. P. Lovecraft and other members of the “Lovecraft Circle.” His collaborations and solo contributions in this genre further cemented his reputation as both a creative writer and a literary preservationist.
In addition to fiction and criticism, Carter was an active member of several science fiction and fantasy organizations, including the Science Fiction Writers of America. He frequently appeared at conventions, where he was known for his enthusiasm, deep knowledge of the genre, and willingness to mentor aspiring writers.
Though sometimes critiqued for the derivative nature of some of his work, Carter’s influence on the fantasy revival of the late 20th century remains significant. His combination of creative output, editorial vision, and scholarly enthusiasm helped bridge the gap between the pulp traditions of the early 1900s and the expansive fantasy publishing boom that followed.
Lin Carter’s legacy endures through his own imaginative tales, his critical studies, and the many classic works he rescued from obscurity, ensuring their place in the canon of fantasy literature for generations to come.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sixth volume of The Year's Best Fantasy Stories from DAW was the last edited by Carter, though the series lasted several more years under the editorship of Arthur Saha. The stories are Carter's selections for the best of 1979, and he picked stories from F & SF and Asimov's magazines, as well as Sorcerer's Apprentice (a semi-prozine), one from a Fritz Leiber collection, and Other Worlds (an original anthology), though the source with the most was andrew j. offutt's Swords Against Darkness anthology series. He also included two original works (and you have to wonder how he justified calling two original stories from this 1980 book among the best published stories of 1979), and both of the originals are ones that he wrote himself. One of them was under the pseudonym Grail Undwin, and it's amusing to read his introduction that praises Ms. Undwin's literary skill. The Leiber was a disappointing Grey Mouser cringeworthy sexcapade, but I remember enjoying the stories of Orson Scott Card, Tanith Lee, John Brunner, and Roger Zelazny's Dilvish the Damned tale. It's one of the best volumes from Carter's run, with a whimsically cute Josh Kirby cover.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carter's "Year's Best" series have an archaeological quality in its editorial commentary and appendix material, placing the collection in the context of the publishing industry and fandom. Fantastic magazine had just folded and the Other Worlds collections had begun great enthusiasm (by Carter).

The selections here are typical of the editor: conservative, pulpish, and weighted in favor of sword and sorcery. Stories written by young women are noted as being by women who are young and isn't that amazing that someone could be young and a woman. Except that one--"Grail Undwin"--is actually neither, and is a pseudonym for Carter himself. So the compliments in the editorial introduction ring quite hollow. The usual complaints, that is.

You'll get a Dilvish tale, Traveler in Black, Cyrion, a late-series Gray Mouser (sans Fafhrd), an early-life Thongor. And these are all representative, with "The Mer She" standing out just in the way that Leiber explores the foibles and weaknesses of his heroes: this is another case where Mouser out-clevers himself and proves both a lech and a man devoid of empathy. It wraps up with the "hero" dodging disaster through his own unbelievable luck.

Paul H Cook's "The Character Assassin" is a deviation from Carter's usual and is a refreshing change, even if the thing feels like it is about to fly apart. "The Pavilion Where All Times Meet" would be helped if Carter actually wrote _less_ in his introduction, as he gives away the keys to the surprise ending. Lee's reformulation of Snow White, "Red as Blood", should be considered carefully if Disney wants to attempt the Maleficent treatment with another property. It doesn't really go anywhere but the telling is interesting and is beautifully done.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology was like much of the similar anthologies I've read in that some of the stories are really good and others just confuse me, which seems to be a standard of this type of fantasy. There are some big name authors in this one with some well known characters (Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, Thongor, etc.)

I'm a big Fritz Leiber fan, but this Grey Mouser story was a little, well, kinkier than I remember the others being. Mouser keeps tying a girl up, sometimes even nude and spread eagled, and keeps going on about how much he likes disciplining her. Granted there was some magic involved and he was under a spell, but still, it was a little--different.

Overall not a bad collection and if you enjoy fantasy, especially Sword and Sorcery, you'll probably like this one.

[A.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, not the usual anthology I'd add to my collection. I agree with the other user who describes the selections as rather conservative and pulpish, honestly surprising this was published in 1980. Most of the stories wouldn't have been out of place in a 1950 anthology. But I saw that there were two stories by Tanith Lee, a writer I'd not fit into that camp, so I had to pick it up. Since I've found tracking all the stories/writers from anthologies useful for jogging my memory, they're all listed below.

"Garden of Blood," Roger Zelazny
First Dilvish story I've read. Competent swords & sorcery tale, but lacks the high style and inventiveness I appreciate with Zelazny. ***

"The Character Assassin," Paul H. Cook
Clever literary fantasy, very unlike the more standard high fantasy in the rest of the book. Good writing. ****

"The Things That Are Not Gods," John Brunner
Liked the gloomy mood and lyricism of the writing. Not the sort of fantasy that typically appeals, but it kept me reading. ****

"Zurvan's Saint," Grail Undwin
Pretty cringe when the editor of an anthology includes themselves in said anthology, but a particularly bold move to present your pseudonym as a woman in an anthology dominated by men. Nice short short, though. ***

"Perfidious Amber," Tanith Lee
Bought this anthology for the Lee and might've read this one before. This one is in her Poe-ish mode, and a Poe mystery at that. Of course, it is dark and beautifully written, as one expects. ****

"The Mer She," Fritz Leiber
Definitely among the stories in a more conservative vein, but there's something about the way Leiber writes that manages to elevate pulpish material. The Gray Mouser is no hero, which I like. ****

"Demon of the Snows," Lin Carter
Again, competent swords & sorcery. The budding teen romance is a cute touch against the characters search the evil that is destroying whatever destroyed their villages, but also a bit rote. **

"The Pavilion Where All Times Meet," Jayge Carr
Not my favorite story, but I did find the gradual reveal of the plan for what the "woman without a future" intends for the "man without a past" rather clever. ***

"Cryptically Yours," Brian Lumley
Epistolary format adds some interest to what amounts to a wizard revenge mystery, but it's too obvious what's going on too soon, so story fell flat for me. ***

"Red As Blood," Tanith Lee
Always enjoy Lee's fairy tale retellings–subversion with her usual stylish Gothic gloss. Her inversion of Christian symbol in this one is particularly inventive and striking. ****

"Sandmagic," Orson Scott Card
The only bit of his work I've read, and this one definitely fits into that more conservative vein. Still, a nice story, and I like when the magic becomes a catalyst for internal conflicts in the protagonist. ***

[John Holm · Rating 4 out of 5]

it takes a lot of guts for an editor to include one of his own stories in an anthology of the year's best stories, but Lin Carter goes further and includes not one, but two stories by himself, and one of them is written under a pseudonym purporting to be a woman! How about that? At least they're decent, if minor, stories. Maybe this was an inside joke that was well-known at the time?

Anyway, it's been forever since I've read short stories in the fantasy genre. I picked up this book as part of a paperback lot on ebay. It contains stories originally published in 1979. Most are sword-and-sorcery and quite a few are part of ongoing series. This might seem a big obstacle but I enjoyed most of the stories, even if I hadn't read what came before. The two best stories in the collection are both by Tanith Lee, an author I've never read before. Brian Lumley has a humorous epistolary story. The entries by John Brunner and Orson Scott Card are enjoyable. There were only two stories I didn't like so overall this was a good anthology. I am now curious to read more stories by Lee, Zelazny and Brunner.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Say what you will about Lin Carter's own work, he was a pretty darn good editor and had an eye for stories with solid adventure backbones. This is a pretty good collection, with stories by Zelazny, Brunner, Tanith Lee, Leiber and Brian Lumley.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review TBC

[Lance Schonberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure about “best”. Other than containing a mediocre Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser story, it seems like there are a lot of fairly standard, stereotypical stories in this collection. Not one of them, sadly, jumped up and grabbed me. None of them were horrible, but none of them were really good, either, and I can’t pick a story out of the batch that stands above the others.

And there’s not a lot of variety in the fantasy represented here, with the bulk of it, even admitted by the editor, falling into the Sword and Sorcery camp. That’s clearly what Mr. Carter preferred at the time, which is fine, but in that case, why not call it Year’s Best S&S?

But I suppose the thing that bothered me the most about this volume is that the editor slipped one of his own stories into the volume. Not a crime in and of itself, maybe until you learn that it’s not just any story, but one that hadn’t actually been published. So how was it eligible for inclusion in a Year’s Best anthology? Oh, it had been accepted at Fantastic, but Fantastic folded before the story could be published, and the editor thought it was a great story, and since it had been accepted at a now-defunct magazine it clearly should be counted among the best the genre had to offer during the previous year. Well, no. To my reading, it’s a rather derivative tale of a barbarian warrior king, walking over some ground that was pretty well trodden even in 1980.

Overall rating: 2 stars. Full of meh.