Magic in Ithkar 4

Magic in Ithkar #4

by Andre Norton (Editor), Robert Adams (Editor)

In the centuries since the coming of the Three Lordly Ones, all manner of folk have gathered at Ithkar Fair to pay tribute and sell their wares. There a mysterious egg holds the key to an ailing boy's health...a lucky demon and a bushel of silver apples almost ruin an eager fruit merchant...a strange cloak with sea-blue eyes sets a comely girl on the path to her dreams.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Ebooks

278 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1987

About the author

Andre Norton, born Alice Mary Norton, was a pioneering American author of science fiction and fantasy, widely regarded as the Grande Dame of those genres. She also wrote historical and contemporary fiction, publishing under the pen names Andre Alice Norton, Andrew North, and Allen Weston. She launched her career in 1934 with The Prince Commands, adopting the name “Andre” to appeal to a male readership. After working for the Cleveland Library System and the Library of Congress, she began publishing science fiction under “Andrew North” and fantasy under her own name. She became a full-time writer in 1958 and was known for her prolific output, including Star Man’s Son, 2250 A.D. and Witch World, the latter spawning a long-running series and shared universe. Norton was a founding member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America and authored Quag Keep, the first novel based on the Dungeons & Dragons game. She influenced generations of writers, including Lois McMaster Bujold and Mercedes Lackey. Among her many honors were being the first woman named Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy and SFWA Grand Master. In her later years, she established the High Hallack Library to support research in genre fiction. Her legacy continues with the Andre Norton Award for young adult science fiction and fantasy.

Reviews

[Doris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Read 2/8/15
First Read 9/1/03

Andre Norton and Robert Adams edited this anthology, which deals with a magical faire in Ithkar. The faire is a religious event which has turned into annual event, with a fair, sales booths, and brawls. The faire has its share of pilferers, ripoff artists and mystical events. A good selection of stories for light reading.

[Derek · Rating 2 out of 5]

In a world of Cinematic Universes and endless novels churned out of game settings and movie tie-ins, it's a little weird to step back and see this approach: authors are handed a relatively brief premise and allowed to run free with it, with no material ties to other stories. And the premise itself--the introduction--is wobbly with science fiction and fantasy elements that the authors pick and choose from. The editors remain far in the background with no statement to this effect.

The result is something of a mixed bag of pleasant light reading, largely unambitious and passionless, to the point where anything that tries to be really different--"A Quiet Day at the Fair"--sticks way out in comparison.