Alchemy and Academe

An enchanting collection of tales, enchantments, things magical and strange, devils and demons, professors of potent powers, witchcraft and wizardry, and more. Master fantasy writer Anne McCaffrey has chosen 20 short tales and poems of wonder and awe, written by the finest writers of fantasy today, including Robert Silverberg, L. Sprague de Camp, R. A. Lafferty, Gene Wolfe, Carol Emshwiller, Sonya Dorman, and others. Contents: Foreword / Anne McCaffrey — The dance of the solids / John Updike — A mess of porridge / Sonya Dorman — The Institute / Carol Emshwiller — Condillac’s statue / R. A. Lafferty — The sorcerers / L. Sprague de Camp — The weed of time / Norman Spinrad — Night and the loves of Joe Dicostanzo / Samuel R. Delany — Come up and see me / Daphne Castell — Shut the last door / Joe Hensley — Big Sam / Avram Davidson — More light / James Blish — The man who could not see devils / Joanna Russ — The Key to Out / Betsy Curtis — Ringing the changes / Robert Silverberg — In a quart of water / David Telfair — Morning-glory / Gene Wolfe — Ascension: a workday arabesque / Virginia Kidd — The Devil you don’t / Keith Laumer — The triumphant head / Josephine Saxton — Mainchance / Peter Tate