First published 2012
This collection spans the breadth of epic fantasy through seventeen carefully chosen stories. George R.R. Martin contributes "The Mystery Knight," continuing his tales of Dunk and Egg in Westeros. Ursula K. Le Guin offers "The Word of Unbinding" from her Earthsea cycle. Robin Hobb opens with "Homecoming," while Patrick Rothfuss adds "The Road to Levinshir" and Brandon Sanderson includes "Rysn." The anthology moves from creation myths to contemporary fantasy, featuring worlds where alchemists practice forbidden arts, gods mock mortal struggles, and bound men seek freedom. Tad Williams, N.K. Jemisin, Michael Moorcock, and others craft tales of noble sacrifice and wonder. Editor John Joseph Adams assembles these stories to showcase adventure at grand scale, where heroes face ultimate evil and discover courage through friendship. Brent Weeks provides the foreword to this survey of beloved genre fiction that expresses humanity's deepest hopes and fears.
Genres: short-stories, fantasy, epic
Vibes: atmospheric, epic, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, noble-sacrifice
Setting: Westeros, Earthsea
624 pages · Kindle Edition · Tachyon Publications