Tales of the Witch World 3

Rating:
Summary: 19 stories, none by Norton
Review: This volume suffers occasionally from sloppy editing, containing both grammatical and spelling errors (the latter in place names).

Allen, M.E. "Voice of Memory" Derivative of Norton's own "Spider Silk" from _Lore of the Witch World_, but with a deaf rather than blind protagonist.

Carr, Jayge "Plumduff Potato-Eye" Many would-be adventurers challenge the giant (8') Plumduff - he minds his own business, but he must be evil, right? Plumduff, sick of it, strikes up a dialogue with the youngster who's currently trying to get the nerve to challenge him, and they both learn a few things.

Coulson, Juanita "The Scent of Magic" Joa, a youngster with developing Witch-talent, belongs to a Vupsall tribe that has suffered severe losses, with no Wise Woman to teach her. While hunting for a lost puppy from the pack, she stumbles across an arcane sanctuary, that *seems* all to the good...

Crispin, A.C. "Heartspell" Branwyn Stormgerd has Witch-talent, but she doesn't *want* it - she wants to remain a farmer. And everybody knows there's an easy way to lose unwanted Witch-talent...

Friesner, Esther M. "The Weavers" Fyuru the Mosswife once took pity on a wounded man in the forest - not only healing him, but taking on human form to comfort him. She even accompanied him on his quest to retake his lands - but as his heart chilled to hold only ambition, she grew ever more weary, and finally fled to resume her old form. Now their daughter has unknowingly entered Fyuru's domain.

Green, Sharon "The Root of All Evil" - A woman with Witch-potential and a philosophical turn of mind accidentally awakens an Adept. This is more a Socratic dialogue on the nature of evil than a conventional story.

Griffin, P.M. "Knowledge" Aden, the protagonist, is a caretaker and student at Lormt (she and her brother first entered its gates on a dare as children). Now her brother is missing, after hinting at making a great discovery.

Inks, Caralyn: "The Circle of Sleep" Sequel to "Nine Words in Winter" from volume 1.

Mathews, Patricia Shaw "Falcon's Chick" The women's village of the Falconers *don't* care for their absentee landlords, and the protagonist is one of their many secrets - a crippled son. While the women's resentment of the Falconers is understandable, their tolerance of the system (and their children's ignorance of basic biology - in farm country, yet) is not.

McKillip, Patricia A. "Fortune's Children" Lyse was a tough foundling - so tough that she joined Ysledale's army during the Invader's War, and afterward remained a mercenary. She isn't trying to pass as a man, either. Eventually, though, she gets curious about her mother.

Miller, Ann; Rigley, Karen E. "Godron's Daughter" Sequel to "Stones of Sharnon" from volume 2.

Randall, Marta "A Question of Magic" Imrie is a Daleswoman who doesn't believe in magic. After all, have *you* ever seen an Old One, or met anybody who has? (See Norton's "Sword of Unbelief" in _Lore of the Witch World_ for an example of how unbelief can be put to good use.)

Roberts, K.L. "Strait of Storms" An ex-Witch has taken up residence near the Strait, playing mermaid - using illusions to lure navigators onto the rocks. Fortunately, when Grenwall volunteers to solve the problem, he thinks to ask *why* this is happening, and gets a Wise Woman's help.

Schaub, Mary H. "Candletrap" Damsel rescues a would-be heroic explorer in distress. (What is there about AVOID on the map that he didn't understand?) Good story.

Severance, Carol "Whispering Cane" Yes, this is partly derived from the ending of the Midas legend.

Waters, Elisabeth "Gunnora's Gift" Kyria, seeking Gunnora's shrine to ask for a child after eight years of a childless marriage, receives an unexpected answer.

Winkle, Michael D. "Wolfhead" Although most Dales were slow to ally against Alizon, the lord of Ellskeep, having a streak of wanderlust in his character, took many of his fighting men into the war early on - leaving Ellskeep in the care of his daughter and heir, Wylona. While quite competent to lead men in battle, she's caught in a hopeless situation when Alizon sends their war-machines to the dale in a sneak attack. The survivors must gamble that the human "wolfheads" are more to be feared than those of the Waste who have more right to such a name. Excellent story, deserves to be continued.

Woodworth, Lisa "Were-Flight" Explores the concept of females with Were abilities.

Wrede, Patricia C. "The Sword-Seller" Auridan, finding an ancient short-sword at a fair, accepts the sword-seller's offer to give his name to potential employers. And in the end, it isn't Lord Hervan, but his stepfather's niece Cyndal, who takes his hire - preferring her mother at Abbey Norstead to Hervan's household, if she can get an escort. (The tale of Lady Ysmay, mentioned in passing, is Norton's own "Amber Out of Quayth" from _Spell of the Witch World_).