Xanadu / Edited by Jane Yolen

Yolen’s latest is billed as the first of a series of fantasy anthologies showcasing original work by today’s leading writers, including a number not usually identified with the genre. This premier volume includes an impressive number of star-quality contributors, but even more impressive is the range of material they incorporate. The collection begins with Ursula K. LeGuin, whose “The Poacher” is a look at “Sleeping Beauty” from an unexpected angle, and concludes with Mike Resnick’s “The Pale Thin God,” which combines his interest in African culture with a nasty twist on Western religion. Gardner Dozois’s “Sven” offers a brief but chilling glimpse of the dark aide of Elfland; Anna Kirwan-Vogel’s “Jaguar Lord” mines Mayan mythology; and Will Shetterly creates a time-travel story featuring Jack the Ripper. Another element of variety comes from the inclusion of verse by William Stafford, Donna Waidtlow, Steven Brust, Pat Schneider, and Yolen herself. A strong debut for what promises to be an interesting series, especially if Yolen can continue to get strong work from outside the normal ranks of fantasy writers.