About the Book
Edited by Bill Sheehan.
Although best known for such epic accomplishments as the ongoing Chronicles of Thomas Covenant and the multi-volume Gap Cycle, Stephen R. Donaldson has also written some of the most distinctive short fiction
of recent decades. This generous collection brings together much of the
best of that shorter work and provides an ideal showcase for its author's depth, versatility, and consummate literary artistry.
Included here are eleven stories and novellas that run the gamut from horror (The Conqueror Worm) to high fantasy (Daughter of Regals), from
contemporary spiritual drama (Unworthy of the Angel) to
action-oriented SF (Animal Lover), together with such uncategorizable
gems as The Killing Stroke, with its unique combination of magic and
martial arts, and The Woman Who Loved Pigs, an astonishing account of
personal transformation and long-delayed revenge.
In
settings that range from the deeply familiar to the wholly imagined, The Best of Stephen R. Donaldson offers a gallery of tales that have the
resonance and moral complexity of compact novels. Beneath their
often-gaudy surfaces, they show us very real people who confront, and
sometimes overcome, extreme adversity, who struggle to find balance and
harmony in an inherently chaotic universe. Each story is the clear
product of a master storyteller. Each demands and rewards repeated
readings. Together, they form one of the cornerstone volumes of modern
fantasy, a book that will be read and treasured by Donaldson's many
fans, and by anyone who values imaginative literature at its finest.
Contents:
- The Daughter of Regals
- Mythological Beast
- Animal Lover
- Unworthy of the Angel
- The Conqueror Worm
- Ser Visal’s Tale
- Reave the Just
- The Woman Who Loved Pigs
- The Kings of Tarshish Shall Bring Gifts
- Penance
- The Killing Stroke
