Seventeen of the "best of the best" fantasy stories—taken from highly acclaimed collections of the '70s—are presented here with biographical notes. A new introduction by the editors places these stories in the context of the literary traditions which fostered them: classical epic, medieval romance, and the folk and literary fair tale.

Seventeen of the "best of the best" fantasy stories—taken from highly acclaimed collections of the '70s—are presented here with biographical notes. A new introduction by the editors places these stories in the context of the literary traditions which fostered them: classical epic, medieval romance, and the folk and literary fair tale.