Cover art: Benjamin Carré.

Introduction.Check your dark lord at the door / Lou Anders & Jonathan Strahan -- Goats of glory / Steven Erikson -- Tides Elba : a tale of the Black Company / Glen Cook -- Bloodsport / Gene Wolfe -- The singing spear / James Enge -- A wizard in Wiscezan / C.J. Cherryh -- A rich full week / K.J. Parker -- A suitable present for a sorcerous puppet / Garth Nix -- Red pearls : an Elric story / Michael Moorcock -- The deification of Dal Bamore : a tale from Echo City / Tim Lebbon -- Dark times at the midnight market / Robert Silverberg -- The undefiled / Greg Keyes -- Hew the tintmaster / Michael Shea -- In the stacks / Scott Lynch -- Two lions, a witch, and the war-robe / Tanith Lee -- The sea troll's daughter / Caitlin R. Kiernan -- Thieves of daring / Bill Willingham -- The fool jobs / Joe Abercrombie.