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Renaissance Faire edited by Andre Norton and Jean Rabe
01/05/2005 . Source: Paul Hanley 
pub: DAW. 306 page hardback. Price: $ 6.99 (US), $ 9.99 (CAN). ISBN: 0-7564-0281-6. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out website: www.dawbooks.com
This book is an anthology of stories, each of which is loosely connected to the Renaissance Faire of the book's title. These Faires are apparently popular in America and are re-enactments of medieval England where often the visitors as well as stall-holders dress the part.
I enjoyed the book which has some 15 stories by a variety of fantasy and SF writers such as Elizabeth Ann Scarborough and Joe Halderman. They seem to be new stories especially written for this book and have the benefit in that being short stories they can be individually read when one has a few minutes to spare.
Elizabeth Ann Scarborough is co-author with Anne McCaffrey of the 'Acorna' series of books. Her story, 'Jewels Beyond Price', is a retelling of the genie in the bottle. A stall-holder who makes and sells jewellery receives the tarnished lamp in part payment of a bill. He is a man happy with his lot but those around him are greedy and unpleasant and as with all good faire (sic) tales their faults are revealed and they get their comeuppance.
I enjoyed all the stories. Usually there are duff ones hidden among the gems but in this case they all had their charms.
All of the writers seem to have substantial track records of previously published stories. Kevin J. Anderson, who co-wrote 'Splinter' with Rebecca Moesta, his wife, has sold over 16 million books in 27 languages including 'Star Wars' and 'X-Files' novels. Their story is of a thief at the faire. He picks pockets but when he attempts this on an old storyteller he is pricked by a splinter of the crucifixion cross and thereafter finds it impossible to steal or harm others again without unpleasant consequences.
'A Time For Steel' by Robert E. Vardman has a time travelling Merlin or rather, the magician living his life from future to past, embroiled in a police investigation of the murder of a metal smith apparently over an enchanted sword he has made.
I think what I enjoyed about these stories are that most of them are great fun. Thoroughly recommended.
Paul Hanley
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