The Oxford Book of Fantasy Stories

'So you won't sell me your soul?' said the Devil.'Thank you,' replied the student, 'I had rather keep it myself, if it's all thesame to you.'So begins this rich and intriguing collection of fantasy stories. Figures suchas the devil, trolls and werewolves, sorcerers and dragons have long been partof the human psyche, and the authors of these marvellous tales draw upon thisdeep well of images, characters, and landscapes with great imagination andsubtlety.With thirty-one tales by writers as diverse as John Buchan and Mervyn Peake,Angela Carter and Terry Pratchett, this is an anthology for the newcomer anddedicated fan alike.

Tom Shippey holds the Walter J. Ong Chair of Humanities at St Louis University, Missouri, specializing in Medieval Literature, Old English Arthurian and Romance Literature, Fantasy, and Science Fiction. He has written and edited numerous books, including J. R. R. Tolkien: Author of the Century (2001).