Dreams and Visions : Fourteen Flights of Fantasy

Let your imagination soar and take flight with these fourteen original tales of fantasy and science fiction by a distinguished line-up of award-winning children's and young adult authors. Joan Bauergives us Chloe, a fantasy writer trying to tell a new storyÂ--but her characters won't cooperate. Suzanne Fisher Staplesintroduces us to the powers of djinn in her magical tale set in Pakistan. Charles de Lintoffers a romantic tale set during the Summer of Love in his mythical city of Newford. A witch's son seeks revenge in a chilling murder mystery byMichael O. Tunnell. Craig and Jessica, two high school runners, star in this story of transformation byRich Wallace. Patrice Kindl'smysterious Mrs. Duck moves into the boring town of Refreshing AcresÂ--and nothing is ever the same again. InS.L. Rottman'saction-packed tale, the world is on fire, and it's a race to the water's edge. David Lubarthrills us with his story of Deborah, an aspiring magician. Mel Glennshares a conversation between Ryan and an Angel in the afterlife. Jessie's encounter with a toad changes her life in this uplifting tale byNancy Springer. A soldier meets the ghost of Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber, inJohn Ritter'sthought-provoking story. An oracle makes an unsettling prediction inSharon Dennis Wyeth'stale. Neal Shustermanintroduces us to a young thief who holds the fate of the universe in his hands. Tamora Pierce'sstory takes us to the land of Hartunjar, where women are subservient to menÂ--but not for longÂ'¦

M. Jerry Weiss is Distinguished Service Professor of Communications Emeritus, New Jersey City University. A teacher, writer, and lecturer, he has won numerous awards and honors, including the 1997 International Reading Association Special Service Award and the National Council of Teachers of English Distinguished Service Award. Helen S. Weiss is an author and scholar of humor. Jerry and Helen Weiss are editors of two previous anthologies: From One Experience to Another and Lost & Found. They live in Montclair, New Jersey.

Praise for Dreams and Visions:  A VOYA Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror selection, 2005 â€œContemporary milieus, historical venues, apocalyptic futures, the afterlife and fabled lands: Dreams and Visions: Fourteen Flights of Fantasy, the new anthology edited by M. Jerry Weiss and Helen S. Weiss, covers an admirably wide territory…. The stories here are remarkably free of factitious, “issuesâ€�-style controversies yet manage to convey genuine lessons about life.â€�—The Washington Post                     
 
“With an impressive list of contributors, including Joan Bauer, Tamora Pierce, David Lubar, and Suzanne Fisher Staples, this collection offers a bit of everything…[it] manages at once to entertain and surprise while offering a feeling of hopefulness….A strong collection that surprises and delights with every turn of the page.�—VOYA [5Q/4P/J/S)
 
“Readers will recognize many of the teen characters in the 14 stories in this collection, which encompasses a broad range of common themes…. The stories reflect diverse time periods, locations, and cultures as well (a few are set in the Middle East and Asia), and several selections encourage thought about deeper issues….A stellar roundup of writers—among them Joan Bauer, David Lubar, Tamora Pierce and Sharon Dennis Wyeth—contributed tales….Try this on readers not typically drawn to fantasy.â€�—Booklist