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Fantasy, magic and romance deftly woven into a story of gods and monsters, dark secrets and strange omens... Veiled against the world, and served only by the blind and short-sighted, a mysterious woman comes to Republican Rome to gain the answer to the riddle: "What can change stone into living flesh?"

Throughout the twelfth century, two rival clans, the Minomoto and the Taira, struggled for supremacy in Imperial Japan. Each attempted a rebellion and, for a time, the Taira gained ascendancy. But their rule turned despotic and at last, during the Genpei War of 1179-1185, the Minomoto drove the Taira out of the capital and took control for themselves.

At the final battle of Dan-no-ura, the Taira-born child-emperor and his family all jumped into the Inland Sea to avoid capture and drowned. With them was lost the Imperial Sword, never to be seen again. The Minomoto leader took control, moved the capital, and became the first Shogun of Japan.

That much is history.

But wherefore come the tales of superhuman strength, the incredible insight, the clandestine knowledge of the Genpei War's heroes? There has been much speculation throughout the generations. Some have called the Minomoto's rise to power destiny, others call it a deal between humans and spirits-since even in death, the eternal Japanese warrior's spirit cannot be laid to rest. How much is truth, how much legend? One can never tell, for there are older, stranger tales as well....

Tiptree nominated novelette originally published in Firebirds: An Anthology of Original Fantasy and Science Fiction, edited by Sharyn November.

Thomas Chinnery is a young assistant to a Master Apothecary of England, 1597, entrusted by his master with a perilous journey into the Portuguese--controlled waters of East Africa and India. But the captain of the ship on which Chinnery sails has piracy on his mind, rather than trade. And when they attack a small, rich ship fleeing the city of Goa, Thomas Chinnery is set on the path that will lead him through his darkest nightmares into the dungeons of the Inquisition and thence to the heart of ancient India.

Thomas, a young English apothecary's apprentice, has been sent to collect rare herbs in Africa and India. But during the perilous voyage he meets an alchemist who has possession of a mysterious powder - a powder that can restore life to the dead. Thomas determines to discover its source, though the peril to his life and his soul are great.

A young English apothecary's apprentice, sent to collect rare herbs in Africa and India, is shipwrecked off a Portuguese colony and captured by forces of the Inquisition. He saves his life (temporarily, at least) by pretending to know the source of a mysterious powder that can restore life to the dead.

As a girl in the Japanese imperial court of the 1200s, Mitsuko is shielded from reality. But when her brother-in-law is murdered, and her family taken away by a warlord, she summons the courage to venture into the nether-world. The spirit of Mitsuko's beloved sister, still devastated by the loss of her husband, wanders between Life and Death. In order to bring her sister back, Mitsuko, with the help of Goranu, a shape-shifter, must battle the merciless spirits -- to the death.

Mitsuko is being haunted by ghosts and bad luck. An angry spirit commands her to keep a forgotten promise and assigns her a series of impossible tasks. She turns to the mischievous shape-shifter Goranu for help. Together they journey through a landscape of Japanese myths and legends made real. This sequel to Little Sister is a mythical tale of adventure and star-crossed love set in twelfth-century Japan.

Four generations ago in the land of Euthymia, King Thalion - called the Wise, but known as the Fool - gave his crown to his court jester, Sagamore. The jester became Sagamore the Shrewd, who begat King Vespin the S neaky, who begat King Valgus the Brutal, father of the young Prince Abderian who - although not the eldest of Valgus's many children - may well inherit the throne. Everyone wants the throne but Abderian. Yet it is he who bears the Mark of Sagamore... and the Curse.

Prince Abderian gave up his crown to his brother, and the Cursemark of Sagamore disappeared from his arm. But the magical Cursemark reappeared on a half-human, half-demon infant, and along with a powerless wizard, a wisecracking skeleton and a useless enchanted sword, Abderian must remove the Mark before the kingdom is destroyed.

Attempting to hone her style, a performance artist inadvertently calls upon the assistance of two gnomelike creatures. At first their advice is invaluable, but the situation quickly turns dangerous as she finds herself trapped between two conflicting, evil bands--the Sidhe and the faerie.

When two housecleaners arrive at a client's house, they are shocked to discover a strange guitar...one which actually speaks when strummed! It turns out to be their client, who is none to helpful in explaining her predicament. In their search for clues, the cleaning duo find that their client (now a guitar) had been performing bizarre musical experiments on her computer involving ancient Celtic manuscripts. What follows is an offbeat and humorous journey to locate the one man who can help restore their client's humanity... but he isn't so eager to do so!

In this deft and enchanting retelling of the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. Kara Dalkey has mixed history and legend, weaving the Andersen fable into a fascinating novel about court life in ancient Japan -- a life of pageantry and poetry, of great beauty and casual cruelty, of life and courtly intrigue as the men and women of the royal household vie for the Emperor's favor, and each other.... This is the story of Uguisu, a young woman with an extraordinary gift for song, who is brought to the Emperor's palace to be the greatest of his many possessions. Her song can bring tears to a courtier's eyes, but it is her wit, her courage, and her heart that must serve her best of all.

The sea is the birthplace of legends.

Nia, a young mermyd of the Bluefin clan, has had one wish all her life -- to be an Avatar in her beloved home of Atlantis. The ten Avatars rule the beautiful and peaceful undersea city alongside the ancient Farworlders, whose magic keeps their world alive. To be an Avatar is an honor and a great responsibility, and Nia dreams of taking her place among the noble ten.

Now, at sixteen, Nia has a chance to see her dream come true. Atlantis is choosing its next Avatar, and Nia knows she is supremely qualified.

But there is something Nia doesn't know -- if she gets her heart's desire, it could mean the end of her treasured world of Atlantis forever.

The sea is the birthplace of legends.

Corwin has spent all of his sixteen years scavenging the land for his next meal. But when he discovers a unique shell of exquisite beauty, he is convinced it will bring him the riches he's longed for.

His hopes are dashed when the shell is stolen from him by evil King Vortigern's men. But the shell has left its mark. Corwin's head is filled with visions of a beautiful and mysterious girl. Soon, he comes face-to-face with the girl of his visions -- Nia, a mermyd from the ocean's depths, the lost city of Atlantis!

Together, Nia and Corwin must search for the stolen shell, for it holds the key to the future of Atlantis and also to Nia's and Corwin's very survival.

Nia and Corwin have each fought their own battles. Now they are Joined together to face their most dangerous enemy yet: Ma'el, the evil Avatar. In order to defeat Ma'el, they must retrieve a magical sword from Atlantis. But after a treacherous journey through the sea, they are shocked to discover that the sword is nowhere to be found.

As Nia and Corwin search for the sword, they realize that the good people of Atlantis are now enslaved by Ma'el. Worse still, Ma'el plans the same for Corwin's native land of Wales. Nia and Corwin must find the sword and stop Ma'el -- before it's too late.