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Tech troubleshooter Tony Ricci has been recruited by Saint Vidicon--the patron saint of computer geeks--to combat the forces of evil that wreak havoc within all things technological.

Matt read the forbidden runes and found himself in a world where reciting verses worked magic. He got himself locked in a dungeon, created a fire-breathing dragon, and eventually discovered a beautiful princess he swore to save. Little did he guess how hard that would be....

Matt Mandrell, unsuspecting graduate student, never imagined his research would lead him to a strange scrap of parchment that would change his life forever....

Crossing the void of time and space, Matt is whisked away to an enchanted world where speaking in rhymes works the most dazzling magic. There he wins not only fame and power as the Lord High Wizard, but the heart of the beautiful Queen Alisande. His dreams are shattered, though, when he learns that he can't marry his true love; wizard or not, Matt is just a commoner in this bizarre land.

So Matt makes a foolish vow: to conquer a kingdom, any kingdom, if that's what it takes to claim his bride. But, as Matt discovers, in this world of enchantment, such an oath cannot be broken. He has truly committed himself to win a crown or die trying.

In search of lands to conquer, Matt sets his sights on neighboring Ibile, where the evil Gordorgrosso rules with an iron fist and sinister magic. Matt marches off against the tyrant, gathering a small band of unlikely allies, including a surly dracogriff, a well-spoken cyclop, and a damsel in distress. But against Gordogrosso's foul genius, Matt is going to need much more than a few stout-hearted companions and some clever rhymes....

Oathbound Wizard is the newest addition to the Del Rey Imagine program, which offers the best in fantasy and science fiction for readers twelve and up.

Saul didn't have so many friends that he would give one up without a fight. So when Matt disappeared, Saul started a search that led through Matt's kitchen window -- straight into a world of magic and desperate danger!

Saul discovered that in this world, his love of verse made him a wizard. But his newfound magic earned him a dreadful foe: Queen Suettay, a false monarch without peer for wickedness and corruption. A fearsome sorceress herself, with armies steeped in evil ready to obey her every sinful command, she determined to break Saul's growing power -- or win his soul for Satan.

Fortunately, Saul earned some stalwart friends, as well: Gruesome the troll and young Squire Gilbert; Saul's own guardian angel, and the beautiful -- if unsubstantial -- Angelique. But he'd need the help of the mysterious Spider King to spin a web strong enough to trap this tyrant!

THE WANDERING WIZARD

In sunny Latruria, the wicked old king was dead, and the new king spurned the rule of Evil. But turmoil began to spread, even across the border, when the new king also resisted Good! In nearby Merovence, Lord Wizard Matt Mantrell donned a disguise and set off to investigate--never dreaming that Latruria's sinister prime minister was mobilizing his minions...

"Minstrel" Matt sang his way south, dodging deadly enemies and music critics alike. He was teamed with a lovesick lad, menaced by a manticore, haunted by a ghost from Greece, and swept along in a flood of youngsters fleeing the provinces for the "glamour" of the city. But when they all washed up in the capital, harsh reality awaited them, not gold-paved streets.

And even harsher reality awaited Matt. The Lord Wizard faced the ultimate test of magic--and he would need a lot of help to pass!

A WORLD OF TROUBLES--TIMES TWO!

Matt Mantrell--Her Majesty's Wizard--conjured himself from magical Merovence to Jersey City for a long-delayed visit to his parents. Back in his hometown vicious, drug-dealing gangs had reduced Matt's old neighborhood to a wasteland, driven his father out of business, and forced his parents to the brink of destitution and homelessness. The only answer was for Matt to transport them--permanently--to Merovence.

But once back in that realm with his parents in tow, Matt found that Merovence and the neighboring Kingdom of Ibile faced imminent subjugation by the conquest-hungry Moors. As Queen Alisande led her army to engage the enemy head-on, Matt launched his own campaign--with the aid of his fledgling wizard father, the faithful dragon Stegoman, and a hapless tag-along thief. Grappling with djinnis, matching wits with a Moorish military genius, and trading spells with sinister sorcerers, they sought to root out the real enemy behind the mayhem: a cunning and deadly wizard who served the most evil master of all...

Don't lose any time! Join Christopher Stasheff and return to the wondrous, adventure-filled world of A Wizard in Rhyme!

CAN THE WIZARD OF RHYME SOLVE A ROYAL CRIME?

There's little love lost between the kindly monarchs of Merovence and the scheming sovereigns of Bretanglia. But when the brutish Prince Gaheris--heir apparent to the Bretanglian throne--is murdered during a brawl in a Merovence tavern, any pretense of civility between the two kingdoms flies out the window faster than the mysterious brigand who committed the dastardly deed.

While the outraged king and queen of Bretanglia declare their intention to lay siege to Merovence, royal wizard Matthew Mantrell suspects the slain prince was done in by one of his own "loyal" subjects.

As both sides gird for battle, Matt sets out--with trusty dragon in tow--to catch the killer. But the road to royal justice is rocky indeed, and a powerful sorcerer, a sinister cult of false druids, and a mischievous spirit are just some of the obstacles Matt must conquer--by wit or wizardry--to save his enchanted land from unholy forces of darkness...

THE WIZARD AT WAR

From beyond the mountains, a monstrous scourge sweeps down the steppes--a bloodthirsty barbarian horde, seemingly endless in numbers and hell-bent on conquest. With each nation that falls before their murderous onslaught, the marauders draw closer to Merovence, where good Queen Alisande rules with the help of her husband, Royal Wizard Matt Mantrell.

Now Matt and Alisande receive an urgent call for help from Jerusalem-- destined to be the barbarians' next target. But when Matt arrives in the Holy City to assess the imminent threat, he makes a shocking discovery: The power-mad khan who rules the ravaging minions is in league with a far greater and more dreadful enemy! With the aid of his old ally the djinn princess, a giant talking bird, and a fledgling enchantress with the power to change into a cat, Matt must call upon every resource, magical and mortal, to defy the triumph of pure evil...

A CAT-NAPPED PRINCESS

The feline sorceress Balkis has returned to Maracanda to reclaim her royal title. But a vengeful foe sprouts a diabolical scheme to spirit away the Princess of the Eastern Gate and send her tumbling forever through unknown worlds. Now an unprecedented search is begun, led by Balkis's mentor, Royal Wizard Matthew Mantrell.

But the hardship of finding his apprentice cannot compare to Balkis's own struggle to escape the strange world in which she has landed. With the aid of a soul-weary young boy named Anthony, Balkis mounts a magnificent, though treacherous, journey. Together they must rely on each other and their powers--both mortal and magic--to defy the forces of darkness and embrace the destiny they are fated to share...

As the Lords plan a coup that will destroy democracy in the Interstellar Dominion Electorates, telepaths Dar and Samantha, sought by the police, desperately try to warn Terra of the danger.

Rod Gallowglass is a man of science who does not believe in magic.

Gramarye is a world of witches and warlocks. Of strange abilities and phenomena. A world where society mirrors Earth's own Middle Ages, and a world headed for doom.

Rod Gallowglass must become a part of the local fabric to save the world from both itself and external forces that threaten its existence. But to do so, he must put aside his own convictions and beliefs, and become a warlock, in spite of himself.

A grand adventure mixing science fiction with elements of fantasy, this is the book that launched a whole series.

Christopher Stasheff wrote the original King Kobold in 1971. Twelve years later, based on feedback from readers as well as his own personal dissatisfaction with the book, he decided to rewrite the story. *** While King Kobold Revived follows the same basic outline as the original 1971 edition, the book has been totally redone. The author had twelve years between the two writings to mull things over and it shows. The plot is much tighter, the characters much more developed and the writing more fluid.

Enter the fantastic world of Gramarye once again, where magic lives with science and the Warlock in Spite of Himself, Rod Gallowglass, is once again called upon to save the planet from marauding evil... if he can overcome the insidious mental fog that clouds his mind and threatens his powers.

In Gramarye, where everyone who is anyone is a witch, and where Rod Gallowglass has only just begun to learn of the awesome powers he possesses, a battle between worlds has begun. In the fight to preserve freedom, Rod is about to learn if his strength will be enough to save his precious world--and all democracy--from destruction.

Protecting the planet Gramarye from a band of renegade sorcerers, the Gallowglass family suffers a weakening in their collective psychic powers, forcing warlock Rod Gallowglass to confront his alter-ego.

On the magical planet Gramarye, 500 years from their own time, Rod and Gwen Gallowglass are held captive in an alternative universe--a world where purple-skinned, fur-kilted men challenge them in primitive battle. Lost within time and space, and unable to communicate with the combative natives, Rod and Gwen must fight for their freedom and survival.

When their parents suddenly disappear, the four Galloglass siblings--Magnus, Cordelia, Geoffrey, and Gregory--must combine the skills of their mother's power and their father's training in order to save them.

The enemies of the land of Gramarye plot to overtake the land by tempting the clergy with visions of power that will lead to war against the throne, and warlock Rod Gallowglass must stop them or burn at the stake for his failure.

Rod Gallowglass's faithful cybernetic steed, Fess, has had a long life and many grand adventures. Now the Gallowglass children are going to hear the truth about Fess's other masters--from the young, spoiled joyrider to the revolutionary hero to the crew of a pirate ship--straight from the horse's mouth.

Armed with his superior technological knowledge, Rod Gallowglass has proved to be equal to the challenges of the planet Gramarye, until an evil sorcerer sets out to destroy him on the battlefield of the mind.

When the townspeople of Gramarye become mesmerized by the beat of strange floating musical crystals, Rod Gallowglass sets out to uncover their mysterious origins before he loses his children to their sinister charm.

When Warlock's young son, Magnus, embarks on his own adventurous journeys around the world, Warlock cannot resist following him, but when Magnus is faced with danger and the responsibilities of growing up, he is on his own.

THE FINAL ADVENTURE IN THE PHENOMENAL SERIES After an incredible 35-year run, the story of Ron Gallowglass--The Warlock in Spite of Himself--comes to its fantastic finale in the weird and wonderful world of GramaryeWhen Gwendolyn--the witch-wife of Rod Gallowglass, the Lord High Warlock of Gramarye--suddenly dies, she leaves behind a husband dangerously unhinged by grief and a land without a Protector.

When Gwendolyn--the witch-wife of Rod Gallowglass, the Lord High Warlock of Gramarye--suddenly dies, she leaves behind a husband dangerously unhinged by grief and a land without a Protector.

Magnus D'Armand, the renegade son of Rod Gallowglass, Warlock of Gramarye, has set out to prove himself twice the hero and liberator his father ever was. However, Magnus has inherited not only his father's awesome psychic gifts, but his uncanny knack for getting into trouble as well.

Bored and in search of excitement, Magnus D'Armand has asked his sentient starship to find him a world in need of revolution. But on the lost colony world of Petrach, he finds far more than he's bargained for. Not only have a brace of warring princes plunged the planet into a dark age of bloodshed and betrayal, but a mysterious rival from Magnus's past is plotting his destruction. Even the Rogue Wizard will need a miracle to get himself out of this one!

The wizard DeCade died generations ago, leading the last great revolt of the Planet Melange's churls against their despotic feudal masters. His bones were broken and lost; only his songs remain.

The Churl Dulain joined the Resistance in his youth-an exile Resistance, devoted to readying the churls for their next great attempt at freedom. Now that moment nears. Back on Melange for the first time in year, Dulain must now hasten that revolt... or die.

The Giant Gar is the mysterious stranger whom no one knows, a power greater than he seems. More powerful, perhaps, than churls, masters, or even the Resistance...

Tired of standing in the shadow of his parents--the most powerful sorcerers on the planet--Magnus Gallowglass sets out on his own adventure across the galaxy.

The medieval planet of Maltroit seems to be repeating Earth's bloody history in the worst possible manner. It's up to the Rogue Wizard to give the downtrodden a crash course in democracy, so before you can say "Magna Carta," he's bent the course of history by teaching the nobles the rudiments of democracy, and schooling the peasants in the basics of radical politics.

Under the nom de guerre of Gar Pike, renegade psychic wizard Magnus D'Armand travels the stars fighting injustice and oppression, like his father, Rod Gallowglass, the Warlock in Spite of Himself. But this time the Rogue Wizard may have encountered a tyrant even he can't overthrow: a stern Protector who dictates the very thoughts of his "loyal" subjects. So successful if his regime that Magnus is hard-pressed to find anyone willing to oppose it--until a misguided handful of would-be aristocrats unwittingly provides a spark of rebellion.

Here is Christopher Stasheff in top form: swashbuckling, stylish, and slightly subversive adventure from the author of the bestselling "Warlock" chronicles.

Under the nom de guerre of Gar Pike, renegade psychic wizard Magnus D'Armand travels the stars fighting injustice and oppression, like his father, Rod Gallowglass, the Warlock in Spite of Himself. But unlike his famous father, Magnus refuses to play the rules, sowing the seeds of freedom and revolution throughout the galaxy.

The Rogue Wizard has met his match--a crumbled civilization on a distant colony planet, where all hope has been lost to war and greed. The history and knowledge of the colonists has been forgotten over the centuries, and the people have reverted to a medieval state. It seems impossible to restore peace and order--until Gar discovers the hidden knowledge harbored in the countryside's hollow hills.

On a planet modeled after the Norse interpretation of Earth, the Warlock's son Gar Pike and a young girl he saves may not be able to bring together three races who have hated one another since the beginning of time.

During his last flight for peace and democracy on a forgotten planet, Gar Pike somehow managed to get himself a new traveling companion: Alea, a young with a certain amount of psychic ability--and a heavy dose of attitude to boot.

Now he can't get anything done. The ship feels like it's shrinking, and Alea's always around, asking questions, sticking her nose in, and generally making a nuisance of herself. When they finally land of their next target planet, she even tries to convince him that the people there don't need his help, since they have no government to overthrow! Obviously, Alea isn't cut out for this business.

However, as Gar continues to stick his nose where it doesn't belong, he wonders: Could it be that a planet without any government can survive peacefully and happily? And stranger still: Could it be that having Alea around isn't so bad after all?

Under the nom de guerre of Gar Pike, renegade psychic wizard Magnus D'Armand travels the stars fighting injustice and oppression, like his father, Rod Gallowglass, the Warlock in Spite of Himself. But unlike his famous father, Magnus refuses to play by the rules, sowing the seeds of freedom and revolution throughout the galaxy.

A Wizard in the Way

When his longtime traveling companion settled down and got married, Gar Pike?the Rogue Wizard?had thought it would be even better to work alone: no distractions, no disagreements, no one to care about but himself. But he wasn't alone for long. He recently managed to saddle himself with a new companion: Alea, a young woman with a certain amount of psychic ability and a heavy dose of attitude to boot. The funny thing is, he's beginning to like having her around?particularly when they land on the planet of Oldeira.

The problems Gar and Alea encounter on Oldeira include not only the tyrannical Wizard Lords who rule the provinces, but also the attitude that has been beaten and bred into their serfs. To complicate matters, Gar and Alea adopt two desperate peasants who are perfect examples of the mind-set of the entire lower class. How to raise morale and shape these people into a force that will overcome their oppressors while not getting caught or killed themselves?these are all questions that Gar and Alea must answer fast. And the only way to do it is: The Way.

When Gar Pike?the Rogue Wizard?and his traveling companion Alea land their ship on a planet harboring a lost colony to do some minor repairs to the ship's computer, they decided to take some time for shore leave, and explore. It's not long before they meet one of the indigenous life forms of the planet: Fairies.

As Gar and Alea explore more of the world and meet more of the inhabitants, they quickly come to realize that every clan is feuding with their neighboring clans. Though everyone secretly wants peace, nobody will listen to those with the courage to preach it, those who have been sent into exile for wanting everyone to get along.

Posing as traders and healers, Gar and Alea team up with the Fairies, the Wee Folk, the Druid priests, and two particularly courageous exiles to reintroduce the abandoned Druidic religious tradition to the people and, hopefully, reintroduce peace to all the clans.

Under the nom de guerre of Gar Pike, renegade psychic wizard Magnus D'Armand travels the stars fighting injustice and oppression, like his father, Rod Gallowglass, the Warlock in Spite of Himself. But unlike his famous father, Magnus refuses to play by the rules, sowing the seeds of freedom and revolution throughout the galaxy.

When Gar and Alea land their ship on a planet for computer system maintenance, they aren't expecting to run into Fairies, Wee Folk, Druid priests, and feuding clans transplanted from Scotland and then forgotten. Can they, along with two courageous exiles and the psychic powers of the Fairies, and Wee Folk, bring peace and order to this world?

By the 26th century, humanity had begun its expansion to the stars, and the Interstellar Dominion Electorates reigned over a unified Terra -- but New York was still New York, Broadway was still Broadway, and live theater was bigger and better than ever.

The excited theater pioneers of the newly formed Star Company were dedicated to taking their act on the road -- and out to the stars. They were far too busy with tryouts to pay any attention to current events and the constant harangues of the reactionary LORDS party on the public wallscreens.

Then the Lords party turned its attack on theater and its "timeless repertory of immorality." Suddenly the Star Company was off on a madcap race to finish its preparations, buy a ship and hire a pilot, and lift off Terra before it was grounded forever... or worse!

The Star Company, a renegade theatre troupe, was run off of Earth, so they set their sites on New Venus. The name sounded good, but life on the planet was thoroughly regulated by Amalgamated Petroleum--where even the air and water came at a high cost. Enter the Star Company, with its incendiary mix of veteran troupers, innocent ingenues, and volatile prima donnas. When Amalgamated approved a production of MACBETH, little did anybody imagine how much trouble those three witches would stir up!

The fledgling Star Company lands on the prosperous colony planet of Citadel only to discover that the world they have selected for their latest performance is a Puritan world where even the sight of female limbs is considered shocking and theater is forbidden!

They are a great family of witches and warlocks, alchemists and spellcasters. From generation to generation, from the Old World to the Salem trials and beyond, they hand down their secrets, their potions, even their family familiar... a will-o'-the-wisp called Willow. They are masters of sorcery, of power, of love. They are... The Crafters

Table of Contents:

• vii - Prologue (The Crafters) - short fiction by Bill Fawcett
• 1 - The Alchemist and the Witch - novelette by Christopher Stasheff
• 35 - Of Art and Science - poem by Judith R. Conly
• 37 - A Cup of Chaos - novelette by Wendy Wheeler
• 61 - The Seal of Solomon - novelette by Robert Sheckley
• 84 - The Seeing Stone - short story by Jody Lynn Nye
• 103 - Education - novelette by Doug Houseman and Anna O'Connell
• 135 - A Little Learning - novelette by Esther M. Friesner
• 160 - A Spell for Brass Buttons - novella by Ru Emerson
• 210 - The Summoning - short story by Katherine Kurtz
• 224 - Unholy Alliance - novelette by Morgan Llywelyn
• 245 - Epilogue (The Crafters) - essay by Bill Fawcett

Witches and warlocks, alchemists and scientists, the Crafters are a talented family. The birth of a new nation sees the beginning of a clan whose far-flung branches take root in the civilized cities and on the wild frontier.

In this second bewitching volume, a new generation of Crafters must come to terms with their Talent in an age of science and reason. Spread across the globe, the descendants of Amer Crafter are a varied lot, from proud Americans to spoiled young English gentry.

Table of Contents:

• ix - Prologue (Blessings and Curses) - essay by Bill Fawcett
• 1 - Belonging - short story by Barbara Delaplace
• 12 - Franklin's Salamander - short story by Wendy Wheeler
• 32 - "... A Fortune in Ireland" - novelette by Morris G. McGee
• 57 - Her American Cousin - novelette by Esther M. Friesner
• 100 - Whose Ghost There? - novella by Christopher Stasheff
• 153 - Ironsides and Cottonseed Oil - novelette by Ru Emerson
• 191 - Miss Crafter's School for Girls - novelette by Jody Lynn Nye
• 225 - The Dream Country - novelette by Robert Sheckley
• 256 - Oppression - poem by Judith R. Conly
• 257 - Remember the Almost - short story by Morgan Llywelyn
• 269 - A Cursed Booty - short story by Brian M. Thomsen

Now Christopher Stasheff, author of the spellbinding fantasy series A Wizard in Rhyme, begins a new epic saga, The Star Stone. Here, in Book One, THE SHAMAN, he weaves a vibrant tapestry of heroes and villains, of an exotic and magical world where strange peoples struggle for solace and freedom and even for happiness. Join him now, and wrap yourself in the wonder of his world.

Ohearn was a simple man, big and strong and kindly, respected among his Biri clansmen. Then fate--and the Ulin, who were all but gods--intervened, and Ohearn's life, his clan, and his very world changed forever.

The Ulin were the Elder Race, giants, unspeakably powerful in arms and in magic. All were selfish; most were tyrants who scorned the short-lived Younger Races: men, elves, and all the rest. Some capricious Ulin sported with mankind; one among their number, Ulahane the Red, dedicated himself to reaping a harvest of human terror and anguish.

Only one among the Ulin, Lomallin, stood opposed to Ulahane and his schemes. Lomallin gathered some few like-minded allies and worked to protect the human creatures, to teach them and nurture their talents.

Inevitably, Ulahane and Lomallin became deadlocked in their struggle. It had been prophesied that one day Lomallin could win--but to triumph, he must first die. Until then, the contest for the fate of the Younger Races would be fought by humans who served the Ulin...

Ohearn knew little of the world beyond his clan. But when his wife fell ill and Ulahane's lackeys detained the shaman who could help her, Ohearn's path became clear. He led a band of warriors against the enemy stronghold. With the half-elf trickster Lucoyo at his side, Ohearn wrested the wise man from the Scarlet One's prison--and launched a battle whose scope he could never have anticipated. The beacon of freedom flared, and its flames would sweep forest and prairie, cities and towns, mountains and deserts and all the farthest lands. But the cost of freedom would be high indeed, for Ulahane proved to be an implacable foe. He was determined that either Lomallin's human charges would be annihilated--or Lomallin himself would die!

THE MAKING OF A HERO

Generations ago, Ohaern had played the hero's part in toppling the fearsome Ulahane from the tyrant's throne. His reward had been to spend an eternity with the goddess Rahani--and the years had spun away in a tapestry of bliss.

Now humankind had again fallen beneath a despot's heel. Ulahanes son Bolenkar, conceived in savagery and raised in brutality, visited horror upon all the sorry earth. Tenderhearted Rahani turned to her champion to save the world again, but the years had sapped Ohaern's mortal strength. His long-sleeping body awoke aged and stiff and weary. He could guide the fight against Bolenkar, for his wealth of craft and wisdom remained intact. But a younger man must strike the killing blow.

Like a swordsmith seeking to craft a sword, Ohaern sought the raw material from which to craft a hero. He chose the outcast bully Culaehra: a scoundrel, despicable and lazy--but one who might be shaped into something better. And the fire in which he would be forged would cleanse the filth from his soul, leaving behind that which was fine and sharp.

Whether he would be sharp enough to topple a godling, only mortal combat would decide...

Join Christopher Stasheff in this world of wonder, where common mortals face utmost peril in their search for freedom and justice, in the fabled land of The Star Stone.

Confident in her power as daughter of the High Warlock, Cordelia Gallowglass decides she can take her time deciding whether to accept Prince Alain's offer of marriage, until she finds out she has enemies who oppose the union.

A young, brave warlock's son finds his loyalties divided between two women, including the beautiful bandit Quicksilver, who has stolen a lord's land for herself, and the sultry witch Moraga, who will do anything for the throne of Gramarye.

Overview In this first "Warlock" novel in years, the adventures of the Gallowglass family continue with the youngest son, Gregory. This most eligible bachelor with a true heart is an ultimate challenge for the family's nemesis, Moraga. Through her spells, she will bring him under her power.

You are invited to a Warlock wedding...

B.Y.O.M. (Bring Your Own Monster).

The perennially popular Gallowglass family has three weddings to plan. But what Warlock wedding could be complete without an army of monsters threatening the planet?