This third volume of Orson Scott Card’s five-book anthology of short stories features ten fantasies and fables full of princesses and giants, bears and monkeys, magic and revelation. Discover the pitfalls of paradise, how to handle a dragon, the true secret of happiness, and much more. Card offers background commentaries for each story in a series of afterwords and introductions.
Unaccompanied Sonata
A musical child prodigy, raised alone in a cabin so that his only influences come from nature, plays a complicated instrument capable of a wide range of sound. Against his keepers’ wishes, he is introduced to the music of Bach and is ejected from his musical Eden. As he strives to make music, his nemesis strives to stop him.
A Cross-Country Trip to Kill Richard Nixon
A young man blames all of America’s problems on former president Richard Nixon.
The Porcelain Salamander
A curse can be lifted only once it is complete.
Middle Woman
An average woman—who is a middle child, of middle income, and living mid-way between her other two sisters—meets a cruel, trickster dragon on the road who grants her three wishes. Through wisdom and compassion, she is able to outsmart his trickery.
The Bully and the Beast
A giant hired as the king’s bully falls hopelessly for the king’s daughter, the most beautiful woman in the world.
The Princess and the Bear
A magic bear saves a princess’ life twice: once from a wolf in the forest and once from her own husband.
Sandmagic
A young boy who watches his parents die vows to avenge their pain. This story is set in the Mithermages universe, which includes the story “Stonefather.”
The Best Day
A woman rejects an old peddler’s explanation that happiness is a matter of taking joy in overcoming the difficulties in life. Instead, she prefers to buy a traveling medicine man’s elixir of happiness which promises that your best day will be with you forever. In reliving one happy day from her past she misses out on the rest of her life.
A Plague of Butterflies
Selfishly choosing to save his own life by not slaying a dragon, Amasa becomes involved in evil and allows it to flourish. Since it’s too late to change matters, he must suffer eternal anguish knowing what he has done.
The Monkeys Thought ’Twas All in Fun
Paradise can have its hidden pitfalls.
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