Pharaoh Fantastic

By Susan Sizemore, Various, Brendan DuBois, et al.

From the Biblical Ten Commandments to the latest Stargate and Mummy films, the world of Ancient Egypt continues to mystify, enthrall, and fire the imagination. These original new stories cross the shifting sands of time to dig up the truth about Moses' visions, the magic of mummification, and the power of animal-gods that still prowl the desert of our dreams.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0756401097
• ISBN13: 9780756401092
• Release Date: December 2002
• Publisher: Daw Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.1" x 6.7"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

13 tales, from historical to archaeological

DuBois, Brendan: "A Lion Let Loose Upon the World" Told in the style of Lovecraft, explaining a grandmother's dislike of ancient Egypt - a culture of death, in her eyes - by a story within a story: how it wrecked her brother Conrad's life even though he never left New England. Edghill, Rosemary: The narrator, the most loyal follower of Akhenaten, remembers the day his lord saw "A Light in the Desert", and his efforts to lead his people to worship one true God. Foster, Alan Dean: "Basted" Ali, riding into the desert to escape his shrewish wife's endless comments on his shortcomings, falls into the tomb of the obscure pharaoh Unarhotep ("call me Unar"), whose soul was transferred to his pet cheetah when a wasting disease threatened to leave nothing to mummify. But even if Ali and Unar can escape the tomb, how can Unar cope with the changed world? Hoffman, Nina Kiriki: "Whatever Was Forgotten", narrated by Horemheb from his cozy afterlife as he falls prey to unbelievers who begin dismantling the tomb that maintains his soul in its comforts. Nice use of ancient Egyptian viewpoint. Huff, Tanya: Set late in the reign of Menes, first pharaoh to unite the Two Lands, "Succession" is the tale of his vizier's attempts to ensure that Menes has a son by his newest queen (paving the way for a regency), and the eldest queen's efforts to thwart him - not out of jealousy, but to avert disaster should a pharaoh be born due to the vizier's dabbling in evil magic. (Apart from the magical aspects, the only item apparently without possible historical backing is that the vizier isn't of royal blood, a requirement early in Egyptian history. Huff even gets the queens' names right.) Lindskold, Jane: "Beneath the Eye of the Hawk" later grew into Lindskold's novel THE BURIED PYRAMID (see). The protagonists are archaeologists working (or rather, fleeing for their lives as the story opens) in nineteenth-century Egypt. McCay, Bill: "To See Beyond Darkness" Similar background to other McCay stories (but not the StarGate universe): cats, Those Who See Beyond Darkness, guard the world from predators invisible to human eyes. The protagonist becomes the pharaoh's new cat-companion en route to the great cat cemeteries at Bubastis, where his predecessor is about to be buried. But the centre of cat worship in Egypt is curiously devoid of cats, thanks to a corrupt high priest's secret dabbling in evil magic. Nye, Jody Lynn: "The Voice of Authority" Ramses III waited until his last breath to name his eldest surviving son (now in his forties) as his heir. Now the new Ramses is finding it quite a strain to visit every major temple in Egypt before his coronation to learn that he's *still* answerable to higher authorities. Patton, Fiona: A guard condemned for failing to protect pharaoh is offered the chance to pass the time before his execution with "Games of Fate": exchanging his own fate with someone else's. He's allowed to choose whoever he wishes from those around him, and is ad

Harry Greenberg The Master Of Anthology

I am an anthology addict, so I've read 95% percent of Harry Greeneberg anthologies. This one is on my top15% percent. The authors are great. The stories are recommended. How can you go wrong on an anthology about Egyptian Pharaohs! The Spin Wizard by Laura Resnick, is a personal favorite. These stories are not the same; they aren't all one type as are far too many anthologies. They run from comical thru serious, thru thought provoking . If you're looking for an anthology that won't disappoint then I recommend this one highly!

A very fun vacation book!

Having just finished Pharaoh Fantastic in just over 2 days I can safely say that it's a fun, lively vacation book and perfect for a bit of light reading. It has a variety of stories, some better than others. They include:* Succession by Tanya Huff- ****One of the best stories in this novel, it shows that magic exacts a price, especially when one is greedy****** The Voice of Authority by Jody Lynn Nye * Beneath the Eye of the Hawk by Jane Lindskold * A Light in the Desert by Rosemary Edghill* The Scroll of Wisdom by Josepha Sherman* Whatever was Forgotten by Nina Kiriki Hoffman* Let Our People Go by Michey Zucker Reichert* To See Beyond the Darkness by Bill McCay* A Lion Set Loose Upon the World by Brendan DuBois **** Not only one of the best stories in this novel, it's a chilling horror story featuring the Lion goddess Sekhmet***** Games of Fate by Fiona Patton* The Spin Wizard by Laura Resnick ****This story is laugh out loud funny!***** That God Won't Hunt by Susan Sizemore **** Susan Sizemore delights again in what is my favorite story in the book! Definitely check this one out!***** Basted by Alan Dean Foster... looking for a great, easy read, then check this one out for sure. ...