Unfettered – best anthology ever? – out now!

There have been some absolutely incredible anthologies released – and announced – lately that have been proving the theory that ‘fantasy and the short story can’t work in harmony together’ completely wrong.

Dangerous Women was the first big one of 2014 (as much in terms of its physical size as its mass appeal and recognisable names), but this week Orbit UK is releasing an e-book version of Unfettered: Tales by Masters of Fantasy, which could well be the best ‘cast’ for an anthology I’ve ever seen – geared towards my reading preferences at least.

Edited by Shawn Speakman, this anthology pulls from some of the best authors actively writing within the fantasy genre today including: Terry Brooks, Brandon Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss, Mark Lawrence, Naomi Novik, Michael J. Sullivan, Jacqueline Carey, Peter V. Brett and Lev Grossman.

What is especially exciting is that authors such as Mark Lawrence, Peter V. Brett and Patrick Rothfuss who rarely write short stories set in the world of their own books have decided to give it a shot this time round. For those unfamiliar with the story of how Unfettered came to be: it is a heartwarming story that proves just how strong our genre and its community is. Battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the editor of this anthology, Shawn Speakman, was struggling with the mounting medical debts for his treatment – over $200,000 at the time this idea was concieved. He reached out to his peers and many of them, wanting to support him, donated an original, never-before-published short story. Each of these stories was then edited and compiled into this anthology, Unfettered. The money made from this anthology is to be put towards Shawn’s continuing treatment and pay the remaining bills.

If you would like to pick up the 574 page anthology it is available at the incredible price of £2.48 here:

Here is one of my favourtie authors, Peter V. Brett talking about Shawn’s battle, why he contributed to the anthology and giving some details about his story:

Oh, and here is the complete list of authors involved:

• The Shade of Allanon by Terry Brooks (a Shannara tale)
• Imaginary Friends by Terry Brooks (a precursor to the Word/Void trilogy)
• How Old Holly Came To Be by Patrick Rothfuss
• River of Souls by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson (a Wheel of Time tale)
• The Old Scale Game by Tad Williams
• Martyr of the Roses by Jacqueline Carey (a precursor to the Kushiel series)
• Dogs by Daniel Abraham
• Mudboy by Peter V. Brett (a Demon Cycle tale)
• Nocturne by Robert V. S. Redick
• The Sound of Broken Absolutes by Peter Orullian (a Vault of Heaven tale)
• Untitled by Geno & R.A. Salvatore
• Keeper of Memory by Todd Lockwood (a Summer Dragon tale)
• Game of Chance by Carrie Vaughn
• The Lasting Doubts of Joaquin Lopez by Blake Charlton
• The Chapel Perilous by Kevin Hearne (an Iron Druid tale)
• Select Mode by Mark Lawrence (a Broken Empire tale)
• All the Girls Love Michael Stein by David Anthony Durham
• Strange Rain by Jennifer Bosworth (a Struck epilogue tale)
• Unbowed by Eldon Thompson (a Legend of Asahiel tale)
• Untitled by Naomi Novik (a Temeraire tale)
• The Jester by Michael J. Sullivan (a Riyria Chronicles tale)
• The Duel by Lev Grossman (a Magicians tale)
• The Unfettered Knight by Shawn Speakman (an Annwn Cycle tale)

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