Lace and Blade [Paperback]

Deborah J. Ross (Editor), Catherine Asaro (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 2008

Norilana Books proudly presents the debut title of our new romantic fantasy imprint Leda...

Introducing LACE AND BLADE -- an original new anthology series of elegant romantic fantasy, edited by Deborah J. Ross, premiering on Valentine's Day 2008.

In the spirit of classic period swashbucklers, Zorro, the Scarlet Pimpernel, and D'Artagnan, brimming with romantic courtly intrigue and dangerous liaisons, with cloak and dagger and perfumed handkerchiefs, the language of the fan and stolen glances, with the manners of Jane Austen and the sparkling rapier wit of Oscar Wilde, here are nine fantastic stories of adventure, derring-do, love, and glamorous yet subtle magic, by such stellar authors as Tanith Lee, Catherine Asaro, Diana L. Paxson, Madeleine E. Robins, Robin Wayne Bailey, Dave Smeds, Mary Rosenblum, Chaz Brenchley, and Sherwood Smith.

Don't hesitate another moment... step into a sophisticated other world where passion is a courtly mistress, mystery is moonlight on steel, and magic is the god of love.

En garde, mon amour!

"LACE AND BLADE offers a banquet of adventure, intrigue and romance. There's something here to delight the palate of every reader's inner swashbuckler!"
-- Jacqueline Carey

"A fun ride from beginning to end, with engaging characters and an interesting setting."
-- S. M. Stirling

Product Details

• Paperback: 308 pages
• Publisher: Leda (February 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934169919
• ISBN-13: 978-1934169919
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,086,531 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

My misspent youth was passed in California and Oregon, growing my hair long, protesting everything and gathering useless academic degrees before realizing the true "work of my heart" was storytelling. I have been writing science fiction and fantasy professionally since 1982, served as Secretary of SFWA and have taught writing and led writer's workshops. I'm also a member of the online writer's coop, www.bookviewcafe.com.

As Deborah Wheeler, I wrote 2 science fiction novels, JAYDIUM and NORTHLIGHT, as well as short stories in ASIMOV'S, FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION, SISTERS OF THE NIGHT, STAR WARS: TALES FROM JABBA'S PALACE, REALMS OF FANTASY, and almost all of the SWORD & SORCERESS and Darkover anthologies. My most recent projects -- under my birth name, Ross -- include Darkover novels with the late Marion Zimmer Bradley: and an original fantasy series, THE SEVEN-PETALED SHIELD. I made my editorial debut in 2008 with LACE AND BLADE. I live in the redwood forests near Santa Cruz with my husband, writer Dave Trowbridge. In between writing, I've lived in France, worked as a medical assistant to a cardiologist, revived an elementary school library, studied Hebrew and yoga, and have been active in the women's martial arts network and local Quaker community.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars consistently lush, January 10, 2009

By 

Kamila Z. Miller "explores the word woods" (Pacific NW, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lace and Blade (Paperback)

Every time I begin to write this review I start with silly gushes like "couldn't put it down." I'll try to be a little more coherent.
This is a diverse collection of skilled authors who bring their unique voices to a common theme. The stories fit very well together without being uniform. The fantasy elements aren't overbearing. In each story, the magic has a natural, sometimes subtle, sometimes strong but integrated feeling. I always had a sense that I was in a real place and time, even though there's no way for a head to be able to do that on our world. There are some fascinating, inventive ideas in this collection that kept me thinking long after I'd reached the end.
The cover art transmits the feeling of these stories very well. There's swashbuckling, romance, and a strong sense of culture (but not uniform culture--there's a wide variety of settings.) It's not entirely set in a given century or region, and one of the stories occurs at sea. It's a lush, dangerous, bejeweled group of tales and fans of lace and blade type stories will not be disappointed.
The authors are (in order of appearance): Madeleine E. Robins, Diana L. Paxson, Robin Wayne Bailey, Tanith Lee, Dave Smeds, Catherine Asaro, Mary Rosenblum, Chaz Brenchley, and Sherwood Smith.
I liked some better than others, but there weren't any stories I would skip on reread.
I'm keeping this one, and plan on rereading it many times.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not only a cool anthology, but the new publisher's track record is tops, June 27, 2008

By 

E. Gilligan "Lace" (Newark, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lace and Blade (Paperback)

This is a fun anthology. A collection of very sexy stories wherein daring and dashing heros and heroines resolve their problems with wit and the threat of a blade.

The publisher, Norilana, is new and the book and anthology collections coming from it are, without erring in the books I've read so far, great! Support a new publisher (flesh blood) and get yourself some great reads with this book, Warrior Wisewoman and A Posse Of Princesses.

5.0 out of 5 stars pretty good!, May 26, 2010

By 

A. smith "angelove183" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lace and Blade (Paperback)

I got this for the Catherine Asaro story. But I did enjoy a few of the other ones as well. Especially The Beheaded Queen by Dave Smeds. I really enjoyed that one. That was one that I wished continued into a book. I wanted to know more and how things went on from where it left off. I felt the same with The Topaz Desert by Catherine Asaro. I love her work. This is a short story based in the same world as her Lost Continent series. Ive read them all and have re read a few of them. I love the whole series. It's fantastic. The short story in this book though ends very abruptly for obvious reason. It's a short story, not a novel. But it could be one, it has the potential. I liked the set up and what it was getting to. I wanted to know what happened to them in the end and where things ended up.