Hayden, Patrick Nielsen, ed. New Magics: An Anthology of Today's Fantasy.

HAYDEN, Patrick Nielsen, ed. New magics; an anthology of today's fantasy. Tor. 256p. c2004. 90765-34003-8. $6.99. JSA*

I'm not sure how "new" these new magics are (most are from the '80s and '90s, and the most recent is 2001), but they are wonderfully entertaining. Hayden has selected stories from 12 prominent fantasy authors that will specifically appeal to YAs. Some of the stories have child or teenage protagonists (the adolescent duelist in Ellen Kushner's "Charis," the daughter of a vampire in Jane Yolen's "Mama Gone"); others have themes of alienation or belonging, many of them reflecting magic in the modern world (the folk musicians in Emma Bull's "A Bird That Whistles," the hip young Knight Templar in Debra Doyle and James D. McDonald's "Stealing God").

It is particularly nice to see three often-reprinted but stellar short stories: "Bones of the Earth" from Ursula Le Guin's new Earthsea series; "Hatrack River," the story that started Orson Scott Card's Alvin Maker series; and Neil Gaiman's "Chivalry," a charming Grail-in-a-thrift store story. While little is new, the quality is high, and this collection is highly recommended. Deirdre Root, Ref. Libn., Middletown PL, Middletown, OH

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.

*--The asterisk highlights exceptional books.