The Sword and Sorceress series is a series of fantasy anthologies originally edited by American writer Marion Zimmer Bradley, and originally published by DAW Books. As she explained in the foreword to the first volume, she created the anthology to redress the lack of strong female protagonists in the subgenre of sword and sorcery. At the time, most female characters in sword and sorcery were little more than stock damsels in distress, or pawns who were distributed at the conclusion of the story as "bad-conduct prizes" (Bradley's term) for the male protagonists. Many of the early sword-and-sorcery works featured attitudes toward women that Bradley considered appalling.
As the Sword and Sorceress series grew in popularity with readers, she began to receive increasing numbers of excellent submissions. As a result, she had to become more selective, and to shorten her reading periods accordingly. For the eighteenth volume, which she was editing at the time of her death, she had enough material for three volumes. After her death, it was decided to take as many as possible of the stories she had tentatively chosen and publish them in three annual volumes, thus extending the series. After volume twenty was published, the publisher decided to extend an invitation for an additional volume under Diana L. Paxson, an editor who had worked with Bradley, with the possibility of additional volumes being published if it became a success.
The Sword and Sorceress series is noteworthy not only for its introduction of strong female protagonists into a subgenre previously dominated by male characters, but for its financial success. Unlike most anthologies of original fantasy short fiction, they routinely earned out their advances and continued to pay their authors royalties for years afterward, often on foreign sales. In addition, many authors who made their first professional sales in the Sword and Sorceress anthologies subsequently enjoyed successful careers as novelists.
In February 2007, the Marion Zimmer Bradley Literary Works Trust, which holds her copyrights, negotiated a contract with Norilana Books to publish a new volume and proceed to elicit submissions. The book was published in November, and the editor was Elisabeth Waters. Norilana Books has published four more books of the series, also edited by Elisabeth Waters. From 2012 to 2019 the Marion Zimmer Bradley Literary Works Trust published the Sword and Sorceress anthologies.
Anthologies Sword and Sorceress I 1984. (USA edition) 1986. (USA edition) 1988. (UK edition)
"The Heroic Image of Women: Woman as Wizard and Warrior" — Marion Zimmer Bradley "The Garnet and the Glory" — Phyllis Ann Karr "Severed Heads" — Glen Cook "Taking Heart" — Stephen L. Burns "The Rending Dark" — Emma Bull "Gimmile's Songs" — Charles R. Saunders "The Valley of the Troll" — Charles de Lint "Imperatrix" — Deborah Wheeler "Blood of Sorcery" — Jennifer Roberson "With Four Lean Hounds" — Pat Murphy "House in the Forest" — Anodea Judith "Sword of Yraine" — Diana L. Paxson "Daton and the Dead Things" — Michael Ward "Gate of the Damned" — Janet Fox "Child of Orcus" — Robin Wayne Bailey "Things Come in Threes" — Dorothy J. Heydt
Sword and Sorceress II 1985. (USA Edition) 1986. (USA Edition) 1988. (UK Edition)
"Introduction" — Marion Zimmer Bradley "A Night at Two Inns" — Phyllis Ann Karr "The Red Guild" — Rachel Pollack "Shadow Wood" — Diana L. Paxson "Unicorn's Blood" — Bruce D. Arthurs "The Unshadowed Land" — C. J. Cherryh "Shimenege's Mask" — Charles R. Saunders "The Black Tower" — Stephen L. Burns "The Lady and the Tiger" — Jennifer Roberson "Fireweb" — Deborah Wheeler "Cold Blows the Wind" — Charles de Lint "Sword of the Mother" — Dana Kramer-Rolls "Hunger" — Russ Garrison "On First Looking into Bradley's Guidelines" — Elizabeth Thompson "The Chosen Maiden" — Raul Reyes "Red Pearls" — Richard Corwin "Wound on the Moon" — Vera Nazarian (within the anthology it is titled The Wound in the Moon)
Sword and Sorceress III 1986. (USA edition) 1986. (USA edition) 1988. (UK edition)
"The Evolution of Women's Fantasy" — Marion Zimmer Bradley "Dragon-Amber" — Deborah Wheeler "Enter the Wolf" — A. D. Overstreet "Valley of the Shadow" — Jennifer Roberson "The Song and the Flute" — Dorothy J. Heydt "Journeytime" — Dana Kramer-Rolls "Orpheus" — Mary Frances Zambreno "Scarlet Eyes" — Millea Kenin "The River of Tears" — Anodea Judith "Fresh Blood" — Polly B. Johnson "The Mist on the Moor" — Diana L. Paxson "Bargains" — Elizabeth Moon "A Woman's Privilege" — Elisabeth Waters "Talla" — J. Edwin Andrews "Tupilak" — Terry Tafoya "Sword-Sworn" — Mercedes Lackey "A Tale from Hendry's Mill" — Melissa Carpenter "S.A.R." — Patricia B. Cirone "More's the Pity" — L. D. Woeltjen "Marwe's Forest" — Charles R. Saunders "The Hunters" — Mavis J. Andrews
Sword and Sorceress IV 1987. (USA edition) 1989. (USA edition) 1989. (UK edition)
"Introduction" — Marion Zimmer Bradley "A Tale of Heroes" — Mercedes Lackey "The Woodland of Zarad-Thra" — Robin Wayne Bailey "The Weeping Oak" — Charles de Lint "Gullrider" — Dave Smeds "Blood Dancer" — Diana L. Paxson "Kayli's Fire" — Paula Helm Murray "The Ring of Lifari" — Josepha Sherman "Rite of Passage" — Jennifer Roberson "The Eyes of the Gods" — Richard Corwin "Fate and the Dreamer" — Millea Kenin "The Noonday Witch" — Dorothy J. Heydt "Redeemer's Riddle" — Stephen L. Burns "The Tree-Wife of Arketh" — Syn Ferguson "Spell of Binding" — Richard Cornell "Storm God" — Deborah Wheeler "Die Like a Man" — L. D. Woeltjen "Death and the Ugly Woman" — Bruce D. Arthurs "Bloodstones" — Deborah M. Vogel
Sword and Sorceress V 1988. (USA edition) 1989. (UK edition)
"Introduction or Something" – Marion Zimmer Bradley "Sorcerer's Pet" — Margaret L. Carter "Into the Green" — Charles de Lint "Eyes of the Laemi" — Janet Fox "Jewels" — Linda Gordon "Dance of the Healer" — M. R. Hildebrand "One Night at the Inn" — Millea Kenin "Keys" — Mercedes Lackey "Drum Duel" — Gerald Perkins "The Eye of Toyur" — Diana L. Paxson "Peet's Bride" — Dana Kramer-Rolls "Warrior's Way" — A. D. Overstreet "Spoils of War" — Jennifer Roberson "Cholin of Carnel" — B. A. Rolls "Rite of Vengeance" — Deborah Wheeler "Bloodstone" — Mary Frances Zambreno "Sword Singer" — Laura J. Underwood "Stormbringer" — Steve Tymon "Sorceress of the Gulls" — Dave Smeds "Runaways" — Josepha Sherman "The Golden Egg" — Morning Glory Zell "Revised Standard Virgin" — Rick Cook "Dragon Lovers" — Cynthia Drolet
Sword and Sorceress VI 1990.
"Introduction" — Marion Zimmer Bradley "Equona's Mare" — Diana L. Paxson "The Hand of Fatima" — Shariann Lewitt "Commencement" — Lynne Armstrong-Jones "A Lesser of Evils" — Morning Glory Zell "And Sáavüld Danced..." — Kier Neustaedter "Stone of Light" — Linda Gordon "Change of Command" — Nancy Jane Moore "The Starry King" — Vera Nazarian "Mirror Image" — Nina Boal "Sleeping Dogs" — Jennifer Roberson "Shadowlands" — Elisabeth Waters "The Making of a Legend" — Mercedes Lackey "Burnt Offerings" — Mary Fenoglio "Ratsbane" — Dorothy J. Heydt "Wolf Hunt" — Bobbi Miller "Pearl" — Carl Thelen "Name of the Demoness" — Jessie D. Eaker "Hands" — Lois Tilton "Wolfrunner" — Mary E. Choo "Until We Meet Again" — J. A. Brebner "Black Wolf" — Gemma Tarlach
Sword and Sorceress VII 1990.
"Introduction" — Marion Zimmer Bradley "At the Tolling of Midnight" — Stephanie Shaver "The Buddy System" — Laura Thurston "The Cloud of Evil" — Mark Tompkins "Heart of the Matter" — Rowena A. Bathgate "A Wolf in the Fold" — Deborah Wheeler "A Thing of Love" — Vera Nazarian "The Sword Slave" — Diana L. Paxson "Festival Gatherers" — Diann Partridge "The Talisman" — Mercedes Lackey "Widow" — Kathleen A. Varnado "Just Desserts" — Elizabeth McCoy "Mending Wounds" — Gary Jonas "St. George and the Dragon" — Nancy Jane Moore "Her Father's Daughter" — Sue Isle "Winterkill" — Laurell K. Hamilton "Staying Behind" — Jessie D. Eaker "Hawk's Hill" — Gary Herring "Waterwise" — Mary Frey "The Second Song" — I. F. Cole "The Thorny Path to Wizardry" — Lawrence Schimel "Grim Calling" — Patricia B. Cirone "Winter's Daughter" — Diane Burrell "The Bridge Over Darikill Fel" — Stephen L. Burns "Warrior's Oath" — Lynne Armstrong-Jones "Lost Souls" — Alison Brooks
Sword and Sorceress VIII 1991.
"Introduction" — Marion Zimmer Bradley "Beauty and His Beast" — Vera Nazarian "Retirement Plan" — Margaret Howes "The Opal Skull" — Cynthia Ward "Edyth Among the Trolls" — Lois Tilton "Out of the Frying Pan" — Elisabeth Waters "Trading Swords" — Dave Smeds "East of the Dawn" — Jere Dunham "Stained Glass" — Linda Gordon "The Price of the Wind" — Josepha Sherman "Spellbinder" — Rosemary Edghill "Shards of Crystal" — Stephanie Shaver "Song of the Dragon" — Andrea Pelleschi "A Throw of the Dice" — Nancy L. Pine "Heart's Desires" — Walter L. Kleine "Ytarra's Mirror" — Diana L. Paxson "Kayli Kidnapped" — Paula Helm Murray "Fair Play" — Jennifer Roberson "She Who Shields" — Gary W. Herring "Marayd's Escape" — Rima Saret "Geese" — Laurell K. Hamilton "Wings of Fire" — Mercedes Lackey "Masks" — Deborah Burros
Sword and Sorceress IX 1992.
"Introduction" — Marion Zimmer Bradley "Slave to the Sword" — Tanya Beaty "Shadows Do Not Bleed" — Bruce D. Arthurs "Beastly!" — Lynne Armstrong-Jones "Piper" — Susan Hanniford Crowley "Stopthrust" — Diana L. Paxson "Elynne Dragonchild" — Phil Brucato "Freeing Souls" — Lisa Deason "Blademistress" — Jessie D. Eaker "Sorcerers' Gate" — Patricia Duffy Novak "The Birthday Gift" — Elisabeth Waters "Tangled Webs" — Laura J. Underwood "Winterwood" — Stephanie Shaver "Red Wings" — Josepha Sherman "Above the Ground" — Eric Haines "On a Night Like Any Other" — Mark Tompkins "A Woman's Weapon" — Mercedes Lackey "Behind the Waterfall" — Mary Frey "Hoard" — Steven Piziks "Queen of the Dead" — Dorothy J. Heydt "The Flower that Does Not Wither" — Dave Smeds "To Have and to Hold" — Linda Gordon "The Catalyst" — Lee Ann Martins "Breaking Walls" — Leslie Ann Miller "The Enchanted Frog" — Cynthia L. Ward "The Price of the Gods" — Roxana Pierson "Tiger's Eye" — Syne Mitchell
Sword and Sorceress X 1993.
"Introduction" — Marion Zimmer Bradley "Lorelei" — Tina Good "Falcon's Shadow" — Diana L. Paxson "The Proper Balance" — Robyn McGrew "The Gift of Minerva" — Dorothy J. Heydt "Friendly Fire" — Mercedes Lackey "Heart in a Box" — Lynne Armstrong-Jones "Dance of Death" — Donna Bocian Currie "Earth, Air, Fire, and Water" — Kirsten M. Corby "Fealty" — Kati Dougherty "Hunt for the Queen's Beast" — J. M. Cressy "Robes" — Patricia Duffy Novak "Bonds of Light" — Vera Nazarian "Night, Who Creeps Through Keyholes" — Francesca Myman "Oaths" — Leslie Ann Miller "Double Vision" — Lucas K. Law "The Phoenix Medallion" — Diann Partridge "A Run in the Forest" — David A. Pillard "Old Age and Treachery ..." — Nancy L. Pine "In Sheep's Clothing" — Lawrence Schimel "Her Mother's Sword" — Stephanie Shaver "The Sorceress' Apprentice" — Deborah Wheeler "Mage-Sight" — Lynne Alisse Witten "Ether and the Skeptic" — Katy Huth Jones "The Limwitch" — Rebekah Jensen "Smile of the Goddess" — Lorina J. Stephens "Just Reward" — Karen Luk "Boys Will Be Girls" — Vicki Kirchhoff "Taking Shape" — Lisa Deason "Justice Is Mine" — Carolee J. Edwards
Sword and Sorceress XI 1994.
"Introduction" — Marion Zimmer Bradley "Call the Wild Horses" — Bunnie Bessell "Keepsake" — Lynn Michals "Spirit Singer" — Diana L. Paxson "Final Exam" — Jessica R. Lerbs "The Stratmoor Bear" — Charley Pearson "Grumble Snoot" — Vaughn Heppner "Tales" — Javonna L. Anderson "Maggot's Feast" — Jo Clayton "Moonriders" — Lynne Armstrong-Jones "Thief, Thief!" — Mary Catelli "Healing" — Hannah Blair