Book of Enchantments Read online

  So that's where my ideas come from: unexplained pictures in my head, the unexpected intersection of a request for a particular sort of story with whatever I happen to be reading or doing, the logical extension of illogical premises, real things looked at sideways, and even a very conscious and deliberate building up of material. There isn't just one place that ideas come from, and every story is different.

  Ideas really are all over the place. They're in little towns one stays at by accident on vacation and in songs one hears on the radio, in old folktales and in sermons at church, in casual remarks made by oneself or one's friends. All a writer has to do to get ideas is to really look at and really listen to the things around her.

  Ideas are the easy part. The hard part is getting the words down on paper that convey the ideas, and getting the words right.

  * * *

  Permissions Acknowledgments

  "Rikiki and the Wizard" copyright © 1986 by Patricia C. Wrede; originally published in Liavek: the Players of Luck (Berkley Publishing) edited by Emma Bull and Will Shetterly. "The Princess, the Cat, and the Unicorn" copyright © 1987 by Patricia C. Wrede; originally published in The Unicorn Treasury (Doubleday), edited by Bruce Coville. "Roses by Moonlight" copyright © 1996 by Patricia C. Wrede; first publication. "The Sixty-two Curses of Caliph Arenschadd" copyright © 1993 by Patricia C. Wrede; originally published in A Wizard's Dozen (Jane Yolen Books/Harcourt Brace), edited by Michael Stearns. "Earthwitch" copyright © 1996 by Patricia C. Wrede; first publication. "The Sword-Seller" copyright © 1990 by Patricia C. Wrede; originally published in Tales of the Witch World 3 (Tor Books), edited by Andre Norton. "The Lorelei" copyright © 1996 by Patricia C. Wrede; first publication. "Stronger Than Time" copyright © 1994 by Patricia C. Wrede; originally published in Black Thorn, White Rose (Avon), edited by Ellen Datlow and Terry Windling. "Cruel Sisters" copyright © 1996 by Patricia C. Wrede; first publication. "Utensile Strength" copyright © 1996 by Patricia C. Wrede; first publication. "Quick After-Battle Triple Chocolate Cake" copyright © 1996 by Patricia C. Wrede; first publication.

  * * *

  Copyright © 1996 by Patricia C. Wrede

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced

  or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,

  including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval

  system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work should be

  mailed to: Permissions Department, Harcourt, Inc., 6277 Sea Harbor Drive,

  Orlando, Florida 32887-6777.

  www.HarcourtBooks.corn

  First Magic Carpet Books edition 200S

  Magic Carpet Booh is a trademark of Harcourt, Inc., registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.

  The library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows:

  Wrede, Patricia C, 1953-Book of enchantments/Patricia C. Wrede.

  p. cm.

  Contents: Rikki and the wizard—The Princess, the cat, and the unicorn—Roses

  by moonlight—The sixty-two curses of Caliph Arenschadd—Earthwitch—The

  sword-seller—The Lorelei—Stronger than time—Cruel sisters—Utensile

  strength.

  1. Magic:—Juvenile fiction. 2. Children's stories, American [1. Magic;—Fiction. 2. Short stories.] I.Title.

  PZ7.W91Bo 1996 [Fic]—dc20 94-41036

  ISBN 0-15-201255-9 ISBN 0-15-20S508-8pb

  Text set in Perpetua Designed by Lydia D'moch

  ACEGHFDB Printed in the United States of America

  Permissions Acknowledgments begin on page 235 and constitute a continuation of the copyright page