This second volume of The Best of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine serves up a smorgasbord of magic and adventure. Encompassing a range of fantasy from classical to modern settings, this collection begins with an introduction by Bradley herself, in addition to her introductions to each individual story.

Lavan Chitward and his family just moved to Haven and are fastly becoming part of the highest members of the Guild social circles. Lavan was very unhappy, but his family didnt care, they were. To make matters worse, his parents enrolled him into a private school where bullys quicjly made him a new target among the scapegoats. Whenever the boys picked on him, he'd turn a bright red which often left his skinned feeling burned and gave him a horrible headache which would leave him unable to attend classes. But when he returned the bullys started up again. This time they got a suprise. Lavan's Gift awakened with a vengence. His gift was FireStarting. Untrained and unable to control it, he set fires all around him, engulfing the bullys and killing them. Then to the suprise of many, he was Chosen. Valdemar needs his help in defeating an enemy, but if he isn't careful, his Fire Storms will consume him as well.

In Roger Zelazny's "Amber" universe, there is only one true world, of which all others are but Shadows. In the ten-book saga that he created, it is learned that "Amber" was not the first true world; rather, it was "The Courts of Chaos." The saga chronicled the adventures of the royal family of Amber, culminating with a worlds-shaking battle between champions from Amber and from Chaos. Zelazny did not have the chance to create the origin of Amber and its royal family, or reveal other key information that is only alluded to, before he died. The Dawn of Amber trilogy expands the "Amber" universe and answers the important questions left open, including how Amber was created, by whom, and why. The events in the trilogy will precede those in the existing novels, but follow some of the same, immortal characters. Finally, fans of the series will discover why it was necessary to create Amber, how Chaos and Amber came to be at war, and the true nature of the universal, sentient forces that Amber and Chaos represent.

As a dark BloodPath-Mage continues to attack the borders of the k'Sheyna Vale, Darkwind continues to train Elspeth while, at the same time, receive training for his dormant mage power from his dear friends, the Gryphons Treyvan and his mate Hydona. But another problem persists, and that is of the renegade HeartStone. This HeartStone is so unstable it is like it has a mind of its own. If Mornelithe Falconsbane, the dark mage, were to get his "paws" on this he could have all the power he would ever hope for. Darkwinds calls for help from the other Tayledras clans. He receives as answer from Clan k'Treva, the same clan that trained Herald Vanyel. His answer came in the form of a very powerful Healing-Adept named Firesong. They all must work together to move the heartstone to its new vale, the one where half the clan was originally sent, because time is short ad Mornelithe Falconsbane is winning the fight.

New York Lieutenant Eve Dallas is up against a hit-man for the elite, whose next target may be her own husband, Roarke.