After the King: Stories in Honor of J.R.R. Tolkien

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in these stories are either fictitious or are used fictitiously.

AFTER THE KING: Stories in Honor of J. R. R. Tolkien

Copyright © 1992 by Martin H. Greenberg

This anthology has not been authorized by the estate of J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien or Unwin Hyman, Ltd. Nothing in its publication is meant to imply such authorization or approval.

“Reave the Just” copyright © 1992 by Stephen R. Donaldson. “Troll Bridge” copyright © 1992 by Terry and Lyn Pratchett. “A Long Night’s Vigil at the Temple” copyright © 1992 by Agberg, Ltd. “The Dragon of Tollin” copyright © 1992 by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough. “Faith” copyright © 1992 by Poul and Karen Anderson. “In the Season of the Dressing of the Wells” copyright © 1992 by Brunner Fact & Fiction Ltd. “The Fellowship of the Dragon” copyright © 1992 by Patricia A. McKillip. “The Decoy Duck” copyright © 1992 by Harry Turtledove. “Nine Threads of Gold” copyright © 1992 by Andre Norton. “The Conjure Man” copyright © 1992 by Charles de Lint. “The Halfling House” copyright © 1992 by Dennis L. McKiernan. “Silver or Gold” copyright © 1992 by Emma Bull. “Up the Side of the Air” copyright © 1992 by Karen Haber. “The Naga” copyright © 1992 by Peter S. Beagle. “Revolt of the Sugar Plum Fairies” copyright © 1992 by Mike Resnick. “Winter’s King” copyright © 1992 by Jane Yolen. “Götterdämmerung” copyright © 1992 by Barry N. Malzberg. “Down the River Road” copyright © 1992 by Abeenford Associates. “Death and the Lady” copyright © 1992 by Judith Tarr.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.

A Tor Book

Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC

175 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10010

www.tor-forge.com

Tor® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.

Book design by Maura Fadden Rosenthal

eISBN 9781466809864

First eBook Edition : January 2012

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

After the king : stories in honor of J. R. R. Tolkien / edited by Martin H. Greenberg : introduction by

Jane Yolen.

p. cm.

“A Tom Doherty Associates book.”

ISBN 0-312-85175-8 (hc)

ISBN 0-765-30207-1 (pbk)

1. Fantastic fiction, American. I. Greenberg, Martin Harry. II. Tolkien, J. R. R. (John Ronald

Reuel), 1892-1973.

PS648.F3 A46 1992

813’.0876608—dc20

91-34382

CIP