Under The Vale
And Other Tales of Valdemar
Edited by Mercedes Lackey

Daw Books, Inc
December 2011 / 978-0756406967
Fantasy
Amazon

Reviewed by Jan Fields

In 1987, Mercedes Lackey published the first fantasy novel that introduced readers to Valdemar. Readers fell in love and over two dozen books about this magical land followed. In Under the Vale, the doors are thrown open and a collection of new writers have ventured in to contribute short stories set in and around Valdemar. As any Valdemar reader would expect, the beautiful companions, who look like white horses but are so much more, trot into more than a few of the tales and bring their unique wit and wisdom. But the stories go well beyond these magical creatures as we meet a variety of magical gifts and their holders. We explore the status of the hobgoblin -- are they man or beast? We peer into the bond between Guardian and Herald, a bond that means the death of one is the death of both. We see battles and family times and the cost of magical gifts. For anyone with no experience with any of the Valdemar books, the many characters and details that the authors simply assume readers know can be a bit confusing. But some of the stories can make even the absolute novice laugh ...or sniffle. These are some of the finest writers of fantasy and the stories shine with their skill. And for those who are true Mercedes Lackey fans, the collection opens with a new story by the anthology editor herself -- and it was one of my favorites for its wit, its mildly naughty antics, and its pure delight in the world of Valdemar. For fans, this is a must-have. For newcomers, it's a challenging introduction, but at least a few of the stories will make you truly glad you ventured into the new territory.