Warriors

Warriors is a cross-genre anthology collection edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, featuring twenty original stories about warriors and warfare from notable authors. The stories span multiple genres including historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, and alternative history. Each tale centers on warriors of different types - from medieval knights and Roman legionaries to space marines and frontier gunslingers. Contributing authors include Joe Haldeman, Tad Williams, Robin Hobb, Peter S. Beagle, and Martin himself. The collection ranges from short stories to novella-length works, with Martin's "The Mystery Knight" representing one of the longer entries. The anthology explores universal themes of duty, honor, sacrifice and the complex moral choices faced by those who fight. Through varied settings and perspectives, the collection examines what drives humans to battle and the true meaning of warrior culture across time and space.

Online reader reviews indicate moderate satisfaction with this anthology, with most noting the uneven quality across its 20 military science fiction stories. Readers appreciated: - Joe Haldeman's "Forever Bound" contribution - David Feintuch's "Proving Ground" - Stories that explored psychological impacts of warfare - Mix of both action-focused and character-driven tales Common criticisms: - Several stories feel dated or formulaic - Inconsistent pacing between entries - Some selections focus too heavily on technical details at the expense of plot - Length of anthology (736 pages) includes filler material Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (489 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (31 ratings) Multiple reviewers noted they skipped certain stories entirely. One Amazon reviewer stated: "About half the stories are worth reading, the rest I could take or leave." GoodReads user Mike called it "a decent anthology that could have been shorter without losing impact."

The Thousand Names by Django Wexler Military fantasy chronicles soldiers facing both human enemies and supernatural forces in a world of gunpowder and dark magic.

Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan A military commander leads a coup against a corrupt monarchy in a world where powder mages harness the power of gunpowder to perform magic.

The Shadow Campaigns by Django Wexler Soldiers navigate political intrigue and ancient magic while fighting for control of their kingdom in a Napoleonic-era fantasy setting.

The Steel Remains by Richard K. Morgan A war-hardened hero returns to battle alongside former comrades against both human adversaries and otherworldly threats.

The Red Knight by Miles Cameron A mercenary captain leads his company against creatures from the Wild while uncovering dark conspiracies in a medieval world.

🗡️ The anthology features nineteen original stories about warriors from across time periods and genres, blending historical fiction, fantasy, and science fiction elements. ⚔️ Among the contributors is Joe Haldeman, whose story "Forever Bound" connects to his famous military sci-fi novel "The Forever War." 📚 The collection includes "The Custom of the Army," a Lord John Grey novella by Diana Gabaldon that ties into her Outlander series. 🏰 George R.R. Martin's own contribution, "The Mystery Knight," is part of his Tales of Dunk and Egg series set in the same world as A Song of Ice and Fire, but taking place 90 years before the main series. 🎯 This anthology marked one of the last editorial collaborations between Martin and Dozois before Dozois's death in 2018, following decades of working together on various anthologies.