From George R. R. Martin€s Introduction to Warriors:

 

€œPeople have been telling stories about warriors for as long as they have been telling stories. Since Homer first sang the wrath of Achilles and the ancient Sumerians set down their tales of Gilgamesh, warriors, soldiers, and fighters have fascinated us; they are a part of every culture, every literary tradition, every genre. All Quiet on the Western Front, From Here to Eternity, and The Red Badge of Courage have become part of our literary canon, taught in classrooms all around the country and the world. Our contributors make up an all-star lineup of award-winning and bestselling writers, representing a dozen different publishers and as many genres. We asked each of them for the same thing€"a story about a warrior. Some chose to write in the genre they€re best known for. Some decided to try something different. You will find warriors of every shape, size, and color in these pages, warriors from every epoch of human history, from yesterday and today and tomorrow, and from worlds that never were. Some of the stories will make you sad, some will make you laugh, and many will keep you on the edge of your seat.€

 

The stories in the second mass market volume of this book are:

Introduction: Stories of the Spinner Rack, by George R. R. Martin

Seven Years from Home, by Naomi Novik       

Dirae, by Peter S. Beagle

Ancient Ways, by S. M. Stirling

The Scroll, by David Ball

Recidivist, by Gardner Dozois

Ninieslando, by Howard Waldrop           

Out of the Dark, by David Weber

 

Many of these writers are bestsellers. All of them are storytellers of the highest quality. Together they make a volume of unforgettable reading.