An interesting if somewhat dated book. I suspect that there are 2 writers being combined in the club since these stories were originally published in the 50's, possibly a James Gunn and a James E Gunn.
Either way there are three stories in this book. One story looks at the consequences to a brewer when the old legend of the Barley Wife becomes a reality, another examines the effect of marrying a real witch on your married life, and the third is a hard boiled crime story about a group of mathematicians who discover a new math of magic. All three stories are absorbing and well written but female readers should be aware that Gunn was writing in a pre-feminist environment and it might be kinder just to grant his sexism up front. All in all these are among the more interesting stories of their era, just be prepared for what seem now to be shocking attitudes towards women that are totally unacceptable today.
Either way there are three stories in this book. One story looks at the consequences to a brewer when the old legend of the Barley Wife becomes a reality, another examines the effect of marrying a real witch on your married life, and the third is a hard boiled crime story about a group of mathematicians who discover a new math of magic. All three stories are absorbing and well written but female readers should be aware that Gunn was writing in a pre-feminist environment and it might be kinder just to grant his sexism up front. All in all these are among the more interesting stories of their era, just be prepared for what seem now to be shocking attitudes towards women that are totally unacceptable today.
