Once Upon a Time

This collection of 10 well written stories nicely illustrates the concept that fairy tale themes are universal, and that modern fantasy writers can give them a sophisticated, psychological and realistic approach while still providing a sense of wonder for all ages. In Barbara Hambly's Changeling, a hard-working Marchlord slays the dragon devastating his countryside and brings home to his wife and children what he finds in its lair: a mute child with two unusual companions. Anne McCaffrey's ``The Quest of a Sensible Man'' features a prince who seeks a suitable mate for his flying horse. The eponymous ``Thistledown'' in Susan Dexter's tale is a unicorn colt saved from from predatory hounds by a mute boy suspected of witchcraft. The spoiled princess in ``The Fairy Godmother,'' by Lester del Rey, learns the rudiments of wise rule when she is taken in by an old couple after an attempted abduction. In Wayland Drew's ``The Old Soul,'' an old woman's tale of the fall of a powerful city jolts three travelers out of their self-important lives . Illustrations not seen by PW . (Nov.)