Witches Save the World: Hags, Harridans, and Hexes Gone Right

Hags. Harridans. And Hexes.

The witch is a complex figure. Hero? Villain? Victim? Practitioner of a nearly-forgotten faith or just misunderstood? An elder who should be respected but is instead reviled? Or the member of an oppressed ethnic or sexual minority?

Witches of every sort appear in this anthology, and its companion volume, Witches Save the World: Covens, Cauldrons, and Curses Gone Right. In some tales and poems, the witch embodies the primal forces of balance and karmic retribution, or they act in support of social justice, defending those who cannot protect themselves. Or they act in defense of Nature, calling to heel the corrupt governments and corporations that would strip the world in the name of power and profit. Or they are caretakers of their communities, mending minds and bodies, sometimes at the cost of their own freedom or even their own lives.

These are witches who do what must be done, because someone has to save the world.

Tales and poems by Lyri Ahnam, Hugh Alan, Kevin David Anderson, Jon Chan, Katie Collan, Joe Coy, Maxwell Czyzyk, Francesca De Grandis, Dana M. Evans, Angelique Fawns, Amelia Gorman, Rae Gudger, Em Harriett, Juleigh Howard-Hobson, Laura Ruth Loomis, Jean Martin, Tannar Miller, Kit Muse, Allister Nelson, Julia Rajagopalan, Silvatiicus Riddle, Marsheila Rockwell, Brian Rosenberger, Bryce Saputo, Chantell Saunders, Lorraine Schein, J.D. Simpson, Lauren Talveryn, Molly Thynes, and Rod A. White. Interior artwork by Hugh Alan and Francesa De Grandis. Edited by Rebecca Buchanan.

[Content Warnings: harm to children and animals, environmental destruction, references to sexual assault, political and religious oppression, violence, gore.]